Celebrate!

I love to celebrate things. Whether it be a birthday, anniversary, a big accomplishment or even a Friday (sometimes teachers needed to celebrate making it to Friday, with a happy hour!). I've always been this way or at least as long as I can remember. I understand not everyone is like this, maybe it was just the way I was raised. Lets just say my family went a little crazy some years for birthdays etc. For my 15th birthday I believe, my dad's company had a billboard on one of the major streets in Memphis so he decided it would be funny to put "Happy Birthday Lindsey! Love, Mom, Dad, Brad and Lacey" yes...Lacey. Lacey was our family dog! That messaged stayed up for a whole month. Another year for my birthday I came home from school one day to a giant blow up gorilla in our front yard with a sign that said Happy Birthday Lindsey. This gorilla was taller than our house! So maybe that gives you a littler perspective into my love of celebrating things. My husband, however, does not feel the need to celebrate every little thing like me...see that's one of the many reasons we're so good for each other, we balance each other out :)

Today I feel like celebrating. Exactly 1 year ago today I arrived in Australia for the second time but this time I was moving here! At the time I was just planning on a year of adventure, working, traveling, etc. Never in my wildest dreams could I ever imagined all the things that have happened in just one short year. This year has truly been a blessing to me. Of course its been full of ups and downs, lots of laughter and tears, but through it all I've learned so much, met so many amazing people and had so many wonderful experiences. I wouldn't change it for a thing. And to top it off I met my best friend, fell in love and now I call him my husband.

So I'm sitting here in my living room looking out my window at this beautiful blue sky, sunny morning with a tall palm tree in glimpse feeling extremely grateful, at peace, blessed and appreciative. Everyday I feel grateful but sometimes I don't feel like I appreciate it everyday. Some days I let my memories from home take over and I let myself get homesick. I know I'll always have days like that, and they'll get easier but I feel like its been a year now, I've made it. I feel like I can let go a little more and continue to move forward.

One year in Australia down...as one of my friends from college would say, "lets eat cake!" Even though I have no cake, it seemed appropriate :) I do have homemade cinnamon rolls though, but thats another story in itself...stay tuned!