What's Next?

We went to the midwife again today. Again, let me just say I LOVE HER! She is so good and knowledgeable at what she does and makes us feel so confident in her confidence and abilities.

In the end the sonogram technician did everything that Leigh (the midwife) asked. UGH!!! Why the heck did she have to act the way she did then?!?!?!?! And Max and I got a perfect 8 of a possible 8 score that she looks for in the sonogram. I was supposed to go tomorrow but Leigh said not to go because there is nothing more she needs to see and no need to take the risk of upsetting me over nothing. :)

She said that Max grew this week and is probably at 6 pounds now--I guess before he was about 5lb 9 or 10 oz. He is just a little guy still. Her last babies have been 9 or 10 pounds like I said so she is just not used to feeling such small babies this last month. :) She is positive everything is okay with him and me. She can't induce me here until the 9th (10 days after the due date), but her educated guess is that she won't have to at this point. She is going on "vacation" next week, but technically she is here. She is going to do her births not her appointments, so she prefaced telling us that with, "Don't freak out." :) Her midwife partner is giving her the week off next week because Leigh has been working so hard and steady and will be taking her moms/babies in about month or so here for a week so she wanted to give Leigh a gift. She will still deliver our little man barring any other mom being in labor at the exact same time. She doesn't foresee that with mom's she has that are within a couple of weeks. I am still praying it will be her there in the hospital with us.

We will continue to keep you updated on Maximillian's arrival. LIttle turkey is happy to hang out inside for awhile longer. He knows his birthday and is keeping it a secret to us. :)

Happy Halloween

Let's just say that Kiwi's just don't choose to not get into Halloween/Harvest Parties, they have a VERY strong opinion. The dressing up, the candy, the parties, the carving of pumpkins, the making of carmel apples, the fun of seeing kids creativity of who they "want" to be for a day is all just FUN!

In NZ it's a different story! No one really dresses up, not because they think it's silly (seeing they have dress up parties for any and all occasions). So you ask what is the cultural "beef" with Halloween? It isn't FAIR to expect to get dressed up, go to some one's house and get FREE candy for doing nothing!

I about laughed out loud the first time I heard Sam's Nana say that, but come to find out it's pretty much the cultural norm. As with any cultural norm that is the average and there are certainly some people that don't think that and some that think it even more strongly, like two people I heard about this week, a lady quoted in the paper and a radio host. There is a "man on the street" section of Sam's paper and the question was "Should kids dress up and go trick or treating?" One lady's answer: "Absolutely not, it is an American tradition that we should have nothing to do with and doesn't need to be here." REALLY?! Do you have to be that dramatic about it? Evidently she did. It just made me laugh. The other funny comment of the week: A radio host was ranting about Halloween and kids getting dressed up and going trick or treating getting candy for doing nothing. His metaphor to prove his point was "If you give a man a fish he eats for a day, if you teach a man to fish he eats for a lifetime." SERIOUSLY?!?!?!? I about died! You have got to be kidding me, it's candy, it's dressing up (A Kiwi's favorite pass time), it's fun!

Oh the cultural differences sometimes just make me laugh. Now, to be clear I don't like the dark side and the celebration of a dark/evil holiday and love the ways that so many churches have created safe environments for kids with Harvest Parties and such. But I think that is the thing that makes me laugh so hard here, it isn't a war against the evil, but the unfairness of getting a tootsie roll for free.

Maximillian even got into Halloween this year. One of my websites said that he was the size of a pumpkin today. Little turkey was just waiting to be compared to a pumpkin on Halloween before he made his entrance into the world!

What A Week!!!

Walked down to get a coffee, ran into 4 different friends along the way, bought some very important shampoo and conditioner for colored hair (gettin' the house all stocked up before Max comes), had a few little contractions, and got the mail WHICH not only had a little sweet present from a friend of Sam's, BUT ALSO had a letter from immigration!!!

THEY APPROVED MY RESIDENCY!!!!!!!!!

I have to pay one last fee and send back my passport for them to place the residency inside of it and I am an OFFICIAL NZ Resident!! Which means I can come and go easily, I can work with no hassles and no more Work Visas (which are $300 a pop!) and I have all the residency rights available! No interviews, no questions, no more paperwork!!!!!

WOO HOO!!!!!

What a week is all I can say!!

Vital Statistics

In my excitement and LACK of patience I didn't wait to look through NZ Geographic to get all the statistics on the Photographer of the Year Competition. So here are some pretty cool stats taken from the magazine to show you what Sam was up against:

"Two Thousand, four hundred images were entered in this year's New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year competition, from nearly 1000 different photographers"

"This year, the Society & Culture category (Sam's Category) was particularly strong. The potent image of a young boy beneath a billowing Tino Rangatiratanga flag on Waitangi Day...In each case, timing was crucial and the presence of the photographer didn't intrude on the scene, even if he or she was in close proximity. This was life captured as it happened, and the candour made each image stronger."

I didn't even explain the picture and the significance. Waitangi day is in February and is a public holiday where ceremonies are held by the Maori people (the indigenous people of NZ) and the white people. It is interesting because there was an agreement made to take the land from the Maori people years ago and this day "celebrates" it. It is a controversial subject as you can imagine. And many times Maori people DO NOT like white people taking their pictures or being in their faces on this day. It is a very heated topic in the country. Sam's ability to be stealth and blend in making one on one conversations quietly while valuing the person is what makes him a GREAT photojournalist. This was definitely the case this day. He was up at 5:30am (an hour that rarely sees Sam's face) and he ran up the Mount, where a ceremony was being held, because he was a little late and didn't want to miss anything. This wasn't an assignment just something that Sam saw was a story that needed to be told. This little boy was at the top of the Mount over looking the city. He was absolutely WIPED out that day, but the shots he was able to get were breathtaking.

The flag the little boy was holding is the Maori Flag (Tino Rangatiratanga is the official name of the flag). It has, as well, been a hot topic in politics with questions as to whether the flag should be an official flag in NZ. The picture is great, and the story behind it speaks to the heart of NZ.

All in all it is a bit surreal for Sam (and me) still. He has copies of the magazine and was also given a movie poster size print of the front cover we want to frame and a smaller print of his image with the NZ Geographic logo and the caption he submitted with his picture. It has yet to come out in stores, but to walk by the magazines and see his photo sitting there on one of the, if not the best, magazine in NZ is going to definitely be a moment to stop and thank God for blessing Sam with gifts and allowing him to walk in his dream.

Click here if you want to look at Sam's website more.

Sonogram Update

I am back from the appointment and the sonogram technician wouldn't do what the midwife asked. She was very unprofessional and Sam and I explained why she wanted what she requested, but to no avail. It upset me, but I called the midwife and she said while she will be calling the radiology place to tell them how inappropriate they acted, that everything else will be fine, they would have called her if any fluid levels or anything were too low. She said that she was just being extra cautious with our precious baby boy. I LOVE OUR MIDWIFE! She apologized for them being rude and said she was so sorry it upset me. She is wonderful! Her guess is Max isn't coming this weekend, but also said you never know they come when they want :)

I go see her Monday, then go back for yet another sonogram on Tuesday to retest and do what the midwife wanted...

I will keep you all updated

Sonogram Appointment

Just incase she sends me straight to the hospital I thought I should document the before Max picture :)

I just got the call. My sonogram is at 2pm my time (6pm in California). I will let you know what happens!

Who's Picture Is On The FRONT Cover Of New Zealand Geographic?

SAM!!!!!

Sam was selected as a finalist for Photographer of the Year for NZ Geographic (which is NZ's version of National Geographic--all pictures dedicated to NZ and the life here).

He debated going to the award dinner because it was last night....2 days before I was due (and about 2 1/2 hours away). After much debating and me praying like crazy he would go, he decided to go. The midwife also told me to tell him yesterday that Max isn't coming tonight so he is safe to go to Auckland and back.

I stayed at my friend Sally and Andy's for the night so Sam knew I was safe. We were all dying to hear the results. Even Georgia stayed up WELL PAST her bed time waiting to here. Finally at 10 or so we got the call.

HE GOT SECOND PLACE!!!!!!

We weren't sure what it meant to be a finalist but the top 6 pictures were selected and the photographers were invited to this award dinner. There was a couple categories there last night, but all in all it was the top of the top. He not only got 2nd place (the first time EVER entering a picture to NZ Geographic) but his picture is the front cover for the Nov/Dec issue coming out in a few short days!!!!!!!!

Ironically the first place lady did not get a front cover, nor did any of the other category winners. Evidently the other pictures weren't cover good enough, so others got the title of first, but Sam got the front cover! Such an accomplishment!!!!

There were 3 categories with 6 pictures each (Landscape, Wildlife, and Cultural) There was a winner and a runner up in each category. There was also an overall winner--Photographer of the Year. Sam was up against some of his favorite photographers in NZ. The other photographers were ones that work for NZ Geographic and work for some of the big papers, too. Sam got to talk to his favorite NZ photographer that shoots for NZ Geographic (he won Photographer of the Year) and to a lot of people that were in his specific industry of photojournalism.

I am SOOOOO proud of him and SOOOOOO glad that he went. He not only made some really good connections with people in the news paper and magazine industry, but also just had a great night. While I was SO bummed to not be by his side, it is so exciting to see God move in his career. He knows he is created to take pictures that document life and call HOPE to others. At times that means he does the hard work of working at small town papers doing things like taking pictures of kids dressed up as clowns. All of those moments build character, skill and are stepping stones we know he needs to take to be in a position to do the stories he longs to do and call attention to things in humanity that the world needs to see.

A year ago this week we flew into NZ a bit shell shocked and definitely wobbling on our feet. It was less than 6 months ago that he sat with Laura (who actually went with him last night) who has mentored Sam this last few months. She has been used by God on so many occasions to speak life, hope and vision and clarify what Sam's vision is that is God given has been. Her husband is Sam's dad's childhood best friend and they have stayed very connected to Don over the years. They run a very successful photography portrait business and Laura has really invested in Sam. They had a great mentor when they first started and want to be that for Sam. She is the one that helped him define his gifts and see that he was talented and gifted in one area (the photojournalism part of photography) and challenged him to think through his strategies. He has flourished once he jumped off the cliff and took the risk of following what he is gifted to do. I love his risk taking heart and his heart to fight for what he knows he can communicate to the world.

I got an email from my mentor from LA, Janice, yesterday, too. People investing in people is the heart of God and to see the difference it makes in our lives just makes me want to continue to move when God places people in our paths. Janice has always challenged and pushed me to persevere and see God in the midst of challenge and pain. She had lots to push me in this last year :) But her godly advice and words were so true and now on this side of this year I am so glad that God saw fit to allow all that He did this year. I am experiencing a level of freedom I honestly did not know existed. I said I did, but I never truly experienced it. There have really been three dreams that have dictated my life over the years. Loving people tangibly in foreign countries that have so little, helping people discover their value and gifts from God specifically within churches so I can be a bridge to people who think God (masked as the church) will never want them, and being a wife and a mommy.

Along the way the incredible people and churches in my life and my parents have helped me put words and feet to those dreams over the years. My brother was just teasing me about flitting from country to country and place to place and especially about always needing to go to where people have less than me and are living in situations we would not dream of living in over the years. It's true, for me to be in a dirty little village in Mexico or an orphanage in China my soul is alive and thriving.

As a small girl I can remember wanting to help the kids at school that had clothes that were dirty or that were made fun of...ironically half the time I was that kid--dirty clothes and getting made of fun of, but I was oblivious most of the time. I couldn't put words to wanting people to feel valuable when the culture told them different, but it is what I can see now that I SO badly wanted, even as a 2nd grader. God was always stirring my heart for his kids I believe and seeing people as equal. The other dream I have had since I was so small which just seemed like a normal thought for me, is to love people and help them see how valuable they are in God's eyes and give them a space to be who God created them to be and specifically do it in a church where they can walk into what is represented as "God's House" seeing that they have a purpose and a space to be. People that feel unloved and or unwanted at churches BREAK MY HEART. It is just not God's heart and I have always wanted to move into positions where I can bridge the gap and show people that God loves them. I have failed miserably at times and have hurt my share of people in the process but my heart for it never changed. I just heard a great quote the other day that spoke to my own heart. "We will honor people for who they are and not get tripped up on who they aren't." Wow, I am glad that is how God sees me. I made mistakes along the way but He saw who I could be and then even in his goodness put people in my life that saw the faint glimmers of goodness when the bad and ugly and broken were more prominent. I want to be that for others!

I have got to live moments of those dreams over the last 10 or 12 years and have learned so much more about God's love and grace for me and I know that those two dreams will still be there and dictate my life, but there was one more dream. I wanted to be a wife and a mommy. I played house non stop as a kid and I have always dreamed of getting to be a mommy. I wanted to be a wife that believed in her husband and her little tribe that God gave her. I loved watching my mom with my dad through all the wrestling teams, tournaments and hunting extravaganzas. I wanted that. I stumbled along the way wondering if that dream would ever come true.

Funny, to see how God works isn't it? Perseverance and pain is a part of life sometimes, trials and challenges we can never avoid (though I try like crazy to avoid them at all costs...but to no avail!) Yet in these moments I am reminded that our dreams are God's dreams. Janice's email was so timely, and the emails from my girlfriends reminding me of how I wondered if I would ever see that final dream, but who also held hope for me while I waited, cried and doubted are tangible reminders to God's bigger vision than are own. Community is such a "hot topic" word in churches sometimes, but at the end of the day community is "where you feel at home and safe and able to be you, no matter if that is via the internet or sitting in a house with someone every week." (That quote is from one of my cheesy books I read that I just finished last week. :) How strongly those words ring true for me) This week to see what God has done in this last year and to see Sam and I both getting to walk out some life long dreams is so breathtaking. Why do I ever doubt in the middle of chaos and pain? Because I am human and have so much growing God still wants to do. As I read Janice's words of hope and encouragement yesterday and my girl friends reminders this week, I sat very still taking in those words of truth. My life is sometimes TOO much of an open book, but the beauty of walking through life and allowing others close enough to hurt you when you stumble and fail is the risk you take, but the sweetness of people truly rejoicing with you when you succeed has a sweetness to it that is better than chocolate! While I desperately tried to run away from pain this year, I am so thankful God saw fit to leave me in hurtful conversations, a crazy brain that was too emotional, and unhealthy thinking only to discover health at the end of that journey.

A year ago Sam and I were jet lagged and heading to Sam's little brother and sister's school Gala, I was terrified to run into people I didn't want to, and I was spinning while trying to enjoy being back in NZ with my husband. I PROMISE you if you would have told me (us) what this week would hold a year ago I would have laughed at you and found some hole to hide in for then next year our of fear! Following God and trusting Him is the hardest thing to do some days and living a life where risks are taken and gut instincts He places in you are tried with no real plan or guarantee is hard, but I would have it NO other way. The pain SUCKS, no way around it, but the other side....the other side is always worth it.

While I fully embraced the pain (even in the attempts to run away and make the pain go away this year) this last year I will fully embrace the goodness that we are experiencing this week. Life is full of both. God's goodness is consistent. It never changes, in pain or our version of good things. He is just good, He can be nothing else. My perception of circumstances is what can tell me if He is good or not, but that is absolutely not TRUTH. As Pastor Bill in Redding says, "God is gooder than you think, change the way you think." Hmmmm, and God's grace to help you get there when you can't get there on your own is so amazing. To know that seasons are just that seasons---they have a beginning and an ending. I will enjoy this season and experience God's goodness in good things to it's fullness just as we stumbled through the hard waiting for God to point out his goodness in the hard.

Most importantly, though, Max did not come while Sam was gone!!! Seeing how this little turkey has had a mind of his own the entire pregnancy we had no idea if he would decide to make his appearance last night, but in the end he stayed in his cozy little condo and let daddy enjoy his night! GOOD JOB MAXIMILLIAN! Now as my friend Lorna said, "He has the green light to come now!!"

Little Turkey---key word: "LITTLE"

Max is just little, there is not question about that. Now to give some perspective the midwife hasn't delivered a baby under 9 pounds in the last 3 weeks so to feel Max's little body is a huge change for her. I gained back the 5 pounds this week and she wonders if it was just the scale, BUT Maximillian is still weighing in at 35 weeks.

She said that the sonogram came back last week at 100%. There was nothing at all wrong with me or him and everything was right on target. But she wants to be overly cautious so she is sending me back in to make sure that everything is still 100%. When she felt my tummy she thought he had got bigger, which might be some of the weight gain back too. Even though she feels like he is bigger and feels like everything is going to be the same as last week she wants me to go in tomorrow for a sonogram. She tried to schedule me one in the office by calling the radiology place, but they have no appointments for tomorrow. I now have to be GLUED to my cell phone she said and they will call me with the first cancellation. There are 3 options, so the scheduling lady figures it will be no problem me getting in somewhere.

She said she isn't really worried because I have zero risk factors and ate so healthy through the pregnancy, she said it is just the way my body makes babies. I am little enough that he is growing in me and she can feel every little part of him and usually mom's have more weight on their tummy to not let the baby be felt so easily. I almost LAUGHED OUT LOUD because my tummy is the part of me I have most hated and thought was SO big. Again, funny how perspective can make such a big difference!

She also said that he isn't going to fit into any of his clothes! She said New Zealand NB clothes are made for around 7 pound babies, so he will swim in all those. She thought it might be a good idea to go get some premie clothes. Here the sizes are 000 = NB and 00 = 0-3 months, so she said he is going to need 0000 for the first little bit. Good thing it is getting hot and I can just leave him in his diaper :) Plus I have a great Merino bag for sleeping that regulates temperature for hot or cold to give your baby the best night of sleep. Looks like that will be his night time wear :)

I will update the blog tomorrow when I know the time of the appointment if I have time before I have to get there, if not I will post something as soon as we know anything. Back to packing the bag "just in case." Little turkey :) He just might come on his due date! (Oct 30)

Maximilian Likes His Spot

Three days until I am officially due. Maximilian evidently likes his little apartment he's hanging out in these days. I feel great still, other than the numb hands and funny leg electric shocks.

Time Out for a funny story:

For the past two months I have had these little electric shocks down my left leg. It is connected to my sciatic nerve, but sometimes I think it is just my body doing crazy things. It doesn't really hurt but has left me at times "stuck." You see, when it happens to me I have to stop or I fall. A couple of weekends ago I was in the mall and I was starting to feel it a little, but would just stop and then get back going again. I decided to stop in one last store before I left. As I walked around this little surf shop it started happening more and more and more. So much so that all of of a sudden I realized I couldn't move. I had up to this point just been walking from thing to thing that I could grab and hold on to for a second. It got so bad I finally had to just sit down and luckily there was a little seat next to the shoes in the store. I sat there laughing so hard wishing someone was with me. Here I was stuck in this store, no one to laugh with me, and not sure when I would be able to make it to my car. I text Sam to have him laugh with me. He didn't find it as funny...oops, maybe emailing the husband who can't come rescue you right in that moment wasn't the smartest idea. He called my phone and by that point I was walking to the car, slowly, but still walking there hanging onto each car I passed. I still think it's pretty funny. C'mon, picture this American girl, 9 months pregnant, stuck in this SUPER cool surf store. That's just funny!

Anyway, other than those couple of things that are just annoying it's not that bad. We go see the midwife tomorrow (usually we go on Mondays but it was a public holiday so she scheduled us for Thursday). We will see what she says and how the little turkey is doing. I thought that since Monday was "Labor Day" here that it would be fitting for him to come on Monday but he thought otherwise.

For now, I will keep enjoying the quiet, reading books, the sunshine, though the sun is starting to leave us again :( and the waiting.

SUNSHINE and PRESENTS!

Well SUN has finally arrived at the Mount. I have been warm and even in my swim suit the last two days!! WOO HOO!! It is a holiday weekend here, their version of Memorial Day, and the Mount has been full of people, fun and SUN!!!

Yesterday Sam was taking pictures down at the Mount and I walked down the road to see him. I saw this though and had to grab a picture...



They call Cotton Candy: CANDY FLOSS

I don't know why this has grossed me out since I lived here before but it just is so different to me! It makes me laugh every time I hear the kiddies jumping up and down screaming for CANDY FLOSS. It just makes me picture the flavored dental floss.....ewww!

And yesterday Max got 2 presents!! My child hood best friend, Lorna, sent me the CUTEST package for Max. Look at these STINKIN' Cute burp rags!!! WHO HAS THE CUTEST BURP RAGS EVER???? ME and MAX!!!! I was so excited when I opened it. The picture doesn't even begin to do them justice but I had to at least take a pic :)



And my friend Michelle wanted to make Max his name in letters for his room. They look super vintage and are SUPER cute! I put the X up a little crooked but I need to wait for Sam to get home to help me, but I had to of course put them up right away :)



Sam worked all weekend but I had a good time being in the sun, eating popsicles (I made from Crystal Lights my mom sent to avoid eating sugar :), hanging out with friends and even being at the beach....and of course living in my swim suit! I forgot how much I love being in a swim suit.

Ahhhh the things summer is made of: Popsicles, Sun, Swim Suits, smelling like sunscreen, walking to the beach and talking about nothing for hours with a friend, having all the windows open, smelling BBQ's everywhere and seeing water in every direction we look at the Mount.

HOW I LOVE SUMMER!

Lateley

We have been on Vacation! It has felt so nice to be home and be home with Sam for 3 WHOLE DAYS!!! Since he has been working so much and every weekend, his boss gave him two extra days off plus his regular day off. THREE DAYS!!! WOO HOO!!

We have unfortunately still not had nice warm weather...seriously this is the LONGEST winter ever!!!! It better be the best SUMMER of NZ's history :) But we have done vacation things while we had time off together. We read books



I read three books in 4 days! It was WONDERFUL!! All brainless, entertaining, make you laugh, get lost in another world books! Sam read lots of books too...his were not brainless, but to him entertaining nonetheless. It is pretty funny to watch what we each get at the library. He goes to the non fiction, learn something, history of something smart section. Me. I go to chick lit fiction! And we both walk out smiling about our choices.

We have watched tons of movies and TV shows.



We go through a cycle of a few TV shows we have on DVD. Currently we are into Arrested Development again. It makes us both laugh out loud and is one of our favorite escapes. Sam has watched TONS of documentaries. Again, to him fully entertaining, to me a history lesson or current affair assignment from high school. :) They aren't actually that bad, I have enjoyed quite a few of them along the way, and even learned a lot. It is amazing to me how much Sam knows about different cultures and even half the time knows more about America than I do :)

And we had a tiny scare on Monday which led me to change my hair appointment to this week. PRIORITIES right? Who wants to meet their little boy for the first time with Gray hair? :)



We had our weekly midwife appointment on Monday and I had lost 5 pounds and Max was still measuring 35 weeks (two weeks in a row of measuring that). Those two things combined the midwife just wanted to send us for a sonogram to make sure Max was okay and that I hadn't lost too much fluid. Funny how perspective is in life. Any other time in life to lose 5 pounds is super exciting. That day it wasn't. I handle situations like this with a need for positivity and action. I emailed a few people, called my parents and then just knew to wait until the next morning when we could call and get an appointment. It was going to be okay, no matter what happened. Lest you think I am SUPER spiritual. I'm not! It's how I do life. I focus through crisis. The bigger the crisis the more focus I have. Then I crash. Yep that is how this went. Our friends Andy and Sally prayed for us that night, then I just packed our bags and got us all ready to go. The midwife said one of three things will happen after the sonogram. They will be concerned enough to send us to the hospital and start the process. She said he is a healthy baby, though small right now, but there is no reason to leave him in there if it's not all working perfect. Or they will send her the results and she will collaborate with an OBGYN and make a decision about taking him early. Or we will see her next week at our appointment. We packed our bag like we were going, though I just knew we weren't going to go, but like Sam said it was a trial run :)

We were able to get in the next morning and everything was fine. We got to see our little guy again. Didn't fully see him, but more pieces of him. There isn't much room in that little hotel room of his right now. She checked all things, including my fluid levels and everything is was good. She saw no concern at all. She said he is small (6 pounds) right now, but that isn't abnormal, he's just tiny. He could grow more in the next little bit or stay small.

We left the sonogram and I burst into tears in the car. I just looked at Sam and said..."I want to cry." And so I did. Sam made me laugh and teased me about how I do situations because he deals with it all the way through and left the sonogram relieved and perfectly at peace. I cried, was wiped out all day, and slept on and off all day. I did have some rationale thoughts though. The midwife had kind of said that she might take him early....little turkey! I figured that might actually happen so my great plan of getting my hair done right before he was due was a bit in jeopardy :) I walked down to my place and rescheduled my hair for Wednesday. Sam just shook his head and laughed. Now we just start waiting again. Maximillian knows his birthday and will come when he is ready. Until then I am enjoying the quiet and rest and loving just being home for a bit.

We will keep you posted and of course let you know when he comes to meet us! If you are anywhere near my parents I am SURE that you will know right away :)

Good Bye WORK--HELLO Maternity Leave!

Friday was my last day of work and my office gave me the two greatest gifts: FLOWERS and a PEDICURE!!!







While I liked my job a lot, it was nice to be done. It was the absolute perfect job for me in this season of life. I sometimes am in awe of how great it was to have an absolute NO STRESS job, be able to work so close to Sam, enjoy the job and the people (minus a few crazies here and there :) and just be in a spot to recover from all the transition. I really liked my manager and felt very blessed with how hard he (and the CEO) worked to give me a good deal when I left, enabling me to not only receive maternity leave but also have a job if I need or want it when I am ready to go back to work. What made it even greater was my American friend Jen just came back from a 3 month summer in the States and I was able to get her an interview and she got my job! I was pretty excited for her and loved working with her for a week as I trained her. Plus it is just great to have her back in town and with her moving into a place a block away from us I am more excited about Summer coming and having a fun friend I connect with here again.

I had a bit of false labor on Friday at work which only made me think--the little turkey would decide to come that early....the day my maternity leave started! Which in the end would have been fine, but my midwife was out of town on Sunday so I told Max he couldn't come then, he either needed to hurry up and come or wait to start the process until Monday morning :) It never worsened, so I was all good. He is still enjoying his little gravy train inside of me as of right now. He has been kicking still...more like pushing himself all over his little room inside me. He loves the Jesus Culture CD--Consumed, which always makes me smile, and dances up a storm whenever I have it on. He is ready for Aunt Weezy and Uncle Banning's new CD to come out in November, but for now he will dance away to Consumed :)

I Never Get Used To It

I absolutely NEVER EVER get used to watching God work. Way back when Twila Paris had a song with that line, 'I never get you to what you do.' PAUSE FOR LAUGHTER at the fact that I not only listened to Twila Paris but loved it :) PAUSE END

It is amazing to see God's hand at work. While this last year has been a bit of a surprise and at so many times I found myself doubting God at moments in areas I never thought I would. Even in that though, I did find myself still never getting used to watching God work, or seemingly "not work." There is just something about it for me. I clung to the phrase Pastor Bill from Redding said in this last year, "God is gooder than you think, change the way you think." Even when my emotions and fear said different I made my mind at least say that hoping it would sink in :)

Yesterday I saw God at work in ways that only He could do. I watched him melt Sam's boss' heart on an issue that seemed insurmountable. One of those moments you "just know" that nothing is going to change this person's mind. Hours later I sat stunned, yet NOT surprised at all, that his mind changed. I just knew something had to happen or that it was going to lead to something else. Not sure where all that faith and peace came from--months and months of trials and growing I suspect. God worked in me in spite of me I think :)

Today is my last day at work. It's not really bittersweet, I am ready to be done and do the "next" thing. Maximillian is all ready in "go position" like Sam likes to say. The midwife is pleased and happy with where everything is at with me and Max. Now I am looking forward to some time in the sun (if it would ever really turn to spring here! It was freezing degrees on Monday) and reading and getting a pedicure and getting my hair done one last time before Max arrives :)

We will of course keep you all posted at when the little turkey decides it's his birthday!!

A Little Convenience Never Hurt Anyone

The question: Ready made chicken strips or chicken breasts? I went with chicken strips. I sat in the meat section pretty proud of all my meat decisions and my stocking up for after the baby comes with some great meat deals. I was feeling sorted, in control and down right proud of myself for thinking ahead to food and meals Sam and I liked and that were healthy too!

The response: With my wife and new mommy pride mounting at my incredible organization I was quickly reminded what my Nana said ALL the time to me: Pride cometh before the fall little Dana (Evidently pride was a normal part of my life as a little girl :)

The fall: As I sat beaming at myself and wondering if I should by a few more things, a random man appears out of no where. I hear in the distance, or what seemed like the distance because I was in my "I'm so cool" world at the moment and this was definitely not coming from that world, "You know you can buy chicken breasts and cut them?" All the while staring at my ready cut strips of chicken in my head. I was so shocked I am not even sure I responded in a normal person time frame. I just stared. He pointed again to the chicken breasts and just looked at me awaiting my answer. I guess at this point I had a few choices--none of which I really entertained, I just pretty much went with my good ol' standard, emotionally respond but still try to people please at the same time. I finally said, "Yeah I know." Smiling looking down at my 9 month pregnant belly and proceeded to add, "It's just easier right now." He shook his head in disdain and disapproval and walked away. I am not sure if he was more disappointed that I knew that you could actually cut up chicken breast in the chicken strips size for stir fry's and curry's OR the fact that I didn't throw my packaged convenience back in the meat section and BURST INTO SONG that I would no longer choose convenience over the cheaper price.

The reaction: I, all of a sudden, was FURIOUS! I LOVE grocery shopping and I love planning and getting things all organized and my proverbial bubble of happiness was POPPED! I was so angry that he not only stopped and said something so DUMB but that he gave me a disapproving look. What if I had a phobia of buying chicken and I had just had the courage to overcome it? Okay I know a bit ridiculous but it made me laugh to think about it. I quickly text Sam so irritated and was so mad at the whole of Kiwi culture and my disapproving actions that continue to grate on me. He responded amazingly having lived in both countries and even added, "That is blog worthy for sure!" It's chicken people! Cut in little strips! To make my life a little easier! C'mon! I of course thought of better reactions as I went up and down the aisles wishing for every convenient thing I could think of...cake box mixes, fabric softeners for dryers, lunchables (I don't even like lunchables!), anything at all. I wanted to fill my cart with convenient food and have no one say a word! I then thought of the best line ever I could have said, "Oh AND I dry my clothes in a dryer TOO." (and I have to say that my friend Amy said I should have added, too, 'AND I make cakes out of a box, drove an SUV, and drink LARGE Lattes' hehehehhe That made me laugh out loud!)

The reality: I actually do like SO many things about NZ. I like having the outlet of the blog to get over the differences...that are just that differences but to do it without answering questions or having to justify what is SO absolutely normal in my old world. Last night on my drive home I was thinking of all things I would miss if we were to move out of NZ. The list was long and was almost sad to think about. Reality is that there are things you LOVE and HATE anywhere you are. It's just part of life. I HATE that when I use my dryer, not unlike my American friends that are daily using their dyer, I feel twinges of guilt. I HATE THAT! It's funny how strong cultural norms can be on people. Not to mention the fact that for me and my own development having people or a culture disapprove of my actions is SO hard. I am growing in that and I think that might be one of God's biggest gifts to me in this last year of life--how to be okay that not everyone approves of you. I truly don't think that there is anything wrong with drying clothes or making a cake out of a box. The amount of head shakes I get for drying clothes is sometimes more than I care to bare. And the looks of utter shock that I would actually dry clothes and not really "make" a cake because to use a box mix is NOT making a cake it's putting ingredients together....TRUE, it is just putting a few less ingredients than if you were to do it by scratch though. And I have to be honest...the cakes here don't taste all that much better than good ol' faithful homemade cakes in America. Pillsbury and Duncan Hines aren't messin' around.

Reality is that my norm is not the norm here all the time. And NZ is not a land of convenience at all what so ever. There is something very cool and noble about that sometimes. It isn't my end all for life though. I like the convenience of life, mostly because it's what I grew up with, no different than Kiwi's that didn't grow up with convenience. It's all just learning and accepting it is what it is. I bake cakes out of a box, I don't hang my clothes out to dry, I don't always buy chicken breast and cut them, I like ready made gingerbread kits at Christmas and have no need to do everything from scratch. Ahhhh I may never fully fit in New Zealand but at least my stories will be great! And hey, you can't beat the accent and the fact that I love NZ for two VERY VERY VERY IMPORTANT reasons: the fact that NZ gave me my amazingly perfect for me Husband and a sweet little boy that could potentially be here in 21 days from today. I can handle the disapproving stares, glares and annoying comments if it means that I get to come home to those two for the rest of my life :)

Where's Maximilian?

If Max could talk, he would quote Derek Zoolander today, "I did it, I turned to the left!" He would also thank Beyonce and all his new friends and family he can't wait to meet for praying for him :)

The little buddy moved himself over to my left side...To the midwife's delight and surprise as she felt him yesterday in our appointment!! I was so happy :) I just need to keep him there over the next 25 days or so...YEP, only 25 days until the due date!!!

Yesterday we got our diaper bag!!!



I was VERY excited! This was one of my most favorite things to get. I had to ship it to my parents because where I got it from wouldn't ship to NZ. If you know me and my family well you know that a camo bag is just what was normal in my house growing up. When I first saw these I knew I "NEEDED" it. My mom was a little mean and tricked my dad by putting it on the counter when he got back from a hunting trip. Poor Dad he thought Mom had got him a cool new hunting bag. I was so excited that today I told Sam I wanted to take it to work...hehehe And the other plus is Sam will carry this bag for sure!

As I was putting some other things my mom sent in the package away in Max's room after work yesterday Sam decided the light was perfect for some pictures in Max's room. When the light's perfect you just go with it as a photographer's wife.

You've Got Mail

This possibly could be one of my most favorite all time, good ol' faithful movies. I find myself quoting movies a lot in my head or relating to a movie character (well, if I'm honest book characters too depending on what I am reading :) This last year in the transition and move to NZ I have noticed how much more I do that.

The other day I was so excited to go to work and check my email. In my head the music that plays and the old dial up sound that happens on the movie You've Got Mail actually plays in my head each morning. I have access to my email on my phone and at home but I try to save reading my emails for the morning at work. It is just a happy way to start my day at work. Half the time, I don't get to read them all or respond right away because the phone starts ringing and some sweet elderly person is in need of help, but there is just something to checking my email.

I LOVE getting emails and Facebook Messages, they have been like a life line at times here in New Zealand. The transition was very different than I anticipated and the beauty of modern technology makes me SO happy. I love hearing stories of family, friends, and friend's kids, or what is happening new in some one's life. And I love just getting to be connected on some levels being SO far away.

I ALSO love getting to share my life. Pretty much Facebook for me is for my family and friends in CA. I love getting to share what we are doing and I have set my whole Facebook to only read people's status' that I want to read, so it is SO fun and makes me feel like I have little coffee chats with people all day. I know, I know, sounds quite delusional but true. :) I actually saw a shirt walking around the Mount on Saturday that said, "Facebook Makes Work Fun." HA HA HA!!! I died laughing because at this particular job it does! I do like my job but there are slow in between moments when everything stops so a quick look at status updates just makes me smile!

I like to think that my life is a sit com or a movie some times, mostly because it makes the internal dialogue in my head so much more fun!

Here is a picture from the weekend. It was beautiful weather this weekend, and we were outside ALL weekend in the sunshine! We live in a pretty prime location at the beach so now it's nice out we are already getting many more people just "stopping by." AND I LOVE IT!