22 in 23

As far as people go, I wouldn’t describe myself as very materialistic. I never really want anything for my birthday, and I use things to death. I’ve never changed my pillow (gross), my running top has holes in it, as do most my shoes, and you can only see about 1/3 of my iPod screen. I just don’t believe that stuff makes you happy, and in a world where so many people have so little, more material stuff generally brings me more guilt, then more joy. 

I hate shopping, unless it’s food shopping, and the thought of more stuff, more clothes, more things, more products; makes me a little bit sick. I would be perfectly happy to live out of a suitcase, and I did once; for three glorious months, with a couple of pairs of clothes, no makeup and no bedding.

oh PNG.

 

some casual hand washing.

And after spending a lot of these past few months in other peoples houses, between nannying and cleaning, I’ve come to the conclusion that minimalist is better, and less is more.

BUT, in 20 something days I am packing the last 22 years of my life into 23kg’s of baggage, and as I think about that, and think about what will, and won’t make the cut – there are some things, if I’m honest with myself, that I will surely miss.

I am an ABUNDANTLY blessed individual, who is just not thankful enough for all the good and perfect blessings that surround my life. Physically, materially, and spiritually, I am blessed.

So, more for my own processing then anything else, here’s a few little gems from home that won’t make the cut.

aussie food.
bread and cereal without sugar. weetbix. unprocessed goods.
fresh fruit. mangoes. milo. 

pictures of my boogaloo.

this calander.

a huge one. my tripod.

basically this entire wall.

my mama Africa painting.

amazing Australian weather.

I have a thing about mugs.
my mug collection.

my books.

running hand weights! another major one.

I have to choose between my Bibles. 

old?

or new?

my excessive perfume collection.

my tea cup.

Harvey.

my favourite commentary.

donna hay collection/ recipes galore.

my room.

Africa ceramics.

this seattle jumper.

life saving shoes.
with heat packs in the bottom. 

my dress up collection.

these boots.

dubs.

the only product that tames my crazy curls.

a lifetime of photos.

more mugs.
I have an obsession.

DVDS

my key chains.

MY SNUGGIE!

the most comfortable thing in the world/ my duck onesie

my cute writing paper collection.

There's a small part of me that will miss all these things, but you know what? Who cares. I'm on a love adventure! In four weeks nothing, except my relationship with Christ, will be the same. New country, new culture, new people, new job, new house, new car; new everything. New stuff. Change is the only constant. And that's the way I want to live my life, loving people, not inanimate things. 

Stuff? I say leave it.

Love adventure? I say bring it!

Happy Easter everyone! 

G'day, G'day, G'day & she'll be right

If Valentine's Day is my favourite day of the year, then my second favourite would have to be - without a doubt - going to the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

I went yesterday with my brothers, and as per usual; it was the best thing ever.

Apparently, the show has been running for 190 years. I don't believe it. Has Australia even been running for 190 years?

One of the main things about Australian culture is that we have no culture. No history. Well we do, but not to the same calibre as  places like Europe, where they have architecture dating back centuries, and war relics being excavated from deep within the ground. Australia... well, it was a big desert island where England sent it convicts. We're built on the backs of prisoners, and we made a known nation as we ruined the lives of the Indigenous.

Political rant aside, yesterday was thirteen hours of wonderful.

Exactly what it should have been. I felt happy, I felt festive, and well; I felt Australian. Very, very Australian.

Listening to this song:

we had a very full-on non-stop day. We watched pigs race, and dive into the water, we saw cows, horses, goats and sheep. We went in the petting zoo (win), visited the cats and dogs, watched sheep being shawn, watched a little wool judging, and sweat it out at the wood chop.

just a little bit excited about the whole thing.

this doesn't even express how much I love goats.

We saw trick riding, precision driving, the cattle mustering dog show and an incredible side show;  where we saw this guy:

put a cork screw through his face. We also saw a man stick his arm into a dingo trap, and another bendy wonder dislocate his shoulder, and suck his organs into his lungs to fit his entire body inside the rim of a 10 inch tennis racket. 

clearly a man in a tennis racket.

On a slightly quieter note, we looked at the cakes, the photography, and even the crochet exhibitions, we made judgments on the flower arrangements and discussed how on earth it was possible to grow a 618 kg pumpkin.

terrifying.

amazing cake.

{side note: if anyone knows how to grow such a pumpkin, please tell me. It's a new life goal}.

We reminisced at what show bags we used to get as kids, and we ate almost an entire meal worth of free samples from my favourite place; the Woolworths pavilion. We made a 'if you see a sample, you have to try it' kind of rule, which saw us eating licorice, mustard, dukka, oil, wine {the guy assumed I was over 18 for the first time in my life!!!}, rump steak, sourdough, baked fish, ice cream, rice crackers, olive dip, vegetable chips, cane sugar slushie, and chilli sauce.

To keep the day interesting, my brothers and I also made a pact. That if we saw a cut out, we not only had to stick our faces in it, but we had to take a photo. That meant that spent a great deal of the day lining up with the under two's to make this happen:

We had a discussion about what these things are even called. Head in hole boards? Stick your head in the cut out props? Head missing fun times? Who knows.

We stayed for the final entertainment, which was incredible this year. Motorcross, men made of lightening, a giant horse puppet, a giant girl puppet, kites with fireworks on them, fireworks without kites on them, dancing fire people and the rodeo.

IT WAS AWESOME.

Everything I remember, everything I expected, and everything I wanted. 

Sitting in the final arena at night fall and eating my aussie meat pie, listening to the people behind me drop the f-bomb and say "that's sick" about every three seconds, I was so proud to be from my country. With only a couple of weeks left in this beautiful place for a while, yesterday epitomised everything I will, and won't miss about this land. The super hot sun, the sweat pooling over all the places, the great outdoors, the people, the talent, the traditions, and the strange creativity. 

such an awkward/ amazing photo.

You're a sick one Australia, I'm going to miss your hot, stinking, ridiculous, amazing, foul-mouthed face.