Last post of the year...

It is the most wonderful, but busy, time of the year. And we love it. We haven't had much time for blogging. We've started a B&B in our cinder-block mansion. Just kidding -- about the B&B (and the "mansion"). But we have really enjoyed hosting friends and family over the past few weeks. The weather in Memphis has been balmy - not quite like I grew up with - but very comfortable for winter.

After much deliberation, I decided to bite the bullet and gifted my husband with registration in the Nashville Country Music Half Marathon. For those who know Jason, you can appreciate how delighted he will be to have me run the 1/2 marathon with him. This will be my 5th 1/2 marathon, but my first in 10 years. Essentially that means that the previous 4 half marathons don't really count! I don't think I have run a combined 52.4 miles (equivalent of 4 x 13.1 miles) in the past 10 years. I ran my best 1/2 in 1994, and my worst in 1996 after returning from a year in cold, frozen Canada (during which I did not work out!). So, here goes. If the truth be known, I am actually kind of excited and feeling up for the challenge. The hotel rooms are booked in Nashville, race registration is paid in full, its on the blog...so there is backing out now.

This is my last week as a full time employee at Carlson Wagonlit. In the New Year I will work part time, and work from home as needed. We have a tonne of things to look forward to in January, including our 5th Anniversary which will be spend at Bonne Terre B&B in Mississippi. We couldn't leave the South without a stay here - check it out at www.bonneterre.com

Speaking of the South, I just experienced BBQ at a new level. Meet 'Scooter' who, compliments of a generous client, delivered some good ole Memphis 'que straight to my office!




Happy New Year to y'all from us in Memphis.

Thanksgiving 2006: Part 2

We spent Tuesday through Sunday in Abilene, Texas, celebrating Thanksgiving with Jason's family. It was a great time and great food. This year we fried the turkey for the first time...delicious!!! I love Thanksgiving! Our friend Justin mentioned on his blog that TG was his favorite because it is the least commercialised holiday....i.e: no gift giving. I wholeheartedly agree.

We caught up with some friends, too, while in Abilene. Steven and Wendy Gist came by with their three little ones...Matthew (almost 3) and Anne-Marie and Andrew (four month old twins). We were Mito AETS together in Japan. We always enjoy catching up with them and caught a sneak peak into life with three little ones. Whoa!!!!

We also visited with some Aussies. Damien and Miranda who are students at ACU invited us over for dinner. Chris and Michelle Malan were also there...they are students at OCU. We had a blast. It has been a long time (other than actually being in Australia), since I was able to hang out with Aussies. We laughed a lot and it was fun to share stories from home and stories about being Aussies in the US. It was nice to just be Australian and not worry about word selections or pronunciation....although between the 6 of us, you'd have to say we have quite a mixed dialect now!!! Jason and Damien were roommates for about a year in Australia so I had heard a lot of stories...so it was nice for me to meet these guys for myself. I really enjoyed our time together...thanks to the Lawries and Malans for their hospitality and new friendship.

Now we are in Greenville, Texas visiting Jason Green. Today is the last leaf of our journey. We are about six hours from Memphis if all goes smoothly (it didn't last night....major traffic delays!). We are both excited to get back home to Memphis. But I thought it would be appropriate to bring Thanksgiving to a close with a short list of things that have made me thankful this year:

- our families, of course. They continue to show us love and support even though they know our plans will mean we will be separated geographically in a year or so.
- our teammates: Shawn, Kendra, Darian & Brenna Griffith, Jon, Sara, Nina & Jack Grizzle. They love us even though they have seen the best AND worst of us on both sides of this world! Great friends, great ministry partners. We love you.
- four years in Memphis, Tennessee. It is a great place to call home. Memphis means HUGSR, friendships, community, Bland Sundays, just-like-family friends, four seasons, sweet tea, southern drawls...
- my job...what more could I have hoped for? My job has provided for us and allowed us to travel through the Caribbean and the US - to places I would never dreamed of going.
- God's peace. I feel it even though we will be in the face of transitions. He has brought us to this point in our lives...I have peace He will be guiding us here and beyond. I am reminded of the steadfast love of the Lord...His new mercies...His great faithfulness. So I will say 'The Lord is my portion. I will trust in Him'.

Thanksgiving 2006: Part 1

We arrived in Oklahoma City before 2am Sunday morning. We were so glad to make it...the drive was long because we had stayed up until almost 3am on Saturday morning. We had a good time visiting with the Griffiths until about 2am...but it made for an rough Saturday trying to work and be ready to travel. Thankfully we were driving, not flying, so we didn't have to pack as 'carefully' and we can even bring along the dirty laundry. :)
We enjoyed Sunday worship at Memorial Road church of Christ. For whatever reason, we always feel like we've come home when we are in Oklahoma City. We really enjoy catching up with Jason's college friends and professors and with our new and mutual friends, too.
After some more visiting today and tonight, we will head to Abilene, Texas to be with Jason's family for Thanksgiving. We are looking forward to a relaxing time and good food.

What's New?

A month ago we were headed for tropical paradise. Memphis, is far from 'tropical' in November...but nonetheless beautiful. I never get tired of fall...I am always awed by the brilliant colours. I will miss the warm summer days, warm evening walks and relaxing & reading on the Harding swing on campus. But what a way to herald the winter!


In other news, we are just weeks away from Jason being through with his degree requirements. He plans to take a couple more classes in the Spring of 07, just for good measure! (we'll be hanging out in Memphis waiting on graduation until May anyway). I have just 5 more Saturdays to work...yes, I am counting. I have loved my work schedule, but I will also enjoy the new era of being off on Saturdays. We're also babysitting this cute little boy. Joshua is almost 11 months old. We love taking care of him...is he not the cutest kid around? (and smart, too! He's already discussing Theological Hermeneutics with Jason on Wednesdays while I'm at work!)


Jason is gearing up for the Memphis St Jude Half Marathon on December 2nd. I'm up for the 5km this year. It's a little discouraging to think back on my highschool days when 1/2 marathons were 'easy', and now running a 5k is big deal. Not to be discouraged though, I just want to get to the point where I can run a good 5k without it being a big deal. It helps to have a gym on campus now that the cooler weather is here.

We'll head to Texas in 2 weeks for Thanksgiving. I scored big on days off over TG which will make for a comfortable road trip. We're looking forward to it!

No problems in Jamaica - mon!

Jason and I just returned from a wonderful vacation to Jamaica. We spent six nights there...five at Sandals Negril and one night at Sandals Montego Bay. This trip was the possible because of a 'sell & go' deal that Sandals offers travel agents. If you sell Sandals...you get to go to Sandals...for free! They gave us a beautiful concierge suite, right on the beach with a lower level living room, then a spiral staircase up to the bedroom loft. It was awesome.

What is there to do in Jamaica? We snorkeled twice...once out to a reef and the second time out to some caves...that was pretty cool. We saw neat fish, coral and small stingrays. We didn't have to go snorkeling to see the marine life, though...we saw a bunch of fish and stingrays right at the shoreline when we were walking along the beach.


We also kayaked, rode the watertrike, and sailed on a hobiecat with a Jamaican guide. One day we took at tour inland and did the Original Canopy Tour. We harnesed up to a series of nine zip lines that took us through the rainforest tree tops. One of the travereses was over 1000 feet long. It was pretty exhilerating!



We enjoyed long beach walks and talking with locals along the way. The beaches in Jamaica are public and Negrl is on a seven mile beach. We met all kinds of folks on the beach, and were offered a number of different goods while walking. We declined them all! :)




One night we went to Ricks Cafe, which is well known for the cliff diving. We paid $2 to get a Jamaican guy to jump from the tree. Jason even took a dive from the 'chicken jump'. For being a chicken jump...it was pretty high!



The only 'bad' thing that happened was that after breakfast one morning...a bird pooped right in my hair. Thankfully I was steps from the ocean so just jumped into the water and washed it out. It was kind of gross though. But as they say in Jamaica, 'there are no problems here...only situations'. So I guess all I had was a (gross) 'situation'.

A highlight of our time in Negril was watching the sunsets. Negril is located on the western most tip of Jamaica and the sunsets are incredible. After Alaska and Jamaica...I am just in awe of the beautiful creation we are blessed to experience.


In just three short hours...we were transported to tropical paradise...and it seemed an even shorter three to be transported back to Memphis. The memories will last a lifetime though. We are so thankful and know we were very blessed to enjoy this wonderful vacation and special time together. Hope you enjoy the pics. And give me a call if you want to check out Jamaica for yourself. It comes highly recommmended!

Moving Forward

On Wednesday night we met with Missions Resource Network (MRN). We are continuing to move forward in preparations for the move and mission work in the Illawara region. At the end of this month about 1/2 of our team will participate in an intense strategy workshop which will help us develop a more detailed 'ministry strategy'. In the New Year we hope to take part in an interpersonal workshop as a team.



Jack is clearly our most laid-back team member.

America: the Convenient

I've noticed how convenient many things are here in the good 'ole US of A. Sure, I don't use some of these...but just WHAT do you suppose I do when I find myself Down Under and want to:

- do 'drive-thru' banking?
- pick up prescription drugs at the drive-thru chemist/pharmacy?
- drop off or pick up my dry cleaning at...you guessed it...the drive-thru cleaners?
- shop at 10pm, or 11pm or better yet 2am?
- order my McDonalds meal while checking out my groceries at Wal-Mart or equivalent? (ok...I can probably live without this one! But what if???)
- ...

No doubt about it...America is convenient! What are you used to? Or for those around the world, what do you miss? Better yet, what conveniences does Japan? Italy? PNG? Australia? Bolivia? have to offer? I know you're out there!

Alaska Happenings

I had a wonderful time in Alaska. Here’s a brief rundown on our time there and some pictures.

Saturday: visited beautiful Stanley Park in Vancouver. The park has beautiful gardens, harbors and totem poles. The weather was perfect! In the afternoon we boarded the Summit and set sail for Alaska.




Sunday: cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage. I also had to attend a seminar during the day. In the evening was the first ‘formal’ evening of the cruise.

Monday: Juneau. We got off around noon and got a taxi to Auk Bay Harbor. There we were prepped for our kayaking experience in Mendenhall Lake. Mendenhall Glacier feeds into this lake. Other than one other canoe boat, we were the ONLY people on the lake. It was AMAZING! We kayaked right to the face of the glacier (keeping some distance in case of calving). We probably kayaked 3-4 miles. It was an incredible experience. We met several people throughout the cruise who said ‘that was YOU we saw out there? How did you get all the way there?’, after we told them what ‘excursion’ we did in Juneau. After kayaking, we visited with Rachel and Carly Phelps at their home in Juneau. We enjoyed dinner down in the main harbor, in a restaurant overlooking the three cruise ships docked in Juneau. It was so wonderful to spend some time with Shawn and Rachel and to meet Carly. She’s a cutie! Shawn is a police officer in Juneau so we had a brief (outside) tour of his workplace. In Juneau, we also saw the salmon trying to swim upstream to spawn. It is so amazing…the river is just FULL of salmon! This is something we saw in every stream and river while in Alaska.








Tuesday: Skagway was probably my most favorite port of call. Juneau was a winner because of our kayaking adventure and seeing the Phelps. But Skagway was just beautiful. It is a very quaint and historical town. This was also our most perfect weather day. It was warm and sunny and in the distance we could clearly see Glacier Bay National Park. We hiked to lower Dewey Lake, saw bear tracks (ok…maybe not bear. Wolf? Dog? Whatever they were, they freaked me out!), shopped and road the White Pass Yukon Railroad to Yukon Canada. The views were spectacular. And we were even treated to the train guide jumping into the lake (35 degrees F)! It was her last day and this is apparantely the tradition. I’d be leaving without notice!!!







Wednesday: Sitka. The cloudly skies returned on Wednesday but it did not stop us from getting out and enjoying another neat little town along the Inside Passage. We did some more hiking in Sitka…saw more salmon and just enjoyed town. We saw a bald eagle playing down by the river. It was a slower day but enjoyable. In the evening we watched a 30 minute Cirque du Soleil performance. If you have never seen one, I highly recommend it! It is even more amazing that they can do this on a moving vessel!




Thursday: Icy Strait Point. This is pretty much a private island, which is visited just 4 days a week by 3 different cruise lines. The town of Hoonah used to have a thriving canning industry. It is no longer operating, but there is a display showing the ins and outs of salmon canning, shops at the pier and beautiful rainforest walking trails. We walked through the rainforest, the stores, and into downtown Hoonah. There is absolutely nothing to the downtown area except 2 small stores and a bar style restaurant that sells crab. Being the seafood lover that I am, I treated myself to ½ a crab for just 8 bucks! What a deal! On both Wednesday and Thursday, our ports of call required us to tender in (versus dock and be able to walk off the ship and into town) on smaller vessels. This was a first for me and I was really impressed how smooth Celebrity operated the whole process. Tonight was our 2nd formal dining experience. We were not going to the main dining room every night since our dining time was 8:30pm…but I was not going to miss lobster! It was delicious, of course…and I was always SO impressed by the service of Joseph and Chardie. All the service people on board truly make the cruise! It is amazing to me that they can remember our names, and what we like and so on. Tonight was also the Celebrity Midnight Gala Buffett!






Friday: Hubbard Glacier. This was a real highlight for me. The ship was able to get so close to the glacier. It is a huge glacier and calved a lot while we were out there. It sounds like thunder….it is incredible to watch and hear. The ship spent a couple of hours there and had a naturalist on board. After leaving the Glacier, we sailed for about 17 hours to Seward, Alaska. I had my last ½ day seminar in the afternoon. We played Celebrity (cruise lines…not ‘Hollywood celebrities’) Jeopardy and our team one! Whoohoo! It was entertaining to say the least to watch adults whine about the rules!!!






Saturday: Arrival in Seward. We walked into town (with all our luggage...I don't think too many people do this!) and went to the sea life center which is where they rehabilitate injured sea life. I then boarded a bus for Anchorage (about 3 hours). I arrived in Anchorage around 2pm and am now waiting for my flight to Memphis at 9:40pm tonight. It feels like I am on the ship still as everything is moving…I remember after just a 3 night Bahamas cruise, that feeling lasted one week. I hope it won’t last longer than a week this time…





Alaska was the trip of a lifetime. I am sorry that Jason could not make it but we look forward to time together in Jamaica in October. And it was fun to spend some time with Christi. Thanks to her, I did more than I would have done alone. She is the hiking/see-it-all/kayak nazi, no doubt about it! At least we worked off all the extra food we ate! And we always came back with stories to entertain the other travel agents (and ourselves)!