hello - g'day

We've been back in the States for 2 months now. Since being back I have noticed, with renewed vigour, the many differences between American and Australian culture. One that is easily expressed is the different words we use. So, I've compiled a list for you word lovers. The list is in no way exhaustive but contains the words that, when used, most commonly produce a comment, question or blank stare.

USA - Australia

bangs - fringe
bathing suit - swimmers/cossies
breakfast - brekkie
call - ring
cell - mobile
cilantro - coriander
cookie - biscuit/bikky
cooler - eski
diaper - nappy
eraser - rubber
fall - autumn
flip flops - thongs
frosting - icing
ground beef - mince
gum - chewy
hat/taboggon - beanie
"hello" - "g'day"
hood (car) - bonnet
"how are you doing?" - "how are you going?"
marker - texta
mechanical pencil - pacer
pacifier - dummy
pavement - tar/bitumen road
pop/soda - fizzy drink/soft drink
"seriously!?" - "fair dinkum!?"
sidewalk - pavement/walkway
stroller - pram
sunglasses - sunnies
sweater - jumper
sweat pants - trackies
tennis shoes - joggers
trash - rubbish/garbage
trash can - bin
trunk - boot
two weeks - fortnight
water fountain - bubbler
"wow!" - "crikey!"

A talk with Eliana

I've read that babies can start cooing by 6 weeks. At 10 weeks Eliana is a bit behind, but today she gave it her best effort :). Turn your volume up!

Summer to Winter

Nate, Eliana and I flew back to the USA on Nov 25th. The flights from Sydney to San Fransisco to Chicago to Grand Rapids, MI, went beautifully. Nate and I are slowly adjusting to the 16 hour time difference while Eliana has been a little champion and has quickly settled into her new routine. Thanks be to God for his answers to your prayers! The different time zone has been accompanied by a different season. Last week we were swimming in the ocean and this week we are shovelling snow!

This is us on the beach our last night in Aus. The water was so beautiful and warm!

And this is the gorgous but bitter December weather in Michigan!

The Lakelins

Here are a few photos of our last night with the Lakelins. What a wonderful year we had with my sister and her family. We are so thankful to God for bringing us to them and for their never ending sacrificial giving and love. We learnt so much from them about godly parenting, servanthood, hard work, homekeeping, marriage, contentment, cheerful generosity, selflessness, joyful sacrifice, trust in God, love for Christ and how to function as a devoted Chrisitan in the real world, to name but a few. We had so many laughs and fun times together. We miss them dearly and look forward to the day when we can all sit down over a Milo again.

Jason - 15 months

Wesley - 4 years

AJ -nearly 6 years

The Pipers return

Here are the Pipers, our beloved friends whom we worked with in Mozambique. They are the reason I (Jenni) went to Mozambique, to home-school their 2 boys along with 5 other wonderful kids. They also played a big part in setting me up with Nate. With their gentle nudging and countless morning tea and dinner invites they watched us go from acquaintance to friendship to engagement.
They arrived back in Wollongong, Australia, 5 days before we left for the States. We were so blessed to be able to see them again - and their 3 children who seem double the height they were 2.5 years ago! We love you Pipers!

The first 6 weeks

The first 6 weeks have been wonderful. Parents often say that when the child comes, it was like they were always there. How true this is. I was half marveling yesterday as we went on errands that it felt quite normal to see Nate pushing a pram with our daughter in it!

Eliana is a beautiful happy baby. She smiles daily now and there is nothing like a baby's smile. It makes you laugh and melt at the same time. While she is a happy baby, she still has her fair share of fussiness! She loves to keep reminding her mumma and dadda that they need to constantly turn to God for wisdom and dependence.

Eliana turns 6 weeks next Wednesday. She gets a 6 week check up and immunisations. To us she seems like a very long but skinny baby (apart from her double chin:)) so I'm looking forward to seeing how she is growing. Eliana has untamable hair that Aunty Wooz has appropriately labelled tidal wave hair. Her eyes are a dark, undefinable colour but seem like they'll turn dark brown. Her fingers are super long and I hope that she'll be keen to use them to play the guitar and/or piano one day.

I love the photo below. Eliana is 4 weeks and it's the only one of all three of us taken since the hospital. It's almost a true to life photo. I'm all ruffled and bed-headed from sleeping in after the 11pm, 3am and 6 am feeds and Eliana is loudly letting us know that she's ready for her 9am feed, yet we are all very happy. The only thing that is different from real life is that Nate's head is usually all there.

There are more photos of Eliana on the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=149786&id=543241773&l=8968ebe461

It's a girl!

Our little Eliana Ruth Schoen was born on Wednesday, 30th September at 9:14 am (Aussie time). She weighed 8lb (3.6kg) and was 49 cm long (don't know in inches). We are so thankful to our God for a beautiful healthy baby. She feeds and sleeps like a champion!

I know she's not really smiling in the below photo but she sure does look happy to be on daddy's shoulder!

The task of raising such a small, dependant child is an amazing privilege. We are loving every bit, even the round the clock feedings!

We have such a great love for Eliana. Oh, how it has deepened my awe of God to know that he gave His Only, perfect Son to pay the penalty for sinners! Praise Him!