australian sunsets are the best in the world.

i think i could live here. as in, if i met an australian i would maybe possibly choose to stay here. the people are so warm, everyone is chill, but they care deeply about their environment and will do everything in their power to protect it. they have more kangaroos than people, have numerous coffee/tea breaks per day, and all live fairly near the beach. sure they'll tell you how the feel straight up, but if we're all thinking it, why not just say it?

yesterday was intense. rode a camel, petted kangaroos, wombats, alpacas, goats, and deer, saw a sunset on the beach, had my first meat pie, fish and chips, and stamp from a pub, and had some eye opening experiences. today i fell in love with the people at the church, had my second dose of fish and chips, walked around fremantle, which is one of the first settlements in australia, and had some awesome snickers gelato.

tomorrow we're heading to banksia, which is the detention center, and i think we're going to be there for 6 hours both monday and tuesday. i think both of these days are going to be pretty exhausting but i am praying i make it through this week and the next two with heightened stamina and renewed energy.

cell phones are ridiculous.

australia is weird. there i said it.

not sure i'm sold on whether i like it better than europe, it's just a completely different experience. not that i expected it to be similar since this is a mission trip, but we've hardly seen anything perth related besides downtown and so many things are similar i'm having a hard time believing we're actually in a)the southern hemisphere, b)outside of the US, and c)on the other side of the world. i can understand everyone, food is the same but blander, and it looks (but definitely doesn't feel) like phoenix.

but they drive on the other side of the road, their toilets are in a different room than their showers and sinks, they call math "maths" and are confused when you call it plain math, and they actually don't care that much for soccer. we also have to fill out some form to work with kids at the end of the month because it's past a two week limit of being in the states (even though it won't be processed before we leave...), continuously search for outlets because there seems to be a shortage and then remember that you have to flip a switch to actually get power, and um i think our house has ONE trash can. weird.

but, i LOVE the people. the people at the church are fantastic and even playing with the kids tonight completely warmed my heart. sure they were cussing at us and hating us because we were dominating them in a game but kids say the darnedest things. "she's a girl! you'll break her nails!" can't wait for more of that.

tomorrow we're going to the primary school to do skits and what not. could get pretty interesting! tomorrow night we're going to see toy story 3 and eat at hans (i think that's what it's called...) Saturday we're going to go ride camels!! I feel like that is something I won't ever do in my life again.

man australian commercials are weird...

no worries mate.

wooowee I am tired! If it's 8:11 am at home it means I've almost been up for two straight days. I did get some sleep here and there but I will be snoozing well tonight! It's currently 9:11 PM here which means Perth is 13 hours ahead of us! We completely missed out on Sunday!!

It's weird, I thought it would all obviously be Australian but I'm feeling more like it's home than anywhere I've ever travelled before. Probably because there's not a language barrier (even though some accents on words get me confused, ie. the cat's name is mocha but i keep hearing it as marka) and everything is relatively the same "class wise". Similar cars, similar eateries, similar radio. But they drive on the left side and have awesome accents.

Anywho, just wanted to let you know we all arrived safely. Not too many adventures yet, though our credit/debit cards keep getting declined, the dog gets very happy very fast, and we might have a booking to go ride camels this weekend! It's already pretty chilly here, I wore jeans, a long sleeved tshirt and my lipscomb hoodie and was still freezing. Oh well, I'm enjoying the nice respite from the 98 degrees at home. (give me just one night, una noche....) ;P

Tomorrow is a briefing and basically a time to just go through everything we're doing. fun?

strange.

it's weird. i'm packed and ready to go to australia but i'm not nervous or anxious, it's like it's just another trip. yeah it's just a mission trip, and yes it's just a month unlike the last time i went across the world, but i think i should be a little jittery!

surely i'm missing something but i'm a safe distance away from 50 pounds and i think i'm well equipped for any occasion for a month. it's also not a third world country, if i'm missing anything serious i can get it.

eeeeeeep i'm so excited!!! it's AUSTRALIA!!!!!

toy story 3 tonight with the family and emily! :D

this is my temporary home.

yikes. what a strange couple of days.

i was going to go in late to work on thursday because my mom was staying home, and while i was getting ready i was reading tweets on my phone. i come across some saying things along the line of "robert you will be missed." my heart stops. only one robert comes to mind. i anxiously texted my friends and my thoughts were confirmed. robert moss had in fact died.

i cannot pretend that we were amazing friends or anything, but he would always have been cemented in my list of people that made high school for me. he was close to many of my close friends even to this day. i will always remember him as my homecoming partner, the attractive drummer with a permanent smile on his face, a kind funny fellow that always offered me hugs. surely this doesn't come as a surprise, but i had a huge crush on him (yes even after he started dating amy). who wouldn't? he was a superb human being.

i'm ashamed to say that i've lost touch with several of my friends since high school, i'm ashamed that i didn't even know he was feeling so depressed. all i know is that he is in such a better place now. God is filling him with the peace and joy that he didn't find here. he's pain free.

monday is the visitation from 4-8 at woodfins, with the funeral being held at 10 on tuesday at first united methodist on thompson lane. i am not looking forward to either. this is one of the times where i hate that i'm so emotional. however, if funerals are good for anything at all, they're good for bringing friends together again. i wish i were seeing everyone i know i'll run into in better circumstances, but it will be good to see them again, however hard it's going to be for each and every one of us.

my prayers are still going out the Moss, Jordan, and Knox families.

"this is my temporary home

it's not where i belong

windows and rooms that i'm just passin' through

this is just a stop, on the way to where i'm going

i'm not afraid because i know this is my

temporary home."

16 days til my next adventure starts!! I will hopefully be keeping up with this blog while I'm there as well. We calculated the travel time... I think we will be traveling for more than a day... about 26 hours. So crazy that it takes so long to get to the other side of the world, but then again, it is the other side of the world...

So have you been keeping up with Glee? Isn't it fabulous? We're about 5 days away from the season finale. I'm not even sure when it's supposed to be coming back in the fall or if they're going to wait until after the Super Bowl to start. My 80 Glee songs on my iPod will have to wait that long I guess.

I'm getting really excited about so many things. But there's always so many things to be excited about. :)

i'm so sick of feeling this way. it's not healthy and it's foolish of me, but i can't help it. i hate feeling alone when i'm surrounded by people. i'm too young for this.

well it's been awhile. life's been a blur but awesome!

took some pictures today, sooo you should check out k-clairephotography :)

if someone says fly, i've simply got to!

my shin hurts. my head is pounding. my legs are shaky. and i have a sore voice. but i'm excited. i have missed the stage. the blinding lights. the not being able to talk after getting off stage because you're mic is still on. the gallons of water consumed before acts. the over-exaggeration of everything. i have missed it greatly. yeah i'm praahhhbbbbabbly not the best at it. it takes me some work and good direction but boy i come alive up there. more than any other person has ever made me feel. so when i find that guy that makes me feel this good, he's a keeper. ;)

working hard to get my fill

So I've been back on campus for 3 hours and it's just amazing how happy I am to be back. I guess that could be a lot to do with the endorphins and caffeine coursing through my body, but man besides missing my parents Murfreesboro's got nothing on Nashville.

The next few weeks are going to be insane. But I guess that way summer gets here faster right? Next two are heavy laden with research, papers, tests, and late Singarama practices, the next week is formal, the next is a jaunt to St Louis, and then it's a weekend full of engagement pictures, and then finals!! Then six weeks of working and then AUSTRALIA. Dang I can't believe it's almost here!! I still have so much money to raise but I really think it's possible.

So one of my friend's tweets the other day said something about looking at a picture and not remembering who that person is anymore. I was confused but she explained... she was looking at a picture of her and an old boyfriend and was saying she didn't remember how she felt when she was with him anymore. To some point I feel the same way. Some of my background pictures on my computer include my ex amongst some other friends and I look at those and just feel like it was such a distant memory. I constantly ask myself why we were even together sometimes, and then stop and remind myself that he did in fact teach me many things. So I'm glad it happened but so relieved it's over. Now if I could only get over the super awkward encounters. I saw two of my exes this weekend. Managed to avoid them successfully, but what should I care? I have my own spectacular life and shouldn't be embarrassed to speak to them. Too bad that's easier to say than do.

(this is another reason I love being in Nashville, never ever ever ever having to see them)

Anyways I should probably get to work on a bible paper...

I don't like where I'm at right now.

agenda for friday:

get up at 8, pick up check, drive home, drop off things at home, get check, go to bank, meet my peeps at Toot's, shop at old navy, pack for florida, (maybe a little homework?? but who am i joking), Old Chicago for dinner, maybe a movie (?).

Anywho. I am EXCITED. 12 classes til SPRING BREAK 2010!!!!!

sorry

So my Lent thing is over I guess. I really wanted to write something everyday to push me to find something in my life interesting enough to talk about. However that mainly deals with boys and there are way too many profound things in life than boys.

I'm going home for the first time this semester. Is it bad that I'm actually very anxious? Going home from college means a totally different thing than it did a year ago. I hate the feeling of being there alone.

Can I just say how much I adore my parents? I really think they are spectacular. There has been a lot of stuff going on in the Boro with prestigious men, and it just completely made me proud that my daddy was my daddy.

7 days til spring break!!! (well really 6, I'm planning on skipping Friday (hey! i would only have to go to bible!!))

the sister blog.

My club might be small, but I'm actually realllllly ok with that. It allows me to be close to every single one of these lovely ladies. :)

My Grand-big- Melissa

- Such a sweet spirit even after so many tough things in life. She is my confidante in everything.

Amanda

- Such a beautiful girl, with an equally beautiful fiance'. ;) We really connected at formal last year, and she is still one of my favorite people to talk to.

El Presidente- Sara

-I didn't really get close to my club until last semester and Sara really aided in that when I did her engagement pictures. Such a precious girl.

Katie

- So one of the loveliest people in my life. I don't get to hang out with her much, but she is amazing when I do.

Lauren

-I just had the pleasure of spending this weekend with this girl. Man what memories. From Dirty Diana, barefootedness, and Asian babies, she never leaves me without a laugh.

Brittany

-Always something to talk about with this girl. Hard to find her sometimes, but when I run into her it's a blessing. :)

Courtney

-The resident tomboy, honestly never thought I would be friends with her, but has surprised me and is one of my favorite people ever. So honest yet I could trust her with everything.

Syndle

-Such a sweetheart. Quiet, but when she speaks you listen. Lovesss her :)

Kelcy

-My rooooomie. So many adventures with her, always has my back, and always laughs at my absurdity even if I feel completely awkward.

Hailey

-I have known this girl for a while and have always thought she was precious, and I am SO stoked she is in my club now. It's been awesome that we've been able to reconnect.

Megan

- I wasn't here last semester (duh) but this girl has made it so easy to come back to the club. She's a pledge class behind me, but I feel like she's been my sister for forever.

there will be a new update with inductions :)

before i head out.

my sisters are great. fact.

i love each and every single one of them. pictures and reasons why i'm going to save for sunday.

D-E-L-T-A X-I DELTA XI whooop whooop DELTA XI!!

WINTERFEST TIME. Sehr gut!!!

sing alongs

Today I've had a myriad of songs playing through my head. Namely the Arthur theme song, Can't Fight This Feeling, and Haven't Met You Yet. Crazy how some songs just get lodged into your cranium and don't let go. Some might just bring back nostalgia like Arthur, some might just be fun to sing like Feeling, and some might just be something you need to hear over and over again. This is so true with Haven't Met You Yet. Kinda the opposite of a love song, it's about knowing how excited he will be about a future love, but he just hasn't met her yet. Preeeetttttyyy much sums up my life right now.

i'm not surprised

not everything lasts

i've broken my heart so many times i stopped keeping track

talked myself in

talked myself out

i get all worked up

and then i let myself down

i tried so very hard not to lose it

i came up with a million excuses

i thought i thought of every possibility

and i know someday it'll all work out

you'll make it work so we can work to work it out

and i promise you kid that i'll give so much more than i get

i just haven't met you yet.

i might have to wait

i'll never give up

i guess it's half timing

the other half's luck

where ever you are

whenever it's right

you'll come out of no where

and into my life

and i know that we can be so amazing

and baby your love is gonna change me

and now i can see every possibility

and somehow i know it'll all work out

and we can work so we can work to work it out

and i promise you kid i'll give so much more than i get

i just haven't met you yet.

plucking petals.

It's amazing what words can do to ease the soul or to energize it. Strange how one person can make the days imperfections and tribulations seemingly better by just a smile or a quick conversation. Interesting how it's those conversations that I think about for the rest of the day. Nothing important. Just snip its of our lives, our pasts, and our thoughts on the future. He really makes my days better, even if I don't do the same for him. I enjoy him and I'm fine with just that.

So I think for Lent, instead of giving UP something, I want to DO something for 40 days. I know blogging is really supposed to help your writing skills, so I think I'm going to try and write something every day on here. Nobody has to enjoy it, or even read it, in fact I'm fine if no one does. Every day presents me with something new to love or enjoy or just think about. So here is todays.

Tonight really struck me with the realization that my words can cut deeper than I know. Chapel was very interesting today, very different, and very shocking. Honestly I saw what was coming from the beginning and then zoned out for the rest of it. I did not think about it for the rest of the day. But sadly it was joked about all afternoon. I think being here at Lipscomb we all think we all have the same mindset on every issue, so we feel ok just speaking our minds when we don't agree with it. As I've learned in persuasion this is called Cognitive Dissonance. Someone speaks about something we don't like and we go crazy trying to right it in our minds. Sucks, but that's the way we are.

However, after tonight I have realized we don't have to be so vocal about it all. Geez, I think about all the things I've said now and wonder who I hurt. I'm sorry.

For valentine's Day

Watch this, it made my heart happy.

alto tones are stuck in my head

I don't think it's that I want to love him again, I just want to love. I miss investing my heart in someone. I miss comforting and helping someone, I miss delighting in each other, I miss being a part of something outside of my self.

All this to say... I'm doing wonderfully. I think God has lined up some perfect opportunities in my path that I will be so lucky to take part in. We are four weeks away from spring break!! I really cannot say how much I am looking forward to more family time. I was able to meet up with my parents last night to make a car switcheroo and I was so glad that happened. I've been pretty stressed out lately by all sorts of things, and it's always calming to just talk everything out with them and get their take on things.

I received a "new" car yesterday. It's my mom's "old" Honda Civic, and though I complained about it, I am happy to receive it, even if I teared up a little leaving my Chrysler. She had been with my through the good times and the bad. ;) My mom got a Rogue, which looks pretty phenomenal from the website, and hey if Heroes endorses it, it has to be pretty snazzy.

Speaking of Heroes. I'm not sure they got renewed, and the season just ended this past week. So many things were successfully finished but it still left me wanting more. Maybe they could do a spin off with Claire? All I knows is that I was in love with Sylar all over again by the end of it. Oh Zachary Quinto. :D

I enjoy the Olympics as much as the next person but I will definitely miss my shows. The Office was actually pretty good this past week, Vampire Diaries left in a crazy way, Big Bang was hilarious, and 30 Rock showed that maybe Jack will find an acceptable love, even if it's with Elizabeth Banks.

30 Rock has been great this season. So far this has been my favorite episode.

http://www.wisevid.com/play?v=1Azftg58fAAb

wait til the end, it's the best. :)

Need to get on my Persuasion test, Marissa and I are getting angry at it. ;)

all the world would fly like a flurry, when i take you out in a surrey!

Why can't things be like musicals?

We caught Sound of Music at the wedding, and we just started Oklahoma. Since I was a child I wanted a man like Curley. Gordon MacRae was such a looker and what a voice. If I could have a man sing to me like that... whew my life would be complete. :)