australia = home

Coolum Beach

New Farm Park

It's a little strange (but in a really good way) to be back in Australia. Everything feels so different and yet so very familiar all at the same time - the feeling of being back home again. Spending time with Peter's family was great - quiet & relaxing before we hit Brisbane and were on the go. We saw all of Peter's siblings and the nephews, and one of his sisters stayed a bit longer and went to Coolum Beach with us. Mallory LOVES, LOVES, LOVES the beach & ocean in Australia and cried because she misses this place so much. Though I'm not a big fan of the sand, sitting on the beach while Jilly was digging in the sand next to me, was so peaceful and calming in a way that nothing else is.

We are now in Brisbane with our friends the Baddeleys & the Forrests, and it feels like we never left - except that all the kids are bigger. The day after we got here, Eric ended up in the hospital with 2 blood clots in his lungs. We picked up Madie & Callan, got meat pies & chips (french fries) & went to New Farm Park for the afternoon so that Jenny could be with Eric. Peter took Phil to the airport for his quick trip to Sydney, and Jan cooked dinner for Jenny & her kids & us. It's so much how we were part of each others' lives, and I love how it all just came together with no planning or effort. I was watching the 6 kids last night and was amazed at how they too fell back into a comfortable routine of being together - laughing, wrestling, arguing, talking, etc. God knew what he was doing when he put them in our lives.

Today Peter is at a meeting & having lunch with a friend; Madie & Callan are at school; Mallory, Jillian, Eleanor & Dan are at the EKKA (Queensland State Fair), and I'm having lunch with Jan & Jenny. Tonight we get to celebrate Callan's 12th birthday with tacos & s'mores (we even brought the graham crackers). I love being back!