adventure + friends

&& then we explored....

christmas

Christmas in America;
crazyness, fun, SNOW, cinnamon rolls, family, FRIENDS, gifts, love, lights, JESUS, laughter, chaos, music, hugs. & lots lots more.

in the bathroom.

Sarah took a beautiful photo of the sunset in New Plymouth the other night and sent it to me.

It's Christmas tomorrow in New Zealand.
I miss home.

& You know the feeling...
The one where you want to cry? You NEED to cry?
And you know that everything will be better once you have cried?
I'm there. I'm at that point. I've been there for days.
And I am comforted as I sit in the bathroom with the Holy Spirit and think and wonder and just let everything go.

All Around Me
Flyleaf.

My hands are searching for you
My arms are outstretched towards you
I feel you on my fingertips
My tongue dances behind my lips for you

This fire rising through my being
Burning I'm not used to seeing you

I'm still alive, I'm still alive

[chorus]
I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

My hands float up above me
And you whisper you love me
And I begin to fade
Into our secret place

The music makes me sway
The angels singing say we are alone with you
I am alone and they are too with you

I'm still alive, I'm still alive, We're still alive

[chorus]

And so I cry, Holy
The light is white, Holy
And I see you, Holy

I'm alive, I'm still alive, We're still alive

[chorus]

Take my hand, I give it to you
Now you own me, All I am
You said you would never leave me
I believe you, I believe

[chorus]

♥♥♥

america; the latest.

I feel like I'm at home.
And as much as I miss people back in NZ I really am dreading leaving what I have here.
It is the uncertainty of when I will see them again.

The sadness of leaving friends that I already had; and have made since being here.

Will I go home and have it be like before? Like this never happened and once again talk about our days, our schedules, events but never about life, never about feelings or hurts or joys.
I pray that our friendship will remain solid.



Yesterday Beckye, Martha and I left to head to San Francisco for the day. After a interesting start with Beckye being rear-ended at the 'gas' station, it turned into an epic day.
Driving and talking and singing.
Shopping and photo's at Pier 39.
Sprinting from the parking garage half a kilometre to POTO because we were 15 minutes late.
The slow moving traffic as we headed out of San Francisco at peak traffic hour.

Honestly, people are so rude when driving over here. They refuse to let you change lanes. It made me angry.
But it was an awesome day. I am looking forward to heading to Yosemite.

Me; Beckye; Martha at Pier 39.

Beckye; Me outside The Hard Rock Cafe at Pier 39.

Me; Beckye in front of San Francisco Bay





A building near the Orpheum Theatre. Just as the sun is setting.

snow

Yesterday it snowed =]
We had just gotten home from the Woman's Christmas Tea [it was more like lunch] and we get a call saying it has started snowing.
Of course we bundle up and I grab the camera and we go play in the falling snow.
I was beyond excited.

Standing outside with our mouthes open wide.
ah-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah

america [part 3] - PHOTOS

Last night a bunch of us went bowling at a local bowling alley.
I choked. I got worse as the night went on but it was incredibly fun.

Beckye & I took some pictures to prove that I actually am here and not just lying to you all.

america [part2]

I feel like I've known these girls for ages.
Like it's only been a month since I've seen Rebekah and her sisters yet I've never met Beckye and haven't seen Lizi and Sarah in over a year.
I like it. They have awesome friends who are keen to talk and so lovely and always so polite [saying pleased to meet you and the like.] Since when did anyone do that in NZ?

But I have been so slack. No photo's of me of any of the girls at all. In the next few day's I will make an effort to get some more photo's.

I am not homesick. I thought I would be missing home by now but I have been so welcomed it is hard not to feel like this is home. Maybe around Christmas or in a bit more time but not yet. I am enjoying Beckye and Lizi and Sarah and Taylor and Martha and all their friends too much.

Anyway. Bed-time.
lovelovelove

and i'm here

Why New Zealand is better than America;
- America has a ridiculous amount of billboards and signage coming out of major cities. Everything just bombards you and makes things ugly. NZ has not yet fully embraced this to the same extent.
- In America the freeways are lined with rubbish [trash if you’re American] and the roads can be bumpy. It would not be acceptable in NZ.
- New Zealanders use the metric system. This is the correct way of measuring. Inches, feet, yards and miles are inferior. You should change.
- New Zealanders drive on the correct side of the road and have logical road rules.Americans don’t drive correctly or have sensible rules. Sorry for those who live in America.
- New Zealand is green for most, if not all of the year. Flying over the bay area was shocking. Everything is brown; greeny brown at a push.

Why America is better than NZ;
- It has Beckye, Lizi, Sarah and the Hosfords and Taylor.
- My New Zealand accent is different and therefore I get attention. In NZ it’s cool NOT to have a NZ accent [unless it’s Australian, in that case you’re not cool either]. Over here I’m considered special. =] [not in a bad way, but people are always curious why you’re over and willing to talk etc]


I am loving America.
I am loving the people I'm around.
It is refreshing, stimulating and relaxing.
There is so much to do and see. Just looking out the window of the car is exciting.
It is starting to feel like I've always been here. Like I was here only months ago. I like it.

And so starts my American adventure.
♥♥♥♥

adventuring

I am off on an adventure.

I have pretty much done with packing.
Will finish it off in the morning.
2 suitcases, a shoulder bag and a computer case.

I have 3 jobs to do in the morning.
4.5 hours in a car.

1.5 hours at the Bartletts
2.5 hours in the airport
12 hours on a plane.
And I'm there.