face-lift and eats

Our blog got a new look! I have a habit of picking the girliest, well, anything. All things pink, leopard print, frills-I LOVE it all. However, the mister does not appreciate a girlie blog. So it was time for something new. This is the product of a two hour compromise! Ha! My pick that I designed was pink and cheetah print. Brian gagged. So we changed it. And this is what we came up with...not too shabby. I like it.

In other news, Brian and I are trying to eat extremely healthy. We ate at a Christian owned Organic Restaurant and learned a lot about our bodies, how they were created, and how & what we were intended to eat. It was very interesting. So we immediately went home and did some research. No, we are not on a diet. And no we are not doing this for weight loss. Just to make wise choices when we eat in order to live an even richer life! We are eating according to our blood type. Each body is different and needs more and less of certain foods-this is based on the chemistry make up of your body. Pretty much we've adjusted certain foods and increased our veges and fruit intake. We have been doing this for 3 weeks, and we have both noticed a huge difference. We have more energy, don't suffer from bloating, and feel better all around. On top of that, we've found some yummy healthy alternatives to our naughty favs! This afternoon, I baked banana carrot bread-wheat and gluten free! Seriously, it was AMAZING. I was concerned B wasn't going to like it-but it got two thumbs up!!

Well, that is about it! Not too much to report, but I'm trying to get into a routine of blogging so this is what ya get this week! This coming week is quite full, so we'll have more for next week. We have a birthday party of one of our dearest friends here, Gemma, on Tuesday; Connect Group on Wednesday; and I have an Open House at work on Thursday! Geesh, I'm tired just talking about it! On that note, I'm off to relax for the remaining of my Sunday evening.

xoxo

erika

**the BIG 2-6 in photos**

My sweet hubby and friends threw me a mexican fiesta party!

Gem & I

Brian & Corey are REALLY excited for my party!

The ever popular jumping photos

All of us girlies at the party

I don't know why that number is on my cookie cake. I'm not THAT old.

Brian & I being silly on my special day!

Brian took me for a day of shopping and dinner-PERFECT-O.

It down-poured, but that didn't stop us from having fun!

As you can see, I was extremely blessed on my big day! I also was showered with birthday love from friends and family back home! My parents, sis, and soon to be bro-in-law sent me a package and I got to open it with them on Skype! How fun is technology?! A big thank you to you ALL who made me feel so loved. I'm a blessed girl!

xoxo

erika.

embarassing//

The Market

Centennial Park

Its absolutely embarrassing how long its been since we've updated. Life has been a whirlwind since July, and I feel like Brian and I are finally sitting down and catching our breath a bit. Through all of the events of the past several months, I feel like I've learned even more to TRUST. Maybe when it doesn't make sense. Or when it doesn't seem possible. I feel like a cliche or like we say this a lot, but God has done some incredible, mind blowing, phenomenal things in our life! I know its not the most personal, but to catch up on the highlights during our absence in blog world!

1. I GOT MY VISA!!! thank you, thank you, thank, you for all your prayers. Nothing short of a miracle. I am working full time. And I've never been so thankful to be at work from 8:30-5:30! I truly love what I do, my boss, and coworkers-it really is a pleasure to go to work each day!

2. WE HAVE OUR OWN PLACE! Yep, that is right, Brian and I are in our 3rd place since we've moved to Sydney in January. But this time its just he and I. And its so beautiful. Each time I walk in from a full day at work (yippee), I feel so blessed. I cannot begin to express how wonderful it is! Its domestic BLISS!!! Pictures to follow:) We just are just putting some finishing touches on the decor!

3. Brian is getting some incredible opportunities at church. He has started playing/singing in the worship band at church for ALL church events. He's like a kid in a candy shop. He's learning so much. Its so amazing, as his wife, to see him achieve his dreams and get to do worship from some the people he looks up to most! I can't begin to tell you how much Brian has grown, not just as a musician, but as a leader. I'm so proud of him.

4. Spring has arrived in Sydney. Its time to get out the swim suits and hit the beach! I'm so excited! For the first time in my life, I get to celebrate my birthday in the Spring. On that note, Brian has something up his sleeve and, for the first time, I can't crack him. I'm clueless as to what he has planned for my birthday. I'm ridiculous. I'm giddier than a kid before Christmas! We will have pictures of our celebration next week, I pinky promise:)

**Above**I couldn't figure out how to get our pictures below. And its late. And I need to go to bed. So the pictures win. They stay at the top. They are pics of Brian and I on a lovely Spring Saturday! We went out to brekky at one of our favourite cafes, went to the park, and then hit the markets. It was a GREAT day!

pity. party.

well, this week is probably the biggest week in the life of our church. hillsong church. its hillsong conference. some of the world's best and well known leaders, pastors, and worship artists gather for one week in acer arena. its huge. i mean a REALLY BIG deal. everyone who is anyone is there. as apart of the college's requirements, the students are required to serve. so brian and all of the other students are there. serving. experiencing. and loving every second. our housemates are there. experiencing and loving it. and where am i, you ask? i am sitting on our couch with a blanket watching tv. not at conference. and feeling sorry for myself. and why am i not there? well, i am blessed with an incredible job. i really do LOVE my job and feel so blessed. however, we are in the midst of an extremely busy season/translation: i work until 5:30pm-6pm. the evening session of conference begin at 6pm...just in time...right? well, its an hour and a half train ride. i would get there as it was wrapping up. boo. so that is why i'm on the couch during the biggest week in church life. okay, enough with debbie downer. as i was sitting on the couch feeling sorry for myself i realized how much i have to be thankful for...

*time to relax after an insanely busy day

*an incredible job that keeps me insanely busy

*amazing housemates who i love living life with

*incredible friends who will fill me in on every detail of conference

*a PHENOMENAL husband who puts up with my pity parties and loves me through them and teaches me what true serving is

*an incredible heavenly father who i get extra alone time with this week

so thank you for allowing me to get all that out. i feel much better. you never thought you would be my therapist, did you?!

xoxo

erika//

life in photos.

Hey everybody, we just wanted to share these with you so you could be a part of our day out in the city. We love you all so much and hope that you have a great fathers day in the U.S.

Driving in Australia and other things!!!

Hey everybody it has been a bit since I have blogged so I am here to tell you a little bit of what has been going on here.  I got to drive yesterday for the first time in 6 months.  It was so nice to be in a car and driving around, that is until I pulled out onto the street and cars were coming at me!!! Oh yes out of such habit I started driving down the right side of the road, and good thing it was on a side street.  There was no danger and I quickly went to the left side of the road, and had no trouble the rest of the time.  I was quickly reminded of all the comforts of having just a mode of transportation and how nice it is to just get in the car and go.  Most of the time we are waiting on busses and trains.  While it wasn't our car and we are back to the public transport which is really good here, I had so much fun driving!  Can I just start this post out by saying God is so good.  I am learning so much through him and all the classes that I am taking. 

I am learning in songwriting that when you get the most cliche thoughts, write them down, then go back and figure out new and fresh ways to say that same thing.  I have learned so much about leadership and communication as well.  I could write a whole wall posting on just what i have learned this semester, but will spare you a really long post.  

Erika and I are doing really well.  We are loving the new place and love our new flat mates.  They are such a huge blessing in our lives and really enjoy having a friendship with people that are our age and in a similar place and situation that we are.  

I have just about finished a song that i have been working on since we arrived here.  I know that it's a really long time to work on a song, but I heard some of the best advice and wisdom about that from someone i just met today.  He said "It's funny how you can spend months and months writing a song, and then there are the times where a song comes to you in about 3 minutes.  The really frustrating part is when people like the song that took 3 minutes better than the one that took months.  The good thing is that the 3 minute songs come through the learning and frustrations that come from a song that takes months and months to write."  That was such a great revelation and help to me.

I hope everything is going well at home.  I hear and see on the news that things are difficult in a lot of the country.  I want to leave you with this verse John 14:27, which was also a great inspiration to the song that I am writing.  Jesus says "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  

We love you all and thank you for your support through prayers and finance.  You are such a blessing to us and we are forever grateful.

brian

sick day with a sunny sky

So...I  (Erika) am home sick.  For clarification, I am at home and sick not to be confused with being home-sick.  Like clockwork, every time the season changes I get sick-boo.  June 1 brought winter to the southern hemisphere and 11 days later...I am sick.  Icky cold and allergies.  Sore throat and cough combined with no sleep left me with no choice but to call in sick to work.  Blah.  When I was a kid I LOVED sick days.  Sick days meant [fun and relaxation.  Now I just pace around the whole place thinking about what I should be doing instead of relaxing and trying to get better.  You should have see me at Brians parents house.  I paced around their house from 8 am to 3 am the next day.  He finally told me to shut up and go to bed.  I think he was tired and frustrated.  Oh and if my taster ever goes out.  God help us all I really freak out then.  If you can't tell by the writing style, Brian started writing where it says now I just pace.  Isn't he a riot]  Brian thinks he is SO funny.  As much as I would like to say the above is NOT TRUE...alas, I cannot.  Sorry for the imposter.  As I was saying, when I was a kid sick days meant TV (in large doses that were not usually allowed), reading, soup, and my mom at my every beck and call.  Ladies and Gents, it doesn't get any better than that.  But today didn't look like that.  I was home-alone.  Brian at school and then work.  So I got very bored.  And thought about EVERYTHING I should have been doing.  And wishing I was at work.  Some people play hookie from work and love sick days, but I LOVE MY JOB.  I hated missing it today.  Not because I would be behind or I felt guilty, but because I truly missed being there.  I did ALL of that but all I wanted to do was relax...ugghhh.  So frustrating.  But then came my silver lining...I had a mother/daughter date with my amazing mom over Skype.  Praise Jesus for Skype when you are 10,000 miles from home.  And I got to talk to her for two hours.  So in a way, I got my childhood sick day-my mom.   And then my awesome, amazing, phenomenal, HOT, and compassionate hubby came home from work and tended to my beck and call for the rest of the night.  Folks, it doesn't get any better than that!  After all was said and done and as much as I HATE being sick, it turned out to be an A-OKAY day!!!!