Catch Up

It’s been awhile...Life here has evolved into a normal busy routine.

We all have our little activities that keep us busy and happy.

Charles is enjoying the challenges of his job and is making good progress with the work going on here. He plays touch every morning with the locals and basketball a few days a week.

Eli started rugby training on Saturday mornings and played his first game last Saturday against a team of local Tongan kids..wow they’re tough! (he survived the game). His sickness (HSP) is completely gone so we’re glad (especially him) that he’s back to good health.

Jacob just learnt to ride his two wheeler bike so spends every free minute riding it. His other new obsession is his ukulele and carries it around constantly playing different tunes. Other than that, Jacob is growing like a weed and is his usual laid back, happy self.

Nova is a chatterbox and drama queen these days. It’s amazing the automatic change that’s occurred since she turned three! We both go to playgroup and attend hula classes together (good workout and really fun!).

As for me...I’m really enjoying a more relaxed pace of life. Among all the mummy duties I’ve taken up exercising! (It’s been a while;-), hula dancing, and enjoying my calling in the Primary presidency (Church programme for children). The children are so care free and fun. I’m lucky to have some lovely friends that are a support network while I’m away from my family too which makes all the difference in the world.

Most importantly, we are spending so much more time together as a family enjoying each other’s company and just hanging out which we love!

We’ve had a full week recently!! First, President Uchtdorf (a member of the First Presidency for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) came to Tonga as part of his Pacific tour. It was so uplifting and a privilege to hear him speak. We also attended the huge show in his honor that the youth of Tonga put on for him. It was amazing to watch!

Mum, Ken and nephew Ezra arrived from NZ last Saturday...fun times! We’ve done all the touristy things and the weather has been beautiful. I love showing them our life here... and all the differences from home. Since we’ve been here in Tonga we’ve discovered that there are different social norms and pressures compared to New Zealand. Life is based on the main priorities in life rather than the superficial ones. It’s more about having a roof over your head and food to eat rather than having a flash car. There’s a definite ‘villiage’ element here where no matter who a child’s parents are, everyone looks after them. Things that I worried about as a mother in the past, mean nothing here. It’s a more simple life.

Signing off for now :-) *PHOTOS TO COME*


(On another note...One of my all time dreams is very soon about to come true. Stay tuned)