Routine.

Just as I am about to leave Australia I feel like I am finding my place in this country! I am into my routine and have awesome friends and being here just seems "normal" it doesn't seem like a long vacation anymore.

I have made amazing friends - Like these two! Jade (from Australia but she's Columbian) and Leah (From Michigan).

I have driven on the other side of the rode and drove stick shift! Okay so I drove like 800meters but still it was an accomplishment.  I only stalled twice but that was while I was parking.  It took me like 10 minutes just to inch up 5 meters. 

I got extremely lost in the city looking for a bus station.  The trains stopped running once you got to the city one weekend so I had to search for this bus stop E.  45 minutes is how long it took me to find it.  Google Maps failed me. My sense of direction failed me.  Oh well I found it and after 2+ hours of traveling I got to where I needed to be.  (Horrible Picture - I was trying to look annoyed)

I had a birthday in Sydney! Golden Birthday might I add.  Turned 23 on July 23rd.  My parents spoiled me with the best birthday present ever - FRUIT BOUQUET!  I loved it and so did the little girl I nanny!

Ash took me out to a fancy dinner on my birthday to Cafe Sydney (pictured below).  It overlooks the harbor.  Then we had Yogurtland.  Because a birthday isn't complete without Yogurt.  I missed my free yogurt at yummilicous in America on my birthday!  I wonder if they do rain checks? Probably not. 

I was well loved on my birthday that is for sure!

Then my last birthday request was breakfast somewhere awesome.  We were going to go to the boat house, (remember engagement story)  but it was pouring down rain so we went to the grounds instead. I went to the grounds the day I arrived in Sydney last August when I was visiting Ash, but we had not been back since.  The coffee there was worth it enough.  It was such good coffee.

Our food -  I had an omelette and ash had a pancake.  Side of bacon and we were stuffed.  And had heaps of leftovers for lunch the next day. Two meals in one.  What a bargain. 

Here are some pictures from the internet of the grounds. Just to show you how beautiful and cool the place is. 

Fresh bakery stand.

Fresh fruit and lemonade stand.

Definitely on the to do list of everyone visiting Sydney.

I only have a little over a month left in Sydney and that makes me super sad.  But also excited to start the next steps in life as well!

Ash leaves for Canada for a week and a half for a wedding and I miss him already.  In case you were wondering, yes Ash and I travel a lot for weddings.  Its because now we know how much it means to us for people to travel to our wedding that we feel they deserve the same.  Its such an awesome feeling when people make the sacrifice to come see you get married. It means a lot all you people coming! 

Ben &  Rosie, Emmily, Jace & Karli, Mikey, Chloe and Nate!  So pumped!

Its been a while..

In the time since I last wrote I travelled almost 40 hours in a plane.  You jealous? Yes, I wouldn't be either.  But I did get to go home to Dallas, TX so I can't complain it was a lovely trip! This blog post has lots of pictures so just go with it!

I went home for my beautiful best friend from school's wedding.  And what a beautiful bride and wedding it was!

Beautiful venue!

Beautiful bride

High school reunions. 

And then of course the rest of my time at home included my own wedding planning, packing up my things for Los Angeles (my dad is driving my car there while I am still in Australia), enjoying the Dallas summer and laying by the pool, and spending time with my family.  So all in all it was worth the 40 hours of plane ride...next to three children under the age of 7. Where were your parents?  That is a good question.

Oh and I want to give a shout out to my new favorite restaurant in Dallas.  True Foods.  Yummy organic fresh food.  This is my watermelon juice with lemon.

And this my friends is the best dessert I have ever tasted.  Banana chia seed pudding with shaved coconut on top. Yum.

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This week in Sydney, Australia was Hillsong Conference.  Its where 21,000 people gather and worship Jesus and just learn about different things Hillsong does as a church for people to bring back to their home churches.  It was incredible to experience.  I got to go on friday night and Robert Madu spoke (from Dallas, TX).  So Dallas friends if you ever want to hear a Dallas preacher speak like never before try to go to his church when he is home and not traveling.  He is incredible.  

So of course we had an after conference party on Sunday night after church.

Great minds think alike #matchingjackets

These girls.  Love them to pieces.  Thanks for welcoming me in and loving me so well!

Cheers to conference being over.

And me getting my fiance back.  Missed you while I was home.

Oh and an engagement photo to end this post.