The Pohl Family: BIRTHDAYS AND NEW ZEALAND

Last month we celebrated yet another milestone! Two, really, to be exact. Brandon turned the BIG 4-0 and our sweet girl turned the BIG 7! We had our traditional family dinner and cake together and then, since Brandon was 40, I had the brilliant idea of making him go on a scavenger hunt for his gift. Of course, there were 40 clues hidden throughout the house to take him to his gift. He did well, until the end when he found it, but had to ask what it was because he couldn't read the fine print! Adalyn had decided on a sleepover with two of her friends. It was so fun hearing the giggles of three little girls. They had pizza, cake, smores, and movies. So, as for birthdays and fun, God has truly blessed us with another wonderful year gone by and hope for the promise of the year ahead!

Since Brandon works so hard to provide for us and 40 IS a milestone, I thought really hard on what he would enjoy and NEVER be able to figure out what his gift would be for his birthday. Being that we are over here, which is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and being that we are so close to New Zealand, (which was on our bucket list to visit while here) I decided to do a Red Stag hunt over there for him. We flew into Queenstown, New Zealand, two weeks after their birthday and were met at the airport by Mr. Willie Apsinall. I came across the Makarora River Ranch on a recommendation by a friend back home whose Dad does a lot of overseas hunting for some big horn sheep. Anyhow, long story short, the Makarora River Ranch is owned by a Texan, so in some aspect, it was meant to be! HA! Little did we know that Makarora gets quite a bit of rain each year, and this year they've been having more rain than normal. So, the day before we are leaving, I receive a picture of a rock slide and Brandon gets a call from Willie saying that both roads to the ranch are blocked because of rock slides! But, not to worry, Willie says (after Brandon and I decided we'd delay the trip by a couple of days) don't worry, they'll have it cleared by tomorrow when you guys land. Well, we landed and the rock slide was still not cleared, so Willie and Kaye went out of their way, got us a room (a small house) at a bed and breakfast near Lake Wanaka for the night, and Willie had arranged a boat from another ranch hand to pick us all up the next morning to take us around the slip where the rock slide was in order to get us to the ranch! Talk about above and beyond and not to mention GREAT UNPLANNED ADVENTURE !! It seems to me that no matter where we go or who we meet those that make their living from the land or the animals/crops on the land ALWAYS do what's necessary or beyond the call of duty for their fellow man! So, we headed out the next morning, after feeding sheep and chickens a the Alpine Lodge bed and breakfast owned by Michelle and Craig. The girls had a blast feeding Molly the sheep and her companions and were all giggles and smiles on the boat ride! I could write a book on the beauty of New Zealand! It was nothing but green grass, snow capped mountains, waterfalls, and clear blue water! Brandon got his stag (absolutely beautiful animals), we got to stay in the valley of the Makarora River with 360 degree views of the mountains, skip rocks in the river, visit the Blue Pools, and just enjoy the beauty that the good Lord placed all around. I can't say enough about our hosts Kaye and Willie, Brandon and I felt like if it had been anywhere else, we probably would've just been told, "sorry, roads closed, will have to reschedule". The only downside to the trip was it wasn't booked for long enough! (the pics aren't in chronological order but hope you enjoy them!)