β€œHome is the nicest word there is.” Laura Ingalls Wilder

Yesterday Bear and I went to the Post Office and received a large envelope with my name on it. Inside was approval for my Permanent Residency in Australia. I could hardly believe it and promptly burst into tears. I didn’t realize how I’d been emotionally holding my breath, hoping that Australia would want me to stay, hoping that I’d be allowed to remain with my Bear. After my cry we laughed and whooped and hollered with joy. It’s been a long, long road but we’re finally here and it feels amazing.

I belong here now. I’m allowed to stay. I’m truly allowed to call this place home.

I can’t help but smile. A lot.

So Bear and I are celebrating. Much to our delight, on the same day my approval arrived, so did a box full of Christmas pressies from the US. So we’ve been having such fun watching new movies, reading through new issues of my favorite American magazine, and dreaming up the ideal recipes to utilize the three precious cans of mild green chilies our dear friend sent to us.

This afternoon we’re going to treat ourselves to a coffee and cake date, and this morning we celebrated with one of our favorite brekky’s: fried potatoes with onions and sausage.

fried potatoes and sausageNow I’m heading outside to start prepping my garden for winter veggies. After searing heat for days on end, last night a new front blew in and it is wonderfully fresh and cool. Can’t wait to get outside and dig and plant and plan.

How do you like to celebrate important things? xo