So in March I blinked and it was the end of September. Don't you hate it when that happens?!

I got a serious wake up call when my little sister turned 18 and became legal 2 weeks ago. And that's your little, baby cousin for a lot of you who read this, I won't be feeling old alone! She is busy wrapping up her final year at school, final exams start in just a few weeks, and that's it! She has yet to fully decide what she's up to next year, there is talk of her taking over my au pair job as i finish up at the end of this year, but nothing set in stone as of yet.

Yes, it is true, I finally finish up at varsity at the end of the year, 22 November to be exact! I should be studying right now, actually, but thought I'd write a quick post instead! As excited as I am to finish, 2012 haunts me as the year I have to become a grown up - with a little anxiousness, but a huge amount of excitement. I have dreams of moving out into a place in the center of bustling Durban with a few friends, of buying a new car and wearing nice outfits to work everyday. I finish with a qualification in Marketing, and was called in for an interview at Mr Price (a HUGE clothes/home/sport retailer here in SA) head quarters a little while ago, there might be some opportunities for next year at the company. I really have just placed this is God's hands, it is an incredible place to start out a career, with great capacity to grow and learn. (and from what I've heard employees get major discounts on clothes and Mr Price stuff - reason enough!) But lets not put all our eggs into one basket - or count our chickens before they hatch! I'm open to any opportunities that come my way, and God has promised huge things. ooooh i can't wait!

I will be leaving the family that I've been au pairing for for 3 and a half years though, this is tough. I don't look forward to it, though I need a new challenge. It breaks my heart at the thought of it, they have been so good to me, I feel part of the family and those 4 kids have crawled into my heart, never to leave.

On a sadder note, my Grandpa, my dad's dad, passed away in August after long 9 weeks in ICU, heavily sedated, after a stomach op and a battle with septicemia after the op. As sad as it was, it brought the family together like never before. As we all sat outside looking back at old pictures, letters and books. He would have loved to see us all laughing (and crying) together. He couldn't wait to meet his Creator.

The day before the death of my Grandpa, we all celebrated new life when my newest little second cousin, Cayson Kai, was born. Apparently I can't call him my nephew, if that was the case I'd have been an aunty a long time ago i guess, but i adore this little thing! Kay is such a great mom, and Byron has taken to fatherhood like a duck to water. Little Cayson is a perfect little miracle, he has the greatest grandparents also and is just so loved. Needless to say, it was an overwhelming weekend to say the least.

Though I like to think you enjoy my posts, looking back at this year, and forward at whats still to come, I am overwhelmed by gratefulness - God's hand is so evidently present over every decision I make - I get a heck of a lot out of blogging also, is what I am trying to say!

So before I go, I leave you with this: We're (like 16 of us) roadtripping to Jo'burg for Coldplay and the Symphonic Rocks concert next weekend and I am SO excited! - a blog about that to come I'm sure!

love, always.