Christmas Capers!

The last few days..

Baby Alive!

Christmas mornin'

Christmas Lunch

Luke's 9th birthday at Homebush

Bailey's 13th birthday at Luna Park

Gotta love youth group leaders!!

I have always been thankful for the young people at the churches I've been to for their time, commitment and desire to serve the younger people in the church. Now as a parent, even more so. Sarah James has been Hannah's leader for about 6 years at our church and she has been one of the highlights during our time there. She has been fun, energetic, caring, thoughtful, generous with time and money and most importantly, she has modelled to our girl what it looks like to follow Jesus and serve Him with your whole life. Here's the gift she gave Hannah this morning, as a way of encouraging her as we head off to Fiji in 4 weeks. Thankyou Sarah -so typically thoughtful!

It's a  "Fiji survival kit" and Hannah is thrilled!

Snapshots of the last few weeks!

Gingerbread fun!

Finished product

Hannah recieving a "Lindfield Blue"

Yeh baby!!

Last day of school "clap out" for all the leavers.

Getting ready for the gymnastics presentation night

Caleb's 7th birthday

Perfectly normal behaviour....

'arry Po-a

Soph's more recent passion is the Harry Potter series and so her mornings now involve grabbing the book, flinging herself on the bed next to daddy and "assuming the position". I tell her what time she can wake him and she then watches the clock until it is FINALLY time. It's a good thing he shares her enthusiasm over this book - had it been something like Milly Molly Mandy, the reception may not have been so warm.

Commissionanagans!!

We just had the best weekend as we had our commissioning service with CMS. We were officially sent by CMS and our fellow supporters as missionaries to Fiji and farewelled by a whole lot of friends and family. Some of the highlights were:

- catching up with friends from many stages of life
- Dave's fantastic sermon about why we choose to head off on mission.
- seeing the kids with their friends and on the jumping castle
- hardworking friends chipping in and helping out before the day and on it
- Ant back on the organ belting out "It is well with my soul"
- ice cold punch on a 37 degree day!!!
- no rain

All up, it was so encouraging and God -glorifying.....not to mention emotionally draining!