Summer Favourites and Iconic Australia

Today marks the end of our Australian summer – well, according to the calendar. The weather normally has a mind of its own, so we can only wait and see.

The photos are from our way over to Western Australia, while we were still in South Australia – about halfway across the continent. I think this is one of the places that is so Australia, and when people think of Australia they think of this – flat treeless land, dry scrub, never-ending straight roads, dilapidated roadhouses, that sign with the kangaroo, wombat, and camel on it. But really, it’s only a small part of it. The straight road didn’t last forever, there were shining new facilities right next to that old servo, we only saw about two kangaroos and nothing else, and there were surprises. Next time I’ll show you what was on the other side of the road from that last photo. 

Three months is a long time to review. I’m going to miss lots, because this was the fullest summer I’ve had. I was away for eight weeks, hanging out with wonderful people and reaching out to other wonderful people. Since getting back, it’s been full of other things, things we call normal. But it’s been full in another sense too. I’ve been reading some of Ann Voskamp’s material, and it’s reinspired me to count gifts, to look for the ways God blesses me. And that makes each moment full. So here’s a list of my favourites from this summer:

The trip – traveling with friends, getting to see more of Australia, working together, sharing about God and seeing Him work miracles daily (I shared one here), learning more about life, making new friends, inside jokes and lingo, and finding joy in God’s service

This quote which sums it up perfectly: Why do you go away? So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colours. And, the people there see you differently too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. Terry Pratchett

Seeing my family again after so long

Random trips with the siblings down to the river to pick blackberries and go crazy in the water

Another sibling outing involving planking for seventy-five seconds, climbing a steep hill, taking in the view and goofing around with photos, and then eating lunch by the creek in front of the waterfall, talking about life and all there is to learn

Climbing a hill with friends at dusk, watching the sun set above the green hills around, and the reflection in the creek below, and observing the blue moon

Camping in the mountains, going through the narrowest cave I’ve ever been in (literally, sliding through the mud on our stomachs), catching up with lots of friends, and extra time traveling with friends, talking about everything

Quiet days at home where I realise that each day is a gift, and full of so much potential, and it’s up to me to end it satisfied

Getting together with friends and singing and making music together

Running in the rain for the sheer joy of it (which apparently the driver of a passing car didn’t get)

Seeing God’s creation out my window every day, hearing birds sing as they sit on our veranda rail, watching the sun rise as I lay in bed

Having my first hot drink of the year

Getting back into music lessons

Seeing what I learn in studying counselling help me in my own life

Cooking a stack of biscuits for my brother’s lunches, and thinking about the fact that cooking is art

Ethan’s post which explains everything I’ve been trying to live and meaning to say

Jordy’s post which turned around my definition of a step of faith, and hit me right where I needed it

Reading familiar blogs and being blessed, finding new blogs and being surprised, receiving comments on this blog and being amazed and humbled and grateful to God for you all

This illusion which made me wonder what else I’m missing (seriously, try it, and let me know how you went!)

The fact the music videos from the camp we went to last year are out. You can see them over on YouTube, but here are my favourites:

I’ve also been enjoying this video (apparently the guys who sing are creepy, my sister says, so watch out for that)

Finding so many quotes that fit in perfectly with my previous thoughts on enthusiasm, such as Nothing great was ever acheived without enthusiasm. Ralph Waldo Emerson and, Catch on fire with enthusiams and people will come for miles to watch you burn. John Wesley

Memorizing Psalm 63 and Isaiah 55 with my sister – those passages are so good. It’s been encouraging those mornings where nothing is going like I meant it to, and I can’t even focus on Bible study, to just sit down and say those words, and hear my sister say them to me. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is…

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How was your summer/winter? What were some of your favourites? Do you memorize scripture? Have you been blackberrying? What did you think of the videos? How did you go with the F illusion? That’s too many questions, but hey – I want to know how you’re all going, and what you think, and what’s been happening for you. You are a fabulous lot of readers. :)