25 Random Things About Me

1. I have 2 beautiful boys that are a real handful-Noah (3 years) and David (1 year)! They keep me on my toes and help me to know that my life will NEVER be quiet or boring!!!!
2. My favorite book in the Bible is Psalms.
3. I am constantly amazed at all the Lord is teaching me. I am humbled by His faithfulness and just cant get enough of my Bible. I am currently memorizing as many verses as I can and hiding God's Word in my heart. I feel that I have been given an opportunity to equip myself now so that I will be ready when God calls us back to work overseas.
4.I once spent 3 weeks on the island of Papua New Guinea. What an amazing time! My first time to see a tribe! We were on a missions base helping to build a fellowship hall. We stayed in our tents for the entire time and went to the toliet and shower outside!!!! I had major culture shock and I think I am just now getting over it. I can still smell the markets even now and the BO.
5. I have been engaged twice.
6. I studied music for 2 years in college. Then I found my real passion-teaching-and I switched to study Elementary Education.
7. In my senior year of college, I spent 3 weeks in Germany taking a class during January. That trip totally change the direction of my life. I specifically felt God leading me to a lifetime serving him in cross-cultural work. I also felt God speak to me about marriage and that I should only marry someone who has the same heart for missions as I did.
8. I first came to Australia in May 2002 on a missions trip where I was sent to Bundaberg Baptist Church. They havent been able to get rid of me since!!!!
9. I love Shane!!!!!!!!!!!! Shane once told me that life with him would never be boring. Since we have been married...life has been one rollercoaster ride after another! I wouldnt change it for the world. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful and Godly husband who just wants to serve God! I prayed that God would give me a partner with the same heart as me for missions...little did I know that Shane was praying that same prayer!
10. I just became an Australian citizen! We all have dual citizenship (me and the kids)...except for Shane. He still hasnt been persudaded to become an American yet! That is a work in progress!
11. I love cooking! I love watching cooking shows and looking at cook books.
12. I love gardens and plants! I have my own garden here in Australia and I love eating fresh veggies and herbs.
13. When I was at home at Christmas time, I started doing Weight Watchers with my mom. We arent signed up or anything, but we do count up our points (I estimate....not too strict)! My mom looked so great when I was home and I had been having trouble losing my baby weight after having Dave...so I thought I would try it. I started at 151lbs...and now I am down to 137lbs! I feel great and I am not eating a bunch of junk. I really feel like I am on the road to learning how to eat healthy!
14. I spent 2.5 years in Vietnam teaching English, getting to know the people, and learning Vietnamese (Xin Chao Cac Ban-Hello friends)! We were there 6 months when we found out we were pregnant with Noah. We returned to Australia, had Noah, traveled to Sydney to the US embassy to get his citizenship when he was 6 weeks old, traveled to the States when he was 8 weeks old, and finally returned to Vietnam with he was 4 months old.
15. There are so many things I miss about Vietnam-but I especially miss the food-springrolls, pho, and banh xeo!
16. We have so many toys at my house....just this morning I counted that we had 55 cars!
17. Cleaning really helps me when I'm stressed...it is a good relief for me.
18.I take swim lessons at our local pool. I had started lessons when I was first pregnant with Dave, but I kept getting sick...so I have just now started back. I really enjoy learning how to swim properly instead of just splashing around and looking like I'm drowning.
19. I experience serious stress in Vietnam with regards to Noah and just having a child in that situation. So after much prayer...we decided to return to Australia for a few months break to just rest. After being home for 3 days....we discovered we were pregnant AGAIN!
20. Shane and I are really excited about returning overseas in the future-there are so many people yet to hear.
21. Shane and I really want to adopt a baby.
22. I have always wanted to go to Tasmania and every year I beg Shane to take me there!
23. I would really love an opportunity to work in an orphanage one day.
24. I abosolutely love being a stay at home mom. It is really tough sometimes, but so rewarding just to have the opportunity to spend so much time with my kids. Being a mom is the toughest job ever, but I wouldnt trade it for anything.
25. I taught first grade for 2 years right after Shane and I got married. It was awesome! 1st grade is my favorite grade to teach-I was so blessed to have a chance to do it!

It's Official....

I'm officially an Australian-it feels great. It was a really good day! It is nice to know that we are finally done with visas and immigration! Click here to see more photos!

Dave's 1st Birthday

I cant believe that Dave is going to be 1 this week! Wow...how time flies!

On Saturday, we had a bit of a family birthday party for him at our house. I made an ice-cream cake for him. It turned out really well. Carla did the same cake for Cooper's first birthday party. I thought it looked really good so I borrowed the idea from her for Dave's cake! I was real happy with how everything went. I will try and do something special for him on Thursday too!

If you want to see some more photos from Saturday....Just click here. Shane and I werent in many photos because we were taking them and videoing. We will try and get some family shots on Thursday.

I am so tired. It has been a big weekend. I am looking forward to an early night sleep tonight!

The Blessed Life...

We seem to be in a season of patience and waiting-a season of the unknown where we dont know the next step or what is around the corner. I dont know why we are in this season...but I guess the Lord knows the lessons that we need to learn as we wait and trust on Him.

I just read something really good this morning.....

This is the blessed life-not anxious to see far down the road nor overly concerned about the next step, not eager to choose the path nor weighted down with the heavy responsibilities of the future, but quietly following the Shepherd, one step at a time.

How wonderful it is that God is our Shepherd. I know I am so thankful.

A good devotional....

Thanks Tamra for your help with my blog. It turned out pretty good if you ask me!!!

I just read a really good devotional online from the Proverbs 3 ministries. Click here to check it out. It was really good and made me stop and think for a moment.

I'm praying for patience again today. I had a good start to the day when Shane let me sleep in. It was nice to have a little peace and quiet....even though I could still hear the kids a little bit.

Well...dishes need to be washed and clothes need to be folded. The joys of being a mom!

Back to blogging...

Here I am....I'm back. Back to blogging. It was nice to have a good break. I am thinking about redesigning my blog as well. It is time for a new look. I am thinking about asking my friend-Tamra to help me (after VBS is over of course)!

We are back into the swing of things here in Bundaberg. This is Shane's second week back at work. I am busy again working in the nursery at church and getting everything together! I think we have an exciting year ahead. I must remember though that change is a slow process! I am playing in the band this week at church. It is my second time-I am excited about playing again.

The boys are sick at the moment. It seems that going from extreme cold to extreme hot is not a good thing for them (or Shane and I for that matter). We have all had bad colds-now the boys have yet another ear infection. When will it end. They are grumpy...grumpy....grumy and both boys want my attention 24/7!

I got up this morning and asked God to give me patience....boy....I didnt realize how much I was going to need to get through this day!

Well...stay tuned as I work on a new and improved blog with help from Tamra of course!!!