Hanging onto Promises in Canada (FMF: Offer)
My friends, I’m so sorry for the radio silence. Culture shock is a very real thing and reverse culture shock even more so. At the end of a long day at work and doing my best to be wife, mom, daughter, and friend, I usually have no more words left.
And although I can’t change anything about the last year, what I can OFFER is this quick update. Ready… Go. //
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So, how’s Canada?
It’s become the most frequently heard question in my life.
It’s been 11 months since I last posted anything about SuperMom and the International Family. Eleven exciting and exhausting months. In that time, we sold a house, gave away our beloved dogs, sold as much as we could and packed up the rest, said goodbye to a life we loved in South Africa and moved across the planet.
How is Canada?
We became re-acquainted with our homeland, a land that looks similar but feels awfully strange. ‘Familiar strangeness’ is the only description that fits.
We made new friends and caught up with old ones. We survived the coldest February in 40 years of Alberta’s history, and we’re just starting to thaw in the warmth of the spring sun. Thank God.
How is Canada?
We undertook the enormous task of helping my precious parents downsize their lives. We bought a stunning house with them, one with a lovely walk-out basement suite, and we moved in together. God has given us the chance to make up for a lot of lost time. Family is a gift.
How is Canada?
We’ve done our level best to stay focused on the goodness of God and keep His promises front and center in our hearts and minds.
He promised that this would be our best season yet.
He promised that He would never leave nor forsake us.
He promised never to let us go.
He promised, and I am hanging onto those promises. //
Hang onto God's promises... He'll NEVER let you go! Click To Tweet
So, what’s new with the Blaaks?
Here’s the Reader’s Digest version…
Erwin
Erwin – is the Account Manager of Inside Sales at CTS Industries. It was an unexpected miracle that God opened up (especially in this economic climate), but it’s the perfect place for someone who is great with people AND technology. Yes, the Apple-nator is alive and well.
Shauna
I am the Director of Communications at Adeara Recovery Centre, a residential recovery centre serving women struggling with addictions, trauma, and abuse. What makes us different is that we allow women to bring their children with them into recovery. I have the best job. Words, women, and Jesus… what could be better?
Raelynne
Our little chick is back home after three years in Australia. She’s going through her own stages of culture shock, but we are so glad to finally have her home! Before she’d even left Australia, God blessed her with a fantastic admin job at Aspire Physiotherapy. And of course, they LOVE her there!
Joshua
Joshua is in his second year of MacEwan University in the Bachelor of Jazz & Contemporary Music Program, and he’s totally rocking it! This weekend, we’re even going to see him perform in the Winspear Centre, Edmonton’s finest performance theatre.
David
After doing all of his schooling in South Africa, David is in his final semester of Grade 12. Can you believe it?! It has been a particularly difficult adjustment to change cultures this late in the game, but he’s looking forward to graduating in a few weeks. And how cool is it that both he and Rachel are attending my old high school?
Rachel
Rachel is in Grade 11 and a true go-getter. She jumped into high school life with both feet and even joined the school musical. Last month, they delivered a great rendition of the Broadway musical, “Newsies.” She even learned to tap dance for it. (click here to see the review.)
I thank my God every time I remember you (Philippians 1:3). ♥ Click To Tweet
Dear friends, please keep praying for us in this season. Change is hard. God continues to be close to us in the middle of it, offering comfort and strength for each day. We are thankful!
We love you all so much!
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Every Friday, I join an inspiring group of writers to write for FIVE MINUTES on a one-word prompt. No editing. No revising. Just WRITE. This week, the prompt word was OFFER. (Ahhhh, I’ve missed you guys.)
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For more information on Five Minute Friday, check out the Five Minute Friday website!
Shauna!!! So good to “hear” your voice again! Sounds like it’s been a whirlwind of adjustment and I just LOVE that all your chickens are back in the nest
Thank you for sharing where you’re at and we continue to kiss you and pray for you!!
Ahhhh, Kim! I miss your lovely face. Thank you for always being such a cheerleader in my life!
I love you so much! (Let’s FaceTime soon) 🙂 Please give my love to all the other mommies in Jbay <3
So neat to visit someone who understands the challenges of (reverse-) culture shock, missing out on life with family and the gift of God’s Promises in the midst of it all. And what a wonderful job you have: what a gift you must be to those families. May God bless the work of your hands and heart. Greetings from a Kiwi living in the Netherlands (with a sister & her family in Australia, a Dad in Germany and brothers and another sister plus families in NZ).
Wow, Anna. How nice to meet you here! Yes, I hear you. At one time, we were also spread out between 3 corners of the world and doing our best to coordinate Skype calls and time zones. It’s definitely not for wimps, is it?
Heading over to read your post now. 🙂 God bless you!
So great to see you writing again! Miss you guys! ♥️
Hello Shauna, I have never been to your site but absolutely loved your catch up with everyone. I am not quite sure how cold Alberta gets but I am still getting accustomed to Northern Michigan and imagine it might be similar. What a wonderful picture of your family and life! I love that God has stepped in and fully supplied for your family’s needs. I’m just visiting from FMF. Have a wonderful week. 🙂
Cool to read your update! And now we that we live in the same city… COFFEE?!?!
I so resonate with the shock of reverse culture shock – the same thing happened to me when I returned to the UK after time working in Rwanda. You expect strange things to be strange but when it’s the familiar that seems strange it’s just so disorientating.
God bless you in your readjustment and new directions.
Your FMF Neighbour #47
Hi Shauna!
So lovely to find your website. I wish we had done what we always said we should do – come and visit you guys in JBay! Now we are in America and you’re in Canada. Immigration is not for wimps, as you commented on an earlier post, and yet I always felt like a wimp – looking back I’m not sure how we survived all of that (from getting rid of precious possessions, leaving friends and family, then settling and planting church at the same time in a totally new country and culture, with two small children) God has an amazing way of showing us what we are really made of and who we are made in the image of! He is so faithful and I know that one day we will look back and see the growth and character He has worked in us through the victories and the struggles.
Praying for you guys…the best is yet to come!
Love from Denise Steyn (Fred’s wife and John and Jayne Scholtz daughter) 🙂 xxx
Ps – maybe one day we will come and visit you guys in Canada!
What a blessing you guys have been to us in South Africa! Unforgettable.
I see your whole family soaring in Canada! Your adjustment will be accelerated and your favour will be great! Praying for grace and more grace. Much love.
So lovely reading this. You’re so missed here, but not surprised you doing well and conquering ❤️ Lots of love
Hey Shauna, what a joy it is to have you fill my mind as I read this and imagine you and the family in your new setting.
I miss you very much and treasure our heart connection xx
Hi Shauna! Yay to have you back… need to hear that “voice”. I am so delighted about your family’s setting currently, you are such a mummy bear, I can only imagine the preciousness of being together!
I’m forever grateful of your life this side, my champion you have been.
Love you tons
How good it is to hear about you all! Amazing how faithful God is – even when you are challenged… We love and miss you all!
It’s so wonderful to hear from your heart again. Miss you and often speak to some of the ladies you mentored. You are missed but we are all grateful for your impact.
Loads of love!
So good to read all this! Glad you found the time to write again in the craziness of life.
I am looking forward to visiting you in May. Can you believe it? Edmonton, here we come! haha Can’t wait to see all of you and hear all the stories. Missing you here. JB isn’t the same without you guys. Lots of love.