Today is a gorgeous, sunny day and Preston is off wakeboarding with a couple guys from church. Yesterday he spent the afternoon boogie boarding at Fresh Water Beach. These are activities that feed the inspiration for his writing so I am happy for him while I sit at my desk, in this quiet little office, with just a window to tell me it’s sunny outide, trying to focus on work…. Yeah. I’m really happy for him. 
It’s hard to decide these days what to post on the blog. I feel like we’re just trucking along now. Things continue to become more familiar, and a little easier to manage. I’ve moved into a new office space and it is sooo much better than before. The kids know our names now and I have met more and more parents and have received some decent feedback for how things seem to be going so far. I know I mentioned to a few people before I left that I hate starting any new job, even if the situation is really comfortable. It just kills me to get through that time of feeling incapable constantly and not having any of the answers. So getting through that stage seems to be taking forever, but I might finally be making progress. I’m learning more about the staff, the history of relationships and politics here, and what the expectations for this position really are. Ideally, they need someone long-term in this position and someone very committed to the church. Obviously, I’m not that person, so it forces me to think carefully about what to focus on while I’m here. I don’t want to be a children’s director forever….in fact, I think we all know I don’t fit particularly well into the church employee category, so at this point the future after Australia is a blank slate. That’s actually kind of exciting.
Preston has been writing like crazy and making more and more connections with people. Already, this has turned out to be an amazing opportunity for him. Many of you have noticed that he’s not online often, but Preston is just not much of a technology guy so you’ll just have to trust my updates. He speaks often of his family in Oregon and missing them, as well as the Cramers, the Burns, and other families and friends who have loved us so well. There are also a lot of comments like, “hey, I should write that on the blog!’ So….intentions count, right?
I just realized the other day that Dave Rod and Chris Jarvis and others from Grace will be coming here in…..a month or so!! Not sure exactly when. But I am soooo looking forward to that! I have the feeling I don’t even realize how great it will be to have people from “that life” here to discuss the differences with. I talked to a girl the other day who is dying to do an internship at Grace (year-long) and she’s planning on chatting with Chris and Dave about that when they’re here. Should be fun. In fact….if anyone runs into either of those guys, I need to know if I’m supposed to help set anything up for them. Accomodations? Transportation? After Chris and Dave leave it looks like Lauren might be coming and then…Aunt Cyndy!! And then…Dana? Daniel? Jeremy? Jane? Rama? More, more!!
Now I will leave you with some new Australian vocab:
whilst = while
heaps = slang for “a lot” (like we say tons)
arvo = short for “afternoon”
winge = whine
breakie = breakfast
muso = musician
That’s all I can think of for now… Oh! I almost forgot! Preston got a call from someone offering us tickets to go see John Mayer at the Sydney Entertainment Center (directly across the street from where Chris and Keith stayed when they were here.) I know I’ll hear from everyone at home that knows I’m not a fan, BUT there’s no denying he’s a great musician AND Ben Kweller opened AND it was free, so…..who would say no?? It was great – especially Ben Kweller.
Ok, more soon. Lots of love. Please leave comments (except, jeremy….you can stop) and let us know you are still thinking of us. Americans in Australia can get needy sometimes.
Nate Becker Said:
on April 18, 2007 at 10:30 am
Hi Preston and Ang!
Wow! It has been so good reading your blog lately! We really miss you guys a ton and were glad when we finally made contact (well, sort of) with you again. Please email me ( I don’t have your new email addresses) so that we can connect again. My email address is: nate_becker2002@yahoo.com I think you guys are 2 or 3 time zones ahead of us so perhaps we could even talk on the phone–I’d love to hear your Australian accents! Peace out! Nate (& Jessica)
Doraine Said:
on April 19, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Hi Preston and Ange -
Great to read your blog and see what is happening in your lives. Lots of exciting stuff and challenging too! Preston – don’t overwork yourself on the boogie board and wakeboarding … hahaha.
New England is being New England – we have yet to see a hint of spring. We just had a major Nor’Easter here this week that did a lot of damage and flooded so many places the Governor has declared it a disaster area. I had to take alternate routes to work because the roads were covered with 2 feet of water in Groton.
Lots of stuff going on here – I’m still volunteering at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center and doing artwork there as well for their annual fundraiser. Still working at Pfizer and staying busy with animal portraits on the side. Getting some writing in and have two more children’s poems to try to get published, and am illustrating my brother’s book on Lake George Hockey. Family is fine – nothing new much there. Looking forward to some warm weather and Pene’s visit in May. She and I are going to assault the New England countryside when she gets here. Should be lots of fun!
Hope you are having a great week. You are in my prayers every day!! Hope you haven’t seen any more spiders!
Love ya,
Doraine
Nellie Baird Said:
on April 20, 2007 at 1:55 am
Hello Angela, I havent met Preston yet but someday I hope.
I don`t get to my computer often enough but I love that your Mom and Dad let us in on your blog(?) Not sure I understand what a blog is. I do like hearing what your up to. So many memories.
Stay Beautiful (Zech. 9:16-17) Love Nellie
"See You On The Other Side" by Scott Anderson Said:
on April 24, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Word just got through the prison system that you guys had left Indiana. Look what happened:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/24/indiana.prison.ap/index.html
Jonathan Parker Said:
on April 26, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Angela and Preston,
Thanks for the blog and for the news it brings. We will be putting the dock in at the lake in a couple of weeks. Care to join us? I feel sad that I may not see you at the lake this summer. I miss you much.
Angela, I resonnated with your comments on starting a new job. I have experienced very similar emotions and it doesn’t feel so good. But it is interesting how that can move up back to dependence upon the Lord. “In our weakness, His strength is made perfect.” What a great consolation!
As I read your comments, I hear some good formative thinking for the future. As an “old guy” looking back, I see so many times when the Lord was present and guiding even during severe uncertainties. Even in times of outright rebellion, I see he was there. You can have the confidence that He is there with you and He is not silent.
Anyway, stay well, continue in Him and keep writing!
Love ya,
Dad
Jonathan Parker Said:
on April 26, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Hi Ang,
me again! I noticed a couple of typos in my last comment. You’ll have to stumble thru those.
More later,
Dad
Aaron Said:
on April 28, 2007 at 2:12 am
Miss you guys! I wish we were coming to Austraila. Just updated the web-site with some Guatemala pictures. http://www.indyelliotts.com.
Aaron