Ko Au Tenei

Ko Breanna Taku Ingoa

Ko Y taku Maunga

Ko roto taku awa

Ko Texas taku marae

Ko Stutz taku iwi

Ko to matou ate taku waka

Ko Lloyd me Lee Ann taku Matua

Ko Breanna taku ingoa

Kia ora koutou katoa

This is me.

My name is Breanna.

Y is my mountain.

The lake is my water.

Texas is my place.

Stutz are my people.

My heart is my canoe.

Lloyd and Lee Ann are my parents.

My name is Breanna.

Kia ora to you all.

kore rawa e rawaka te reo kotahi.

it's been in my planner for a week.

"blog something real."

hard when all my thoughts lately have

r e v o l v e d

around private matters.

i'll bring you something soon!

"blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they will always be amused."

It takes a night to make it dawn.

And it take a day to make you yawn, brother.

And it takes some old to make you young.

It takes some cold to know the sun.

It takes the one to have the other.

-J. Mraz

CONGRATULATIONS J & P!

aren't they beautiful?

auckland.

I finally got a chance to go down to the city! Ashley, Jayna, Mekelle and I spent our saturday downtown, and took a ferry to Devonport to get dinner and watch the boats in the harbor. Now I FINALLY feel like I am really here.

Sorry for my lack of words, but the pictures will describe it to you! I just wrote a million bajillion pages in my journal, so I'm not feeling too loquacious right now!

skype

is the most wonderful thing in the world.

yes, tyler was trying to look like a black man.

with a flower in his hair...?

kia ora.

My dear readers,

I'm sorry I have not been good to you. I have just been so wrapped up in my new life in the most beautiful place I've ever been! New Zealand is wonderful. My life is wonderful.

My host family is amazing! They are so welcoming and just act like I've been here all along. They make me fend for myself, which I appreciate because it keeps me on my feet, and I feel at home. Mini and Mosiah (ages 5 and 10) are hilarious and make me laugh so hard. They constantly mock my American accent (i.e. Y'ALL WUNNUH WATCHA MOOVIEE?)!

Kiwis are some of the best people you will ever meet. All they want is for you to be comfortable, full, and smiling! THEY MAKE SO MUCH FOOD AND NEVER STOP OFFERING IT. This is going to be bad. But I ride my bike a half hour everyday (it's my means of transportation) and I just got home from a run. I think I'll be good!

I don't know what else to tell you. This place is beautiful. Here is my first week in a few pictures: you will see that I fell down a beautiful hill of mud (sarcasm), played on the coolest playgrounds, made new friends, went to the beach (my 2nd ocean!), and am constantly playing with beautiful Maori children!

I feel more and more like a Kiwi everyday (and I'm even starting to talk like one)! More to come. Promise!

Oh, and Mosiah got a kick out of my snuggie!

and i'm off

Well, here I am sitting in my new sunday best. In two hours I'll be taking the sacrament and sneaking out the back of the chapel, and beginning my travels.

One hour to the airport.

Threepointfive hours to Los Angeles.

Threepointfive hour layover.

Twelve hours to Auckland.

My 12 year old brother is sitting next to me, reading this. And the dog is begging for attention. I'm going to miss this, but I'm about to embark on a whole new journey! And it's going to be AWESOMMEEE (you must think that in a high pitched ridiculous voice, say it outloud. do it.)!!

I have three big goals to achieve. Write in my journal a ton while I'm there. Be adventurous; do things I normally wouldn't. Work hard and pray hard.

I'll be missing you all! Please keep in touch. Skype, Blogger, Facebook. ANYTHING!

I'm still trying to decide if I should make a separate blog for NZ or keep it all on this one! Any suggestions?

(Sorry for my jumbled thoughts. But can you blame me?)

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's going to be a good one, I can feel it.