So many things are changing for me right now.
My family have moved back to Australia.
I'm saying goodbye to my job and all the wonderful people there on Friday.
I'm starting University (again) in September.
I'm trying to lose weight and get in shape.
Talk about a turn around.
"What do you think about moving to Belgium?" As I stared out the car window as we drove through the streets of Sydney my first response was "Where's that?" I had absolutely no idea where it was! 6 years ago my Dad had let that question hang as the three other members of my family considered a massive life change. For a reason I can only explain as God's guidance I was all hands in ready and raring to go. A new chance, a fresh start, a new chapter.
2012. 6years later. My wonderful family have boarded the plane and flown back to life in Sydney but this time I'm not with them. This time I have grown into a woman with my own family. I left Australia as a girl but my parents have returned leaving behind a married woman. I can't begin to explain what it's like to say goodbye to your family as they move back to literally the other side of the world. It's such a bizarre feeling. I can't get my head around the distance. They can't just jump over and be here. Time difference makes it such a pain to try and call. When it's bleak and blustery here it is scorching and tropical there. We now live in different worlds. One thing remains, we share a family in Jesus that means that no matter where we are in the world we are close through Christ who loves us. No matter what happens from here on we will always hold tight to the reality that we will share eternity with each other. That thought, that idea keeps me going.
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| My gorgeous parents the last time I saw them in Brussels. |
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3:20-21)
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| My brother came to visit just before leaving for Sydney. |
"What am I doing here" was the question I asked myself in my first few days working at Benjamin Britten High School. With tears in my eyes I would come home from work overwhelmed by the teenage students, the attitudes and the staff who seemed to all have great friends and really not needing a new one. How things have dramatically changed! I am so sad to be leaving that wonderful place on Friday. I know it's not perfect, but which school is? There are people there who have supported and encouraged me to keep pursuing my dream of teaching. The students, when you break down the teenage attitude and angst, are amazing. They are the most loving, hilarious and entertaining people when they want to be and I will be so sad to leave them behind. It was in this school that I finally decided to follow my passions and become a teacher full-time. So it's back to University for me in September as I do my PGCE in RE. It will be a full on year filled with hard and challenging times but I'm so up for it!
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| The gift I received from a Grade 9 student today. It made me feel so special. |
So, things are changing. Dramatically. For me anyway. But God is faithful and he has never left me alone. He is always guiding me and protecting me. Loving and providing for me. Things are changing, but I think it's all for the best.
