Bilgola and Kola

G’day from Australia! It’s my (Annie’s) turn to take a spin at posting on our blog. I will admit---this is the FIRST blog post I have ever written in my life. I feel somewhat ashamed by this, but what the heck, got to start sometime! Matt is a much better writer than I am. So, please bear with me and hopefully I can share a few fun, interesting, humorous, and maybe not so humorous aspects of our new adventure of living Down Under. Side note----I will attempt to use some Australian spelling while writing---it’s good practice.

For starters: since we arrived on Sunday—January 1, 2012—we have been very busy.

--Learning to drive on the LEFT side of the road. Both of us were pretty nervous at first, and it took more concentration than I could have anticipated. I felt like I was 16 and learning how to drive anew all over again. Now, it is day 3 of driving and we are both feeling pretty well adjusted. Now, to just figure out how to get around Sydney without getting lost!

--We went to the beach. ---called Bilgola---there are so many funny Aboriginal names here! The waves were fabulous, the rock cliffs breathtaking, the sand very red in colour AND the sun doesn’t set at the beach! The sun rises on the beach. A strange concept for these 2 Socal peeps. We also enjoyed a meal of Fish-N-Chips. It’s a must if you ever come and visit us in Australia.

--We ate dinner last night at a tiny, itty-bitty Thai restaurant practically right under the Harbour Bridge. Greg, Jenny, and Emily Swanton took us. They are our dear friends who have been so gracious to us. They have given us so much help and hospitality! I don’t have room or time in this post to expound on all they have done----but they are a gift from God.  The night would have been a little more perfect if Tom and Jono Swanton had been able to join us. After eating we walked over the bridge---let me tell you……WINDY, BEAUTIFUL, EVERYONE NEEDSTO EXPERIENCE a night like we had last night! Photos to come.

--Yesterday we also set up a bank account and got our cell phones arranged (for the most part). Thankfully the bank errand went faster and more smoothly than we could have imagined. The cell phones were quite a bit more complicated---but in about 10 days Matt will have an iphone 4s in his hand (boy, oh boy, is he excited!) and my iphone 4 will be in proper working condition. J

Currently, we are settling into our new home for the next 4-5 weeks. We have a new dog, his name is Kola---he is a black lab. Adorable, well behaved and very BLACK! We are excited to have him be part of our little fam for the next several weeks.

As a last note---the Lord deserves all the credit and praises for our transition going so well thus far. He has proved time and time again to care for us, His little (sometimes lost) sheep. Everyday there seems to be some small hurdle (but it appears quite LARGE at the moment) and He continues to see us through it all. We both feel so incredibly blessed to be living in Australia for this time of our lives.

We will keep you posted on the big and small things in the days ahead! Please be praying for us, Matt is starting back up with his research work and I am starting my brand new job on January 9^th. Feeling a bit nervous, but the Lord is in control.