Sleyd is with us! Just a short note tonight before going to bed. Little Sleyd has now been with us for a couple of days. He is the most delightful, cute, gorgeous, precious little boy you could imagine (photos to come after Sunday)! During the days, he is very easygoing and happy. The nights are another story :) But the second night was already way better than the first, so I expect tonight to be even better. It would be so hard for any baby to just be dropped off at a family of total strangers! Some of his crying the first night seemed so hard-breaking and intense. Poor little fellow! If I think about all that he has been through already in his short 16 months of life... And it is also so sad that he doesn't even say "Mom" or "Dad" yet - cause he doesn't have any... The people that have been taking care of him most of the time are good people, but they don't want him to call them Mom and Dad, because he will eventually have different parents. It's in the courts right now and a family has been waiting to care for him permanently. Lucky them! I wish we could keep him!!! BUT - it is not meant to be (even though Rich and I would still like to adopt) - and Kylie will probably be glad about this. As much as she loves Sleyd, she is also quite jealous of him. This is the first time she is acting this way - and acting up quite a bit, too. Maybe it is his age??? She was fine with a newborn and with another one her own age... hmm, interesting. I am totally enjoying this time with him, although it is full of challenges - and it is hard to find the time to eat - or go to the toilet :) But I wouldn't trade it for anything! When I spend my time mostly playing with the two little ones, watching them outside in the beautiful sunshine, with the dog, cats, ducks and since today - 10 guinea pigs (that we are taking care of for friends for a few days) - and all of this in our beautiful garden - it just thrills me! To pour my love, affection and prayers into this little boy is so fulfilling! Today, we went to the hot thermal pools. I am hoping that it will help decongest him, since his breathing is very heavy and he needs to take a lot of medication to help him breathe. I was also hoping for some relief for myself, since he came with a cold and cough and has already passed them to me. I was told it was part of his asthma and basically cronic - for some reason I thought that meant that it wasn't contagious... He also has a cronic runny nose. It is especially bad all morning. You have to wipe his nose every 2 minutes! Anyway, I am fine despite it all, and happy! It feels like an ENORMOUS GIFT to me to be able to care for him these few days! And his happy smiles and affecionate cuddles make up for anything:)! OK. I could go on and on - - - but I'd better get a few hours of sleep going.

A wonderful day - North and South I knew it! As soon as I hung up the phone, I just had this feeling that I was going to get another call today - about the baby or some other little one that we were being asked to care for. A friend had just called from Tahiti, asking if it would be alright for him to visit us, as he had a plane ticket that needed to get used tonight or it would be lost. I said, sure, since I really didn't have much else going on in the next week or so and with the kids on vacation, it seemed perfect timing. I am still waiting for his phone call to confirm his coming tomorrow. He would be flying into Christchurch, get picked up by Rich and Jeremie who will be there tomorrow and then accompany them on their way back north with the caravan. After they get back, he'd stay another week with us here. And sure enough, not long after this phone call, the phone rang again and - yes - it was "the call"! We were told that the baby still hadn't been found but that another little one needed care for a week. And so - 16-month old Sleyd (Maori) will be coming with us tomorrow. I am so excited and looking forward to him! He has been with another caregiver since birth and the other caregiver is going on vacation for a week - hence the need for respite care. Seems like he's a pretty easy going little fellow. The only challenge seems to be that he has astma and usually wakes up several times a night (not looking forward to that part). So if I don't write for a few days, don't be surprised. Unfortunately there won't be any photos either until Rich comes back with the camera. Speaking of which - he and Jeremie had a wonderful day today hiking for 3 hours just to touch snow and have a snow ball fight (Jeremie is absolutely crazy about snow - LOVES it!!!). They saw some most beautiful scenery and Jeremie took about 200 photos! After trying - unsuccessfully - to catch some fish for dinner they called me while eating some canned pork and beans - no fish today. Rich said he was completely exhausted during their hike, while Jeremie pretty much ran the whole way. I guess his rowing training is paying off. He was supposed to run 10km today and Rich was confident that he did it! Seems like father and son are having some memorable moments together :)! I - on the other end - or rather, the other island (North Island) took Leilani, a couple of friends and Kylie to the beach. Even Toffee, our dog, came along, after Kylie insisited and made her get into the car. It was almost like a summer day and the kids all got wet - although they weren't supposed to swim - it's just a bit too cold for that yet. We were soooo blessed to see a whole bunch of dolphins swim by close to the beach! Had never happened before or at least we had never seen them! The kids claimed to have sighted a killer whale, too, and later a seal. I can't confirm that - but that doesn't mean they weren't there - I still don't have my contact lenses yet:) (they are ordered, though). We also picked up Andrea (the German girl) again and she is staying with us. Tomorrow at noon, we will have a German "party". I invited 2 young German girls I met at the store. They have only been here a little over and week and already miss the German bread. So I thought it to be a good opportunity to reach out to them and share some home-made "German bread" with whole wheat and grains - yumm - and hopefully also the "real bread":). Thank you, Jesus, for a wonderful day! Got to go to sleep now...

Pet Day Today was "Bring a pet"- day at Sunday school after learning all term about different animals and how we are like them or should be like them (like the busy ant). Kylie won the prize for the skinniest pet. Guess what she took? A worm! She LOVES worms - and all other creepy/crawlies and other animals - for that matter. She cries when I kill an ant. Toffee, our Golden Retriever, won the prize for the biggest animal. Jeremie took her - after he gave her a thorough clean yesterday. (He's in Sunday School as a helper/leader.) Good thing we didn't come in the first service this morning, 'cause Toffee wouldn't have won her prize. Some of the kids brought their calves :) What a pet! Yep, this is New Zealand, folks! Of course there were also lambs and the usual pets, like rabbits, guinea pigs, cats and dogs.

Full Week Even though we still don't have the little girl with us (they still haven't found her), this week has been full - so full, that I didn't get around to blogging. We had an unexpected visitor from Fiji: Andrea from Germany. Confusing? Well, she actually is Romanian by birth but immigrated to Germany as a child and grew up there. Now she is serving with YWAM in Fiji. Due to a visa problem, she suddendly had to leave the country - and came to Tauranga! She is staying with one of the interns right now but will be back with us next week when there's a bit more room in the house. Kylie adopted her right away as her friend (as she does with anybody walking through our front door) and gladly let her sleep in her bed. It's good to have a bit more German spoken around here, since Kylie doesn't speak much in German. She understands well, but always speaks back in English. Same with French. The kids started a two week vacation today - YOUPPIE!!! Rich and Jeremie will fly to Christchurch in the South Island next week and pick up a van and a caravan that friends of ours from Germany have bought via internet. (They will come to NZ in November for 6 months.) Should be some good father/son time with all those hours of driving (around 30).

Update Our guest has just left and before heading off to bed, I just want to let you know that - NO - there's no baby YET in the Betts-house. You never know what tomorrow will bring, though... :)

More waiting Another day has gone by and the mother and babies have still not been found. One thing is good: it is settled that we will for sure NOT have both children. I really didn't have peace about it and let the social worker know today. So, unless another family is found that will take both of them, we will take care of the little baby girl - once she is found. I know that it would be better for the children to stay together, but at the moment, all we can offer is loving care for one baby - without putting stress on our family. And who knows what's really going to happen... Lord, please put your arms of love around this mother and her children. Protect them from any harm, neglect or abuse. And help the mother make good choices.

Comments Just a short note to let ya know that you can now leave comments on my blog. I was told by a friend (thanks, Trena!) that my settings didn't allow any comments. I didn't really know what I was doing when I was setting it up. Well, it is fixed now(I think) and you're all more than welcome to leave your comments :)!

Ramblings I've just got to share something else with you. I have found that when I write, it is partly to share with you, my friends and family. Another part is that I ENJOY writing things down - it helps me "digest" what is going on inside of me. A bit like some people who actually learn by talking... or rather it helps them work through an issue or come to a decision when they talk, talk, talk... :) I am like that sometimes - poor Rich :) - what a blessing that he is a good listener (most of the time!) So here I go again: Yesterday when I was driving home from Hamilton, Nathalie's music blaring in the car, all of a sudden, this Scripture popped into my mind - very clearly - "I have set the Lord always before me. Because HE is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."(Psalm 16,8) I kept thinking about it the rest of the trip home. This is really beautiful! When I am driving the car, I always have to "set the road before me", be focused and not look around to the right or the left - at least not too much (as I wrote I did enjoy the landscape around me!). Same with life - God has to be always before me - I need to be continually focused on him, in every little and big thing that comes along. That's the way to go! Because HE is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. What a comforting picture! NO OTHER REASON but the fact that I know he is at my right hand gives me CONFIDENCE, ASSURANCE and PEACE - no matter what happens in life! That is so true, and how often have I experienced this throughout the years - through all kinds of very difficult situations. I will not be shaken, I can stand my ground and go through whatever it is - not without pain - but I can stand and not be shaken. Here are some more verses from that Psalm - oh, do I enjoy the Word of God! FOOOOD for my soul :)!!! "I will praise the Lord, who counsels me, even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. THEREFORE - my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

Kylie's first animal drawing Can you guess what animal Kylie drew? Her very first one - totally her own initiative? No, it was NOT a cow, a dog, a bird or a sheep. It was a KIWI bird - THE New Zealand icon! Now I was definitely quite impressed! It was not so much the actual drawing (looked like a person's face, just with a very long nose and she said it was a kiwi), but the fact that this little American/German girl is actually growing up as a real Kiwi, (another word for New Zealander, in case you didn't know). After raising 3 islanders, we're now raising a kiwi - - - funny thought :)

Spring is definitely here! Oh oh oh - - - HOW I LOVE SPRING! The trip to Hamilton today was just fantastic! I LOVED driving through the most beautiful scenery, with lush, green rolling hills dotted with sheep and little lambs. Seeing different colours starting to bud through trees - some green, and then all kinds of other colours, was so amazing!!! The green is sooo fresh and lush and the variety of LIFE that comes to seemingly dead trees mind-boggling! And then the daffodils everywhere - WOW!!! I don't remember enjoying God's creation so much when I was younger. As a matter of fact, I remember one elderly lady telling me once - after we'd been in Tahiti a couple of years (she was receiving our newsletters) that I needed to learn to "stop and smell the roses" (which obviously I wasn't doing). Maybe it's that I am getting older - or maybe just that my heart is getting more tender - I wish to think it's the latter :) - but all this BEAUTY deeply touches my heart to the point of crying (for joy). It is like God speaks directly to me through nature. Spring to me speaks of HOPE and LIFE! No matter how dead. barren and impossible a situation seems, there CAN BE HOPE, NEW LIFE and indescribable BEAUTY!!!!!!!!!!! AWESOME GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the way, we didn't get lost today - thanks to Nathalie :) - and the school looks great! I really liked what I saw of Hamilton and wish we'd had more time. The shopping there is definitely WAY better than here in Tauranga :) I guess we've got to go back there some time.

More Suspense... Those of you who have been following my blog faithfully are probably anxious to hear what is happening with our potential foster children. SO ARE WE! :) Today's news is that they have not been able to find Mom and babies. They have also not been able to find another foster family yet - - - which leaves us wondering what is going to happen tomorrow. It is exciting and nerve wrecking all at the same time to be in this state of just waiting to see if your life is going to be turned upside down :) - but I love it! Watch this space - - -

Suspense... Well, we don't know yet what is going to happen with the two darlings. After praying and wrestling through all kinds of thoughts we came to a decision: we told the social worker this morning that we would prefer it if another family was found for the children. We would, however, be willing to take them if no other family was found. And - we could for sure take just the baby. Our concern is having a baby PLUS a 2-year-old, PLUS a 3-year-old. Especially, since our garden is not really safe for a smaller toddler. Kylie knows where she can go etc. and quite often just goes outside by herself for a while. But if I was busy feeding or changing the baby, it could be a challenge to keep a 2-year-old safe. Not to speak of the nights - who knows what they have been through and how much they will miss their Mommy - - - Anyway, the latest news is that the social worker was so overwhelmed with work and another situation that came up today that she had no time to even call another foster family. Also, it seems that the mother has gone into hiding with her children, so that they cannot be taken from her. Isn't this such a horrible situation?! So sad - it must be awful for her to have to give up her children - even just for a time - and let them be taken care of by total strangers that she doesn't even get to meet. It seems that she is quite young and normally a good mother, just having a hard time right now and going through depression. All we can do now is pray - and wait - - - Tomorrow, I will be gone most of the day. It will be a mother-daughter time - Nathalie and me. YEAH! We will go to Hamilton (a good hour drive from here) and look at a potential school for her for next year. She only has a couple of months of "High School" left and then will go on to new things. For now, her plans are to get a full-time job and earn money so that she can then do a DTS (Discipleship Training School) with YWAM. After that, she would like to be trained in tourism and event managing, hence the school we're looking at. So, it should be an interesting day tomorrow... I have never driven to Hamilton and don't know my way around at all. I also have a reputation for having a horrible sense of direction. Good thing we're not in Los Angeles or Hong Kong :)! I told the social worker, if they find (the mother and) the children and need a home immediately (and haven't found another family), that they can bring them as soon as we are back home - hopefully around 4pm. In the evening, we're supposed to be at Leilani's school at 5:30pm for a special event. Never a dull moment :) I am grateful that I am starting to feel better in my body. Thank you, Jesus! Your will be done about this situation with the children!!!!!

Decisions Decisions... While Rich is out on a father-son "date" and Leilani taking a bath with Kylie (bless her heart, she does this almost every time Kylie needs a bath!), I am turning the question in my heart and mind: "Shall we say yes - or no???" We got a call from the social worker today asking if we would be willing to take care of 2 little ones for a month or 2, starting Friday. A little 8-month-old girl and her 2-year old brother - half Maori, half Indian. Normally, we would definitely do this! But I am still not 100% in my health and haven't had a good night's sleep in a long time. Kylie is also just getting better from another bout of flu that "hit" her on Saturday night. It's really a hard call. Part of me would LOVE to say yes and really doesn't like to refuse these little ones. Another part of me thinks it just may not be wise. I was about to call the social worker this afternoon and and tell her that we can't do it. But then, I've learned not to take rushed decisions, especially when I am exhausted. I had been cleaning up the whole house for our house inspection (which we have every 3 month with the rental agency) and was soooo tired. I'll sleep over it and together with the rest of the family, keep pondering and praying... Another thought that comes in is that Rich will be going to Fiji in less than a month for 2 weeks... Lord, please give us your mind. You know all things and see the big picture. You know if we are the right family to help out with these precious little ones or if there is a better family for them, if it would be too much for me or if your grace will be there.

Isn't God good?!! Today, I was reminded of something I heard many years ago. Somebody told me "God is no man's debtor", and "You can't outgive God". When I was playing today with Flynn and Kylie with the duplos, I was filled with thankfulness. We have a ton of duplos! In the past, there were quite a few times when our family had to move and leave behind just about all the kids' toys. I used to be sad about this (as were the kids), but we couldn't change it. It was just one of those sacrifices that came with our calling. One of the things we had left behind were our duplos. When we were in Germany last time, a family came up to us and offered us all of their duplos - for Kylie. They were even shipped to New Zealand free of charge and now Kylie and many other kids enjoy them! The amazing thing is that we now have WAY MORE duplos than we ever left behind!!! Another sacrifice about raising children on the mission field was that there were virtually no playgrounds. Growing up in a Western nation, you look forward to playing on playgrounds with your kids, pushing them on the swing etc. We pretty much only got to do that when we were on furlough. Well, guess how God has outgiven us NOW? Nathalie started a new part-time job at "Lollipops Playland" just 5 min. from our home, It is a newly opened indoor playground and not just a little one - a wonderful one where you can easily have HOURS of fun! She was told today that her immediate family gets to go there any time for FREE!!! YAHOO!!! I know where our new favorite spot is going to be - Kylie's (and Leilani's, until she turns 12 and can't go anymore) anyways - and probably mine, since I will get to take them :)! Thanks, God!!! And thanks, Nathalie!

A good laugh! It's Friday night. The two toddlers (Kylie and Flynn) have just fallen asleep after a busy day, Rich is at the prayer house, Nathalie and Jeremie at youth group and Leilani at her friend's house overnight. Which leaves me with - - - the dinner dishes. So before attacking them and the rest of the necessary tidy up in the house, I enjoy a few minutes of blogging away. When Flynn arrived, he brought a big book about dogs with him. So we looked at it this morning, page after page, admiring all the different varieties of dogs there are. Kylie was unusually quiet during that time and all of a sudden blurted out, "I love hot-dogs!" - LOL Another one that had me literally on the floor and in tears with laughter was during dinner time. Flynn was getting down from the table and Rich wanted to know if he was finished. "Are you finished, Flynnished?" - - - oops :) I received a rather nice compliment today when I brought a meal to a family that has recently lost the husband/Dad and the Mom is expecting her 4th child very soon, "Angel in disguise" - wish my family ever called me that for preparing dinner each night - - - :) I hadn't seen Vanessa since we moved (they live 30 min. away) and knew nothing of her day, but both the 8-year-old daughter and the Mom had tears in their eyes when I arrived... Still don't know more because I couldn't stay long (had 3 kids in the car), but I guess it is good to follow those promptings when they come. So life continues to be fun - and challenging - especially with my body still fighting the flu. I am so grateful I can do all I need to do and don't have to stay in bed or rest much (although that would probably help :))

Warming up Signs of spring are definitely in the air: daffodils, new lambs (so cute!) and warmer temperatures. Unfortunately, we are still battling the winter colds. Rich and Kylie were sick again last week, I am battling this week. I was trying to put a couple of photos of Kylie doing artwork outside today, but it doesn't seem to work today... She was getting so hot around noon that she started peeling off her layers of warm clothes. Before I knew it, she was sitting naked on the little wooden swing she got for her birthday - in full view of cars driving by our yard - oops! This evening, we had a young man come to our house. He wanted to sell us a vacuum cleaner and stayed for a while explaining everything to us (we didn't buy it). Since I was getting dinner ready and told the kids that we were ready to eat, she went up to him as he was packing up his gear and told him: "We're eating dinner, guy!", motioning for him to come and join us :)

Funny Contrasts It just hit me the other day when we had the interns from the "House of Prayer" over for brunch what a HUGE contrast it is ministering to them as compared to the youth in Tahiti! We love all of these young people, but - oh - what a pleasure it is to hang out with the interns! They are young but so sold out to God and already amazingly mature in spirit and just fun - and even inspiring - people. The precious Tahitian youth were the opposite - it just makes me want to cry when I remember them. Such broken lives with so many insecurities and hurts and often unable to receive love. We would have crisis quite regularly - rescuing some from suicide or breaking up terrible fist fights between them, having rocks thrown on our ministry building while having a meeting because we didn't invite all of them for dinner to our house (only the ones that had helped clean the "Refuge" in preparation for a DTS team) etc. A couple of times, I almost got beaten up ... but thank God it never came to that. And the stories just go on... May you shower them with your love, Lord, and restore their lives!!! As for us, this is soooooooooo much easier. Thank you, Lord, for the break you are giving us! We better enjoy it while it lasts! Who knows what assignments are around the corner :)?!! Speaking of assignment, I better get going with my housework. I've got to get the house ready. Flynn is coming again tomorrow while his Mom is having her surgery. We don't know for how many days he will be with us, I just know that I don't get much housework done when he is here :).

People People People It's amazing how many lonely, needy and hurting people live among us. You could never tell - well, let's say, most of the time :) - until you start talking with them. I've had the privilege of meeting several ladies in the last few days that really need help or just a listening ear and some kindness. I LOVE PEOPLE!!! When I was just a teenager and grasped by the love of God, I kept walking the streets of my town in Germany, looking at PEOPLE, feeling God's love for them and wishing I could spend my life reaching out to them. I said to God, "Wouldn't it be great if it could be my job to do this - to have the time just to stop and sit on a bench with somebody - being a friend and talk to them about YOU?!" Well, God granted me my desire and I love it!!! Just this week, I met this single Mom with 2 little ones under 2 that is exhausted and needs help and a friend. Then I met another young Mom with a very busy husband and 2 little ones under 3. She is pregnant, too, and feeling horrible - just the way I felt when I was pregnant with Kylie. Only that she has no help at all... and her 14-month old is very active and into everything. Her doctor had just diagnosed her with severe depression... Then today, I had a sad and lonely widow over for morning tea and in the afternoon was able to take home an elderly lady who had been waiting for a bus for an hour and was getting desperate. She knocked on my car window as I was getting ready to leave the parking lot (after going to the optometrist for my contact lenses! By the way, we found my glasses!). It was funny, she kept talking the whole way - and not always nicely - about different politicians and problems with the traffic. When I dropped her off, I said "God bless you" and she got really excited and said: "Oh, God bless you, too! I am a Christian, too!" :) I love it how God directs me day by day! I've had another few guests at the house this week and will have the interns over again tomorrow. Sometimes I wish I could do so much more. But I have learned that I am not the answer to every need :). I need to be sensitive to God and find out when to do what. And then, of course, I've got to make sure I take good care of my family, too! Not to mention catching up on correspondence and our family finances (tends to get pushed to the end of the "to do" list).

Time for New Contact Lenses This is it! I am going to have to get new contact lenses really soon! My optician in Germany told me 2 years ago that my contact lenses were done and I needed new ones. Well, he said, they could maybe hold out for one more year but after that I really needed new ones. A few weeks ago, one of my contact lenses disappeared mysteriously while I thought I had put it into my eye. Since then I went without and just put on my glasses when I was driving the car. My glasses are 19 years old and terribly out of fashion. I've got to confess that I even took them off before I arrived at Leilani's school every day - didn't want to scare the kids - or - more honestly - vanity got the better of me :) Well, today, my glasses also disappeared mysteriously, I had them with me one minute and the family saw them and the next minute they were gone - nowhere to be found! This doesn't happen normally! I have had contact lenses for 19 years now and have only had to replace them once, and my glasses never! The only conclusion I can come up with is that it must be God's way to encourage me strongly to get those new contact lenses. I guess, he is going to provide for them, too! Thank you, Daddy!!! :)

Feeling awkward One morning a week, I am going to a ladies' cell group of our church, where we do crafts - mostly Christmas decorations and gifts. Yes, we're only August, but the weather sure is more Christmassy now than it'll be in December so it's quite fitting! Look at this view from our home this morning at 7:30 with frost - oh, it was so beautiful, but colder than ever - only 45degrees Fahrenheit, 8degrees Celcius - in our bedroom this morning - brrrr. I felt to joing this group because I am starting to befriend the lady who runs it, Deborah. She is just a couple years older than me, has got 8 kids from 19-4, was a pastor's wife and has home schooled for years - just the funnest person to be around and very inspiring! Of course, preparing "stuff" for Christmas comes in handy too and I haven't done crafts in YYYEEAAARRRSSS. I used to love it. Just never seemed to get around to anything more than the essentials. Even now, I really have to fight for this time every Wednesday, but I am loving it. Well, sort of. Let me explain: I do LOVE getting into crafts again, and the feeling of actually getting some little gifts made - and so early - leaves me feeling pretty good. On the other hand, spending time with these ladies makes me realize how "out of it" and "different" I am... Once again. Don't get me wrong! They are very nice people! Every time I change countries and cultures, I feel like a dumb little kid once again that knows nothing and has to learn everything. Sure, there is the advantage of at least speaking some of the language. I stress the "some", because the English I learnt hanging around Rich all these years is quite different to the English they speak here... I was told that there are 40,000 words different between American and New Zealand English - I believe it - and am still learning. The language is actually just a minor in the feeling awkward. Of course, there are all the fine differences in humour and just the "feel" of life that I am learning - and feeling quite out of it most of the time. The biggest gap I find is the vastly different life we have lived. Having lived in Tahiti all these years and then coming here really makes me feel like I am from a different planet! The kind of things the ladies talk about - and it's all the little things of running families and living life - I just can't relate to. For instance when it comes to Christmas and all the decorations, gifts, food, activities etc. - I have never had or done any of it. Life was so much simpler in Tahiti! And they think it strange that we don't have Christmas stockings for our kids and specially "themed" birthday cakes, just to give you a couple of examples. Of course they're too polite to say it out loud, but you can just feel the awkward silence. As a matter of fact, I have learned that the best thing is to listen and stay silent, at least most of the time. How does that saying go? "Even a fool when he is quiet, people will think he's wise." Of course, I do want to join in sometimes, like today when they were talking of birthdays and how the kids can choose their favorite food. They all said what their kids' favorite foods were (like hamburgers etc) and were REALLY quiet when I mentioned what my kids want as special food on their birthday - raw fish... Get the picture? So, I am on a journey again to learn the ways of a new culture. It's always good to eat a bit of humble pie - - - maybe part of God's plan to answer my prayers for killing my pride. Yeah! And - at the end of the day - I can honestly say that all the learning of the past has enriched me greatly! And - who knows - maybe God will allow me to enrich the other ladies too, with some of the experiences I've had! Better stop rambling. All that said, I really do enjoy learning and getting to know these new people and their culture! Thank you Jesus for the awesome privilege we have of living in beautiful New Zealand!