T -10

As I write this, I've now finished work and left Bournemouth. This week unexpectedly flew by, and suddenly I find myself at my parents house trying to process the fact that I'm completely done with this chapter of my life, and in ten short days the moment that Katelynn and I have been waiting for for months will actually happen. The lesson I've learnt is that leaving your home is harder in reality than the idealistic dream it appears to be when it is conceptualized months or even years previously.

Katelynn has now completely finished University this week, she will be a great music teacher. It's apt in a strange way that for both of us, chapters of our lives are closing at the same time, shortly after we'll synchronously begin new chapters of our lives. It's exciting.

Job update: I've been having some interviews recently, they've been going well and have a couple of more coming up (I won't disclose details over the internet but you can ask me if you want). It's encouraging to see some interest now developing as I prepare to move. Watch this space....

Update: T -18

As I write this I have 2 ½ weeks left in England. In some ways the days are getting slower (work is certainly dragging!) but in reality 11th May is coming up very quickly. This weekend I will move all but a couple of bags out of the Griffiths house, I’ve been very blessed living with them and will miss them. In a week’s time I will finish my job. A event of momentary sadness will occur as I give back my BMW 3 Series to the company, for the first time since I was 18 I will be without a car! (Needless to say I will be buying a car when I’m in Canada which if anyone knows me I will have a lot of fun doing) From then on I have 10 days at my parents house to pack my life into 3 bags and entrust Air Canada cargo to ship my piano safely, and enjoy some quality time with my family before it’s time to go.

Thankfully the Volcano eruption in Iceland and the ensuing chaos in air traffic now appears to have subsided so all things being equal I will fly on the 11th. It’s hard to get my head round the fact that this time I fly to Canada, I won’t have a return flight a couple of weeks later. Things will never be the same again.

T- 28

Countdowns have been a source of both excitement and dread over the past year or so. The exciting part was the expectation of what's going to happen when that particular countdown was up, and then the dread was knowing that even more quickly the timer would be turned upside down and start again. I'm sure there will be countdowns to other things in life, but to Katelynn and I at least this feels like the last countdown.

As this last timer steadily runs out, I find myself taking note of the last time I do anything, to the point where I note inconsequential events such as my last haircut in England or my last phone bill in England, as well as the important events like seeing people for the last time and saying goodbye. The realisation of what is about to transpire is now sinking in for the both of us. As the realisation comes, so does the excitement of what we expect this new season will bring, but subsequently we seem to become more acutely aware of all the things that still need working on. One major thing is that both of us need jobs soon. It's so easy to worry, but we were reminded this week by a wise and Godly friend of the verse below, which as the Bible does so well puts everything back into perspective:


Matthew 6
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.