Just continuing on from Joerg's thanksgiving, and since we have reached the season of thanksgiving...
Thank you dear, for being an inspiration to me too! I don't think I would even have considered "stepping out of the boat" to come here and do my Masters. Your faith inspires mine :) Thanks also for running into the kitchen at night to help me when you see me packing away the plates and stuff, and for waking up and heading out with me when I have to wake up earlier to go to Ipswich or Jindalee to do filming!
There is actually alot to be thankful for, as I reflect on the time that we've been here. First of all is this place that we call home until at least June next year. Some of you may know that we were getting quite frustrated with finding a rental home when we arrived in Brissie. It took two months for us since end-June, going to different rental agencies, photocopying pages of our personal records, running around St Lucia, Indooroopilly, and Toowong to view apartments, and submitting applications, three of which were rejected for some strange reasons, e.g., "The owner is afraid that with three persons, it'd be too noisy..." What?? Right now, we're the quietest people here in our neighbourhood! Well all that turned out to be a blessing in disguise because we now have this place that is just fantastic in terms of location and security. Ok, it's got a purple kitchen, and it faces the courtyard where everybody who walks by can look in... but we couldn't have asked for a better place. Not exactly cheap, but it was below what we had originally budgeted.
Two funny things about getting this place: firstly, we didn't get it from a rental agency- Joerg gave up on them after they gave up on us- and just happened to stumble on the estate on the web. The managers' names are- get this- Joe and Lisa (think they're from China). Secondly, Joerg never got to see the inside of the unit until we had moved in. Both times that he was here before, Norman called him and he had to run off before viewing. Why this is funny is that, he shared with me, if he did, he would not have taken it. Because of the purple kitchen (we're quite used to it now) and being 'exposed' to people outside ("Well what are YOU lookin' at??"). I didn't know just how ideal the place was until I had to start travelling to Ipswich and other places. We're sitting at the crossroads of ferry, train, and bus transport. Plus, Coles and Woolies just 5 minutes away. Church 10 minutes away by inner-city bypass. Friends find this place central as they stay north-side and west-side. What a blessing... thanks, God! You knew what we needed even before we did.
Just another small thing to be thankful for... really small thing but worth a mention... while browsing the shelves at Coles a last week, we found a 200g pack of smoked salmon, originally priced at $12.59, going for $3, a real steal! The next day we found a few packs of bagels each going for 50cents. So that Saturday, we had a luxury breakfast of smoked salmon and bagel, with cream cheese... what a treat! Probably never an episode to be repeated, but I'll remember that one. The salmon lasted a few more days after that. Slurp! Yup, we're definitely not starving here, what with the bargains that can be found...
There are many other things to be thankful for- our families who have been so supportive, our friends here and back home for their fellowship and prayers, our bosses who let us have the time off, the chance to experience a different side of life (again)... wow. It's hard to remember and count the blessings when we're so bogged down with things to do, but I realise that when I do so, I remember Who's really in control. And I'm thankful!
What's up the rest of this month: we gear up for our Confirmation sessions happening next month, a couple of friends stopping by Brisbane, and hopefully setting aside more time to exercise!!
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