SO not what we expected!

Well the winter is here in Australia (so weird) and Quintin and I took a day off from searching for jobs a couple of days ago. We decided to drive up the coast north of Cairns to find some secret beaches that we can take our visitors to, call it research.

We first went to one that was incredible, soft sand and only two fisherman were there besides us. The waves were small and once we got in the water was perfect. However it made me a bit nervous because there was a river next to it that is known to have crocodiles, I kept asking Quintin, "Is that from a croc walking on the sand?" and he would say no, it is just a tire track.

We moved on up the coast. The second one was all pebbles and shells so we didn't even go onto that beach but we stared at the lake next to it for a long time because we overheard a little kid say that they saw a croc. Again we moved on.

The third was a bit of a walk down a hill but it was great, The sand again was soft, it was in a small bay so there weren't any waves at all and the water was a bit warmer, however, there were big rocks that we couldn't see under the water until we tripped on them or stepped on them. This also made for more fish swimming around my legs. I wouldn't have been so freaked out except that Q kept saying "look I just say a sting ray" or "I bet there are reef sharks out here" I'm not scared of either of them but the thing that freaked me out was to not be able to see anything under the water. It was just us also which was nice.

We moved on to get some food in Port Douglas since we were almost there anyway. It is a ritzy little beach town where the celebs go. The stupid movie Fools Gold was filmed there. WE walked around and found a mexican restaurant (really! they have one here!) We were leery of eating there because we knew that we would be let down and only talk about how we wish it was beto's or Cafe Rio. But we were only let down a little bit (which is really good for food here) and we will probably go to it again.

We were having such a fun day that we went home and ate dessert at a little german place by us. When we got home we realized that we had completely spaced going to YW and YM's mutual. We are so bad.

Today has been more of the usual, I dressed up all nice and what not and spent 3 hours driving around passing out my resumes and being ever so charming. However I think I lost my chance with a day spa that I went to. They weren't hiring (no surprise because I have not found one company hiring in the last 5 months) so when I was leaving I got my car stuck doing a 57 point turn in their itty bitty parking lot. The lady came out to guide me out of it and rolling here eyes several times she finally got me out of there, mush to both of our relief. So I don't think I'll be getting a call from her. All I thought was, Dang I just wasted a resume.

We have been here a total of 6 months on Thursday and it has not been like we expected at all. When we planned out our arrival in Australia we decided that we would find a little furnished house, Quintin would take a few classes while I got a part time job, then when his semester was over and his grades were fantastic he would be getting a part time job as well. We would have a little no gas car and a scooter and we would be integrated into the culture as those wonderful Americans next door.

What really happened was that we got here and the prices were so outrageous that we could only afford a big gas guzzling car (it was the cheapest we could find) and a scooter (double the price that we had planned). We weren't able to find a furnished house so we had to buy all new furniture and white goods and everything in a house. My job search went on and on to this very day where no on is hiring and I can't find anywhere to work at. I had 6 weeks out of the job search to recover from the accident. Meanwhile, Quintin's classes are way over his head and he failed a couple of them. He can't find a job and we are slowly but surely running out of money to live here.

So we have made new plans and hopefully these plans will work this time. Break lease and rent a smaller place that allows animals (the renting prices have gone way down!) Sell our V6 car and buy a 4 banger hatchback (auto preferred but I may have to learn manual even though I have flashbacks of getting yelled at every time I have tried to learn, you know who you are!) We are going to keep the death scooter for Quintin. I will go out daily and bring my A-game to find a job, and Quintin will maybe get sponsored and get a full time job taking the next semester off to fill up our bank account again. But if the sponsorship doesn't work (it appears not to be going places) then he will get a part-time job and go back and try school again.

Depression has been living in our house for the last few months but it is a new day and we plan to shake it off get into gear and go forward with faith. Plus we have 5 family members coming to stay with us in a week for 2 weeks so that will be a fun break from our stress.

PS. A branch member hired Quintin for a day job today YAY! we will be able to pay tithing for the first time in 6 months. Even if it was only one day it will feel good to do that.

PSS. A huge inspiration to us that has gotten our heads on straight is my friend Paul Cardall

that has an amazing blog about his journey through waiting for a heart transplant. His link is named Paul in my friends blogs list, go see it, he is incredible!