An Early Christmas Gift

I got a big suprise today!! An early Christmas gift from the Alberta government!!

I received my high school diploma!! Sure, I was two and half years late, but I got it!! I was missing one course, any course at the grade 12 level. I applied to Alberta Learning to be given consideration for the 5 credits I needed for my upcoming experience in Australia. Some of my previous work experience was also detailed in my letter, and I was granted work experience credits, meaning that I met the requirements for an Alberta High School Diploma.

I had been worried that I would have to take a class upon my return from Australia in order to complete my diploma. I am extremely happy that I don't have to worry about that.

Another amazing blessing from God!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

I've been so hungry!!

Thursday morning I had my three remaining wisdom teeth removed. It was a nice easy procedure. I went in, they drugged me, and I have no memory until I woke up in the recovery room. It was kind of funny when my parents took me home. I was seeing double in both eyes, so I was actually seeing quadruple. They put a patch over one eye, but it is the stronger eye, so things were a bit blury. And my legs were pretty wobbly for the first while until the drug started to wear off. And my mouth was still frozen, so I had a lot of trouble speaking. In retrospect it is all rather amusing.

I spent Thursday and Friday just relaxing at home. Of course by Friday night I was bored out of my mind...and VERY hungry. I've been living off of soda crackers, jello, soup, cottage cheese, milkshakes, and juice. All very yummy, but not very filling. Saturday I had a bowl of KD for lunch, but it took me a VERY long time to eat just that one bowl and I don't have that kind of patience, so I've given up on that idea. Saturday I was ready to go out and do stuff again, so I went to the mall and Christian bookstore to finish my Christmas shopping. And in the evening my grandma (who is out for Christmas) and I went to see a movie.

Anyways, that's what I've been up to for the last part of the week. Tomorrow I'm back to work for a few days before Christmas. I'm still unsure which days I'm getting of for Christmas. I'm either working Christmas Eve or on the 27th, but I get the other day off, along with New Year's Eve...or at least that's what I'm told...we'll see what really ends up happening.

I want all of you to have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Until later.

One more step complete...

Well, I have finished one more step towards going to Australia. I both filed my Student Visa Application today and received notice that my application has been processed and accepted. Which means that from today to December 13, 2005 I am legally entitled to study in Australia at the Salvation Army's School for Youth Leadership. I filed my application online this afternoon and it was accepted within one hour of when I completed the application. Hopefully Alicia will receive word on her visa application soon as well.

There are now 52 days until we leave for Australia, and 57 until our course commences. It is hard to believe that it is getting so close!! It doesn't seem all that long ago that it was January when I decided to apply. I don't think that I really believe at the time that I'd be accepted, let alone that things would got so smoothly in getting everything that needs to be done, done. We are both a bit scared about going, but we know that we will be together during our travelling and that God will be with us throughout the entire time, as He is at all times.

I trust that everything is going well for all of you. If I haven't heard from you for a while, drop me a note. If you haven't heard from me for a while, drop me a note and yell at me about it. I'll try to keep my progress up to date on here.

Bye for now!