Our Petty Lives: Christchurch in July

I understand why Ray and Rosemary sometimes struggle to have anything to write about. Even with the three/five of us it can seem as if nothing much really happens.
But great news (from August, but I’m not waiting a month). Jessica has a Work Visa, which means she can stay until 2 May next year, and can work. This is a big relief to her as she would have had to leave the country and apply from outside the country if she had been turned down. She put a lot of work into her portfolio of evidence of a permanent relationship with William. It only took two and a half weeks from sending it in to being approved. It will also be wonderful if she can get a job, so William can get a part-time job and work on his videos in the rest of his time.

William appeared on the “The guy with the glasses” website and was rapturously welcomed back by his fans.
We celebrated Mark’s birthday in July this year, as June had been taken up with Jonathan’s party. I made a new dessert with pear, ginger ice cream and a crunchy ginger nut base and ginger sauce. I tried to make a carrot cake with no oil and no eggs, but it didn’t really work. The birds got to eat it in the end. Mark appreciated the gesture.
I went to a conference in Melbourne and had a lovely day with Nathan and Vernice and family, even though the heating in the chapel was broken and it was COLD! I liked seeing Nathan’s bird photos. I stayed in a very nice apartment – the Medina Executive North Bank. It had a full kitchen and living room as well as a little laundry in my apartment. There was also a swimming pool and spa on the top floor. I had a surreal experience swimming along on my back looking at my reflection in the glass ceiling as it was dark outside. Very calming. The conference was okay. I gave away 500 flyers for Rogo. Had some nice meals.

While I was in Melbourne I got to meet people from Autism Victoria to talk about our keynote speech next year. They seemed happy with my ideas. I also got to spend time with Janet (Petty) and Joanne (O’Neill). The weather was pretty cold and grey while I was there. I took a train to Yarraville to see Joanne, and went on to Williamstown as well, and had a stop-off at Footscray. My flight home was delayed by 3 and a half hours. Fortunately Shane was on the same flight, so we chatted and played games on the iPad. We landed at 3:00am and I was at home in bed by 3:30am.Being near the front of the plane meant I got out quickly and got a cab. I got the best hug ever from Jonathan when he came home from church that afternoon.
William and Jessica moved into their own place – at least until December. It wasn’t all that clean, but Jessica has it really nice now. They are house- and cat- sitting for an academic who is going to Auckland for a few months.
And I finally moved back to the University. I have been working from home since the February earthquake. We are now in temporary accommodation, built on the sports oval in a big hurry. We have up to 15 in a room, though I have not seen more than about eight in at one time so far. I quite like it. It certainly beats working at home.
Mark and Jonathan went with me to a Relief Society activity. (We thought it was a ward activity). They both seemed to enjoy it though, and no one minded having them there.

We got a new Stake Presidency. Elder David Thomson and Elder Watson of the Area Presidency came to look after the reorganisation. Maurice McDonald was released and Jared Ormsby was called. I used to teach him in institute and in my university course. He is a good man, and will do a good job. Maurice was also a fine Stake President, and he deserves a rest, as does his family. Jonathan played the organ for the congregation, but particularly for Sister Stauffer, who I think is Jonathan’s favourite person in the whole world. He did a great job, especially some lovely arrangements of hymns he made up on the spot for the prelude.
The next day it snowed - so much snow that no one could go to work. It was beautiful. And after five months of working from home, I had left my work at uni and had to take the day off! I made a snowperson.

Even the next day the snow was treacherous so Uni didn’t open until mid-day. Mark took some beautiful photos of the snow. While I was captive at home I went through our budget and confirmed that we are living well beyond our means. So we are doing a serious adjustment. It actually feels better to know, and to be doing something about it.

I got interviewed by some Public Affairs missionaries for a project called “Women of Faith”. They came to our house. I had shovelled the snow off the driveway so they could park up the drive. It was a very nice experience. I got to talk about myself and my ideas for two hours to a captive audience. I felt really good afterwards. I think we need to do that more often for people – let them talk about themselves. It was interesting as I wasn’t really sure what qualified me as a “Woman of Faith”. In the end I decided on two things. One is that I make sure that my important life decisions are in line with God’s will for me. The other is that I know I have a Father in Heaven who loves me and to whom I can pray for help. This life is not all there is. There is a purpose and a plan. There is a spiritual dimension to my life.
Then we were really blessed in Christchurch to be visited by Sister Cheri Dew and Sister Virginnia H. Pearce who were over for the Deseret “Time out for women” in Auckland. Hilary Weeks also came, and sang and played.
On the last day of July we drove down for church in Ashburton as Mark was training a clerk. We always enjoy the drive. We planned what to say for the Autism Conference.
Happy month to all!