Here in Alice!

Hey everybody!

I'm here in Alice Springs right now writing from an internet cafe. I don't have much time, but just wanted to post a quick something so you knew I arrived safely and am having a WONDERFUL time!!

Australia is so amazing and we've taken approximately 250-300 pictures so far over the last 3 days. In about 30 minutes I catch the shuttle from the center of town to the airport. Brandon was on a different, earlier flight so he has already left for our next destination. We are heading to the city of Melbourne and will meet there at around 8 pm tonight. Our next 2-3 flights we get to travel together; I'm excited about that!!

So quick updates on our trip this far: Everything is going WONDERFUL!!! I LOVE Australia and I really really LOVE being back with Brandon. We've had a great 2-3 days so far and there's much more fun ahead. I don't have tons of time to go into many details about our trip, but... I will just tell you that about 4 hours ago I held 3 lizards and a SNAKE in my very own bare hands! Wow, it was scary at first but really exciting. The snake was really big and long and hung around my neck just like you see on tv. Don't worry, B took lots of pictures.

Yesterday we hiked to the top of Ayres Rock. It was awesome of course, and my knees held up perfectly! Hooray! :) We took a million pictures and like 4 videos that we will share with you when we get back home. The weather is hot hot hot and very dry. I'm going to return home one tan lady if the great, sunny weather keeps up. The flies are really bad here in Alice and they love to swarm your entire body. Nasty! More stories to share on this later...

My time is limited and so I'm trying to think of what else I should say real fast! Uh, like I said before we are heading to Melbourne next. That's where our friends from Purdue are missionaries right now. So we're staying with them and it'll be fun to get to spend some time with them.

Anyway, I've got to run now, but maybe if we get a spare hour in the next couple days I'll try to do another post. If not, then I'll be doing lots of blogging when we get home. We arrive in LA on May 14th if you were wondering.

Well, love you all and talk to you later.
G'day mate!! :)

Today is Monday April 16th and the official countdown is as follows: 10 more days until I get to see Brandon and 8 more days until I am get on a plane and head to the "land down under." I must say, what an interesting time these past 41 days has been. First of all, it's incredible to think that 41 days have already passed and there's only 10 to go! Wow, it went by fast. (Thank goodness!) The whole experience has been so incredibly different than I expected. Looking back on what has been going on in my life during this period I can say that it has totally been a God thing. Some of you might be thinking... "Oh please Lisa. Don't turn it into a 'God thing.' What did God have to do with any of this?" But trust me, I'm not over-spiritualizing the situation. I don't throw God's name around lightly. Too many people do, and so I take extra precaution before I wrap God's name with a situation.

Seriously though, I can tell you that God did in fact work through this trip. It has been very evident to me these past 5.5 weeks. If you want more details on what's been going on just ask, but I don't feel like getting into right now. I'll just tell you that I know that the whole Brandon having to leave for 7 weeks had a purpose and I saw God at work during this time. I saw His plan being carried out and it was exciting.

Anyway, my life over the next week+ is pretty planned out and straightforward. I have a midterm the day before I leave and so I will be keeping plenty busy with school. I also have plans with friends for every single night for the next 7 days. So I'll probably not do anymore posts before I take off on the 24th.

Make sure to check back in about a month or so because when we get back from our vacation, you know I will be blogging all about our time in AUSTRALIA! I can't wait!!! Until then... lovelove.