Happy Fathers Day!

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

(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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

...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

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

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...?

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

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

1. I love middle names and wish they were used more often
2. 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) 
3. I enjoy blogging (writing on my own and reading others) and wish it was done more often
4.  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.
5. I love snow and would prefer cold weather over hot most any day 
6. 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
7. I recently started listening to several sermons a week via downloads on my zune from sermon audio 
8. I do a paper round - and I really enjoy it
9. I don't like sleep - it takes too much time (give me 6 hours and I'm good) 
10. 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
11. I find life much easier with a routine/ schedule - if I can stick to it
12. I love horseback ridding, but rarely get to do it these days - how I miss living close to my grandparents and riding horses there. 
13. I have never broken a bone 
    
14. but I have many many scars on my knees and elbows 
15. I have been wanting to learn Japanese for sooo long and am finally getting the opportunity to 
16. In 6th grade I did a school report on Australia - not know at the time I would one day be living here
17. In December I am going to be in my first ever wedding - also the first of my siblings married!
18. I love singing psalms - so very much and often it brings me to tears of joy and/or sadness
19. 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 
20. I love taking bike rides - especially early in the morning or late in the evening
21. I and 1/3 owner of a maroon '89Toyota Camry 
22. I love driving - cars, bikes, lawn mowers... etc
23. my favourite household chores are vacuuming, sweeping outdoors, and moping 
24. 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) 
25. Dixons Creek is one of my most favourite places to go 
26. 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 
27. I love listening to music - especially in the car with all the windows down and loudly singing along with my siblings 
28. I love hearing people's testimonies
29. I cry when I am angry - a fact that is a great annoyance to me
30. I am very sentimental  
31. I would rather sleep on a couch, chair, or the floor than a bed. 
32. 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) 
33.  I love cooking with children
34. I love long road trips
35. 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 
36. I really don't like chocolate - unless it is 70% or darker and if it has coffee in it 
37. 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! 
38. I love exploring with my siblings (especially Allen)
39. I once ate a chocolate covered cricket 
40. I love snakes and spiders fascinate me 
41. 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. )
42. When I was younger most of my life was lived outside
43. I have probably had close to 50 pet cats in my lifetime (and could tell you the names of most every one of them)
44. 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. 
45. Tamara and I once tried to climb down a cliff only to get majorly stuck and finally get helped down by randoms 
46. 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)
47. 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. 
48. Benjamin and I once spent nearly an hour collecting and lining up trolleys in a Wall-Mart car park
49. I eat the entire apple and all of the watermelon 
50. 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. :) 

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.

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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...

...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

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

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.
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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.
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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.