Batting Cages---Aussie style!

It felt so good to hit up the batting cages today! The only batting cages in the entire country happen to be five minutes down the road from me :) They are the absolute worst cages in the world, but it was still a lot of fun! Got my batting blisters back! There's a bus that serves as a target and kangaroos that hop around---they're the most popular target :)

Other than that--today was pretty chill--chill as in mellow and chill as in FREEZING...I attempted some studying, and got to skype with mi mum :) Just finished skyping actually--it's now 1:30 am..time. for. bed!

3 weeks and counting till I'm State bound! ---only 15 more days until Sydney! wahooo!

oh ya...I have to take exams! Funny how I keep forgetting that---bugga!

My eggs were smiling at me this morning :)

you can barely see the bus...but it's right above the bush--that's my friend Kisha

Trying to look tough....those guys laughed at us---pansy golfers! (no offense to golfers--just these ones)

Australia's one and only cages! They could use some help :) (And so could we)

It's hard to tell from this butt shot, but this roo has a baby in its pouch!

"The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you." -- Romans 8: 11

Weally Wonderful Wednesday

God has just taught me so much here! It's overwhelming! I love it! Just returned from lifegroup in Buderim....There was a guest speaker named Athena---so good. You could just tell everything she said was from God--learned a lot. I'm excited for life today :) And again----I'll really miss these ladies, and my weekly tea and chocolate in Buderim.

Played lots of volleyball today too---the last of the Wednesday volleyball games-- :( Sad. but its been great, and we'll probably all get together to play some beach. I may have been persuaded to play some soccer on Friday--we'll see though--it is after all my least favorite sport...e.v.e.r....but why not?

The sugar on top for the day was my 3 hour skype date with Sydney! Can't wait till we can talk face to face! 3 weeks people!

Also! Pooh bear! Congrats on graduating today! Wish I could be there to witness the miracle :) (Just kidding...you're brilliant!) We're having a reenactment when I get home!

That's about it for the night! Off to bed---no plans for tomorrow--maybe I'll head to the batting cages at some point!

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." -Psalm 27: 14

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." -Psalm 37: 4

"...But where sin increased, grace increased all the more..." - Romans 5: 20

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." -Hebrews 11: 1


P.S.) Had my first bowl of mac and cheese today since I've been here--I've never gone that long without eating it------record. Just thought I'd share :P

Day at the Plaza

A day spent completely opposite of yesterday. Walked around Sunshine Plaza and Alexandra Headlands alllll day :) Mel wanted her haircut---and I went along for the fun of it. Found a couple of treasures! One of my treasures came with a bonus prize of 2 free tickets to see Soul Surfer again! wahoooo! (plus a conversation with the cute RipCurl staff guy).

It was a really warm day---but cloudy--the ocean however was b.e.a-utiful! There was a bit of sunset color shining through the grey of the clouds...and ocean mist everywhere. The water was super blue and packed with surfers...so nice--God sure is the ultimate artist :) Boy it will be hard to make my final visit to the beach! I'm not going there yet...

Tomorrow will consist of volleyball and lifegroup----should be good!

"Then Peter replied, 'I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation He accepts those who fear Him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel--that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all." -Acts 10: 34-36

well---this is a boring video--however, it shows you the pretty ocean! hope it works!

Mt. Tibrogargan--Live to Die Another Day!

Boy what a day!! Started off with a ride to woolys---then a long trek to Mount Tibrogargan! It took approx an hour or more to walk to the mountain from the train station. (Somehow I always find myself in these long walking situations---where we only sort of know where were going.) Anyway--this was no leisurely hike. About half way up the trail it turned into a free climb. Say what!? Ya--I scaled a mountain today--no big deal. Truth is---I think I wet my pants several times. hahaa....but I had to do it! (don't worry mom!) A few people started climbing it, but then chickened out and turned around. (Seeing this really helped my apprehensions.) But we had our Aussie friend/tour guide with us--Pete--and he assured us we wouldn't die. I never really believed him. However, it was time for courage---challenge accepted. So while singing Tim McGraw's "Live like you were dying" ,and my own made up song, I climbed up that steep rock :) , and it was AWESOME. The view was incredible.

My song:

Don't falll
Stay close to the wall!
Down look towards the ground
Or your heaven--bound!

what a poet i am when im scared!

Many laughs today. It was one of my top ten favorites of this unreal semester!...Luckily, we found a quicker way back to the train station and found a gas station along the way to load up on snacks and cold drinks!

To make the day even more fun---we made dinner and gooey fudgy brownies, and headed to Mooloolaba for connect group hang time afterwards. Played some sports on the beach :) Soccer and rugby--I can't kick, so I threw the rugby ball like a football---boy i miss playing real catch! Even played some 3 person euchre after the beach....what more could you ask for in a day!? Needless to say---I am sore.

Anywho--that was my crazy day! More fun to come this week! Bonfires and beach time---and maybe even the batting cages! yahoo!

I love study break!



beautiful scenery on the way there! (thats the mountain)



made it! King of the world!

this was a bit scary---considering the cliff it ended in..

refreshed!

gday gday cafe!

"For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone." --Psalm 91: 11-12

Scale a mountain--CHECK!

Another Adventure

Let me tell you about this day. If you need a Noosa tour guide, I'm your girl. Got up with the beautiful sunrise in pursuit of the Noosa Markets at the Noosa Marina---Thought, "Hey I've seen where the boats all come out, that must be the Noosa Marina"---haha. Negative. So so wrong. Mel and I followed the Noosa River to get to the Noosa Sunday morning markets just like the sign said. How deceiving! 2 hours later---we found the markets. It was kind of a, "hey we've already walked this far, lets keep going"....I'll just explain using pictures.

1. Beginning of day--surfer dude--renting out boards--playing guitar--Was he being serious or trying to look stereotypical?! Sweet--love it!!

2.Beautiful morning in Noosa! Thoughts at this moment: "oh! after the markets I can have some beach time!"



If it hadnt have been for Mel, I wouldn't have made it past the beach---I so wanted to be surfing




Hey, this looks a nice path to the marina! Psych. There was even a sign that said to follow this river...




Approx 1 hour later, we were way past the point of no return---the specifics of this sign helped us know where we were headed....not.




A cactus in Oz?



False hope. We thought we made it.

It was just a yacht club party. bugga.

Mocking us. Luckily, a nice lady at an info hut knew where the markets were. We had another half hour to walk.

 and we finally made it! They weren't that great so we treated ourselves to gelato. We now know first-hand  that there are multiple Noosas. Noosa Heads, Noosa Sound?, Noosa Marina, Noosaville, Noosa Tewantin....something like that. Either way--we explored new territory--such a lovely place--all the Noosas! It was a warm day--cloudy and good for walking and shoppin :) Church tonight was also good :) Only two more Sundays that I can go--welp :( What will I do without my weekly Calvary? Off to the Glasshouse mountains tomorrow I believe---bring on the hiking!

I'm so sleepy! Goodnight world :)

P.S. my Bob the tomato look has turned in to a golden brown glow! yahoooooo! rock on.

Some people (me) never learn..

I got a welcomed reminder of what it means to be sun burnt today! oopsie!---Even though I've learned many times that my face gets burnt in the most unlikely of situations--I still thought it was a good idea to sit at the beach all day without spf..my bad. I'm not burnt anywhere else but my face. I resemble Bob the tomato from Veggietales...its not the first time :) I'd love to say it will be the last.....Either way--Mooloolaba was stunning today! 78 and soo so sunny :) 6 hour beach day---yes please! There were heaps of sailboats out today. There could have easily been a hundred! I so want to learn to sail! Who's with me?!

I tried some more sushi today...I'm just not the biggest fan so far. However, I did get an ice cream bar---it was half ice cream sandwich and half ice cream bar. Someones a genius somewhere---a perfect ice cream for the indecisive.

I talk a lot about food...

Headed to Noosa Heads tomorrow for the morning markets! I've been waiting to go to them for awhile--pretty excited! If all else fails---even if its a success--I can be found at the beach at some point. I hope it's not the last time I get to Noosa! yikesss! I'll remember the sunscreen tomorrow--and possibly a hat :) Feels delightful to be crispy.

Here's a good quote--that maybe you've heard--but i haven't!

"if the grass is greener somewhere else...it's time to get out the hose." --so very true hey?

"Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." --Deuteronomy 31:6

waiting for the bus in Mooloolaba

I felt like I was at an open house the whole time...

only one lap each race---The first time we saw this we thought they were just warming up hahaa

Jockeys really are short!

Spent all day at Lady Oaks day races. Races really aren't about racing at all. Just about hats and dresses and bets. Although I'd say it was an interesting experience, horse racing is about as fun as watching paint dry hahaha...Luckily, drunk people and well-dressed Aussie men were plenty for our viewing pleasure! It was fun to get dressed up (as well as we could with what we brought) and spend a nice day outside watching horses occasionally run around a track. Check horse racing off  my life list.

What was more---we found an awesome hole in the wall Thai food place in Mooloolaba! (full of locals--always a good sign hey?!) Nothing like warm delicious Pad Thai for dinner!

We are all very very ready for a marathon beach day tomorrow! It's going to be 24! yahooo! (approx 78) That's the warmest its been in a long time---I'm so ready to practice my long lost beach bumming skills--there will be napping, possible reading, more napping, music, and maybe even some sushi involved. Not too shabby---I can't believe we have a whole week off to "study"! Time to live it up! There's lots of potential plans looming for these last few weeks on the Sunny Coast!

"When God spoke from Mount Sinai His voice shook the earth, but now He makes another promise: 'Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.' This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakeable things remain." --Hebrews 12: 26-27

" So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees; mark out a straight path so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong." --Hebrews 12: 12-13

"...continue to work out you salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become pure and blameless, children without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life." -Phil 2: 12-16


pictures tomorrow--I'm tired out! Have to get a good night's rest in preparation for gettting even more sleep in tomorrow :)