When we asked Dad if there was anywhere he especially wanted to go, he mentioned Whangamata beach. It was a couple hour drive from our house but we decided to spend our last full day doing just that.
We woke up to a rainy day (apparently a tropical cyclone is headed our way). We had made reservations at the new temple to do sealings together so we were up at 7 to get ready for that. Ryan's car made a wrong turn so we didn't all arrive at the same time but we were able to do dealings and do all of the names Doneen brought with her.
As you can see, it was a bit windy!
We stopped by the small distribution center for a few minutes.
We drove from there to Thames for "second breakfast" in the spirit of the Lord of the Rings. It was a cut cafe called Cafe Melbourne that also had some shops in the back. They told us we could have the big table if we promised to leave within an hour as it was being held for someone. We promised!
We had some small snacks and I shopped and bought myself a lovely linen apron. Dion also stopped by a pharmacy for me to get more tissues and some cold medicine as my cold was worsening.
I actually had to have a whole meeting with the pharmacist about the cold medicine which I found interesting!
The drive to the Beach was gorgeous if windy and rainy.
We arrived and it was SUPER WINDY and also a bit rainy. Funnily, when we arrived to the one place Dad wanted to visit, Dion was like "do you want to get out?" because Dad was just sitting in the car. And he was like "I don't want to get blown away"
Haaaaa!
So anyway, we made him get out.
I was the only one who got in the water a bit, crazy kids. But I mean, it's probably my only chance to touch New Zealand water.
This is an example of my usual beach hair! ha!
It was very windy
We did some googling to find a good place for lunch. We ended up at the Whangemata Ocean Sports Club and it was a good choice!
Great view, good food, super nice wait staff
We chatted with our waitress a bit and she brought us a new fruit: Feijoa (had to google it to spell it right)
None of us had ever heard of it and she was so nice and just found some for us to try for free.
It was pretty yummy!
I asked her "how do you choose a good kiwi?"
meaning in the grocery store, how do you know when it's a good fruit.
But funnily they also call people from New Zealand Kiwis so she thought I meant basically...do you know how to pick a good man? LOL We all had a good laugh at that!
We walked around outside a bit more before heading back to the cars
We drove home a different way for more scenery.
Once home we spent some time relaxing, packing and resting (Summer wasn't feeling well)
Diane and Ryan went to Kmart and brought us home some pizza and Wings for dinner.
We played Tapped 4 one more time...sadly Dion never did win, poor guy.
Bed by 9:15
This was our last full day
The next morning we woke up, packed, ate leftovers and eggs for breakfast.
Goodbye to our lovely airbnb
We stopped by the grocery store for chocolate, more tissues and one last pastry.
We were out the door by about 8:30 so we could get gas and drop off the wheelchair we had rented before heading back to the airport.
It was an amazing and life changing trip for all of us.
We all bonded and just seriously appreciated Dion and Summer and their generosity.
At various times throughout the trip, Doneen had stopped at wool shops just to browse. When we got to the airport, there was another wool shop. Dion told Doneen with no prompting that he was going to buy her a shirt. She, of course, said no need that she was just browsing and he basically said that she should pick one out because he was buying one either way.
It was just such a nice gesture!
They were having a sale so he ended up buying shirts for me, Diane and himself as well.
That's just one example of how he noticed things and just did them.
He paid for every meal and outing.
It was just amazing.
None of us are super excited for the long flight home.
We rearranged seats a bit so that I was not really by anyone due to my cold. Doneen stayed by me as a nice sister.
Dad was by Danielle and Dion on the other side of the aisle
The flight was basically uneventful but long of course.
I took cold medicine and tried to stay hydrated.
I enjoyed the New Zealand tissues which had eucalyptus in them.
We arrived to LAX and discovered my luggage had lost a wheel.
Dion and I had trusted traveler so we got through customs super fast so we gathered everyone's luggage while we waited.
next stop was the Delta Lounge where Dion got us all in and we enjoyed a relaxing breakfast together.
We headed out to our plane back to SLC and Danielle had a slightly longer wait for her plane back to Alabama (she stayed in the lounge and even got lunch!)
What an amazing amazing trip for all!!!
Thank you Dion and Summer!
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