What a Year

At the beginning on the year, I was busy at work gearing up for the February Winter Olympics. My whole workplace was transformed and was ready to greet the world on February 12, much like the rest of the city.

Although I was often work between 60-80 hours and was exhausted, I was thankful. Working those kind of hours was a great distraction for me. I was missing my wonderful boyfriend (!!) and was eagerly anticipating his visit to Canada and the ring that was coming with him :)

The Olympics left just as quickly as they arrived. I was thankful for the fact that I got to live downtown and be in the middle of it all. What a great once in a lifetime experience.

March 1st I picked up Barney from the airport! It has been 6 months since I had last seen him. He stayed for 2.5 weeks and we had a great time exploring Vancouver and Victoria. I'm glad that he got the chance to meet my family and ask my dad for my hand in marriage. So on the 16th of March, he proposed and I said 'of course'. Unfortunatly, the next day I had to bring him back to the airport to say good bye. That sucked.

The few months after that consisted of work, hanging out with friends, being in a friends wedding and completing my immigration papers that would eventually lead to my leaving Canada in mid-July. Not before visiting Vegas with my mom, sister and niece to say goodbye to my then pregnant sister and her husband.

Arriving back in Australia was so great. Seeing Barney at the airport and just spending time face to face was awesome. Thankfully, our texting/emailing days were over. I got to meet his brother, niece and his aunty as soon as arrived. Shorty after I got back, we drove up the coast to visit his parents which was lovely.

I started work just under a month since I had returned and fell right back into place where I was working before. Its been mostly work ever since, but have also spent a lot of time outdoors, exploring our beautiful surroundings. We've taken short trips to Sydney and surrounding areas where we can.

And on December 15th, we got married! Hard to believe at the beginning on the year, we were boyfriend and girlfriend living on opposite sides of the world and now we are husband and wife in the same home. I love it. And I love him.

We had a lovely Christmas with his family. Now, its New Years Eve and my husband has gone to work. I'm about to go to the beach than I'm off to work. Such is the life of hospitality workers....

That has been a glimpse of my year and I look forward to what the next year will bring.

All the best to you for the New Year!

(Pictures didn't work, will try again later)

My Christmas Card

The Christmas card I received from my husband this year. Complete with many more pictures that just these. Enjoy.

From sunrise....



...to sunset



and even on the cloudiest days,

You bring sunshine into my life.

To my beautiful wife,
May we have many more Chrismtases together from this day on.
I love you with all my heart.
Lots of love from your new husband, and Jessie.

Light Summer Salad

It's summer here and its starting to heat up.

I'm not one for recipes and such but I watched one of our Nepalese chefs make this quick easy salad the other day so I had to have it. Much like greek salad, but no cheese.

Light, fresh and healthy. Perfect for summer.

*Avocado, capsicum, tomato and cucumber cut in chunks.
*Mix with a tad olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Yummy.

Dun dun dun dun.....

Eating McDonalds for lunch on your wedding day (or ever) was probably not a good choice seeing I have to wear a pretty dress today.

Oh well.....

Off to get my hair and make up done.

xoxo

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow I am getting married.

Wow. I never thought this day would come! It is a joy that the day is finally upon us, although we still have our wedding in March to think about.

But for now, I will enjoy the moment. I got my nails done today. I got home and washed the car and no longer than 2 minutes in, my nail bent back and ruined my manicure. Go figure. I never was a girly girl anyways.

That's all for now! Off to make my bouquet of flowers for tomorrow than it's time to go to work.

Pictures will be up after Thursday!

Sitting in the Quiet

It's not to often that we get to take a moment of peace and quiet in such a busy world. And I don't mean taking a 5 minute breather from work, motherhood or any of those things that fill our days.

I wasn't planning on writing, but I just realized how peaceful it is right now and I felt like I should share.

Its 11:43 pm. I just got home from work and Barney is still there. Jessie has (finally) left me alone and is sleeping on her bed (yes, our dog has her own little bed). There are no cars going by, just the sounds of frogs and crickets. If you listen really closely, you can even hear the gently sounds of the ocean.

It feels good. It feels refreshing.

After a 12 hour day at work yesterday and a busy night in the restaurant tonight, it's just what I needed.

“Be still, and know that I am God” -Psalm 46:10

I'm sure there are many interpretations of this verse but for me in this moment, its simply what is says. Be still. Enjoy the peacefulness of the moment. God is here beside me. That's all I really need.