January: Jon and I celebrated New Years and looked forward to the year that we would get married in.
February: Jon and I flew to New Orleans so that my father and the family could meet Jon properly before the wedding. We celebrated Mardi Gras while there and had excellent food. It was also my first Valentine's day being attached to someone.
March: We got married! Yay!
April: Jon and I moved to New Plymouth to be closer to Jon's family as we worked on getting my work visa renewed. Jon took a new job with Foreman's Insulation and I worked on getting everything set for my work visa.
May: I sent everything in and started waiting as patiently as I could about my work visa. Jon and I got our own apartment/flat not too far from Jon's parents or the city.
June: My birthday. Jon and I celebrated in true Gilmore Girl style a week long birthday extravaganza which ended with a lovely dinner at one of the nicest restaurants in town.
July: Jon's birthday. Again we celebrated in style. Another week long event ending on Jon's actual birthday with his birthday party - Mario Party style. The party was themed and fun. Following Jon's party we then went off to Ben's birthday party (Jon's twin) who had an airline themed party since he is working to be a pilot.
August: I started working at a temp agency who sent me to work mostly for Greymouth Petroleum answering phones and filling out reports. Jon and I began filling out and getting together everything for his greencard to come to the states.
September: We took a trip to Wellington somewhere around here to get his medicals done for the applications and stayed with friends.
October: Becca came to visit. Jon and I took time off our jobs, moved back in with his parents and we showed Becca around the North Island of New Zealand. We also had our interview with the US Consulate about Jon's greencard, which went really smoothly.
November: Jon and I got the last few things need for his greencard and mailed them to the Consulate. We also had a late Halloween in November with Jon's family and carved their very first pumpkin. A few weeks later we also had an early Christmas in New Zealand as we would be leaving soon.
December: Jon and I moved to the states. We spent December sorting out a spot for ourselves in the house, getting ready for Christmas and the New Year. We both got callings at church and celebrated the holidays first in Houston with my mother and then in New Orleans with my father.
This year has been wonderful. We were sad to leave New Zealand and miss it, but we are happy to be where we are as well. We are thankful for our family and our friends and look forward to a new year ahead of us.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Young Married Couples!
What a difference this ward is compared to our branch in New Zealand. Our ward here is not overly large, but is large compared to the branch. But there exist young married couples here! People our age that we can get to know and hang out with (hopefully).
I was so excited when Jon and I were invited over to another couples home last Sunday after church for games with other couples. It was a lot of fun and we got to know some of the other couples around our age much better. Not that we are best buddies or anything, but my fear of being in primary and not getting to know anyone is fading somewhat. Granted I will have to get to know people before or after church or outside of it all together, but that's ok.
I have to say though, it is so nice that my friends from before I left are still willing to hang out and get together, especially the ones that are single. I would hate not being able to see them because there were three of us instead of just me and my friend. I have seen that happen a lot when a couple gets married, they drop off the face of the earth or their single friends hate hanging out with them or don't want to interfere or something. So thank you my friends. I love you!
I was so excited when Jon and I were invited over to another couples home last Sunday after church for games with other couples. It was a lot of fun and we got to know some of the other couples around our age much better. Not that we are best buddies or anything, but my fear of being in primary and not getting to know anyone is fading somewhat. Granted I will have to get to know people before or after church or outside of it all together, but that's ok.
I have to say though, it is so nice that my friends from before I left are still willing to hang out and get together, especially the ones that are single. I would hate not being able to see them because there were three of us instead of just me and my friend. I have seen that happen a lot when a couple gets married, they drop off the face of the earth or their single friends hate hanging out with them or don't want to interfere or something. So thank you my friends. I love you!
Callings
At the aforementioned Ward Christmas Party, the bishop pulled Jon and I aside to see if we could come to church early the following Sunday. Well, we all know that means.... callings! They were really quick, we had only been in the ward for a week or two! I tried to talk the bishop into telling us then, because who likes the anticipation of sitting around waiting and wondering what calling you are going to get? Luckily he didn't tell us that the Sunday before where we had a whole week of waiting to find out, but still even a day can be dramatic.
So early to church we went. Jon was called to be on the activities committee, which I thought wasn't so bad. For me, well.... My only stipulation I thought was that I wasn't called to Nursery. I should have been more specific. I am not the Sunbeam Primary teacher to 3 children who were not prepared to leave Nursery the year before. I am coming to grips with not being able to go to Sunday School and Relief Society slowly. I was really looking forward to that.
I am also hating that I will not get much out of church and that it will be harder to get to know people now, but everyone tells me this is one of the best callings and it is 'SO EASY.' So I suppose we will see.
There are two girls in my class who are really cute and have an amazing ability to sit still for children their age. Then I have one boy who does not have that skill and I have to hold in my lap to keep him from escaping. Yikes. Who's idea was this?
So early to church we went. Jon was called to be on the activities committee, which I thought wasn't so bad. For me, well.... My only stipulation I thought was that I wasn't called to Nursery. I should have been more specific. I am not the Sunbeam Primary teacher to 3 children who were not prepared to leave Nursery the year before. I am coming to grips with not being able to go to Sunday School and Relief Society slowly. I was really looking forward to that.
I am also hating that I will not get much out of church and that it will be harder to get to know people now, but everyone tells me this is one of the best callings and it is 'SO EASY.' So I suppose we will see.
There are two girls in my class who are really cute and have an amazing ability to sit still for children their age. Then I have one boy who does not have that skill and I have to hold in my lap to keep him from escaping. Yikes. Who's idea was this?
Christmas in the states
This year Jon and I have been able to experience Christmas 3 times over. Few people have that joy. It is not just the gifts (which are fun) but being able to be with family and friends and to extend that joy and love over a period of time. I have been meaning to blog lately, but I kept wanting to wait until I could post some photos too. Today I decided it was just time to blog with or without them.
Our first Christmas in the states was in Houston with Mom, Ryan, Ryan's friend who was homeless for the holiday, and Barry. We got up looked through stockings that Santa left us (apparently we were all good this year as everyone had something). A little later that morning, we opened gifts from each other. Jon and I felt very spoiled with the gifts we were given. We had a nice Christmas dinner and read in the Bible about Christ's birth. It was lovely.
Our following Christmas in New Orleans was not so nicely set up and sort of spontaneous. Basically at some point we were given our gifts and so we gave them ours for them. Again we were spoiled. I think my family is happy that we are back in the states.
Aside from family Christmas cheer, we had a Ward Christmas Party. There were three different kinds of turkey, all kinds of sides and plenty of desserts. Mostly it was just a Christmas dinner, but it was nice to get to know some people in the ward. They also were taking family Christmas photos, so Jon and I now have our first official Christmas family photo. (Which I wanted to attach, but is not currently scanned into the computer yet).
All in all we had a merry Christmas and hope that you did as well.
Our first Christmas in the states was in Houston with Mom, Ryan, Ryan's friend who was homeless for the holiday, and Barry. We got up looked through stockings that Santa left us (apparently we were all good this year as everyone had something). A little later that morning, we opened gifts from each other. Jon and I felt very spoiled with the gifts we were given. We had a nice Christmas dinner and read in the Bible about Christ's birth. It was lovely.
Our following Christmas in New Orleans was not so nicely set up and sort of spontaneous. Basically at some point we were given our gifts and so we gave them ours for them. Again we were spoiled. I think my family is happy that we are back in the states.
Aside from family Christmas cheer, we had a Ward Christmas Party. There were three different kinds of turkey, all kinds of sides and plenty of desserts. Mostly it was just a Christmas dinner, but it was nice to get to know some people in the ward. They also were taking family Christmas photos, so Jon and I now have our first official Christmas family photo. (Which I wanted to attach, but is not currently scanned into the computer yet).
All in all we had a merry Christmas and hope that you did as well.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Christmas in November
Our Christmas season has begun a little early here in New Plymouth. Due to Jon and I leaving shortly, we decided along with the family to have a small Christmas before we left. Now we just bought our plane tickets and will be headed to the USA on the 6th of December. (We land on the 6th as well in Houston, but it will be midnight.) So last night, the family gathered for a pre-Christmas celebration.
Christmas number one was great. Two small Christmas trees went up, Christmas table clothes went out, etc. We had a nice dinner, opened presents, and then had a lovely dessert. Opening presents was sort of funny because we had one small gift for everyone and then the rest were for us. I am a bit used to that since I usually have two Christmas's and one is always late or before (one at Mom's and one at Dad's), but I think that was a new experience for Jon.
We got some cute Kiwi/New Zealand stuff including a flag, some mugs, a tie for Jon, earrings for me. Funnily enough we also got three kiwi themed baby shirts... no we are not expecting any one new in the family yet. I think they were hinting at something there, but they are really cute.
Last we popped Christmas crackers. They are a lot of fun and I think will forever be included in my Christmas celebrations from now on.
Christmas number one was great. Two small Christmas trees went up, Christmas table clothes went out, etc. We had a nice dinner, opened presents, and then had a lovely dessert. Opening presents was sort of funny because we had one small gift for everyone and then the rest were for us. I am a bit used to that since I usually have two Christmas's and one is always late or before (one at Mom's and one at Dad's), but I think that was a new experience for Jon.
We got some cute Kiwi/New Zealand stuff including a flag, some mugs, a tie for Jon, earrings for me. Funnily enough we also got three kiwi themed baby shirts... no we are not expecting any one new in the family yet. I think they were hinting at something there, but they are really cute.
Last we popped Christmas crackers. They are a lot of fun and I think will forever be included in my Christmas celebrations from now on.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Prodigal Daughter Returns!
Hi all! It has been a month since I have last sent off an email. With traveling around, some family-in-law things going on, and a lack of speedy internet or at sometimes the lack of internet all together, I hardly had a moment to post.
The excitement is that soon I will be on my way back to the USA with my husband in tow. We have had our interview with the US Consulate and have been approved for our visa and greencard. We have one more thing to mail into them before it is actually given to us, but that will shortly be taken care of.
We will be heading in to the states in the first or second week of December, which makes me happy to be back for Christmas. (And only sort of said that I missed the last weeks of Ren Fest.) So those of you in Houston or that may be in Houston at anytime after that, lets get together!
More info to come as we get tickets and all, but it is finally here!
The excitement is that soon I will be on my way back to the USA with my husband in tow. We have had our interview with the US Consulate and have been approved for our visa and greencard. We have one more thing to mail into them before it is actually given to us, but that will shortly be taken care of.
We will be heading in to the states in the first or second week of December, which makes me happy to be back for Christmas. (And only sort of said that I missed the last weeks of Ren Fest.) So those of you in Houston or that may be in Houston at anytime after that, lets get together!
More info to come as we get tickets and all, but it is finally here!
An After Halloween Halloween Gathering
Jon’s Mum wanted some Halloween fun this year as she had an American in the house who usually celebrates Halloween. Unfortunately, Jon and I were away on the actual day of Halloween, so we just celebrated the holiday this past Tuesday.
For any of you who have been to one of my parties, this was a massive scale down of that. Basically, Halloween is a concept that New Zealanders just don’t really have. It has only become recently that anyone has started doing things for it to begin with – Poor deprived kids! So we had a few decorations that we put up in the kitchen, hallway and living room.
We made pumpkin soup, monster faced hamburgers, deviled egg eyes, and some fun creepy cupcakes. This was a mark for the Gaastra family. We not only had a small celebration over dinner, but we also carved their very first pumpkin. Now pumpkins here are not the huge orange pumpkins we get in the states. Our pumpkin was sort of whitish and greenish. I thought about putting a thermometer in its mouth and making it look sick. Haha. It turned out to be a cute little pumpkin I named Igor. (Here is Igor 2 days after the party.)
For any of you who have been to one of my parties, this was a massive scale down of that. Basically, Halloween is a concept that New Zealanders just don’t really have. It has only become recently that anyone has started doing things for it to begin with – Poor deprived kids! So we had a few decorations that we put up in the kitchen, hallway and living room.
We made pumpkin soup, monster faced hamburgers, deviled egg eyes, and some fun creepy cupcakes. This was a mark for the Gaastra family. We not only had a small celebration over dinner, but we also carved their very first pumpkin. Now pumpkins here are not the huge orange pumpkins we get in the states. Our pumpkin was sort of whitish and greenish. I thought about putting a thermometer in its mouth and making it look sick. Haha. It turned out to be a cute little pumpkin I named Igor. (Here is Igor 2 days after the party.)
Now, I also roasted pumpkin seeds, but did not realize that the pumpkin seeds from these types of pumpkins have to be shelled first. Ours don’t need that, right? Or am I just forgetting? I am sure it was just as easy as scooping them out, cleaning them off, popping them on a tray with seasoning, and then eating away…. Am I delusional?
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