Life in a sunburned country

Not all Magpie fans are mean

2011-10-20T19:33:00.003+11:00

This is a truth that mum and I discovered whilst taking a walk yesterday evening.

On our way home from the video store, we happened to see this poor little baby magpie just sitting in the middle of the road. A HUGE truck was coming down the street, and I thought 'That's the end for the poor magpie' but surprisingly, the driver actually saw the little bird and stopped for it and honked. When it still didn't move, the passenger rolled down his window and asked Mum and I "Where is it"

"It's right in the middle so you should be fine. Very cautiously the truck began to move forward, just when it did the magpie headed towards the other side of the road, right under the trucks tire. the truck passed and turned into the next street. I thought surely there would be smashed 'pie on the road, but there was the little guy slowly making it's way to the other side. Once traffic cleared I crossed the road, and rescued the little bird. Now I don't really like magpies (except for their beautiful call [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXBuxN1LwFs&feature=related] which always reminds me of my first morning in Australia.) they're huge, and annoying, and they swoop you, but as soon as I felt his soft fluffy baby feathers, and felt his feet grip me, I couldn't just let him stay and possible get run over, he couldn't even fly. So I scooped him in my arms and carried him with me. Less than half a block later, the truck driver came running after me.

"Do you still have him?" He asked

I told him I did

"Can you take a photo of me with him? See, I'm a 'pies (Magpie, Collingwood footy team ) fan."

I told him that even though I was a Cats (Geelong footy team) I would take it.

So I took the photo, of him holding the baby magpie, then he took a close up of it in my hand.

"He's a cute little guy isn't he?"

As we started to walk away, he asked if I was going to take care of him. I told him I would.

So I brought it home, showed it to the family. Dad told me I had to put it outside right that instant! So I put him in the grass, and gave him some worms, but he didn't eat them. Benjamin said I needed to chew them up first.

He's lasted a day now. I named him 'Lil Guy, and apparently magpies are very intelligent, and can learn to talk. I'm trying to get him to say 'Go cats' :) A mother magpie that lives in our yard, after 20 hours of just staring at him, finally adopted him, and has been feeding him, so hopefully he'll live, and learn to fly.

Happy Fathers Day!

2011-09-04T23:14:00.000+10:00

10 things I'm glad my Father taught me (in no particular order) some of these are not exclusive to my Father - but hey, it's Fathers Day

So here they are: Dad, thanks for teaching me:

1. How to drive

2. To use a hammer properly

3. The names of tools

4. How to change a tyre

5. How to do personal devotion

6. The importance of words

7. About God, from His Word

8. how to plait

9. how to ride a bike

10. To answer the question, "What was the sermon about" on Sunday afternoons over lunch.

I love you Dad, happy Father's Day!

The Terminal

2011-05-25T01:52:00.002+10:00

(somewhere between time and date zones)

So yeah, approximately 45 and a half hours ago, Benjamin, Tamara, and I left our front door in Frankston hoping to arrive at my grandparents door in Indianapolis 24 or so hours later...little did we know that instead we'd be
....
.......
..........
STUCK! In the Dallas Fort Worth Terminal

We had a lovely drive up to the airport. Nathan was kind enough to let me drive. Yummy bagel sandwiches, fruit, and Bingham coffee made for an excellent Brekky. We sang psalm 121, and Nathan prayed for our flight. We were dropped off at in Domestic Departures, and Benjamin said our goodbyes.
We then walked for 5 kilometers to where our check in actually was. It was nice to get in some physical activity before our LOOOOOOONG flight. So, once we were at our gate I did some skipping (or jump roping as Americans would say) until it was time to board. Going to America and they're gonna get ma-a-aried. The flight to Sydney was non eventful. We had second brekfasts (we stored our fruit, muffin, and juice away for later. Airplane coffe is not nearly as nice as Bingham coffee). I love going from a rainy ground to above the ground, to through the dark clouds to : The sun is shining, the tank is clean, and the skies are blue. I just want to go jump on the clouds! Once we made it to Sydney we had plenty of time to just mess around. So we went to the electronics store and played video games. Skipping in the Sydney International Airport. Having a D&M (literally a drink and a muffin), walking the hallway working on verses, bouncing my smiley ball. Benjamin even decided to do some skipping and running before our flight.
So we boarded, and thinking back now, it seems like that was weeks ago, so much has happened since then. But we were sitting in row 53 seats A and B. I was at the window, Benj in the middle, and a nice American guy on the isle. As we told Nathan on the way up "We don't go to the cinemas, we just fly on airplanes" And that's what I did. Between writing in my journal, reading my book, eating airplane food, sleeping, and gazing out the window, movies are a pretty good way to pass the time. One of my favourite things about the flight across the world is that you always get to see a sunset no matter what time you leave. And sunsets are always beautiful from the air! It's only 4:15 and already it's nearly dark because we're running away from the sun. Flying is too easy. We just jump on a plane and expect it to fly 13, 804 kilometers and poof - we're on the other side of the world in only 15 hours! WE'RE SITTING IN A CHAIR IN THE SKY!!!! So yeah, thank the LORD for technology, and for safety in traveling. That's one of the reasons I like to sit near a window so I can look out the window and see the sea below me, to remind myself that I am actually in the sky. I wonder what stars I can see when I look outside. It's beautiful. The stark contrast of the plane wing against the star filled sky, and the white clouds against the dark ocean. We were making good time because we had favourable winds, scheduled to arrive in Dallas an hour ahead of schedule. Until....it became evident that there were thunder storms and hail over Dallas. You can only have so much fuel on a plane, so we couldn't fly forever so we made a stop in Huston to fill up and wait for the storm to pass. At least I was able to sleep while we were on the ground. We could be flying through the air right now, but we're not, we're sitting in Huston Texas. IF I didn't look my window I wouldn't know the difference, it feels the same. At this rate it doesn't look like we'll make our flight, oh well, all in God's hands. So eventually the storms cleared, and up and away we went on to Huston. It's amazing how flat the buildings look from the air. And such blue swimming pools, tons of them! Oh look, there's Wal-Mart! So we landed, and everywhere you looked, there we're queues of dozens of planes just waiting to fly out. Hundreds of flights were delayed and even cancelled. As we sat on our plane, waiting to get to a gate I thought: Our flight is now flying through the air somewhere. Only one problem....we're not on it! After we made our way through customs though (Advantages of being dual citizens - you always get the short lines), and collected our luggage, and 'Look - our flight has been delayed for 3 hours, we might just make it!" So we checked our bags, and went to our gate. We waited right up until 7 O O, when our flight was scheduled to leave, and...it was cancelled. I got all freshened up and everything. So we had to go get in line at the gate
'No, you have to go to the service counter'
walk, walk walk
'Where is the service counter?"
'Just past that green exit sign'
Sign on revolving doors 'Once you exit, you may not re-enter without going through security. Security closes as 9:45'
'We'll be out way before that'
through the doors and up to the service counter
'You have to go to counter 20'
walk, walk walk
See the beginning of the queue 'Look at the queue!'
Walk a little further
'OH MY LANTA! Look at the END of the queue!!!'
wait, wait, wait. Wait some more. Talk to nice Asian family in front of us. Waiting, more waiting. Oh look, we've moved a foot (of course we have to talk in feet, inches, ounces, and quart) only 5,279 feet to go.
Waiting some more.
'We should ring Dad'
I wait in the queue, Benjamin goes to find a phone. Benjamin comes back
'I only have 10 cents'
'I only have dollars'
We wait some more.

‘I’ll sit with the bags, you stand in the queue’

Benjamin makes a friend

‘Can I borrow your phone?’

Nice man with phone lets us ring Dad.
Benjamin makes another friend

“Where are you headed?”

‘Indianapolis’

‘Us too!’

We wait some more. We trade places. I stand in the queue, he sits with the bags

2,140 feet later. Dad rings back.

‘I think this if for you’

I answer, no response. He rings again

‘I heard you and Benjamin’ that wasn’t Benjamin, it was the nice phone man.

‘I couldn’t hear you’

‘You should just try to get a hotel and fly out tomorrow morning’

Nice man with the phone finally gets a hold of the service desk, books a flight. He’s outa there

3 hours and 25 minutes later, we’re 2 people from the front. Nice Asian man gives us Japanese dried seaweed and sponge cake. Finally our turn

We wait some more

‘I can only get you a flight through Atlanta tomorrow afternoon’

Nice Asian man feels sorry that we have to stay in the airport an extra day and gives us more food. We stand with our Indy traveling companion and ask what flight he’s getting. Nothing. We tell ticket lady to try our flight. He gets on. She tells us if we get go through security we can get cots (My Australian brain thinks – why would they have cots to sleep in. Oh, she means stretchers J ) to sleep on and blankets.

We were worried that we wouldn’t be able to go through security until the morning. But thankfully they are still opened, even though it’s after 12 and they were supposed to close before 10. We introduce ourselves to our New Friend. His name is Cameron. Once we went through, we decide we might as well go to our gate, thinking gate C wouldn’t be the only gate with cots, surely E would have them too. We got on the skylink, and rode to gate E. It was very empty, and no cots, so we went back on the skylink to gate C, and there were two men driving a car full of cots! We chased him down, but when he stopped he said he had to go to C21 where he would be dropping off the cots We followed him down to C21 and got 3 cots. We found a place with power and set up camp. It was pretty nice if I do say so myself. We made another friend, Courtney, she paid for us to get internet since our Australian cards wouldn’t work. Then a nice lady came by with blankets. Talk about comfort. We brushed our teeth, got ready for bed, and suddenly I wasn’t very tired. So I went for a LONG walk through the terminal came back and decided to try to sleep. Benjamin was glad that I actually took my eye mask, and his (he wanted to leave it behind) from the plane. I put an odyssey on to drown out the noise of the loud speaker telling us about our liquids ‘Remember the 3, 1, 1 rule’ and ‘DFW is a non smoking facility’ I must have fallen asleep because I woke up to at the end of the Odyssey, and thought for a second I was in my bed in Frankston, until I realized something was over my eyes, then it all came back to me. I actually slept pretty well. From 2AM to 9:30AM, and I really only woke up 3 times. I got a bit cold and was glad for my blanket, but it was better than sleeping on a plane, at least we got to stretch out.

So now, we just wait. Our flight still says ‘On time’ to leave, so Lord Willing, we’ll be in Indianapolis tonight.

Note: The random italic phrases are things I wrote in my journal while in the air.

Sorry this is so long. With not a whole lot to do at the airport, you can only do some much reading and skipping, I rambled a bit.

Fullness of Joy

2011-04-19T11:46:00.003+10:00

I’m out on the water, attempting to catch a wave. I look towards the shore and see my Father and Uncle coming down the stairs. Excitedly I wait until they are close and they can look out to see me try to catch a wave. Here one comes, I try. I ride it in for a while, but soon I fall off my board. That would have been a good one, but I missed it. I look again for another wave; I want them to see how much I’ve improved from that morning. I see them getting closer to my Mother and Aunt and I wait for another wave. The next time I look towards the shore I see the greeting of my parents and Uncle and Aunt. Each time I look they’re still hugging. Then....I realise, I paddle harder, no longer caring about the waves, just wanting to get to shore, and yet, not wanting to hear the news that I think will be waiting for me. I swim harder, and then run through the water, and finally, I’m there. I stand back, not wanting to hear it, not wanting to hear the news we’d been dreading. Tears sting my eyes but I blink them back furiously, thinking that somehow if I don’t cry, maybe I can stop this thing from happening. As I walk closer, my father looks towards me, his eyes red from crying. He says nothing, so I timidly ask “Grandpa died?” he just nods and tears fill his eyes. I can’t stop the tears now. All the adults step back and look at me. They tell me the details; he died about midnight, some family was with him, He is in no more pain. They also tell me not to tell the other children, they’ll tell them first. So I pick up my surfboard, and all else I can carry and walk back towards the car park. I have to look presentable because I’m not the one to tell my cousins and siblings, but I know that if they see me cry they’ll know. So I don’t talk to them much because all I want to do is cry with them. So I wait. The parents come and tell them and it’s like we don’t know what to do now. I hug my cousin and we cry a little. Within just a couple of hours it’s on facebook. My dad reads out the lovely things my aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings have written. On the way home the memories are shared. My mum and her brother and sister-in-law especially remember the good times. How could such a wonderfully fun day end in such a hard sad way? I don’t know who first mentioned it, maybe my uncle ‘Let’s pray together’ so that even we all sit around the lounge room and we go around and pray for one another and the rest of the Coles, and we weep together. There wasn’t a dry eye left in the room, and what a wonderful time it was. We sing psalm 16 together ‘my glory rejoices my heart is made glad. And also my flesh will live safely at ease. For You’ll not abandon my soul to the grave, Your Godly on you will preserve from decay. Life’s path You will show me full joy is with You, Your right hand holds pleasures for me evermore’. On just the day before I prayed and asked God that he might keep Grandpa alive just a few days longer, just until my mum and Uncle get back to America, but he knew better. I am so thankful that my mum and my Uncle and his family were able to be with us. I’m glad we could share memories together, I’m glad we could weep together. And now, as my Grandfather is in the presence of His Lord, he truly has fullness of joy.

Finding the time

2011-03-18T09:31:00.004+11:00

Since Monday morning I have had to step into the roll of

Mother, Teacher, Sister, Student all at the same time.

I am so glad that my mother is able, for three weeks, to visit her Father in America who isn't doing especially well, health wise.

This also means she is able to see my siblings who live on the other side of the world.

But it's not an easy act to follow. I am also so thankful for Dad, Tamara, and Benjamin who are maybe a bit more willing to help out with the Mother over the ocean blue.

So I continue to be a student - I started a course online through Australia Open Universities, doing a Bachelor of Education (Primary) course through Curtin University

I continue to be a sister/daughter and do my responsibilities of being a part of this family

I step into the roll of teacher as I, along with Tania (a homeschooling mum in our church) attempt to teach mums music class at homeschool group.

I also take up the responsibilites that Mother left behind, cleaning, cooking, washing, and keeping the home moving along.

So for the next 16 days I will do my role cheerfully as unto the Lord and not to men.

but Mother, come back soon.

Ladies Coffee

2010-09-02T23:09:00.002+10:00

I just enjoyed a lovely LOVELY evening at Ladies Coffee with Julie, Tania, Norma, Louise, Mum, and Tamara. The joys of fellowshipping with fell Christian women until 11pm. :)

I love what we can learn from the older Christian ladies, never in any other setting would you find a place where young ladies could associate with the older ladies in such a personal way.

I love coming away from ladies coffee and ladies bible study feeling so encouraged and uplifted, and like I've learnt so much. I wish I would take more opportunites to talk to the older people from church. I love hearing about their lives, and their younger days, and the wisdom they can give me.

I thank God for such a lovely group of women in our church, who are willing to spend time with me, and talk to me, and interacts with me, and mentor me, and show such love to me. The fact that the older women consider it a blessing when I talk to them is such an encouragement to me! Isn't God good, to place us just where were are surrounded by just the people he wants us to be, whom He's placed in just the place they are for such a specific reason.

I could go on and on about what a lovely time I had because it was such a lovely time, I had to post about it somewhere. But now I'll end, and send this post into the void, hoping some young girl somewhere will read it, and take opportunity to interact with the older women that God has placed in her life, and to remind myself to take advantage of those opportunites whenever possible.

Twice Freed

2010-05-06T15:04:00.002+10:00

Onesimus - what an amazing Story of Gods Work in One's life

Twice Freed is a Historical Novel by Patricia St. John about Onesimus, a runaway slave, who, through the teaching of the Apostle Paul, came to know Christ as His Savior and Lord, freeing him from sin. He later returned to his master Philemon (whom Paul wrote a letter to - the book of Philemon in the Bible) along with a letter from Paul saying that all the wrongs Onesimus had committed were to be put on Paul's Accont, and asking Philemon to accept Onesimus as a brother in Christ, freed from his phsical slavery.

We've so much to learn from the people in the bible. My brother recently said he "Thinks it's pretty amazing how the bible is over 5000 (?) years old, and yet still applies to our lives today." Indeed it is. Onesimus knew the true reality of being a slave to sin and to a master, and he was freed from both, experiencing true freedom in Christ.

And so I am thinkful:
- that I am freed from sin, by the blood of Christ Jesus my Savior
- for parents who've taught me the truths of the bible all my life
- that no matter how many times I read the bible, I still find new truths
- for good friends who lend and reccomend books for me to read
- for Fellowship in the Gospel

Page CXVI

2010-05-03T16:10:00.003+10:00

Page CXVI is a music group that are trying to make hymns more accessible and well known.

Their name comes from: Their copy of C.S. Lewis' book The magicians Nephew has on page 116 Aslan, singing the world into existence.

Check out their website where you can preview their first album Hymns. (April 27th to May 4th)

I really enjoy their music and would especially recommend their song Joy from their first album.

My Day

2010-02-19T17:29:00.003+11:00

Attempting to teach my self - my instrumentation for the day

Victory!

Dinner

Ending the day with Rumikub

We were so amazed that Tamara could fit 11 pieces in her mouth. Mum didn't believe it was possible, but found she

could fit 10

The wrong side of Right

2010-02-12T15:38:00.002+11:00

Whilst I was in America, I had the privilege of driving on the right (or the wrong depending on how you look at it) side of the road.

Aside from a very few times in 2008, my entire driving experience has been Down Under.

Along with the whole other-side-of-the-road thing there is also the other side of the car, and gear shift being in between the seats instead of on the steering wheel, and to turn on the windshield wipers you push the whole stick down rather then twisting it. Not to mention the different terms [boot (trunk) bonnet (hood) rear vision mirror (rear view mirror) blinkers (turn signal) etc] And the few different road rules.

So in America, I had fun doing things like 'turning right on red, yielding (instead of giving way), talking on the phone and driving (illegal for a red P plater* non P-platers have to use hands free), driving a car with a V8 engine (also illegal for a red P plater), and driving as fast as 120 kph. It took a bit of getting used to, remember the turn signal is on the left side of the steering wheel, and I had to keep reminding myself to look left and stay right, even so, I still went on the wrong side of the road a few times, those of you who drove with me very much probably experienced that.

Since being back in Australia I've had to get used to being back on the correct side of the road. Surprisingly I haven't ever accidentally gone to the right (wrong) side of the road, although I have turned on my windshield wipers instead of my blinkers. The first time I drove I couldn't even remember how to turn on the wind shield wipers when I first got into the car, but as soon as I made my first right turn, I remembered.

I must admit that driving on the left side of the road is a lot more natural to me, and takes a lot less thinking time, but I was glad to have the opportunity to drive on the wrong side of right.

*first year license - probationary driver usually 18 year olds)

Of airplanes and Odysseys

2009-10-27T00:40:00.001+11:00

So it's happening again. The third time this year, but this is different, sooo different.

1. It's longer

2. I'm getting left behind

3. It's winter

4. Keaton and Hollie are coming

5. I'm going for a wedding

Remember Odysseys?

- Charity and I both starting our at the same time on the plane so that we can listen together

- Listening to the Novacam series on the train ride from L.A.

- Listening to them whilst packing Dad and Benji

- Staying up late with T last night whilst listening to one last night

- Listening to some on the plane ride home last year because my TV didn't work.

- And many more times when Odysseys were involved with Airplanes.

Unto the hills I lift my longing eyes whence comes my aid

My help is from the Lord the one who heav'n and earth has made

Your foot from stumbling he will never keep

He who preserves your life will never sleep

He who keeps Israel slumbers not nor sleeps by night or day

The Lord keeps you a shade on your right hand the Lord will stay

Throughout the day the sun shall never smite

Nor moon shall harm you in the hours of night

The Lord himself will your protector be from every ill

from every evil He will keep your soul securly still

Your daily going out and in your door

The Lord will keep both now and ever more

Psalm 121

Safe travels my family, see you in a month

My latest Australian job

2009-09-25T12:26:00.003+10:00

It just happens to be the same as my first Australian job - babysitting the Glover kidos.

Differences:

- this time there are 4 kids (and it's Charley sleeping, not Josh)

- There were no fire plans shown to me (maybe Bethany doesn't know them in her renovated house :) )

- their bed times are later

- The parentals stayed out later (I think they are a bit more used to me now)

- There were hardly any instructions (it's nice to be familiar enough with them for the parents to feel comfortable enough to leave the children without much instruction)

Similarities:

- They went to bed without a fuss

- We played games then watched some of a movie

There have been plenty of times in between, but it's been awhile since the last time I babysat them. It was nice to do it once again. Those Glover kids are pretty grand. So...I'm looking forward to next week. :)

I love technology...

2009-09-23T10:57:00.002+10:00

...always and forever

I'll never cease to be amazed:

I can send a message with the click of a button to the other side of the word, and they'll receive it in a matter of minutes.

I can talk on the phone to my family and friends that live in america

I can listen to a sermon in Australia on Monday, that was preached in Scotland on Sunday

...not as much as you you see, but I still love technology

always and forever!

Debi

2009-09-14T22:31:00.003+10:00

I once met a girl named Elli,

From Germany did she come

she stayed and played, we ran all over town

and sure had a lot of fun

but then one day this Elli

To Germany did she go back

and I have missed her dearly

oh friend I hope you come back

-----------

Then one day a few years later

another girl did come

her name, this girl, is Debi

and Germany she is from

The second time I saw her

she with a hug did greet

it was so warm and friendly

an unexpected treat

So why I ask can't we

be more friendly like that

why do we have to take so long

until we can hug back

we have a mutual friend

This girl Debi and I

A family called the Wetzels

that I babysit from time time

7 months she will be here

and I hope to spend a lot of time

getting to know dear Debi

(and now I've finished the rhyme)

5 things that made my day

2009-08-17T23:04:00.003+10:00

1. Reading 'The little mouse, the red ripe strawaberry, and the big hungry bear' at school

2. Playing leapfrog with the Wetzel boys

3. Naomi calling me cute for playing leapfrog with the Wetzels

4. Youth Bible Study

5. Chats with the Eckert boys on the car ride home

What has God been teaching me...?

2009-05-09T22:33:00.002+10:00

What a wonderful question, one that should be asked much more among our Christians friends and family. How encouraging to hear how God is working in someones life, what new things God has been teaching them from His word, His preaching, His praise...

Anyways, maybe someone out there is wondering what God has been teaching me, or maybe it is just something I should write down, something I really should write down more often, to really think about, to be able to look back on, to thank.

Joy: such a wonderful bless, a gift really, from God. Just knowing that it is well with my soul is enough to cause such great joy to me. Just being in the wonderful church that I am here in Frankston South is enough to cause such great joy. Just having the opportunity to spend time with fellow Christians several times a week is enough to cause great joy.

And something that has been and needs to continue to be pounded into me is the great joy of heaven. In out Tuesday night meeting we have been listening to Ted Donnelly's sermon series on Heaven (which I would GREATLY encourage you to listen to) for the second time. And it has been such a blessing to reread my notes, my applications, write new applications, and get things reinforced into my little brain. One point that really stood out to me (from the second sermon) is the fact that Heaven is being with Jesus, and we have the opportunity here on earth to spend time with Jesus, to spend time in a little bit of Heaven. If we don't spend time in heaven now, how can we after death? I was really challenged that I need to be spending time in heaven each and every day. It should be my #1 priority, first on the list. My day should not be complete without it, and I realise that, and I realise the great blessings I do receive when I do spend time in prayer and in God's word, in my little bit of heaven. Such a simple task, spend time with Jesus each day, such a great, GREAT blessing, such an amazing thing that God has granted for us to be able to spend time in heaven even when we are still here on earth.

But learning isn't enough, it's one of those things that I need kept accountable to. So feel free to ask me: have you spent time in heaven today? It should be something that I have to almost be dragged away from because I can't imagine anything more to make my joy complete than to spend time each day with God.

Great joy - spend time in heaven

So what has God been teaching you?

Randomness

2009-02-07T20:46:00.003+11:00

Inspired by the '25 random things about yourself' going around facebook, I decided to write my own list. I was never tagged, and I don't know if I would do it if I was tagged, plus I most likely have more than 25 random facts.

I like randomeness. I love learning random facts about people and remembering the ones that count. I also like asking people random facts. I love having a conversation with a good friend and learning all those random things that either I should know about them and don't ( ie their favourite colour) or just learing the random stuff ( ie their ideal place to life)

So, random facts about Maria JoAnn Blackwood

I love middle names and wish they were used more often
I love reading, and buying books that I like, and giving books to people that I think they would like...I like books ( I read 100 last year and am hoping to beat that record by 1 this year)
I enjoy blogging (writing on my own and reading others) and wish it was done more often
I love strong coffee and while I prefer the real stuff over the instant when I am drinking it hot, I would rather use the instant than real for iced coffee.
I love snow and would prefer cold weather over hot most any day
I've been teaching Sunday school for the past three years, and and glad to me learning so much about the bible - sometimes more than the kids I think
I recently started listening to several sermons a week via downloads on my zune from sermon audio
I do a paper round - and I really enjoy it
I don't like sleep - it takes too much time (give me 6 hours and I'm good)
I love star gazing, I LOVE STAR GAZING, I LOVE STAR GAZING!!! Especially out in the country where many shooting stars can be seen....and with a friend...and on a trampoline makes it all the better
I find life much easier with a routine/ schedule - if I can stick to it
I love horseback ridding, but rarely get to do it these days - how I miss living close to my grandparents and riding horses there.
I have never broken a bone
but I have many many scars on my knees and elbows
I have been wanting to learn Japanese for sooo long and am finally getting the opportunity to
In 6th grade I did a school report on Australia - not know at the time I would one day be living here
In December I am going to be in my first ever wedding - also the first of my siblings married!
I love singing psalms - so very much and often it brings me to tears of joy and/or sadness
I can play 3 musical instruments (the piano, guitar, and harmonica) and none of them very well. I wish I could play any and all of them better
I love taking bike rides - especially early in the morning or late in the evening
I and 1/3 owner of a maroon '89Toyota Camry
I love driving - cars, bikes, lawn mowers... etc
my favourite household chores are vacuuming, sweeping outdoors, and moping
I love swimming in the oceans - especially when there are waves ( something that sometimes gets me in trouble) and no matter the season (winter never stopped a Blackwood from swiming)
Dixons Creek is one of my most favourite places to go
I love climbing trees/cliffs and jumping from high places ( especially when there is water below) and doing adventurous stuff - yet I am utterly terrified of roller coasters
I love listening to music - especially in the car with all the windows down and loudly singing along with my siblings
I love hearing people's testimonies
I cry when I am angry - a fact that is a great annoyance to me
I am very sentimental
I would rather sleep on a couch, chair, or the floor than a bed.
When I was in jr high I went to the cinemas twice wearing pajamas - right down to the fuzzy slippers and a teddy bear (only one of the two times)
I love cooking with children
I love long road trips
My least favourite food in the whole wide world is Velveeta cheese - it doesn't even deserve to be called cheese. I am very picky about my cheese
I really don't like chocolate - unless it is 70% or darker and if it has coffee in it
my favourite desert is trampoline chai tie latte ice cream. My favourite food is bagels any kind. And I had to go 2 years of my life without eating them because I had braces, and they are kind of hard to come by in Australia, so I hardly get them anymore, but every chance I have leaves me VERY excited!
I love exploring with my siblings (especially Allen)
I once ate a chocolate covered cricket
I love snakes and spiders fascinate me
Most of my childhood nights were spent sleeping in my parents closet (only to be sent to my room half way through the night. Many sleepwalking incidents occurred at that time - including picking up barrettes and thinking the bathroom was my bedroom. My parents and older brothers liked to laugh at my sleeping/walking/talking habits. )
When I was younger most of my life was lived outside
I have probably had close to 50 pet cats in my lifetime (and could tell you the names of most every one of them)
I love stuffed animals and always have. Most of my childhood stuffed animals were named because of a word or part of a word found on their tags. I still have some of them.
Tamara and I once tried to climb down a cliff only to get majorly stuck and finally get helped down by randoms
To my great pleasure I once saw at least one member of the Jonathan Blakston family for more than 50 days in a row (and mostly without even trying)
My favourite job on a summer missions trip to Florida was taking the seeds out of rotten mangos. It was hot, and they were smelly, and there were tons of maggots in the barrels, and they were MAJORLY rotten. I did it with Addie and Oee, and what started out as disgusting turned into a supper fun (and still rather disgusting) rotten mango fight.
Benjamin and I once spent nearly an hour collecting and lining up trolleys in a Wall-Mart car park
I eat the entire apple and all of the watermelon
I am very glad to have moved to Australia

so there you have it 50 pieces of randomness about me. I could go on, but I better stop there , mostly likely it won't even get read all the way through as long as it is, but that's alright, I had fun writing it anways. :)

2009-01-14T11:22:00.002+11:00

The past several weeks, our family has had a wonderful thing - togetherness! Charity, Zachary, and Eleni came over here from America for about a month. Today is there last day, but the past several have been anything but boring. I've put links for a few photos, enjoy a look.

They arrive

Here are just a few things I've noticed that have been different since they have been here:

We spend more time after meals just talking.

There are always lots of people cleaning up the kitchen together

Our house is louder

Our room is messier

We watch less movies and play more games

We go to the beach more often

The beauty of a sunset

Point Leo

We travel a lot!

It has been a wonderful 4 weeks, and I praise God that he allowed us to be together for Christmas and several weeks as well. It's lovely!

But I know today will end, and tomorrow will come, and they will be gone. I do not look forward to the end of today. I love you dear siblings and almost sibling! And I will miss you incredible. I can't wait to see how God continues to use you all at Purdue. Keep in touch. See you later DV.

____________________________________________________________________

In other news: I got into the Early Childhood Education course at Tafe. I am doing it with a friend from church Hollie Cloherty. I am quite nervous about it, but it will be great to have a good Christian friend doing it with me.

I've done it...

2008-11-29T17:50:00.002+11:00

...I've updated!

and hopefully will continue to

Australia:

It's too hot to be Christmas, but with the tree out, and the stockings hanging above the fire, maybe we can fake the cold. I miss snow!

Church:

Tomorrow is our (sort of annual) Thanksgiving service with Frankston and McKinnon. It's the first time it's been in Frankston, and our first joint service! Twill be exciting. They seem to enjoy it because we were asked to continue the tradition, even eating pumpkin as a sweet rather than a savory.

Me:

I am still in the process of applying for the Diploma of Children's Services at TAFE. I have taken a test and done an interview as part of the application process. On Wednesday I am doing an observation day in a childcare centre. I am doing lots of babysitting every week, as well as my paper round. I am enjoying this short break from school to spend more time helping out families in the church, as well as neighbours.

Future Events:

I am looking forward to the arrival of Eleni, Zachary, and Charity in 3 weeks from today. Twill be grand to have our family together for Christmas.

I am not looking forward to Thomas leaving in...I don't want to count the days, just enjoy him while he's still here. and he will be coming back. right?

Looking forward to camping with the Blakstons in January!!!!!!!!!!!! - so exciting, the stick and stones once again.

Going to Tazzie in January! - what a lovely place

Well, this is a start. I will try to keep my updates often - although it could just be a phase ;)

the sad sound of silence

2008-03-13T16:11:00.003+11:00

I spent the better part of the morning annoyed with my siblings for being so loud. I only wanted silence I tried to find a quiet place in our house to do school, I settled for the bathroom where I sat on the floor reading.

I spent the later part of the afternoon realizes that silence is a sad sound. Apart from dad I was the only one home, and I wish my siblings were here making noise after all.

I am glad I have siblings

2008-01-26T09:08:00.000+11:00

Two years ago on this day (the 26th of January) Six members of the Blackwood family packed up belongings and moved half way around the world.

The BIG Adventure. That's what everyone said it would be. An adventure? Maybe, but the longer I am here, the less it seems like an Adventure, and more and more...it's just...my life.

Here are a few of my journal excerpts from our first few weeks here.

2006
January 28,
We landed and we all got off the aeroplane (as the Australians call it) We waited in line forever to go through security, then we went to the baggage claim. We each got a cart full and halled all 6 of them with out luggage. We manoeuvred to the airport doors. As we made out ways toward the doors, I realized that our long journey was over, and we had made it. All 6 of us and our 30 suitcases.
---------
When we walked out the doors, we found a group of people from the Australian RP churches standing together holding signs that said Blackwoods and Fishers. We received a very warm welcome. Everyone was sooooo nice to us! It was really great to see Mr. and Mrs. McEwen and Josh, Sarah, and Eleni.

Janurary 29
The birds that I heard were so unusual, but made some really neat sounds. It was nice to hear, but it reminded me that I am not in Indiana anymore.
----
after lunch Mr. McEwen drove us four kids to the beach, and we got to see a beautiful view of it from a far off, and then we walked down to the beach and felt the sand between our toes.

Janurary 31
Then we four kids walked down to the park. It was a nice walk, but the park was kinda boring, we mostly just sat around the pond, and scared all of the ducks into the pond. After about 15 minuteswe headed home... The walk was sorta scary, because most Australians don't use turn signals, so there were several times when we had to stop suddenly so as not to walk in of speeding cars [that was probably only because we didn't know how roundabouts worked.]

February 4,
we three younger kids and mom got ready to go to the beach for the first time. ...I was the first Blackwood from our family to set foot in Australian water.

February 5
Dad did a childrens sermon. He talked about shoes. He was naming differnet kinds of shoes, but they have different names for all the ones that he named such as: flip-flops (thongs) mud boots (gum boots), dress shoes (formal wear), water shoes (sand shoes), and tennis shoes (sport shoes or something like that [runners])

February 6
We moved Charity to our room and Benjamin to Charitys room

February 11
I think that we are finally starting to feel like this is our home. It isn't a vacation anymore. This is real, this is our life.

New Year resolutions

2008-01-02T11:16:00.000+11:00

Okay, enough with 3 line posts.

As this time of year rolls around, we all seem to make some sort of New Year's resolutions.

Matthew Glover showed me The 70 resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

Here are a few that I really liked. If only we could all resolve to do these.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God' s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,- what sin I have committed,-and wherein I have denied myself;-also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12 and 13, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age, say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what am I the better for them, and what I might have got by them.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. August 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. August 17, 1723.

To read the entire list go here

I found them very helpful, if only I could, by God's grace resolve to do all those and more.

Any New Years resolutions from anyone else?

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T00:22:00.000+11:00

Happy New year everyone!

From Australia!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And may God bless you all in the year to come

2007-12-29T13:31:00.000+11:00

I almost jumped out of my eyes when I saw that he was 6'5"
Tamara

What's the baby for?

2007-12-25T07:32:00.001+11:00

Mummy mummy look over there
I see a barn so crowded why?
There are heaps of animals everywhere
Look in the middle there's a baby I spy

Animals because it's where they belong
But people mummy? They shouldn't be there
The mummy and daddy and baby seem wrong
Why are they there, doesn't anyone care?

Mummy mummy, what's the baby for?
Why is he sleeping in a box not a bed
And the box is just sitting on the floor
not even a pillow for his head

Mummy mummy, please tell me why he's there
Mummy don't you know?
Mummy don't you care?
Oh Mummy if you do please tell me so

-------------------------------------------

Many years later when I am not at home
My mother now lives far away
I call up my mother on the phone
I've something to tell her, something I must say

Mother mother, the baby is God's son
God loves us so much He sent Him to die
To take away the sins of everyone
No mother, now do you see why?

I have found out why the baby is there
I care mother, and I want you to care

Merry CHRISTmas everyone!!!!!!!!!!!

my how things change

2007-12-05T17:20:00.000+11:00

Those of you who read my blog way back in the day would realize how much my posting has changed. Something happened, I posted, sometimes I documented it with photos

Nowadays, something happens, Charity posts

I sit, not knowing what to post. I could ramble on about how two days ago there was the biggest thunderstorm I have every seen in Frankston (also the only one) and how we silly American kids ran down the streets in our bathers dancing, singing, playing in the rain. I could even show documents of it

I could go on about how mums results came back from her MRI and they were clear. No trace of anything. So we as a family went and celebrated at Yoyogies

Or even about how Charity and I just had this conversation
Charity *cutting up tomatoes* :Uggg, don't you hate it when all the guts fall out
Me: I know, the guts are the best part

or even comment about a very funny thing I remembered today. It only took me a week and 25 reasons to convince the Glovers that I wanted to give James my gameboy. After all its a game boy not a game girl :)

Instead I sit here, not knowing what to post, not knowing what to say, wondering why on earth my posts change so much since I first had my blog.

2 years

2007-11-07T07:52:00.000+11:00

I know you've heard the stories
But they all sound too good to be true
You've heard about a place called home
but they're doesn't seem to be one for you
So one more night you cry yourself to sleep
and drift off to a distant dream
When love takes you in
and everything changes
a miracle starts with the beat of a heart
when love takes you home
and says you belong here
the loneliness ends and a new life begins
when love takes you in
and somewhere while you're sleeping
someone else is dreaming too
and counting down the days until
they hold you close and say 'I love you'
and like the rain that falls into the sea
in a moment what has been will be lost in what will be
when love takes you in
Everything changes
a miracle starts
with the beat of a heart
and this love will never let you go
there is nothing that could ever cause this lose it's hold.
when love takes you in
everything changes
a miracle starts with the beat of a heart
when love takes you home
and says you belong here
the loneliness ends
and a new life begins
when love takes you in
it takes you in for good
when love takes you in

They loved us before they met us
They welcomed us in instantly - no questions asked

Everyone said two years will go by fast enough
Everyone said see you in two years
Everyone said when the time comes you leave you won't want to
Two years
No one really believed it. No one that is, except 3 innocent girls...
2 years, then you can go home
that's what we clung to
then...
We were:
wanted
needed
loved
...and '2 years' faded away to 'until God calls us elsewhere'
2 years have gone so quickly
I won't see you...yet
The time never came, I don't want it to
Who knows what will happen in the next 2 years....

I am...
appriciated
loved
wanted
needed

Romans 1:11-12
For I long to see you... that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 16:7
For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.

2 Corinthians 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

Galatians 5:13b
but through love serve one another.

Galatians 6:9-10
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Philippians 1:3-5
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.

Using a brand new sponge is like...

2007-11-05T11:38:00.000+11:00

- opening a new tube of lip gloss
- writing in a brand new journal
- putting in a brand new contact
- opening a brand new sponge?
- Getting a new contact

I'm FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

School holidays

2007-10-05T15:00:00.000+10:00

A grand 2 weeks!

- Family day in Frankston. We learned all about Creation. Carolyn was WONDERFUL!!!

-An actual free day
- Kids club in McKinnon. 33 kids, it went very well

headed to Geelong
dinner at Blismas

sleepover at the Blakstons
- Picnic at the ocean side

seeing Poppy

sleepover at Fishers (with Emily)

- Lunch at McEwens the famous no word book

back to the Blakstons
park playing in the rain
(covering up the H)

sleeping at the Blakstons

-Morning!

(GO CATS!!!)

Grand final with the Harts

pizza and after footy celebrations with the Blakstons

drive home with Ralph
-Guest service
- Denese's funeral
- Paper rounding
- babysitting for 11 hours straight

- more paper rounding
- lawn mowing
pizza and movie night
-more lawn mowing
Geelong on the train
Charity football match
movie at Blakstons (J&L)
sleeping at Blakstons (K&L)
-Church in Geelong
dinner at Fishers
church
tea at Blakstons (J&L)
Me driving home!
(sorry about the lack of photos durring the second week, my camera batteries kinda died, and I didn't have spares the entire week)
as well as lots of movies and book reading.

THE END

Since practically no one blogs anymore, facebook is taking over the world. I don't have a facebook, I am not against them, I just don't plan to get one in the near future, so for now, I blog, but....my blog is on hold until I finish year 11 and school is out of the way for the summer. Its hard to write knowing most likly, my writings won't be read. So enjoy this last post for a while, and check out my website

Praying for rain

2007-09-30T15:53:00.000+10:00

5th Sunday of the month = Guest Service
30th of September = 5th Sunday

In McKinnon we didn't have a single guest. Nonetheless, we still stuffed chairs in our van to bring down to Frankston even though we have more then enough in Frankston.
We pray that as the rain waters the earth, so will the gospel water the hearts and minds of the people in the country. We pray for rain, but how many of us bring along an umbrella?

We brought umbrellas, hoping and praying, that tonight, the chairs will be filled up

Please join us in praying that we would have effective outreach to the McKinnon/Frankston area, and that the people would hear Gods word preached, and respond to it.

The cooolest Cole Cousins

2007-09-10T10:59:00.000+10:00

Watch the video of me, my sisters, and my two amazing cousins Hannah and Paige.

How talented are you we?

This was taken the last night we saw them (actually they surprised us by coming to G'ma Coles to see us again). So many memories.

So this song, and this post is dedicated to them, and the whole family.

Goodbye my friend

2007-09-04T22:18:00.000+10:00

Yesterday evening I said goodbye to my dear friend Elli. For the sixth time since we have been in Australia, I went to the Melbourne airport. This time to say goodbye to Elli Wetzel.
The past five weeks she has been staying with her Aunt and Uncle in Australia (she is German and lives in Germany) whom we girls babysit for.
We have been hanging out with Elli a lot the past five weeks. We went to the city twice (three times if you count the airport), she has come over for dinner a few times, gone to bible study together, she came to church a few times, had sleepover, had movie nights, even made scrapbooks together. We had sooo much fun! It was great to have a friend our age, right down the road to stop in and say hello, or to go up to the city together just to go to the city, or to walk to church or bible study. And we took heaps of pictures!!
Yesterday, we parted. I rode up to the airport with the Wetzels. When we got there we ate Hungry Jacks until the line opened. Elli went through, then we waited around until her gate opened. We walked around the airport, Elli and I took the boys on a few wondering, and just waited around until the time came. We said our goodbyes. I cried, I don't like goodbyes. The ride home was relatively quiet. I cried more, it is hard to be sad around 3 giggling young boys though.

I had to put this picture up, it is pretty much the cutest picture EVER!

After five wonderful weeks, she is now gone. I miss her greatly! Lord Willing we will see each other again some day.

Elli, ich liebe Dich so sehr viel! Ich bin so froh, daß ich Sie als mein Freund habe. Ich vermisse Sie bereits!

Had a grand day!

2007-08-21T16:18:00.001+10:00

I....
woke up
ate brekky
went to maths class
came home
watched 'We are Marshals'
at lunch of oatmeal and a crumpet
Drove to Aldi's
went grocery shopping with mum
we went in
My list was still in the car
I walked out
got stopped to have my bag checked because I was walking out with an empty trolley
came back in (mum had the list with her all along)
did our shopping
bought a coffee maker
I drove home
put away groceries
made coffee
made breadsticks
I tried to put chicken seasoning rather then cinnamon in my coffee
I laughed uncontrollably
drank my coffee
...after that....
well that's it, the after hasn't happened yet
I may do a small amount of school before the time comes to make tea
I may go to Benji's game
or I may stay home and do school
I may go to Tuesday night fellowship
I may come home and go to bed and sleep until tomorrow comes
....Lord Willing

James 4:15 "You ought to say 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'"

Martha and Ruth

2007-08-08T12:39:00.000+10:00

I am officially using my brand new (okay, second hand, but new for me) very own laptop.

The past two weeks have been computer weeks at the Blackwood home. We had one of us kids computers just die last week, so we got some new computers. Charity and I got laptops (Martha and Ruth ) and we got two new ones for outside, Tamara and Benjamins computers ( I am pretty sure they are still Matthew and Mark). Charity and I are renaming them though. Tamara and I are trying to convince Chaza that Bob Jr. is a grea name for hers. :) So far I have decided on Hezekiah, but after Robert Lachlyn Charles Laptop (Bob lachy Charlie Lappy for short) I figure I need at least one middle name if not two. Any suggestions?

Chaza and I are both pretty excited about them, hopefully we can tear ourselvs away from them at times to get other things done. :)

Quote of the post:
Charity: Woah! Its just like Bob!
Dad: Charity, this computer is ten times the man Bob was

2007-06-14T05:12:00.000+10:00

Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents.

1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

EXCITED!!!!

2007-06-08T11:18:00.000+10:00

making peanut butter choc chip cookies
running in and out of the kitchen to check on them
doing school
preparing Sunday school,
PREPARING FOR YOUTH CAMP!!!
I am on a high
This weekend will be a BLAST!!!!!
Tuesday is our Biology exam, but lets not put a damper on things
THEN......AMERICAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”

Joshua david

2007-05-26T10:19:00.000+10:00

With too big pajamas on, his hair all in a mess, he looks up at me. He is so small, so young and innocent, so happy. It does not take much to make this gorgeous little boy happy. Just a bottle of warm milk and a bedtime story is enough to make him perfectly content. A smile spreads over his small round face he is so charming. He reaches to give me a goodnight hug and kiss before he lays his head against the pillow. His eyelids begin to droop as he gives into the sleep that is taking over. The smile is replaced by a somber look, no longer caring what is going on, except for in his dreams. He looks so peaceful when he sleeps. There is now no reason for him to worry or fear. Nothing can touch him now. He knows he is safe. Goodnight my adorable little friend Joshua.

Check out the music video below on the right hand side

Driving

2007-05-02T14:28:00.000+10:00

I got my first try at driving a manual car today.
So it was only in the driveway, but it was still fun.
I wasn't very good at it.
My mum was a little scared.
It gave my siblings a good laugh.
Towards the end I finally figured out how to use the clutch.
Maybe next time I will be a little better at it...Maybe :)

In an automatic car, I am a little bit better. I drove half way home from church a few weeks ago. Only half way because Dad wasn't sure if I am ready for the freeway. That was my only drive longer then 5 minutes. I have a little trouble with the round-a-bouts. I have been doing little drives such as to and from bible study and evening church, but other then that not much. It has been great driving. I like it a lot. :)

updating

2007-04-27T12:25:00.000+10:00

I know I haven't updated in a while, school has been keeping me busy. But here I am updating when I should be doing school. :)

Reasons for me to smile today

I am listening to storm ( and yes, it makes me smile mostly because I love that song)
Its Friday!
Its getting colder
Its almost the weekend
Tonight we girls are going over to the Glovers to eat Chinese and watch Pride and Prejudice
Saturday we are having a sleepover with Hollie and Hannah
Sunday is the Lords day
I am almost done with school for the week
I just got off the phone with a dear friend ( I love you Mary!)
I have an amazing family
I have incredible friends
Because school will end someday even if learning never will
I am eating a butterfinger
Because I am blessed

Life

2007-03-30T11:40:00.000+10:00

Thanks to my wonderfully amazingly talented brother Zachary, I now have an official website. So check it out. Go here to check it out.

In other news, the rain just poured down, and is still coming throughly soaking all the clothes hanging out on the line. Rain is such a blessing, I have never appreciated rain more then when I have been living in Australia.

Spend Tuesday night curled up on the Glovers coach, after having put the kiddles to bed, with one of my favorite books, their dog Polly, and a tissue box (no, not because I was crying, because I was getting a cold) Well,I am not getting it anymore, I have a cold, so am sneezing and sniffling all over myself, hoping to be better soon. The cold weather is coming, which makes me happy. I love bundling up in hoodies, and even without snow, winter is still fun.

Wednesday night , we (mum, benji, and we three girls) watched you've got mail for the second time in less then a week.

Thursday night we three girls went to the Glovers for the 7 C's and had the worlds best coffee and to chat with Matt and Justine. It was fun, except was was cold and shaky, but it was still fun. I love spending time with the Glovers. :) Then I stayed up late and woke up early so I could read 'A series of unfortunate events'. I still don't know how the series ends.

School holidays start tomorrow. We are planning a few things for the next two weeks, but Charity and I still have to do school, so it won't really be much of a holiday, except, no classes.

Countdown
2 days until Sunday! I LOVE Sundays!
7 days until mine and Bethany Glovers birthday
11 days until I get my permit
73 (I think) days until Youth camp
79 days until our family holiday to America

longing for the future, but living here and now to glorify God with all that I do

I can't wait

2007-03-09T08:03:00.000+11:00

I need to see them
I need to hug them
I need to be with them
I can't wait till tonight!!!
Too little sleep
To much school
I am pumped
I am on an adrenalin high
Together again!
The whole family at family camp
I couldn't be more excited!

Chasing the sun

2007-03-01T19:44:00.000+11:00

Black clouds above me
Blue skies ahead
Chasing the sun
I am pedaling hard
in slippery shoes
Chasing the sun
The rain falling down
Getting all wet
Chasing the sun
Soggy papers
Soggy me
Chasing the sun
Getting tired,
but continuing on
Chasing the sun
Over this hill,
and up ahead
Chasing the sun
Suddenly it has stoped
As soon as it had begun
I stop
I think
Has it stopped raining,
or did I catch the sun?

Taking on the Jellys

2007-02-19T20:03:00.000+11:00

The temperature has been in the hight 90's F lately, so it has been pretty hot lately especially since we don't have air conditioning in our house, so it can get pretty hot around our house. So last Saturday our family (except for Charity) packed up and headed down to the Mt. Eliza beach. Because of a recent strong onshore wind there has been heaps of jellyfish in the bay lately. It was the first time our family had encountered them. Benji and I were just harmlessly swimming along when Benji squealed "EEEIKK". Dead ahead was this red jellyfish. Dad was visiting Robbie, so we decided we should catch one and show dad when we came along. So we got out the swimming caps to catch the Jelly's. We got the one after lots of trying, then Benji spotted another one! So we caught it too and added it to our collection. We went on like this spotting more and more till we had nearly a dozen. It was so cool to watch them swim or whatever they do. They kept getting their tentacles tangled with each other. After dad arrived and we showed him our wonderful collection. Benji was afraid that we were being cruel and unusual to the poor little guys getting their tentacles all tangled with each other, so we let all but 4 go. There It was pretty sweet, Tim-Tam, Mum, and me even got stung by one. It was really weird. More of an itch then a sting. It was very strange, but didn't last long. I love going to the beach, despite the deadly animals. Ok, so there really aren't any deadly animals in the water in Victoria....at least no that I have heard of. You never know though. :) Well, there are a few pictures ^ of our adventures. Enjoy!

Happy Valentines day

2007-02-14T19:48:00.000+11:00

My daddy is my valentine. He got us three girls and my mum roses. I know we are weird, but as soon as we got them, we girls decided to dress up just for pictures. So, the only place I went for valentines day was my living room, but hey, we got some good pictures, and it was fun. So what did y'all do for valentines day?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

2007-02-05T21:00:00.000+11:00

To Raymond and Carolyn Hughes on the birth of their firstborn son, Thomas James Wilson Hughes. He was born on Sunday February the 4th, he weighed 7 lbs and 12 oz ( I think. I am not positive about those, but pretty sure). He is a beautiful baby! We went and saw him in the hospital today. Here are some pictures that I promised I would put up:

Me with baby Thomas

Thomas and his mummy

The whole family

Such tiny hands (his and mind)

Daddy with his tiny baby

We are all pretty excited about a new baby in our church. It is the first birth since we have been in the church. Ray and Caza are going to be such amazing parents. I am so happy!

Quote of the post: "All new born babys kind of look the same. They all look like little possums." -Carolyn Hughes

10 things that make me joyful

2007-02-02T17:55:00.000+11:00

Thanks to Charity's blog. It inspires me. I was reading through old posts on her blog and found a post from October 2005, and it was a bit like this.

1. When the Aussie people call me beautiful

2. Eating good ice cream (yes they have it here)

3.Sleepovers

4. Sundays

5.Benji asking me to play xbox with him

6. Hanging out with my sisters

7. Paper round

8.Singing

9.Going over to the Glovers

10. Going to the beach

I am not saying that these are the only things that make me joyful, just a few of the many things.

quote of the post: "Anyone who says only sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain"
--Anonymous

It's the simple things in life that you miss the most

2007-01-28T09:47:00.000+11:00

Exactly one year ago me and my family followed Gods will for our lives and found ourselves in this strange country of Oz. We arrived on a Saturday and on the following Sunday Alistair McEwen took us four Blackwood kids out to see the bay. He encouraged us to keep a list of the weird things that we encounter in Australia because before too long they won't be weird anymore. I really didn't realize how true that was. I look at things differently now. Most things that I thought were weird then are now completely normal. There are a lot of things from America that I really miss. It's the simple things, the things that I took so much for granted that I miss so much. Things (in no particular order) such as...

My friends and family
Square milk jugs
White eggs
Yellow stop lights
Wall mart
Sams Club
Deal$
American ice cream
Movies 8
Toco bell
Biscuits and gravey
McDonald's breakfast
Rice crispy treats
American marshmellows
S'mores
Papa Johns breadsticks
Motzies pizza
Northside classes
Southside
The drives to different places in Indy
Peoples houses and cars
12 and 15 passenger vans in the church parking lot
Snow in Christmas
Thanksgiving
Fourth of July
Our home in Indy
Our pets
Burger King
Driving on the right side of the road
Dill pickles
Robins
American trees
Places around Beach Grove (feed and seed, the library, NBO, the bank, the Benedict Inn)
Dads work
Snow days
Our pool
Grandma and Grandpa's house
Clogging
Seek classes
The orthodontist and dentist (I know I am crazy, but yes I really do)
Choir
Streets around our house
The dear cows
My mooter scooter
The lawn mower
Our go-cart
Our shed
Indiana tomatoes
Conner prairie
GCA
Bulldogs
Sunday school
CYPU events
Youth group
Corn fields everywhere
Corn detasseling
Good radio stations
Fazolies
Holiday in with the lights in different shapes for different holidays
American flags everywhere
Aunt Laura and Uncle Roberts house
Doing crazy things with the Rays
ECHO
Covie/Calvin
My old bike
Dandelions everywhere
Squarles
Ugly possums
Family fun night
Shepherding groups
Darbie and Dale
Ultimate Frisbee
built in dressers
Grandpa Blackwoods animals
Colored cups
Sams club pancake mix, pizza, and samples
Babysitting for women's prayer
Hot chocolate and Lemonade after church
Blueberry bagels with Strawberry cream cheese
Sledding behind Grandpa's tractor
Riding horses at Grandpa's
Charity and Tamara's old stereos
Our Blue van and mini can
The mini
Downtown Indy
Dairy Queen
The wood stove in our basement
Cole gatherings
Blackwood reunions
Green money
The children's museum
Popsicles
pink milk on Saturday mornings
koolaid

I do miss these things so much, but they don't seem so important when I realize that I am here in Australia serving God.

Check out Charity's blog for Anniversary 2

Quote of the post: Don't count the days till you go back, just live each day as it comes because the time will go by fast enough.
-Brett Pluke

The other side of the world to me

2007-01-22T09:49:00.001+11:00

I apologize for the longness of this post

After very few hours of sleep it was 6:00AM. I was lying wide awake on the Longs downstairs hide-a-bed. The minutes ticked by like hours, but I didn't want this day to start, so I didn't get up. Finally at 6:30 the alarm went of forcing me to get up. I woke Flo up. It took a while to do so, but eventually she got up and I went up stairs to have coffee with Beth, Cathy, and Charity who hadn't slept at all.
Eventually we were all up and moving. After I completed getting ready for the day I went down to the Longs basement where I found Kathryn, Flo, Beth, and Anna. I sorta broke down saying 'I didn't want to leave'. Beth made it very clear that we were not aloud to cry yet, so I held back the tears.
So we (Kathryn, Flo, Beth, Cathy, my sisters and I) headed off to Southside RPC with Mr. Long driving some of us. We arrived at church and sat down in the front row for the last time. Pastor Keddie preached on 'What it means to be a prophet'. I must sadly admit that I didn't pay as much attention to the sermon as I should have. Most likely because of lack of sleep the night before. As I look back on my sermon notes I can hardly read them because me sentences ended in squiggles where there should have been words.
After church came Sunday school. I spent the first half of when I should have been in class talking to the Soma's before I quietly snuck into class. After church came time to say goodbye to some of the people that weren't going to be able to make it to our going away party.
I said goodbye to the Elders crying when I hugged Charlotte.
Then the Parton's said goodbye to us. Mrs. Parton told me to think of her whenever I saw any fish. I told her I would. The goodbyes had to start then. It was very sad. Rushed goodbyes are never fun.
After church our family headed home. Dad made us look through our basement for a lost item. So we had to do that before we could eat lunch. Lunch was all the leftovers from meals that people had brought us the week before. I went up stairs and sat in my old room (Allen's before mine) on the floor (because Eleni had already taken my bed) with a blanket and pillow. I heard Charity in the room next to me on the phone. I didn't know who was on the other end, but I overheard that someone wasn't going to be able to make it to our going away party. I couldn't help myself I started crying and must have cried my self to sleep (which is never fun) because the next thing I knew, Dad was telling me it was time to get ready for church.
I completed getting ready then got in the car with Grandma Wallace, Charity, and Tamara and we headed off to church. The car ride there was very quiet besides sniffles. My Grandma commented that it hadn't even started and we were already crying.
Walking towards the doors I was already crying and it didn't help to see heaps of my friend standing at the door waiting for us to arrive. I was greeted by Faith Hovee and Laura Nelson before I even got to the doors. The tears just kept falling. I cried on my friends shoulders, then headed toward the sanctuary which was packed.
Ruth came over and gave me my Christmas present and gave me a hug before I sat down next to my Grandparents for my last evening service at Southside, at least for a while.
I was in tears most of the service. During the requests form the congregation we sang psalm 146A. Charity, Tamara, and I, along with most of the Southside girls were crying. That was the last time, at least for a long time, that the descant was sung by the Blackwood girls.
Pastor Keddie preached about 'The God that glorifies us'. This was a really good sermon for me to hear. In his second point that God watches over us, he mentioned that God will always be watching over us and not just as a spectator, but as a God who is near to us. That helped remind me that God will still be there watching over me in Australia.
Following the sermon came a time of prayer for the Blackwoods and their ministry in Australia. We all got up on the platform along with the Elders and they prayed for us. I was standing there trying not to cry up in front of everyone when Tamara asked me for a tissue. I just lost it. The tears spilled over. I couldn't help it.
I didn't realize how many people were there until I stood up and looked around after church. We all headed off toward the fellowship hall for food and farewell.
We Blackwoods were supposed to be the first ones in line for cake, but unfortunately I didn't even get to see the cake whole except for in pictures. I was to sad to eat and to busy saying goodbye to everyone.
There were more then 100 people ,besides the Southsiders, there to say goodbye to us. Everyone made us feel so special. Saying goodbye to this wonderful church family that had been so great to me in the past five years was very hard.
There were lots of hugs and tears on my part. Mr. Bishop did a little talk about the weird things in Australia and about how special the Blackwoods were and how we would be greatly missed. Then came time to really start saying goodbye to people.
The Longs had to leave pretty soon after. I love that family so much. Beth and I shared a long hug. They were really the first people that we had to really say goodbye to, and then they headed home.
The Harts tried to leave without saying goodbye, but Tamara caught them before they left.
The Mangan family was all there. It was hard thinking about the school year to come without all the classes that we had with them.
Saying goodbye to the Southside friends of mine was very hard. I love and miss all of them so much!
The Saunders attempted to cheer us up by making smiley faces out of food.
Hannah Ray came over and told us that we had done it, we seceded in making her cry. She said she felt like she was loosing her little sisters.
I had to say goodbye to Ruth and Elizabeth and that was pretty tough. I felt like a lot of my goodbyes were rushed. I guess that was what happens when you try to say goodbye to more then 300 people in one night.
When I hugged Liz Neel goodbye, she commented that she was crying on my hair, and so was I on hers.
Flo was convinced that she wouldn't cry during the evening, but she broke down on Charity and that didn't help seeing that.
Micah Humphrey's did his best to make us smile through out the evening and he did a pretty good job of it. Emily was really good at encouraging us to remember all the good times we had and that we were following God's will for our lives.
When the time came to say goodbye to the McKlintocks that was hard. I couldn't believe that they and the Moores had come down to say goodbye to us. Even though I had only known them for a year, we had become great friends.
Andrew Doerr gave us his CD including the song that he wrote for us and that was exciting. He was the first guy that I hugged goodbye, but not the last.
Kathryn Held was very smiley until she asked Benji to hug her but he wouldn't because he was embarrassed. When he finally did it made her smile through her tears.
Joseph Ray gave us three girls some of his special gel pens. As Zachary said it was like a banker giving up his gold.
One of the hardest parts of the evening was when the car with Kathryn, Anna, and David Held, and Flo was pulling out. They were almost the last people to leave. They all got in, rolled down their windows, and David started them all singing friends never say goodbye. I couldn't even stand watching them pull out, so I waved and then walked back toward the church tears clouding my vision. That was it, most everyone was gone.
When the Kreigers and Grandma Wallace were the only ones left, we stood around not saying much. Zachary made us smile, and we took pictures of where we and the fishers were headed, and where Josh and Sarah already were.
The car ride home that night was very quiet. I stared out the window most of the time. Remembering every detail about that drive home from Church for the last time for a long while.
When we got home the Soma's came over and cleaned out our fridge. We gave them most everything except for lucky charms, milk, ice cream, Jam, and bread (we had to have something for breakfast the next morning).
I was looking through moms desk when I found two American stamps. I had to use them, I couldn't let them go to waste, so I sent out two last letters. I ended up having to make envelopes out of construction paper because the envelopes were packed.
I read my bible, lay down in my parents closet with only a blanket and a pillow and fell asleep right away, tears rolling into my ears. Crying sure makes your tired.

It has been a whole year since that day at Southside Reformed Presbyterian Church. Leaving my church family behind was pretty tough, but I have come to love my church family here so much. Everyone in the Frankston/McKinnon churches have touched my life in many amazing ways. A year ago I never could have even imagined how much I would truly love these people. I still miss my church family in America, , but eh amazingly wonderful people here have made it less hard.

Check out Charity's blog for a bit more and Zachary's pictures from that night.

Memories

2007-01-04T19:36:00.001+11:00

the memories come flooding back when I look through these pictures. Below are a bunch (sorry there really are a lot you don't have to look through all of them) of photos from my life in America from Evensville to Indianapolis. I would have put some more from when I was younger, but we didn't have a digital camera back that far, so therefore all of those pictures are in photo albums boxed up in Aunt Carla and Uncle Davids garage. I hope you guys enjoy looking through these and hopfully it will bring back some memories of your own.

Thanks to Allen for the song. I don't know what it is called, but we kids used to run around the living room while listening to this song. Is sure brings back memories.

2007-01-04T19:35:00.000+11:00

Me, Charity, and Kathryn Harry (from our church in Evensville) right before we moved to Indy. What weirdos we were/are.

2007-01-04T19:34:00.001+11:00

All the Cole cousins.

2007-01-04T19:33:00.000+11:00

2007-01-04T19:32:00.000+11:00

Internation Conference 2000 right after we moved to Indy

2007-01-04T19:27:00.000+11:00

Us kids and Paul 2000

2007-01-04T19:26:00.000+11:00

Back then our ambition in life was to make a funnier face then Allen. 2000

2007-01-04T19:24:00.000+11:00

Christmas '01

2007-01-04T19:21:00.000+11:00

Lets eat Playdough YUM! It sure looked pretty, but it tasted kinda salty.

2007-01-04T19:20:00.000+11:00

For my 9th Birthday, Grandma and Grandpa Cole gave me a cat. Pearl.

2007-01-04T19:18:00.000+11:00

"Everybody knows I love my toes" SSRP talent show

2007-01-04T19:17:00.000+11:00

Easter '01

2007-01-04T19:10:00.000+11:00

Grandma Cole made all the girl cousons aprons and she and Grandpa gave us cake mix for Christmas '01

2007-01-04T19:08:00.000+11:00

Christmas '03

2007-01-04T19:02:00.000+11:00

The whole family in Gatlinburg for Grandma and Grandpa Cole's 50th wedding anniversary '01

2007-01-04T18:59:00.000+11:00

Christmas '04

2007-01-04T18:57:00.000+11:00

Internation Conference bible quize bowl '04

2007-01-04T18:56:00.000+11:00

All of us in Pigtails '05

2007-01-04T18:54:00.000+11:00

GCA awards '04

2007-01-04T18:43:00.000+11:00

Hat day

2007-01-04T18:39:00.000+11:00

Blackwood Family Reunion '05

2007-01-04T18:37:00.000+11:00

ECHO '05

2007-01-04T18:35:00.000+11:00

Covfamikoi '05

2007-01-04T18:33:00.000+11:00

Dance on Tap (aka Clogging) at the State fair with Faith Hovee and Grandma and Katy!

2007-01-04T18:32:00.000+11:00

halloween/Grandpa Coles birthday

2007-01-04T18:29:00.000+11:00

Cole Thanksgiving '05

2007-01-04T18:23:00.000+11:00

Winter Conference '05

2007-01-04T18:15:00.000+11:00

Christmas '05

2007-01-04T18:12:00.000+11:00

I love the Manns!

2007-01-04T18:04:00.000+11:00

goodbye to SSRP

2007-01-04T17:58:00.000+11:00

Moving

2007-01-04T10:48:00.000+11:00

Goodbye to America and Hello to Australia

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T00:05:00.000+11:00

Eating spiced popcorn
drinking ice water
it is raining

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM AUSTRALIA!!
(for all yous still in America weare totally a year ahead of you.)

In A Winter Wonderland

2006-12-22T11:05:00.000+11:00

(seasonally adjusted)

Car horns honk, asphalt's melting/Seat belts burn

Kids are shouting no parking space/Red in the face

Sweating in a summer wonderland

In the park we can have a picnic

Paper plates and flies all buzzing round

Poor old Santa looks a little sick Nick

As the fire truck drives him round the footy ground

Later on, we perspire/smell of smoke, there's a fire

The truck leaves flat chat/ Santa holding his hat

Sweating in a summer wonderland

It's pretty true here in this place down under. I must say Christmas day on the beach sound a bit to weird for my taste. I never thought I would see an advertisement saying summer Christmas specials. We are all upside down over here. I don't mind the heat so much during the day, but it is the nights that really kill me. Especially with now air conditioner. Well, I hope everyone in America has a wonderful WHITE Christmas. Make a snowman in honor of me. For all you Aussies have a very hot Christmas. That is so weird.

What do you call it?

2006-12-14T09:11:00.000+11:00

Lately we have been getting the question "are you on the pop or soda side of America" Well, I always just called it coke no matter what it was, but apparently that is just me. I am told that I am on the pop side. So besides pop, soda, and coke, here they call things fizzy, or even lemonade. Yeah, that sounds very weird but it is just like coke. Lemonade was the first carbonated drink, so therefore everything after that is still referred to as lemonade. Well that is actually more of the older generation. So I have changed from calling it pop (or coke) to mostly calling it fizzy. We have been having this conversation a lot lately, don't ask me why. I was just wondering though what do you call it?

All in His hands

2006-11-09T17:30:00.000+11:00

Here are just a few pictures of our fun with them.

I climb the hill sometimes riding, mostly pushing my bike to the top. I finally arive at the top and start to coast down the other side. I glance to my left and there in my sight is a vast blueness which is not the sky. Every time I see this I am reminded that I am here and not there. Who knows when I will be there again? For now, I am here. We are all here together, but not for long. Soon they will have to leave us. They will be there, and we will be here. And who knows when we will be together again. It should be eaiser the second time. This will never be eaiser. It will only get harder. Doing it onve was enough to last a life time. I don't think I could do it again without His grace to get me through. The first time was horrible. We were going, but we were leaving them behind in that world that is now like a dream, like another life that I left behind. We left them there, and with them, I left some of my heart. This time, they are leaving us here. They are going back there to that other life, and leaving us here. They will take some of my heart with them. I am happy for them, they will be going home, but I am sad for my loss, for our loss. I take them for granted so much when they are with me, but when they are gone, something is missing. Saying goodbye for a second time will be so hard. Espescially when only He knows when we will see them again. The only thing that gives me comfort in all this, is knowing tha it is all in His hands. He will always take care of us. He will always remain the same no matter if I am living here or there. My life is in His hands, and I can rejoice in that.

Verses of the post: Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. "
Psalm 31:15a "My times are in your hand."

Outreach service

2006-10-26T20:46:00.000+10:00

This comming sunday (the fifthe sunday of this month) we are having an outreach service in McKinnon and Frankston. We delivered a few invatations in McKinnon when we knocked on doors. We (dad and I) talked to one gusy that sounded kind of intrested in comming, so we might see him on sunday morning. In Frankston we delivered probably a hundred fliers to the surrounding neighborhoods. Chaity and Tamara had one young mother that sounded pretty intrested, so hopfully she and her two children will be able to attend. Mother and I talked to one lady that said her daughter had seen our sign and was intrested in checking it out, so that would be really neat if she came. If you guys could just pray for the service, and just that we will get a lot of people that will come.

In other news, this comming saturday the fun with the boys for (summer holidays and stuff) begins. We are going to walhalla. It is this old gold mining town. It should be heaps of fun. As I said, the fun with the boys has begun. Hopfully we will be able to do most of the things of our list of things to do some of which include:

have a BBQ on the beach
have a bike trip
go on the great ocean road
go to wilsons prom
go to the beach at least 3 times every day :)

and heaps more things that I can't think of right now. Man, we are going to have heaps of fun. I am not so sure about the last one though. :)

Well, I finally updated after many months. Charity just always tells about what I want to say. I must say that durring paper round, your mind makes up whole posts to write, but I almost never actually get around to writing them. Oh well, I will try to just keep up updaiting hopfully more then in the past, but I can't make any promises. It is so hard to spend heaps of time on the computer when just minutes from our house is the ocean, and most days now are the perfact temperatures for going outside. It is great weather, but this summer is going to be sooo hot. I don't know if us poor americans can survive it.

song of the post: Man its so loud in here (also known as baby Jenson by Benjamin Blackwood:)) They might be giants.

Man, memories of car rides to GCA!

What to name him

2006-09-30T09:13:00.000+10:00

Yesterday all day, we five younger kids and mom went shopping at Queen Victoria Markets. It is like a flea market. It was really fun. I don't use spell-check. We all came home with lots of stuff for others and ourselvs. It was really fun. We all got Australian T-shirts. We will get a picture of all of us in them sometime, and I will post it on my blog whenever that happens. Probably the most exciting thing we came home with yesterday was A BUNNY!!! I real live 5 week old dwarf rabit. It is the cutest thing. There is only one problem... what to name him?!?! Here are some of the names that we came up with. Take a look at him, and tell me what you think his name should be. Either one of these or one of your own. Here are the names:

Howard (howie for short)
Thumper (the bunny off of bambie)
Dopey (because he is a dwarf)
Stevie (In honor of Steve Erwin, and becuase it can be a girl or boy name)
Timothy (just becasue we have had a Dog named Paul, and a cat named Barnabas)
Bugs Bunny (thanks Anna Pulliam)
Storm (or stormy because he is the color of storm)
Cinnimon (because Allen had a stuffed rabbit named that for like 10 years)

Those are what we came up with. We actually came up with a bunch more, but these are the ones we thought were the best.

That the US is better then Australia

2006-09-16T16:58:00.000+10:00

We three girls are taking debating this semister at our homeschool classes, and yesterday morning, Charity, Tamara, and I had our first debate. It went pretty well. We ended up wining, so that is probably a good sign, but we didn't really prepair as much as we should have. Charity was the first speaker. She did a really good job. I was second speaker, and I did ok I guess. I made up on rebutle on the spot, and that was kind of hard to do, and it really didn't make much since unless you knew what I was talking about, which the Australians didn't. Tamara was the third speaker, and she had the hardest job because she couldn't do much preparation, most of what she did was on the spot. She still did a good job, but we didn't do all of the rebutles that we should have. We also painted our houses in pottery. So we are all done with pottery. It was a LOT of fun to do. Here are some pictures from debate. I don't have any pictures of our houses, but Zachary should put them up on his website soon.

6 bible verses spoken most in our home (mostly by mum)

2006-09-07T16:39:00.000+10:00

Have you ever heard these words at your house?

Don't fight with your siblings.
obey right now
stop complaining and do it

Well, maybe you don't at your house, but we hear things like that a lot. Mostly they go something like this (these aren't exact quotes from the bible, they are my moms words)

Blesses are the peacemakers
Do EVERYTHING without grumbling and complaining
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger
Pride goes before a fall
He how loves to argue loves to argue loves sin
Delayed obedience is disobedience

I get annoyed with it sometimes, but when Mum feels the need to say it is probably when I need to hear it. I thank God that he gave me parents who correct me when I need correction. I love them for it! The most important thing that they have done for me is introducing me to Jesus, and teaching me most of what I know about him.

Sorry it has taken me so long to update, I will try to get back into updating more often

I LOVE SNOW!!!

2006-08-12T21:13:00.000+10:00

This past week we spent it at Mount Baw Baw! We all had a blast! We were there Monday around 5pm to Friday around 4pm. It was a fantastic week. We skied/snowborded, built snowmen, had snowball fights, went bush walking, made snow angels, and all that fun stuff it was a blast!

If you want to read more about our week check out Charitys blog. (I didn't think it would be worth recaping our week on my blog too since most of you guys who read my blog also read Charitys)

To look at pictures go here and check out all of his cool pictures

I also took Zachary's advise, and decided to put my picture up on a website instead of the blog they were on, so go here to see all of those beautiful pictures

Let it snow...

2006-08-06T21:53:00.000+10:00

Oh the weather outside is frightful (really it is, but not because I don't like winter, but because winter without snow is like a peanut butter sandwich without the jelly)
But the fire is so delightful (well, at least our heated living room is)
and since we've lots of places to go (like skiing)
let it snow let it snow let it snow

I am still getting used to this whole winter in June - August deal. It is winter here right now, but winter is no fun without Christmas, and snow, so...

...On Monday we are leaving for a holiday in the mountains (Allen and Zachary aren't coming until Thursday though). We are staying in cabins with heaps of other people (like 5 families or so). Hopefully there will be snow when we get there, and maybe it will even snow while we are there. So we are going to go skiing, tobogganing, tubing, making snow men, and snow angels, having snowball fights, and just playing around. I am sure we will have a wonderful time. I LOVE SNOW!

Have a GREAT week everyone!

It is really funny that my last post was all about spending time at the beach, and this one is all about playing in the snow!

A day at the Bay

2006-07-31T18:16:00.000+10:00

Most saturdays at my house (if I am home on saturday) are just spent either working or lazing around doing nothing, but not last saturday.

WE HAD SOOOO MUCH FUN!!!

So, Zachary, Tamara, Benjamin, and I decided to get out and do something this saturday. So we decided to take a bike ride. We hoped on bikes and took off on a ride planing on heading to a beach about (10 minutes or so away in a car). So we packed a few apples some shorts, a towel, and some water. We went riding along rather quickly, then I came to a hill and realized that my gears didn't exactly work, but it was too late now to turn back, so we kept right on going. Then it started to rain, and Benjamin wanted to turn back, but we just kept right on going. Then we came to a road with a down hill (finally), but when we got to the bottom of that you practally had to look straight up to see the top of the next hill, but we just kept on going. We finally made it to the beach after about 50 minutes. First we climbed a clif and threw our stuff behind this bush thingy. Then we all changed into shorts and played in the water, and found shells, and seaglass, and climbed all over sharp rocks, and cut up our feet and legs. Then we got bored playing on rockes, so we went to an actual beach and played in the sand and got really wet(it was raining part of the time, but it didn't make much difference, we were already pretty wet) , and so much fun stuff like. Keep in mind it is the middle of winter over here. So we were out playing in the water and these people would walk past in scarves and hats and give us really weird looks and stuff. We eventually had to pull ourselvs away from the beach and ride home. We were a little bit more wet on the way home, but it was fun even if it was mostly uphill the entire way.

Like I said IT WAS SOOOO MUCH FUN!!!

Zachary is going to put pictures up soon. So while waiting check out all of his other cool pictures.

Quotes of the post:
little boy "Daddy, can I go play in the water?"
his dad "No it is too cold!"
little boy "but they (pointing at tamara and I) are in the water"
Such bad examples us Americans.

Me " Look! Sea glass! I love sea glass!"
Benjamin "No look, I found shells!"
Zachary "You can see glass any day, but you certinly can't see shell"

About me

2006-07-21T09:23:00.000+10:00

I apologize for the randomness of this post, but I really needed to update, and I don't have much to say really. Not much is going on in my life, well, that isn't really true. Check out Charitys blog to hear about my life.

Favorites

My Favorite smells

Freshly baked bread
trees
mowed grass
Christians
my mom's brownies
my grandma's pies
lake water
horses
most any animals
squishy pillows ( I don't know what they are really called, but the pillows with little tiny bean things inside that are all sorts of different shapes. )
new books
new cars
leaves in the fall
outdoors in the early spring morning
hot coco after playing in the snow
fresh tomatoes from the garden

My favorite sounds

pulling out of a gravel driveway
most any music
dogs toenails on a hard wood floor
AIO
voices (especially my family's)
leaves crunching underneath feet in the fall
the noise before the 'do walk sign" in Australia
horses hoofs pounding the ground, and their panting
cats purr
singing of psalms
cameras
dog barks
kids laughing
duct tape being pealed off the roll
leaves in the wind
squeaky swings
flip flops
talking into a fan
lawn mowers
Cole family gatherings
the woods at night
birds
storms

My favorite things to feel

horses
dogs
cats
bunnies
kangaroos
mud between my toes
water
outdoors under bear feet
snow
fire on a cold day (not actually touching it)
peoples hair
rolling down hills in Australia (no chiggers)
a mighty wind
clay
Charity's legs :)

My favorite tastes

pizza
American ice cream
milo
roasted American marshmallows
burnt Australian marshmallows
mountain dew (even if it doesn't have cafine in it)
mom's hot coco
veggies from the garden
most any fruit
warm cookies
peanut butter and marshmallow cream
warm salt water

My favorite sights

my family
my friends
horses in a field
country road
hills with green grass covered in sheep or cows or horses
SNOW ON CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!
kittens cuddles up together
sunrises
sunsets
the ocean
water
the woods
kangaroos in the wild
a full sanctuary at McKinnon church
lightning while in an aeroplane
big storms
most any animal

My Favorite things to do

hang out with friends/family
go to church
ride horses
play with younger kids
play with animals
knit
cross stitch
read
listen to AIO
listen to music
ride bikes
swing
watch movies with people
explore anything
shopping ( I have to be in the mood for it, but I wouldn't call it my very favorite thing to do)
play guitar
climb trees

Not so favorites

Smells

wet dogs
my hands after washing dishes
moth balls
sour milk

Sounds

ticking clocks
buzzing lights
fingernails on a chalk board

Things to feel

food particles in the bottom of the sink after draining the water after washing dishes
crickets
sticky hair

Taste

grilled cheese
tomato soup
Turkish delight

Sights

aero planes
Chicago train station
curdled milk

To do

wash dishes
clean bathrooms
sleep in beds ( I prefer the ground or a chair)
talk in front of people
say goodbye

They are leaving on a jet plane

2006-07-03T14:46:00.000+10:00

Today that missions team left to go back to America. :( I am going to miss them all soooo much. The past few weeks with them was a BLAST!! All but Eleni and my brothers departed this morning. It was sad to see them go, but I am sure they are looking forward to seeing their familys again. Pray for them all as they are heading back to America. Safe travels. And thank God for the blessing that there time was here. They were such a blessing to the churches here. They are all such godly examples to me. I hope to see them all again soon!

Bethany: don't forget your bible. You can sleep in my bed anytime!
Christie: I hope you get enought sleep. Don't go eating to many cookies and funnelcakes.
Luke: lets play the shoulder game, and sing my song
Tricia: You know who can't wait for you to get back? Don't annoy too many people with your didgerydo.

I LOVE YOU GUYS!

2006-06-19T19:00:00.000+10:00

I hope you dance

2006-06-13T15:13:00.000+10:00

Lovin' might be a mistakeBut it's worth making

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

I hope you still feel small When you stand by the ocean

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

May you never take one single breath for granted

You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

In just one week from now...

2006-06-02T14:15:00.000+10:00

I will be hanging out with a bunch of youth ( SEVEN OF WHICH WILL BE THE MISSIONS TEAM!!!) at Dixons Creek! I am most excited about seeing my brothers. The day will never come soon enough. I am overly excited about it. We (Charity, Tamara, and I) are always talking about doing this and that when the boys get here. We have so many things planed for the missions team. It is going to be a GREAT three weeks! It will be fun to have some new Americans here, so people can make fun of them instead of us. :) JK! Next week is going to be so hectic getting everything ready for the missions team, but it will be worth it. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

To make things even better Charity, Tamara, and I are going to be spending this weekend with the Mickelsons girls from Geelong. We are going to there house for the night tonight, then tomorrow they are going to come home with us and stay till Sunday. It is going to be so fun.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Sorry that I haven't updated in forever! I probable won't update much in the next month or so. With the missions team coming and all.

Another day, another round...

2006-05-17T21:14:00.000+10:00

(or as we would say in America route) Charity, Tamara, Benjamin, and I all do this paper round. It is not the best paying money, but it is better then nothing. We do two rounds a week. About 625 newspapers, but we usually don't end up delivering all of them. Tamara and I ride on bikes with baskets on our handlebars. Charity and Benjamin walk, Charity pushing a cart. We usually get it done in about an hour. We always do it when the school kids get out though, and they like to make fun of us 'Weird American kids'. It is pretty fun though. I enjoy it. We actually get to talk to some people in out neighborhood if they happen to be in the yard when we deliver.

Joke of the post: NOTE THIS IS JUST A JOKE

Child:"Mommy Mommy! I keep going around in circles!"

Mother: "Be quiet or I will nail your other foot to the ground!"

"Mommy Mommy! My pigtails are too tight!"

"Mommy Mommy! Open the elevator doors!"

Quote of the post: Mom"Ed! You drank all the milk!"
Dad"No I didn't!"
Mom"There are about three drops left"
Dad" Well, one for me, one for you, and one for the kids to fight over"

Song ot the post: White Flag-Dido
-this song is for the Glover family (especially Matt and his beautiful singing of this song) I hope you like the song.

Random Question of the post: What is your favorite way to cook a potato?

baked
mashed
boiled

how about an egg?

scrambled
fried
boiled

Fridays

2006-05-08T14:23:00.000+10:00

I LOVE THEM!!

Friday is my second favorite day of the week. (Sunday being my favorite) This past friday was a very busy, but very fun day. Like most every other friday in the past month, it was cold and rainy, but that didn't stop us from doing anything.

On Friday morning, we just did normal things like school. I am currently reading the Chronicles of Narnia which I really enjoy, and I had a math test which always takes less time then my lessons. So I got done with school relativly early.

After school was over, we were rushing around. I went to the shops with mom to get some groceries. We did it as fast as we could because we had to get home in less then an hour. We got done with plenty of time to spair, but we ended up getting lost on the way home, so we made it home 15 minutes later then we needed to be. When we got there, Justine and her children were all waiting for us.We hurridly unpacked the food, then jumped in vans and took off.

We were heading for a dairy farm. I know it sounds like such a homeschooler thing to do (but hey, I am one and I am proud to be one) but we were taking a field trip to a dairy farm. My mom started this homeschool group for Frankston people. We are going to take field trips with them. So this was the first one. The ride there was pretty fun. We listened to the beatels with Justine. When we got there, we had the best hot chocoalate that I have ever had. Then we went to watch to cows get milked. It was actually pretty intrestering to see. We didn't have a big enough group to have someone actually tell us all about it, so we just watched. We watched for about 20 minutes. When we were done with that, there was this little place where we got to hold animals like chickens and rabbits and gennie pigs, and a few baby cows. It was so neat. They were so cute. Soon after, we ended up leaving. The ride home was just as fun.

When we got home, we packed up and went to Benjamins footy. When we got there, we found out it was canceled because it was too wet. I was a little confused about that because it has rained almost every friday durring footy, and they haven't canceled it before, but it was ok. It ment more time at the Plukes.

We went to the Plukes to spend the night. Jackie took us home right after we didn't do footy. When we got there, we watched toy story 2 while we ate sausages and chips (aka hot dogs and frenchfries). After dinner, we (Charity, Tamara, and I) talked to Matthew and James (Casey wasn't home from work yet). It was fun. James and I tried to get them to play the chocolate game with us. They wouldn't do it though. Charity, Tamara, and Matthew stayed out around the fire and talked. James and I talked inside till he went to bed. Then I talked to Jackie till Casey got home. When she got home, we watched coach carter, and put on fake nails. It was very fun. We all put them on. We decided to see who could keep theirs on the longest. Charity took hers off the next day. Casey ( who actually only had 3 nails on to start with) and Tamara took theirs off on Sunday. I still have mine on. I am trying to keep them on till at least tomorrow, but I don't know if it will happen. When the movie was done, we all went to bed.

Altogerther it was a GREAT friday! Have a great week everyone!

Song of the post: "Me and Emily" by Rachel Proctor

Quote of the post: Charity-"we are going to a dairy farm? That is such a homeschooler thing to do"
Dad-" Charity, you had the choice to go to school."
Charity-"Are you kidding? I love being a homeschooler!"

After much extensive research.......

2006-04-26T18:47:00.000+10:00

...We have come to the conclusion that the reason the ice-cream is so weird is all because of the kangaroos. That's right, it is the kangaroos fault. Maybe I should explain. Well, you see, the ice-cream is so weird because the milk is so weird. The milk is so weird because the cows are so weird. The cows are so weird because they jump around with kangaroos. So therefore, it is all the fault of the kangeroos.

Song of the post: " Your name here (sunrise Highway)" by Straylight run

Baskin Robins & Bagels

2006-04-22T14:41:00.000+10:00

Last Thursday, we as a family went down to McKinnon to count houses. I know that sounds weird, but that is exactly what we did.
We are having a 60th anniversary service on the 30th of this month. (please pray that it will be a success) We handed out flyers today to all the people in the surrounding area. Well, we had to know how many flyers to make, so we counted houses. Charity and I walked together. We did a ton of walking and a ton of counting.
When we all finished our house counting, we went out for lunch. We stopped in at five different bakery's until we found one that had bagels. YEAH!!!! They have to be like my favorite food ever! When I had braces, I wasn't aloud to eat bagels. It was pretty sad to go 2 years without eating bagels. Here they are hard to find, they don't just sell them in any old grocery stores. We bought this bakery out of bagels (it was only about 20) Then we went to a store and bought meat, cheese, and cream cheese. It was the best lunch I have had in a long time!
Then after we had ate lunch, we went to Baskin Robins. It actually tasted like American icecream. It wasn't like what you would get at Baskin Robins in America, it was more like what you would buy in the grocery store in America. But at least it was American tasting. We all enjoyed it. Except for they didn't have cookiedough, so that was a bit disapointing, but it was still good.

Today, we had our work day at church for the 60th annaversery service that we are having at our church. We cleaned the church so it was sparkeling clean. Mr. McKeeman brought his vacuume. It was the kind that you put on your back and have a hose to vacuume with. I used it to vacuume out the sanctery. It was fun to use. Then we went flyer handing. Matt Pluke, Bethany Glover, and I all took one block. Matt would go on one side of the street, and Beth and I went on the other side. We handed out onehundred flyers. It was good. I only got three rejections, and Matt got four. I guess girls are a little less intemidating. I was a bit nerveous at first, but it wasn't so bad after a while. Hopfully we will have a good turnout next sunday.

Quote of the post:There's something soft and fluffy, and icy and cold
It's very nice to look at but much too cold to hold
Whether you're on an outing or spending time at home
You cannot eat this with your hands so put it on a cone

I love icecream...well, American icecream anyway