Happy Birthday to me!

Sara and I



Spencer, Matthew, Jasmine and I



Mmmmmm chocolate (it was thrown at me!)

Happy Day of Commercialised Love

(also known as "Valentines Day") ;-)

I thought we were going a bit overboard with it in New Zealand...but here....you should see the candy section in Walmart! Wouldn't want to fall in, you'd drown! Can't even imagine what it must be like in the U.S of A. haha.

Well, God's love is always something to celebrate. Today can be an extra bright, sweet reminder!

"But God showed His love for us in this way: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us....love never fails"

(Romans and 1 Corinthians, The Bible)

Degus (DAY-GOO)

Family Photo

This was taken at the airport just before I left to return to Canada.

Left - Right: Elizabeth (13), me, Katherine (8), Grace (10), Sophie (6), Mum, Dad, Tommy (22) and Emma (17). Samuel, not pictured (19).

Left to Right: Tommy, Elizabeth, me, Sophie, Samuel, Emma and Katherine. Not pictured, Grace.

Certified and Stamped

Well, it is OFFICAL: I am certified female.

Haha...

I spent most of the day in Toronto having medical tests, required for my work permit..well, there was alot of waiting BETWEEN the tests. I had no idea how involved it was going to be and I didn't know whether to drop my jaw in horror or laugh when the doctor informed me that he needed to confirm I was female. Laughing seemed like the better option and the whole thing ended up being quite amusing. And the outcome is good - it is now medically confirmed that yes, I'm a female. Of course, it greatly increases my sense of identity. If I ever run into any gender crisis I can simply pull out my stamped and approved medical forms and be assured that there's no doubt about it, I'm a girl!

For those of you who aren't from New Zealand or Australia and don't understand the lowest form of humour, that was sarcasm. ;-)

I wonder if mothers have to have their gender confirmed or if their children are enough?

First Ice Hockey Game!

After being back in Canada for just over a week I got to experience my first genuine ice hockey game! I enjoyed it more than I expected I would....couldn't believe how VIOLENT a game it is, the players seem to take great delight in beating each other up (who said rugby was brutal?! haha) and the crowd took great delight in watching it!

I had a great time in New Zealand with my family , 5 weeks went by like an absolute blur - I woke up one day and realised I only had a couple left! It was alot harder to leave this time around, but now I am back it feels "right" and I am again very settled.

I had a very smooth and seemingly fast trip back here, I really sensed God's gracious favour on me. I got my work permit easily...the looked at my documents and barely asked questions!

It was 8 degrees the night I got back - the "mild" weather was a relief after being in NZ's Summer! The warm weather continued over about a week but in the last few days has returned to "real" Winter, below zero and all. There is barely any snow though....hopefully there will be another dumping soon.