On one side, I’ve been thinking about it a lot. Everything becomes “the last time I’ll get to XXXXX”.

I taught my last school scripture lessons, did my last Christmas assembly talks, I’ve had my last men’s & family Bible studies, my last BBQ at the Caravan park, and tomorrow I have my last morning prayer, before Friday’s last home communion visits & finally my last youth group.

I’ve also had to think about things as I read books sent to me by my new boss (which I love. proactive is awesome in my book!) I’ve been chatting about rosters, going to occasional meetings & downloading gigabytes of stuff about where my new parish has been going & what they have been doing.

Yet at the same time, I think it will still catch me a little by surprise.

Are you ever really ready for when you move house & all those things that are your “everyday” become memories?

Are you ever really ready for the workplace which sees more of your face time than just about anything gets swapped for something unfamiliar?

I’m thankful that I am going to a parish that I am STOKED be be involved with. I’m so blessed that I’m being sent off by a parish that loves me & has cared for me very well.

But I’ll be even happier when it’s all done.

Bring on February, when the novel can start to feel normal…

Meanwhile, I know most of my readers are family & most of you are just reading in the hope of some pictures of the kids, so here they are…

Enough to keep the hounds at bay?

But Bambaata was before his time, so it all evens out…

Step 1
Note that a number of people at church have embraced the “sticker family.” Personally, the chances of me sticking the family stickers on my car are slightly lower than that of me being a late adopter of the hibiscus craze! It’s a little odd to me, & it makes me a little sad when you see ones like the wife with a husband crossed out, or the family with some other poor sod tacked on later.

Step 2
Think about Icthus (Christian fish) stickers. I’m not too crash hot on them either. As far as I can work out, people aren’t too likely to think “My my, that guy is driving well… hey is that a fish sticker I spy? I wonder if I would drive better if I were saved?” However, it is quite likely that they will think “Man that dude cut me off/is speeding/ drives like a maniac… oh, and he has a fish sticker… what a hypocrite.

Step 3
The caveat. At least in each of these cases, these people are proud about who they are and what they value. They want to wear it on their sleeves (and their car). Shouldn’t we all be transparent when it comes to sharing & displaying our core values? Shouldn’t we want to display those things we love for all to see?

What would you want to stick a sticker of on your car if this were the case?

WARNING: sexual content (but really only euphemistic words…)

I like the little rhythms of life. Monday morning dropping wife at the station, then an hour of play with the kids before daycare & work.

Ive really enjoyed Saturday mornings. Pumpkin has her swimming lesson, while we watch adoringly. But this rhythm has come to an end. Next year we’ll be five mins from the beach, so it’s time to get some sea water on the skin & salt air in the lungs!

I might get to take a dip too…

If you can’t be bothered following the link, here is a vid on designing lightsabers

http://static.discoverymedia.com/videos/components/hsw/38943-title/snag-it-player.html?auto=no

The video clip is pretty awesome too.

Stop signs around the world blame you for being graffiti’d!