So I have tried to load these pictures four times now. My comp has something wrong with it, every time I set it down on something hard like a table or touch the top by the volume button it just shuts off. So the past three times of having all but like two loaded I have done that and had to start over and it takes forever for these to load so if it happens again its it for me. So hopefully it will work this time.

Well I have a very busy but amazing weekend.  Starting with Friday little Lauren Lomas wanted to go to Luna Park for her birthday instead of having a party. They invited Sarah and I and Martina and her two kids to go with us.  We had so much fun. Its like a big carnival that is always there right on the water across from the Opera House in Sydney. It was a beautiful day and we spent 8 hours there. One of my favorite things was the mirrors that make you look funny. Here are some pic of the day that was so fun.

Then on Saturday Lauras cousing Kylie got married and I was Lauras date. Again it was a beautiful warm day at a park dby the water. Couldn't as for a more beautiful day for a wedding. Here receptions are not like most I have been to back home they actually have a set down three course meal wedding recetption. It was so much fun and here are some pics fomr that beautiful day too!!!

Then to top it off I won Australian Idol finals tickets. Yes I won some before but those were semi final and most of those that we saw never made it to the finals of having a chance to win. So last night Sarah, Laura and I made our way down to Sydney to see the final ten perform. We got there a little early and once again for being at the front and then being pertty people they picked up to sit on the front row. We were the first ones they chose. I don't have any pics though of it b/c they wont let you bring any purse in or any recording devices including my phone so I could take pics with that. But they have this thing called Street Idol and they let people record 30 seconds of music and apeople can go on and vote for the best one and if we win we get like four grammy tickets, tickets to the grand final and 20,000 dollars. So therefore whenever we find out we are on there I expect each and everyone of you to go on and vote for ours and tell everyone you know too!!!

Currently Listening Diamonds on the Inside By Ben Harper see related

So I actually wrote this last night and it accidentally got deleted...I was not a happy camper. But yes I know I have some major updating to go back to and I will hopefully at some point but I just had to go ahead and post this now.

So last night Laura Mowday and I attended the one and only AUSTRALIAN IDOL!!!! I got an email last week saying I had won! It was amazing! We got there a little early and were like the 9th and 10th in line. Well as we were standing in the line inside to go in the studio some of the final 24 walked by. Well one of Laura's and my favorites Paul walked by and he looked, smiled(has great teeth) and said hi and asked how we were. I really like him so that was just great! Then as we are standing and waiting one of the crew member guys comes and picks I dunno maybe 10 of us out of the crowd and took us out of line to the front area. They told us because we were pretty, happy energetic people that we........GET TO SIT FRONT ROW FOR THE SHOW!!!! That's right the beautiful Laura Jayne and myself were seen by all of Australia last night for a whole hour. Not only was the night full of great music but I got to add another exciting thing to my list of awesome things I have done but mostly I got to spend it with one of my best friends!!!

As for pictures I only had my phone and then they made us turn them off so it didn't interfere with the live feed but I got a few before and a couple after so as soon as I figure out how to put them on my computer I will add them to this post. OH and they post little snippets of the singers online so below is the web address  if you want to see if you can see us ....we are on the front row...I am wearing brown and Laura is wearing black. Front the stage where they walk out on we are the third and fourth person to the left and sitting behind the them as they are singing!!!

http://australianidol.bigpond.com.au/default.aspx?page=videos&CategoryID=55&GalleryID=23&Action=ViewGallery

Currently Listening Me and My Gang By Rascal Flatts see related

MY PARENTS VISIT TO AUSTRALIA!!!!!!

At the end of April my life turned in to a fast paced whirlwind that was amazing but am I ever glad it has come to an end. I was physically and emotionally exhausted. Because so much has happened and I haven't updated this may be a long one or I may break it up into a couple of days depending on how long it takes to down load all the pics.

My parents came at then end of April and first of May. We had an amazing time and got to do heaps of things. It was great to experience all the usual touristy things in Sydney, we even made a trip up to the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns but I think mostly I enjoyed showing them around the central coast where I live and having them see what I do and meet the people here. So as most of you have seen all the pretty sites you may see a few again but I am mostly just going to post pics with us in them for you to see some of what we did.  ENJOY!!!!!

Terrigal Beach the fist day in Australia where I took them for fish and chips!

These are some of our Opera House and Harbour Bridge photos. Two of my favorite things about Sydney!!!!!

This is us at Darling Harbour with the Aquarium and part of down town behind us!

On our way to eat at Pancakes on the Rocks (which is the best place to eat Pancakes in Sydney) we ran into some of my friends walking down the street going to the same place so we joined and had dinner together. Others included are Roberto, Travis, Peter, Ashley, Jonno, and Kristina!

I took my parents to the reptile park to see the kangaroos and koalas. They actually have heaps of other things but those are the most exciting!

One of the couples that I just love to death here Max and Pat took my parents and myself out on the boat one morning. It was really rough and choppy that day and was really funny to watch my parents...esp my mom!!! But it was a good day and now they can say they have been in a boat on the ocean!!!!!

One of the men here, Graham, is a firefighter like my daddy so we went and visited him one day so my dad could check it out and see their equipment and see how they do things like that here. I think he really enjoyed himself!!!!

Now while in Cairns we went to a place called rainforest station up in the rainforest(obviously). But part of the program was to see the wildlife, ride an army duck through the area and then to see the aboriginals and their program. We started off with them playing the didgeridoo, teaching us how to throw boomerangs (which I was the best thrower of the girls I might say...it even came back to me  ),  showed us how hunted by throwing spears and last they did some aboriginal tribal dancing. I enjoyed heaps more than I thought I ever would.

NOW FOR ONE  OF THE MOST AMAZING THING I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE....

SNORKELING

That's right...me..miss scaredy pants did it! I really wasn't that scared or nervous...maybe thats because my dad was a bit nervous about doing it so it made me less. I really didn't want to pass up the opportunity to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef and it was such an amazing experience...all the fish and the reef itself is just beautiful. I recommend everyone doing this at some point in their life!!!

Now as I said before we did heaps of things but those are some of the big things and I promised my mom I would post some pics. Part two of my busy few months with the OC campaign is to come!!!!!

Currently Listening In the Company of Angels: A Call to Worship By Caedmon's Call see related

What you have all been waiting for..... A POST!!!!!!

I suppose I can try and repost what I lost. Since it has been a while it will be super long post. I will to do more pics and less words because we all know we don't like to read heaps on these things.

I finally went on the ocean in a boat. It was so much fun. Max and Pat took us out and max even let me drive the boat...scary I know. It was a little rough at one point and he was going fast and the boat would just go in the air and drop straight down...I lost my stomach every time. But it was so much fun, I didn't want him to stop. I also found heaps of shells at this one beach we stopped at for lunch.

We had our 7th grade and up activity which was a pool party at the Lawries. They have a beautiful house and pool that they were gracious enough to let us use. The kids seem to have a good time.

We had our congregational activity this month at the beach at Norah Head which has a light house that we took a short bush walk to see. Its very pretty out there. Marijke brought a friend who had a little boy that was the cutest thing ever. He and I made friends and he wanted to do the bush walk with me and only me. It was cute.

Then after the congregational activity we headed to Laura's 13th birthday party. We missed the movie part but we got to their house in time for cake and presents.

Later that evening we had our fellow Americans plus to Aussies over for a Mexican night. We all miss our Mexican food so much so we all cooked our specialties and came together for a night full of food, fun and fellowship. It was nice to get to spend more time with  all of them.

We had our first dinner and devo for the kids 5th grade and up that we will have the third Sunday of each month. They Paynes were the first family to hold this at their house with a sausage sizzle. David did a great job on the devo and the kids all got along well and played well.

Another thing we did was to ride the train up to chatswood and go to the Open Mic Night that Todd and Kara were putting on for the Sydney church. I was really surprised at the talent and how many people got up and played. Especially for it being younger kids. This one girl played beauty and the beast on a harp...it was so neat. Then this one guy Christian I believe came with a friend of a friend and he sang and played this amazing song on the piano. I had a really fun night getting to meet people and catch up with some people I had met from camp like the Ritchie's. They have it every six weeks so its def something I will be trying to go to. Oh and the train ride home was super long and the train was full especially for the time of night. But some where along the way we got stopped...I am not sure really why...and we were sitting there for like 20 min. So the last pic is of Sarah and I just being silly and trying to entertain ourselves for the ride home.

When I first got here Dan had told me about this country singer from here named Adam Harvey. Well a few weekends ago there was a country music festival going on out at the Entrance and Dan, Sarah, Laura and myself went out the night Adam Harvey was playing to check it out. There was some stuff I didn't know but he played a few songs that I knew from people in states so it was fun. I even wore my country girl born and raised shirt my mom had sent me...good job mom!!!! Oh and they had a tropical snow so I got a coconut snow cone which made my day too.

Oh and this is for my mom. She has been wanting to see my hair since a friend of mine here Jo Anne highlighted it. It was her first time and I think she did a good job.