HOME - time to party

I arriving into Sydney to see my mum's beautiful face made the HOME reality kick in. As did the next 3 hours in traffic! I got back and the first weekend it was my vivacious (mini-me) niece's 4th birthday.

In the middle of the party I had a little bit of that wonderful thing called culture shock. There I was surrounded by white children with lots of presents and lollies and their parents talking about many differing things, all in English and then there was me. I have to get back into this. It wasn't a bad thing, on the contrary ... this is great and it is my home ... it has just been a while since I understood everything that was being said and yet didn't really understand at all. hehehehh - no news for a year makes it hard to have interesting conversations about life.
But that feeling quickly went away and it was all just fun. As I played with my sister's kids and watched the people I loved ... I realised that life really is an incredible gift ... this part of my gift may have commercial breaks (a few years here and there away) but it will always be the best thing I ever did!

You get that I love my family right!

My way home - Auckland with Annie

OH how to I even begin to explain my trip home. It took 10 days ... there were 3 huge flights (Capetown to London = 12 hours + London to LA = 13 hours THEN 9 hour LAYOVER IN LAX + LA to Auckland = 14 hours) but praise the Lord I survived. And apart from a moment in London when I thought I was upgraded but then the seat was ripped out from under me (a few ALMOST TEARS) the 4 days of flying was fine. God really got me when He reminded me that this succession of tickets was more than 40 people's annual wage in Tanzania and God had provided ever cent. So how can you complain!! Everything was really good ... thanks for the prayers.
I cannot tell you how great it was to get off that last plane and run into the arms of my incredible friend Annie! Oh 4 days of heaven!! You know those people who just let you be your worst and still see you as if it were your best ... those are my close friends and this girl is one of those.
She literally just let me do nothing and yet I felt so complete. We just chilled with her man and ate great food, trained with her PT (and I almost threw up twice ... yep first for me). It was such a blessing. By the time I got back on the plane to go to Sydney and finish my year abroad (to the day) ... I was completely refreshed and ready for the next stage thanks to Resort A la Annie!
Auckland and Annie ... what more could I have asked for.