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!

Together Again

Christmas 2007 with the Forrests
December 2008 with the Baddeleys

Today we are leaving for our first family trip back to Australia since leaving in February 2007. The list of all the people we want to see, the things we want to do & the food we want to eat seems to grow longer each day. We will only be there for 10 days, so some things on the list will have to wait until the next trip.

I love being back in Colorado near my sisters, mom & family, but I do miss Australia. It was our home for 6 years, and in those 6 years, we had many "firsts" for our family - Jillian's first day of school, first tooth fairy visit (though the Christensen tooth fairy was really lame), first bikes, first school camps, first time camping as a family, best friends, piano lessons, Mallory's first pair of glasses, first go at field hockey, cricket & netball, Mallory's first solo trip overseas, etc. Leaving Australia was bittersweet - happy for our new life in Colorado to begin and sad to be closing a chapter in our family's life.

I am especially excited for this trip because: a. it's totally unexpected & not planned & b. we get to see the Baddeleys & the Forrests!!! These two families shared some of our greatest moments & our smallest moments, our highs & lows, celebrated birthdays & accomplishments, ate more lunches, dinners & afternoon teas togther than I can count and shared some amazing bottles of red, good beer & endless cups of coffee. They were an extension of our little family and made our life in Australia richer & fuller. I have missed being a part of their daily lives and am looking forward to all three families being together again.

3 More Sleeps!!!

I don't think words could explain how excited I am to see this girl.

A Fork & a Brush

Yesterday my project was to paint the kitchen, and I got most of it done. Painting is not something I really like doing, but I do like seeing the obvious progress along the way - and the finished project isn't bad either. I picked up my paint from Guiry's http://www.guirys.com/. I love their paint - depending on the room and color I can usually get away with one coat of paint. I also love the fact that I can get paint samples to try first, and I've always had great customer service. This really isn't a plug for Guiry's, but I love a happy shopping experience.

On Monday I went to pick up my paint and a small Purdy paintbrush. I noticed that they had their own label paintbrushes 40% off. The bargain hunter in me thought "wow", but in the back of my head, I heard my mother's voice telling me that sometimes quality is worth the price. So I asked the sales lady for a little advice. I bought the Purdy brush (I already have two that I love anyways.). I also came away with a little gem that I thought I'd share with all my fellow painters - just in case you didn't already know the secret. When cleaning your paintbrushes, get a fork and "comb" through the brush from the handle toward the tip to loosen all the dried paint that simply running under water just can't get out. I tried it on my new brush and an old brush that had paint from the last job, and it worked. How awesome is that!

Three Weeks

There is no access by vehicle to the village of Madeleine where Mallory's team is living & working. They had to hike in over a mile up a steep path like this to the village carrying ALL of their supplies (luggage, food, tools for their construction projects, kitchen supplies, etc.)

Excerpts from the Haiti Orphanage Team Reports:

"We are now working on the depot (storage room) and a giant water cistern. The cistern is having a rock wall built around it and that is going up nicely. The team is able to work alongside some Haitian mason workers and they are enjoying the interaction with them. We are also working on a site for a future basketball court and conference center. We are mostly leveling the ground as we are in a rolling hills and mountainous area." (posted July 1)

"Bonsoir! Things are continuing to go well here in Haiti as the work is progressing quickly. The water cistern rock walls have nearly been completed and we are anticipating pouring the concrete roof above it. That roof will also serve as the foundation/floor for half of the first story of the orphanage. The team has been working diligently to level the ground for the basketball/conference center. It is actually quite deceiving on what is actually level when you are on the side of a mountain. It is mind boggling in appearance. Keep praying for us!" (posted July 7)

My summer seems a bit insignificant compared to Mallory's, but I'm so glad that God can be honored in the things I do right at home as well as the things my daughter is doing for the least of them. What fun it will be to hear all of her stories when she returns home. It won't be long now - three weeks!!!

Christensen Family - Established July 3, 1993

Lake Louise (Banff, Alberta CANADA)

Tomorrow is our 16th anniversary, and as I reflect on those years together and how much we've changed, I love seeing how God brought us together and continues to knits us together as a couple and as a family. He cares about the smallest details in our lives from packing boxes and moving to the other side of the world and back (or even just up the block), finding new churches with each move, saying good-bye to old friends & making new friends, births, deaths, jobs, sick kids, healthy kids, school, money, vacations, cars, dogs - an endless list really. I love that in all those things, Peter has been with me - sometimes leading the way, sometimes giving a "gentle" push from behind & most of the time right along side me. Spending time with Peter is one of my greatest delights no matter what we're doing.

A list of 16 (in no particular order - they all make my heart full):

* makes the perfect cup of coffee every time & knows which traveling mug I like
* still gets excited about going on dates
* cherishes Mallory & Jillian & shows them every day how much
* a quiet strength but there are things that make him cry
* loves my mom & my family
* in spite of all my imperfections, he still loves me
* thinks the dogs are pretty great (even if he calls them bad, wicked & sinful)
* loves God & seeks to know Him better
* will watch "chick flicks" with me (though usually not by choice)
* manages to still surprise me
* laid back & relaxed - a great compliment to my need to control (I'm working on that)
* understands that camping is just not my thing
* "conquers" the mall with me (& the girls)
* has always done & still does the "morning shift" & lets me sleep in
* has great friends
* still makes me laugh

I love you Peter!

2,451 miles away

Haitian flag
Haiti Orphanage Team #09004
mixing cement

commissioning service

Mallory survived Teen Missions "boot camp" http://teenmissions.org/ which is a two week intensive training in skills needed on the field like cement mixing, brick laying, digging, construction, etc. and lots & lots of team building. Mallory being Mallory found the joy in it and loved it. She was even excited about having kitchen duties, cleaning a toilet and doing her own laundry in a bucket. I love that about her!

They had a commissioning service on June 21 for all the teams leaving, left for the airport and spent the night there to catch an early flight to Haiti the next morning. Peter didn't think spending the night in the airport sounded like much fun, but I reminded him that air conditioning and cold drinks w/ ice was probably worth it for them. The phone call on Father's Day from the airport made Peter's day perfect, and I was just excited to hear her voice and catch a glimpse of her excitement for all that God is doing.

When they arrrived, they began working right away on the construction projects for the orphanage for Hope in the Light Ministries http://hopeinthelight.org/. Mallory was asked by the team leaders to keep the team journal which is used to post updates on the website (good skills for that journalism career she's interested in), and her willingness to accept new opportunities and challenges like this makes me a proud mom.

I know that God is using Mallory and her team to bless many - not only by their physical help but by the joy and hope that they bring to the orphans and the Haitian people. I am excited to hear how God showed up everyday for them and how her experience has changed her, but in the mean time, I miss her terribly and the life and joy she brings to our family.