Feeling like we're on vacation

Ok, let me preface this post by saying that I DO miss all our friends, family and church and I'm NOT trying to make anyone feel bad or sound boastful. That being said... WE LOVE IT HERE!!!!!

The kids love their school!! It's so very laid back. And they are learning so much more than book knowledge. Nani and Graham will be walking to school by themselves! Friday morning Nani wanted me to let them walk by themselves but I was reluctant. I told her I'd walk to the corner and just watch them go down the hill but the trees blocked my view so I walked with them to the bottom of the hill at the crossing. As we were walking Nani was pouting that I was with them. I said just pretend I'm invisible. She said, "It's never gonna happen." I said "what?" She said, " that we can walk by ourselves." They crossed with the crossguard as I stood watching. When they got to the other side, Nani stopped, looked both ways, then turned to me with a puzzled look on her face. "Which way do we go?" she asked. Hahaha! Guess she wasn't as ready as she thought. Graham, on the otherhand, totally knows the way. It's only 2 blocks away.
Will and Brylie also seem quite happy with school.  Brylie is taking a cooking class and Will is taking a drama class. All the kids have swimming for another week or so which is awesome! (FYI- Kiwis call swimsuits "togs") They have so much time for socializing and playing that they are very happy when they get home. There is a dairy mart down from our house and the kids can walk down there and get ice cream or a lolly (Kiwi for candy) allowing them to practice more independence than ever!
Mikaylie had her interview with an assistant dean at New Plymouth Girls High School on Friday. She will start tomorrow.  She will be taking art, Spanish and business in addition to her core classes and hopefully she will be able to tryout for soccer.
The schools here really help gear the kids towards what they will be doing in their future based upon their interests and strengths. There are, of course, several compulsory, core courses all students must have to graduate but they are more basic. For expample, if a child is not very good at math, they just do the basic math requirements and not all the harder stuff that they will never use in their life. This is particularly fantastic for Will who struggles with math and will not be an accountant or the likes. He won't have to be frustrated with math that he will never use that only makes him feel inadaquate. There is also a huge emphasis on responsiblity and respect. Every child is different, learns differently, has different strengths and weaknesses. All these differences are accepted and embraced. No cookie cutter kids here. I love it! I don't need to worry about some of my kids feeling inferior because they don't do as well as others in specific areas. They need not take the classes that they won't need or excel in.
Today we tried a new church and liked it very well. They have terrific children's programs and a youth group. The music was great too, though not quite SHN Praise Team. It's a Baptist church. Denomination has never meant much to Billy and me as long as it's a Bible-based church and it suits our needs where the kids are concerned. So far it's looking good.
After church we went for a hike up Paritutu Mountain (more of a big rock hill) and then went to Backbeach. The hike was a little more strenuous than expected and I was wearing flipflops ("jandles" in Kiwi). The first section was steps but then it became more of a climb over rocks. Graham was terrified so he waited at that point and we went on up to the top. I'll be taking him there one day, just he and I, and we can do it together, no pressure.
The views from the top were amazing!!!! Ocean, islands, beach, Port Taranaki and the entire city of New Plymouth. We then went down to the beach on the backside of the "mountain", hence the name "Backbeach". It was quite windy, which is the norm. But the sky was completely clear and it was in the low 70's. Brylie and Will swam in the waves (too cold for me!), Nani collected shells, Graham drew in the sand with a piece of driftwood (barefoot! big step for him) and Kaigan and Billy played a game rolling round stones across the sand trying to get their stone closest to a predetermined spot (kinda like horseshoes). I just soaked it all in and took pictures. I wish Mikaylie had come but she stayed home with her friends painting the canvas cover of her wardrobe. Her bedroom has no closet and she wasn't very thrilled with the wardrobe idea until we suggested she paint it. It looks amazing with scenes from life in New Zealand. Photos to come...
A couple of nights ago Billy and I were cooking dinner and packing lunches for school the next day. Suddenly Billy turned to me and said, "We never did this in Kentucky." It took me a sec to realize what he meant but then it clicked. Mikaylie was helping us, completely voluntarily, in the kitchen. The kids were playing peacefully around the house. Kaigan was in and out with us and with the kids. It was wonderful! No fighting. No rushing. No worries. LOVING THIS!!!

This morning at church while we were singing "Here I am to Worship", I couldn't help but wonder why God brought us here. Certainly it's not just because New Zealand is a beautiful place He wants us to enjoy. Or that it feels like vacation and the kids are happy and all getting along. Or even because it is such a great place for Will to go to school. I can't help but feel like there is some bigger reason He brought us to the other side of the world and I find myself looking for that reason every day. I wonder what it is...