We're in Australia!

I’m not sure how to even write this post. It is so weird, and surreal to actually be in Australia right now. Isn’t it always on odd feeling how you’ve been planning for an event for months, and you’re in disbelief that it you’re actually living it? That is exactly what I’m feeling right now. (And jet lagged and sleepy of course.)

Our flights went smoothly with no hiccups. We had a couple hours in Dallas to eat a bit and play a couple card games until our flight took off for Brisbane/Sydney. The airplane we boarded for Australia was nothing short of incredible. It wasn’t short in any sense of the word. It had two levels, which means it had stairs to an upper level. And it was sectioned off in three classes on the main level, with two aisles and 4 seats across in the middle. They served us dinner AND a snack bag AND breakfast! I mean it was a 16 hour flight so that was pretty nice of them. Anthony and I watched The Hobbit movie together and then I took to some sleeping (somewhat) while he watched a couple more. We woke up with about 5 or 6 hours left to fly, so I decided to watch a couple movies and Anthony napped a bit longer. We were served breakfast at about 3:30 am on Friday, and landed in Brisbane at 5:00 am.

Going through customs was super quick and easy, took about 30 minutes to de-board the plane, go through customs, find our bags, go through the dog sniffer line, and meet with Lucy! Lucy, is such a sweetheart! She jumped up out of her seat and did a little happy dance when she spotted us. In Australia, they drive on the left side of the road, and the steering wheel is on the right side of the car, so that was an interesting experience in the front seat. She took us to a beach lookout spot so we could see and hear the ocean for my first time. It was gorgeous, and the waves were already pretty large at 6 in the morning. Next stop was Haopeng's house, the place where we'll be at for at least the next month. It is absolutely gorgeous and I can't believe I get to wake up here every morning for the next month. (I'll post photos soon!) There are 3 other guys that live here as well. Alex, Trent, and Tom. Alex and Trent enjoy fishing and sometimes wake up super early to go out. Anthony had met Tom while he was here going to Uni.

Lucy took us out for breakfast after dropping our bags at our new home. Breakfast was amazing! I had french toast, with maple syrup, a scoop of ice cream, and bananas on top!! Yummy! We sat in the sun and ate and talked about what we wanted to do here, how Anthony and I met, and the fun times Anthony had while he was here the first time around.

After getting back to Haopeng's we lounged outside near the pool until about lunch time. Then we headed off to the grocery store so we could have some stuff to eat in the house. They have an Aldi here, which is where we got our groceries, but everything seems to be significantly higher priced here. It was fun to see how they're shopping areas are laid out though and to actually see people out. 

Haopeng made us dinner, but I passed out on the couch at about 7. I tried to stay up to get on good sleep schedule, but I was so exhausted from traveling and I just wanted to sleep. Ha, I guess I'm going to have to work on that part! Other than that, Australia is great! I can't wait to get out and see the beaches and area more!

Thanks for coming along for the journey guys! Can't wait to share more with you! :)

xo, darcilove

Leaving on an Airplane.

Bags are packed, passports ready, batteries charge; and we're ready for Australia.

Time is such an interesting concept. Whether it's going by slowly or fast, living day by day or from one year to the next. It's intriguing how quickly time actually passes when in the moment it feels like it's just crawling by.

It saddens me that time has passed so quickly leading up to our leave today. There were many people I had wanted to see and I thought I had plenty of time to make plans, yet here I am wishing I had planned much farther in advance to see them. It also saddens me that my time in Australia is going to pass too quickly as well, that I won't be able to complete my list of adventures before having to return home.

I am excited, nervous, and a little scared about this trip. 

I am excited to finally go away and be with my husband on our own. The fact that we will only have each other to depend on and I won't be able to call home to daddy to fix something. I will have to rely on my husband and we will have to work through a multitude of situations while we are away.

I am nervous to go somewhere so new, and so far from my home. I have never left this continent. And now all of a sudden I'm actually flying over an ocean and traveling through time as I do it. (We leave on a Wednesday evening and will arrive at 5am on Friday.)

I am scared because I've never been so far from home, for such a long period of time. Yes, three months will fly by, heck 2014 is more than half way over, but I'm scared that if I become homesick I won't be able to enjoy the beautiful people and places that I will no doubt, fall in love with.

I would like you all to follow this blog, and join Anthony and I on our first International trip. Please send us encouraging words, thoughts, or prayers. See the sights that we will be seeing, and come and enjoy the people that we will be meeting. 

This is not a good-bye, only a see-ya-later. 

:)

xo, darcilove