Wow I really did forget to post this year!!
Here's my Christmas Letter!!
Dear Friends,
Well I can’t believe a whole year has flown by since we were last adorned in tinsel and counting down the sleeps until a certain fat man comes to visit… but here we are!! And 2009 has certainly been a busy year!!
As you may recall from last years letter I resigned from the hospital at the end of 2008 due to my back injury. While the back has improved a great deal, I do believe it’s because I'm no longer on my feet so much. I always have some pain and some days it is worse than others, but overall I'm doing much better!! Which is really a miracle. I was told at the end of last year that I would never improve and that my only option was increased pain medication. While I still reach for the codeine at times I manage most days drug free. I do miss nursing sometimes. Without appearing full of myself I was a good nurse. I had like a sixth sense, sometimes I could walking into a room and see a patient from the other side of the room and know something was wrong. I was good under pressure and I miss that, almost adrenaline rush. I don't miss the 5:30 starts, late early shifts and cleaning up people’s messes. I have been looking at different options to return to some form of nursing, even a day a fortnight, that doesn't require any manual work.
Also at the end of last year I was on my final placement at the Migrant Resource Centre. I completed my Social Work degree in January this year (although due to a mix up I only graduated last week– I think I did because I graduated in absentea). I have been working at the Migrant Resource Centre ever since. I started out as a Family Support Worker, working with refugee families on parenting and other family relationship issues. Now I am a Complex Case Support Case Manager. I went from about 13 clients to 3 and am so much busier now. While the work can be really stressful and leaves me with a headache its also totally rewarding. I get to go to work everyday and make a difference in the lives of truly vulnerable people. People who have been horrendously persecuted in their own countries and ridiculously marginalised here in Australia. I also get to form bonds with people who don't really trust anyone anymore and cuddle really cute babies, which doesn't hurt!! I have had clients from many different countries including Burma, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Iran but my favourite clients are the Africans. And some days I feel I'm back there (and it’s not just because sometimes driving through Dandenong it’s hard to spot the Anglo). The African cultures are all around me and the people are just a wonderful as they are when you experience them in their own countries. So while if God told me tomorrow he was sending me back to Africa I’d head out and buy my ticket, I feel more than satisfied with my work.
I have continued my work with the church youth group. I organised a camp back in March, which wasn't without dramas I can assure you; but lives were powerfully changed. And I also had the chance to connect with some of the more isolated and the difficult to get to know of my girls-and that is the whole point!! After 8 years in leadership I still feel challenged and inspired to be making a difference and building a connection with my girls, it really is such a privilege to be investing into such amazing lives. I am finishing up the year a little sad but excited as to what 2010 holds in the way of youth group. I have been with some of my girls since they were in year 7 (because I changed my age group when they went up), but now they are going into VCE and I still feel called to work with the 9-10 girls. So while I will definitely maintain my relationship with them its difficult to hand over. I am also very excited to have a new bunch of girls come up and the have the opportunity to share my life with them and just show them the love so many of them crave.
As always a huge chunk of my life consists of my role as big sister-to all my sisters but mostly to Tiff and Krys.
Tiff has had her fair share of challenges and I am so incredibly proud of how far she has come this year. At the beginning of the year there was all this talk that she might never learn to read… but she, with all her determination, can now read full children’s Novels. She has actually tackled all the Roald Dahl novels– which is more than I ever did!! She is certainly becoming a young lady… she is so tall and only a shoe size off my clodhoppers!! She has a very distinct sense of fashion and style. It’s amazing how much my heart swells and my instinct is to protect her and help her grow into the amazing woman I know she is becoming
Krys is crazy!! She has more energy than the energizer bunny., But she has more character than any other kid I know. She makes me laugh about every minute. She is so smart and is VERY bossy. But for all the energy she takes up chasing her and making sure she stays out of trouble she gives back double; triple in the joy she gives by watching her grow and develop. She is a sweet little thing who always wants to be everyone’s friend.
2010 looks like I will continue working at the Migrant Resource Centre with maybe a day or so with some sort of nursing job on the side. Getting to know my new year 9 girls and investing into their lives. More of being a big sister. And whatever else God decides to throw my way!! I am also hoping to get over to Canada about August next year, when Steph is home for her yearly break.
Wishing you all a very safe and blessed Christmas. Please remember to take time to tell those you love that you are thinking of them. Remember this very special time of year; that Jesus was born to come to bring love into the world-Don’t forget that in the midst's of wrapping paper and turkey!!
Praying you all have a very blessed and experience new dreams in 2010!!
Love Always
Jo
