Tis the season :: South Island Wine and Food Festival

I'm not sure what I'm more excited about. The fact that Christmas is only two weeks away or that summer is upon us holding the expectation of another fabulous festival season! Wait... I just reread that last sentence, paused and then totally laughed out loud to myself... What a beautiful contradiction for a girl from the Northwest corner of the United States to ponder... I really don't think I'll ever get use to living in the opposite season as the calendar I was raised on says it is....

Anyway, the impending season was oh so evident on Saturday at the South Island Wine and Food Festival. The weather could not have been any more gorgeous bringing with it a mob of sunshine seekers keen to soak in its rays. I was so distracted by all the great sundresses and cute, strappy sandals that it has me itching to do some serious summertime dress shopping!

It felt so good being out in the sunshine enjoying some of the south island's finest fare, entertainment and sharing the day with so many great people. For the first time since moving here, Drew and I found ourselves toggling between multiple groups of friends from different circles all out for a good time. It finally feels like our network is growing and I had such a great time meeting new faces and getting to know a few of Drew's workmates a little better.

This season is already off to a great start and I'm eagerly looking forward to all that is in store!

Thanksgiving Leftovers :: Reflections Of A Year And A Very Full Harvest

Where do I begin? This is the question I've been contemplating for the past couple days... When I last left you, Drew and I were about to enjoy some American football and delicious eggs benedict. Well, the morning progressed very nicely and Drew and I managed to have a wonderful, relaxing Thanksgiving Friday as planned... and then the phone rang. It was our Immigration Case Manager, Felicity, calling to inform us that our application for New Zealand Residency SUCCESSFULLY passed all inspections and we have been A-P-P-R-O-V-E-D ! This is the moment where I sit shaking on the couch with tears welling up in my eyes in disbelief that this lengthy and expensive process is finally over and we are now able to live freely in New Zealand as legal Residents, eligible for the same benefits and rights as New Zealand Citizens! This is incredible! And hopefully you'll forgive me for not jumping online straight away to shout the awesome news (not really my style). I've needed a few days to process. Let it sink in and reflect. Breathing deeply a sigh of relief and feeling that weight lifted... 

It also dawned on the two of us today that it is December 1st (November 30th in the States). Drew and I started our New Zealand journey exactly 365 days ago today with the hope that we had saved enough money to travel this beautiful country for at least a few months. Then hopefully find some work and set up a home-base. Our original goal was to live and work in New  Zealand on projects related to the Christchurch city rebuild for at least one year. We have accomplished all of these goals. And now as residents we have the ability to make this place home for as long as we choose.

So as I stand here in my tiny kitchen prepping a lovely chicken stock and mix up a little batch of chicken salad for tomorrow's lunches from Thanksgiving dinner party left-overs, I reflect on a year overflowing with blessings. A year of transition and uncertainty. One brimming with excitement and adventure. A year full of countless lessons learned. One of knowing my husband a little better each day. Walking together. Sharing laughter and tears, and cheering each other on through some pretty painful terrain, and persevering. 

This has been a year full of experiencing God's amazing grace and knowing how deep His commitment really is to this little family; keeping us close and holding us gently like a tiny grain of sand in His palm... I am overwhelmed by our accomplishments (and failures) this year. I am grateful for and so very proud of every risk we've taken. It is true. If you never try, you'll never know. And there's nothing but regret for lack of action.

I am thankful for my husband. I'm grateful for his spontaneous, adventurous, relaxed spirit who reminds me to not take everything so seriously all the time and pushes me to have the courage to turn my ideas into action rather than spend too much time mulling over and planning every perfect detail. He is patient and kind. And he is committed... even though this shit gets tough! 

I am thankful for another year to spend here in New Zealand. This time as a 'resident' rather than a 'visitor' (visa lingo) and look forward to new fruits bore from all of the cultivating and planting we've done over the last year. 

Wishing each of you a very Happy, Healthy, and Full Holiday Season. Xoxo

A Day At The Races

It's Show Time! Drew and I have been hearing this phrase and seeing posters for Cup and Show Week for at least a month or so, but I don't think either of us really clued into the gravity of this festival... Kiwi's do love any excuse to party. There's really no denying they love their festivals even more, and let me tell you this annual spring festival does not disappoint!

We originally planned to go wine tasting and stay out at Hanmer Springs last weekend since Drew had Friday off work to celebrate Canterbury's anniversary, however we decided last minute to save a little money and stay in town. We knew Cup and Show week was in full swing, but didn't really know what was on, so decided to check out what all the fuss was about... next year we'll be better prepared! 

After doing just a quick search Thursday night we realized C&S week is a full-on festival that kicked off the weekend before with a raging block party, an urban assault obstacle course competition, a fashion show, horse races, greyhound races, the A&P Show (similar to a county fair), and much more! (If I hadn't been out of town for most of last week maybe we would've done a better job earning participation points.) Anyway, after realizing what we were missing we immediately purchased tickets to Saturday's event - Christchurch Casino 150th NZ Cup and New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas Day horse race.

We knew we wouldn't win for best dressed, but quickly scavenged through our closet to find something decent to wear and I'm glad we did! Oh the finery! Ladies in their Sunday best. Dapper gents. Hats galore! I wish I had taken my Nikon and actually captured some better photos... Oh well. This was my first time to a horse race and it was such a blast! We even managed to win 3 out of the 5 races we bet on! We didn't actually win any money, but we did break even. I think that counts for something. :)  For those of our friends weighing a visit next spring - this would be a good time to consider!  We took notes, so next year we can really do it up!

(Oh and I should (although hesitantly mention) it is also Mo-vember, which my husband is proudly supporting... I questioned posting a few additional photos of him intentionally 'photo-bombing' several pics that would have otherwise been rather nice... They were however quite hilarious so I may put them up on FB. We'll see....)

Labour Weekend :: First Camp-out of Spring!

I wouldn't say Drew or I forgot that Labour Weekend was approaching... more accurately, I'd say we just couldn't decide what to do with the first long weekend since QEII's birthday! So when Saturday morning rolled around and we still hadn't finalized our holiday plans, we were both feeling a bit anxious.  The prospect of staying home in the city on what was shaping up to be a gorgeous weather weekend seemed quite dull!  I think it was after that second cup of coffee that we finally decided it was perfectly appropriate to just the hit open road and drive north up the coast to Gore Bay for some low maintenance car camping. Gore Bay is an easy hour and a half drive from Christchurch and definitely did not disappoint!

We spent two glorious days soaking up the sunshine, laughing and playing on the beach, bbq-ing, and just flat out relaxing as one should on 'labour weekend'.... In fact, so much so that I even managed to snap a photo of my man sun-bathing himself into such a deep slumber that he was snoring aloud quite impressively! If it weren't for the mere certainly that Mr. Robinson would give me the silent treatment for at least a week I would post it. However, I value my marriage, so I'll just hold onto it for future currency. ;)

The best part of the weekend had to be watching the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean. There was something so beautiful and connecting about knowing that this bright star had nearly just put our loved ones back home in the States to bed, and is now waking us up for another day and a new adventure. 

It also got me reflecting on the fact that this was our first camp-out since settling in Christchurch nearly a year ago. For some reason this trip felt much different than all of our coastal wandering this time last year... for me, I think it's because we now have a home to go to when the weekend ends. We're no longer wandering around unfamiliar territory in a new country without a permanent address and nothing to return to in the States (job or home I mean). We have a home here. With belongings. There's a sense of security in that. Drew and I are often asked if we're in New Zealand 'on holiday' (can't escape the accent!). This weekend felt so good meeting new friends also enjoying the long weekend. When asked where we were visiting from we could say confidently - We're from Christchurch... by way of Portland, Oregon. Xx

Ten on Ten :: September 2013

Happy Ten on Ten!

Finding life and beauty in the ordinary things of our day to day!

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I was so thankful for this month's Ten on Ten installment and the opportunity to really soak in all the beauty around me. I really haven't felt like blogging lately, so I was really thankful to have this 'obligation' to myself to hold me accountable even though I really didn't 'feel' up to it.

The past month or so has just been brimming with the ups and downs of uncertainty and all the emotions that typically accompany circumstances out of our control... There is no need to go into detail because well, the reality is the details in this case don't really matter. The important thing that I've realized however, is that I seem to have entered into a new season that appears to be spearheaded by some pretty significant trials aiming straight for my heart. I'm not a girl who typically speaks openly about my faith, but since Mr. Robinson and I moved to New Zealand I've really begun to lean into my faith and explore it's place in my life. With that however, I seem to have awoken something on a deeper level and it appears I am going to be stretched and challenged until it's satisfied... The amazing thing is that even though perseverance is clearly a theme in my life right now, I am finding incredible peace and confidence in the faith being produced from these experiences. It seems almost counter-intuitive, but it's true...

I hope wherever you are in your journey, you choose to truly lean-in to it and you're able to find life and beauty in even the most ordinary, mundane moments. It's surrounding us always, even when the path seems dark or unclear. xx