Best stew of the year.

Every year our church has a reformation party. Every one gets together at "The Marsh Farm", most of the kids are dressed up as super heros, princesses, pumpkins and pairates... we play games, take hay rides, horse rides, go through corn mazes, and eat the best stew of the year while sitting around a great big bon fire. What makes the stew so great? well, everyone brings there own stew, then we put all together in a great big coldren, when it is all warmed through and mixed together nicely it is ready to eat, and it really is the best stew of the year!

Up on a windy mountain.

Feeling like we are on top of the world. It was quite a beautiful view from up there, lots of color, although you could definatly tell the season is comming to an end. It is always a blessing to spend an afternoon with the one you love. I am so thankful for this handsome guy!

Rock Climbing.

This past saturday we traveled up to Nova with some great friends to do some rock climbing. We went to a climbing gym, and it was pretty cool, they have walls and walls covered in bobbly bits for you to climb all over. My favourite part, other then being with such great company, was definatly watching some of the more experienced climbers. They made it look so easy! It was really fascinating. Over all though I think I enjoy climbing in the outdoors better, being apart of the world around us is so refreshing.

Missions Conference

These are some of the flowers we used to decorate for an International Banquet we had for our missions conference this past weekend. It was a wonderful weekend, really really great. Matthew and I were on the planning commite, and so for the last several months we had been preparing for this conference. We are praising God for how well it went, and for all the people who worked together to help it flow so smoothly. To be honest, I was actually a little surprised at how much I was personally able to enjoy the conference. So often when you are planning something, you spend the whole time thinking about what has to be done, what needs to be done next... worry, worry. Instead it was a wonderful time of fellowship, one of my highlights was getting to know some of the missionaries our church supports, we were also privileged to hear a wonderful series of sermons on family and missions. The whole weekend has me thinking more about how I can be involved in missions here in America... How are you involved in missions?

Trade Shows

This photo is from a recent trade show that my work attended. I work for a little company as their graphic designer. I worked long and hard preparing for this trade show... as one of my jobs was to design the banners for our booth. (this is only a tiny bit of the whole booth, but shows the look of it pretty well:) We were all pretty thrilled to win first place for best booth!! We have another show cooming up in less then 2 weeks, so I'm working hard to design a banner for one of our new products.

100 Pizza's

Last night, as a kick off to our church missions conference, we had a movie and pizza night. Since Matthew and I own a pathfinder, our job was to go and pick the 100 pizza's up! Our car turned into an immediate oven, the windows fogged up, and it was as warm as a fresh out of the oven pizza in there. (times 100!) We thought our car would be smelling like pizza for the rest of the year, but thanks to my husbands enginuity, keeping the widows slightly open over night, it hardly even smells like pizza this morning. The main part of the evening was watching the movie though, End of the spear a great movie which I would recommend to anyone who hasn't seen it. (I will warn you to be prepared for many tears.) We also had one of our own missionaries give a testimony of what it is like to serve in a country where they can face much persecution. It is a comfort to know that we can always trust in God. We did end the evening with a few left over pizza's, but we were able to give them out to some people who were very appreciative.

More Foliage

Playing House

It was so good to finally meet little Noa, such a sweetie! We have had such a fun time with the Nolls since we have been back, they even let us play house with their daughter!! I have been particularly blessed and encouraged to see how well they are doing. Praise the Lord! I know it is through His grace, and by their willingness to seek His wisdom and glorify Him in every step they take.

Breathtaking Foliage

This is what Matthew and I got to come home to! Trees all over the Valley are changing into beautiful colors of red, brown, orange and yellow. There are some that have still only half changed, and looks as though they have caught fire. Beautiful! My drives to work are so lovely, I just have to make sure my eyes stay on the road in front of me! The autumn foliage is one thing I missed terribly while I lived in Australia, so count it a blessing to be able to enjoy such beautifully breathtaking foliage. "You will go out in joy & be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands" Isa 55:12

Saying Goodbye

It has been an amazing holiday, I am especially thankful for the time I got to spend with my family. They are so great, and I realize how blessed I am to have them (even when they I live so far away..). We were so sad we didn't get a photo like this with matthew in it. Hopefully next time!

Girly Day Out

Cribbage

Yesterday mum taught me a new game: Cribbage. It was actually pretty fun, lots of calculating! I had to use my brain alot! Mum, amby and I played, and ofcourse mum won. She is the queen of games, and I'm not sure if there is a game I can actually beat her in. The handsome guinea pig is Reuben's and is called Jessi. He used to have a buddy who lived with him, but a few months after I went to America he ran away. Jessi has also had a son since I was last here! It has been lots of fun finding out some of the smaller things that have happened since I was last here.

Esther Street

My sweet sister, she has grown up so much since I left a year and a half ago. A street we found during our adventures! I love little surprises like this.

Cupcakes filled with heaven..

...is how one of my Australian friends discribes Reeses Peanut Butter Cups! They are so popular over here in Australia, I don't understand why they are not being sold here? Matthew and I went out and had a lovely dinner with some of my wonderful friends, at the end of our meal I pulled out a bag of Reeses sort of as a little present... within 5 minutes they had eaten half the bag!

Datsun 120

This is Joel's awesome project car! He's been working on it gradually and it is starting to look really good. Matthew was able to participate in the instaltion of the sound system. The perfect sort of thing for brothers to bond over, I know it meant alot to Joel! It has meant alot to me to have Matthew here with my family. Getting to spend time with, and getting to know those I love so much.

At the Beach

A gorgious day at the beach. The water was cold but so refreshing, Matthew and Reuben swam for ages. We all lay around on the beach reading and soaking up the sun. Some of us came home looking like lobsters we were so red!

Future team mates.

This past sunday Matthew and I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with some of our future team members. We will be working together to spread the gospel in Japan! It was such a joy to be able to meet up here in Australia, God is so good. We are looking forward to becomming great friends!

Watching the footy.

Matthew, Esthy and I went to watch the footy down at South Bank. (On a huge screen with a bunch of Esthy's friends from church.) It was the final game of the season, and our team won! A pretty intense game all the way through. Go the broncos!!