About Me

My life is not my own, for I belong to Christ.

It is because of God's grace and for His glory that I "live and move and have my being."

I am currently back in Indiana, studying English Education at Purdue University, far from the home I've come to know and love in Victoria, Australia

My family means the world to me.

Living in America and loving in Australia, I am blessed indeed. Complete Profile

Some Fabulous Posts

• 10/01/2003 - 11/01/2003
• 11/01/2003 - 12/01/2003
• 12/01/2003 - 01/01/2004
• 01/01/2004 - 02/01/2004
• 02/01/2004 - 03/01/2004
• 03/01/2004 - 04/01/2004
• 04/01/2004 - 05/01/2004
• 05/01/2004 - 06/01/2004
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• 04/01/2005 - 05/01/2005
• 05/01/2005 - 06/01/2005
• 06/01/2005 - 07/01/2005
• 07/01/2005 - 08/01/2005
• 08/01/2005 - 09/01/2005
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• 10/01/2005 - 11/01/2005
• 11/01/2005 - 12/01/2005
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• 01/01/2006 - 02/01/2006
• 02/01/2006 - 03/01/2006
• 03/01/2006 - 04/01/2006
• 04/01/2006 - 05/01/2006
• 05/01/2006 - 06/01/2006
• 06/01/2006 - 07/01/2006
• 07/01/2006 - 08/01/2006
• 08/01/2006 - 09/01/2006
• 09/01/2006 - 10/01/2006
• 10/01/2006 - 11/01/2006
• 11/01/2006 - 12/01/2006
• 12/01/2006 - 01/01/2007
• 01/01/2007 - 02/01/2007
• 02/01/2007 - 03/01/2007
• 03/01/2007 - 04/01/2007
• 04/01/2007 - 05/01/2007
• 05/01/2007 - 06/01/2007
• 06/01/2007 - 07/01/2007
• 07/01/2007 - 08/01/2007
• 08/01/2007 - 09/01/2007
• 09/01/2007 - 10/01/2007
• 10/01/2007 - 11/01/2007
• 11/01/2007 - 12/01/2007
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• 09/01/2008 - 10/01/2008
• 10/01/2008 - 11/01/2008
• 12/01/2008 - 01/01/2009
• 07/01/2009 - 08/01/2009
• 08/01/2009 - 09/01/2009
• 09/01/2009 - 10/01/2009
• 05/01/2010 - 06/01/2010
• 06/01/2010 - 07/01/2010

Some Fabulous Places

Some Fabulous People

Friday, December 29, 2006

See a stream down your face...

I was just fine until I hugged Allen. Then I broke. Zachary's long hug didn't help fix me. Maybe it had something to do with only getting 4 1/2 hours of sleep the night before. Maybe it had something to do with my (almost) jealousy of them. Maybe it had something to do with my brothers, two of my best friends, getting ready to step onto a plane that would take them a million miles away from me. But I only wore mascara on my cheeks for about 2 minutes. Then I gathered myself, smiled for the camera, touched and hugged one last time, and watched them walk through the gate.

They better not forget all the presents.
They better come back soon.
They better take me with them next time.

Happy Hoosier times, mi hermanos.

May angels lead you in...

E D I T : I just talked to Allen on the phone. He wanted to know if we were "over them" yet. Heh, riiight. Love you, guys. Have fun seeing our friends at Winter Conference. (*jealousy*)

Song of the post ~ "Hear you me" by Jimmy Eat World

Charity | 5:40 pm

Saturday, December 23, 2006

What I love about Christmas in Indiana:

• Snow
• Appropriate circumstances for drinking hot chocolate
• American marshmellows in my hot chocolate
• Mittens and scarves
• The end of a semester in school
• Snowball fights
• Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins
• Christmas lights
• Short days so you can see the Christmas lights during wakeful hours
• Snowmen - especially 9-foot-tall ones
• Familiar Christmas goodies made by people other than us
• Eight boxes of Christmas decorations
• Trying to put up all the Christmas decor while Mom's gone and having her re-arrange it all when she gets back
• Snowangels
• White Elephants
• The Coles' competitiveness in White Elephants
• Getting and recieving gifts
• Playing in the snow
• Celebrating at least 4 different times
• The youth group Christmas party
• Looking forward to Winter Conference

What I love about Christmas in Victoria

• Dad, Mom, Allen, Zachary, Maria, Tamara, and Benjamin
• Our amazing church family
• Our shoebox full of Christmas decor
• Having a Christmas tree
• Summer break and Christmas break all-in-one
• Um...sand?
• The same reasons to celebrate
• Steak
• Christmas cards
• Sharing our American Christmas goodies with our Australian friends
• Home-made gifts for friends far and near
• Christmas music
• Knowing God's plan for us right now
• WISHING FOR SNOW!!!

So here we'll be, sticking together, "sweating in a summer wonderland", serving steak on the beach...missing you. And that's okay.

song of the post ~ "Silent Night" by Kenny G.

[I am so sad this is my last chance to put Christmas music on here! Ah well, I've enjoyed it...just doesn't seem like we've had nearly enough time to listen to Christmas music this year.]

Charity | 1:34 pm

Thursday, December 21, 2006

THE 12 DAYS OF HOMESCHOOLING
(to the tune of the 12 days of Christmas)


On the first day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Can you homeschool legally?"

On the second day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"

On the third day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"

On the fourth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"

On the fifth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"

On the sixth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "How long will you homeschool, YOU ARE S0 STRANGE! What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"On the seventh day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, do you homeschool legally?"

On the eighth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, do you homeschool legally?"

On the ninth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "They'll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, do you homeschool legally?"

On the tenth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "What about graduation, they'll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"

On the eleventh day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "I could never do that, what about graduation, they'll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"

On the twelfth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Can they go tocollege, I could never do that, what about graduation, they'll miss theprom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will youhomeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"

On the thirteenth day of homeschool I thoughtfully replied: "They can go to college, yes, you can do this, they can have graduation, we don't like the prom, we do it cuz we like it, they are missing nothing, we'll homeschool forever, WE ARE NOT STRANGE! We give them P.E., and we give them tests, they are socialized, AND WE HOMESCHOOL LEGALLY!

On the fourteenth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "How can one get started, why didn't you tell me, where do I buy curriculum, when is the next conference, WILL PEOPLE THINK WE'RE STRANGE? I think
we can do this, if you will help us, can we join P.E., and we'll homeschool legally."

--------------------

Thanks to Christina for this. I thought it was kind of funny.

Song of the post ~ "All I want for Christmas is you" by My Chemical Romance

Charity | 9:06 pm

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Have heart, my dear

We only had to drive up and over that big hill to the left of our home. I wasn't nervous, just maybe a bit apprehensive. Walking up to the office, we passed by stacked up tables which displayed the brightly-coloured gum that decorated the underside. Yum.

Hanging on the wall outside the office was a picture of the "senior students" of the year--senior probably referring to leadership, not year in school. I recognized one of the girls as our waitress at the Japanese resturant we went to a couple weeks ago. Odd.

We were welcomed into the office, seated, and then the questions started. I was interrogated first. The lady referred to our system of homeschooling as "very interesting". We tried to explain where were were academically, and slowly she seemed to understand and even warm up to us. With an ending handshake, she said, "See you next year!" as if that's that. We'll see.

Honestly, I love homeschooling, but I wouldn't mind the classes. Though I would definitely prefer to do something more like corespondance classes, which would be pretty expensive for us without having our permenant residence visa. Hmm.

song of the post ~ "I Saw Three Ships" by Jon Schmidt

p.s. I changed my "about me" thing. Just soya know. Like the colours!? I do. :o)

Charity | 12:09 pm

Monday, December 18, 2006

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland

I wish.

I am so craving snow.

I think the Bedfords are so cool. I'm not that great at bowling. I want to do lazer tagging for my birthday!!!

I'm glad my sisters love me. I'm glad other people read my blog. I'd be gladder (is that a word?) if they commented.

I hope the Joneses arrive in Hoosierville safe and sound...and smiling.

I can't believe my older brothers are going hiking for three days. I have no idea what we girls are going to do.

I am going with dad and Maria to visit Frankston High School tomorrow. I am not so excited.

I think you all should check out Ruth's blog. I have "lalalalalalife is wonderful" playing through my head. I like cows, too.

I am not changing the song yet, but I am dedicating the current music to Josh Bedford for no particular reason 'cept he told me to. :o)

Oh yeah, and I can't believe Christmas is next Monday. (Really) I can't.

Charity | 9:46 pm

Saturday, December 16, 2006

They're baaaack!

...or maybe they never left. Maria and I have found a whole new meaning to the phrase"nit picking". Too bad they don't just go away eventually. I guess this is what we get for lazing off after the first few treatments.

Our house smells like Christmas -- that lovely peanut butter and chocolate-ness! Australians don't appreciate our Christmas lollies nearly as much as we do. That's perfectly find with me.

You know what's really fun? Wearing possibly the most ridiculas slippers known to man (which, of course, belong to Allen). I would put a picture up, but I don't really have time. I'll just tell you it's literally wearing two large stuffed animals on your feet. You know what's really not so fun? Christmas shopping...online. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LIVE IN AUSTRALIA!!! Two main reasons: 1) it costs like a zillion+ dollars to ship stuff here, and 2) because most of the money is in USD, so it's not as good 'a deal as we first think. Humph.

Updating. So unlike me. I just have to cherish these oppertunities to put Christmas music up!
2 more days until...?
9 more days until...?
11 days until...?
12 more days until...?
57(-ish) more days until...?
135(-even-more-ish) more days until...? (<-- this is pretty "iffy") song of the post ~ "Put the lights on the tree" by Sufjan Stevens

Charity | 11:08 am

Thursday, December 14, 2006

When the days all seem the same

rain, rain
come our way
please pray with us
that it will stay

The need is great, and the prayers are lacking. Everyone thinks they have the answers in themselves. The government comes up with practical ways to save, to reduce waste of, and to recycle what water we do have. Restrictions are placed everywhere, some places much more intense than others. Everyone is affected in some way, even if not always first-hand. Sometimes they sky is grey with smoke. Sometimes lightning flashes bring hope, then fear; for lightning is a sign of rain, but it is also a huge cause of bush fires. Sometimes farmers are committing suicide because they are at their wits end, feeling helpless and hopeless. We pray that our nation will cry out to God, the only Sender of rain and the Provider for all our needs.

On a brighter note: only *11* days until Christmas! :o)

song of the post ~ "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" by John Lennon

Charity | 12:01 pm

Saturday, December 09, 2006

happiness from the inside out

--jumping on a trampoline until I'm breathless and sweat is dripping down my back
--recieving a hug and kiss from Joshy
--being told by Bethany that she wishes I was adopted into her family
--drinking out of a "The Wiggles" sippy cup
--trying to re-fill the ice cube tray and spilling water ALL over myself
--watching "Pete's Dragon" because Allen wants to
--chatting with Mrs. Long on IM
--riding and talking in the passenger seat with one of my older brothers driving
--square dancing with Tamara while listening to "Walk the Line"
--making/wrapping Christmas gifts
--listening to "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow" in 90-degree heat
--holding 2-week-old Adele
--finally finding my bed at 2 AM

song of the post ~ "Christmas Shoes" by NewSong

Charity | 7:23 pm

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

What if I can't? Pt. 2

Some of you may remember this post last August:

Warning: This post is not for the weak of...ehh...stomach
Right now I am at the Ray's house waiting to get my physical for Australia. Mrs...I mean Dr. Betty Ray is going to do it for us. Benjamin is a little worried because one of the things we have to do is umm...well...urniate. In a cup. Hence, the title is a quote of Benjamin's. (Alright, I'm under the influence of my two sisters right now, therefore I cannot be held responsible for what is written on this post.) Hehe, instead of being weird about it, we're just kind of making a joke out of the whole thing. My sisters absolutely insisted that I take the time to post while we are waiting. The rest of the Ray family is doing school, so we don't have much to do anyway. Actually, Mary is standing right here, so I think I'll end this lovely post and con her out of some food or something. Har har har. Rebekah was forbidding me of certian foods, but Mary tends to be a bit more generous. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!! :-D

Quote of the post:"Um, Rebekah...where are your yogurt cups? We need to pee in them..."
--Me

So yeah, we had to get our medical exams again today. We were up and at 'em at 6:30. What fun was to be had.

Why I prefer Mrs. Ray's doctoring above all others:

• She's a woman
• She doesn't make me jump on one foot
• She doesn't make me touch my toes (I can't anyway)
• She doesn't make me take off my clothes
• She doesn't tickle me (ok, so maybe it wasn't intentional)
• She doesn't try to make pointless conversation
• She doesn't comment on my small veins
• She doesn't poke me with needles (call me a wuss, but I felt pretty woozy after they took blood)
• She doesn't ask me if I'm pregnant

Yuck. Not fun. But we went to Vic Markets afterwards, so that made up for it. Ahh I am so broke! And still in debt! I love Christmas shopping. After shopping, we got ice cream at Micky D's, and Allen and I ate ours in the upstairs section. Purty classy, eh?

Have I mentioned I LOVE being homeschooled? (Especially on days like these :-D)

Charity | 5:40 pm

Friday, December 01, 2006

CPS Moments



Oh yes, he is definitely wearing an apron. And that apron definitely says "music is my spice of life." I love it! (As you can see, he's very distressed at the prospect of anyone seeing this, so please be gentle in your response...)



Awww Allen is such a good teacher!
At least he will be...
someday.


We girls spent the weekend with a couple from our church and went to this place called "Hanging Rock". M&T tried to kill themselves, and I just quietly observed and took a few photos. Yesss I was actually the designated photographer of this trip! Now, that's a first.


Yep, and there's the couple we went with -- Lynsey and Karin Blakston. I love being the photographer because then I'm not in danger of stupid pictures of ME!!!


*ahem* as I was saying...
Weird face.
Amazing view.


Okay, so I didn't actually take this one...but it was my camera! And my sisters! And me! And some fabulous rocks! And trees! And sheep! (wait...don't think you can see them in this picture...)



I just love these sepia moments! I really should bring out my camera more often...who cares if Zachary and/or Maria are usually there to take 10,000 more than me??


_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

This message was brought to you by:
"Charity's Photography Services"




P.S. My blog has been going for three whole years! I just realized how long my archives section is getting! That excites me...but probably not my older younger brother. Speaking of him, if you want to be scared even more than usual: www.zachary.blackwoods.us/albums [note: persons in photographs are not to be held responsible for their actions and/or poses, and such photographs do not necessarily reflect the sanity of such...persons. yeah.]

P.P.S. AGH! What Christmas song(s) shall I add next? I am having an impossible time finding good verstions of my favorites. Humph. No music for now, but please share suggestions!

E D I T :
song of the post ~ "12/23/95" by J.E.W.
(for you, Amy...and me...and everyone)

Charity | 8:24 pm