Canberra

Whoa, another blog post!  So many (four?!) after such a long hiatus.  I've been looking through pictures and realizing that even when times have felt really hard, there have been a lot of bright spots!  Take our dear friends in Canberra, the Jennings for example.

Each year, we do our best to visit each other once (so a trip to Canberra for us, and a trip to Wollongong for them) and then we meet up at Camp Challenge from Dec 27-Jan 1 each year and get to enjoy five nights of fun and relaxation.  Good, good times.

I can't remember exactly when we went this year.  April, perhaps?  You can tell by the pictures it was already beginning to get chilly there.  We got up early one morning to see launch of some hot air balloons.  Such brave souls we are waking our four kiddos.

So we went.  And we waited.  And waited.  And . . . waited.  And then finally learned that due to the direction of the winds, the hot air balloons wouldn't launch and they were just inflating them for our viewing pleasure.  Oh well.  They really were quite amazing.  And on the way home we were able to see lots of balloons that were able to take off from another location.

Back at the house, Ella and Lily entertained themselves with these little puppies.  Ella has since talked about 'wanting a little dog that I can tie a string around it's neck and drag it along behind me.'  I'm pretty sure she means this is the kindest, most humane way possible.

We also got in a little play time with Bailey and Charlotte, who looks like a little doll!  Ella was sooo happy!

Is it just me or do these boys look a little perturbed at us interrupting them to take a picture?!

I would LOVE to know what world problem these boys are solving

Or maybe they were just figuring out how to get the chickens to come out of the garden.

Our traditional kid-pile-up picture...Noah (aww those fingers!), Ella, Eli, Lily, Bailey and Charlotte.  Gorgeous kids.  We are blessed!

And . . . a bath pic, of course.  Gotta have a few of these on hand for the future. And yes, those are popsicles!

The kids have such fun together.  It is crazy.  Meal times are wild.  The sleepovers (Lily and Ella) were a success!  Toys and dress ups are shared.  Sometimes mediation and negotiations are required.  But for four kids under four, at the time, I think they do so well together.  And as for us adults, well, we hardly come up for air with all the talking over tea and chocolate, and at any other minute we can grab.  We love you, Jennings family!

Open wide, come inside . . .

It's Playschool!  And it is a gem.  My kid's love Playschool and I love it for them, too.  Creative (most of the props are handmade with everyday items), engaging and not hyper-stimulating, like so many of the flashy, fast-moving, animated shows that have become the norm for kids.  When we first moved here and I watched my first episode in a long time, I was very unimpressed, but soon grew to love it for it's brilliant simplicity.

And . . . Playschool goes Live in Concert and came to Wollongong!  So, being the faithful fans we are, we paid our $14.50 (deal!) and saw Big Ted and Jemima live from the toddler moshpit.  Both Ella and Noah were quite reserved about the whole ordeal.  Ella, especially, tends to be very clingy in new situations and the more I push, the more she retreats.  Hmm, come to think of it, she reminds me of someone else I know! 

Enjoying herself ever so cautiously.  Jason on the other hand was having a GREAT time!

Mesmerized!

Meeting Rachael and Jay after the show 

And it should be known that this was actually my first ever concert!  I'll be taking the cool factor up a few notches though when Kiala takes me to see Coldplay in a couple of months.  Hope I can handle it!

Flashback / Fast Forward?

Never having been a wedding dreamer as a child, teen or young adult for that matter, (though I DID enjoy my wedding!) I find it fun/alarming/puzzling/sweet that Ella is SO into getting married.  At least once a day, my children marry each other.  Dressed often as superman but almost always with a King's cape, Noah has even taken to going down on one knee for his bride!

A few nights ago, a distressed Jason called me into the kid's room so that I could 'explain to Ella why she couldn't kiss boys'.  The conversation was gut churning and yet hysterical.  She is only JUST four, after all.  'But I already love them' she said when I suggested that for now, kissing is best reserved for people she really loves -- like family...her mum, dad and Noah.  I guess this is what happens when you encourage very open communication with kids.  Their minds wonder and wander from so early on.

And then last night, Ella was nagging me about my wedding dress.  'Where is it? Can I wear it?', she kept asking.  I thought perhaps Jason had been talking to her about my dress or showed pictures of her BFF, Lily, who recently dressed up in her mum's wedding dress.  But no, it seems, (unless Ella and Lily are texting late at night) this was all from her.  Those two girls seem quite connected though!  They're just five days apart in age and would be happy if their only clothes were dress-ups.  Each year, we spend 5 nights together at a Christian family camp.  I can only imagine the conversations they might have late into the night as they grow.  Back to Ella's request -- inspired by Kate's gift to Lily of letting her play in her wedding dress, and Ella's curiosity and persistence, I thought 'why not?'  And so today we opened a box which has been sealed since January of 2002!

First came the veil, which wasn't actually sealed with the dress.  In fact when Ella was not quite 6 months old, I placed the veil on her when we first moved to Australia, after going through my things at mum's house.

Doesn't every bride check on her Bearded Dragon Lizards while getting ready?

The anticipation builds!  The box is brought down from the closet

Someone was a little bit delighted!  Oh and in case you're wondering if I rushed out to pick some flowers as a prop?  No, I didn't.  Ella picked these yesterday and as soon as she had the dress on said 'Mum!  Please get those flowers for me!'  She knows how a wedding should roll!

I'm not sure what I've been saving my wedding dress for.  I realize that the chances of Ella choosing to wear my dress are probably pretty low, and not something I had my heart set on anyhow (although I would be thrilled should she marry and want to wear it!)  What fun to see her joy and delight in trying on my dress.  We've long told her stories of how her Mum and Dad met, and fell in love and of our wedding day.  Tonight she played with my wedding ring on my finger while I sang "Jesus Loves Me" to her.  I wonder if she will remember this day?

This doesn't come without angst for me as a parent, but with all her curiosity and great enthusiasm for weddings and getting married, it makes for a perfect way to share with her how special marriage is.  We talk about how maybe one day she might meet a man who loves God and who will love her and be very kind to her (keep it simple, right?!)  Today she smiled big and nodded her head and said 'yeah, and we can spend the REST of our lives together!'

Now if only Jason will let her out before she's say, 30.

Making a comeback?

So the blog has fallen by the wayside. I'm not sure I want to keep at it, but since it's virtually my kid's (virtual) baby book, I'll see if I can get back into it. So, let's attempt a catch-up. Ella is 4 and Noah will soon be 3. This is sounding a bit like my last blog post...reporting on ages :-)

These two are something else. They spend their days playing together -- mostly marrying each other. Ella dresses as a Princess and Noah usually as Spiderman. At Ella's request he (usually) dons his cape, making him a King and fit to be her groom. (It isn't acceptable for Ella to marry someone without a cape and usually brings great distress on the whole family if Noah doesn't comply) Ella has proudly mastered toilet training! We are proud of her (and just plain thankful!) Noah is doing pretty well, too. We recently decorated a potty with truck stickers and I guess this pleased him well! And the boy loves his chocolate -- so since we've cut out most all sugar loaded snacks at home, he's all the more keen to sit himself down and earn a chocolate chip. Isn't that something, eleven months without blogging and the first things I peck out on my blog are about my kid's marrying and using the potty. But these are our days. The kids are enjoying spending one day a week at a preschool. It's so great to see them so settled and learning. They're also swimming once a week, and as a friend suggested, we might ought to look for gills on our kids -- in particular Noah. Ella, too, has such confidence in the water and is doing great at learning to swim. On Sunday evenings, we still open our home to anyone who wants to come. If you come, consider yourself warned that our kids will be all over you and begging you to do this or that with them. They're so welcoming and loving...it is no wonder that Jesus tells us to be like little ones! While the adults have a Bible study, conversation, sharing time, I usually take the kids out and do a Bible class for them. I've done some kind of class with them since Ella was about 8 months old. I imagine it just gets better and better but I sure love this time with them. I love Ella's insight and both of their excitement and joy about it. I love what they can remember and the connections they make. And I LOVE to hear them chat about these things on their own. Recently we talked about having faith as small as a mustard seed. That was about three weeks ago. Just today while munching on some strawberries, I heard Ella say 'Noah do you see the seeds...this seed is small but will grow into something so big!'

(proudly displaying their craft from the week we talked about the 10 lepers and about saying 'thank you') Of course I have loads of hopes and dreams for my kids, but nothing greater or more important to me than that they know how treasured they are by God, and that they will know and love Him and have JOY in following Him. Well, not quite a full update, but we'll see how this blogging things goes from here!

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.