Brushing up on my "Aussie" as we anticipate going back very soon!

Wow! Time flies when you're busy!

So it's been seven months since I've last posted anything. Now is as good a time as ever to pick up on chronicling about life again as we have many things to look forward to in the next year (and years to come for that matter). Firstly, as some of you readers may have heard, Jim and I are expecting a baby who's due at the end of July! Also, we've been in the U.S. for the past 3.5 months, and during that time so much has happened; so many lessons learned!

In the month of December, we have kept ourselves busy by visiting with friends/church families in SoCal. We also got to spend the holidays with family, and that's when we revealed the "huge" secret we had kept to ourselves for the previous two months! Then, in January, it was all about traveling out-of-state (mostly Jim as I only joined him after my 1st trimester was over, just in case).

It has been a whirlwind experience! Are we tired? You bet. Are we "sick" of it? Sometimes, especially 'cause it's tough sleeping in different beds from week to week, and we long for our "stuff" and our big boy Buddy. BUT, as I said before, God has taught us so much during this time of our lives...we have come to finish each day with just one utterance: God is good!!!

Stay tuned for more posts (and hopefully pictures too)! I promise. :)

Meet Charlie Brown, one of our Labrador's many "pet" toys.

Now you see it...

...now you don't.

Should I be relieved we have no kids?

When I'm Feeling Blue...

...the simplest things in life can cheer me up. For example...

Going Down Memory Lane...

...as we celebrate eleven years together.


1998 - on our honeymoon in Korea (yes, you read it right).


1999 - in San Diego when Jim was at Westminster.


2000 - at a retreat when Jim was a JDS at SCC.


2001 - at a cabin in Big Bear.


2002 - in Big Bear with new friends from NLMC (and Toby).


2003 - backpacking along Italia in celebration of our 5th year anniversary.


2004 - my first trip to Australia; Jim's second.


2005 - at a graduation in Biola.


2006 - in NYC on our trip along the east-coast of the U.S.A.


2007 - Blue Mountains in NSW, Australia


2008 - in Hawaii celebrating our 10th year anniversary.


2009 - in Chicago attending a conference.

Things that make me go "huh" in Australia

1) Bondi Surf Rescuers (Check out their hats. A far cry from Baywatch babes.) 2) Cork Hat & Mosquito Head Net Hat Both "essential" due to this: Incessant swarm of flies is pretty common in Australia. 3) Shark nets in many beaches along Sydney. Supposedly keep sharks away. 4) Hills Rotary Hoist (a proud Australian invention) I can confidently say that every Aussie hangs their laundry; no one uses the drier, not even me! 5) It's a car! It's a truck! No, its' a UTE!

Surprise!

Most of you don't know this about me, but I'm not a very romantic person. In fact, mooshy, lovey-dovey stuff makes me cringe. I know! Hard to believe! Afterall, I am pretty affectionate with Jimbo. But anyhow, the reason I'm saying this is because this past Valentine's Day, Jim surprised me by spontaneously making reservations at a restaurant in the city that he thought I'd like. Then, he kept the place a secret up until the minute we got there. It was an unexpected surprise. The ambience was wonderful, the food was great, and the price even better! I was giggly and gleeful the whole time! I couldn't help myself. It was just fun to be out even though it was raining! Mind you, I usually detest being out when it's raining. I know, I know. This may not be your idea of "romance" and some of you have a long list of romantic gestures under your belt. But to me, this Valentine's day was special because the last few years Jim and I have grown closer together through the different challenges we've faced and have overcome. We've been working side by side almost 24/7 for a few years now, so YES we drive each other insane sometimes. But I am truly grateful that we have each other to talk about the things we've gone or are going through (the good and the bad). I am grateful for how God uses Jim to refine me as a Christian. He truly has been and is, as they say in Oz, my BEST MATE.

Btw, notice Jim did not get PERManent curls in his hair.