bienvenidos a julie

Granada

2012-02-10T16:06:00.001-08:00

Granada (pomegranate, in English) is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Known for its Alhambra fortress, the Albayzín (Moorish quarter) & Cathedral. The Alhambra was the last stronghold of the Moorish kingdom in Spain & finally fell to Isabel & Ferdinand (the Catholic monarchs) in 1492.

la Alhambra (Red Castle) consists of 4 parts
- Palacios Nazaries
- Charles V's Palace
- Generalife Gardens
- Alcazaba

1. Palacios Nazaries - the jewel of the Alhambra, the 14th century Moorish royal palace

2. Palacio de Charles V - added in the 16th century after conquering the Muslims

3. Generalife Gardens

4. Alcazaba (citadel) - the oldest & most ruined part of the Alhambra complex from the 9th century

Torre de la Vela - This watchtower is where the flag of Ferdinand & Isabella was 1st raised on January 2, 1492 - the end of the Reconquista (reconquest) of Spain.

The Albayzín is the old Arabic quarter located on the hill opposite the Alhambra, characterized by cobble stoned streets & white washed houses.

Catedral y Capilla Real (Royal Chapel) - holds the tombs of Queen Isabel & King Ferdinand

Sevilla

2012-02-09T07:21:00.001-08:00

Sevilla (Seville, in English) is known as the city with a soul... with flamenco dancing, bullfighting, & famous ferias (festivals) la Semana Santa y Feria de Sevilla. In the 17th century, Sevilla was Spain's largest & wealthiest city, until the Spanish Empire collapsed. Also, there was The Great Plague of Seville (1647–1652) that killed up to 25% of Seville's population. Now, with a population of 704,000, it is the 4th largest city in Spain.

I met up with Kelly, a long-time friend from home

street markets are the BEST!

Metropol Parasol (locally known as Las Setas, the mushrooms) was designed by German architect Jürgen Mayer. It took 6 years to build, opened in March 2011, y cuesta 86 millones de Euros.

trajes de flamenca

Catedral de Sevilla - The largest Gothic cathedral & the 3rd largest church in the world. In 1401, the Reconquista Christians bragged, "We'll build a cathedral so huge that anyone who sees it will take us for madmen." It holds the tomb of Christopher Columbus!

La Giralda in the background

Torre del Oro (y Rio Guadalquivir) - built by the Moors in the 13th century as a watchtower & defensive barrier on the river

Plaza de España - built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929

Palacio de San Telmo - formerly the University of Sailors, & later the Seminary, is now the seat for the Andalusian Autonomous Government

Fashion Art by Manuel Fernández

dessert... it's what's for dinner ;)

Córdoba

2012-02-08T15:32:00.001-08:00

Interesting history of Córdoba
- founded in 169 BC (Roman colony)
- captured in 711 by an Arab/Berber Muslim army
- in 766 was chosen as the capital of the independent Arab Muslim emirate of al-Andalus (Iberian Peninsula, in Arabic)
- in the 10th and 11th centuries, Córdoba was one of the most advanced cities in the world as well as a great cultural, political, financial and economic centre
- la Mezquita - the Great Mosque of Córdoba was built from 784-987
- On 29 June 1236, after a siege of several months, it was captured by King Ferdinand III of Castile, during the Spanish Reconquista

Mezquita-Catedral & Puente Romano (Roman bridge)
this Mezquita was founded by Abd ar-Rahman I in 785
in the 16th century its centre was ripped out by Charles V to construct a cathedral

Puerta del Puente (entranceway of the bridge)

Plaza del Potro (mentioned in Don Quijote)
hang-out for traders & adventurers in the 16th & 17th centuries

a ruined Roman temple, partly restored
built during the second half of the 1st century

it wasn't me

change of scenery

2012-02-06T13:54:00.000-08:00

friendly Canadians, Dave and Rose (my new Spanish family)

the Royal Palace in Madrid with Christi and Walkiria

let the craziness begin!!

2012-01-15T17:10:00.001-08:00

a few days in Barcelona... then in and around Madrid

talented street performers

Los Tres Reyes Magos (the Three Wise Men) parade in Barcelona

the port in Barcelona

Montjuic in Barcelona

Olympic Stadium in Barcelona

Magic Fountain, Barcelona

chocolates at the market

Sagrada Familia, Guadi's greatest work

Gaudi's work in Park Guell, Barcelona

Pablo Picasso - Monument for the Spaniards who died for France
(Monumento a los españoles muertos por Francia) 1946-1947

flamenco dancing in Madrid

train tour of Ávila

Roman aqueduct in Segovia

Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción y San Frutos, Segovia

Alcázar (Castle) de Segovia

Holy Toledo

Catedral Primada Santa María de Toledo

nochevieja

2012-01-13T15:51:00.000-08:00

new year's eve... a great way to end the year :)
a crazy 10k through madrid with 38,000 people
link to video

new friends from church

Navidad en Tudela

2011-12-28T08:10:00.000-08:00

Ohhh, I loved my time in Tudela with Silvia!!!!!!!
¡Qué precioso este pueblo!

más Madrid

2011-12-18T07:47:00.000-08:00

hola!

Parque del Retiro
this is the park I run through near my house!
it is especially eventful on a Sunday afternoon.
entertainment galore... I even saw old people polka dancing and Chinese fan dancers!

downtown

feliz Navidad!!

en España

2011-12-12T14:33:00.001-08:00

mi familia en Madrid... Maika, Ruben, Elsa (7) y Jorge (4)

interesting entertainers...

Málaga

Picasso y yo

con los Limpics

Madrid

my thanksgiving

2011-12-12T13:52:00.000-08:00

family comes together at the ranch
we LOVE Grandpa!!

this is the year!

2011-11-16T23:38:00.000-08:00

how did they manage to get 30 candles on there?

so thankful for fun friends!

los trabalenguas que me gustan

2011-10-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

- -
Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en un trigal.
¿Cuál de los tres tristes tigres tragaba más?

Three sad tigers swallowed wheat on a wheat field.
Which of the three tigers swallowed more wheat?

- -
Erre con Erre cigarro
Erre con Erre barril
Rápido ruedan las ruedas,
Sobre los rieles del ferrocarril.

"R with R" cigar
"R with R" barrel
Quickly run the cars,
Over the rails of the railroad.
- -
Pepe Pecas pica papas con un pico.
Con un pico Pepe Pecas pica papas.

Pepe Pecas chops potatoes with a pickaxe.
With a pickaxe, Pepe Pecas grinds potatoes.
- -
Pedro Pablo Pérez Pereira pobre pintor portugués pinta pequeños preciosos paisajes porteños para poder pasar por París.

Pedro Pablo Perez Pereira, poor Portugese painter, paints small precious landscapes of Buenos Aires to be able to pass through Paris.
- -
Pablito clavó un clavito en la calva de un calvito
en la calva de un calvito, Pablito clavó un clavito

Pablito hammered in a little nail in the head of a little bald man
in the head of a little bald man, Pablito hammered a nail
- -
Q: ¿Cómo comes?
A: ¿Que cómo como? Como como como.

Q: How do you eat?
A: How do I eat?, I eat the way I eat.

- -
Q: ¿No nadas nada?
A: No traje traje.

Q: Don't you swim?
A: Didn't bring a swimsuit.
- -
La llama llama llama
Flame calls flame
- -
Q: Compadre, comprame un coco.
A: Compadre, yo no compro coco, porque como poco coco como, poco coco compro.

Q: My friend, buy me a coconut.
A: My friend, I do not buy coconuts, because, as I do not eat a lot of coconuts, I do not buy a lot of coconuts.

- -
Me han dicho que has dicho un dicho
que han dicho que he dicho yo,
el que lo ha dicho, mintió,
y en caso que hubiese dicho
ese dicho que tú has dicho
que han dicho que he dicho yo,
dicho y redicho quedó.
y estaría muy bien dicho,
siempre que yo hubiera dicho
ese dicho que tú has dicho
que han dicho que he dicho yo

I've been told you've said a saying
that people say I've said,
whoever said it, lied,
and even if I had said
that saying you have said
that people say I said,
said and resaid it remained.
and it would be very well said,
whenever I had said
that saying you have said
that people say I said

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Spanish_tongue_twisters

avila farmer's markets

2011-10-18T21:57:00.000-07:00

for those who don't know what tri-tip is....
just the best meat EVER!!

support Old San Luis BBQ Co.

The tri-tip is a cut of beef from the bottom sirloin primal cut. In the United States, this cut was typically used for ground beef or sliced into steaks until the late 1950s, when Otto Schaefer marketed it in Oakland, California. Shortly thereafter, it became a local specialty in Santa Maria, California. The traditional Santa Maria style of cooking is barbecuing at low heat over a red oak pit.

*In Spain, it is often grilled whole and called the "rabillo de cadera."

(taken from Wikipedia)

texas, my new friend

2011-10-05T21:12:00.000-07:00

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." 1 Corinthians 13:7-8a

"Todo lo sufre, todo lo cree, todo lo espera, todo lo soporta. El amor nunca deja de ser." 1 Corintios 13:7-8a

hello, texas! you are HOT.

my cousin, josh, showed me a great time

lady bird lake

mount bonnell

barton springs

family!

goodbye, texas...

thanks for leaving me with a split lip!
(elbowed in the face by honky-tonk dance partner)

a night of bliss

2011-09-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

thank you, God, for josh garrels!!
beautiful lyrics... real, honest faith
his music touches the soul!

me with josh and his wife

link: joshgarrels.com

art and peacocks

2011-09-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

SLO's annual "I Madonnari" chalk art festival

i LOVE my brother!!

2011-09-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

words cannot express how grateful I am to have him in my life!
the best little brother I could ever hope for!

joyful for lifelong friends

2011-09-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

celebrating with meghann!! 30 years!!

allison and fam coming through town

If I See

2011-08-31T20:49:00.000-07:00

"God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." Habakkuk 3:19

If I see my life
as blessed because of Him, I have purpose
as an offering to Him, it brings me joy
through His eyes, He is my strength
I can do all things

What my life is
is redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ
I have new life and purpose through His sacrifice
for me, on the cross

The more I understand who God is
and what great love He has for me
I won't be able to stop praising Him!
Or want to leave His side

And my heart will become more like His heart
for all the world to know
that He alone is God

nanninga reunion!

2011-08-31T19:15:00.000-07:00

family reunions on my dad's side... the start of a great tradition!
i LOVE my family so much!

cirugía

2011-08-31T18:45:00.000-07:00

thanks to a great God and support from family and friends, i made it through an unexpected surgery. i can say with confidence that God works all things together for good.

there is nothing quite like asking for encouragement and prayer... and then seeing how God works. i truly felt sooooo loved and lifted up. still on the mends, with hope in my heart!

sweet sorrows

2011-07-20T23:31:00.000-07:00

this weekend i said goodbye to some special people

cas pulled some dead dragonflies off the truck before the long drive to Washington with ian

nicole & matt are moving to Laos for a couple of years

love you guys!!! you will be missed!!

Jesus walks on the water...

2011-07-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Matthew 14:28-31

father's day

2011-07-07T15:19:00.001-07:00

learning contentment

2011-06-15T22:38:00.000-07:00

why i'm glad to be just where God has me...

wow... Janette McGhee!!

2011-05-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

such powerful poetry on singleness!!

watch video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igCj3jsbcqs&feature=player_embedded

follow spoken word poet: Janette McGhee
follow: Passion 4 Christ Movement

one month to live

2011-05-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

This man's story is amazing! Take a moment to listen to Dennis Guglielmetti, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease in 2009. Formerly the Vice President of Training and Development at Westfield Group in Simi Valley, CA.

Watch the 5 minute clip on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlgbZ7Eoj7Q

I stumbled across it while listening to Francis Chan's sermon: "Making Sense of your Life" 1/23/11
link to sermon

It's stories like these that really put life into perspective... Wow!

MFA Show

2011-04-19T21:43:00.000-07:00

Such a fun night! Check out the amazing, one and only...
Julia Barbee!

Link to her website: juliabarbee.com

toro y moi

2011-03-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

thanks, julia, for the recommendation... love it!

watch the video on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gxhLiNypVU

how deep

2011-03-02T23:15:00.000-08:00

How Deep the Father's Love for Us
written by Stuart Townend

E F#m G#m A
How deep the Father's love for us
E/G# C#m B
How vast beyond all measure
E F#m G#m A
That He would give His only Son
E/B B E
To make a wretch His treasure

E/G# C#m B A
How great the pain of searing loss
E/G# C#m B
The Father turns His face away
E F#m G#m A
As wounds which mar the chosen One
E/B B E
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr's, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

link to this song

link to worship archive

dichos

2011-02-26T20:29:00.000-08:00

me importa un pepino (I couldn’t give a cucumber)
to say that you could(n’t) care less

Me importa un pepino lo que piense.
I could(n’t) care less what he thinks.

llamar al pan pan y al vino vino (to call bread bread and wine wine)
to call a spade a spade

estar más bueno que el pan (to be better than bread)
to be gorgeous

más largo que un día sin pan (longer than a day without any bread)
if something goes on too long, you can use this saying

ojo por ojo, (diente por diente)
an eye for an eye, (a tooth for a tooth)

ver la mota en el ojo ajeno
to see the mote in somebody else’s eye

en boca cerrada no entran moscas (flies do not enter a closed mouth)
silence is golden

costar un ojo de la cara (to cost an eye of the face)
to cost an arm and a leg

entrar con el pie derecho (to enter with the right foot)
to start off on the right foot

tener cara de pocos amigos (to have a face of few friends)
to have a very unfriendly expression

tener la (ser) cara dura (to have a hard face)
to be shameless

aburrirse como una ostra (to get as bored as an oyster)
to be bored stiff

no distinguir lo blanco de lo negro (not to be able to tell what’s white from what’s black)
to say that somebody is unable to tell right from wrong

a paso de tortuga (at a tortoise’s pace)
at a snail’s pace

A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda. (God helps him who gets up early.)
The early bird catches the worm.

No por mucho madrugar, amanece más temprano. (For all your getting up early, day won’t break any earlier.)
Time will take its course.

¡Que sueñes con los angelitos! (May you dream of little angels.)
Sweet dreams

estar como el pez en el agua (to be like a fish in water)
to be right at home

thankful

2011-02-26T16:11:00.000-08:00

here are a few things I am so thankful for

dear friends...

memorable experiences...

seeing my brother in love...

humor...

colorful cultures...

kids and cuddly friends...

walking with God

2011-02-26T15:51:00.000-08:00

john eldredge quotes

"To hear the voice of God, we must be in a posture of quiet surrender." (30)

"When it comes to crisis or events that really upset us, this I have learned: you can have God or you can have understanding. Sometimes you can have both. But if you insist on understanding, it often doesn't come. And that can create distance between you and God, because you're upset and demanding an explanation in order to move on, but the explanation isn't coming, and so you withdraw a bit from God and lose the grace that God is giving. He doesn't explain everything. But he always offers us himself." (81)

"Until God has become our all, and we are fully his, we will continue to make idols of the good things he gives us." (87)

"We are so committed to arranging for a happy little life that God has to thwart us to bring us back to himself." (87)

"But pain does come, and what will we do with it? What does it reveal? What might God be up to? How might he redeem our pain? Those are questions worth asking. Don't waste your pain." (88)

"What I am describing is a heart that is present and engaging with God, bringing our desires to him, yet submitting our wills to his, genuinely trusting that what he says is best. That is how we come to learn to remain in him." (92)

"We want to be loved. But we hide from it too, building defenses against it, fortressing ourselves from being hurt again. We settle for a doughnut. Then we wonder why it's hard for us to connect with the love of God, let it in so deep that it heals us, and remain in his love." (94)

psalm 23

2011-02-26T13:10:00.000-08:00

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

to smell

2011-02-25T17:33:00.000-08:00

here is the description of my new perfume...

Dream. Dare. Laugh. Love.

Experience the fragrance as colorful as you are with this combination of sparkling green apple leaves, zesty orange mandarin, charismatic pink magnolia, seductive purple freesia, and soft blue musk that explodes into a colorful floral fragrance.

south georgia

2011-01-30T22:31:00.000-08:00

How to cuddle with an elephant seal
Not smart, but I probably would have done the same thing if I were her

rejoice & lament

2011-01-26T12:58:00.000-08:00

by Josh Garrels

Learn this lesson well, my friend
There’s a time to rejoice and lament
Every season will find an end
All will fade and be made new again
Standing on the rocks of the railroad tracks
Feet calloused, eyes open, sun beats on my back
As I gaze upon the unseen winds
And they are wandering, whispering
Wisdom that’s eternal
From the heart to the mind
To the hand to the journal
Now the kernel of the seeds in the cleft of the rock
And it’s watered by the winds
Having power to unlock and
Stop the clock of chronological logic
With its homogenized systems
That are dead and can’t dodge it
Being deaf to the voice of the Almighty One
Spirit illumines the dark like a fire
Revealing the way that was hidden but is higher
Now we must travel on the wings
That will never grow tired
Of searching the mysteries of God
I said Father the feathers of my wax wings
Fall away by the rising of the sun
And I have descended when I was undone
And I will ascend when your Spirit comes
Because what’s been done and overcome
Cannot be stopped by the power of any human
Like the number of sand we will stand
And we will fall, all
In the face of an eternal call
But those who call on His name
In the midst of the pain
In the guilt and the shame
And the world full of blame
And all the bloody stains
From the unjust gains
I learned all men suffer the same
Because we’re wayward sons
And all our jokes betray
Our foolish hearts and our selfish ways
But if we would turn to the Father’s grace
We would never be the same
This is an unseen land of a devastated soul
That’s prepared in contemplative silence
For the mighty working hand of an unseen Lord
To come restore this land from its violence
I said walk another mile
Stare across the fields of grain
This is how the prophets train
Learn this lesson well my friend
There’s a time to rejoice and lament
Every season will find an end
All will fade and be made new again

grace & peace

2011-01-25T14:00:00.000-08:00

"But according to his promise
we are waiting for new heavens and
a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these,
be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish,
and at peace.

And count the patience of our Lord as salvation.

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
Amen."

2 Peter 3:13-15a,18

merry christmas

2010-12-30T23:23:00.000-08:00

with karen

mom & gramps on christmas eve

christmas morn

brunch at the retirement home

grandpa's longtime friends

mom, gramps, uncle, cuz & aunt

dad, elaina, scott & jenny

queen mary

2010-12-30T22:54:00.000-08:00

adventures on the docked ship

christmas at mariquita

2010-12-29T23:55:00.000-08:00

with julia & crystal

my lovely gift

study abroad

2010-12-29T23:15:00.000-08:00

my campus job

school!!

2010-12-29T22:57:00.000-08:00

csulb

spanish-english contrastive analysis linguistics class

dr. tran

katya

fun times

2010-12-29T22:51:00.000-08:00

sushi

turk's

shillelagh's

but have not love

2010-12-13T00:21:00.000-08:00

"if i speak in the tongues of men and of angels,
but have not love,
i am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

and if i have prophetic powers,
and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if i have all faith,
so as to remove mountains,
but have not love,
i am nothing.

if i give away all i have,
and if i deliver up my body to be burned,
but have not love,
i gain nothing."

1 corinthians 13:1-3

thanksgiving at the ranch

2010-11-26T21:56:00.000-08:00

what a great looking family

friend's thanksgiving

2010-11-26T21:45:00.000-08:00

julia's lovely turkey before going in the oven

home sweet home

2010-11-17T18:08:00.001-08:00

morro bay

nanninga legacy

2010-11-13T22:57:00.005-08:00

clara lou (my grandma)

baby robbie (my dad)

si (my grandpa)

bruce, mark, robbie

bruce

mark, bruce

My dad writes: Very cool picture of Mark, standing next to Juanita Nanninga (Julie's great grandmother), Simon Peter Nanninga on the ramp in the white hat, and I'm the kid in the white shirt. I don't know the men with the cattle truck. Location: Nanninga Ranch, Pagosa Springs, CO, circa 1958.

halloween LBC

2010-11-13T22:18:00.004-08:00

a little gathering at our house turned out to be a lot of fun

bako weekend

2010-11-13T21:56:00.003-08:00

love you grandpa!!

long beach

2010-11-12T19:53:00.004-08:00

moved & started grad school this fall

roommate night out

queen mary

rollerblading is big here

campus

squirrel friend

friends & family

2010-11-12T19:08:00.005-08:00

life is about people.
loving. being grateful.

family

dad

SLO friends

scott & jenny

camille

trevor, jen & alice

gardner

vanessa

karen's bachlorette

Australia 2008

Costa Rica 2007

10 year hs reunion

2010-11-12T18:58:00.003-08:00

So glad I went to this.
Interesting. Definitely worth the drive.

josh garrels

2010-11-11T23:49:00.002-08:00

his lyrics
bring joy to my heart

link to his website: http://www.joshgarrels.com

ampsurf

2010-11-11T23:17:00.006-08:00

great people. great cause.

www.ampsurf.org

autocross

2010-11-11T23:01:00.004-08:00

time with the bro is sweet
i finally got to see how he spends every month

10k goodness

2010-11-11T22:47:00.003-08:00

rock to pier is the bomb

to dance

2010-11-11T09:08:00.004-08:00

i love salsa!

weddings

2010-11-10T21:27:00.007-08:00

my little brother!!
scott & jenny 10.2.10

jen & jake 8.14.10

meghann & rob 8.7.10

vanessa & chris 5.22.10

karen & aaron 10.3.09

ashlie & adam 5.23.09

alpha

2010-11-10T20:34:00.005-08:00

just, thankful
working at Alpha was a great experience all around
they support families in the community in practical ways
baby donations, love, encouragement

www.sloalpha.org

video

ALPHA from NCMG 2010 on Vimeo.

love to my grandma's

2010-11-10T19:51:00.005-08:00

beautiful people, love
forever remembered
my grandma's

Clara Louise Nanninga
July 23, 1920 - July 15, 2009

Sarajane Coats
September 6, 1923 - November 22, 2009

guatemala

2010-11-10T17:54:00.006-08:00

i spent june & july of 2009
in quetzaltenango (xela), guatemala
at utatlán spanish school

good for the language immersion aspect
bad in regards to safety, although i survived
volcanoes, always amazing

Home again...

2009-03-30T23:09:00.003-07:00

...just can't wait to get back home again

Glad to be here in SLO
Although surprisingly missing Australia
Sooooooo thankful for family and friends
Love riding my bike
Look forward to getting a job
And then intentionally being career minded
My time in Oz was enriching
I wish I could share my experience with everyone
I guess we all have our own journeys in life
What a blessing to encourage each other along the way
God is so personal
I love His love
Nothing compares

surprise

2009-03-30T22:43:00.002-07:00

February 28, 2009

So, I said goodbye to Mollymook and headed to Albury/Wodonga to check out Eagles Wings. Words cannot express my week... although I felt relief today after vomiting in the toilet bowl. It was a LONG 5 days and now I'm back where I started 5 months ago in Narre Warren, Melbourne.

When I got to Eagles Wings, I thought I would observe and check out the program for the first 2 weeks and then decide from there what to do. However, the most difficult part was not necessarily the intense program, or that I felt more like a student than staff, since I lived on site and ate all my meals with them. It wasn't even the 30 minute drive from town and no access to internet that bothered me most. I'd have to say, how do I put this?... that some of their Christian views rubbed me the wrong way. I felt like they were trying to force me to believe things a certain way that I did not agree with. It caught me off guard and was very hard for me to deal with. Let's just say, I was glad to get out of there. I would love to share more if you have any questions. At the moment, I am totally wiped out. I do have to mention that it was a good eye opener and I'm glad I got to meet the girls in the program. They were beautiful girls trying to get their life back on track and it was encouraging to witness.

I arrived to Melbourne by train yesterday. I totally wish I had a photo to capture a moment for you... but picture this: I wake up at 5:15am, take a bus at 6:20 to a train at 9. Smooth so far. Then I arrive to Melbourne around 10:30 and have to take another train out to Narre Warren. I have way too much crap with me - my huge bag on my back, a large rolling piece of luggage, and then I've got 3 bags I'm carrying on my shoulders. So I thought that I got on the right train, but then somehow discovered I was going in the wrong direction. So, not 1, not 2, not 3... but 4 guys who work for the train helped me with my luggage to get onto the right train. It was so embarrassing walking with them all as they carried my luggage. One turned to me and said, "Do you feel like a celebrity?" And I just laughed and said, "No, but I wish I could take a picture of this." Anyway, an hour-and-a-half detour and I finally made my way to Narre Warren.

I woke up today with the worst headache... I swear it was like a migraine! Anyway, I didn't feel better until I threw up in the afternoon. I think it was the stress of this last week and trying to decide whether or not to come home. At this point, I don't really see why I would try to stay in Australia when I'm missing home so much. Coming here has been an interesting experience. I didn't quite know what to expect and that's okay. I've learned a lot. But mostly, I can't wait to see you all and look forward to catching up. I will arrive to SLO on Wednesday.

love,
julie

2009-03-30T22:30:00.001-07:00

2009-03-30T22:20:00.001-07:00

fire info and moving again

2009-02-12T18:58:00.001-08:00

Victoria's worst bushfires on record. All of Australia is trying to come together and support these families. The disaster killed 181 people according the last official count and it is estimated that more than 1800 homes have been destroyed.
I know we are such visual people, so here is a "Victoria Fire Tribute" from youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C5HalvzIrc
and some info from the news:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/indepth/0,,5018723,00.html

Regarding my plans...
I met a lady at church a few weeks ago who runs the "Eagles Wings Foundation" in Victoria (founded in 2003). She offered me the opportunity to come check out the program and see if I want to get involved on staff. So in about a week I'm planning to head over to Wodonga (near Albury) in Victoria.
Some stuff about it:
Christian program
for woman ages 16 and up
9-12 month residential recovery program
for woman who are struggling with a life-controlling problem such as addiction, severe depression, an eating disorder or any form of long-term emotional turmoil

whatever happens, i'm just glad to be moving on from Mollymook and checking out other options. thanks for your encouragement, thoughts and prayers.

love,
julie

learning... always learning something

2009-02-08T05:24:00.002-08:00

let's just say... I'm glad I waited until after my run to write this email. ;)
i hope you are enjoying Feb and that you do something fun for V-day... show people in your life that you love them.
as for me, i'll be spending my V-day with a group of wild teenagers playing games and wearing red and pink. the past couple sats, i've been helping with the youth group kids. last week we played at the beach and then came back to the house for a BBQ. then yesterday, we ran around the streets doing a scavenger hunt in camo gear w/ our faces painted black. afterward we hung out at Maccas (McDonalds) for dessert.

i only worked a couple nights at the pub 2 weeks ago and then last week somehow got roped into scrubbing the walls for 2 1/2 hours. i sure hope i get paid for working there. every once-in-a-while i work a shift at a restaurant as well. so my days don't consist of too much besides wanting to leave this place. i surf even though it's flat and i have to paddle like mad on a long board just to catch a little creepy crawler. however, they swear to me that the waves get really good here. i go to coffee shops and run some evenings. i hang with the family and am so thankful they get internet. they have a sweet orange cat named Joe and two dogs... big-grinning Ted the American Staff and Patches the three-legged, loudest-barking Cattle dog.

I am working at being more proactive in figuring out my next step. Even though I don't want to come home just yet, I don't want things to keep going the way they are. I've been looking into TESOL programs and teaching English abroad. I'm only thinking of this because I miss studying Spanish and know that I want to become more fluent. Maybe go for my Masters and then who knows...

so... fill me in w/ how you are. i enjoy hearing from you.

love,
julie

the Mollymook

2009-01-24T05:02:00.001-08:00

"Where God leads you, he will sustain you."
Well, did God lead me to Australia? I believe he did. I've been trying to work and settle somewhere and that has not been easy with the financial crisis going on. Some days I get really anxious and struggle to know what I'm doing, but it's amazing how God can comfort me when I bring my worries to him. Obviously they don't go away, but it helps me put things into perspective. And he brings me peace.
The busyness of working was short lived. Now, I am basically on-call to work at a couple restaurants and waiting for things to open up at another. So I am left looking for work again. I just picked up some work this afternoon at a local pub, so maybe that will help. Thankfully I am staying with a family (The Spooners - Was, Rosie, Emily (19), Jake (17), and Chelsea (14)) because I wouldn't be able to afford regular rent anywhere at the moment. I met a girl on Sunday who might be moving to Sydney to work and go to school, so I was considering moving in with her and trying to find work up there. Although, the thought of moving again is somewhat overwhelming.
It was nice to talk with my mom a few days ago. She understands that things are difficult because I have so much time on my hands and I just want to be productive. So I appreciated a listening ear for me to vent my frustrations.
I am praying for God's direction at the moment and trying not to lose hope. Surely, he calls us to walk by faith, one day at a time and trust him. I feel like I am going through a time of hardship, but still trying to maintain hope in the fundamentals of what I believe. God is constantly encouraging me through his Word. This one stood out to me today:
"For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again."
2 Corinthians 1:8b-10

Please be praying for me. That I would know what to do...
to stay where I am and keep looking for work (maybe this pub thing will work out)
go somewhere else and look for work
or return home

I need to wait here in Mollymook at least another week or two for the rest of my luggage to arrive from the farm. I don't feel ready to return home yet, maybe because I still haven't experienced what I came here for... a place to settle and get into a routine: job, community, surf, and more travel. We'll see. I can only hope that this experience will make me a stronger person and that someday I will have a little more direction in life (i.e. career).

love,
julie

p.s. Here are some other verses that I've really been encouraged by lately: Matthew 6:33-34; James 1:2-5; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 17:7-10; Psalm 9:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:56-58; I Cor 16:13-14. Please feel free to share verses you've been learning from as well.

2009-01-24T04:57:00.000-08:00

holidays at the beach

2009-01-11T21:12:00.002-08:00

hey guys... I'm back
it's weird not having internet for a couple of weeks
anyway, I want to fill you in on what's been going on. I had a nice time with the Withers and their family and friends. They really made me feel like part of the family. I spent Christmas on a farm in Junee (near Wagga Wagga) with great food and Christmas cakes. I slept in the upstairs office/bedroom for a couple of nights and then we left for Mollymook the day after Christmas. I set up camp just outside the house, since the 10 beds in the house were full. It was nice besides the occasional rain and wind and hot mornings when I wanted to sleep in. Many days I would wake up and just throw on my bathing suit and run into the ocean. It was wonderful to be at the beach and enjoy the holidays with people, however, I was really craving work and was feeling a bit aimless. Every day we would spend at the beach or hanging at the house and at nights we ate amazing meals and drank lots of wine or beer. On New Year's Eve we had more people over than usual (about 20, instead of the regular 10-15). We danced for hours, swatted at a homemade pinyata for way too long, and enjoyed some fun with sparklers. The house was always full of young girls from 9 to 17 years old... who mostly kept to spending time with each other. But I had fun helping one of the girls celebrate her 17th b-day. I decorated some cakes and put up streamers for us all to enjoy.

And here comes the exciting part... although I had planned to return to the farm, it turns out I am going to stay at the beach instead! I know, I was all ready to pick fruit in the 100 degree weather, but get this... a family that I met at the Christian Surfers girls camp a couple months ago lives here in Mollymook. They actually live right across the street from the Withers holiday house. So it was inevitable that I would run into them! I went to church and met a few locals, then considered the idea of staying. So I went looking for work and now I have 3 jobs at different restaurants in town! Pretty crazy! I am blown away by how God works! How all these little things are falling into place! Especially since I had no idea it would work out this way. So the Withers returned to the farm yesterday and I am staying with the Spooners. They cleared out a room for me, although I'm not sure if it's only meant to be tempory until I find another place or what.

Such a blessing to be working too much, instead of not at all! I'm still not sure how to balance all three yet. So we'll see. I'm glad to be back by the beach and involved in another Christian community again. But it really makes me miss the good churches back home!! Well, I better stop before this email gets too long. There is sooo much to say! If you have more questions or want to hear more stories, just ask. And here is a facebook link to a few more pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=71086&l=71f0e&id=547256432

I hope you have all been enjoying your holidays. Let me know what's been going on.

Love ya,
Jules

2009-01-11T21:08:00.001-08:00

2009-01-11T21:02:00.000-08:00

another place for Christmas

2008-12-22T21:19:00.004-08:00

December 22, 2008

you know how I mentioned a farm in my last email... well, that's where I'm at now. in a town called Berrigan, a few hours north of Melbourne. it wasn't an easy decision, but I've left Newcastle.

I'm living with a family - Simon, Anita and their two daughters, Tillia (15) and Mia (9). At their home they have horses, chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, cats, a talking cockatoo, a guinea pig, and guinea fowls. Their farm consists of cattle, sheep and crops (barley, wheat, oats, canola, lupines, and triticale). I will be spending Christmas with them and then heading to their beach house for a couple of weeks. We will be back on the farm by mid-Jan and I will most likely get work as a fruit picker. A slight change from living on the beach. I'm not sure how long I will be here... maybe one month, maybe three...
then off to somewhere new, i suppose

wishing you a merry Christmas!

love,
julie

more pictures & song

2008-12-22T21:13:00.001-08:00

Feel free to sing along...

Aussie Jingle Bells

Dashing through the bush
In a rusty Holden Ute
Kicking up the dust
Esky in the boot
Kelpie by my side
Singing Christmas songs
It's summer time and I am in
My singlet, shorts & thongs

CHORUS:
OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
ON A SCORCHING SUMMER'S DAY
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE

Engine's getting hot
Dodge the kangaroos
Swaggy climbs aboard
He is welcome too
All the family is there
Sitting by the pool
Christmas day, the Aussie way
By the barbecue!

CHORUS

Come the afternoon
Grandpa has a doze
The kids and uncle Bruce
Are swimming in their clothes
The time comes round to go
We take a family snap
Then pack the car and all shoot through
Before the washing up

CHORUS

change is happening

2008-12-22T21:01:00.003-08:00

December 15, 2008

so i moved into a new place even closer to the beach...
i just started working at a fine dining restaurant as a waitress. the name is "Cibo tapas bar" and it's about a 15 min bike ride from my house.

however...
i might have an opportunity to work on a ranch through one of my mom's friend's friend.
australia has been an interesting experience so far. not easy, not even too fun most days... but challenging and life changing, so i guess that's good.
wow... Christmas is just around the corner.
i hope you guys have a good one.

love,
julie

more pictures

2008-12-22T20:58:00.002-08:00

and the story continues...

2008-11-29T22:19:00.000-08:00

i hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving.
i sure did, even though i didn't do anything special. it was just a nice, peaceful, rainy day.
i'm moving into a new place today with my friend Renee in Merewether (another suburb in Newcastle).
the job search continues... so let me explain what i'm up against. Newcastle is definitely one of the harder places to get work in Australia. there is a large university and not much tourism. most places prefer to hire locals and i don't have too much experience in hospitality (waitressing and what not). also, my visa doesn't allow me to work more than 6 months at a job, even though i'm able to stay for a year. however, i know i could work harder at being more persistent and following up better. i met someone at church today who does a lot of temp work and she said she would talk to her temp agency for me. so that's encouraging. anyway, i will let you know what happens...
i still feel this is where i'd like to be, even though it's not easy at the moment.
please keep me in your prayers.

love,
julie

camping and what else...

2008-11-20T04:41:00.002-08:00

Wow! I cannot believe how fast a week can go by!
As I was riding my bike home today, I had to stop and admire the clouds, colors, and surf. It was so breathtaking. God is so breathtaking. I enjoyed the moment of peace and pinched myself that I'm actually in Australia. I had a challenging, but good camp experience. We went to a beach called Bulli, near Wollongong and there were about 25 of us. It was challenging because I was analyzing my life too much, but good because I got to surf and meet some cool chicks.

On Monday, I worked at the university as a medical model... first-year med students poked at my stomach for their exams, pretending I was their patient. So for 5 hours, I had about 30 students one-by-one perform the same procedure on my liver, kidneys, and another part of my stomach. On Tuesday, I did a catering trial for a high school graduation formal. They were giving out awards to students, such as "teacher's pet" and "most likely to be the first to get married." However, there were some strange ones, like "the Figjam award" (an acronym for "F*ck I'm good; just ask me," which is a nickname for people who have a high opinion of themselves), "most likely to get plastic surgery," "least likely to get an award," and "most likely to get naked" (where of course... the guy had to start taking off his clothes, while everyone laughed). My arms were dead after 4 hours of serving platters and plates and clearing tables for hundreds of people! I'm surprised I only dropped a few pieces of silverware (although one was on a guys nice suit - "sorry"). I never realized how hard it is to serve gourmet food while you're starving.

I have another job trial next week at a pub... can you see me as a bartender? ha ha
maybe one of these days I will get some work. ;)

Julie

p.s. I learned the hard way not to ever order a milk shake, unless you are in the mood for flavored milk. My bad, I guess what I meant was "I would like a thick shake." I threw my drink away without even bothering to complain.

job? surf and skinny lattes

2008-11-13T05:31:00.001-08:00

I know it's been a little while since an update, but there hasn't been too much to say...
still looking for work
hanging out with people
surfing
going to coffee shops
running around the hills and beaches

It has been quite a test of endurance. I've had some good, some bad days and am learning through it all. I got a bike, so that's nice. I have a lock on my bedroom door now, after some not-so-fun experiences, so I feel a bit safer while I sleep. Praise God I will be moving out soon and living with a girl from Christian Surfers. Regarding job stuff, I'm thinking hospitality is the way to go... given my visa only allows me to work up to 6 months per job and there just aren't too many jobs here. So I've been getting a lot of experience with job interviews, job trials, and passing out resumes. I guess if I'm considering being a career counselor someday in the very distant future, this will all be a good experience. Right? :) Ahh, well everything can be used for good. Even if I'm just learning endurance. I'm still glad to be here and getting to know some nice people. I've been surfing heaps, but not as much as I would like... so I run to keep my sanity. And this weekend I will be going on an all-girls camping trip organized by Christian Surfers. So I will get to meet more people from around the coast of New South Wales. Can't wait!

Hope all is well. Enjoy the pics!

Love,
Julie

more pictures

2008-11-13T05:27:00.002-08:00

peace and love - remembering Radar

2008-11-03T16:04:00.003-08:00

As you know, a couple years ago I was traveling around Central America. My first stop in July of 2006 was El Paredon, Guatemala, a small little fishing village where I helped at a locally-run surf camp for a couple of months. At the time, it was mostly run by two young boys, ages 17 and 19. Well... the oldest one, Radar, who would now be 21, just passed away on Saturday due to a surf related accident. You may remember me sharing with you through my email updates about a dangerous heart condition he had, so I was surprised to hear his death was not related to that. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers at this time. They will be holding a memorial service for him at the end of November. He was such a leader and really looked up to amongst his group of friends and younger siblings; a beautiful person who will be dearly missed. (in the first picture, Radar is the one on the far left)

b-day, new house, and the never ending job hunt

2008-10-24T04:09:00.003-07:00

October 23, 2008

i had a really nice b-day. a couple girls made me brekkie, then we made crafts with shells, picked poppies in the central park (since they were about to be torn up), and that night for tea (dinner) we had sushi with a homemade carrot cake for dessert. very fun

i moved into a new place with 5 other people (4 guys and a girl) and a puppy... a little crazy, but i have my own room. the suburb i live in is called "the hill," so as you can imagine i get a good work out. hopefully soon i will get a bike b/c i am exhausted from walking around town. i've realized it takes me 3x as long to get somewhere walking as it would running, and i'm sure biking will be even faster than running... almost as fast as a car. except they make you wear helmets here or you get fined. so i have to get a helmet. and there aren't too many bike lanes, so i guess it's good they make you wear the ugly helmets.

so please continue to keep me in your prayers with job stuff and figuring out why i'm here. it has been a good lesson so far... not easy, just a process which i'm trying to learn to enjoy. hope all is well in the home land... tell me stories :)

love,
julie... who is now 27! so mature - ha, ha
and thank you for all the b-day wishes

p.s. let me know if you want my cell or address b/c i didn't want to post it on here

after the long weekend

2008-10-24T04:01:00.003-07:00

October 8, 2008

well, i had so much fun in Sydney! i drove down with a girl named Nerida who lives in Newcastle, but is from Sydney. we toured the city in the rain and cold, rode the ferry, checked out the opera house, enjoyed an amazing Latin festival and then church and a jazz festival the following day. i was just blown away... so stoked and really felt God's love through it all.

now I'm back in Newcastle. I spent a couple days at a hostel and am currently staying with one of the girls here until I can find a place... that's right. I'm praying about settling in Newcastle... so we'll see what happens. I'm scared and excited and just trying to figure out how to trust God with everything. I would like to have things sorted out before my b-day on Tuesday, but who knows. I wish things were easier sometimes, but we learn so much in the process, don't we? :)

to God:
This life is a journey of chosing you and walking by faith. Loving you, loving others with the love you have lavished on us, and being used by you only when we recognize that it's all about you to begin with and what a blessing it is to be yours.

julie

a few days in Newcastle

2008-10-24T03:56:00.001-07:00

October 2, 2008

so some promised pictures will be coming.
now that I'm hanging around a group of aussie girls I'm getting accustomed to some more cultural differences. a few things... they like to abbreviate and add "ie" to everything! Dixon beach is "diko," chocolate is "chockie," gum is "chewie"... you get the idea. they use so much slang it's ridiculous to keep up.
i really like being so close to the beach, although i have to get used to surfing a shorter board and feel a bit of a kook out there at the moment. i still have to get the whole duck diving thing down, because i would always turtle roll my longer board. (sorry to non-surfers who have no idea what i'm saying) i love hanging out with girls who are stoked on God and surfing. i'm praying about staying here or traveling more. i was feeling frustrated today about it and shared that with one of the girls. right away she was like, "let's pray about it." i love being honest with people and seeing God work through that. what a difference it makes to rest in his peace and cling to his truth. God has really been showing me how beautiful life is with him... his love has just been radiating through so many of the people i've been meeting. there is nothing more encouraging than to see how God changes people's lives.
so here are a few more pictures to enjoy and create a visual for you.

love
julie

Newcastle

2008-10-24T03:54:00.000-07:00

September 30, 2008

I don't have much time to write, but I just wanted to let you know that I made it to Newcastle.
Let's see... Sunday night I got to go salsa dancing on the beach in Melbourne with some friends and then on Monday I finally got to go for a surf near Bells Beach in Victoria. So I arrived Monday night in Newcastle and already am stoked b/c there are some awesome Christian girls here. I'm staying a walking distance from the beach and have been surfing the last couple of days. I have plans to head to Sydney for some sightseeing and guess what... there is a latin festival!!! So I will get to hit up some more salsa dancing there as well. I can't wait! I will send more pictures when I get a chance. I'm thinking this is where I might want to stay... so I'm praying about that. I haven't had much of a chance to just sit down and relax over the past few days (which I desperately need). But it's so great meeting so many wonderful people. Thanks for your prayers.

Love,
Julie

step 1: the search

2008-10-24T03:31:00.002-07:00

September 24, 2008

ok, so my new friends are really great. it looks like i'm going to join the circus with them.
come on now! really... that first email was a joke.

I got picked up from the airport by 3 lovely ladies... after waiting an hour for my luggage which was misplaced between baggage carousels. So now I'm staying in a little town about an hour from the airport called Narre Warren, which is part of Melbourne. Then in a few days I might be leaving for the coast... to Newcastle, which is a little north of Sydney. The two women I am staying with help lead the children's ministry at the Calvary church and have all the ministry activities at their house. Last night they had a midweek Bible study and on Friday they are having junior high girls over for dinner and games. The pastor lives next door and I got the chance to sit down and chat with him for a while about Australia and ideas on what I'm doing over here.

Some cultural differences... they drive on the other side of the road, have 2 levers when flushing the toilet (a half flush and a full flush), trash is rubbish, breakfast is brekky, dinner is tea, cookies are biscuits. "Tim tams" are some really popular biscuits, similar to oreos. Footie and cricket are their two main sports...

We are 17 hours ahead, so the first day I was up for a long time and had many meals. I felt much better after a full nights sleep. On Tuesday, I saw a cool bird in the backyard called a Tawny Frogmouth Owl, even though it's not an owl or related to one. But it's good at disguising itself as a tree. It was pretty hilarious... Wednesday morning, I went for a run and halfway through it a mastiff started following me. I figured I would call the owner if it followed me all the way home and it did.

So yeah, I'm praying about my next move... plan to get over to the ocean and then check out a few places. I figure I should find a place I'd like to live and then start looking for work. So, we'll see. Thanks for keeping me in your prayers. I enjoy hearing back from you guys. :)

Julie

the arrival

2008-10-24T03:14:00.005-07:00

September 23, 2008

hey guys,
just wanted to let you know that i made it to Australia safely.
things are good.
i'm already starting to make friends...

julie