Tea, Thai food, my aussie twin, and good mates :)

What the perfect ending to a swanky as trip!

oh my. how do i end this.

It rained all day except for the time I spent out on my balcony this morning, and for my hour at the beach :) yes! There was even a rainbow over Mooloolaba today. sigh. It was tough to leave the surfer beach behind...bugga. My Australian semester has come to an end. I spent 5 months in the land of:

Sun ☼
Surf
Sand
TimTams
Gloria Jeans, Zarrafas, and Emjays
Manly Queensland jaws
Volleyball ;)
Summery winters
G'day Mate
Kangaroos and Koalas
Keen, ya reckon?
Mooloolaba
Alex Heads
Noosa
Tea and scones
Lifegroup love
Calvary <3
and Heaps and HEAPS of fun...

Spent the evening at the Silva Spoon with my ever so lovely lifegroup girls....I'll miss them terribly! I want to bring them home with me! Then I had thai food and a final TimTam coffee with my aussie twin, Ella, down in Moololaba by the ocean. The waves were ginormous today! Just for me. It was the best way to end it.

Tea, thai, twin, and timtams...sick as mate!

I'm a bit sick in the tum tum...but that's just what leaving does--no matter where from.

Looking forward to home :) I keep forgetting that it's 4th of July weekend! hooray! I can't lose !

name these songs:

"I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again--oh babe I hate to go."

"Ridin along on this big ol' jet plane, I been thinkin about my home.....Big ol' jet airliner--don't carry me too far away...cuz it here that I've got to stay!"

"It's not that it goes too fast
It's just that it goes at all"


but mostlyyy....

"Now all the glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we could ever ask for or imagine." - Epeshians 3:20

See ya in the states! Really...despite the suckiness of leaving Oz, I CANT WAIT TO HUG YA! Happy fourth of July weekend mates!




Rainbow over Mooloolaba :)



Lifegroup love--at the Silva Spoon <3

Stockholm something or other--yummy tea! and a very nifty as spoon!

Thai with the twin!

ocean view---

Last Gloria Jeans with the twin :)

P.S. I'm about to go back in time...tick that off the ol' bucket list :)


AHHHHHH << that's how i feel...excited and sad all at once :) Too much fun here! Back to reality yo!

One day left!

Yikes! Only one more day in Aussie land...holy cats time flew!

I walked for miles and miles today..from one end of the beach to the other, to the plaza for a final Zaraffas coffe, and then back to the beach to watch some surfers. That's it. I just jammed to my tunes, let my mind run free and walked walked walked....trying to soak it all in. Oh, but I also got some fish and chips from a very delicious dive! I was told to go there---good life choice. Barrumundi and chips--yumo! I'm pretttty tired now.

Went to the last lifegroup tonight :( It was such a blessing getting to know them! After it was over Ella (my aussie twin) and I stayed over and jammed on the guitar with Anna, Mel, and Claire....good times. I must return! I must! Coffee date with all of them tomorrow--then the dreaded final goodbye! Good thing skype exists!

There are many ups and exciting things about coming home---don't get me wrong. Cheerios, family, friends, going back in time....I'm pumped---I'm just really terrible with "lasts".

I had pictures to post....but its not working--soooo I'll try to get one last blog in tomorrow! Goodnight from Aussie Land!

Pancakes, Opera Houses, Friends from Home, and Ashley-isms ☼

Before I get into the depressing stuff, let me just tell you how sick as my weekend was!

I'll try to condense it to only the best highlights.

First! Rayanne met me there! How weird it was to see a friend from home all the way in Australia! It was o good to spend the weekend with her, and celebrate her birthday! The drive down was very scenic, but a bit long :) However, we made it, and that was Saturday.

On Sunday, we cruised around the city exploring shops and taking in the view of the Opera House/Harbor Bridge. It honesty didn't seem real to us because of how many times we've seen pictures of Sydney Harbor. It's so pretty! Sometimes places like that get so hyped up that when they're seen in real life it's a disappointment. This was not one of those times. We also took a stroll to Darling Harbor and got a Starbucks....pretty there too!

Then to my amazement--Rayannes Australian roomate's mom lives in Sydney so we got to stay with her for free! That was sooo nice. :)

Monday was by far the best. We started out early with a trip to Manly Beach by ferry. Paradiso. Teal crystal clear water--surfers--squishy soft sand--sun. We just stood and took it in for awhile not really believing we were in real life.What kind of people get to have houses on places like that? I need to get to know them! After that adventure we decided it was time for some pancakes! I was told ahead of time to go to Pancakes on the Rocks. Oh man. Sweet as. I ordered chocolate pancakes with chocolate syrup and chocolate ice cream. I've never been so happy with pancakes. What a healthy and nutritious lunch :) Next stop: Bondi Beach. What can I say? Bondi was beautiful too, and also the setting for the first Ashley-ism. Ray and were, again, taking it all in saying how great the day had been when we hear "Girls, looks there's dolphins!". WHERE!? Sure enough, about 5 dolphins just swimming around the surfers and waves at Bondi. Perfection! Then I opened my mouth.."You know, if there's a dolphin that usually means there is a shark, or there isn't one?"---good logic. It must just be Grand Rapids people that bring out my smart side.

So, now Ray and I are in seventh heaven. We've eaten delicious pancakes, been to two unreal beaches, and now saw dolphins. What could possibly be next? How about a walk across the Sydney Harbor Bridge. So good. And how about gelato and a walk around the Opera House? Yea. Life was good this weekend. This quote sums up how we felt, "If someone punched me in the face right now, I'd still be smiling". We also crashed an Asian birthday party upon running into random friends of Rays...odd as. (Free Asian dinner...yes!)

My 30 dollar tiger airways flight even went smoothly! So upon returning, I went to Chancellor Park for my last 5 dollar Tuesday pizza---yumo. Then went out for Spanish thick and divine hot chocolate with my girls :) Oh how I'll miss them! Two more days left. It's supposed to be rainy--Please no!

How nutz is it that I'll be home this weekend? This trip could not have gone by faster!

As far as I'm concerned...Sydney is my favorite city in the world, and this weekend wasn't actually real.




the beginning



Ray!

The one and only Sydney Harbor!

Manly Beach

Pancakes on the Rocks. Sweet as.

Bondi!

Dolphins!

Harbor at night from the bridge :)

San Churro thick hot chocolate---with mint :)

love these girls!

Off to Sydney!

Yes! Road trip tomorrow! so good. How crazy is it to meet up with your Michigan friend in Australia? That doesn't happen everyday :)

Went for a walk on the beach this morning. Twas lovely. I walked out to the rock pier like I've been wanting to for ages now. Talked to these two old ladies from Victoria, they were asking me how the night life is here. HA.  Mel and my friend from lifegroup Ane met up with me later on in the day. Ane is from South Africa, and she taught us some South African lingo. (phonetically: oou---Han (as in Han Solo with a "hawk a loogie" sound)--det. OO-Han-det---you just said 'how are you' in some language...or something like that!??) Wasn't the sunniest day for the beach, but it was still good for relaxin :) The ocean has been so blue lately!

Went for a Wooly's walk to stock up on peanut butter sandwhich fixins for this weekend's meals (oh yum..psych), and then I did some more packing up. It's weird to have bare walls again and empty closets! Everyone is headed out tomorrow basically...it's going to be so quiet when I come back next week. I'll have the place to myself!

Said goodbye to Yogesh my roomate today, and to Kim. Bugga! Other than that...I am ready for bed early tonight....wakin up early tomorrow! Road TRIP! yipppeee

I be livin in the land down under!

cool little guy with crazy eyes who crawled in front of me this morning



I suck at panorama....but it sort of gives you an idea!?



da pier



Mooloolaba

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." -- Phil 1: 20-21

Bye bye Noosa :(

Since my depression is getting redundant...I'll just tell you about my awesome day!

Headed to Noosa National Park bright and early this morning. I figured it would be my last chance to Noosa it up. First Mel and I found a nifty little bead shop--made a couple things---Im weak. WEAK. But then, we all headed to the national park coastal walk. I can't express to you in words how pretty it was. Ugh.

Then later on I hung out with a few friends who let me try out their skateboards---twas fun. For an hour or so heaps of people met up at this pub called the Pig and Whistle to hear some live tunes :) It was okay---I was bummed at first because our ride had to leave early. However, when we got back to the apartments we talked them into playing some volleyball---unfortunately, the security guards proceeded to rudely kick us out. Way to pick on the sober kids Mr. Security guard. SO we made cookies and stuffed our faces.....all while playing cards! What a great night! Dude---okay never mind...I won't say how badly I'll miss these people. Oops..I said it.

Tomorrow is declared as a beach. day. ALL day--I refuse to leave. REFUSE. Until I can't take the impending cold that sunset brings...there will be some fish and chips from "The Spit" and there will be a walk to the rock wall....yep. Please be sunny! Pretty please with gelato on top!?

Well here's some pics for your viewing pleasure:



nifty bead shop!



I thought I'd swim to this sailboat---except. the water is ice

WHY!? why did i have to go on this walk..I love you guys, but I think it'd be better for everyone if we all live HERE :)

somehow--this is not how I pictured hell?

mel and me

I prefer sand angels



bye bye Noosa....it has been real.

 Enough of that...time for bed...must rest up for my beach day.

"Satisfy us each morning with your UNFAILING love,  that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." --Psalm 90:14

Emotional Wreckage!

I'm more than pleased to say that IM DONE WITH THOSE WRETCHED CLASSES! There's always that sweet relief after exams are over---a transition from your mind always thinking about studying to "hey I dont have to study!" Yes!

However, I see home pictures and think "man oh man i want to be home already!" But then I come back from lifegroup nights of new friends and think "I'm really depressed". The next week is about to packed with heaps of good times! I might be headed to The Silva Spoon tomorrow for a tea date, then off to open mic night to hear a couple friends play, then to a movie, and then chocolate celebration after all that. Then Friday----plans to hang out with whoever is around to----Then Saturday SYDNEY ROAD TRIP full of harbors, beaches, Hillsong, and Rayanne! Then who knows what the last two days next week will bring?? Gosh I just can't believe I'm actually leaving! There may be tears. But I'll keep it to just a few, I think this experience deserves them. Oh bother...this was a very incredible 4 months and 3 weeks. Can't wait to see what the next year will bring! I never actually thought I'd get to study abroad. It was always in the back of my mind---but it's so crazy that it came and went just like that!

Okay...enough of that. I'll stop unloading my crazy thoughts on you. It's just consuming my mind right now. My walls are bare, my suitcase is half packed (getting it done early so I can enjoy the final days), and I still have some stuff to get rid of :)

I think I'll go do some more organizing....excited for tomorrow! I'm going to spend some quality time with my beaches. All of them. There will be thinking, iPod jamming, resting, and exploring. Over and out.

" 'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the Lord. 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could ever imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher that your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.' " --Isaiah 55:8-9

" 'For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken' says the Lord, who has mercy on you." --Isaiah 54:10

Theres light at the end of the tunnel!

Had a repeat of yesterday--studied at Mooloolaba FOR THE LAST TIME! Tomorrow I will take my politics exam and then be free. I cannot wait. I still have some cramming to do in the morning, luckily my exam isn't until 12:30. Almost there! Almost there!

I was actually really cold on the beach today, so I was forced to re-locate. The re-location was a serious upgrade. I felt like I found a little Fiji on the Sunny Coast. I declared these my favorite palm trees in the very beginning of the semester. I have no idea why I didn't spend more time by them. The wind was blocked there, so I could just bake. Ahhhhhh...so good.

The view from my towel of studying...a bit distracting

Shortly before I mustered the energy to take this photo...I was put into a deep palm tree/ocean waves-induced coma...it was bliss.

What will I do without my study beach next semester? oh...do more studying probably.

That was basically my day. Study marathon cram session. I hope my brain can keep it all in there. Tomorrow is life group in Buderim! Were having a chocolate extravaganza to celebrate! OH and I finally found someone to buy my little bike, I took it for one last spin to Wooly's today to send my very last Australian letters! EEk...I'm in disbelief that I have to leave.

"Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be bright as noon." -- Isaiah 58:10

"The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring." --Isaiah 58:11

"Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life." --Isaiah 55:3

I like looking back on what I read earlier in the morning...