Update Numero Uno....

So I am EXTREMELY behind on my blog but here's a quick recap of all the craziness that happened after Sam and I initially met..... so via the miracles of Skype (best program ever!) Sam and I were able to talk every day from his computer to mine. We starting reading scriptures together and would spend hours a day just talking and laughing and sometimes just sitting together and enjoying each other's company. Only a couple months after we met 'down under' Sam flew over to the states to work at a Jewish summer camp in New York where he taught water-skiing and wake-boarding for several months. I flew over to visit him (and had quite the adventure getting stuck at the Altlanta airport) and spent an exciting weekend helping Sam out on the lake.

Did I mention it rains A LOT in New York? Yeah...this is after getting caught in one of many torrential downpours...

My lodging at the summer camp...

After camp ended for Sam, he flew out to Memphis to support me while I finished my masters thesis and was there when I needed a shoulder to cry on after getting pounded in my thesis defense (no worries...I passed with flying colors...it was just a bit stressful to say the least). After defending my thesis, Sam and I jumped in the car and took off for Colorado and some much needed relaxation. Here are some of the adventures we had in Memphis and in Colorado...

The above pictures are of Sam and I at the Memphis zoo checking out the good food and fuzzy bears...

In Salida at the top of 'S' mountain with my mom

Some random Salida art found on the hike up 'S' mountain....

After mom's we traveled to Estes Park and spent time in Rocky Mountain National Park with my dad

Did someone say not to feed the animals? Obviously people ignored the signs...this little guy came right up to us to share our lunch.... I didn't even have to zoom in to get his little chubby cheeks!

So it is officially 1 week before I pack my trailer, store my furniture, and leave M-town for good! I am excited to start my new adventure with Sam and begin our new life together but leaving the country comes with a whole set of complicated and mixed emotions! It's like being flooded with relief and worry, excitement and nervousness all at the same time! I am leaving everything and everyone I have ever depended on which is scary... but starting a new life with the man I love which is incredibly amazing and worth every moment of stress and worry. I get to be with my eternal companion and that is an amazing blessing!

And for all of you who haven't heard the story leading up to this international life-altering move... here's the short and sweet version!

Me and Sam met on a website (cliche but true)! He was coming over for a summer camp and wanted to meet new friends to show him around while he was visiting! I wrote him back and told him I would love to have him visit so he could see M-town and the beautiful Rocky Mountains. We started flirting and sending emails frequently soon after and I was hooked! Although he wasn't coming over until the summer I had an opportunity to travel over to Australia so I emailed him and asked if he would mind if I dropped in... after all, I didn't want another woman snatching away this amazing man I had just met! I spent the next 20-ish hours at airports, and on airplanes, trains, and buses. It was insane! When I arrived in Bega to meet Sam it was late and raining. The rest of the travelers slowly left as their rides came and picked them up and I was left sitting on a bench, in the rain, with no cell phone reception... Turns out they had changed the bus stop location and Sam was waiting just a couple blocks away thinking I had stood him up! He finally found the right bus stop and we traveled back to the Parker house. I don't remember much of anything from that night...the bus and train ride had completely wiped me out! Sam later told me his family was just impressed that I was still smiling after all the drama (when in doubt...smile and nod...it always works!)

I spent the next week bonding with him...we hit it off immediately! Our first date was a canoe trip and jog to a beautiful ocean inlet. It was incredibly romantic! I saw my first kangaroos and we watched little puffer fish swimming in and out of the inlet! There was even big beautiful jellyfish in the lake we canoed across...















The rest of the week was filled with all sorts of fun activities...we went to Sam's brother's wedding, his nephew's 1st birthday party, and camping on tiger-snake island! By the time I had to leave we knew that we had something special!

Here are some other pictures of us motorbike riding, camping with Emily and Kevin, and our trip to the Bega cheese factory with Cymmon.