Being "home".

Last night I went out for an awesome dinner and conversation with a quality friend, then returned home to find my brother watching an episode of West Wing(my favorite tv show!) it was an episode that I had seen recently so I kept on going, to find Dad watching "ransom" and "speed", so settled in for some good drama as we watched both in tandem, skipping the ads as we went!

It was a great normal kinda evening for here, and very settled, but there seems to come a time when a moment happens and you know it's time to move on, to return to normal life whereever that is. That for me came this afternoon, and while just a moment, was clear and definite. Does anyone else who lives away from 'home' have those moments? I would love to know!

I have lived overseas for 6 years now in total, and I often wonder how long it takes before you can't forseeably return to your home country, because you feel more at home somewhere else? Maybe it just depends on who you are, and the relationships you have been able to maintain during that time.

The first 2 years I lived away overseas I had to start over in terms of friends and life in general- it was back in the days before email(the darks ages!) and I had become a Christian. My life had emtirely changed and it had been hard work keeping up with everyone. I wonder what would happen if I ever did come back here, what work would I do, where would I live, what about friends, and relationships with them and family in general? Are we all destined to grow apart and move on, seeing each other at 'respectable' intervals? I find reverse culture shock the hardest to deal with, and I guess I am just pondering, if God ever did call me back, how would it be, and if God didn't call me back....how would it be?

No conclusions yet, but random ponderings from someone who is about to leave again... It's nice to know I am going back to a place where I know it's right for me to be though!

Thanks

Hi, thanks to those who prayed, it's been a good couple of days here, with one meeting to the next to the next today, which was lovely! I was catching up with one friend this afternoon and we completely lost track of the time, and my sister called to make sure I wasn't in traffic! Oops!

The boats, the QE2 and the Queen MAry are in town today, so we drove down and took a quick peek at them tonight which was good- Sydney Harbour is sooooooooooo beautiful!:)

Tomorrow will hopefully be fairly quiet, and I am hoping to sneak off to one of my 2 favorite beaches in Sydney...:) will see!

OK tired now!

Am ready for a holiday now!

I am loving seeing everyone, but really should have made more effort on the 'holiday, quiet, beach, outside sydney, yet not in a car' front.

I would love your prayers as I really am tired, have hit the 'wall' and don't want to go back to HK in this state as I won't be any use to anyone.

Thanks!

On being single...

While it isn't always fun and games, and the whole world, including oneself seems to have the expecatation that 'being married is best', being single really has it's advantages too!

- I have been able to zip around and the things I have needed, and seen the people so far who have been available to see me.

- I have been able to sit down and listen to friends, and hear how they are doing here, several years on.

- I have been able to hang out with their spouses, and kids and have some awesome time getting to know them in a whole new way!

- Time with the kids has been awesome! I am loving being a part of these precious people's lives in this way!

As a long time single person, it can be easy to put marriage and family on a pedestal rather easily, and it has been wonderful to see the reality of it lived out in all its ups and downs, ins and outs. While it certainly hasn't put me off, if God wants, it has really made it a far richer picture for me, and cemented the certainty that God has me where he wants, when he wants, and how he wants and I am happy to stay right there for as long as he would have me!

For now though, and while I am in Aus, I am loving seeing all these beautiful families and friends!

Travelling the country roads:)

Hi all,

Am heading to Canberra to see my Grandmother via a slow country road and friends near Bowral, then back up, hopefully to stay somewhere on the way to Newcastle for a night with some friends, then back to Sydney on Thursday afternoon!

Looking forward to some 'think' time, and I am going to have to write a sermon for next Sunday morning! So in general I won't be on email for the next few days, but will be on the mobile (Aus and HK:))

Quantifying a life

Coming back to Sydney, while good, always makes me think about my life, how would I sum up the last year, what have I done that is of note, or worth and value.

Have I been happy and successful, and if so, what has made it that way, and what is it that is of worth to me? How has God impacted me, and what is His new direction for me now? Where does He fit in, and in those happy, successful plans I may have or dream of, or others have... for their life and for mine.

All these things I stop and wonder at. I am challenged by those here I see around me, and those back in HK. Am I happy and successful, and if so, what is it that measures it?

At the end of the day, I know I want to live to bring God glory, but I want to do that day by day too, no matter what, right? Thoughts please?

Surf

In Hong Kong, or maybe it's Australians everywhere who live outside Australia....

Anyway, we tend to hold up Australian beaches and all it encompasses as the ultimate beach experience, and while others might be good, or great, there are none other quite like a good Australian beach!

I have just been to Maroubra beach with my brother this morning- a typical Aussie surf beach, and wow, was it a surf! I used to often wonder at the tourists who got in trouble when they went swimming, and I know why now. It's dangerous out there!

For starters, it was freezing, even at this time of year, we dove in, and after the initial shock, headed out. It's getting past the breakers and back in that always gets me! Anyway, I was only mostly dumped on the way back into the beach, but yes, it was worth it I think!

It's been at least 2 years since I have been swimming in the surf, and yes, while exhausting and terrifying, it was awesome!

My Mobile while in Aus:)

Heya,
My mobile while I am in Aus (till 27th) is 0420 804 427. I will try and keep this updated, and for those who are interested, will check things off as they happen... if they happen:) It's looking good though so far, am very grateful:) thanks all!:)