Christmas Spectacular

Since we arrived in Sydney, Tom and I have been attending the Hillsong church just a few blocks from our home. One of the things we have loved about Hillsong is the people we have met, but what is quite amazing is the number of extremely talented musicians there are at the church.

Hillsong has a college that started a few years ago focusing primarily on those with an interest in music. Since Hillsong is known worldwide by their music, they have been able to draw in hundreds of students from all over the world. As you can imagine this allows them to put on quite a performance when needed.

Christmas is one of those times.  Two weekend ago we attended their annual Christmas Spectacular. Every year they take a well known story and put a "Christmas" and "Christian" twist on it. This year the story was The Christmas Carol, and they did an amazing job. (This was the only picture I could find, but at least it will give you a small glimpse)

We also have recently bought the Hillsong Christmas CD (which has been playing in our home on repeat most days of the week). Tom said that "Born is the King is the coolest Christmas song I have ever heard). So if you haven't heard it, you should check it out.

Shark Island

We had the pleasure of being our roommates' date to his company christmas party held at Shark Island. Shark Island is a small exclusive island in the middle of the Sydney Harbour. It is not open to pubic, you can only "rent" out the island to get onshore, and this is in fact what Austral Bricks (our roommate Mark's company) did.

Being the token Americans we made sure to stop by the local Starbucks to begin our day in the Harbour. This might sound unnecessary, but considering Starbucks shut down 70% of their Starbucks a few years ago Starbucks has become a luxury commodity. Only 3 remain in all of Sydney. To add insult to injury, the bill for 2 drinks totalled over $15. Wow.

Arriving at the Harbour we were in paradise. On one side was a MASSIVE cruise liner getting ready to head to sea; on the other side was the famed Sydney Opera House; on the other the Harbour bridge; right in front of us stood our tall ship. 45 minutes later the pirate ship arrived at shark island to get created by leis, mimosas, 75 degrees and sunshine. On all sides the harbour was littered by hundreds, maybe thousands of sailboats.

Mark's company provided great company. They had endured a tough year as building slowed considerably but everyone was happy to celebrate the good work they put in and get ready for a good year. We didn't meet a person who didn't love Mark. We are blessed to call him our roommate. Needless to say, the day was perfect. A chance to escape the city, enjoy the sun and spend time with each other.

Springtime in Sydney

Christmas on the beach?!? Yes this is how most Australians spend their holidays because it will be the middle of summer here. This has been a hard thing for me to wrap my head around, but I am enjoying the sun nevertheless. Here are a few springtime pictures from around our neighbourhood.

"My lover is mine, and I am his." -Song of Solomon 2:16

Today marks 6 months of becoming Mrs. McAndrew, wow it has gone fast.  When I think back over all my blessing over the past 6 months I am overwhelmed. Here are a few of the things I have loved over the past 6 months; 

our wedding :)

adventures

new beginnings 

learning more about the one I love

learning more about how to love the one I love

change

love

support 

laughing 

happiness 

joy 

waking up next to my husband every day

saying "i love you" to my husband every night

thankful for our family

new friends

growing closer to one another

growing closer to God

God's peace and love 

discovering 2 news incredible cities together

our wonderful jobs

To my husband, thanks for everything these past 6 months. You give me a reason to smile, unending support and love, and a new joy everyday. 

I love you more everyday!

CM 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST LITTLE SISTER!

Today here in Australia I was able to celebrate my little sister, Jamie's, 22nd birthday. Although she wasn't here with me and although for her it wasn't even her birthday yet, I still celebrated.

I have been so blessed to have such an amazing family, one of which being J. She has been such an encouragement to me over the past few years and really helped me through some very hard times. Through it all she stood by my side and loved me, supported me, and listened to me. She is the type of girl that loves unconditionally and will never let you down. Thus she is the best little sister a girl could ask for.

Being on the other side of the world for such a special day has been hard, but I send her my love and my thoughts from Sydney!

So happy birthday J, I hope it is amazing and I can't wait to celebrate with you when we come home (even if it happens to be a few months late :)

                                                        We love you! 

Sculptures By The Sea

God has blessed us with a great community group including several great singles and at least 5 couples who are newly married or engaged to be married. It makes for a fun and fruitful environment.

Each year Sydney plays host to Sculptures by the Sea, a free outdoor art festival lasting 2+ weeks. **reminder: it's almost summa down unda** The festival remains on display 24 hours a day and is open to anyone (as long as they can find parking). After work last Friday the group got together to enjoy the art, spend time together and have a beach cookout.

This might be another good time to point out that Sydney is a ridiculously expensive city. If you live in New York I envy you. 'nut said. So, the ladies in our group were smart enough to understand that we could save a bundle of dough by cooking the meal ourselves. A very good call.

Caroline and I showed up late because I was working downtown until 6:30pm. We arrived at 7:00 right in time for sunset and with plenty of time to enjoy the sculptures. Here are a few of our favorite sculptures...

Happy Birthday Mum!

How lucky are we to have two great mums!?! (Yeah we said mum)

We wanted to take a few moments to say a very special Happy Birthday to Heidi McAndrew, our beautiful, artistic, caring, loving, inspiring mum. We've missed her lots since moving to the underside and want to say 'thank you' for all of her love and support. It must be tough for a mum to see her kids pick up and leave the home, but even more difficult when they move far away to Florida and Sydney.


We want to assure you, mom, that our hearts are always with you. Everyday the actions we take and decisions we make are because of you and dad and your caring love. We have taken notice of the example you have set. We are lucky to call you mom and thank God for you daily. 

I love the way you smile.

I love the way you plan so far in advance. 

I love the way you're still the last one out of the house, every time.

I love the way you love Dad. 

I love that you never needed a recipe 

I love the huge lunches you used to pack me for school.

I love that you came to Stanford just for football games.

I love that you don't colour your hair.

I love that I go by Tommy because it reminds me of home.

I love that we share the challenge of big feet.

I love that you live in the town where you grew up.

I love that you stayed home to raise us.

I love that you cry all the time.

I love that you wear funny glasses to cover up the tears. 

I love that you love us so clearly and consistently.

I love that I'm a mama's boy.

I love that you're just so easy to love. 

I don't know how to explain it 

but I know that words with hardly do.

Miracles and signs and wonders 

aren't enough for me to prove to you.

Don't you know I've always loved you

Even before there way time?

Though you [moved] away, I tell you still

Don't you know I've always loved you.

and I always will.

-Third Day (edited by Tommy)

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday my Love! Yesterday/today was Tommy's birthday, and the first birthday in our new family :) What a blessing it was to spend the day celebrating the past 25 years of his life, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for the next 25! 

Being in a new country it is sometimes hard to find a gift, or even a good place for a special birthday dinner, but after a recommendation by a friend I found just the place. We went to dinner at "table for 20", and it was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. It was just the food though that made it great, it was everything about the experience.  Their slogan put it into words very well, 

"IN SURRY HILLS ONE GUY IS REINVENTING THE IDEA OF THE EVENING MEAL BY OPENING HIS SPACE FOR A WEEKLY GATHERING OF FRIENDS & STRANGERS. SO GRAB YOURSELF A SEAT, PASS THE WINE & PITCH IN BECAUSE THIS IS NEIGHBOURHOOD DINING AT IT'S VERY BEST. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF NORMAL RESTAURANTS IN SYDNEY. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM."

Table for 20 is not only a restaurant but also a ministry.  Their ministry Hope Street is an outreach ministry to those who haven't heard the good news of the gospel. "HopeStreet works alongside the most marginalised people in our city, through programs aimed at empowering people toward the fullness of life for which we were all created." The restaurant and bar are what financially support the ministry and their love for God was evident throughout the entire meal, the way they served, the way the loved and they way the treated each and everyone as though they were family was amazing. 

So if you are ever in Sydney (which hopefully you will all come to visit) you should for sure check it out, for it is a wonderful example of God's love in action. 

Halloween

Dunno if you've heard but Australia is home to several of the deadliest spiders on the planet.
We got that memo from my cousin, Katie McDonald (living in Melbourne).
On our second day on the island we were getting ready to take the car out when we noticed two hairy friends in our garage. Now Caroline waits until the garage door is wide open before dashing past the gatekeepers.
We thought Halloween might be the right time to introduce our friends. Happy Halloween!

Together as One

Tonight we went to the Hillsong church Together As One concert recording. Some of you may have heard of the bands Hillsong or Hillsong United. Our church is the home church of those bands. Several years ago the church realized that visitors to Sydney were asking,"What's the church that Hillsong United plays at?" Eventually church leadership changed the name all together to capitalize on the opportunity to reach more people for Christ through the gifts God had given them.
Needless to say Hillsong is a very musically focused church and tonight was the live album recording. Over 11,000 people from our (yeah I just said our) 4 Sydney area locations met for the annual event at Olympic Park in Sydney's western suburbs.
What a unique opportunity to feel the holy spirit. We were blessed to be a part of the service. We love the people at Hillsong church. God is watching over us.

I don't want to fail to mention that we carpooled to the event with Caroline's boss from Northern Beaches Christian Schools. Anne and her husband are members at Hillsong and parents of one of the worship leaders who was on stage tonight, Sam. Just another blessing to have a boss that would be a part of our lives outside of work.

It was also really cool to see the venues from the 2000 Games. I'm sure we will return for some tours soon.

Milly

Just to make sure not all of the posts are too serious…
Introducing Milly, our new Toyota Echo. What a beauty. 33 MPGs.
We also like to think that we brought good luck to the All Blacks as we bought this all black car on the same day as the New Zealand All Black rugby team broke the 24 year curse and won the Rugby World Cup!

Corinthians 13

 

LOVE.

It's an interesting word in our culture today, one that has been twisted around and manipulated to be something it wasn't meant to be. A word that we struggled for years to figure out it's true meaning and purpose, and ultimately how did God create it to be in marriage. 

It was only about a year and a half ago when we came to realize that true love was a commitment, a promise we would have to make to one another every single day, just as God does for us. It isn't something based on feelings or emotions, although those are often by it's side, but a decision we would make no matter what might come our way. It was almost after 3 years of being together that we were able to understand God's meaning of love, and a time to verbally make that commitment to each other. 

So this is a blog about our love, and how we are juggling the joys of life together day by day. 

"Love is not a place

To come and go as we please

It's a house we enter in

Then commit to never leave

So lock the door behind you

Throw away the key

We'll work it out together

Let it bring us to our knees

Love is a shelter in a raging storm

Love is peace in the middle of a war

And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door

No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for

To some, love is a word

That they can fall into

But when they're falling out

Keeping that word is hard to do

[

Love will come to save us

If we'll only call

He will ask nothing from us

But demand we give our all

I will fight for you

Would you fight for me?

It's worth fighting for"

- Warren Barfield