Sydney to Brisbane

We are on day 8 of our awesome trip to Australia. The bridge climb was so great!! I wish they had something like this on the Golden Gate or the Brooklyn Bridge. The city views are stunning and the workout causes quite a bit of calf and butt-burn...ouch!!

The games have been fun. The Rebs are awesome...the crowds are small but very animated. I have to say that the RE-BELS chant is kinda lame when there are only 50 people. Sounds a bit whiney...It is much better in the T & M with 10,000 whining it! Some really obsessed fan actually has the UNLV fight song on his Ipod and plays it over this handheld speaker at the games. Seriously....NO ONE knows any of the words..it is kinda funny when the song plays all scratchy like an old record and then we all jump in on the U-N-L-V Go, Fight, Win part. If I saw us somewhere I would definately crack up!!

The other big news is this...I have absolutely NO dignity left. I can say I left a little, well maybe alot of myself here in Australia. The motion sickness pills tat have been my salvation for years have not seemed to work very well here. I'll leave it at that.

We spent today at Surfers Paradise outside of Brisbane. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed ourself tremendously. One of the players, Scott Hoffman, met the sandbar headfirst and had to be practically dragged out of the water by Rene Rougeou and Joe Darger. His face shows the worst of it, but I think his neck and back are going to need some major adjustments. Boogie boarding may not be his best sport!




Just another quick note....We have been able to visit the Brisbane and Sydney Temple. It is so cool to see our worldwide church. There were 3 elders that were able to come to one of the games. As it seems in all my worldwide travels....I have the knack of running into missionaries from Las Vegas.

1st couple of days in Australia

Wow!!! We made it! 26 hours to get from my house to the Hotel room on Sydney Harbor. 26 hours is totally worth it! It is beautiful. Crisp 10C or 71F with bright blue skies and crystal clear water everywhere.

Our flight arrived at 6:05am Sydney time so the bus driver had to kill off several hours before we could check into our room. Haha..I don't think he thought we would notice he just drove up and down the same street but would tell us to "look off to the right and you will see....". I was totally ready for a shower.

The plane ride....can you say...row 70. Yes...center seats on top of it. It wasn't too bad because we fanagled the two seats between us so we could spread out and stretch out a little bit. But really....row 70....don't they know who I am? haha

Had a quick tour of Opera House. Stunningly beautiful on the outside. Pretty cool but plain on the inside. The wind was howling today so we wandered back to the hotel after a late lunch at a little pizzeria that covered everything with chunks of garlic....now we are going to be stinky tourists :) Then off to nap a little and watch a little Wimbledon.....sorry judy (she's my roomate and she hates tennis)

Today we are off to do jet boat stunts out on the Harbor and then we have another game tonight.

The boys on the team are really fun and really just typical college kids. It's fun to hang out and crack up and make them pose for crazy photos...they now know who Auntie Nae' is (not to be confused with NaeNae who is Rene' Rougeou) and they know I won't take any "just stand there in military style" photos. The inner models are starting to come out in them!

Love you all and miss you like crazy.

JLR

To my "pookie"

If there is ever a tomorrow when we are not together there is something you must always remember: you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think, but most important of all, even if we are apart. I'll always be with you. - A.A. Milne

I'm off to the other side of the world!! Wish you were with me baby!

I love you sooooooooooooooo much!

Janae'

Mrs Destiny Pittzanbarger

What a fun day in the Rowe Home! Darling Destiny got married today at a beautiful sealing in the Las Vegas Temple. It was nice to share those special moments with Tiffany's family (who seem very much like our own family)

The reception was loads of fun just as we expected. Here are just a few of the fun highlighs of our evening, (Doesn't King Keith look like a hottie in the color blue purrrrrr)

Love Notes

/div>A couple of years ago, for one of my Young Woman Leaders projects, I set a goal to write a little note, or thank you card or congratulations, whatever, once a week for a year. I entered it into my planner and every Sunday night for a year a little reminder would pop up to send a "love note".

I would ponder about who I might want to send a little card or note to that week. It was so fun to actually spend time thinking about the people in my life and consider the events in their lives. Not one week went by that I couldn't find at least one person that had something going on or that had done something kind for me or my family. Those were the favorites. Writing a note to a teacher or one of my boys friends, expressing my gratitude for them and their good influence.

It's been a couple of years since I completed that goal. I didn't really think I would miss it as much as I do. I got a sweet card in this mail this week, a little "love note". It came on a day that I really needed something nice to be said in my direction. So Thank You for that "love note". One of these days I hope you all open your mailbox and find my love comin' back your way!

jlr

Autumn-more proof that I am shallow

But worry not.....for I am Ariel


You Are Ariel!

Headstrong and fiesty. You have a mind of your own that's full of romantic dreams about the world around you. Exploring exotic places is your ultimate dream, and although you can be a little naive you'll realize that there is something to be gained from your family's wisdom.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

So reach deep nd ponder the mysteries of life. I am Ariel, Hear me sing!!

jlr

Just an another ordinary day...

So nothing of great note happened today. Went to the car wash, returnd some shoes at Dillards, exchanged some currency from USD to AUD and then laundry. Coco (the girl who helps us keep the house clean) came over and that always makes me happy. She has gotten into the habit of sending some of her illigals she is stashing away or her own children. There is no doubt they work hard, they do. It's just I like it when she cleans. She is smart and shows a ton of common sense. I can walk in and just by the smell of the cleaning know if it is Coco herself or someone else.

Today was one of those lucky days when she came. It has made me happy the rest of the day! Seems easier to cook dinner in a spotless kitchen, laundry in an organized laundry room.

So today was an ordinary day that I love so much. We heard from Jake and he is great. Some days I am grateful for their simplicity. The lack of drama brings a quiet sense of peace..

I love this amazingly ordinary day. I am greatful....my cup runneth over!

jlr

Ssshhhh...listen....can you hear the quiet?

Today in my neighborhood there must not have been one pool party, wedding, BBQ, birthday party with blowup games, I could go on and on. The reason I know there was absolutely none of those things planned....there was no wind. THERE WAS NO WIND....Yippee yay skiddledeedee....
This is the 1st day in months that stayed calm ALL day long. Tempurature stayed under 100. It was a perfect Las Vegas Summer Day!

Thank You Heavenly Father

Thinking about "Wink-Wink"

This here is a "inside" message to a special person. Hope it brightens your day!

Janae'