Back in the states

We made it back to the states after a late start...our flight out of Auckland had a 2 hour delay, so we arrived into LA late, which resulted in a few of our groups missing their connecting flights. But, we all made it into the country safe and sound.  A good number of people got sick ove the last week or so....cold, stuffy head, fever, congestion, etc. Unfortunatley it hit Fr. Gregory while we were in New Zealand and it hit hi pretty bad.  He went right to Urgent Care as soon as we arrived in LA.  He has bronchitis, which was only 1 stage away from pneumonia!  He is pumping the drugs and wearing his cute little germ mask, to ensure that no one else get sick. He is not allowed to fly home with us tonight, therefore he is here in LA until at least Thursday!  

I am glad to be back in the country where they drive on the right side of the road.  Not that they drive on the wrong side of the road, down under, it is just the LEFT side, not the RIGHT side!  =)

I will be backlogging posts, in order to catch up what I missed, and to add pictures, so be sure to check back and look at older posts.  

While I am back in the country, I am still not HOME yet...AKA, home in my husbands arms!!!  I fly out of here tonight on a redeye flight.

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

All Blacks

For those of you who don't know who the All Blacks are, you would if you lived in New Zealand! They are the World Famous Rugby team here. They are often known for their famous Maori warrior dance that they do before all their games called a Haka. You can see a video of them doing it here. The purpose of it is to intimidate your opponent. They are each a little different.

We went to visit a Marae which is a place where the Maroi people, which are the indigenous people of New Zealand, meet and have ceremonies. We experienced some of their traditions and at hangi with them. Which is their meal that they cook in a hole in the ground using hot stones. Then one of the guys from the tribe taught our guys how to do the warrior Haka. It was really fun to watch them learn it and do it. I have a video of it, which I will post later.

Last night the All Blacks played Australia in the Tri Nations tournament. We were all excited to see them do their Haka! It was cool!!! Unfortunately they didn't intimidate their opponents to much, because Australia beat them 34 to 19!

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

The land of the Rings...

We are now in New Zealand, the beautiful land where they filmed the Lord of the Rings! We drove through the area where they filmed the Shire scenes..but it was dark! So, we couldn't see it..but we are hoping we will see some of it when we drive back to the airport. We drove through a town called "Hobbitville." I assume that was named after the movie! We were supposed to do a Lord of the Rings tour, until we found out that it cost like $50 a person....nope, not in the budget!

We did a whirwind of touring the first full day that we were here...as Fr. Dave said, it was like "national lampoons vacation." We would drive for an hour, get out for 20 minutes, look around, get back in, drive again, get out for 10 minutes, get back in the bus, drive around some more, stop to get something to eat, get back on the bus....and mind you this is with 150 people!!! The good news is that we got to see a lot of New Zealand. I will try and post some pictures soon. My memory cards are not working on this computer, so I can't post any now.

This place really is beautiful!! We learned there are more sheep than people here! They have about 40 million sheep and only about 3 million people. (I think that is right) The grow lots of Kiwi's and lots of avacados!!! I have eaten several Kiwi's so far! I have actually had Golden Kiwi's which we don't get in the states, they are a mix between pinapple and something else. Very yummy!!!

The host family we are staying with are twin brothers, who are retired! They are great! They play a lot of golf, love to cook and drink wine!! Could Kristi and I have had a better match!!?! 5 minutes after walking in the door we had a glass of wine in our hands! They are great guys and have been so hospitable to us!!

Aparently twins are very common here. One school had 18 sets of twins in their school a few years ago! Maybe we should move here, Brian?!!? At least until we have twins, then we can move home!

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

Such a gift

Usually when I am on a trip for work, it is just that...work. I may get a few little inklings of spiritual blessings, but I am usually so focused on work, and attending to the pilgrims that I don't take time for my own prayer. BOY, has this trip been different!! Yes, I have worked and attended to the pilgrims, but everything has gone so smoothly that I have had time for myself as well. I have been able to get good prayer time in, God has spoken to me abundatly these last few weeks!! It has been great!!!

I am so excited about how the Lord has been moving in my heart and feel so blessed to be able to have this job and have these experiences as a part of my career!! The cool thing is that anyone can have these experiences as a part of their career if they take the time to see them!

As my dad taught me at a young age, it is not about how much money you make in a job, it is loving your job so much that you WANT to get up and go to work everyday. It doesn't mean we won't have bad days, or rough times, but overall if we love what we do, then it is not really work at all! It is following your passion!!

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

If only my husband could be here

Today we went to a tour of the Sydney Opera house, the most recognized building in the world! We were told that 2 out of 3 people in the world recognize this building!!

They originally thought it would take 3 years and 7 million dollars to build. When it actually took 16 years and 120 million to build!

The architecture of this building was absolutley fascinating!! So many times I said, "I wish my husband could be here!!!!" The organ in the orchestra house had over 10,000 pipes in it!! This is one of, if not the biggest pipe organs in the world!!!!!

The designer of this amazing structure still hasn't seen the completed project in person! He left the project before it was finished and hasn't returned from Denmark (I think) to see it completed.

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

Across the bridge, up hill, and through the streets...

Yesterday was the hike to the outdoor vigil with the Pope and the Papal Mass.

For maybe the second time in 100 years (or history, not quite sure) they Sydney Harbor Bridge was closed in order to allow hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to cross!! It was a pretty cool experience to walk across the bridge! Don't look down!! (I did at one point as we passed a grate, pretty crazy!!) You can pay to walk across the top of the bridge, which I would have done, had it not cost $175! I will post pics of the bridge and the walk later.

It was about a 6 mile walk, and didn't seem so bad at all. It was so great to see the world walk by! To hear the music of cultures that I will never visit, and to see people who have traveled from all ends of the earth to be here to celebrate our faith and spend time with the Vicar of Christ!

Fr. Gregory who is in this trip with us, encouraged each of us to pick someone to offer up the walk for, so it was neat to know that so many prayers were being offered with every step I took. Again, I carried over the moments I had on Friday of being present to the moment and allowed myself to be led where the Spirit led me of who to talk to. I had some great talks with people along the way. I have been so blessed on this trip to really be able to get to know the people in our group. We have such a great group of people with us on this trip and I am honored to be with them!!

When I arrived at the vigil, I was excited to just sit and relax..again had more great conversations and we awaited the Pope's arrival.

The vigil was beautiful as we all waived our candles during the intercession singing the chorus to the theme song! It was a beautiful sight....500,000 Catholics together in prayer!!!

I fell asleep shortly after the Pope left. I stayed pretty warm in my cozy sleeping bag, (thanks hubby!) and surprisingly slept more last night than I have all week. I was asleep by 10ish and woke up at 6:30am. Again it was neat to experience the different cultures as the people around us played music and danced as the sun came up!!!

Thank you again everyone for your prayers!!! I have felt them so much on this pilgrimage. The weather as been great, the conversations blessed, the mercy abundant and the joy and peace has surrounded us all!!

Pope Benedict has announced the 2011 WYD location...Madrid, Spain...I am thinking of offering a discount to anyone on this trip who gives me their deposit now! =) I will start making the plans for this trip as soon as we get home. Ok, so maybe I already had a meeting with Fr. Dave about it earlier this week!!! Am I a planner or what?!?!

Ok---time to take a shower and hit the hay! I still haven't showered yet since getting back from the hike! Yikes! I stink!!!

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

Be still and know...

I had such an amazing day today! (clearly I am backtracking in my blogging).

My prayer at mass this morning was to sit with the words "Be still and know that I am God!" WOW! It was really cool how God showed that to me today.

We arrived in the city late, as we decided to do our own thing back at the camp today..a little praise and worship, quiet time, mass, etc. So, it was nice to sleep in and have some extra time here. It was great.

As we got into the city, a bunch of us just hung around the park, chattted, visited, no one was in any hurry to get any where. Finally Kristi and I made our way to find some lunch. I noticed I felt different, but couldn't put my finger on what was different. I was totally content, happy, relaxed, etc. I would kind of describe it as a "out of body experience" which i have never used that phrase before. Many friends have, but I never really understood what it meant until now. As the day went on, the sun was shining, the sky was blue, I noticed myself just taking everything in, and really being present to the moment.

I often found myself in prayer, praying for whoever came to mind, or for the person I would pass, or the child I would see playing. I would catch someones eye and just smile at them..it was really neat. It was as if every moment was captured. It was really neat. I just thanked God for the moments and enjoyed them. I found myself loving each moment!!

The whole day lasted like this. At one point, we were watching the Stations of the Cross, and I heard this song come on the speaker, with this beautiful voice..."Be Still and know, that I am God..." I just stopped and took it in!

thank you, Lord for a beautiful day!!

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

In the silence

St. Mary's Cathedral is a beautiful Gothic church! That is my favorite style of church! So beautiful. Someone was commissioned to paint a beautiful image of Mary and Jesus! So real! I spent a good amount of time praying in front of the image. My word in prayer today was silence.
The prayer on this prayer card I got, for the pilgrimage said, "Mary teach me to hear God in the silence." I am really excited to put this into practice and see what God does with it.

I then took some time to visit with the body of blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. They had a display of quotes by him and his body there in the cathedral. It was awesome!!! Another reminder of entering into the silence. I have always wanted to learn more about him, and have yet to do so, so now i am excited to do that. A few of us are excited about looking into starting a young adult Frassatti society at Franciscan.

More later...

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

Papal Welcome

I have now seen two popes! Pope Benedict arrived today and it was beautiful to hear his voice and to see his face. I feel blessed to have now seen two pope's in my lifetime. I still feel very connected to JP2, so it is weird for me still to have a new Pope, but I know that as I learn more and read more about Benedict that my love for him will grow as well.

He drove by us in his sweet ride this afternoon. I was write up against the chain of the road he drove down. I don't have my zoom lens so I had to crop the picture in order to get a good shot. I will work with them more when I get back.

It was a beautiful site as he drove by shortly after the sun went down. The crowed was alive with excitement waiting for him to come by and receive his blessing.

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

Where does one begin...

I feel like I have so much to write about and don't quite know where to start....

As I said, Australia is beautiful and beyond friendly...

The WYD events are great and organized....

And God is blessing me left and right!!

I knew WYD would be good as that is one place that I can say when I was in high school that God really touched my heart! Who knew traveling on the bus for 30 hours when I was 15 years old to Denver, CO to see some guy dressed in white, would change my life so profoundly...it was so much more than seeing the Pope...God placed a fire in my heart that has only burned more ever since!!

Now to be organizing a group of young people here has been a gift of blessings!!!
Fr. Gurnick--you took 15..try 150!!!!!!! (haha!!) It is awesome to be praying for their hearts and for God to touch them as He touched me 15 years ago!

Really--God has been giving me graces in the details...i have felt connected with the saints, connected to our daughter, connected to thousands of Catholics coming from all directions....and of course connected to God!

Today I was brought to tears during Mass, during the consecration, Bishop Grech of Melbourne (who ROCKS) just reminded us so simply, to put our hope and trust in Jesus present in the Eucharist. As he elevated the Eucharist, tears just rolled down my face...He is sooo good, so faithful and He loves me intimately and personally!!!

In my life, I constantly pray to be more faithful, to be able to live a life for Christ and to be a witness to His love..today my prayer is for my heart to be more convicted and changed, in order to be transformed and brought closer to Him. I want my life to be a constant reflection of the love that He pours out on me and EVERYONE at all times!!!!!

Stay tuned for more....time at the internet cafe is coming to an end and our stomachs are empty!!!

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

I am moving here!!!

Please send my husband!!!

I can't even begin to explain how much I love it in Australia! The views, the buildings, the weather...and THE PEOPLE!!!!!!

The phrase, "no worries" embodies the Aussies! We, Americans have a lot to learn from them!!

This is by far the best and most organized World Youth Day I have ever been too!! This is my 4th one! I haven't gotten lost yet..the second you have the slightest bit of a lost look on your face, someone is coming up to help guide you in the right direction.

They are so happy to have us here, so friendly, so helpful, so GREAT!!!

I would post pictures, but if I don't get some food in my system soon, I might just get eaten by a kangaroo! (I don't think that makes sense, so you can see why i need food!)

I hope to update you more soon..but until then, know that you are all in my prayers and thank you for your prayers!!!!!!

No worries, Mate!

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

Impressive

So, I am leaving on Friday for a 2 1/2 week trip to Australia and New Zealand for World Youth Day. This will be my 4th WYD in my lifetime, the first being Denver in 1993, then Rome in 2000, Toronto in 2002 and now Australia. I have had a life long dream of going to Australia and now it is coming true!! I am in charge of leading 150 youth and young adults from across the country down under! Should be an adventure!

We have a 18 hour plane ride to Melbourne and then about an hour flight to Sydney. I literally will lose a day of my life on the flight down. July 13th will NOT EXIST for me! How weird is that? Also, we will be 14 hours ahead in time, which will just be weird! It is going to make calls home to the hubby quite interesting!

I plan to keep up on my blogs while I am there and will post pictures as I can. I of course will be traveling with camera in tow (see small black bag below). I can't take this once in a lifetime trip without it! I would seriously regret that!

I must say, I am dang impressed with myself...

#1 I am already packed and I don't leave until Friday morning!
#2 This is all I am taking for 2 1/2 weeks! Even my husband is impressed..He wonders why I need to back a huge suitcase for 4 days and now I only bringing this! (I plan to do a lot of laundry!)
Please keep us in your prayers, for safe travels, many graces and easy sleep on the plane! If you have any special prayer intentions that I can take on this pilgrimage with me, please feel free to post them here!

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

Am I greek?

I love Greek food! (ok well I can't say that I have had a ton of it..but what I have had I love) Let's get a little more specific..I love GYROS!!! There was a Greek festival here in Steubenville a few weeks ago and Brian and I went up there for lunch...I wanted to eat SUPER slow so that it wouldn't dissapear so fast! Then later that week we went to a Wine Festival in Cleveland and they had Gyros..so guess what I had for dinner!!! Oh so yummy!

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

All dressed up...

We don't get to get all dressed up to go out very often..but it is fun when we do! I got a new dress and everything!!! This is from that wedding we went to a few weeks ago.

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

FRIENDS!!

So, TJ, Boctor (Joe) and I became really good friends about 4 years ago. We were together all the time for several years...playing golf, swimming, climbing on the challenge course, or just goofin' around. Well, with in the last year we all got married! It has been such a joy to see how the Lord has blessed each of our lives and how still we can stay connected as we each live our separate lives. We are blessed for the friendship that we have and are glad that all of our spouses get along!! =)

We still hope one day to finish 9 holes of Golf together!

Joe and Mary were in town for a wedding a few weeks ago, so we had a BBQ at our house, just like the good 'ol days! We are excited to see our friendship grow as our families grow...Grace and Mary are both pregnant!!

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574

i love chocolate!

Nothing like a bowl of yummy chocolate goodness to make a woman feel better!! A good friend of ours made us a nice romantic dinner after we had the miscarriage, and she made the most FABULOUS DESSERT!!!! So, good that the next day I was licking the bowl clean! It was some mocha, chocolate, mousse, pound cake yummy goodness!!!! Thanks, Sarah!!!

email me | Simple Heart Photography| Facebook | Blog | Call 317.219.7574