Reflections...

5/6 Team...Rowan, Jo, myself, and Bruce

Forever supportive and an outstanding team to work with!

Monique and I...ah how I miss you! We were being a bit goofy...it is candy in our teeth!

Geoff and I in the school yard. Geoff allowed me to be a tag-along on numerous occasions.

Ken and Liz, Me, Hilary and John.

The great couples that opened their homes to me and welcomed me in like their own child. Thank you.

Ken and Liz

Me, Hilary, John

Give me some time and I will figure out how to have a fully functional blog...being capable of putting things (such as pictures) where I really want them! I can't believe it and perhaps it is because I don't want to or because I want to hang on to my experience, my lessons learned, my memories, my friendships...but three years ago I would be sitting in Australia on school holidays while student teaching. It was in Oz that I met some of the most amazing and supportive people that will forever have an everlasting impact on my life. People who opened their homes and lives up to me--welcoming me and accepting me just as I am without judgement or condemnation. My experiences in Australia has had such an impact on both my professional and personal life that I never had dreamt about...that is what happens when God is control and you open your arms up to His will--amazing blessings that you couldn't even imagine. A good friend of mine always says "Dream big, 'cause God dreams bigger." Well I dreamt big...I dreamt to student teach in Australia...but little did I know the huge work God was going to do in my life in those mere months that I lived there. While in Oz God opened my eyes to many life lessons. He opened up wounds of my past that occurred half way around the world to start healing them if I choose to let him, if I choose to open my arms up to him and step out of my comfort zone into the pain. He brought incredible people into my life to teach me and help heal me, without them ever realizing what they have ever done. Not a day goes by that I am not forever grateful for them, that I don't think about the lessons that learned and the smiles, words of encouragement, chats over tea or rides in the car that help to start the process of healing. When I got home...I started shutting the doors to that healing process as "life took over" and got busy. Three years later I hear God whispering into my heart that its time to clean up the mess. As past hurts and new pains have been left lingering and it is time to finish healing them. It is time I be obedient to allowing God in to completely heal them, to open my arms up fully and allow God to reach in and heal the deep wounds so that I may be fully prepared for the next step of the exciting adventure that He is preparing for me.Perhaps this adventure called life will soon bring me back to the land down under at least for a visit! Or perhaps will bring some of those Ozzies right on over the big pond to America! Cheers to all of you Ozzies out there! I miss ya heaps!