Seconds please

We have come full circle in our adventure. Today is the day we left South Africa last year. While there are undoubtedly still lots of "firsts" still ahead, we can now start to help ourselves to seconds. It is weird to think of "last year this time" as now part of our Perth adventure. It's bitter sweet and today is happy mixed with sad. We are happy that we are so settled on our first anniversary. There is no doubt that this is where we want to be, and that feels good. When I realise that it has been a whole year since I have seen my parents, my sister or my friends, I long to go back for a visit.

So here we are celebrating our safe arrival at this place called One Year. It has been a full and challenging year with great ups and downs. We have stepped right out of so many comfort zones and embraced each opportunity that has come past. In an email one of our geat friends in NZ said we sound settled because Rob is on to his second job, we have 'South Africanised' our house and made some Aussie friends! I guess that sums it up.

What we have learned this year:

To take decisions prayerfully and then exercise faith and trust
To give everyone a fair chance
To expect miracles, they do happen
Three boys aged 4 and up are full-on!
To kite surf or spectate kite surfing
To clean our house fast
To train the boys to pitch in a lot
To try new things at least once
To hang together as a family
Bad experiences prepare you for the great times ahead
It's possible to make good friends in a year
To live amongst rubble and tradesmen
To have faith in the outcome

So Happy Aussie Anniversary.