Long Service Leave

Tim has been causing a sensation.

In social situations he will announce to everyone "Belinda and I are going on holidays to Europe".

Everyone looks very shocked and surprised, no doubt wondering if being a four day a week children's/women's church worker and a Bible College student pays better than they had expected!

"When?" Is always the next question.

"In Twelve Years" is Tim's cheeky reply, "Long Service Leave".

Tim has wanted to go to Europe for as long as I've known him (don't get him started on the fact that his parents took his little brother without him!). And the wish has been growing more and more.

Lots of our friends have gone. In fact, along with buying a house, it seems to be "the thing" that every couple does. And for me it is just one more thing that we are missing out on doing together. And I don't like my attitude! As Tim keeps reminding me- I wouldn't trade a European holiday or a house for the awesome relationships and ministry that God has so graciously thrown my way!

But it is still so hard.

Hence the plan.

Tim will (God willing)- start working in 16 months. Starting in January we will put aside $100 each month into savings. That way, by the time we hit long service leave, we will have at least $12,000 saved up for our holiday.

And just having made that plan, we feel better. Yes, we have made sacrifices, and we would make them again.

But its so lovely to have a goal, something special and exciting to look forward to, to celebrate potentially ten years of ministry work. (James 4:13-15 of course in mind and acknowledged).

And strange though it seems, Tim and I are already excited thinking about it.

Of course there are other options. Tim's sister cheekily suggested we go to Europe this summer, go into debt- and spend the next twelve years paying off the debt rather than saving up for it. Or someone else suggested Tim could always become a multi-millionaire Televangelist and have his own private jet to go to Europe whenever he wants.

But I think we'll stick to the savings plan ;)
love B
PS To be fair, I have been to Europe before with my family. But I don't really care about going except that it would make Tim so happy. And I like a happy Tim!