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Visiting my familia in the USA

BrooklynLeave a comment
Clouds amongst the beautiful mountains.

I’ve been communicating with my family via all types of technology, FaceTime/ FB video calls, WhatsApp, iMessaging, and all things tech since I moved to Australia. When the pandemic hit, it was really hard for me not to have my family visit me or see the arrival of my little boy.

Especially during the birth of my son because my mom was planning to be there for that special moment.

It took 2 yrs for Australia to finally open their borders and open international travelling, once we heard of the opportunity, we took it as a green light to prepare to visit my family for the first time in the USA.

Discussing with my husband, I remember in our conversation, that all I wanted to do was just spend time with my family, my husband’s questions were, “is there anything you would like to see while you’re there?” I didn’t mind travelling within the USA. All I could think of was just being able to sit and just hang out with my mom, brother & sisters even if it meant just watching a movie at home/doing my nails with my sisters or playing Mario kart with my brother & his kids.

Fleurir Avec Grâce // Bloom With Grace

Brooklyn

Je suis un jardin d’une rose unique qui s’épanouit à l’infini.

I am a garden of a single rose blossoming in infinite ways. – Sonia Azalia

One part of God’s divine gift to us is being able to be in nature. Reasons I’ve always loved spring, first is the flowers- they come all in different shapes, sizes and color. 2nd— The days are more cooler and everything is rejuvenated from winter. The grass becomes greener and this is when flowers begin to bloom.

Blossoming — According to the Cambridge dictionary it means, when a tree or plant blossoms, it produces flowers before producing fruit that can be eaten.

Another definition that I love is: “When people blossom, they become more attractive, successful, or confident, and when good feelings or relationships blossom, they develop and become stronger.”

Blossoming isn’t something just to do with flowers but with us as individuals. I’ve learned throughout my years the many times I’ve blossomed into becoming a better version of myself has been a daily process not just for once a week or when it comes to attending church on a Sunday but a daily thing—with the help of my Savior Jesus Christ I can feel more of his love for me that he has shown me through the gift of the atonement.

When we center our lives in our Redeemer, we can blossom in ways we never thought we could before.

Welcome to Australia

BrooklynLeave a comment
This picture was taken while Damian took me to see Cabarita, Australia.

Aside from having the Great Barrier Reef, amazing views of the gorgeous beaches and all you can eat açaí bowls- which have always been my favorite since before moving to Straya. Learning how to get my way around Australia has been rewarding, challenging and enjoyable.

The 1st thing that has welcomed me since I have been living in Australia is: Learning how to drive on the opposite side of the road-literally driving the opposite side of the US was super challenging and still is. When Damian asks me to take the car for a drive, I act confident that I can do any turn because of my good driving skills in the USA. I thought this will come in handy that because I already know how to drive back home in Utah.

Damian even chimed in and said to me, “Steph, it’s pretty easy here, compared to the USA, we just have more roundabouts” his comment made me think ok it’s not a big deal. Keep in mind, it was my first week settled in. Little did I know that australian streets are more narrower than Utah which was something I am trying to get use to more and using a handy GPS on your smartphone is not ideal when it doesn’t direct you to the correct location which can be about 15% of the time.