T.I.L.T.

Things I love Thursday.

It's time to bring it back. Back in the day, one of my oldest and closest friends wrote a blog where often on Thursdays she wrote a list of her favourite things in that day. Aside from it being a fun way to remember and thank God for all things we're blessed with, I'm also hoping she will start up her blog again, but maybe she just needs to reminisce a little.

This ones for you, Hank.

Skype dates. Catching up with friends and family on the other side of the world.

God. Prayer. Faith.

My Oma. What a beautiful, holy lady. She passed away today while my family said the rosary and held her hand. May her soul rest in peace.

Running. Something I often take for granted. What's even better, running outside in January and not having your lungs freeze.

Shania Twain.

Getting lost then finding my way home. It's becoming a hobby. That moment when you have no idea where you are, slightly nerve wracking. Then the moment you recognize something familiar, pure excitement.

Making bland food taste good. Had a bunch of leftover rice so I made rice pudding!

Water. My favourite beverage. Without it few other bevvys would exist.

Having no agenda. So much possibility. This was my entire day.  And it was epic.

Tamworth!

We had been super back and fourth about whether we'd make it to Tamworth or not, we originally planned to go to the Country Music Festival in mid-January, but the opportunity arose to go a little earlier on when Maegan said she was going to visit her family and invited us along. We didn't stay for the festival, but we got to hang out with more of my favourite Australians!

The day before we left though we got a group of Mortdale friends together to play ultimate! My first time throwing plastic in nearly three months (I got a disc for Christmas!!). And yes, I've been dying a bit on the inside, but I'm trying to cope. We had a solid game, then headed to Mass for before we took up a large  portion of the seating in a nearby pub! Everyone found out "The Canadians" were leaving, so we had a bit of a 'going away' party at the girls household after. There were about 20 adults playing sardines, in and around the house. It was a blast. No wonder I love Mortdale so much!

In the morning we attended a Hillsong worship service. Was kinda surreal to be at the home where such world renown worship music is created.

We the headed to Tamworth where we were reunited with Maegan's beautiful family. It was so lovely to see them again after we bonded over Christmas time.

Bernie, Maegan's dad, doesn't mess around when it comes to food. To my surprise and pure delight, on our first morning there we woke up to the smell of pancakes! I showed them how they should properly (in my mind) be consumed... with peanut butter, yogurt, banana and maple syrup. They liked that.
We also had Mexican Monday, complete with tacos, margaritas and tequila shots!
Another night we had prawns along with hollumi and chorizo appies! So yes, they fed us very well.

We taught everyone how to play Dutch Blitz! Even Gramama Isobel from Canada played! We took a short break and went on a kangaroo search. Just up the road from their house we spotted about 4 of them! Them 'roos are still quite a novelty to see!

Kaelin, Maegan's sister, was pretty adamant about showing us the new park in town. So on our last night in Tamworth we meandered down and checked it out. Coolest. Park. Ever.  Seriously Canada, you need to step up your game in the playground department. Jennine and I were in our glory. I swear they made this park for adults, cause kids could easily die on it. There were these super epic rock climbing hexagons, a zip line, huge multi-teir spider web, massive slides, a deadly swing, a merry go round... it was like Disneyland! But better. Cause it was in Australia ; )

Needless to say, Tamworth was a definite highlight. So glad we didn't pass up the chance to spend some quality time with quality people.

Sydney/New Years!

After lotsa adventures, laughs and good company over Christmas, we took a day or so to let it all seep in, then we were back at it again :)

It was a gorgeous week, so warm and sunny, so we took the opportunity to enjoy being outside.  Maegan, Sarah, Jennine and our Brazilian friend, Andre, conquered the breathtaking view of the coastal walk between Bondi beach and Coogee beach! It was a BLAST! I had heaps of fun climbing up and over these huge boulders along the ocean (we skipped the trail at this point and took the adventurous route!).

We had a couple decisions to make by the time New Years Eve rigged around: do we do the touristy thing and go watch the world renown fireworks in the Sydney harbour, or being in the New Year with Maegan and her friends at a backyard party?  Of course we chose the party. And a solid good choice it was! We ate, we drank, we danced, we laughed, we may have shoved ice down a few people's shirts, we talked, we watched less elaborate fireworks, we HAD PAVLOVA FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER (thanks, Claudia!), we had a damn good time! Made a good choice. Stayed up till 2am, but had to get up at 8am 'cause the party just continued! 

On New Years Day, my favourite Australian couple, Chris and Jess,  along with Jess' brother Pete, took us to the Blue Mountains to do some CANYONING! Omigawsh. After this day, my adventure bucket was overflowing. We experienced the beautiful view at the top, and hiked down the mountain (I know, it's backwards), then walked, swam, climbed and explored the bottom of this canyon for a hours. It was another of my top favourite days in 'Straya. The whole afternoon I was gawking around, smiling my big cheeky smile. God's creation is amazing.

All these places we've been are 109 times better with the people we've experienced them with. 

So much JOY!

Love and prayers,
Silken

CHRISTMAS!

Christmas quickly snuck up on us which was quite obvious as we made last minute shopping trips on both the 23rd and 24th! Talk about stress, why do people do that to themselves!

Christmas Eve we headed to North Sydney to spend the next few days quality Maegan's family, none of which I had met before. Her dad picked us up, we had to cross the harbour bridge and as we were conning up to it he put his tour guide voice on and started telling us all about everything. "Up ahead in that building is where my brother got married..." Meanwhile, Sarah if freaking out about seeing the Opera House for the first time! He started singing 'O Canada' as we passed the Canadian embassy, and we sang the entire anthem as we crossed the bridge. 

We were welcomed with open arms by Maegan's aunt, uncle and cousins who were hosting the festivities. Headed to Christmas Eve Mass in summer dresses, arrived a bit early as some carols were being sung. There were three little kids dressed up with santa hats and drums, they marched down the isle as 'The Little Drummer Boy' was being sung, drumming on beat. It was the cutest thing ever! After Mass they served beer/wine and little chicken sandwiches, what a good way to celebrate the birth of Christ!

Christmas morning I woke up first of the kids, and was greeted with many Christmas hugs and kisses. I felt so at home. We had panettone (delightful Italian fluffy bread) and fruit! Opened our presents - Sarah and Jennine got me a few little things, but they said the rest of it was in the mail. I found out later that it was a frisbee!!! Ahhhhhh!! So stoked.

Everyone else arrived around noon, so many aunts, uncles and cousins. I soon discovered what a blast they all are. I got to help Uncle Pat cook prawns on the 'Barbie', Uncle Bernie threw together the legendary haloumi (greek cheese) and chorizo, and grandma Joy brought her famous lemon tart! It was Christmas as it should be: with lotsa food!

Later on after everyone left we went for a swim in the pool. Yeah, swimming outside on Christmas, had never done that before!

Ended the day off by watching the classic 'It's a Wonderful Life', eating popcorn and drinking suuuuper delicious hot chocolate.

Overall, spending Christmas away from home couldn't have been more enjoyable. I quickly fell in love with the Williams family, what beautiful people. What a blessing it was to be apart of their Christmas celebration! It will be the Australian Christmas I'll never forget. 

Beautiful Byron Bay

After our nice relaxing time in Toowoomba, it was time to get back to the hostels, beaches and instant noodles. Byron Bay typically talked of as the super hippie town, known for the incredible surfing, lighthouse and special brownies. I experienced two of the three, I'll let you guess which ones.

We stayed at a hostel just outside the town, a minute away from the beach but far from our soon to be favourite spot, the Cheeky Monkey, and everything else.

Kay, that's enough of the suspense. Hopefully you guessed surfing and the lighthouse, in which case you'd be right. Surfing was incredible. I took a lesson since I had never done it before, they taught techniques and basic skills necessary for the art of surfing which lead me to getting up no problem, which was uber exciting. Me and Jennine caught a "party wave" (a wave with two or more people), what a satisfying feeling. I quickly fell in love. Trading snowboarding for surfing for a year isn't such a bad deal!

The hike up to the lighthouse was pretty extreme. Lotsa stairs. We were on the most easternly point in Australia, looking out upon the water watching turtles poke their heads above the water. What a gorgeous view it was, not only from the summit, but the whole way up! I had many freak outs on our way up, having to remind myself that this was indeed real life!

I also got to play beach soccer! Basically I was super insistent on going, and with some coaxing Jennine also decided to play. It was an organized game put on by some people we met at the Cheeky Monkey. I got the first goal! Showed them guys I wasn't messing around! We played three matches, had a win each, then tied the last game. We went to shootouts and lost, but Jennine's team won. Went to the after party and got free dinner and drinks! Was a fun time! Made a couple awesome friends, Laura from Denmark deserves a shout out! She's a real gem, the only other girl who played soccer with us!

Overall, Byron Bay was super good to me. I loved it.