Last Night in Sydney for 09

Well, my lovelies... what a year it has been. This is my last night in Sydney, I fly out tomorrow for the Philippines and will return early January. I have to say this has blossomed into such a beautiful year. I can look back in gladness to the growth that I've experienced as a teacher at my workplace and in myself spiritually and generally. I left work on Friday with such warmth and love from my boss, the parents, and my wonderful children. I miss them already because I know it'll be three weeks till I see them again and some of them are going to school and won't be coming back! Luckily I still have time with my shadow before I have to leave next year for full time study. I'm carrying the look she gave me as I left Friday evening in my heart... the "quick, one last hug because you're going and ahhh, don't leave without a hug" look. She makes my heart ache, I love her a lot. And one of my boys on Thursday said to me a hastily phrased, "thank you for being with me all those days!" when giving me a hug before I went home. So precious! He's taken to randomly saying, "I love you Cathrine", which is just gorgeous. I love how unconscious children are in the giving and taking of love.

And Tom. :) I'm continually surprised by him. There is just so much love here, it's wonderful. He has encouraged and strengthened me to grow in ways I never would have without him. I am lifted up. I'm really satisfied with where life is heading. I have been longing for a firm foundation in God to stand on for years and I feel it forming for the first time. It's beyond exciting. I love the support I get from my new church, the community and the love I get from Tom. Having the independance to explore my relationship with God with what I already know and without the burdens of not being good 'enough' or doing 'enough' has been really helpful.

I am so proud of myself for sticking this year out. It was so hard at work at times but the satisfaction I now feel for making it and even doing a good job at times makes it worthwhile. And the growth I see in the children and the relationships I've been able to form with parents for the support of their children. My job is so rewarding... for all it takes out, it gives back so beautifully and in ways I could never receive any other way. You can't buy the love of these children, the laughter and good times. :) I think they know I heart them.


I'm worried about this trip though. So worried I can't think clearly. Apparently worry and stress will do that to you. Reflecting on all that I have done and can do is helpful though. Maybe that's why the psalms are full of that... when times are hard, remind yourself of God's amazing power by reflecting on all that he has done for his people. I'm not going to trust in my own strength to get through this, because that's only good for so much... and I'm going to need a lot more to deal with some of the family dramas that I forsee happening. I'm going to need some more help so as I pack, I'm going to pack while listening to hymns and trusting/ reflecting on God's ability to take care of me and my family. How many times did God's people forget and try to do things on their own strength? It's a hard lesson to learn...

Tom and I went to a Nine Lessons and Carols service at church tonight, quite an Anglican service format but it wasn't so traditional. One hymn that I loved, I want to share now. I couldn't find an amazing, polished copy of it on YouTube but this might do... it's simple and kinda neat for that.


W.Y. Fullerton (1857-1932) I Cannot Tell




Love,
Cathrine

Jolene

Il etais un fois...

There was once a time when people looked at me at work and asked "how do you get so much done?" Now I feel like I'm dragging my heels. I'm so ready for a holiday. I've taken to writing myself to do lists, so I can use that sense of satisfaction of crossing it off the list as a motivator to get things done. And so far it's helping. :P

I think I'm going to start counting the days till I leave. I work four days a week and there is only 7 more working days till I'm finished for the year. I think I can manage that. :P

This year has been so full on. To illustrate perhaps why this has been such a full on year... I am the only teacher from my room to have been there at the start of the year. It's a normal thing in child care, with the notoriously high staff turn over rate but gah! I wish it were otherwise. Things would settle down and then another thing would distrupt the room. I'm glad I stuck it out. We've had some crazy times but by and large, I've enjoyed working at my centre.


An example of an awesome moment:
This morning our stick insect shed it's skin and one of the children saw this and told me a stick insect was eating another stick insect! I freaked out but when I saw what she meant, I was excited rather than scared. It looked as if it was eating another insect because it was eating it's old skin. I didn't know they did that... that is, ate their old skin. :)

Ah dear...

This is a song I think I should buy, I think it's grand.


Ray LaMontagne - Jolene




Love,
Cathrine

Home

I had such a wonderful weekend.

Saturday was spent visiting an art gallery with Tom and his dad in Marrickville. We stopped in on a local market on the way back and Tom got me an early Christmas present - a beautiful red top with a boab tree on it. <3 Then came back for lunch, read more Harry Potter and a rode home to my place in the afternoon.

This morning I rode to Tom's place and went to morning church, which was a very nice service with loads of kids. Then we had lunch and I read more of my Harry Potter book with Tomtom and we listened to a podcast sermon by John Piper. I'm very excited about these sermons on demand... :D And then had dinner later with Tom's family - an early Christmas dinner because his brother is going overseas in a week or so. :) Tom and I got to decorate the gingerbread biscuits with icing beforehand... His mum cooked up an amazing dinner, I'm stuffed full. :D


And this song. :D I heart it. It has such wonderful energy.
I love you Tom. <3



Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Home



Her:
Alabama, Arkansas,
I do love my ma and pa,
Not that way that I do love you.

Him:
Holy, moley, me, oh my,
You're the apple of my eye,
Girl I've never loved one like you.

Her:
Man oh man you're my best friend,
I scream it to the nothingness,
There ain't nothing that I need.

Him:
Well, hot and heavy, pumpkin pie,
Chocolate candy, Jesus Christ,
Ain't nothing please me more than you.

Both:
Ahh Home. Let me go home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.
Ahh Home. Let me go ho-oh-ome.
Home is wherever I'm with you.

La, la, la, la, take me home.
Mother, I'm coming home.

Him:
I'll follow you into the park,
Through the jungle through the dark,
Girl I never loved one like you.

Her:
Moats and boats and waterfalls,
Alley-ways and pay phone calls,
I've been everywhere with you.

Him:
That's true.
Laugh until we think we'll die,
Left with(?) on a summer night,
Never could be sweeter than with you.

Her:
And in the streets you run afree,
Like it's only you and me,
Geeze, you're something to see.

Both:
Ahh Home. Let me go home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.
Ahh Home. Let me go ho-oh-ome.
Home is wherever I'm with you.

La, la, la, la, take me home.
Daddy, I'm coming home.


(talking)
Him: Jade
Her: Alexander
Him: Do you remember that day you fell outta my window?
Her: I sure do, you came jumping out after me.
Him: Well, you fell on the concrete, nearly broke your ass, you were bleeding all over the place and I rushed you out to the hospital, you remember that?
Her: Yes I do.
Him: Well there's something I never told you about that night.
Her: What didn't you tell me?
Him: While you were sitting in the backseat smoking a cigarette you thought was gonna be your last, I was falling deep, deeply in love with you, and I never told you til just now.

Both:
Ahh Home. Let me go home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.
Ahh Home. Let me go ho-oh-ome.
Home is where I'm alone with you.

Him:
Home. Let me come home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.

Her:
Ahh home. Yes I am ho-oh-ome.
Home is when I'm alone with you.

Her:
Alabama, Arkansas,
I do love my ma and pa...
Moats and boats and waterfalls,
Alley-ways and pay phone calls...

Both:
Ahh Home. Let me go home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.
Ahh Home. Let me go ho-oh-ome.
Home is where I'm alone with you...




Love,
Cathrine

December

It's December already. In a little over 2 weeks I'll be heading to the Philippines and work will be finished (for me) for the year. I did a little looking back over my blog just then and I think I have to say this has been a full on year, but things are settling into happier waters. Some of the changes?

a. new church
b. new home
c. dating tom
d. no longer working with br ned
e. no longer involved with fifi
f. mum bought me a car
g. paid driving lessons

It's been really hard at times to keep it all together. I wonder what next year will be like... could it be that things will calm down? I would love for things to settle into a routine of church, bible study, work and Tom and seeing friends in my spare time.

Music continues to be most old stuff rehashed. New stuff is harder to come by these days. I have a driving lesson this afternoon and so I better dash..


Meow,
Cathrine