Holiday! Celebrate!

AH! I feel like a giddy little girl the night before the first day of school! Tomorrow I leave for our mid semester break. We keep calling it spring break because we’re ignorant Americans even though its fall here.  Anyway, back to the important part (no, not how in the world I’m paying for this).  Four friends and I are renting a car and road tripping up the coast! There are 2 pitt stops before we get to the grand finale destination.  

First will be 2 nights in Brisbane, no idea what there is to do there but I’m sure we’ll find plenty of trouble to get into J  Next, on the itinerary is Fraser Island.  I’m especially excited about this because it’s a 76 mile island that is doesn’t have a single road on it.  We have to rent a 4wheel drive and it’s completely off roading.  There are dingos everywhere, (and yes, they will eat your baby!) and ship wrecks, and waterfalls, AND we are camping (hopefully the dingos don’t eat me!).  

I could end the story right there and sufficiently inflict jealousy upon you all, but that’s all just enroute so our holiday destination.  You might want to sit down for this, although you probably already are since it would be weird to be on your computer standing up…. Okay, On the 25^th we’ll arrive the most beautiful beach in the entire world. Whitsunday.  We have a sailing trip booked during our time here where we’ll be adventuring around all of the remote islands (White Haven I believe is the one that has been voted most beautiful beach) while snorkeling on the great barrier reef (no I’m not scuba diving, fun fact= I am claustrophobic). 

“Oh watch me go I’m a happy girl everybody knows that the sweetest thing that you’ll ever see in the whole wide world is a happy girl! “ - Martina McBride

So sorry but I wont be able to post again until after I get back, I hope you can make it that long… I’ve also been doing all kinds of fun stuff around Melbourne that I PROMISE I’ll catch you up on : )

ConneXions Camp

So this past weekend I went on a retreat with Student Life, a club at Melbourne Uni.  Its actually not just a club here but a movement on campuses all across the world! The Umbrella Organization is Campus Crusade for Christ, which is what we call it back home but in Australia they call it Student life.  Kind of like how Burger King here is called Hungary Jacks! The retreat was so relaxing and challenging at the same time. I’m sad that is it was my last one unless I stay for their G20 mid-year conference in New Zealand with like all the campuses in this hemisphere! I have so loved being apart of this Christian community, and am way grateful for how much they have helped me grow over the past 2 years. Last weekend specifically it hit me that my trip is half way over! My flight home is merely 2 ½ months away. I was faced with the realization that, I still have no idea what I’m doing here, and if I’m doing a good job at whatever the heck it is.  That probably doesn’t make much sense, and I am fully aware that on rare occasions I might have a slight tendency to over think a thing or too, but I can’t help it!  I mean scripture says “ I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full!”  So I sure as heck better take him up on that! But see, for me living life to the full might be a little different then others.  Despite the fact that I’m off gallivanting the world at the moment, sights and activities aren’t of highest value to me.  I want to live a life of love.  Sometimes that’s easy, and sometimes its hard. Loving people, loving the lord, and loving myself, its exhausting! And I often fear that I am not doing a very good job in any of those areas… I mean fear is mentioned in the bible more times than there are days in the year! And if I’m honest I’ve got plenty of it! I fear I’ve got nothing great to offer, no exceptional skills to use… One thing that was laid on my heart this weekend is that I don’t have to put so much pressure on myself to be everything to everyone, to expect to be doing great things every second of the day, to change the world! For one thing, of my own strength I cant do any of that; and for 2 maybe that’s not what I’m being asked to do.  Try to follow me here… It’s easy for me to fall into a narrow sighted perspective in thinking there is only one way for everyone that wants to “live life to the fullest”. But you don’t even have to look any further than the New Testament to see so many examples where this is not the case.  In the first chapter of Acts Matthias was chosen to take Judas’s place of leadership.  Should Joseph have felt that his life was meaningless because being an apostle wasn’t what God had chosen for him? Of course not! Same with the man that Jesus drove demons out of who begged and pleaded for Jesus to just let him follow him. Should that man have just gone home convinced that the lord didn’t love him or he would’ve granted him the simple request to walk along side of him.  Did Jesus just not want him around?  Of course not! The plans for that man were special, specific, and unique.  They involved taking him back to his home town to declare the gospel to all the people he knew and loved.   So, would it be way cooler to get to be Peter, heck yea. But if we’re all Peter who’s left to tell that mans whole town about the love of Christ? Point being, I’m trying to live a life of love regardless of if i'm meant to be a Matthias or the demon guy....

Woops….. That was quite a long tangent…. Supposedly when I get back my rent payment at Uncle Paul and Aunt Christine’s multiplies every time I blog about my faith… Don’t worry though, while he may technically be a genius, jokes on him cuz when you multiply anything by zero its still zero : )

Today’s song is by Bethany Galeotti, a childhood companion of my good friend Jenny Robeson as well as of an actress in my favorite show One Tree Hill!

“I’ve become much too good at being invincible. I’m an expert at play it safe and keep it cool, but I swear this isn’t who I’m meant to be... Let me feel, I don’t care if I break down. Let me fall, even if i hit the ground! … I want to be somebody who can face the things that I’ve been running from…”

More Domestic Adventures!

Once upon a time there was a bird. All he wanted in life was to walk back and forth across the ledge.  Unfortunately my window was blocking his path. You know what they say…If Can’t go over it (although realistically he can) and you can’t go under it, ya gotta go through it! That’s correct this has happened on numerous occasions that im aware and probably countless others when I’m not around!!! Everytime he walks through and our eyes meet I’m not sure which one is more terrified.

On the topic of birds, the next story is about an egg. This egg wasn’t just any egg. This egg wanted to be unique. An individual. Not like all the other hardboiled, sunny-side up, and scrambled eggs… “Ok, I guess I can poach you I said to this egg”. Figuring this could make quite a meaningful analogy on all the life lessons about being yourself. Unfortunately that is not this tale.  This egg was better of sticking to the established social norms, and maybe just maybe he wouldn’t have met his demise in the wasteland down the sink…

After the egg insident but before the smelly couch incident which we’ll get to later was Isaiah. Isaiah was a good friend of Danielle and myself (…ok we are still friends but you will understand the contemplation of that shortly).  Isaiah was a nice boy, quite smart and technologically savay. Or so we thought.  Before potluck dinner at our place one night this fine young gentleman offered to install our wireless modem for me.  He pulls it out, plugs it in, and bingo bango! Within second neither the modem nor ANY of our outlets function any longer…

Song for how i'm feeling today:

"You define mercy

By looking right down on me

Calling me pure.

[...]

You could've ignored me
Instead You took hold of me
And softened this heart"

-Jason Morant

Weddings Restore my Soul

So most of you that know me, know that I don’t have normal favorite things like favorites colors, and favorite food, etc. I do however have favorite hills. Every place that I live I find a place that I can go and call it my own. A place where I can get a fuller prospective on the world around me, literally. A bigger picture of what it is I’m doing here, outside of the mundane routine of my everyday life. When I don’t get away and allow myself these quiet moments of clarity now and again, I can feel it. I don’t even know what it is that I am missing, but I know that somehow I am missing it.

I'm not as odd as i know your thinking right now. Slipping away to be alone on a mountain is totally trendy! Ya know, like scrap-booking, and tweeting... Jesus did it all the time!!  "But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray." Luke 5:16 ( and again in Mark 1:35, Mark 6:45, Mark 14:32, Luke 4:42, Luke 6:12, etc)

Now, Can I trust you with the knowledge of my secret places? I hold you solely responsible if they become overpopulated....

First is Wildflower Drive ( I believe thats what Rachael named her mile long driveway, what i more commonly refer to just as Slike Mountain) It sits just on the cusp between Mechanicsburg and Perry County. Although my car barely can make it up this off roading death trap experience it keeps me coming back every time I return home!  

Second, my beloved Pittsburgh.  This is Flagstaff Hill just opposite Phipps conservatory.  When the ultimate Frisby team isn't tearing up the grass it is the greatest place to run/walk too and watch the sunset over the city.  Not to mention the free movies they play in the summer to add to the appeal. 

Sadly, finding this place in Melbourne has proved to be quite a challenge. The fact that Melbourne is fairly flat, and that there are literally people everywhere has made this more difficult indeed. It’s like finding a good church, there’s nothing particularly wrong with the places I’ve tried, just not right either. Fear not though blogosphere! I think I may have succeeded in my quest!

Enjoy this sneak peak at the closest thing i've found to peaceful serenity.

This is South Lawn on a week day. Lots of people hanging around, lots of birds. Pretty great but def too crowded to hear my own thoughts. (see what i did there... def-hear...)

HOWEVER, University of Pittsburgh is mainly a commuter school, most students take trains in from home during the week for class.  Meaning, last weekend I discovered this already favorite place on campus of mine is now completely deserted!! If your thinking it couldn't get much more perfect, it did.  After laying out a blanket, getting a little shut eye in the beautiful Melbourne "no ozone" sunshine. I heard people. Not just any people, but newlyweds! Getting their wedding photos taken. This continued to occur every hour of so.. Seriously! I love my life! 

Cue Creeper Cam!

Heres a Song for ya:) "Sometimes I believe that I can do anything. Yet other times I think I've got nothing good to bring. But You look at my heart and You tell me That I've got all You seek, And it's easy to believe even though I got a couple dents in my Fender. Got a couple rips in my jeans Try to fit the pieces together. But perfection is my enemy And on my own, I'm so clumsy But on Your shoulders I can see Im Free to be ME!" -Francesca Battistelli

Excursion Central!

Sorry I haven’t written in a while!! What a busy few weeks! Classes are well underway, and I just enjoyed two weekend trips in a row! I’ll try to stick to the important events and save the tangents for later this week, but I’m not making any promises...

Okay, so this first trip we took to Grampians National Park. About 30 of us under the fearless leadership of out dear mate Lyndon ventured approximately 3 hours outside of Melbourne (cant really know for sure.. i slept the whole way). Grampians has not much in the way of civilization but was incredible nonetheless. The drive there and back was probably the the most fascinating! Their was a mountain we passed that reflects the suns rays! There is one road that has a tree planted for every soldier that died in the war, and everything was so green and growing like fields of sunflowers which apparently was a once in a lifetime sight, seeing as how they have been in a drought for like 100 years! I suppose the other highlights were :

1) my first emu sighting 

2) my first climbing of a real mountain 

3) pretty sure the highest elevation I’ve ever been to! 

(no this picture doesnt show the view, but i know you all wanted to see my face...)

Now onto the second far more spectacular trip.  It was to both The Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island.  So as I'm sure you can imagine it was packed full of non-stop sight seeing.

Day one:

Gibson steps (76 of them! cool?)

Shipwreck coast

London bridge (fun fact the bridge part fell down last year and there was a couple having an affair stuck on the other side! HA)

Lock and gorge

12 apostles (there are actually 14 still standing, used to be 18)

surf coast (i could sit and watch them do this all day, heck i could sit and surfers do ANYTHING all day...)

Apollo bay

Day two:

Tropical birds and koalas in the wild (koalas sleep upwards of 20hours a day! Glad he woke up for us!)

Rainforest (mountain ash tree 2^nd tallest in the world!)

Wildlife reserve (i got to pet that little guy! He licked me!)

The Noobies (no idea what this name is all about...)

Penguin Parade

which actually looked more like this

but your not allowed to take pictures anymore... apparently the penguins are amish....

And that my friends is the final thought that i am going to leave you with as I am deleriously exhausted and will start rambling embarrassing nonsense if I type any longer. 

"These are the times in our lives that we wait for

These are the days and the nights that we pray for. 

and i'll say it again... its so beautiful!" 

-Jared Lee

I Have a Dream.

One day I had this dream.  There were beautiful beaches everywhere. I was surfing. There were heaps of kangaroos.  Little baby ones too. Everyone spoke a little strange. Infact everything was a bit strange.  That’s how I knew I was in a dream.  The coffee had ice cream in it, like a root beer float.  From drinking the coffee I had to pee, but couldn’t find a bathroom. The people looked at me funny when I asked for one. Finally I located it in a stairwell. Strange, see. The birds were different. At least they sure sounded different. What is this place, I thought. I couldn’t seem to find anyone I knew.  They drove on the wrong side of the road.  They drove on the wrong side of the car.  Many didn’t drive at all! They walked. Walked and walked. All day long. I was one of those people. Those people seemed the happiest. Those people seemed as though they never had anywhere to be.  They sat around in the beautiful weather. They played music and did art on the side of the road.  Some men dressed as police officers asked them to stop, other men dressed as police officers joined them. One day I wanted to be one of the driving people. I took the plunge and got into one of these death traps they call vehicles.  Just as a passenger, but still found myself so confused.  The sky ahead looked like it was shiny.  As it came closer the air appeared thick or foggy. I thought I was entering Brigadoon. That wasn’t what happened next. What happened next was millions of locusts, crashing and splattering the windshield.  No one else seemed phased. I played the guitar and wrote prose for fun. I spoke in front of people at what I thought was Campus Crusade for Christ but they tried to tell me was Student Life Live.  In this dream I felt that I needed something I knew, something familiar. Universal. Church.  Even this was a bit off, the traditional building you’d call a church was all of a sudden a room atop a restaurant, or a movie theatre before it opened. What a odd dream. Odd indeed. One month later. I think I'm still in that dream.

The beautiful beaches.

heaps of roos

coffee float

stairwell bathrooms 

(sorry for the blurryness its kind of social suicide to take pictures of bathrooms...)

Being a Walking Person

Police men + Street Performer?

Driving through locust plague.

My new baby Skylark.

View looking out the back of City on a Hill Church in Docklands.

"I feel your spirit when you're near me and when you're far away.  Somehow, somewhere I'll see you again. But until then I've got dreams" Gavin Degraw- Dreams 

So many good songs to choose from about dreaming! Whats yer fave?

The Adventures of Danielle and Elle

As I sit here writing this I am being serenaded outside by an orchestra of wippersnippers. More commonly known as weedwackers. They are the inspiration of todays post. As they are one of many things Danielle and I have been able to experience in the comfort of the 10’x10’ box we call an apartment.

We pretty much share everything, although I was kind of under the impression there was an unspoken rule about such things as razors, toothbrushes, etc. Only after she wore my contacts did I decide this should be a spoken rule! Needless to say, I didn’t ask for them back but did kindly inform her that that was the reason she was having trouble seeing. HAHA! Unfortunately, I’ve also had my fair share of catastrophe, so I can’t make fun.  One such event being when I decided it best that we inform the staff that 3 of our 4 burners on the stove do not function.  Before doing this I figured we should to test them out one last time, just to be sure.  Turn first knob, doesn’t light. Turn second knob, doesn’t light.  Turn third knob, doesn’t turn off. WHAT! DOESN’T TURN OFF!!! I think we really bonded in that minute and a half that gas was just pouring into our apartment and we saw our lives flashing before our eyes.  No worries though, super girl that I live with pried it apart with her fingers and the entire apartment complex did not combust.

Now if only we can train her to be my skype secretary while I shower every morning, I just may give in and take a dance class with her. This is unlikely, despite her desperate attempts..

Cheers!

Today's song is a plug to the most talented musician I have even known.  Where you want me- Kassi Konz (Hemerka)  download it on youtube. you wont regret it! 

"I cant see where your taking but I know that its more than I can imagine."