Me Mate

MATE (British)- noun – friend, buddy, companion

The best way to see Hobbiton New Zealand is with your mates.

When our YSA speak of their friends over here many refer to them as “My mate” (Australian’s distinctly say, “Me mate”).  We like the term and have found many great “mates” all over New Zealand.  This week we shared our adventures with some great mates.

We apologize for the plethora of family pics this week...but we are blessed to spend our waking hours with these great mates: daughter Ali, husband Ben Larsen (his parents Shirl and Elizabeth Larsen) and "Little Hobbits" (granddaughters) Adelaide, Gwyneth and Catharine.

Great mates

First Mate Adi

web image

FIRST MATE- Ranks just below Captain of a ship, second in command, the Watchstander- responsible for the safety and security of the ship.

Sometimes we take on that responsibility in our jobs, in our church or community service, or as parents or members of families.
 
First mates could also under-shepherds, vice-presidents... 

prophets, counselors, all kinds of good people who've "got your back", who keep watch and take responsibility.

Good dads are definitely our mates

Adi, Ben, and Gwynee at Muriwai black sand beach

Gannet colony at Muriwai beach. 
Daddy gannets are great mates.  They arrive early to set up nests and help the females with the incubation as well as feeding and raising the fledglings.  Most gannets mate for life.

 

Young gannets fly across the Tazman Sea to Australia but return again to mate around three years old.

gannet at muriwai webphoto

"Me Mate"

Sometimes we find ourselves hiking through Muriwai beach or life alone...

BUT life is so much better with a friend, a buddy, a companion..."Me mate"

2 mates doing some Christmas dancing in the AIB picture window

Best way to ride a turtle dragon is absolutely with a mate...

A game of air hockey is really hard without a mate.

Walking through tree trunks is another "must with a mate".  

Adi's new mate at the Hamilton Gardens, Nanette!

Redwood tree walks are better if you can share them with good mates.

Alone with the redwood people in the last blog, now Elder Downs is finally with mates that can talk.

 Hamilton Gardens Indian Garden is much better with a mate who can hear you "oooh and ahh" at the pretty flowers.

 This lonesome, onry seagull needed a good mate (and some therapy).  Adi and Shirl were willing to try to help ...but they didn't have feathers.

Great museum mates

Two little Hobbit mates shared a Ginger Ale and an Irish jig at the Green Dragon in Hobbiton.

Marcelle (the woodcarver from Bethlehem's wife) and Adi became fast mates.  Marcelle sent Adi home with her favorite lilies... because that's just what good mates do.

Adi...

and Gwynee got to hold some new fuzzy little mates...baby ducklings at the woodcarvers house.

More bird friends at the woodcarvers.

And all you have to do to become mates with the sheep is feed them old stale bread slices...works every time. This method is not guaranteed with your human friends and family.

Elder Downs found that the puzzles in the Maritime museum go together much quicker when you work with a mate.

And a pretend tea party is a great way to relax with your mate at the Hamilton Gardens.

Two of the many starfish we found at Red Beach...starfish mates

Downs and Larsens at AIB...

meeting our AIB Institute mates Phillip and Leeanne.

Two mates getting psyched to ride the elevator to the 53rd floor of the Auckland Skytower.

MATES

Ali and Ben

Shirl and Elizabeth

Lynn and Anne Summerhays-we stopped to visit the temple and museum in Hamilton and say hello to these good mates.

Downs mates

Hobbiton  

No words, just a few of the photos we took while wandering the magical village with our mates.

Good mates

Downs, Larsen's, and dear mates the Summerhays

Adi and Gwynee with their Primary Teacher mates Suli, Anna and Lani

THOTL:  It is impossible to document THOTL in the weather we have experienced.  The forecast said it should have been totally raining for many of the days we have had together, so we prayed hard for a miracle.  And wherever we went and whenever we were outside it cleared up right before and rained right after we finished.  Totally awesome and amazing…but that’s the way He works. 

Also Adi lost her special greenstone heart necklace.  She said a little prayer to help get it back and we were able to located it and ...it’s on its way in the mail.  

These are just a few, there are so many more ….it’s always that way if you keep your eyes open.

Greg Olsen web photo

Life is richer with mates, with friends.  

One of our favorites references in the scriptures is (D & C 93:45, 94:1, 98:1, 100:1) where the Lord calls those who serve Him His “Friends”.  

We can’t think of a better friend to have, a watchstander, always there, always true.  

We hope He thinks of us as His friends, His mate! 

Thanks for being our mates!

We love you,

Elder and Sister Downs

Vance and Louenda