Australia Zoo! Crikey!

Welcome to Australia Zoo!

Australia Zoo was opened by Bob and Lyn Irwin in 1970.  Steve Irwin helped his parents at the zoo since childhood.  The wildlife zoo has doubled in size since its opening, now at 76 acres!  Steve's widow, Terri, now owns the zoo.  The Irwin family lives just outside the zoo grounds.  We were told to look out for them, as they often visit during lunch time, but we didn't catch a glimpse of the famous family.

 Lizards that freely roam around the zoo.

 

 Our host, Bruce insisted that we needed hats for the zoo and that these would make us look like true Aussies... so we bought them even though they are not adorable :)  This is Allison, a zoo worker and I holding a lizard.

 Albert the crocodile!

 Alison

 The 4 Minnesota girls!

 Waiting in line to feed the elephants

 I am absolutely in love with koalas! 

 G'day Mate!

 We're off to the Crocoseum

This crocodile is sneaking closer...

He jumps quite high for food!

Welcome to Roo Heaven!  You enter a very large gated area full of kangaroos just waiting to be fed!  All the kangaroos are females.  They release a male into the area at certain time when they want more joeys to be born!

You can see this pouch hanging low.  While we stood watching, we could seeing the growing little joey moving around in there!

Beautiful ducks hanging out with the kangaroos

Needing lots of food and attention!

The Irwin family

Tazmanian devil

Foot and hand prints of this famous family found on one of the main sidewalks

A tribute to Steve Irwin

This sign just made me laugh! 

The cheetahs are not currently on display at Australia Zoo, but we were fortunate enough to walk by while Echo was out for an afternoon walk.  Here he is enjoying a little catnip and ice cube snack!

Gorgeous elephants posing for us!

Siam, Bimbo and Sabu

 Gorgeous lion just relaxing...

 We waited in line to get our picture taken with a koala.  They are such cool animals!  I wish I could have held onto him for a few more minutes.  They are very soft and cuddly.  He gripped onto me like a little baby :)

We enjoyed a wonderful at the zoo with our leader, Justine, and 2 student volunteers, Saraya and Nikkilee.  Thanks girls!

Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport!

G'day Mate!  :)

I haven't written on this blog in a long time! I told a few people they could keep up with me during my trip to Australia, so I'm going to try to best to keep this updated as a part of my trip journal!

Our 31 hours of traveling was very tiring.  Sam's wonderful family rescued us from LAX during our 9 hour layover.  We stopped at the beach, visited Santa Monica pier and checked out the area.  It was great to see California, meet Sam's family membesr and not be stuck at the airport.  Our 13 hour flight from LAX to Queensland was a rough one!  Allison and I got about an hour or 2 of sleep.  The turbulance was so bad.  It was the worst while we were flying above Hawaii, so we're wondering if it was related to the tsunami.  Every time I'd fall asleep, the turbulance would wake me up.  Thankfully, V Australia has little tv monitors in the back on every seat.  They had tv series and movie to watch, games to play and music to listen to.   I was very happy for that.  I still had a hard time sitting there for so long, but that at least kept me a little bit entertained.

We arrived in Queensland, Australia at 8am on Sunday morning.  We were picked up my a faculty member from Queensland University of Technology (QUT).  We took a quick tour of the school we would be teaching at, met some of the people we would be working with and then headed home with our homestay families.  Allison and I are staying with a great couple!  We are enjoying their company, getting to know them and learning about Australia.

Today we took a tour of the QUT campus.  We learned the expectations of our trip and teaching, some information about the school and some helpful and funny Australian slang words. :)

The jet lag has me pretty tired, but I'm hoping that will fade away soon.  I slept about 13 hours last night and am pretty exhausted already!  It's about 3:30 pm here - we have a 15 hour time difference here!

Once we get internet set up at our house - hopefully tonight, I will be able to update this often and add lots of pictures.  We are spending 7 hours at the Australia Zoo tomorrow, so I'm sure I will have plenty of pictures to share tomorrow.

Hope all is well with all of you!

Wordless Wednesday

Summer again...

Ok... I promised Kari I'd do some blogging this summer so she could keep up with me... We'll see how good I am with it!

So I'm spending my summer at my parent's house again while working at their restaurant.  Ideal? Um, no.  Please don't get me wrong - I love my parents and I know the restaurant has supported our family for almost 18 years.  But it's a stressful place for me.  It's not necessarily easy to be with your family constantly.  Work things never stay at work and home things never stay at home.  And sometimes the people at the restaurant can just get to you!  But I'm thankful for a job, though it is not the one I would like to be doing.
What would I like to be doing?  I'd truly like to be back in Mankato.  I miss my kiddos - Bean and Java.  These amazing children brighten my day every day I am with them.  I have worked with them for 2 1/2 years.  I just get too sad thinking that I will only get to work with them for one more semester! :(  I try to not think about it.  These kids have taught me so much.  I can't even begin to thank God enough for bringing this amazing family into my life!

I know I'm meant to work with kids - not whiny adults ;) but for the summer, I guess I'll just have to deal with it!


Last week I was able to watch  my Goddaughter Mallory during the evening while my cousin was working.  I just cannot get enough of that girl!  She just turned 10 months old and somehow manages to get cuter every time I see her! My sister and I took her to the park.  We were surprised to find no swings, but we played on the slide for a little bit anyways.

Wordless Wednesday...

Happy Birthday precious Audrey

All I can do today is pray. I feel so blessed to have been following the story of Audrey Caroline for over a year now. Please click over to Angie's blog and read Audrey's story if you have not yet. Please pray for the Smith family today. Today is the one year anniversary of Audrey's birth and death.
I feel like I should write more, but it's Audrey's story. Her mother writes it so much better than I ever could.

Sweet Audrey-Girl from angie smith on Vimeo.




I usually find much more personal meaning in more contemporary Christian music, but today, this song jumped out to me. I sung it many times in high school, especially after the death of my grandmother. It just brings me so much comfort.


"Be Still, My Soul" ~Catharina von Schlegel

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on your side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In every change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; your best, your heavenly Friend
Through thorny way leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; your God will undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelled below.

Be still, my soul; though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then you will better know his love, his heart,
Who comes to soothe your sorrows and your fears.
Be still, my soul; your Jesus can repay
From his own fullness all he takes away.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Abrahamson Benefit Meal

Ruth Abrahamson
Benefit Meal
All You Care to Eat Pasta!!!
Ruth’s battle with cancer began 7 years ago as she was first diagnosed in 2002. She is now a 3 time cancer survivor and has undergone 5 surgeries related to the cancer, the most recent being on December 31st, 2008. The benefit will help defray the medical cost of the most recent surgery as well as her month long hospital stay in Rochester. She is the wife of retired E.L.S. Pastor Harvey Abrahamson and is a member of (a local church.)
What: All You Care to Eat Pasta Meal
& Silent Auction

Ruth is my boyfriend's mother. We are doing a lot of work to try to make this a successful event. The meal will be catered by my parents.

I have deleted the specifics of the event due to safety and privacy reasons.
If you are in the area and would be interested in coming please email me at Stella.Georgas@blc.edu for more info.

Hi/Lo Thursday

This post is part of "Hi/Lo Thursday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to read everyone else's "Hi/Lo" posts and get your link on their site.


Welcome to "Hi/Lo Thursday!"

My Lo:
It's midterm week at school! It was not has difficult as in past years, but stressful none the less. I made it through my hardest test this morning.

My High:

My classmates in my Special Education classes have formed a team in the Relay for Life at our school. This is something I have never participated in before, but I am very passionate about the cause.
I Relay because cancer has effected my life in many ways. In 2004, I lost my grandmother to pancreatic cancer. She was someone I always looked up to. She helped me through many things; she was my special best friend. I still miss her every single day. I watched the cancer slowly take over her body. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I Relay to support the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission by fighting back against a disease that has already taken so much.

• I Relay in memory of my amazing grandma, Muriel Pauline Snow.

• I Relay in support of Lindsey Jean Marlow. She struggled through 2 years of chemo-therapy while in high school. She stayed strong and is currectly in remission and is in her third year of college.

• I Relay in support of Ruth Diana Abrahamson. She is my boyfriend's mother and a 3 time cancer survivor.

• I Relay in support of Abigial Riggs. She is a strong 4 year old girl battling through rough chemo-therapy now. To read her story, follow along on their blog.
  

• I Relay in memory, honor, and support of all those battling with such a life threatening disease.

Please support me as I participate in the Relay for Life. I realize times are very tough for most people right now and many of you do not have a lot to give. Please do what you can if God moves you to do so. Even just a couple dollars will help.
Visit my personal page here to read more or to donate to this cause.
If you would like a luminary in honor, support, or memory of someone, we will be display them at the event if you are willing to donate just $10. They can be made through the site (click on luminaria on the left column.) If you would like to make your own or have me make one for you, that is another option. Please email me for more information on that.

If you are not able to contribute or even if you are, please keep me, my team and all event members in your prayers. We really want to do our part in the fight against cancer.

Happy Thursday!
The smells of SPRING BREAK are lurking around these parts...


God's blessings,

Stella

I've been a bad, bad blogger

I've been a bad, bad blogger. I haven't written anything since August! Yikes. I'm on here constantly reading numerous blogs too many times a day, but I never make time for my own! Oh well.
Just a little update on life...
I'm in my 2nd semester at my new college and I've actually started my special education classes. I am absolutely loving them! Of course, I don't LOVE school like you do when you're in second grade and your teacher is your best friend... but things have improved since last semester. I miss my "old" college a lot, I felt like it was just the place for me. I still see some friends from there fairly often, so I get my fill of the ones that matter most. While I don't think this new school is the best fit for me, I know that I am where I'm supposed to be. I feel that God is truly calling me to work with children with special needs and I don't know a better way to do it than this. I just reminded my friend Jenn this weekend how thankful I am she suggested a job for me as a personal care assistant (PCA). It truly opened my eyes and helped me figure out what I should do. I always knew I wanted to work with children. I've been saying I want to be a teacher since about 3rd grade, but I could never pick one area that stuck out a lot to me. Working as a PCA made that decision for me. I absolutely love working with Kari and her family. Though it can be a challenge, it is one I have truly learned to appreciate. Both Kari's children have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Before meeting Kari, I knew next to nothing about this. Wow, has that changed. I've attended a seminar, worked numerous hours in their house and even attended a Day on the Hill lobbying for FASD with the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS). I enjoy this work a lot and I know it is what God wants and needs me to do. I'm learning a lot in my classes and can easily say a learn so many new things every day.
That's about all I have for now. Time for some homework and studying.

Until next time,

~Stella

Wordless Wednesday

Prayers for a dear friend

Well... to begin with, I just got some very sad news. One of my best friends from high school lost his father over the weekend. His parents were divorced while we were in school because his father had a lot of alcohol related issues. They don't know any details as of right now, but I'm guessing the death was also alcohol related. I feel so horrible right now. This friend and I have known each other since kindergarten and have had our share of times which were both good and bad. We were very close later in grade school and also in high school. Since going away to college, we've obviously grown apart. We still get together once in a while, but it isn't the same. I just hope and pray he'll be okay. I know he's strong and I know he can make it through this. I hope he'll let me help him in any way I can.
You're in my thoughts and prayers, buddy!

Later I'll write about my trip to Wisconsin last week, but for now, I need some time with God.

Until next time.

God's blessings,
Stella

Orientation, lease, work and gyros...

Well, its been awhile since I have written. Its been busy lately! Last week I went to visit my boyfriend, Nate, and attend orientation for my new college. I am really excited to be transferring to a bigger school... I've been in a small religious-based school since Kindergarten. It has always been an amazing blessing to me. I would not change it for the world... yet I'm excited for a new place. I was also able to sign a lease for an apartment with 2 wonderful girls while I was there. I'll be moving in some time in the middle of August. I'm also really excited to be living with these two ladies. I know we'll get along great and make the most out of our experiences! Last year I cam home almost every weekend because I was going through a lot and felt like I needed to, and also because I had a job waiting for me every Saturday. My parents run a restaurant, so there's always work for the boss's daughter! This year I'm hoping to be able to stay at school more often. I've grown a lot since first moving out of the house. I also think I'll enjoy things more with being in an apartment instead of a dorm... though that was also a fun experience.
I was very thankful to spend some time with Nate while I was getting things arranged for August. We have been dating since October 2006. Since then, we've been at the same school and last summer Nate had an internship and lived only 20 minutes away from me. Now he's about 1 1/2 hours away. Its been something new for us dealing with not seeing each other every day, but I think it is making us stronger. We have been rotating driving to see each other about every other week.
On Saturday, after working at the restaurant till about 2, my family, a few employees and I catered a neighbor's graduation party. My dad borrowed 2 gyro cookers. The mother of the graduate absolutely loves gyros, so it was a must for the party. The cookers were a lot of work, but they were quite the crowd pleasers! People were very curious to see what was cooking and many did not hesitate to try something new. One of the cooks we brought along, Ben, hasn't worked for us very long, so we hadn't brought him out to cater yet. He was awesome with the people. He jumped right in and showed them how to assemble the sandwiches. We all had a great time! We went through about 60 pounds of gyro meat and only 10 pounds of pulled pork... the gyros were definitely popular. The parents were absolutely thrilled with everything and we had a lot of fun catering a party for great friends!
Yesterday was pretty much a recuperation day. After working 14 hours on Saturday, I was exhausted, and my parents started 2 hours before I did. We were all in desperate need of some sleep. We all got some much needed rest, took care of a few financial forms for school, and took Dad's computer in for some help. Geek Squad is always so helpful!
Well, that's about all for now. I wish you all a blessed and safe week and a great 4th of July holiday. We're closing the restaurant down for the day, so we're looking forward to a day off!

Until next time...

God's blessings,
~Stella

"Be Still and Know I'm Here."

Well, tonight, I thought I would share the song that inspired my blog title. I am an avid listener of KTIS, the Christian radio station in this area. I'm not always up for some of the talking they do in the afternoons... it is never "bad" or inappropriate for children or anything like that... I just want music! Anyway, I really enjoy this radio station. My boyfriend and I have attended a few Christian band concerts and we fall in love just a little more every time. The music is so amazing. Some songs are classics which never get old and some are brand new... but they always speak of God's love for us. I have many favorites, and the list grows daily. This one recently caught my attention. The actual music is wonderful and catches you automatically. Upon listening carefully, I fell in love.



"Be Still" ~Story Side B

I remember all the times
the good times and the bad
I'm still holding on to you
Some days I wanna run
and times I come undone
but I still belong to you
That's how I know that

When I feel like caving in
my heart, my soul is wearing thin
I just want to give up
Nothing seems at all to add up
Can you hear me Lord?
My face is down upon the floor
Its then you whisper in my ear
Be Still and know I'm here

I see a side of you my friend
the same struggles that I have
my heart goes out to you
I know its hard to feel alone
and this world's so unforgiving
I've been feeling that way too
but I can tell you

Is that you?
Is this me?
It's sometimes hard to believe that
I am not alone

Its not just you
and not just me
We all need to believe that
We are not alone

When I feel like caving in
My heart, my soul is wearing thin
I just wanna give up
Nothing seems at all to add up
I know you hear me Lord,
When my face is down upon then floor

When I feel like caving in
my heart, my soul is wearing thin
I just want to give up
Nothing seems at all to add up
Can you hear me Lord?
My face is down upon the floor
Its then you whisper in my ear
Be Still and know I'm here



Last minute, Friday night buddies beckon for my time. :)

God's blessings,


Until next time,
~Stella

First of Many

The first of I'm sure many blogs from me...

I used to write my version of blogs all the time when I was a MySpace addict, but since I have gotten away from that, I stopped writing. I recently realized how much I miss it. I keep up with a family whom I work with via the mother's blog. Through a crazy web of blogging mothers, I ended up at this sight of the wife of one of the members of Selah. I got so caught up in reading their story, I stayed up half the night without hardly realizing how late it had become. I went through and read all the way back to February to follow the story of their amazing daughter, Audrey Caroline. They found out part way through the pregnancy there were a lot of complications with her. I won't give away all the details for those of you who would like to read it. Just reading through this story, I was completely amazed with every sentence. This woman has an amazing way of writing and the most unique outlook because of her faith I think I have ever seen. Granted I'm only 20, but still.
Anyways, to my point, by reading through these blogs, I realized how much I miss my writing. I never thought I had an amazing skill for it or anything, but it has always helped me. I hope I can be able to share a little glimpse of my life with those of you who want one. I hope more that this can be a place for me to sort out my ideas. Apparently, I need some place to do that. :)

God's blessings to all of you.


Until next time,
~Stella