I was thinking today about how much our lives have changed. It was a year ago that we first heard about the job here in Australia. We had gone down to Utah for a visit and while we were there we talked with our friend who was working in Sydney & he told us about the position. He gave us a brief overview of what life was like for him here and we went home and dreamed about what it would be like to live in Australia. Ever since we got married, we have always talked about living abroad and how we would love the opportunity to live outside the US for a time and be able to have our kids have that experience. Little did we know that we would have that opportunity....and of all the cool places to go, we were thrilled to be able to consider Australia. After a few months of interviews and anxiety (OK, well maybe the anxiety was just from me, not knowing if we would be uprooting or not...I like to think I am a patient person, but I am totally not...haha & I had to be patient through the interviewing process...killer :)). So...when we finally got the news that we got job, we felt like it was the right thing to do and the right time to do it. As scary & overwhelming as it seemed, I look back on all of it and I am grateful that we did it. I think back on the whole journey (I have to use that expression because I find it cheesy and I love how they use the term "journey"on ALL of the reality shows..haha anywho...) But seriously, when I look back on the last year...selling everything we own, which is liberating and nice to simplify your life, but at the same time it is hard to let go of the things that mean something to you. All of the furniture that I worked hard on refinishing and transforming into what I wanted.....I sound like I am not over it, but I really am...almost..haha. I think about waiting for our passports and visa and hoping that everything went trough alright. I think back on the 2 months when Jared had to be in Utah and we were in Idaho and we saw him a total of 72 hours during those 2 months. It was hard, but we made it. I think it only took a week of the kids all sleeping in my bed until I was brave enough to have them in their own rooms and not be scared being alone. :D I think about leaving Idaho and having to say goodbye to all the people we loved there. I think about the 2 months we were able to live with Jared's parents, which was so nice and kind of them. We had a fun time seeing family and all the friends we love there. I think about trying to pack for a family of 5, knowing that we could only bring so much on the plane. I think about saying goodbye to our families, not knowing when we would see them again. Ahh, now I am getting teary. I am horrible with goodbyes, I am not a huge fan of goodbyes. I can usually TRY to hold it together until I am out of sight and then I bawl my face off. I think about our fun drive from Utah to California. The fun we had with my parents on that long squishy drive. I sat in the back and one of the bags would fall on my head every 10 seconds and then I would huck it back and 1o seconds later it would fall on my head again. I think about the moment I saw my kids faces when they entered Disneyland for the first time....precious and priceless. To be honest, we had a jar in our kitchen for the last 3 years and the kids had been so great about putting any money they could in it. So to actually go, was such a highlight. I think about going back to the hotel after spending the day with my parents at Disneyland and packing up our things one last time before heading to the airport. It was such a surreal feeling. It was bitter sweet...hard to leave the US and everything that was comfortable, but also exciting and character building to go for it and take this opportunity. I think about stepping off that plane, and feeling the hot January Aussie weather and looking at my little family, and saying to Jared...HERE WE GO...LET'S DO THIS!! Through it all, it has brought our family closer together as we have really only had each other as far as family goes to lean on. As hard as it was to leave home, I think about how much we would have missed out on if we hadn't taken this opportunity. I think about all the people we have met here, who I really couldn't imagine not knowing. I guess most of all, I have realized that you are taken care of if you do what you think you should do and go for it. I learned that on my mission as well. As hard as the decision was to make to go, & as odd as it seemed to many people, I knew it was the right thing and I felt like I was taken care of. So here we are a year later, 7 months as Aussies and we are learning a lot and enjoying our time here. The kids have little accents, they call garbage rubbish and the garbage can the bin. Bikkys are cookies and a sweater is a jumper. We drive on the left side of the road, eat Vegemite everyday...haha, ok, that is a total lie...I stay clear of Vegemite, it makes my nostrils flare when I smell it...but who knows, maybe after a few years I will learn to love it. We are learning the lingo and trying to see as much as we can. Do we miss home and everyone there.... OF COURSE...everyday, but we know that home will always be there and those we love will always be our family & friends. So my advice, if you are considering a life abroad and have the opportunity to make it happen...DO IT!!