Asia . . .

Well, the three weeks we spent in Asia were tough but such a blessing. We landed first in Malaysia. To say the culture in Asia was different from ours would be an understatement. The people were, well, different. As a whole, they operated on their own time. Schedules or prior arrangements were pretty irrelevant. (This type A person REALLY struggled with that.) The places we visited tended to be dirtier than we were accustomed. The food was, well, different. (We all lost weight while we were gone!) Asians were ennamored by the children, especially Ali. Men, women, and children would grab her, hug her, and wanted to take pictures with the kids. (Dad and I both struggled with this.) All that said, the people we visited, toured with, or stayed with were precious. God blessed us richly with the opportunity to see the different cultures. We were reminded on every turn how blessed we are to live with such riches and freedoms.

New Zealand

Well, New Zealand was truly God's country. The scenery was amazing. We were blessed to play in what I believe to be some of the most beautiful locations in the world. We visited Milford Sound with its amazing waterfalls, Mount Cook and its glaciers, and the cities of Queenstown and Christchurch. Some of the highlights were jet boating, riding a luge, and horseback riding in the 'Lord of the Rings' country. My parents were able to share in our time in New Zealand too.

The picture attached is of the kids at a sheep farm we visited by steam boat. It was such a beautiful day and captured our time in New Zealand perfectly.

Australia

Our trip was just . . . well, a trip of a lifetime. It's trite, I know. But, it was. I wish I could tell you about each amazing site we saw or introduce you to each unique person we met. But, alas, it's not possible.

In a nutshell, Australia was beautiful. From the Outback and Uluru, to the amazing coast, to the yummy food and accents, we LOVED our time in Australia. We explored the rain forests, swam in the ocean (when the rains and cool temps allowed), and saw historical sites galore.

The attached picture is my favorite from the beach. Aren't the kiddos precious?

Well . . .

I REALLY had great intentions of maintaining the blog while overseas last fall. However, upon arrival, it became quickly apparent that internet service isn't the same everywhere you go. So, after struggling to maintain basic contact with friends and family via facebook and email, I had to abandon the blog. Then returning home brought busyness at a whole different level. Excuses? Yep, but I am trying it again. I'll spend a few minutes sharing a highlight from each country we visited. Then, I'll move on to what is happening now!