A few weeks ago Esther was complaining about one of her teeth hurting. So we gave her some panadol and booked her into a dentist. I was dreading this cause we all know how much dentists cost.
The first visit went like this, xrays which showed she needs 3 root canals and about 5 fillings. I could not believe it. The dentist did up a dental plan for the work needed and it came out to $3000. The worst part is that the rotted teeth are her baby teeth which will fall out in a few years anyway. We had no choice and got her in for her first visit which consisted of removing one of the rotted teeth.
We were worried that Lucy might have a similar problem so we booked her in and discovered she needed $1200 worth of work. Not as bad but still depressing. We thought that we would get you know who to help contribute but i think we would have a better chance of seeing a boomer firing a shotgun then getting any money from him.
OK before i continue a little background. The health system in Australia provides a dental van to primary schools. I remember going to one as whipper snapper (little kid). I could not remember how much or if government only payed a portion or how often they actually go to schools or even if they do major work.
A week or two later i just so happen to read in the girl's school newsletter that the dental van will be at there school for the next few months. I could not believe it. I also found out that these vans only go to schools every two years. We booked Esther and Lucy and Talyah in straight away and cancelled their appointments at the private dentist. Esther had her first appointment last Thursday and the lady dentist was awesome. She got her treatment done and better still it cost a total of $0. A free service to government schools. Oh man i am so totally grateful for Australia's health system. I know we pay high taxes but this dental van which just so happens to be at their school right now is a huge blessing. Esther now has follow up visits to get all of her work done and so is Lucy and Talyah. I am sorry to say but Australia is the lucky country!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
The Places I Have Been...
I know it has been a while since my last post, and many of you have certainly brought this to my attention :) ... But I must confess the reason why it has taken me so long to get back on here and give you something new to read... because, well, I have been ensued in an internal battle with myself... The next thing I very much wanted to share with you all is also something quite personal... even a bit embarassing I must admitt. But my time of thought and debating the issue is over and I have decided to just share with you all this wonderful moment in my life... Not be embarassed, but proud of where I have been, what I have made it through, and where I am now...
As most of you know, Mick is my second husband... but honestly, as he once lovingly said to me, "No. You are my first." ... Words that took my breath away because of the message of love behind them. That even though we have both been married before, we both truely feel that right now our lives have finally begun, that for the first time we are truely "married" and have found love, and know what that truely is. We both know we still have more to learn about the mysteries of love but we are happier than we have ever been in our lives and we learn "love" more and more everyday as we are giving it to each other... Mick I love you, and I will never stop thanking our loving Heavenly Father for sending you into my life, you have shown me, as no one has ever before, what real, true love is.
Since moving here to the wild, beautiful, foreign land that is Australia I have been swept up in happiness, my future bright all about me, and yet there were still bits of my past still peeking out from the shadows. One of the biggest issues I have had to face is my three names. Yes, three names. My former married name, my maiden name, and my new married name. My old married name seemed to be staring back at me everywhere... on my bank card, on my passport... But most of all on my Unites States driver's liscence. An old photo id I had to confront each time I opened my wallet reminding me of my past, a dark and sad time in my life staring up at me, like a ghost.
I was tired of being that person, almost emotional and angry when ever I still had to sign that old name onto paper. I was done with it and I wanted it behind me. I wanted to be a part of my husband, have his name, the name of the man I love. Over time, since being here, the only document that had proof of my true name was on our marriage certificate... We began the long battle of changing my name at the bank, and on my liscence but were turned away over and over and over again... We needed more proof... more paperwork! It was maddening... and so for months I lugged around my three names... My three identities... Kind of like a super spy... but no... not really.
Finally sucess... a huge sucess... we got my name changed on my passport... Thank you America, my home sweet home. And so armed with my new, appropriately named passport we set out again... got turned away again, but perservered... finally made it to the bank with all the right proof, and finally got my bank card with the correct name! And so it was... a few weeks ago that we set out to the Department of Transportation armed with my new proof... Ready to declare to the world, "I am Brooke Travis damit!!!" And finally... FINALLY, like a magic wand waved across... I became Brooke Travis, once and for all. No longer does that old past stare up at me, but the brightness of my future, reminding me of the blessings God has given me, and that truley, Yes: BLESSINGS COME AFTER TRIAL. I am living proof of that.
As most of you know, Mick is my second husband... but honestly, as he once lovingly said to me, "No. You are my first." ... Words that took my breath away because of the message of love behind them. That even though we have both been married before, we both truely feel that right now our lives have finally begun, that for the first time we are truely "married" and have found love, and know what that truely is. We both know we still have more to learn about the mysteries of love but we are happier than we have ever been in our lives and we learn "love" more and more everyday as we are giving it to each other... Mick I love you, and I will never stop thanking our loving Heavenly Father for sending you into my life, you have shown me, as no one has ever before, what real, true love is.
Since moving here to the wild, beautiful, foreign land that is Australia I have been swept up in happiness, my future bright all about me, and yet there were still bits of my past still peeking out from the shadows. One of the biggest issues I have had to face is my three names. Yes, three names. My former married name, my maiden name, and my new married name. My old married name seemed to be staring back at me everywhere... on my bank card, on my passport... But most of all on my Unites States driver's liscence. An old photo id I had to confront each time I opened my wallet reminding me of my past, a dark and sad time in my life staring up at me, like a ghost.
I was tired of being that person, almost emotional and angry when ever I still had to sign that old name onto paper. I was done with it and I wanted it behind me. I wanted to be a part of my husband, have his name, the name of the man I love. Over time, since being here, the only document that had proof of my true name was on our marriage certificate... We began the long battle of changing my name at the bank, and on my liscence but were turned away over and over and over again... We needed more proof... more paperwork! It was maddening... and so for months I lugged around my three names... My three identities... Kind of like a super spy... but no... not really.
Finally sucess... a huge sucess... we got my name changed on my passport... Thank you America, my home sweet home. And so armed with my new, appropriately named passport we set out again... got turned away again, but perservered... finally made it to the bank with all the right proof, and finally got my bank card with the correct name! And so it was... a few weeks ago that we set out to the Department of Transportation armed with my new proof... Ready to declare to the world, "I am Brooke Travis damit!!!" And finally... FINALLY, like a magic wand waved across... I became Brooke Travis, once and for all. No longer does that old past stare up at me, but the brightness of my future, reminding me of the blessings God has given me, and that truley, Yes: BLESSINGS COME AFTER TRIAL. I am living proof of that.
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| My old photo... |
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| My new photo |
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