Friday afternoon I actually resorted to eye make up remover. I wiped my eyebrows again and realized that en mass my eyebrows decided to grow back in. No more itty bitty little eyebrows, but BAM! Eyebrows!
This morning for church I still drew in my eyebrows, just to even them out. I have to say, looking closely it looked like my legs when I have neglected to shave them--for a number of days....spikey. Gross. I know.
Happy First Anniversary Victoria!
That's why we have this Scripture text: No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—What God has arranged for those who love him. But you've seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you. 1 Corinthians 2:9 The Message
I have been in this "mode" of reflection. It started in June but since the wedding it has definitely stepped up.
Tomorrow marks the 1st anniversary of the move to Victoria. A year ago tomorrow we pulled into our drive way with 2 cars, a truck and trailer. We met Robbie and Chelsea Penney and the Colwood Pentecostal Church Youth group as they helped us unload our truck and get the horrendously heavy piano moved into place.
We were tired, emotionally and physically spent. We went for dinner not much was said and the following day we said goodbye to Max, Melissa and Jonathan--as they immediately returned to Kelowna.
Can I say this out loud? What a year. What a stinking year!
I spent the first 3 days organizing our house and then I set to look for work. In the first 6 weeks of being here I wrestled with God. Why. Why did we have to leave friends we loved, a job I loved, employers I loved, a ministry I loved, a church I loved, a community I loved--to sit here and take 10 hours to plan dinner.
I believe that if a lesson isn't learned the first time around, you will have to face it again and again until it's learned.
So, I embraced the quiet, the alone time, the utter loneliness--and learned to rely on God for the sweetest friendship. This quiet time was good for me to get to know Him in a very different way. And it was so good.
When I embraced it God gave me what I really longed for....a job. Little did I know that I would be working for Satan herself -- but that this time would be very important in God's plan for me. I made friends with the Doctor across the hall. We actually would go out at lunch and walk her dog--and talk. When I needed a family Doctor due to Fred the lump we found in January, Ewa (Eva) said she would be my Doctor. Doctors are not easy to find in Victoria.
When I finished the medical leave coverage at that office I went to work at Royal Jubilee Hospital in the IMIT department as a Switchboard Operator. I love my job.
In January, we found the lump. I had the most amazing ER Doctor, Dr. Carly Cooper, she made 2 follow up calls to me that week, which is highly unusual behavior for an ER Doc. I had an ultrasound, MRI and CT all within a couple weeks. Dr. Cooper referred me to the best surgical oncologists in Victoria, saw him within a couple weeks.
Then an amazing trip to New York City with Emmanuel Next Gen Ministries from Kelowna--it was life changing.
I got home to surgery, recovery and an invitation to the BC Cancer Agency, chemotherapy and now radiation treatment.
And a wedding planned and done. A married daughter and a son-in-law.
Didn't I tell you -- it's been a year!
On behalf of Kent, I can tell you it's been hard for him too. When he applied to this position they were looking for a person with a Masters in Engineering. Kent didn't have it, but they gave him the job based on experience. He had a steep learning curve to his job, he managed to impress them and I have been told often by his co-workers that he is a hero. He manages to be calming in a storm, thinks outside of the box and is appreciated. For Kent's 47th birthday we filled the house with new friends and we celebrated Kent. It was really fun.
And Max. He asked for this move. We sat in our driveway and talked this all through....did he really know what he was asking for? He did. So we put our house up for sale and started the process....This year has been a tough year for him. I know that he wouldn't want me indulging more -- but he has handled the year with grace and maturity.
When tried to figure out how to keep our family in Kelowna. We just couldn't see a way to do it. We knew God was calling us to Victoria--and that he was asking us to believe in Him and be faithful. So we took that step of faith. The house sold in 3 days. We were approved for a mortgage, bought a house, got told the mortgage didn't really exist, Kent didn't have a job, then he was offered a job, we got the mortgage and moved.....all in 30 days from the time the house sold.
Several times this year we have heard sermons on Joshua 3:14-17. We marveled at how we had walked in faith. Looking back it is so easy to see where we stepped out and God provided.
Now as I sit here in reflection, I couldn't possibly list all the situations--good and bad that we have had this year. Kent is dozing on the couch beside me, I can hear Max playing guitar, I know that Melissa is much loved and is being cared for by the man of her dreams. Life is good.
I do know this: I would do this year over again. I really mean it.
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