I wonder

Throughout my life I have wondered many different things:

• What middle school and high school would be like
• How it would feel to be a real life ballerina
• How driving a car would feel
• What my first kiss would be like
• Who would be my first real love
• What college would be like
• What would I become when I grew up
• Who I would keep in contact with
• How it would feel when I helped the a person accept baptism
• What speaking Chinese would feel like
• How would it feel living away from my family
• What would it be like to go on a road trip with a boy
• What it would be like to travel to different countries
• How it would be meet to meet my future mother in law
• How would I know I was in love and wanted to marry
• What my future husband would look like
• How I would meet the one
• What living in New Zealand was like
• How NZ nursing differs from US nursing
• What it would be like driving on the left side of the road
• How would I live in Germany with no German skills

These are just some of the things that I wondered and no longer wonder about because I have experienced them. I know how they feel to me. I also have always wondered ...

• What it feels like to be pregnant

Well, I no long have to wonder about that either. Shawn and I are expecting a little girl in November. It is wonderful and great and amazing. We are excited and love her so much already. We can't wait to meet her and learn together and take her to all the amazing places of this beautiful world. 

Now I find myself wondering what it feels like to give birth. Time will tell and very soon I will have also experienced it for myself. I am so thankful to a Heavenly Father and lets us have these beautiful experiences for ourselves so we can learn, grow, progress and no longer have to wonder.  

Here a little ... There a little

- We are back in the house on wheels, or in other words, our cabin.

- School. My Mr spends 20 hours a day, 6 days a week there. Honestly.

- I am moving to Porirua for the 6 week nursing course.

- The Mr. has plans of growing a beard and buying a motorcycle while I'm away.

- NZ is more like home everyday.

- I rode my bike to work 2 days last week. It was a start.

- Fox Trot, Cha Cha. The Mr and I are in dance class.

- In said dance class, I can't stop smiling.

- Love how the church brings families together.

- My Mr. has been chatting with a long lost distant cousin from Oregon.

- My Mr and I have moved 7 times in a year and half. 

- I finally wrote down my goals for 2013. Heres to a great year. 

- Future. It has been on my mind a lot lately.

- Still trying to enjoy the here and now. 

I am feeling really blessed in life. Although I am constantly reminded that I am a PhD students wife, I am loving it. Who else gets to live in a ghetto little house, live in NZ, work at random jobs, travel to all parts of the world and be with the one you love? Not many. 

I ALMOST peed my pants.

One of, if not THE highlight of Germany was these two

coming for a fun filled visit.

Honestly, I don't even know where to start. Lindsay liking the food and being SO passionate about it. Denise and I being so amused by Lindsay's actions. Lindsay getting an ice cream of the wrong flavor (we are still not sure if it is Lindsay's German or the Germans English). Teaching all about the metric system. Question: Why do Americans not believe in the metric system? This adds to culture shock moving to another country. Just sayin. 

Anyways... where to start. Oh yeah! I think I will start with the night Linds got left at the train stop. In my very compassionate heart I still laugh so hard about this. 

So there we were, leaving Shawn's school and headed to dinner. Lindsay had been flirting with a certain boy, lets say his name is Mike. Naturally, me being the amazing friend that I am and being so good at the "game", I told Linds to call Mike and invite him to dinner with us. It took some convincing on Denise and mine part but after of a minor case of hyperventilation, she called! He said yes. She said when. He said "how about right now"! HA HA. But really pretty much that is how it happened. 

The phone call ended and we decide that we need to devise a plan to get the two alone. Hello! Due to my husbands awesome ability to problem solve, he came up with a priceless idea. The idea: Just after eating dinner, Lindsay would say she wanted ice cream. Shawn would reply that he didn't feel well. Denise would add that she was really tired and I would say that I am too full. AND Mike would want ice cream, so he and Linds would be on their own. Perfect? Perfect! We laughed and Lindsay told us absolutely not. Still don't know why, seems flawless to me. 

Before we know it we are at dinner, the five of us. All is going great and we couldn't see it getting any better... until... Mike says "I feel like some ice cream!" To which Shawn replies "Oh I don't feel well. Denise chimes in, "Yeah, I am really tired" and I followed it up with "I am too full." Needless to say, we all trying to not bust a gut. Could he have played into our idea any better. NO! 

After dinner we are walking back to the train station. Lindsay and Mike are in front of us three, awkward. They are sharing an umbrella, awkward. We (Denise, Shawn and I) want out. We are trying to think of anything but seem to be out of ideas. It seems our only idea, the ice cream, was a flop. AND then... something happened. I think back and am still unsure of the details. I believe it went something like this. Lindsay and Mike are still walking in front of us. The train pulls up. No one says anything to the flirty leaders. Denise, Shawn and I hop on the train. The doors shut. I push the button to open them back up. They turn and look to see us on the train. I say "aren't we going to get ice cream?" The doors shut and the train takes off, without them on it. Perfect! It could not have gone any better. The four of us, counting the lady on the train, were laughing uncontrollably. 

They were only with us for three days and when they left our lives seemed empty. Shawn even kept commenting how fun it was with them around. We are big fans of Denise and Lindsay in our house. Please come out to New Zealand we are ready for new memories. 

Ma and Pa

I am one blessed girl. I could start a list of what I am blessed with but it would take my whole life to complete. I really am that blessed. However, at the top of the list of blessing would have to be my ma and pa. They support me, love me, listen to me, think I am funny and think that I am great. They do all this even though they have seen me in my worst. They even let me have New Year's Eve Parties until 4 in the morning blasting the music and having dance parties. Mind you, they were trying to sleep in the next room. Yep, pretty amazing.
While in New Zealand they have visited and they also made trek to Germany to spend time with non other than ME! I love them beyond words and the two weeks were hilarious and crazy all at the same time.

I wore them right out. They say that all they do with me on vacation is walk. There may be some truth to that. I couldn't resist this epic picture. They sit down for two second and instantly fall asleep. Jet lag may have had something to do with it. 

I even got them to try the german cuisine. They both liked it more than Taiwan cuisine. 

Highlights of our vacay:

• Traveling with a fan
• None of us really speaking german
• Guten Morgen. Good morning!
• "DAD! This is a two lane road!"
• "HOW DO YOU GET INTO THE WC?" 
• Going into EVERY store
• Mom bouncing around in the car looking at castles
• "How much is this?" "18 dollars, half price"
• Touchy brakes and unlocked seats
• Getting lost many times and taking an hour to turn around
• Not having any plans other than to travel and have fun
• Just the three of us 

Hello Mom and Dad. Thank you so much for all the memories. I love you and I am ready for another memory filled vacation anytime you are. 

Shawn was in Norway so was unable to attend the fun.

Settled

We arrived in New Zealand on the 12th of September. Due to the fact of being overseas most of our stuff was in storage. So... for the last two weeks we have slowly been moving in. This week we made the last trip. It feels good to have all of our New Zealand belongings under one roof, even if they are all still boxed up and will remain so for the next 4 months.

I spy with my little eye.... some bananas. We went grocery shopping on the way home!

Which brings me to my next topic. We are currently living in Raglan and will be until the beginning of January. We invite you ALL to come and play with us. We even have a bed for you, something we will not always be able to offer. I might be a bit desperate for some friend time.... Shannon I'm speaking to you! 

The Red White and Blue

It seems like a dream. A very good dream. A dream I wished that I could relive. We were able to visit the U.S. of A. in May and June. While it was fast and furious we had lots of fun and even had some special moments that I will always cherish.

Most importantly, while we were in Salt Lake, Shawn was able to go through the temple to receive his own endowments. Then we were able to be sealed together eternally. I loved sitting in the celestial room with my love. I love the thought of being with him forever. I love that we have made this eternal decision together. I love how handsome he looked in the temple. I love that we now can go to the temple together. I love that we get to discuss the temple, in the temple. I love that I no longer have to tell him that I can't tell him the answer to his question. Now I get to say "we'll talk about it next time we go to the temple." I love that we are in this together. Mainly, I just love him. Oh and let us not forget... I love that we have two anniversaries!

We also were able to spend very precious time with Mutti, Shawn's grandma. We were married in her yard and it is because of her that Shawn and I ever met. I feel eternally grateful for her and her relationship to Shawn. Because of this relationship he valued her opinion and decided to see what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was all about. His second week at church I met him and the rest is history. Mutti (mother in german) is just what every grandmother ought to be. Loving, kind, patient, sweet, tender, particular, hard worker, good cook, beautiful gardener, confidant and Christlike. The time that Shawn and I spent with her on this trip are held tenderly in our hearts. We love her.

I was also able to spend time with my Grandma Spanos. She too is just what every grandma ought to be. My mom recently told me that I am just like my grandma, it made my heart happy. I hope that one day I can be what she is. The conversation my grandma and I had, just the two of us, has left me thinking and pondering over the last 4 months and I am sure will continue for years down the road. I love this woman and how she lives her life. In my eyes she is perfect.

We did many other things while in Utah such as seeing a few friends and many family members. We also managed to get hair cuts. Mine included BANGS! Never done before on this head of hair... I actually really liked them but you always have to get them cut, so currently I just pull them back and bobby pin them. HA

We also made a trip out to Denver and Fort Collins to see Shawn's family. It was great being able to get to know them better. Shawn's grandpa, Pop, told him that I seem to not be as quite. Shawn told me and I just laughed, I have never been one to be known for being quite. Shawn and Pop played pool into the late night. I loved being about to listen to their deep and educated discussion about things that I didn't even know existed.

We are so blessed to have family and friends that love us and we love them. They say "home is where the heart is" I guess my heart is still in Utah because that is where I feel at home.

Competition

Meet my 5 year old niece, Emma. She is cute, funny, sassy, energetic, adventurous, she sings and she plays the violin. What is not to love about this girl with that adorable face?

Let me tell you ... she and I are in a competition for MY husbands love. Funny? I think not.

Case in point 

1) Every time the song "So Call Me Maybe" come on the radio Shawn says, "Oh I love that Emma sings this song."

2) Today's text message conversation

     S: Hey... I just met you

     S: This is so bad...

     C: You are a dork

     C: But here's my number so call me baby

     S: MAYBE

     S: Well... Emma can sing in correctly

3) Just three nights ago Shawn told me that he wished Emma was here.

4) I Skype with Ali and Emma gets on and says "let me talk to my boyfriend." To which Shawn promptly comes to the computer to talk with Emma. 

While in Utah, Emma and Shawn went on a date. They fed the horses, went on the swings, petting the chickens and even watched the stars while cuddling. Emma was the one that pointed out that it was like a date. 

She also told me that she would make a better wife than I. 

Who is this girl? At least we know that she has good taste.