Overdue

This post is terribly overdue. I have been adapting to normalcy since being back in Waterloo. I've enjoyed a summer of just friends and family, I have hardly even pulled out my camera.

Three years ago just a day before my birthday I received the news that I had been selected for the position as an art teacher in England which would change my life.  This year a day or two before my birthday I received an email informing me I was accepted onto the WRDSB occasional teacher list. I'm sure my friends and family in England must have heard my screams, this is the job that I flew home in June for an interview.
I was asked by the principals "why I flew home for just an interview", my response was " everything that I have done over the past 7 years was so that I could sit across from them right now".
So the stress of finding a job was lifted.

Update on the summer:
-Jim took me to Goderich, Port Elgin and Tobermory for my birthday and it was beautiful.
-We enjoyed another great day at Wonderland for Lexi's Birthday.  This year we had Andrew, Magyn, Leah, Matt, Lexi, Lexi's friend, Jim and myself.  I love having my family back full time!
-For the first time in over two decades we attended a Werth family reunion, what a joy to see everyone.
-I've been working on several renovations including helping Leah and Matt move into their first home together.
-Tomorrow is the first day of school.  I'm secretly hoping I don't get called tomorrow because my mom and I are hoping to visit family friends in Orangeville.

I am already missing my friends and family in England and thinking about my visit in a couple years. I never imagined my life this way, I feel very blessed.

Below is a picture I took the weekend before leaving Grimsby.  When I was young my grandmother(from England) would send me Christmas annuals with comics and picture games. I loved the one of children around a lake playing with sailboats.  When I was walking along the beach in Cleethorpes I saw a man carrying a boat and followed him to the boating lake.... this was like jumping into the story book.

Sunset at Port Elgin

Tobermory

Lexi is on the far right, I'm thankful she still enjoys the simple rides but unfortunately she was tall enough this year for Top Deck(below). Last year she cried when she could not get on, this year she rode it several times.

Kevin and I went to see a movie in Elora and then on the way home we stopped at the casino and took in the horse races.  It was challenging to take photos at night and panning.

At the end of the night a local soccer team entertained the audience with a bouncing pony race.

I love being home but I really missed not being in Grimsby and enjoying our first day of school together.

Found the King!

I don't want to sound like a soap box preacher but when God answers prayer he does so in abundance. A little less than three years ago I was feeling a bit down.  I'd left my friends and family in Canada and I was feeling isolated here in Grimsby.  I prayed for a friend to have someone to do things with.  I did not want a relationship, just a friend.
I need to tell you the back story first.

1. A prayer on the way to church 4 years ago - "Am I doing the right thing going to teachers College?" the answer- Title of the service- "Don't worry I am in Charge."
2. Teacher's College 4 years ago I met and got to know, Ross.
3. First week at school in England who do I see but Ross, unbeknownst to me he was teaching in the same school.  I met his lovely wife and we all traveled to York for a day trip.  While at the train station in Grimsby we meet Graham.  I would not have got to know him but Ross enjoyed talking to strangers. We sat together all the way to Doncaster and if that was not enough, on the way back Graham got onto our returning train. Then he walked me home in the dark because he lives across the park from my home.  Ross left in October after only a month.
4. I prayed for a friend.
5. In January Kevin suggested I join a club to get me out of the house and meet people. I took his suggestion and who did I meet on my first night? Graham.

I would have never struck up a friendship with him if I had not already met him. I would not have met him if it weren't for Ross. I would not have known Ross if I had not gone to Nippising. I would not have gone to Nippising if I did not believe this was all God's plan. And wether or not I get the job in Ontario I know it is God's plan.

So, this was my last day trip with Graham. Last year we talked about visiting Leicester after the re-internment of Richard III and today was our chance, the city did not disappoint.

Firstly, on friday the Cleethorpes Camera Club went out to the Old Clee Church.

A cottage on the same road.

The church organist was there and he treated us to some music.

We ended early and took a drive out to the pier to see if there might be a sunset instead we got a rainbow then a bit of a sunset.

This is the train station. The following day I had the extreme pleasure of travelling to Meadowhall and met Amy from my first year of teaching.

In Liecester.

Guild Hall.

Inside the visitors centre is a museum to Richard III.

Richard was discovered under the asphalt on the other side of this wall.  One very courageous woman named Philippa Langley followed her belief that his remains were located in this car park. A million to one odds that they might find the church/choir/body.

Model of the bones and MRI.

Front of the Church.

Back of the church with stature of Richard III.

Beautiful new stained glass honouring Richard's story.

The embroidered cover with all the people who helped with the discovery.

In town.

John Lewis department store, beautiful glass walls.

A fence.

Then we stopped in Newark to see the Castle remains and a garden orchestra was playing.

Less than three weeks now and I will be back home. I'm excited to begin this new chapter but much like a good book, I hate to end this one.

Armed Forces Day

So today I decided that I had to attend the annual Armed Forces Day in Cleethorpes.  After missing the past two I feel that it's a requirement of my three year stay.  Everyone in the area goes out to show their pride in the past and present service men and women.  I have to say that I hope dad could see how proud I am of him and my uncles but I also hope he can see what a challenge it was for me to work up the courage to go out into such a large crowd.  Thousands of visitors descended on the town. This experience was just as daunting to me as the visit to London for New Years Eve.  The train which should have taken 10 minutes took me an hours wait while two trains filled to capacity passed us by.  I missed the red arrows display, oh wait that's a lie, here they are...

as seen from platform 1 in Grimsby.

Once in Cleethorpes I jumped in line to see the parade and just like London, abnormally large people with children on their shoulders found the empty spots in front of me, blocking my view.

I was so proud of all the men and women and especially the cadets.  I saw a couple of my students in the show and I have to say that there is a reason they are such wonderful young men.

Then I waited for the Red Arrows Paratroopers.

When it was time to go home I was miss directed to the train and not the coach. Waited for the next one and by the time I got home I was exhausted and it had only been 3 hours. It felt like and entire day.

I have to tell you something very exciting.  I went home last week for an interview with the Waterloo District School Board.  I was sent an email for an interview on the Friday, requested a skype interview and it was declined on the Monday, booked my ticket that day and flew home on the Tuesday for the interview on Wednesday.  The interview went great!  They've called for my references and I am currently sitting with my fingers and legs crossed which makes typing difficult.  Wish me LUCK.

After only four short days I was back in Grimsby, a short visit but it's made the next five weeks seem like a very short time.

I can't wait to spend more time with these guys. Lexi, Leah, me and Andrew.