FIVE YEARS?

On Sunday, October 17 I celebrated a milestone: 5 years ago, I arrived in Hamilton, Ontario at the home of my friend Matt at approximately 11:30 pm. I had been travelling for 3 days by train, through the Rocky Mountains, with a stop in Jasper; through the prairies, watching the deer graze as I ate my breakfast; through Northern Ontario, as I fell in love with the province I vowed to never visit. Little did I know that the little town of Ancaster, a suburb of Hamilton, where I arrived 5 years ago would be the place I eventually called 'home'.


As I've said many times since my arrival, "never say never".


Here's a look back at some of what has happened over the last 5 years, I categorize them as "memorable" and "lessons learned":

• started attending Church on the Rock
  
• worked at Blessings
  
• had Maeghan and L.A. as roommates
  
• worked at Sobeys
  
• met, and became best friends with Laura
  
• spent Christmas with the Burke's
  
• started dating Kyle
  
• applied for college
  
• worked at Subway
  
• moved out on my own
  
• stopped dating Kyle
  
• was introduced to Camp Cherith
  
• quit Subway
  
• started going to college
  
• met some crazies, and some gems at Mohawk Christian Fellowship
  
• started working for the college
  
• had my first birthday in Ontario and reminisced on a year gone by


• learned about the issue of human trafficking
  
• went home (for Christmas) for the first time in 14 months
  
• started dating Charles
  
• worked at Mohawk over the summer
  
• went with Josh to 'assist' in picking out a ring for Laura
  
• was asked to bein Josh & Laura's wedding party
  
• went back to Cherith, worked on maintenance staff
  
• was asked to be in Gen & Brad's wedding party
  
• stopped dating Charles, the man I thought I'd marry
  
• got a national scholarship
  
• started Sanctuary with 5 girls that would become like sisters over the years
  
• met Jeff & Shirley
  
• went home for Christmas for the second year in a row
  
• graduated from college, as an honours student
  
• finished my job, reluctantly, at the college
  
• worked in an art gallery for 2 weeks as a co-op student
  
• started my career at Group Eight Engineering
  
• went to BC for the 2nd time in a year, 3rd time since moving to Ontario
  
• hosted my parents for a week visit


• helped at one of two garage sales in support of IJM, raised $400
  
• stood up for Josh and Laura at their wedding


• moved, with my landlords, to a new home
  
• stayed in Ontario for Christmas
  
• flew to Switzerland for Dani's wedding and to meet Natascha and Anouk
  
• stood up for Brad and Gen at their wedding


• witnessed Tyler proposing to Allie


• celebrated with Amanda when she announced her engagement


• held our "An Evening for Awareness" event, in support of IJM - raised over $1400


• stayed in Ontario for Christmas, again


• celebrated with Tom and Lauren as they announced their engagement


• celebrated with Rob and Sarah at their new years eve engagement party


• began a year of dozen+ weddings:


• celebrated with Brandy and Mike in January


• celebrated with James and Emily in May (also, Dave and Jenn were married this month)


• stood up for Tyler and Allie


• crashed Amanda and Jordan's wedding


• stood up for Tom and Lauren (also, Jared and Breanne were married this day)
  
• started going to a new church, Eucharist Church
  
• prayed for and thought of Karen and Pete on their wedding day


• celebrated with Jenny and Tyler and then Rob and Sarah on the same day in October


• quit my job at Group Eight


• celebrated my 27th birthday, started a new job and went out for dinner with friends and a crush - all on the same day


• wrote a ridiculously long blog post that only highlighted some of the big events over the last 5 years... there is so much more that has happened that it can't fit into one blog post