I'm Gonna Miss This #11: Australia

 I haven't seen every city in the world, and I haven't seen every harbor in the world, but Sydney has got to have one of the most beautiful harbors in the world.  We came to say goodbye to Sydney today, and it's hard to say goodbye.  If only Sydney was a person we could just adopt and take home with us.  

 Circular Quay.

 Driving across the Harbor Bridge into Sydney's CBD (central business district) never lost its excitement. We loved every minute we got to spend in this amazing city and we are gonna miss it!

I'm Gonna Miss This #10: Australia

 The Sydney Temple is a special place for us. Spencer got to do baptisms for the dead for the first time here.  Doug did temple work for Grandpa Stephens here.  We have wonderful memories of being here with our ward and eating lunch together after mornings and afternoons of being in the temple together as a ward.  I saw our dear friends the Leefes take out their endowments for the first time here.  

We love this temple and I'm gonna miss it.

I'm Gonna Miss This #9: Australia

 Our home while we are in Sydney is the Temple Accommodation or the Jesus Hotel as we now call it after Faith named it awhile ago.  Yes, it's old.  Yes, you have to put your own sheets on the bed and then take all the linen to the laundry basket.  Yes, you have to clean and vacuum before you leave.  Yes, it probably has asbestos.  Yes, it's the only place we've stayed where the cold water runs out in the shower.  None of this really matters considering we have been able to go to Sydney more than most Americans we know thanks to the Jesus Hotel and their economical rates.  

We said goodbye to the Jesus Hotel today.  It was hard.  We told Brother Parsons the manager that we wouldn't be back and thanked him for his work there (they know us pretty well since we are here so much).  I'm gonna miss this!!!  Maybe Doug and I can serve as the managers of the Jesus Hotel when we are retired :)

I'm Gonna Miss This #8: Australia

I'm in the car everyday from 3:00-4:00 pm picking up the kids from school.  There just so happens to be two funny ladies on the radio every day from 3:00-4:00--Chrissie Swan and Jane Hall doing the 3pm Pick-up.  I've learned a lot about Australian culture listening to them. I've laughed out loud listening to them, and it is the one good thing about being in the car this much.  I'm not going to miss being in the car everyday from 3:00-4:00, but I am going to miss Chrissie and Jane.

I'm Gonna Miss This #7: Australia

I've met some Americans who don't like the Aussie accent and can't understand them.  I think they are crazy.  I love the Aussie accent and I always will.  I'm gonna miss hearing it everyday.

I'm Gonna Miss This #6: Australia

I realize Costco is only fifteen minutes from my house in Virginia, but I'm sure gonna miss the people who work at Costco in Canberra.  I have a feeling Costco is gonna miss me :)

I'm Gonna Miss This #5: Australia

In some parts of Australia it might be hard to find a kangaroo.  Not in Canberra.  They are everywhere. It's going to be weird when we are back in Virginia and there will be no kangaroos hopping along beside the road.  Boy, I'm gonna miss them.

I'm Gonna Miss This #4: Australia

So this is not the greatest photo of any of us, but this is my book club.  I showed up not really knowing a soul and every month for the last two years, I've got to learn more about these American ladies.  We have read some great books and some really bad books, but I've really loved this book club.  I'm gonna miss it.

Back row:  Salla, Susan, Nancy, Allison, Patty, Karen, Kathy, Lisa

Middle Row:  Jocelyn, Harrison, Alecia, Ivey, Sarah, Sophie

Front Row:  me, Sue and Autumn.

I'm Gonna Miss This #3: Australia

I know, I know, once we get back to America  there will be no need for an embassy, but I'm really going to miss the embassy.  I guess it represents to me a new group of people outside of my usual church and school community that I have in my everyday life in America.  I'll miss the parties, checking for packages at the DPO, and the kind Aussie guards who always greet us with G'day.