Ella's 3rd Birthday

Before a little boy turns TWO soon, I wanted to post about a little girl turning THREE a few months ago.



Ella developed a liking for Hello Kitty during our time in the US so that was her cake choice this year. I really enjoy making cakes for my kids. It's a good memory I have from my childhood and a tradition I'm happy to pass on. I'm not a particularly crafty person, but I can usually make a cake that resembles something! And birthday pancakes!





We celebrated at home with some close friends. Ella invited her BFF over. I love watching these two together.



We also had our Mother's Group birthday party for all of our three year olds.



Such a beautiful group of Mum's and babies (just wish I'd taken a group picture). We get together each week for playdates, a monthly dinner just for the Mum's, and a few other events throughout the year. I've been so blessed in my friendships with these ladies.

Sam does an amazing job on the cake each year



Ella was just not into the game playing. Though a week or so later at another party she gathered up the courage to play the same game and even won!





So, I have a three year old! It is hard to believe. She is beautiful inside and out. This age and stage of development brings many challenges but also great joy. She comes out with the funniest things, is very affectionate, loves to sing, help bake, draw, paint, dress up and mother her babies. I love this girl. So thankful to God for our Ella Rhys.

Half way around the world and back again

I do believe that three months is the longest length of time I've neglected this blog. There isn't really a way for me to really catch up on all that has happened since March. How about a few highlights and a bunch of pictures? (if you're not pictured, forgive me as we have 100s of pictures from our travels)



We spent ten weeks in the US recently. As a part of our work, we get to return to the States every two years to spend time with our supporters (and family, too). Let's call it a "home assignment". During that ten weeks, we visited 7 states, stayed in 15 different homes, and Jason presented formally to some 9 different congregations/groups (and informally to others).

We were loved on. Encouraged. Well-fed. Spiritually nurtured. Blessed.

We loved our family time.











We loved being at home with our church family in Round Rock.









We loved having time with old friends and getting to know new friends, too.















I loved standing by a best friend as she said "I do".





I loved watching my kids enjoy new experiences











I loved Tex-Mex (I'll be back, Morelia's), Target and the Outlet Malls to name a few of the material highlights!

Our travels couldn't have gone smoother. Our kids were A.M.A.Z.I.N.G considering the constant stream of new faces, lack of routine, different foods, different rules, hours in cars and planes, and so on . We did have to hunt for Play School on youtube a time or two and eat a little Vegemite, but who doesn't enjoy home comforts?

I didn't like saying goodbye, but I'm thankful for friends who hang out with us while we pack and send us off with lots of love and good memories (and promises to visit us!)





And just like that, we're "home" again. My heart feels freshly broken in two again (or is it 3 and 4?) Each "home" has things to love and challenges to deal with. And though I often feel that I best belong somewhere over the Pacific, I'll remember how God has grounded my heart and feet and taken care of me in Canada . . . and Japan . . . and the US . . . and fully expect it will happen here, too.

"The baby in my tummy..."

No, no, this isn't a creative announcement! We're NOT expecting.

We love to tell Ella stories and apparently she's really listening. We tell her stories about how we met, our engagement, our wedding day, our life in Japan. We tell her how we prayed for the blessing of a child, about being pregnant, learning our baby was a girl, how we chose her name, about the day she was born and what she was like as a "tiny little baby".

She loves these stories and loves to tell her own. in her world, play clothes are now 'wedding dresses' and I'm often told she's getting married 'next week'. And this is what I heard while driving in the car today:

"I have a baby in my tummy. Yeah, and when I was pregnant, I ate flowers. When I was pregnant, the baby was crying, crying crying. The baby freaked out. The baby's face was very messy. Yeah."

Hysterical. I almost drove off the road. and for the record, I did NOT eat flowers when I was pregnant.

I love her.

Oh, and did I mention that "Grammy loves boogers"? All this heard in one car ride, folks. Grammy has some explaining to do!

Just when you think you've had enough . . .

Today has been an exceptionally trying day. There's been a few of them this week, actually. It seems we're all just feeling a little on the 'ratty' side lately. Most everything is met with resistance, whining, tears, tantrums; which always ends with d.i.s.c.i.p.l.i.n.e. Who knew that this could be so exhausting?

Tonight at dinner though, my frustrations gave way to the mother's joy I had momentarily lost as my daughter began to speak. These are just a few things that were on her mind . . .

"Dad, when you're finished, will you dance with me?"
"I'm going to marry mummy"
"Yeah, I'm going to marry daddy"
"Let's dance, Mama"

I may be tired, but I'm also very, very blessed!

Finally wore these two out a little . . . what a life!

Swim classes for Noah

Noah started swim classes earlier this month. He didn't cry as much as Ella did during her first class, but I got some awfully tight hugs for 30 minutes. A few weeks on, he is noticeably more relaxed when he enters the pool and sometimes smiles while he splashes and kicks. His favourite activity is back floating and "basketball" (collecting the small, coloured balls and putting them through the hoop).

2010 gives way to 2011

Happy New Year from our family to yours (yes, this may be replacing our actual New Years card/letter AGAIN, this year. Forgive me and please don't remove me from your card list just yet!)


I'm not sure how to best summarize 2010. Having a baby in 2008, an international move in 2009 and another baby that same year, kind of makes 2010 pale in comparison. In some ways we thrived, and in others we just survived. We have much to be thankful for in spite of the challenges. I'm extremely thankful for our friends and family who visited us throughout the year (too many to name, but you know who you are; thank you for coming!), and for the new friendships here in Wollongong. There's nothing quite like beginning to feel at home and of having a sense of belonging.

Over Thanksgiving we traveled to Perth, WA in November for the wedding of good friends. While we didn't feast on turkey this year, we did enjoy excellent hospitality and amazing sunsets.

In December we traveled to Brisbane to be with my family for Christmas. We went expecting sunshine in the Sunshine State but instead got lots and lots of rain. And sadly, as you probably know, the city and surrounding areas are currently devastated by floodwaters.

After Christmas we drove back south to spend the last few days of the year at Camp Challenge. It was a great week of fellowship, learning, rest and recreation. Our kids love it and one thing that we especially enjoy is the many extra hands who help care for our kids! Thank you!

So here we are in 2011. We have already enjoyed visits this year from friends in Canberra and family in Victoria. It was good to get home and reconnect with our church family here in Wollongong and friends from Mother's group who I so enjoy spending time with.

Ella will be starting at a new 'school' soon as the lovely carer who has been having my kids on Fridays is relocating to Perth. Noah will get to enjoy a few hours as an only child each week while Ella gets to spread her wings in her new environment. There isn't anything that Ella can't say these days. We so enjoy listening to her (though sometimes we learn that she is REALLY listening to EVERYTHING we say!) Recently she has begun to sing songs on her own which warms our heart to no end! Thanks to her Dad and Grammy and aunt Miss in Texas for nurturing her love of song and music. She loves craft (she used to call it 'scrap' - lol) and drawing. A favourite pastime of hers is eating from the garden and she can identify coriander (cilantro), basil, thyme, kale and strawberries. I'm thinking there aren't TOO many 2 year olds who eat kale from the garden! (and I have a feeling I may have already blogged about this fact . . . sorry!) Most recently Ella has really taken off in her swimming classes!

Noah is now walking and is such a handsome little guy (in our humble opinion!) He has finally started giving hugs and kisses; this delights all of us! He is a bit of a daredevil, throwing himself face first on to anything soft and climbing on things all. day. long! A favourite part of my day is taking him into Ella's room when she wakes from her nap. Ella receives him so sweetly and he goes wild with joy and then they wrestle on the bed together. Noah has started swimming classes also and is less than impressed so far, though I'm hopeful that he enjoy them more and more as Ella has. In the meantime, he gives great snuggles for the half hour! Real food still isn't one of his great loves, but give him a NON food item and it's sure to go straight in his mouth. Paper, chalk and gecko poo would be good examples.

We are constantly (as in multiple times a day) challenged by the raising and training of our two kids but thank God for two healthy, happy kids!



We will be heading to the US, also this year and are so looking forward to seeing those of you that we can. As we have more details, we'll be glad to let you know where we will be and when (you catch us on facebook or email for the details). We expect to come back with our cups full and ready to continue working here in Wollongong. Before then though, the first ScreamFree Parenting group/learning circle will be in February, Lets Start Talking will be re-launched once the university year begins, and Port Parables continues in Port Kembla. Pray that we will be open and willing to walk through doors that the Lord opens.

As I was thinking back on 2010 and looking towards 2011, these verses from Lamentations came to mind. I'm thinking that it is probably no coincidence that the same words were on my heart when I posted my first blog for 2010...

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord."

(Lamentations 3:22-26)

In the past year, there were times that I felt "done" or "consumed". But in hindsight I am so keenly aware of the ways in which God has taken care of us and sustained us. He has taught us, comforted us and given us peace in difficult times. I sure hope 2010's hindsight can become 2011's foresight more often than not! And so, as we start a new year, I'm thankful once more for the faithfulness, love and mercy of God. I hope to look back on this year and know that I've grown in allowing God to be more of my portion each day.

Exploring and Enjoying

Thanks to Faith Cunningham for taking these pictures of our family at the Wollongong Botanic Gardens.

Noah is ONE

In early March of 2009, we learned that we were expecting another child. What?! Wow!? So soon after having Ella. So soon after having arrived in Australia. I was overwhelmed. I was joyful. Afraid. But eventually and ultimately confident that God, the giver of this gift, would also help us cope.

We welcomed our Noah just before 1am on October, 27th. And "just like that" three became four. Ella, with her chubby baby cheeks, barely weaned and with only signs to communicate, became a big sister, and we now had something other than pink to hang on the line!





Now our boy is 1 year old! He amazes us day after day. He challenges and blesses us all in the same breath! He is cheeky through and through. Knows what he wants and makes sure he is heard. He plays hard and is learning to sleep hard. He is absolutely adored by his big sister and works so hard to keep up with her. He has gorgeous blue eyes, and a beautiful laugh. He is boy to his core, is FAST and curious.

It would be a lie to pretend that the past year has been without challenges. They have been present in many forms. But the blessings have also been abundant. Colic is a distant memory. Sleep issues are beginning to resolve, and he's even back on the growth chart. We have a new (albeit sometimes messy) 'normal'. But we have a lot of fun, laughs and memories.

I'm glad that God works outside of my "box". Surprised? For sure! Close in age, hands on and exhausting? Ummm, YES! But I can honestly say I wouldn't choose to have things any other way.





First birthdays are a sweet time. A time to remember the miracle of life. To recall the sweetness of the newborn days. To delight in milestones. To hope in the future. And a time to eat cake. Sure love our Noah Kai!

First birthday cake - a tiger. Much suited to the little guys personality :-)


Eating wrapping paper


Capturing one of the first laughs


Growing and happy about it


Strong from early days




A favourite toy




Hmmm...up to something?


Love my boy