We're Back!

And we have a new blog. If you want to put us in your reader so you can keep tabs on us, our new blog address is.......drum roll please.....

nateanddianasteele.blogspot.com

No hard feelings if you let us drop off the planet.

Should I figure out how to move this blog and all of the posts over to the new one or leave it here and figure out how to save it or print it? Any ideas are appreciated!!

Chicago!

Last week, I was lucky enough to head out to Chicago to visit my favorite city dwellers Spence and Em. My mom and I flew in on Friday and spent six days with the best tour guides Chicago has to offer.

Of course, we had to get some cheesecake....and some of us couldn't help but use two forks....

Classic Rhondie-roo. We love you mom!

Sometimes we try to pose...and it turns out fake

I loved this little grocery store near Spenceline's house called Gene's. It was so cute and quaint. We ended up getting lunch supplies there and it didn't disappoint. And they had samples...does it get better than that?

We had a little picnic at the beach. By beach, I mean the shores of Lake Michigan. It is really really big. This was the first time I have seen the great lakes before. Quite impressive.

I just love Emeline's little belly in this picture.

We also like candid pictures.

We saw the beautiful Chicago River in the heart of Chicago. It was so fun to see all the big buildings along the edges of the river and people everywhere. It sure is a busy place!

I think this was Millennium Park. This was so pretty. VERY clean and new looking, right on Michigan Avenue.

Of course "the bean" was one of our visits. This was a neat piece of art right in the park. We couldn't resist taking pictures.

And the fountain. It felt wonderful on such a hot day! Can't forget the little girl wearing the shower cap....I wish I got a picture of that. It was actually a toss up between her and the girl throwing Aerial Barbie up in the air and watching her fall to the ground over and over and over as most entertaining at this point.

It's a girl!

Spence and Em found out that they are having a girl! We had to celebrate with some gelato...pink of course.

One thing I learned while traveling with my Mom....she plans every activity around meals. Everything takes a back seat to food. It is awesome.

These are bikes....city style. Aren't they so compact?

The Museum of Science and Industry was one of my favorite things. Maybe it's the teacher in me, but it was so interesting and fun to learn about everything. We got to make ice cream using liquid nitrogen and create our own tidal waves.

Don't forget the clown mirrors....classic.

Devouring our Chicago style pizza.....delicious!

Thanks Spencer and Emeline for the wonderful time in Chicago! I'm sure I'll be back soon :)

You've Got Mail

I got some lovely emails today.

It made my day to open these up and read them. One of my biggest fears was that Room 12 would forget about me. Thank goodness for technology so we can keep in touch!

The first of many pictures. We had quite the photo shoot as everyone wanted to use my camera.

Miss Ikinofo. She was my team leader and a wonderful mentor.

View from the top....of the huge hill we rode up each day to get to school.

The lake in our backyard.

Was I really just here?

Faith-Filled Experience

AoTEARoa

New Zealand is crying today. It's been rainy the past few days actually. It knows we are leaving. I feel the exact same way. I packed my bags up today, ready to depart tonight for the USA. My room is empty, replaced with the memories and lessons learned. Not a bad trade-off though. I wouldn't change it for anything.

How do I even begin to express my feelings for this place. It truly is a unique land. I have never felt the same way as I do here. This place has really changed me. I have been changed for good. Each chapter of my life is so different. It is sad to think this chapter is coming to an end. It scares me to think I might never come back. So much of who I am now and what I have become is because of this experience. I owe so much to this land, the people, and the deep lessons they have taught me. I will never forget it.

I love the green landscape.

I love the laid back nature.

I love the people. How do I even begin to describe my love for them?

I love that they wear the same clothes for multiple days.

I love the Samoan language.

I love the white clouds.

I love the sound of the rain on my window, the feeling of it on my face.

I love the ice cream.

I love Samoa.

I love the music.

I love the Butters.

I love Vicky's quick smile, Bowen's laugh, Hyrum's shyness, Emily's stories, Anthony's work adventures, Sheryl's advise, and Scott's spirituality.

I love their house.

I love our secluded lake behind the house.

I love listening to ABBA.

I love my bike. Savannah has treated me well.

I love my ward. How everyone knows my name, and uses it.

I love my kids. Room 12 will always be a part of me.

I love sausages.

I love the diversity.

I love knowing my way around.

I love the lollies.

I love the skytower.

I love the northland.

I love the south island.

I love the limited internet access. It makes us conserve it.

I love not having a cell phone.

I love late night talks with Sheryl.

I love our dock where we sit for hours overlooking the lake.

I love our bridge.

I love mini adventures to the city, and beyond.

I love how they add "r" to the end of words. Kiwitea is said like kiwitear.

I love heaps, ages, dodgey, choice, eh, proper, growling, trundler, cool as, muck around, jolly, shivers, tea, yous, etc.

I love the sheep.

I love all the biscuits.

I love the farms.

I don't love all the Asians.

I love the Maori culture.

I love taking off my shoes before going inside a house.

I love walking around barefoot.

I love walking into a shop and seeing most of the people inside shoeless.

I love having an "item" at FHE.

I love moving Janet's mattress into my room at night.

I love the humidity.

I love the way my skin feels.

I love milo.

I love Henderson South.

I love the chocolate.

I love the fresh clean air that fills my lungs.

I love my bedroom and bathroom.

I love kumera.

I love everything about this place.

I went back to my school today to say my final goodbye. Talk about a self esteem boost. That is one place I KNOW I am loved. Without even saying one word to anyone, I just feel different there. Everyone was calling out "Miss Cardna!" and I got mauled with hugs and kisses. I was squeezed so hard. But it felt so good. It was familiar. It was like I belonged there. Room 12 did a fabulous job with their assembly, complete with Samoan dancing and giving us leis as visitors. That is definitely one place and memory I will always cherish.

The theme of this whole semester has been faith. We've talked a lot about using faith to overcome fear. I think it is correct to say we all have gained a lot of faith because of the experiences we have had here. It isn't easy to see your kids walk to school with sores up and down their legs because their parents can't take them to the doctor, or nits in their hair that aren't getting taken care of, and lunchless children who go all day without eating. Life is hard. How blessed we are to have lived carefree of most of these problems. Yet, we each have our own challenges and trials we are faced with. Through it all, it is so comforting to know we have the Savior by our side helping us. We aren't alone. If nothing else, I've come to understand and know this more than anything else in New Zealand. As a teacher, I try everything I can think of to help my kids. It is never enough. I need help. That is why I am so grateful to have the comfort of the Savior by my side and to know that I can rely on Him to help. I've never learned more, laughed more, or loved more than I have here. I can never thank the people here for what they have taught me. I can only go forward with faith and remember the lessons and experiences that I have been blessed with.

I leave you, and New Zealand with one of my favorite quotes:

"Life is either a daring adventure...or nothing." - Helen Keller

Here's to my next adventure. . .whatever it may be!

Church

Our last Sunday in this beautiful country was spent with none other than our own Vicky Butters. We walked into the chapel and sitting down across the room was Vicky, next to her sister Kelly. Kelly is married to James' son, Vince. Long chain of relations, but you get the picture. The point is, we got to see Vicky one last time (*we thought it would be our last) before departing.

Here's the part dad will love. We went to a ward where everyone was a Going. As in, they are all related to the famous All Black, Syd Going. He is on a mission with his wife now in Australia, but his posterity is alive and well, taking over the northland. James' wife is a Going. I'm not kidding when I say everyone was related. We were taught in Sunday School by Uncle Russell. After church, they called over Auntie Jane to show us the old one room church behind the regular building. I wish I could have actually met the famous Syd, but I guess seeing his house and meeting his family is close enough! See dad, you have taught me well - everyone was so impressed I knew who he was :)

*Vicky ended up coming home with us to Auckland instead of staying on the farm, so we get to spend the last few days with her as well!

Northland Top 22?

I did as you requested, mom.

I posted pictures. Almost all of them, because I was too lazy to decide which ones would make the top 10.

Here is our final trip:

The Northland

James gave us fabric for lava lava's, so we are sporting those while hugging a really old kauri tree.

Jim, James and Linda

We went to the place they signed the Treaty of Waitangi.

We got a little bored with smiling, so we had to get creative.

Cape Reinga was one of my favorite places of all of NZ. We sent a little postcard from the northernmost mailbox in all of New Zealand.

The Pacific Ocean right behind me.

Tasman Sea on the left, Pacific on the right.

The famous lighthouse and post that tells how many kilometers certain cities are from the cape.

I could have sat there for hours watching the oceans collide. It was so fascinating.

Tasman Sea behind me.

This is too small to see....but we did some sand boarding.

The north actually reminded me a lot of home because of the farms and sand dunes.

Good ol' high school.

Driving along 90 mile beach

It was beautiful. You can only drive along it when it is low tide, so we had to plan it out right. I'm glad we got to though, because it was a)a lot less windey of a road and b)beautiful to be right along the water.

James insisted we try the shrimp. IT WAS SO GOOD. Rebecca and I did not have any regrets.

p.s. picture taking skills = not so good. it was better in real life.

Darc, I ate the fish and chips for you.

I think it is still in my stomach.

But was worth every bite.

Taking a little hike to Haruru Falls.

On the last day together, we gave our dear friend James a little plaque with the 16 reasons we love him. He is seriously amazing. I've never met a more kinder, friendlier or happier person. He said if I want to come back, he has an extra room for me....hint hint dad.

We ended up singing him the song "Te Aroha" in which we all started crying in the middle of. Then to top it off, we tried to do a little rendition of "Lean on Me." Yeah, it didn't even come out haha. It was really nice though, and James said he has appreciated us. We are the first group to ever include him in things (black water rafting, etc.) and he will miss us the most. I can't imagine how past groups DIDN'T want to get to know him! Well, at least in our day and age we have email and skype to help us stay connected to the world!

Last but not least, I found out that I got an internship for next year!

I'm teaching second grade at Westmore Elementary in Orem....yikes! But I am so excited!