Getting back to "normal"...

Hi friends,

On Monday, November 15th, as our pastor was dropping off some grapefruit from their tree, he mentioned in passing that we were going down to Level 2 on Wednesday the 17th. Honestly, I wasn't ready for that; we hadn't expected it given that there were still a fair number of cases in our region, the Waikato. But ready or not, out of level 3 lock down we went!

Since then, we've been able to catch up with people for meals, go to a friend from church's birthday party, have an impromptu potluck Thanksgiving with Stephen's lab, and even go away this past weekend for a little family holiday. Stephen was also able to have a day in the field with his professors doing site scouting for their fieldwork in New Zealand this summer. He got to visit some pretty amazing geothermal sites!

I finished my orientation a couple weeks ago and am now doing just two shifts a week, which is a relief. Last week I had to take sick leave because Ralph had a double ear infection...thank the Lord he's on the mend now and is even taking his antibiotics much easier than at the start (with some chocolate chip incentive :)

Our very multicultural Thanksgiving potluck with Stephen's labmates was not very American. Out of the group of 15ish, only us and two others were American and knew about Thanksgiving food, but it wast still fun and just nice to meet more of Stephen's labmates. The other nationalities were British, Iranian, Israeli, Australian, Filipino, and two kiwis for good measure :) The food was quite multicultural which was fun!

Stephen had a "well-being" day of leave that he had to take before December 20th, so he used that this past Friday and we went down Waihi Beach for two nights at Beachaven holiday park. We recently joined Top 10, which is a group of campgrounds around NZ and Australia, and we get a discount at their holiday park. Since we don't have a tent yet, we stayed in a self contained lodge/unit which was small but nice. Even though the weather wasn't great (rainy and overcast), we still enjoyed a couple of hikes and one afternoon on the beach. We're thankful for our first little get away since coming to NZ.

Other than his double ear infection, Ralph has been doing quite well. He's been enamored lately with the new bike seat we got that attaches to our tandem; he LOVES going for bike rides and every time he walks past it in the garage he begs to go for a bike ride!

One prayer note: Stephen and Ralph are applying for a partnership-based residency visa (based off my residency here in NZ because of my Aus citizenship). It is taking longer than expected because they both need another physical exam here in NZ (which was booked out until mid January due to lockdowns) and more paperwork to show we have been living together the past 12 months. Please pray all of this would come together and be granted early next year.

-Tamara