Life in the Windy City

I know for all of you who live in the States you think Chicago is the "Windy City."  Well, here in New Zealand we have the real windy city - Wellington.  Last week we got the opportunity to spend a few days in Wellington for a preaching conference.  The messages were so encouraging and what a blessing it was to spend time with fellow believers.  Here are some photos from our trip. 

The host Pastor (Bro. Ariel Castro) leading the singing.  The singing at conferences like this is amazing.  

 

The special music was also a blessing.  Each night this choir sang a different song.  They had been practicing for months.

 

Our group after the last service on Friday night (minus children)

Abby and her new friend (Nathaniel-Pastor Castro's youngest son).  Normally Abby is not shy at all, but she picked this week to go through a clingy stage.  All week the only people she wanted to be around were her Dad and Mum.  If we both tried to leave the room she would burst into tears.  By the end of the week she seemed to have gotten used to all the new people and she finally let Nathaniel hold her.  He had been trying all week!

There was so much going on all week.  I kept forgetting to get the camera out of the nappy bag to take photos.  We were blessed so much to be able to be there.   

Happy 4th of July!

Hope you all have a wonderful day with your family and friends!  It's already the 5th of July here, so here are some photos of our celebrations last night.  Keep in mind it's winter here!  It feels like I should be putting the Christmas tree up, not celebrating the 4th of July!  Then when it is Christmas time I feel like we should be getting ready for the 4th of July!  Will I ever get used to this? :)

Last night we had some friends over to help us celebrate.  There were 11 of us in total.  We had so much fun.  What is the 4th of July without food?  My husband braved the cold and grilled out for us.  Thanks, honey!

Abby and Gracie at their special table!  

After dinner we had s'mores.  We can't get graham crackers here, but there is another kind of biscuit that you can buy that is similar and it already has chocolate on one side.  Toast a marshmallow, put it in between two biscuits and you're good to go.  Not quite the same, but still good.  

Do you lightly toast the marshmallow or burn it to a crisp? 

No, Abby!  It's mine!

After we gorged ourselves on s'mores we went out to the deck to do sparklers.  The only time you can buy sparklers here is in November and then they only sell them for 3 days.  We've been saving these!

Abby's first sparkler.  She was so excited.  I was trying to catch her facial expressions, but in between the dark and almost getting burned with Gracie's sparkler, I never did get a great shot.

 

You can't see it in this photo, but at the end of the deck is the cow paddock (pasture).  The cows all came up to see what was going on.  We couldn't hear them coming, but when they got close and saw the fire they started to moo.  We all about jumped out of our skins!  I don't think the cows like the fire though, because they all ran away!  We definately heard that!

After freezing outside with the sparklers, we came back in to warm up and play some games.  The little girls got the box of dress-up clothes out and proceeded to give everyone a hat to wear.  Here is Crystal, we were the only two Americans last night.

Dani and I

Ashley and his little girl, Amber

 Gracie - don't you just love the chocolate on her chin :)

God bless America!