I really struggle with going to the grocery store here. It has never been a job that brings joy to my life no matter what my location, but it seems like living in a different country adds to the stress of getting the right ingredients for the right recipe.
Take for instance.....yogurt is not exactly sweet, what they call bacon is what we call ham (I have found streaky bacon in one store- it is a bit tougher and doesn' quite have the same cure that we are used to), lunch meat does not suit my palate and is quite pricey (3.50 for about 8 pieces), chocolate (you have heard enough about that already), mayo is just plain nasty, cheese is all white and they don't have monterrey jack (though they do have yummy feta), ice cream in the carton has a different taste, etc etc.
I was in the store earlier this week and I was NOT enjoying the experience ( I once again stood in front of the lunch meat for about 5 minutes hoping that a new cheap brand had been invented.) On this particular shopping trip I wanted to buy sliced almonds. I was making almond crusted chicken cutlets (foodnetwork.com). the recipe called for sliced almonds that you put in the blender or food processor and blend until smooth. I do not have either appliances. I was going to do the cave man way and use a plastic bag and a hammer. ....O.K. for the blessing....as I was reaching out to get a bag of sliced almonds, I saw "almond meal". The only ingredient was almonds and it had the texture of flour. HOW PERFECT!! I knew that this could only be a blessing from God. He made my dreaded trip into a worship experience.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
A personal story
This is our dear pastor and his wife (Steve and Jenny). About 6 weeks ago, they took their first international trip to go and see their daughter who is a missionary in Africa. This was going to be a bit of a stressful trip as their daughter works at a lep*r hospital and is also in a country with spiritual opposition. In recent months, the small group of missionaries have suffered extremely horrific car accidents, health and family problems that required the evacuation of a couple of families. Pastor Steve was not only going to see the mentally stressful l*per hospital, but he was going to minister to the emotional and spiritual needs of the downtrodden missionaries.
Unfortunately, soon after their arrival, he was visiting the sick when one of them said that there were fires in his home country of Australia(some patients have small radios). After inquiring more, he realized that the fires destroyed the small town that he had raised his family. Through many prayers of Christian friends, he was able to do the job he was meant to do. Before returning to his home in King*roy, he and Jenny went back to their hometown. They found the home that they had lived in just three years ago, burned to the ground. Then they went to the home that they raised their children, it to was burned to the ground. Then they visited the camp that he worked for many years, much of it he built himself....it too was burned to the ground. He also visited a mate of 30 years. His mate had lost his wife and 2 teens sons in the fire.
Pastor Steve got up in church this morning and shared from I Peter 3:11 "since everything around us is going to be destroyed (with fire), what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God. We don't know when the next "fire" is going to consume us. We need to have our relationship with God in order. This was such a personal message as he had just witnessed the immense destruction of fire; and then the spiritual recognition that this is what God is saying what will happen when He comes back to judge the world.
Please pray for the emotional renewal of our pastor and his wife.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Did you know....
*Australia owns part of Antarctica
*cyclones/tornadoes really do spin the opposite way in the southern hemisphere
*Cyclone Hamish started a week ago and is already disappearing
*Australia is 3/4 the size of the US (in land mass)
*In 1954, Bob Hawke was immortalised by the Guinness Book of Records for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. Bob later became the Prime Minister of Australia.
*Australia day - January 26, Australia day, is the anniversary of ships arriving in Sydney carrying a load of Convicts.
*The Wombat deposits square poos on logs, rocks and even upright sticks that it uses to mark its territory
*Over 90% of Australia is dry, flat and arid. Almost three-quarters of the land cannot support agriculture in any form.
*Box Jelly fish - The box jellyfish is considered the world's most venomous marine creature. The box jellyfish has killed more people in Australia than stonefish, sharks and crocodiles combined. (we get to go and swim in their territory in May - but we will wear full body "stinger suit" when we are in the water)
*People: 92% Caucasian descent, 7% Asian descent, 1% Aboriginal descent
*America's cup - In 1983, the yacht "Australia II" ended the Americans 132 year dominance of the America's cup
*Long fence - The 'dingo fence' in Australia is the longest fence in the world, and is about twice as long as the Great Wall of China.
*cyclones/tornadoes really do spin the opposite way in the southern hemisphere
*Cyclone Hamish started a week ago and is already disappearing
*Australia is 3/4 the size of the US (in land mass)
*In 1954, Bob Hawke was immortalised by the Guinness Book of Records for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. Bob later became the Prime Minister of Australia.
*Australia day - January 26, Australia day, is the anniversary of ships arriving in Sydney carrying a load of Convicts.
*The Wombat deposits square poos on logs, rocks and even upright sticks that it uses to mark its territory
*Over 90% of Australia is dry, flat and arid. Almost three-quarters of the land cannot support agriculture in any form.
*Box Jelly fish - The box jellyfish is considered the world's most venomous marine creature. The box jellyfish has killed more people in Australia than stonefish, sharks and crocodiles combined. (we get to go and swim in their territory in May - but we will wear full body "stinger suit" when we are in the water)
*People: 92% Caucasian descent, 7% Asian descent, 1% Aboriginal descent
*America's cup - In 1983, the yacht "Australia II" ended the Americans 132 year dominance of the America's cup
*Long fence - The 'dingo fence' in Australia is the longest fence in the world, and is about twice as long as the Great Wall of China.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Chimneys
o.k. So...if I would have simply titled this Hobart, who would read this? The first thing that I noticed in Hobart was the houses had chimneys. That may not be any big deal to those living in Missouri, but I did not realize that I missed the charm if chimneys until I realized that we did not have them in King*roy.
R.T. and I loved our long weekend in Hobart. As my facebook reads...."you really need to put Tasmania on your bucket list". The mixture of the ocean, mountains, harbours, trees etc make a combination that will take your breath away.
Breakfast at an outdoor cafe
The scene from our dinner table at Mure's
Australia began its history with a past that they would like to forget. Much like we would like to forget our history of slave trade. Unfortunately, it is reality and is a part of the culture that makes a country what it is. AU was first inhabited by prisoners who were shipped from England. We were able to tour the only prison that was not torn down. It was an amazing experience to share in this part of our adopted countries culture.
This is what 14 years of marriage looks like
the octopus tree. It is actually a eucalyptus tree that grew over a rock
We spent a couple of hours hiking on Mt. Wellington in Hobart.
Tassie coastline. God smiled on Australia when He created Tasmania. You could not help but stop and give God the praise that He deserves, when admiring this part of His creation.
more scenery
more scenery
R.T. and I loved our long weekend in Hobart. As my facebook reads...."you really need to put Tasmania on your bucket list". The mixture of the ocean, mountains, harbours, trees etc make a combination that will take your breath away.
Breakfast at an outdoor cafe
The scene from our dinner table at Mure's
Australia began its history with a past that they would like to forget. Much like we would like to forget our history of slave trade. Unfortunately, it is reality and is a part of the culture that makes a country what it is. AU was first inhabited by prisoners who were shipped from England. We were able to tour the only prison that was not torn down. It was an amazing experience to share in this part of our adopted countries culture.
This is what 14 years of marriage looks like
the octopus tree. It is actually a eucalyptus tree that grew over a rock
We spent a couple of hours hiking on Mt. Wellington in Hobart.
Tassie coastline. God smiled on Australia when He created Tasmania. You could not help but stop and give God the praise that He deserves, when admiring this part of His creation.
more scenery
more scenery
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Abbie's new look
There is not alot of new news. R.T. had Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday off of work. It was great having him home. He was a great help in teaching Abbie about Ceasar Augustus. R.T. and I are planning a trip to Hobart (Tasmania, AU - feel free to look at this one on a map) We will be leaving at the end of Feb. and we will be gone just for 3 nights. We are using the excuse of our upcoming 14th anniversary to do this trip alone.
The biggest news is that Abbie got her hair cut. This is always a hard thing for the boys in our family to take, but in the end it is all worth it. Abbie is growing up into such a special, beautiful girl. God has completely blessed her with the gift of hospitality. Last Saturday morning, I came in from my long run about 7:00 and she was standing on a chair making homemade yeast waffles. I went about my business and a while later she served up a hot, fresh, yummy breakfast.
On friday morning the kids did childcare for our MOPS program at church. Cas and Abbie entertained 12 - 2 year olds for 2 1/2 hours (with the help of a few adults). Cas said the hardest thing was the short attention span of a two year old. They came away feeling exhausted, but with a great feeling of accomplishment.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Weekend at the lake
We spent this past weekend at the lake. It is actually a salt water and a fresh water lake. Supposedly, you can walk across it as it is not very deep. I am going to let the pictures do the talking....
R.T. got to take a catamaran out on the lake
we introduced smores to our friends. I ordered the graham crackers and the Hershey bars as I cannot get them in the local market. They seemed to be enjoyed by all.
a wild roo. We still get excited when we see one
just a good picture of a good looking kid
These are our dear friends. I think that we are going to kidnap them and bring them back to the states.
the kids - learning to Kayak. It was a great place to learn. When they were having struggles, R.T. could just walk out and help them
The next few pics are of the queenlander that we stayed in. We were disappointed to learn this weekend, that they take a lot of up keep. R.T. and I really enjoy the design.
R.T. got to take a catamaran out on the lake
we introduced smores to our friends. I ordered the graham crackers and the Hershey bars as I cannot get them in the local market. They seemed to be enjoyed by all.
a wild roo. We still get excited when we see one
just a good picture of a good looking kid
These are our dear friends. I think that we are going to kidnap them and bring them back to the states.
the kids - learning to Kayak. It was a great place to learn. When they were having struggles, R.T. could just walk out and help them
The next few pics are of the queenlander that we stayed in. We were disappointed to learn this weekend, that they take a lot of up keep. R.T. and I really enjoy the design.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Natural Disasters
We have been getting some questions about the natural disasters currently happening in this country. The word that we are getting is that 60% of the state of Queensland is under water. We live in the state of Queensland, but we are still experiencing a drought. North Queensland (approx 12-20 hours from here) has been having rain every day since Christmas - some days it is up to 7-8 inches. Please pray for this situation.
Down south in the state of Victoria (this is about a 2.5 hour flight from us) there are forest fires. The news we hear from them has been devastating. Many have lost their lives. A town called Maryville was completely vaporized. Unfortunately, this town has many close connections to our friends at church. Our pastor lived there and took care of a camp for kids...it is gone. This town has river walks, cute candy stores, business etc. It is all gone. Our friends have a friend who saw the fires coming and he jumped in a ditch to save his life; unfortunately, his wife and child died. This is so tragic. Please pray for our adopted country and our dear friends who are saddened by such great loss.
Down south in the state of Victoria (this is about a 2.5 hour flight from us) there are forest fires. The news we hear from them has been devastating. Many have lost their lives. A town called Maryville was completely vaporized. Unfortunately, this town has many close connections to our friends at church. Our pastor lived there and took care of a camp for kids...it is gone. This town has river walks, cute candy stores, business etc. It is all gone. Our friends have a friend who saw the fires coming and he jumped in a ditch to save his life; unfortunately, his wife and child died. This is so tragic. Please pray for our adopted country and our dear friends who are saddened by such great loss.
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