I am very behind on my blog as December has been busy with activities, church, getting ready for Australia and coming to and being in Australia.
We are now in Canberra where Max and Jacquie live. We left Vancouver on December 16th with Cindy and Paul’s friend and neighbor Michelle driving us to the airport. Kona went from Rosemarie Schiemann to Mary and Lincoln to Janice her babysitter. The transfers were made successfully, though I had worried. We flew from Vancouver to Fiji where we had a short layover. Fiji looked beautiful and green with rolling hills. From Nadi, Fiji it was a four hour flight to Sydney where we were greeted by Max and Jaquie. They had their car and we rented another larger car so we could accommodate the six of us (Max, Jacquie, Paul, Cindy, Max, Sam and myself) and our luggage. We drove to the Temple accommodations where we would stay for two nights. We entirely lost the day of Saturday when we crossed the international date line so it was Sunday when we arrived and we needed to get groceries and eat. We then walked around the Christmas displays and lights on the Temple grounds before needed sleep.
On Monday we drove to a dock like area by the river and took a little ferry boat into the downtown area of Sydney. They weather was a mix of rain, wind, hot and cool. I loved Sydney. We went to see the opera house, the Bay Area and downtown stores and shops. The city area is a combination of the Quay, English Bay, Seattle, Vancouver and New York. I really enjoyed it and even bought a lovely dress at a cute shop. At the end of the day we retraced our steps back to the cars.
Tuesday December 20 was Max and Jacquie’s first wedding anniversary and their scheduled sealing day at the Sydney Temple.Her mother Mary, friend Maddy, as well her friend Tamara and her new husband Marcel had joined us by now. We had a lovely time in the Temple and the sealer was sweet and did well. We were missing Tom but I knew he was there and could hear his voice repeating the ordinance with the sealer. Oh, how I love him. We took pictures and had lunch with everyone before heading out to Wollongong and our our next stopping point.
Cindy had rented a cute little place near the beach in Wollongong so the next day we we did a long beach walk near our accommodations and then on another beach walk near the harbour area after first visiting a large ocean blow hole. Dear Sam had to share a room with me and my snoring. That was our Wednesday.
On Thursday after cleaning our place a little, we finally drove to Canberra where Jacquie grew up and where she and Max now live and work. Jacquie has been driving Cindy and I in the rental and Max driving the men in their car. Jacquie took us to see their new apartment and then over to her family and their home. We visited with them during the afternoon, met her father and her sister Fiona and her husband and two little ones. Once Fiona and family were off, we went to a nearby buffet for dinner with her parents. Her parents are sweet people. Her father Brian is not a church member and her two sister are not active. Sam is staying with the kids at their apartment and Cindy booked us a small rental place not too far away.
It is now Friday and we will soon be off to Costco and IKEA as soon as the children are awake and come to get us.
Before leaving Vancouver we celebrated Christmas with Ross and Sarah on December 10th and 11th. I had served my Temple shift on Saturday and then went to the Hardy home, along with Kona, to celebrate Christmas Eve with a shepherds’ dinner. They all came to my house in the morning for Christmas breakfast and presents. I had made orange rolls and Cindy made soufflé. We then all attended church. We visited Camille and family at Ronald MacDonald House in the afternoon where they are staying while little Presley is receiving her cancer treatments. They are such a sweet family.
I spent the week before we left preparing for our trip, delivering gifts and making arrangements with Janice Campbell to care for Kona. It has been a stress for me determining how to care for her while I am away in Australia. I looked into several options but then Cindy helped me connect with Janice and that seemed to be a fit. She teaches at a special school for immigrants and has the two weeks off. We decided that she would stay at my house. I tried to secure all my valuables and papers. Since we left Vancouver has had a large snow fall and I think Kona and Janice are pretty well snowed in along with the whole area.
This is my first Christmas without Tom and though my heart is aching, I am at peace and I feel very blessed. All Tom has done for me over many years and all his love continues to bless me.
