Goodbye Australia...

... Well, I am back in America now!

Summary of what happened since I last wrote.

On Thursday morning we woke up late (well, I woke up at four a.m. but everyone else woke up late) and headed to Gateway Cafe. There we had brunch! It was made by Teanelle, Richard, DJ, and I. YUMMY sandwiches :) Following lunch, we all went to the mall. Taylor & I needed an extra suitcase and so we were on a mission to find one! She eventually found a HOTTT PINKKK one at Target [just so you know, their Target is nothing like ours.. it is more like a parisian or something] Anyways, the day continued with mcdonald's (oh & Australian McDonald's have yummier desserts! woohoo!) and a little walking around. Before I knew it, it was time for AWANA CLUB at the local school. We headed there to help Josh & Richard. Richard was heading back to get his car from the coffee shop... so Taylor & I walked with him... on the way there, Taylor told me that she would ride back with Richard so that I could have some time alone... That was nice!

You're not going to believe who was pulling up to Gateway as we walked up!! NATHANIEL! Yay. It was a real joy to see him. I went into Gateway to relax, then he came in... We were able to talk for a bit about diets & healthy eating, plus Australian colleges... (supposedly, the government pays for their college... if you get a job, they take money from you.. kinda like a tax... but if you do not get a job, you are not required to pay it back!!! cool) Talking with him really did bless me.

Richard came to get me because Dr. Taylor was looking for me. No surprise.

At Awana, I almost fell asleep.. but I held myself together knowing that we were about to be at the Salvadors for dinner :)
Dinner was awesome. I almost did not eat, but was glad that I did :) Immediately following dinner, the "young ones" went downtown! Let me try & remember who all went... It was Precious, Josh, Danwin, Ken, Kirsten, Miikhail, Richard, DJ, Kim, Nathaniel, Taylor & I... (I feel like I am missing someone... but, not sure)... We went to this chocolate place... :) Forreal. I'm pretty sure it was Nathaniel's idea... The place was so cool, if only I could remember the name. If you are from America, you would have went in thinking it was just a coffee shop. There were tables and neat booths everywhere... there was also seating outside. Everyone ordered delicious drinks... I had a white chocolate chai.. DELIC!!! It was my first chai tea in Australia (on my last night, surprised? def a shocker)... Nathaniel also ordered Kim & I these chocolate covered waffles... HA sooo good :) What? We need this place in America! Fair dinkum.

When the night came to an end, I was not ready to say goodbye. I still remember standing in Annie's driveway thinking... do we have to go? As everyone who rode with Nathaniel stood their grateful for the memories we created.

I thought that meeting Miikhail & Nathaniel for breakfast at Gateway would be great, so I said I would meet them there... The next morning, I did not wake up until an hour or so after I was supposed to meet them... & the only reason I woke up was because Richard came into our room informing us that it was too late to be sleeping and that we needed to wake up and seize the day (adding my own words) HAHA! Anywho, the guys were most likely disappointed & I was definitely sad to not have seen them one last time...

Once we got ready, we headed to the airport... & said our goodbyes to Richard (he's still with us in spirit)

The twenty hours in air only seemed like two (because I literally only awake for two)... so, that was nice :)

We encountered many things on our way home... things like....
1) I stepped in pee, barefoot
2) Taylor got really sick and threw up
3) Our six hour lay over turned into an eight hour lay over
4) After everyone boarded our second plane, we had to get off & switch planes
5) sleeping on the ground in the Dallas airport

... a lot happened, but we finally made it home! To Alabama, that is...

I am half & half right now... Half glad to be back! But half missing Australia & all of my new friends!

I am really considering another trip... next summer :) Maybe three months this time! God willing.

May His will be done above my own!

Either way, this ten day adventure was the greatest blessing! I am so grateful to have experienced everything I did & to have met such wonderful friends.

... so blessed & thankful!!