headed into winter....rain clouds & ramblings

-Mt Vic in winter- we live just behind this fog cloud- if you look real hard, you might see our place.

Woah it's June 1st! Who isn't excited about moving into another winter!?! I definitely am.... not. But what can you do? I've got myself some new proper NZ winter clothes (merino wool) and I'm bracing myself for the cold, wet months. This time around though I have an idea of what it's like, a much warmer house!!, somebody to cuddle with at night:) , and a warm office to work in during the day! All things that make me happy. I've learned my lesson about hot water bottles, too- if you haven't heard that story- ask me and I'll tell you how I aged myself 40 years last year. Good thing our bodies can reverse the aging process sometimes.

In yet another attempt to catch you all up to our life down under, I'll use my favorite... a bullet list:

-- the Half marathon/ orphanage fundraiser: So the orphanage our friend is helping at has had some major setbacks recently. They were just kicked out of their facility last week, and they will now need a much different solution besides us coming up with 3k to help them pay rent. What does this mean for me? A group of friends and myself have set along a crazy path to understand the issues surrounding orphans and vulnerable children and what can be done to help. Were spending the next 4-5 months to get speakers, watch movies, and gather help & understanding before moving on with a plan of action. I'm pretty excited about this life-changing experience and pretty overwhelmed by the scope. I'm hungry for this challenge though. On another challenging note... I'm planning to still run the race at the end of this month- but probably just a 10k- finding that sometimes things just gotta give a little in life.

--Work It's busy. I just had a hand in planning an "afternoon tea" / mini reception for my boss's daughter's wedding. Learning how to buy cars to lease out- bought 1 pretty much on my own last week! Finding tenants for properties- filled one last week! And trying to do research on "self esteem" for an article my boss wants to write. What exactly would my job title be do you think?

--Visitors & trips! Justin sister, Jamie, and cousin, Brian, bought tickets to come visit next month!!! AWESOMENESS. My friend from Otterbein, Brandt, and his sister, Katie, just bought tickets to come in December- so excited!!! We are so, so looking forward to these visits. We've also firmed up a ski trip to the South Island with our friends here in August, and were trying to find affordable tickets home for Christmas. Not sure how we'll fit this all in and manage to save money... but we're trying. (our flatmates might even come home with us for a mid-west Christmas:)

Justin & I are learning lots, with only the occasional home-sick, worn-down, "I miss my Mom," kinda breakdowns. hehe. Promise that we're enjoying life, even if were being challenged by it. I personally have really appreciated our Mosaic community (with its pitfalls & strong points both) as it pulls me forward in many different ways. I am however feeling the distance and business of life as it's a challenge to connect with friends & family at home. My heart sometimes literally feels torn between 2 lives, and it can be challenging to find myself content. It leaves me in a place of completely dependent prayer. I'm praying for those of you at home, even if I can't talk to you. And I suppose this is never a bad place to be.

So much love- and thankfulness- for those of you reading. - Lacey
(sorry, we don't have any pictures from life recently- but we'll get some soon.)