Shushan022's Xanga

It's Been Too Long!

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:34:42 GMT

It's January 7th and the last time I blogged was some time in October. What craziness. I used to be so good at this. In Australia, I blogged SO much it was annoying... now that I'm home (and ALWAYS by a computer) I seem to just skip by my blog and think, "Hmm... I'll write in it tomorrow." Apparently, tomorrow has come and gone.
The school year has been flying by. In a matter of a week and a half or so we'll be starting the 2nd semester... meaning... half the year will be over. I still sit back and think about the magnificent summer Josh and I had in Australia and I often wish I was back there. However, things have been good here and I am content. The Lord has been blessing in so many ways, often times, in ways that are terribly difficult and frustrating but with a spectacular end. This year at the junior high and high school I have been challenged in ways I never would have expected. The Lord has been teaching me so many things about myself and how human I am... and He is not done yet. I have much to learn. Thankfully, I am a willing learner... tough though it may be.
Thanksgiving flew by, Christmas has gone, I am into a New Year already and I simply can't believe it.
There have been a couple exciting happenings the past few weeks/months that I'm thrilled to share...
First, I have been offered a position as Adjunct Faculty at North Central Technical College; which, I am looking forward to starting. I will be teaching Sociology. Lord willing, I will still be teaching at the school I'm at now and will teach online or night classes in the future.
Second, I am planning (with two dear friends) a road trip of a lifetime! We are going to tour the West in 3 weeks this summer... and it's going to be a go-go-go kind of trip... but I am SO excited! I am hoping to have a summer job after that. We'll see what God has planned.
That pretty much sums it up.
It's time for me to go... hopefully, I'll update again sooner than later!

ALMOST 2 MONTHS!

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:07:40 GMT

Man oh man! I'm NOT on the ball here!
I was doing so well when I was in Australia... and I have far more computer access here. I basically sit on my computer ALL day...
So it's almost 2 months since my last post. Which means, that it's been almost 2 months since we've been home from Australia. The longer I'm home, the more I miss Australia. What a beautiful and amazing country. I have been going back to looking at the pictures and I miss the family and friends we have there. People ask me about our trip, but I haven't had too many opportunities to just sit and tell people about it. Which, may be good - cause they'd be there for HOURS! :) I have been able to show pictures and stuff like that.
Now we're home and school has been in full swing.
Shortly after we got home from our trip, we bought a puppy! His name is, "Aussie" (go figure) and he's the cutest puppy in the world. He's a "snorkie" which is half schnauzer/half yorkie.
ADORABLE.
Josh's birthday has passed... and my 25th is coming up! Eeek!
Volleyball has been fun.
School has been crazy (but good).
Life has just been go - go - go! I like it that way, but it gets hard to stay organized sometimes.
We bought two new garage doors for our house! Yay! One of our garage doors was terribly broken, so we decided to replace both of them right away. They'll be here in a couple weeks.
It's getting colder. It was a GORGEOUS day yesterday, but then it rained... I think our "Indian Summer" is over... the cold is coming.
Gas prices have lowered to $2.99 a gallon now! That's VERY good, and I'm thankful... but until they are at a steady... oh, $1.99 a gallon, I won't be satisfied. :) I will be thankful though.
Our church has a wonderful new pastor! We are thrilled that he and his family are with us and I can see great things happening (already) in our church.

I have to scoot... but that's the basics of my life right now.

WE ARE HOME!!!

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:25:00 GMT

Well, we've made it home and life has become it's normal routine as before.
Our flight back was good. We were upgraded to premium economy seats on our Sydney to Los Angeles flight and that made things MUCH more comfortable. There were no great dramas during the flight at all... and we all arrived home on time and safely.
I am quite tired... but I'm pushing myself to stay awake until it's time for bed.

Will Be Home Soon...

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 05:21:59 GMT

We leave here on Tuesday at 1:20pm... and should be home by 10:57pm Tuesday night... though, it will be a day later. Strange.

Anyways, we are eager to come home and can't wait to see everyone again.

Please pray for our church... lots of hurting hearts right now.

Friday, August 08, 2008

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:48:00 GMT

Australia 15

Australia 16

It has been a while! We are back in Campbelltown and it has been good. We arrived after a day's trip back from Tathra and the next day we took a trip to the Blue Mountains. I have pictures of that in my pictures I posted. It was beautiful! We had a great trip down there, thanks to Uncle Gaz. Friday night, Aaron and Joel stayed with the Coulters and had a good weekend with them. Sunday was church and it was very good. Monday a bunch of us went into Sydney for the day. It was a great trip in and we had a very nice day together. We took the train back to Campbelltown and Pop picked us up. Tuesday we spent most of the day at MacArthur Square. Joel got a hair cut and was able to buy a couple souvenirs. Wednesday we just hung out at Pop and Grandma's place and then went to church in the evening. Yesterday, we went to Aunty Lil's place at The Entrance and had a marvelous day with her and her daughter. We drove back around 7pm and got home around 9:30pm. It was a great day. I'm sorry this is short... and not real explanatory... but that's what we've been up to. There are only 5 days left until we head back.

Pictures!

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:24:01 GMT

Australia 12 (I added more)

Australia 13

Australia 14

Australia 15

Saying "Goodbye" to Tathra...

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:00:26 GMT

I can't believe we've been in Tathra for a week and a half! It's already time to go tomorrow! I haven't updated because we've always been on the go... but it has been an adventurous and great visit! We have done so many awesome and fun things! We went to a place called Mumbla Falls where we had to drive on terrible dirt roads to get to it... but when we got there, it was well worth the drive! We went to places like Bega, Merimbula, and even drove down to Genoa (which is in the southern Australian State of Victoria). We have been to the beach and have been rock hopping, snorkling, dolphin watching, seal watching, and Josh and Aaron even jumped of the wharf into the water far below... where the giant bull ray lives. It has been an incredible visit. The family time has been so good. It has been great getting to know Josh's family more and more as we travel. They are all so hospitable and so kind. We have had nights where we've been up laughing our heads off playing Mad Gab and Balderdash... they've just been great times and will be wonderful memories for a lifetime. I have enjoyed sitting on the veranda and watching the waves curl. I've enjoyed watching Josh and Joel go body boarding. I'm so glad that Josh got to go out surfing again. There are so many great things about the ocean.

Tomorrow... we leave. We head back to Campbelltown and spend our last 13 days exploring the Blue Mountains, visiting family, and take our last few ventures into Sydney. It has all gone so quickly... but we have grand pictures and heaps of memories. The best part has been getting to know the family and friends that Josh has known and loved his whole life. It has been good.

I am, however, getting more and more eager to come home. I do LOVE every minute here... but (as a teacher should), I'm getting so ultimately excited for this coming school year!!! I'm sad, of course, that I won't be with my lovely 4th graders... or my dear "next door neighbor"... but I am thrilled and excited for the many things I will have the opportunity to do this school year at the high school. I'm so thankful that the Lord worked it out so I wouldn't have to drive to the other campus each day for volleyball practice. That is a huge blessing... I am also thankful to the Lord for the classes He has set up for me to teach this year and I'm getting ever more excited about them as I think about them more. I am also thankful that I'll get to be with the high schoolers... and will have the enjoyment of getting to know them more. I should also note... It's not all about school... I miss my family heaps!!!

Life is good.

I've got to scoot!
sticky date pudding and ice cream is ready!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:22:02 GMT

Australia 12

On Friday - Josh and Aaron stayed at the Coulter's place for the night. Joel and I stayed back with Pop and Grandma. I was happy to stay with Pop and Grandma, I was able to get some stuff done! On Saturday we got up and went to the Camden markets, then shopped around Camden for a while. We went to the airport and watched some planes take off and take up some glider planes with them. That was pretty cool to see. The rest of Saturday was a pretty easy day. Joel went to a friend's house and I did stuff on the computer and then packed for Monday's trip. Saturday night Josh came back but Aaron stayed with the Coulters.
On Sunday - we were up for church but Josh and Aaron were running on Dack time... so I had to get Grandma to church and then drive back and pick up the guys. I was pretty pleased with myself. I drove all the way to the church and back by myself! ... ... Mind you... it's probably not even a mile away. But I was happy. Sunday afternoon we had a luncheon at church and that was nice. Although, I started feeling pretty sick in the afternoon, so I had a sleep... and ended up sleeping a bit longer than I wanted.
On Monday - we were up by 6:30am and out the door by 7:15 for our trip to the train station. We got on the countrylink train to Canberra and had a 3 1/2 hour train ride. It was a great ride! I got to see a lot of the country and the animals! There were loads of kangaroos that I saw hopping away from the train! It was magnificent! I loved it! We got to Canberra and Kelly picked us up and took us on a whirlwind tour of Canberra. That is, any place she could find her way to. :) She did good! We ended up at a shopping center and said "Hello" to Simon, and then headed to the food court and grabbed some lunch. After lunch we went to the History Museum where we got yelled at for chewing gum, and saw Grandfather's picture with the boxing team! That was really great and I got pictures of his picture! :) I'm weird. I know. After we went there, I did a little shopping at the museum shop and then we headed to the Telstra Tower. We went up to the look out spot and took pictures, then went even higher to the outside look out and nearly blew away! It was super windy out there! It was a great view though.
When we were all done at the Telstra Tower, we headed off to Kelly's place and we all got hair cuts! Well, Aaron, Josh, and I did. Joel didn't. Kelly is a hair stylist and she did a super job for all of us! We also called Bronwyn and she came over for a bit before we left for Cooma. At around 5:30 we headed to Cooma and met Anthony there for dinner. The dinner was amazing! I don't remember where we went, but it was GOOD food! After dinner we drove another hour and a half down to Tathra (stopping quickly in Bega) and as we drove there... ... ... are you ready for this... cause I'm not... It snowed. Yes... It snowed. You know, that white stuff that falls from the sky? Yeah... snow. In Australia. Ugh. Actually, we were up in a higher altitude and it was only for a little bit that it snowed. It's not really all that uncommon. I just didn't want to be here to see it. Anyways, we reached their house and got settled in for the night.
Today - the waves were SO high! It was incredible! Josh and I walked to the beach (which we can see from his Aunt and Uncle's house)... and that was good. It was warmer this morning! :) No snow. :) Actually it was probably in the 60s or so. Then Kathy took us for a drive around and we enjoyed the sights! In fact, we went to the wharf nearby and there were dolphins swimming there for us to see! :) There had to have been a family and they were just a short ways away from the wharf. It was marvelous!
I have to finish uploading my pictures!

Adios!!

Back to the Computer!

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:43:08 GMT

I'm sorry. I have had very limited computer time since my last post. Uncle Gary has let me borrow his computer tonight so I could update my blog. First of all... I have more pictures for you!!!

I added more photos to Australia 8 and have added Australia 9, 10, and 11.

Australia 8

Australia 9

Australia 10

Australia 11

Okay, well, since I last wrote on July 6th... this is what has happened since then...
July 7th was pretty much a day to pack up and get ready for our trip to Surfer's Paradise. On Tuesday, July 8th, we headed off to the Gold Coast. We stayed at Pastor and Mrs. White's place on Tuesday night. It was a really amazing visit with them! They took us directly up to a place called Mount Tamborine where we had an awesome time feeding the lorikeets and enjoying the views from the little coffee shop up at the top of the mountain! Then they took us for a walk down a little street of shops that were SO unique and multi-cultural! It was really incredible! We stayed with the White's for one night and then headed about 30 minutes in to the Gold Coast where we checked into our hotel in... you'll never believe it... a place called... Miami. That was the city where we had our hotel but it was nearest to a place called Burleigh Heads. We drove about 10 minutes up the coast to Surfer's Paradise. It was a really really good trip! We had two nights in our hotel and I think we were the only ones staying there! It was a very ordinary hotel, without much of a view... but if you walk for about 2 minutes from the door of the hotel... you're on the beach. It was fabulous! The weather was beautiful and warm and sunny ALL day, every day we were there. We had a heated pool all to ourselves... and there were two hot tubs... that were only luke warm. It was funny... the bubbles only lasted about 2 minutes until they turned off!!!! So we kept jumping out to hit the button to turn the bubbles on... and then got annoyed with it and gave up.
We headed back on Friday and got lost for a little bit... even with Lola, our GPS unit. Finally, we were on our way and we stopped at the Ettamogah Pub for lunch. They didn't have anything we wanted, so we just went to the bakery right next door. Once we got back to Hervey Bay it was time to start thinking about packing up to go back to Grandma and Pop's place. Nanny taught me a really cool new way to make greeting cards! It's really cool! We had a good morning on Saturday working on those cards. Then on Saturday night we had a surprise dinner for Josh's Uncle Tim for his 50th birthday. We had a really great time visiting with family one last time before we left Queensland.
Sunday morning arrived and we were at the airport by 8:45, checked in, and ready to board our plane by 9am. We were sad to say "goodbye." We really enjoyed our stay in Hervey Bay. Our flight back to Sydney was really really rotten. We both got really motion sick (which never usually happens to me), and Josh got wine spilt on him by the stewardess. It was good to land. We caught the train from the airport to Campbelltown and Pop picked us up there. Sunday night we went to church and enjoyed listening to the Pastor that is candidating for them.
Monday I was feeling pretty sick still from our little flight back... but Pop and Grandma took us on a marvelous day trip to Kiama. We stopped at a place called Sublime Point and got a really great view of the coast. Then we drove down to Kiama and Grandma and I did some shopping while the guys took a walk on the coast. After shopping we stopped for some ice cream at a cute little place called "Scoops." Yum!
On Tuesday, Josh and I dropped Aaron off at a friend's house in Theirlmere and then headed to the train station to buy our tickets to go to Canberra on Monday the 21st. We're taking a train to Canberra and then getting picked up from there by Kelly, who is taking us down to Tathra where we will spend a week and a half! After we got our tickets, we did some shopping at MacArthur Square.
Wednesday we really, truly, bummed around... we went to a book store to take a look, but that was it for the day. We went to church in the evening and had a really great night together Wednesday night. We watched the Naked Chef's "Eat to Save Your Life" and were blown away by what we learned. It was a fabulous show and we've all been eating differently since we've seen that show.
Thursday Aaron was surprised with a flight up the coast with Mrs. van Dijk on Thursday morning and Pop went along. They had a great time with that! Then we took a road trip to a place called Berrima. It was a quaint little town that had a bunch of little shops all around. It was great! We found an awesome honey, jam, and tea shop! They have EVERYTHING! I tried Pineapple Jam and it was FABULOUS! They have all sorts of tea... The place is called Mrs. Old Buck's. They have a place online... mrsoldbucks.com.au check it out if you want!
Today was yet ANOTHER terrific day! Gary picked us up around 9 and we drove into Sydney. The Pope is actually in Sydney this week and there are 500,000 "pilgrims" in Sydney all congregated together... so we took back roads not to get all caught up in the traffic. Gary took us absolutely everywhere in Sydney! It was an inside tour of Sydney that was perfect and marvelous! We got great pictures and it was just a sunny and bright day... it was magnificent! We could hardly tell that there were 500,000 extra people in Sydney until we went to Bondi Beach and there were groups of little "pilgrims" there... I guess they're all making a pilgrimage to see the Pope... I don't understand it... and I wish they'd really understand the truth! The Pope has NOTHING to do with anyone's salvation or forgiveness of sins. He is really treated like a god... and they even call him, "his holiness" on the news. Personally, I think that's blasphemous and wrong. They're just missing the mark. Anyways, it's all a big to do that he's here... and they're actually closing off the Sydney Harbour Bridge tomorrow! Good thing we went across it today! Today we stopped at Harry's Cafe de Wheels! The first one... and really, the best one. It was great and I'm so glad I was able to check that off my list of things to do in Sydney! Just a few more things I need to get at Paddy's Market, and a few pictures from one more spot... and I think I'll be content with my trips into Sydney.
We got home around 4pm and Josh and Aaron packed up and headed to the Coulter's place. They're staying there tonight and just enjoying time with each other. I had to stay back with Pop and Grandma because I really needed to catch up on some school stuff! I guess, to update my xanga also! Well, that's all I've got right now. Enjoy the pictures and have a glorious day!

It's been too long!

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 10:59:51 GMT

I've been reminded to update my xanga. I must be slackin'!!!
We have been at Peter's place and it has been a good time! I'm actually now back at Grandfather and Nanny's place because Aaron and Joel are now staying with Peter and the girls. It has been a wild ride. Peter is a riot and we had so much fun! I was introduced to Wii Fit and LOVED it... in fact, I just want to Wii all the time! :) Hehehehe... okay, it's not that funny... but it was a great program and I can see how it would actually help people keep in shape! Let me tell you! The hula-hoop gives you a run for your money! Sheesh! If you know what I'm talking about... I got 310 spins! My hips are killing me! Anyways, on Wednesday night we watched the State of Origin with Peter, family, and friends... that was a good time. I didn't make it to the end because I got way too tired... but Queensland won... it was a good game... if you understand footy... which, I don't. Josh and I went out for an afternoon and I bought a completely new outfit for under $90.00... which, in Australia is near impossible. We're talking pants, belt, shirts, and sweater! Incredible... and it's cute! I just need to wait for winter now. NO HURRY. I hope it all still fits once I CAN wear it. Ugh. Didn't think of that. Better start my diet now!
Speaking of my diet... it's been bad. I do admit. A meat-pie a day does NOT keep the doctor away. In fact, it keeps the heart surgeon on his toes and ready to go! The chocolate and coffee has been my diet... so really, that needs to change. I need to get in the mind set that once I get back to the US... I have a volleyball team that I'll have to keep up with.
Anyways... enough about food... I'm getting hungry! Wii fit. Very good. Loved it.
SO THEN! Yesterday, Saturday... Peter, Kristie, Aaorn, Joel, Josh, and I went camping in the rain forest! I was thinking we'd be camping in the bush, but we didn't... which was absolutely fine... we had an amazing adventure! We packed up in the morning and took of. It was a beautiful sunny day until we got about an hour from camp... then the clouds rolled in. We stopped for lunch in Gympie and I ate... of course... a meat pie. In fact, we bought so much food at this little cafe... that they gave us a free cake! GREAT! Just what we needed! :P It was a nice gesture, but we didn't need it... since, we had already had dessert.
We kept on driving and finally arrived in Kennilworth (which, I probably spelled incorrectly, but I don't feel like looking it up at the moment)... and we found our campsite and set up for the night. Thankfully, it didn't really start raining until we had our tent all set up and ready to go. The tent was FABULOUS! I took pictures! Peter has quite the set up for camping! He even had a BBQ for inside the tented area... amazing! I've got pictures that I'll have to post later. We took a drive on slippery, one lane, cliff side roads up the rain forest mountain at dusk and were in awe of the beauty of the scenery. We went to a few look outs and the fog was settled just perfectly to give the evening a very eerie yet serene feeling. Anyways, it rained all night and we stayed up late playing "What Movie Is This Line From?" where you have to say a line from a movie and everyone has to guess what movie it's from (pretty self explanatory in the name of the game)... Anyhow, Aaron cracked us up after he basically gave us the answers in his question. It was highly entertaining and we laughed ourselves to sleep.
In the morning I woke up to kookaburras and it was incredible! I scrambled for the camera so I could video the sound... but every time I got the camera ready... they had finished laughing... go figure... when I put my camera away, they'd start laughing again... and I'd scramble to get the camera out again. It was a pretty constant process all morning until I realized I could just keep my camera in my hand and doze off till I heard them again... but when they started laughing and woke me up... I was half asleep and fumbled with the camera and again missed my opportunity of filmage... my apologies. Oh well. Maybe I'll just buy a cd with all the bird noises. The birds here are indescribable. There are beautiful sounds coming from the sky at all hours of the day. It is really great (if you like bird sounds ~ which I do).
After I gave up on the kookaburras, I heard the crackling noise of bacon - "BACON!" - by our famous chef, Peter Dack. He made us a delicious breaky and we were off to drive through the wild rain forest in the day light. It was still raining, but it was just a light drizzle most of the way. We went to a few other campgrounds and looked around there. We drove through 3 streams that had water up to our doors and stopped at a place called "Crystal Waters" where if you can guess... had crystal clear bluish tinted water... the floor of the water were all small to medium sized flat colorful rocks that just made you want to jump in for a swim. It was extraordinary. I can't even explain how gorgeous it all was. The trees were slightly dripping with the weight of the drizzle, which gave an extra amazingness to the scene. It was perfectly incredible.
Once we arrived back at camp, we packed up and pretty much headed home. We had a long drive but it was good. We arrived home around 5ish, I think. We did some laundry, packed up, had some dinner, and Josh and I headed off to Grandfather & Nanny's place.
I have now settled in, taken a shower, and readied myself for bed. I am headed there in about 1 minute.
It has been a fabulous weekend. This week brings even more exciting adventures as Josh and I drive to the Gold Coast for some time alone in Surfer's Paradise! We are looking forward to that!
Only one more week in Queensland until we head back to Sydney. Marc and Deb arrived home safely and I am still waiting to hear from them to hear details of their journey home. Joel and Aaron are tucked away at Peter's place and all is well.
Good night.