Making Friends

I have to say the Kiwis are SO friendly! We are enjoying making new friends and we have been invited in to many people's homes recently, it is such a blessing. Katie has a friend from Musical Stars named Julia and we went to her house for tea yesterday - it was lovely getting to chat with another mom (mum as they say here) and watch the girls all play together beautifully. They live just up the street from us so we just walked on up after school got out and spent a few hours together. Yesterday I had my friend Jane, whose daughters are also in Musical Stars, over for tea while all of our children were dancing and singing and it was such fun to get to know her better, we really connected. Our neighbor on one side just had a baby and we took cookies over and went to meet baby Emily and had a really nice time, and our neighbors on the other side often babysit for the girls. Dugald and I have joined a home group with our church that meets once a week and that has been great fun also. I could go on and on, but I am just grateful for the kindness and hospitality of so many in welcoming us here and taking the time to get to know us and the children.

This morning Willow is off to the vet to be neutered (or de-sexed as they say here). Dugald and I are both hoping it is not too late as she has grown rather chubby. We take Rico to the park every day for a quick run around and a few games of fetch - and we almost always meet other dogs and their owners while we are there. He is such a good dog but like any puppy he requires quite a bit of play and attention. I am still not completely happy with the sleeping arrangements, he is still inside at night, but he barks if he's out free in the yard and he whines if we put him in the kennel. I personally think he should have a night of whining and just realize that that is his lot in life, but Dugald is rightly worried about the neighbors. Rico's kennel is on Bronwyn's side of our yard and she assures me they don't hear him because their bedroom is on the opposite side of the house, but we don't know the people directly behind us and they might have a few complaints. So, we'll continue for awhile as we are which just means a vacuum every morning to get his hair off the furniture (that he isn't supposed to be on in the first place!).

We're so excited to have our friends Betty Lou and Al Bennett visit us tomorrow night - they work with Mercy Ships and lived in Texas when we did so it will be fun to catch up. They are only here for a day, they've been in Auckland and are coming down especially to see us. That's all our news, hope you are all well!!