Cowan - Family of 8

We have thoroughly enjoyed being back in the US for a little while and spending time with friends and family. This past week my brother and his wife came in town for Christmas, and my parents had all 6 of us kids under one roof for the first time! Bri (my brother Paul's wife & the newest addition to the Cowan family) is a photographer, so we took some family photos. Click here to see more of her photography.

Or course we had to goof off a little before we got any serious photos.

Then for the jumping fun....

Months in Review

So I've been a little busy lately and haven't had much time to blog. I've put together a few pictures to kind of sum up the past few months. We had several beach day trips, Youth events, Housemate Hangouts, Grad Ball, Hillsong's Christmas Lights Celebration, Newcastle Vacation, and moved into a new house!

Our new bedroom in our new house!

Our new address btw is:

489 Windsor Road

Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153

My Dream

So if you follow me on Pinterest, you would know that I have been on bakery & coffee shop pin overload! Well in case you were wondering why...it has been a dream of mine for a little while now to open my own bakery/cupcake/coffee shop. I never thought I would use my business degree, but now I'm thinking it may be a possibility. I love baking, love coffee, and I've always thought it would be fun to work at or own a coffee shop. So why not do it all at once...most of the time when you drink coffee or eat a cupcake you want the other with it right? I've been to several cute coffee shops and passed some bakeries here in Australia that have inspired me. I have also been baking for the canteen at youth on Friday nights and they have been encouraging me to bake more and sell it. For now I still just bake for church, but one day I would love to open a real bakery! Here are just a few pins that have given me some ideas of what I would like mine to look like one day.

 

   

  

As you can see I really like the vintage, rustic look with a bit of a shabby chic twinge. I mean how can a bakery with cupcakes not look a little chic? I like the chalkboard walls, distressed furniture, worn brick, vintage items on a shelf, old barn-wood, mismatched chairs, plants, and almost like organized chaos.

 

 

 

September Celebrations

So September has been a pretty full-on, but fun month! It started out with our anniversary in the 10th followed by my birthday on the 19th (we really celebrated that whole week). We've stayed very busy with everything going on at work, school, & church. We did manage to make enough time for a much needed beach trip. I've got a few pictures that I wanted to share from this month.

Kyle and I spent the evening in the city for our anniversary.

The Harbour Bridge and Opera house are beautiful at night!

At my "surprise birthday party" they put the candles in asparagus and butter. haha

Super cute card that Ally got me and it totally fits.

My sweet co-workers got me a birthday cake!

I came home from work to candles down the hallway and rose petals.

I love this journal that my housemate Christy made me!

Went to Palm Beach for a day trip and witnessed the mountain burn. 

Of course the girls had to take a few pictures together.

These pictures are just a few highlights from the past few weeks. 

A few events not pictured:

My little brother Paul got married on Sunday, September 29th! I'm so excited for him and my new sister in law, Bri!

Hillsong's Young&Free release their first cd and it is amazing! Go check it out!

Spring Is In The Air

So, it's been a while.....Kyle and the boys went on a trip to New Zealand a few weeks ago, so I had a lot of girl time while they were gone. I decided to surprise Kyle when he got back with a hoop nose ring, because he's been begging me to get one since I got my nose pierced. Ally tagged along and spent most of the week with me. Sunday after church we decided to get coffee at The Baron and go on an "adventure". For us this meant walking around the neighborhood looking for an open field or anywhere that we could enjoy the beautiful spring weather. Here are a few pictures from our day.

Oceans

You call me out upon the waters

The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name

And keep my eyes above the waves 

When oceans rise

My soul will rest in your embrace

For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters

Your sovereign hand 

Will be my guide

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me

You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name

And keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise

My soul will rest in your embrace

For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever you would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior

I will call upon Your name

And keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise

My soul will rest in your embrace

For I am Yours and You are mine

This song by Hillsong UNITED really speaks to me and I thought it was appropriate to add into this post since we went on another beach trip last weekend.