My Insanity Journey

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Working out.  It is just a part of my life, but lately, I was becoming quite bored with my workouts and routine so I decided to try something new.  After some inspiration from my friend Jovi and Elizabeth over at Delightfully Tacky I decided to take on the challenge on the insanity program.

I loved the idea of insanity because unlike many other beach body programs, this one was only 60 days.  It never failed, with P90x and Turbo Fire (both 90 day programs) I would do awesome the first 60 days and then just be tired of the routine.  I find myself hating the last 30 days and gritting my teeth every time I had to push play.  I knew mentally, I could do 60 days.

Insanity is one of the toughest workouts I have ever done and although I didn't get the same physical results that you see on the infomercials and websites (I blame my love for cupcakes and pork belly).  But I would sweat like I have never sweat before.  I would be gasping for air.  I would wish with all my might that one minute would move along just a little faster.  I would yell at Shawn T.  I would drink 1.5 liters of water.  And then before I knew it, the workout was over.  So here is what I loved about insanity.

Accomplishment:  After finishing a workout I would have the best sense of accomplishment.  When I say each workout is tough, I mean tough.  The first time I did the workout I couldn't even make it through the warm up without stopping.  After a workout was over, I would stand there and be so proud of myself for toughing it out, knowing it was getting easier and easier each day.

Endurance: My endurance has gotten so much better.  Now I can complete most workouts in their entirety without taking a break.  Plus it makes everyday tasks seem like a piece of cake.

Strength:  I am one of those girls who couldn't do real push ups, and now I can!  It may only be a couple but I can do them, and am getting better each day!  I love that insanity has you do a fit test every two weeks so you can really track your progress.  I am not much for before and after pictures, but my numbers don't lie.  I am a much stronger person than I was when I started and I am proud of my accomplishments.

So that is a bit of my insanity journey.  If you have ever tried out insanity I would love to hear how your journey went.  Currently, I am doing round 2 of the program, already into week 2 and cannot believe how much more I am enjoying this the second time around.  I am much better at the moves and feel so strong!

Weekends Are For...Catching Up

This past weekend we spent a lot of time catching up with people in our lives.  Catching up, that's the term Aussie's use for hanging out, and it used to sound so weird to me, but now, getting together for a catch up sounds so normal.

Friday night we enjoyed a night out with some of our GWS family, the Temus.  It was a dinner eating, game show playing, face painting, disco dancing kind of night.  We are so thankful for the Temu family sharing life with us.  Amongst many other lessons, your family has taught us so much about the importance of doing life with people inside and outside the church walls.  Thank you!

The first half of Saturday was devoted to Dane and I catching up.  Life gets so crazy here and so time together is always a blessing.  We enjoyed brunch at one of our new favourite cafes, Youeni.  I highly recommend their fresh squeezed orange juice (they are the inspiration for us buying a juicer when we get back home) and the lamb sambo (oh Australia you have made me fall in love with lamb).

After brunch we did a bit of shopping (yay for sales racks), and then went to see the movie "About Time."  Seriously loved this one.   It is the type of movie that makes me want to embrace life and live it to the fullest, you know, its the same way you feel after watching a movie like Yes Man.

Saturday evening was spent catching up with our hoursemates Kyle and Hannah.  True, we live together, but its just different when you go out and do something together.  We hit up one of our favourite little spots in the city, The Pie Tin and then had quite the adventure playing the game "what are the odds."  The only way I can explain this is by saying it's a spin of truth or dare, only not so much truth and not quite as risky, but still so many memories made!

Sunday afternoon was a catch up with our beautiful friend Lyndsey from Scotland.  We have served with Lyndsey at GWS for our two years here, and it was so encouraging to hear how her Hillsong experience has helped her grow.  Our afternoon included free Slurpees thanks to Slurpee day at 7-11 and us introducing her to BLT's and cucumber salad.  I wish I could box this amazing woman up and bring her home with me.

As our time closes here in the land down under, I have a feeling we have a lot more catching up to do.  Hope you all had a fantastic weekend.  Much Love, The Kids Down Under

Weekends Are For....Celebrating 30 Years

This weekend Hillsong celebrated 30 years as a church.  It was such a good party, full of reminiscing, happy tears, laugher, balloons, fireworks, ice cream, friends, and so much more.


One of my favourite moments of the night was when 30 different people came on stage representing the year they accepted Christ at Hillsong.  It is amazing to think of all the lives this church has changed.  I am so thankful I have had the opportunity to be a part of this church family and am so excited to see where God takes the church in the next 30 years.  To God be the Glory!

The Road We Travel

Our time in Australia is drawing to a close, and I can't help but become very reflective.  The past two years have been so life-changing and eye opening.  There is such an array of emotions that flood my heart with the thoughts of going home, but with that said, here are a few ways Australia has affected my life.

* Driving on the left hand side of the road and the right hand side of the car has become completely normal.  I am now really good with roundabouts and remembering which one is the blinker lever and which is the windshield wipers (or as they would say here...wind screen)

* I say tomato sauce instead of ketchup and banana instead of banana.  I know you can't hear that one, but trust me you will when I get home.

* I drink flat whites, lattes, and caps, not a drop of sugar added because that just ruins the flavour.

* And with that statement I should say, I now spell the following words like this: favourite, colour, flavour, harbour and it is going to take a while to get that out of my system.

* I love the drinks Lemon Lime and Bitters and Ginger Beer.

* I will never free refills or authentic Mexican food for granted again.

* I will be buying a juicer when I get home and you can come over for fresh squeezed OJ.  

* For parties I will now, instead of bringing little smokies, offer to bring sausage rolls.  You are going to love them.

* Candy is now known as lollies, french fries are hot chips and cotton candy is fairy floss.

So this is just a fun list of how things have changed for me.  Spiritually, mentally, emotionally: I think I could write a book.  And instead of writing all of that here, I would much rather grab a cup of coffee (or a bowl of bottomless chips and salsa and free refill Dr. Pepper) and discuss.  

For those of you who don't know, Dane and I begin our journey back to the USA on December 3rd.  We were blessed to have a friend let us use their buddy passes so we will be flying stand by all the way back to Kansas.  If all goes well we will arrive in Kansas City December 3rd (thank you international date line).  And then we get to begin the next steps of our life journey together.  

We love you all and really appreciate you reading about our lives here!

The Kids Down Under

Weekends Are For....Serving

I recently realized that I haven't explained one of the coolest parts about our experience here in Australia, serving at Hillsong GWS.  Serving in the church has been the most impacting experience I have had here and I thought it would be cool to share with you all.

One of the reasons Dane chose to study at Hillsong was it offered a hands on continuing education opportunity.  Along with classroom study students also receive credit by serving in various capacities throughout Hillsong church life.

Hillsong has two main campus's in Sydney, the Hills and the City.  It also has 12 extension services spread throughout the community.  We were allocated to serve at the Greater Western Sydney campus, also lovingly known as GWS.

Here is what is unique about GWS compared to most churches.  It doesn't have its own building.  Every week we rent out a college lecture hall/building and transform it into our church which includes kids rooms, mother's room, youth areas, young adults space, a welcome lounge, new people's lounge, city care stations, BBQ/food, bookstore, next steps lounge and of course the worship space.  Yes, each week we bump in church, hold two church services and then bump out church.  What amazes me even more is the entire stash of supplies needed to pull this off is stored in the back of a truck the size of a regular U-Haul trailer.  With that said, we are the biggest extension service by about 200 people and we are praying and believing for our own building. Dane and I believe we will have one before we leave and we will continue to pray relentlessly for it!

One of the ways Dane and I serve is through production bump in, meaning we set up the sound equipment.  There are other teams that set up lights, media, kids rooms, the list goes on and on really.  I am new to the bump in team, but I had a really good teacher in Dane and now know how to run cords, set up monitors and mains.  It makes me feel pretty cool in a nerdy sort of way.  I have been blown away at the knowledge Dane has about it all.  Seriously, I wish you could all see him serve and help direct teams.  You would be so proud.

We also serve in other areas a well.  Dane has had the joy of  serving as Musical Director, Monitor Engineer, Guitarist, Technical Director, and Front of House Sound.  I have served in the areas of Background Vocals, Worship Leader, Hillsong Kids, and Creative Set Design.  It has been so cool to see how we can use the gifts God has put on our lives to help serve in the church in ways we never really imagined.

What I love most about Hillsong GWS is the people.  They have become a part of our Aussie family.  As I am sure you can imagine, it takes a team to pull of church each week, and I love how people are always stepping up and ready to serve.  We are so blessed to have Pastor Jay Jury leading the way along with another amazing team of key leaders.

The biggest lesson I have learned is that serving in a church isn't about personal glory.  It is all about Jesus and people.  Trust me, there is nothing glorious about giving up your Saturday afternoon to bump in, or rucking up at 5:00am to make sure things are ready to go for church.  But when hands go up during alter call on Sunday morning, and I know that people are meeting Jesus for the first time, that people are finding healing, restoration, freedom, joy, true peace in their lives well that's what makes it worth it.