After the planting season, I road tripped from Fort St John to Smithers
After departing from Smithers, a friend and I camped in a hayfield beside Lac la Hache
After that, we spent a night camping in one of my relative's backyards in Langley
Finally, we made our way back to this beautiful Island; Home sweet home!
Now that I'm settling into a normal paced life again, I've had time to reflect on what's happened to me so far this year. I have realized that despite all the crazy happenings of 2020, I have been unbelievably blessed!
First off, I was blessed with a fantastic tree planting season! I made friends, money, and grew as an individual. An additional bonus was that I got to step out of the crazy world of COVID for three months which is more then most have got this year.
Secondly, I got my job back at the Comox Therapeutic Riding Centre(CVTRS)!!! I get full-time hours and get to do the job I really love; Working with horses! I was so sad when the center got shut down because of COVID in March. Now, most of the same horses are back with their unique and sassy personalities. I am so happy to be back here!
Then, I've got a really good living situation going on. I got a room at a farm, which is a ten-minute bike ride from work. In exchange for working with and riding their horses, I pay very little rent. Everything about this place is so perfect for me; Of course, the best part is I have a dog, a pig, and horses all in my backyard!
On top of having a room to live in, I spent some of my tree planting earnings on a truck and a camper! With the help of my Uncles, I managed to talk down the price for the pair from $8000 to $6500. The truck is a Ford F250 2004. Still in good condition with a lot of power. The camper is a 1979 Vanguard. It's old, but in good condition with no leaks, rot, and a clean interior. Plus, very spacious! I'm hoping to make use of this unit for the next planting season. For now, the unit is sitting in the garage where I live and is used for storage. The truck I hope to detach from the camper soon so I can get more comfortable driving it without the camper first.
It's hard to believe, but I also had a little miracle happen to me in the spring. Due to some horse-related accidents, I've had some arthritis in my left knee for about two years. I was at a conference in Toronto in March and my knee was hurting more than usual even though I wasn't being active. I was walking with some friends I had made and somehow my knee injury came up. One of the girls happened to be a Christian and offered to pray for the healing of my knee. Being a Christian myself, I wasn't opposed. On the other hand, I didn't expect anything to change after she prayed over it either. I was thankful for the prayer but didn't think much of it till about two months later while I was planting, and the realization suddenly hit me. The past season my knee had always been in agony. Here I was planting a steep hill and I felt no pain or strain in my knee at all. Even now with the biking, horseback riding, and any physical activity I do, there is no pain in my knee. God answered my friend's prayer for me, and now my knee is healed.
Why have I been so blessed? I have no idea! All I have done is trust in God. I don't expect to continue being so blessed in these ways, but I will be thankful for what I have been given and use the opportunities put in front of me. These blessings could be taken away or I could be given more. I try not to think about it too much. All I can do is be thankful, which I very much am! My life in the past does not matter, what lays ahead is not my problem yet, the only time I have is now. In the now, I am thankful and making the most out of the blessings I've been given. I pray that all of you become equally blessed.
