It is CHRISTMAS.

So last night I asked God to make me excited for Christmas like when I was a child.

And what does he do?

Wakes me up before seven because I am excited.

I love it.

I feeel five again.

Last night right before I went to bed I did what I have done every year since I remember..

I went into the living room and just stood there.

It was dark in the room except for the Christmas tree that looked very bright.

All the presents were wrapped under the tree.

The room felt still

at peace.

I think about the anticipation for morning.

How as a young kid the hours could not go faster until it was time to start opening gifts.

Getting older is funny.

My focus is different.

Today I am excited to see family and spend time with them.

I already got my presnt A trip to Australia which is better than anything that could be put under a tree.

Of course my parents are too much and have gotten me a few things anyway.

I am so blessed.

I deserve nothing.

But they love me.

and I love them!

Thank you God for the family you have given me and the friends in my life.

Last night at the Christmas service

(at Calvary which I loved by the way)

I went with my dad and Laura.

God really spoke to me about Mary.

Mary was so pure and genuine.

I do not know if she was "perfect" or anything but I do know she was special and chosen by God.

He put a baby inside of her and she was still a virgin.

Im sorry but if someone was pregnant and told me that happened to them I dunno if  I would belive them.

People had to have judged her like crazy.

 I wonder if even her parents believed her.

I want to be like Mary.

 I want to have a pure heart that God can use for his crazy things in this life.

I want to be so sure of my relationship with the Lord that I dont worry about what other people think of me.

Especially when it is something he is calling me to do.

I long to be called in a unique way.

God is good.

He calls us.

Even when we mess up.

He never gives up on his plan for us even if we take a slight detour.
He is a forgiving God.

He loves us.

Today my prayer has been for peace and love to overwhelm everyone I know.

Kinda a big prayer.

I know God is capable.

Today is a beautiful day to celebrate the birth of the one who has saved us.

HE saved us.

Thats a pretty big deal.

I feel like I always say something regarding God on Christmas but sometimes its cuz its wat I am supposed to do.

This time is different.

I am thankful.

I have many reasons to be thankful to the Lord.

Ill never understand what sending his son felt like for him.

until maybe I have kids one day.

I do realize that its BIG though.

To send your one kid for a world of broken underserving people.

Today we need to humble ourselves realizing we are sinful and God loved us anyway. Thats what Christmas shows I think.

God loves us.

Thats what it is all about.

So be thankful and spread the love He has given you with your family and everyone in your life today.

Thats what I am feeling challenged to do.

Spread the love. :)

HAVE A GREAT DAY

and
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Surreal.

Indescribable.

This experience... more than I could have asked for.

God had definitely predistined me to be here.

I remember the day he told me when I was fifteen.

When I sit and realize I am actually sitting in AUSTRALIA

the place my God has put much desire on my heart for years...

it all overwhelms me.

It is truly surreal.

I have seen things in just a few days that people only WISH to see in their lifetime.

I have swam feet from wild dolphins..

a wallaby has touched me!

I scared the POOP out of a WOMBAT!

haha

and days ago I was unaware that wombats even existed.

I have hiked in mountains that I want to feeeel forever.

I have seeen views of the Australian ocean that have only seen by many in pictures.

I have made friendships that will be in my life forever.

Even better

I have made family.

I have stoppped taking pictures and keeeping track of everything I am doing.

Which often would stress me out but I have the overwhelming peace that I will be back :)

Tonight God was goood.

God is always good.

Tonight He very lovingly gave us a glimpse of his eternal perfection in a time of unplannned expressive worship :)

It was beautiful...

I realize I could talk to God for hours.

I did.

I long to stick with that and not go anywhere but deeeper in love with him and follow in the plan He already has.

I feeel direction :)

I cant wait.

I cant wait for tomorrow.

I cant wait to get home and share what God has done.

I cant wait to seee the plans he has for me and to not be afraid because He is holding my life and in him I can not fail.

He is strong.

In him I have strength and faith to do anything.

I wish to follow him.

I wish to be where he leads me.

I wish to listen to Him above everything.

I dont want to just live life according to how its supposed to be lived according to the world but according to God's purpose even if its not very.. normal :)

Proverbs 19:21

"For the plans of a man are many, but the purpose of the Lord prevails."

something like that.

Its from memory and its late.

Today I went to Hillsong church.

Kinda a big deal :)

and we got to see the Christmas Spectacular.

It was great.

But I missed New Vintage.

You know your at the right church when you are at the most famous christian church in the world and you miss your small movie theatre church at home.

I miss you.

I cant wait to spend time with you.

God has spoken into my life in mighty ways.

He is real.

He is Big.

He can do the impossible.

Dont believe in any less.

Know that there is more.

Always.

I asked God why it is always so much more fulfilling when I talk to him compared to when I am just living life...

sounds like a dumb question but I asked it anyhow.

He said because He is the only true answer that will fill that hole in my heart.

"Then why doesnt everyone come to you, God?"

"Because, Amber Marie Buchanan, No one has told them what I can really do. You havent told them what I can really do."

Everyone is searching for something...

always.

God is the final answer and he doesnt stop there he gives you INCREDIBLE purpose to live forward and with that you will never be dissatisfied with your life.

Peace. that is beyond understand.

peace.

to live in peace.

I realize its been awhile.

Peace feel good.

God is good.

Have a beautiful day :)

start you day of wonderful give the the creator of the world a chat about life!

Australia Adventure.

Ever entered a place and immediately felt like you belonged?

Amber enters Australia...

:)

YUP.

I arrived at the Sydney airport around 6am Monday morning.

This was before anyone else had arrived including Chris, The Attunga leader.

So.... I just chilled and people watched.

I love airports.

By the way spiderman was on  my flight from Seattle to L.A.

Here, I am minding my own business reading my book by Donald Miller and casually I look up as someone walks past and to my surprise ITS SPIDERMAN!!!! He had been sitting two rows in front of me the whole plane ride and I had no idea.

If you are confused to clarify it was a little boy dressed as spiderman :)

Anywho, As I come back from the bathroom with all my luggage a man who looks vaguely familiar walks briskly toward me saying my name.

ITS CHRIS!

He shakes my hand and gives me a hug.

Only having seen him from facebook it was kind of strange to be standing here with him IN PERSON.

We sat down in the coffee shop and waited for everyone else to get there.

Soon afer was ELLIE a 21 year old British girl :)

then CAROL a 19 year old girl from Alabama who is a cosmotologist.

Teresa and Victor from SWEDEN.

Jennifer from South Carolina who is 23 and graduating from college to be a pharmasist in the Spring

Mitchele, who looked way to familir due to our facebook friendship, a 23year old from Bellevue, WA

Then the NEW ZEALANDERS!... EMMA, CATHERINE, and MICAH
Emma goes to the UNI and is studying psychology, Cat has moved to Brisbane and has been there for almost a year and Micah is in the New Zealand Army.

Then there is a SIX interns all girls... ALL WONDERFUL.

Ill tell you about each of them as they come up and the people I have not told you about yet also.

My first hours in Sydney were amazing and surreal and I never even left the airport.

I sat and met each person as they arrived. Learning where they were from and how God had brought them here.

God is crazy.

I have had more beautiful conversations about the Lord in two days than I could ever Hope for.

I love it.

After many hours of retelling my life story :) and how my flight was... 14 hours of anticipation but enjoyable because I love flying with an unnatural passion.

WE FINALLY WENT OUTSIDE.

and...

IT WAS WARM

:)

summer.

Christmas... is summer.

haha.

and cars with the steering wheels on the other side.

This country is crazy. in the best possible way.

We didnt waste anytime ... we went STRAIGHT to the beach.

Changed into our swimsuits and started the barbeque.

We ate some lovely sausages from the barby

Wandered the beach got to know one another.

The water was cold but I went in to my neck anyway.

then...Just for giggles.

I got buried.

:)

It was nice... haha then Ashley

(an 18 year old from Texas planning to be a cosmetologist)

Also got barried next to me..

then Kim decided to join the fun.

An intern who is also from Texas.

As we all lie there unable to move or use our arms or legs.. Paul ( Chris' 21 year old son who just finished college planning to go into IT work)

He decides to jump over us!

After a few close calls and many jokes of sand ssnakes... we freed ourselves.

I still have Sand in my hair. haha

We relaxed and wandered some more then returned for a steak barbeque dinner.

Right on the beach.

It was the perfect day to have with lots of jet lag.

AND it wasnt overly populated with tourists. It was mostly people who live here that came to the beach we were on.

and I learned a new Australian term.

Budgie Smuggler. ahaha it is what you call a guy in a speedo!!

After Dinner we walked down the beach to catch the Farrie

We got distracted by the huge chrstmas tree and decided to take pictures thus missing the farrie and having to wait 45 minutes til the next one.

I have learned that time here in Australia is kinda irrelevent.

Things happpen when they happen

and relationship is more important than being on time.

People are not worried.

Worry is not a main focus.

Its something I neeed to learn.

It has been great having no clue what we are doing which it probably wouldnt matter if I did know because it changes due to whatever is happening anyway.

As Chris tells us we missed there farrie he then quickly exclaims that there is a suprise!

PENGUINS ON THE BEACH!

A BABY PENGUIN IS ON THE BEACH!

I didnt know that penguins lived in warm water.

It was adorable. There was some animal control lady there so we could not touch him but we named him Fletcher and called him as if he was our own anyway.

With our extra time due to waiting... we decide to adventure.

We find an icecream place and micah treats!

They had chocolate chili icecream.. it tasted like chocolate with alot of spicey haha.

We finally catch the farrie and find our way to the front of the boat.

For some reason I just keep picturing titanic in my head.

The seagulls race us the whole way there!

We meet some nice people from Perth who have traveled here for a chrsitian conference.

I would like to visit Perth it sounded fantastic :)

WE ARRIVE TO SEE THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE!!!!!!!!!

at night with all the lights...it was incredible.

To my dismay there is a big O for oprah all lit up on the bridge.

I leave america and come here and SO DOES OPRAH haha its hilarious.

Its like a huge deal that she is here people have I LOVE OPRAH TSHIRTS ON EVERYWHERE!

We walk down to a doc with a wonderful view of the opera house.

Chris takes most the interns with him to get the car and unload the luggage at the hostel then plans to return.

As they walk away I lie down..the next thing I remember is them waking me up.

apparently an hour had passed by.

Mitchele told me I would make a great Hobo.

I took that as a high compliment. :)

I had fallen asleep on the ground right next to the Sydney Opera House... oh gosh.. magic moment of my life.

Then to the next best thing of my life.

A Hostel.

I dunno if its cause its a hostel or cuz its a hostel in Australia but It was awesome.

The whole idea of hostels is brilliant. sleeping in aroom with a bunch of beds and community bathroom.

The tables all set up family style.

THEY EVEN HAD A GIVE AND TAKE!

it was like this whole shelf thing full of items that people have left behind that you can just TAKE for free.

and you can leave anything you dont want to take with you.

I found some black leggings!

pretty legit.

I took a million pictures of the hostel. I loved it.

I never wish to stay in a hotel again.

and there was free postcardds....:)

I went to sleeep quickly and slept wonderfully.
woke up.. showered...

ate breakfast with the group.

tried VEGEMITE on my toast... with VICTOR

it was GROSSS

so salty hahah

victor being all swedish was not too fond of it either.

after eating in the hostel you wash your own dishes...

brilliant yet again.

This place was so cute.

I didnt want to leave.

We all decided to venture out.
Free to do what we wanted to do.

Most of the girls... which is a majority of our group headed to the mall called Broadway.

Me being amber didnt have much interest in a shopping mall.

SO... Jennifer and I headed back down to by where the Opera house was and hunted for some prime souevinour shops. :)

We wandered ... acting like tourists taking pictures of everything and noticing a street performer with a twelve foot tall unicycle.

We decide to stop and watch

It was hilarious!

He was insane 12 feet in teh air on his unicycle juggling FIRE, A KNIFE, and a bat that a small boy named casper tossed him.

We then run into Chris at starbucks and we get to go up into his IT office and look at the SPECTACULAR VIEW!!!!

Finding our way back to the hostel when we were all supposed to meet was.... hilarious... Me and Jennifer got lost... but both of us have adapted the australian way and were not worried about it.

While aimlessly walking guessing that we were headed in the right direction we literally STUMBLE upon the bus we need.

And we were not the last ones back :)

WE planned to get out of the city early due to OPRAH Show that was being filmed at the Opera house they were closing off streets. it is just to out of hand.

If it was Ellen I could understand I guess.

We all munch on the carmel corn that Michael Polvi made me.

Many high compliments regarding its taste!

We pile into the vans and drive a bit over an hour to THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

The mountains are covered in trees.

My explorer senses were tingling.

As we arrive we come right to the next hostel.

Love it.

Free internet..

thus the blogging.

Spaghetti dinner.

adding new friends on facebook

still feeling jet lagged we decide to have a relaxed night.

carrot cake :)

I have never felt so satisfied with my life

At home I have this continual problem of always feeling like I need to be doing something or I will miss out.

Here..I am pleased every moment that I am here and I am in awe of how Good GOD IS!

I love this adventure.

kayla so many things that make me think of you!

I took a picture of an australian hippie van salt shaker.. still looking for the real thing!

This country doesnt seeem THAT much different than the U.S.

Just funnier slang, cooler scenery, PENGUINS, and the whole driving on the wrong side of the road.

hahah

Adventure is life here.

I love that.

We really have not done that much yet and I am already extremely pleased and feel like the cost was worth it!

God has put a good group together and we only have great adventures in front us.

Sad to be missing the fun at home.

But, I am here and I dont regret.

:)

I love you have a goood day!