Things from home I've missed in Australia -

In no particular order, and I'm sure the list is incomplete - feel free to give me suggestions...


Family and Friends

Vern's Pizza - Double Double, T Rex, Vern's Special, Flame Thrower, even the Big Cheese. Then there's the lasagna, cheese toast, garlic toast, and pretty much anything else on the menu

Hockey - the real variety, played on ice (none of this crazy immitation stuff they play on a soccer field around here)

Ketchup Chips

Farmer Sausage

Coffee Crisp

Bothwell Cheese

La Cocina Tortilla Chips

Driving on the right side of the road (although this will now take some adjustment after two years of driving on the wrong side)

Canadian Tire

30-40% lower prices for almost everything

Walmart

Stores open later than 5pm

Canadian Beef

Many of the other home made foods that I can't make out here because the raw ingredients can't be found

Open space and a quiet community

Freedom to walk outdoors without caution for poisonous snakes and spiders

Fishing in quiet lakes

Northern Lights

Camping

Lots of stars visible in the night sky

CFL

Now lest anyone think I'm sick of Australia and just longing for the day I leave, let me assure you that's not the case. It's true that I look forward to being home again and there are things I've missed from back there, but I also love my life over here and there are many things I will miss about Australia too. I'll save them for another post. Both places are great and I love them both. Either way, I win!

So, if anyone in Canada wants to help me fill my two year old cravings for things of home, please let me know and I'll be sure to give you the opportunity upon my arrival at home in February 2009.

News Time

I previously posted a message telling you about my plans to stay in Australia for another year. My intention was to take on a pastoral care role at church for one year and then move home to Canada and start life there again. Since posting that message, I have stepped into the role and applied for the visa that would allow me to stay the extra year. After being assured by the first immigrations official, I received an unexpected phone call from another one telling me that my file had been transferred and I was not going to be granted the visa for as long as I applied for. The promise of the other official meant nothing and published documentation regarding the rules around this particular visa also meant nothing; because ultimately, the decision is in the hands of a person; and in this case, I was met by a very grumpy and rude person indeed. She refused to give a valid explanation or to waver on her stance. In the end, I was granted a visa till January 15, 2009 and the deal was done. I could take the case to higher authorities but have decided to accept the decision and move home shortly after Christmas.

In the two weeks since that phone call, I have notified family and some friends of the change in plans and made travel bookings for my trip home. The news has been met with anger, frustration, and even tears as I told my Aussie friends of the decision. On the other hand, I was able to bring much joy to many Canadians. I personally have mixed feelings about it but believe that God must have something better for me somewhere else. What exactly that is I don’t yet know; although there appear to be opportunities already opening to me in Canada. In due time, it will all become more clear and I’ll step into something great.

So, my plans are now to leave Australia between Christmas and New Years, travel through a few African countries doing ministry with a pastor/friend of mine, and seeing some friends (including my girlfriend!!!!), then head back to Canada where I’ll see a few more friends across the country before arriving home in mid February.

Once there, my only plans are to wear lots of warm clothing to deal with the expected 70 degree difference in temperature from Aussie summer to Canadian winter, catch up with old friends I’ve missed for a long time, get back into my home church, and enjoy many of the things I’ve missed in Australia – the list is a work in progress…

The day that was

I never would have thought that I’d get more birthday wishes on my 32nd than ever before. But then I also never would have thought I’d move to Australia two weeks before my 30th, or that I’d have to schedule around three different groups of people wanting to put on a party for my 31st. And then there’s a whole lot of other things I never would have thought I’d do. I guess that shows me that I need to expand my thinking. You either live to the capacity of your thoughts, or you think to the capacity of your life. I choose to live to the capacity of my ever-increasing thoughts; and thereby increase my capacity.

No human in recorded history ever ran a mile in under 4 minutes until one man did – and then they all followed. No one at the time thought that they could abolish slavery in England until one man dedicated his life to do so; or that the same could happen in America until one man said “I have a dream” – and now America has “A Black man” running for president. Few thought man could make it to the moon until it was done – and now we’ve been to mars and are reaching beyond. Few believed there was any unknown land mass in the world; and many thought you’d fall off the edge of the earth if you tried to find one – yet I now call North America home.

So many people live their lives under the restrictions that are set before them. So few rise above or push through. Someone once asked me if I was a “glass half full” or a “glass half empty” sort of person. I responded that I was just glad I had a glass. Now I wonder, shouldn’t I have been grateful for the glass but then also filled it up completely – not to mention what I could have passed on to others?

What does this have to do with my birthday? Not much, except that it’s a day to reflect on the past and dream of the future. It’s a day to be grateful for the many blessings in life, and plan for many more to come. It’s a day to evaluate where I am, where I’ve been, and where I’m going. If I choose, it’s a day of new beginnings. So many things to do, places to go, people to know. So many gifts to give, blessings to receive, and love to be shown. So much, yet so little time. what will I do with what I’ve got. How about you?

Thanks to all who remembered my birthday and no worries to those who forgot or didn’t know.