Sunday 25 August 2013

The big 4-0!

It was my 40th birthday last Thursday -which meant that Friday,Saturday and today were my birthday-Boxing Days! I think it's important to stretch things out for a decent amount of time. This was my first birthday away from Australia and family -and I must say, I would have loved to have been able to sit on my parents couch and have my sister wait on me hand and foot, but I am glad that not being there meant avoiding the pressure to have a party!
Tony and the kids worked hard to make the day fun -pressies in bed, my favourite foods and chocolates and not having to cook were all highlights. I really am very thankfu to God for these past 40 years-
* for 2 parents, sister and brother-in-law who love me unconditionally and make me laugh until no noise comes out. Ditto for their 4 boys, whose cheeks I miss squeezing.
* great in-laws who are accepting and generous in every way.
* a husband who daily puts my needs before his own, thinks I'm funny and who, when we fight, will sometimes make a funny face and it ends in laughter.
*3 super kids who crack me up and make life more fun.
* friends who know me well and keep choosing to be good friends -which I appreciate even more than usual now that I live away from home.
* for God who has put us here in Fiji -and is helping me learn patience, humility and contentment. Emphasis on the "helping me learn" bit.
 I would never have thought by the time I hit 40 that I would be living in Suva dividing my time between home-schooling and teaching in a women's prison, but there you have it! God knew all along and works in all things for the good of those who love Him. That's good enough for me -and we'll keep plodding along serving Him here until He decides otherwise.

Well, there you go, I guess that's something like what my 40th speech would have covered. Here are a couple of photos of the fun day! Thanks again for all the birthday messages.
All dressed up for breakfast
Not a bad view to start off your birthday -at Holiday Inn
Bircher muesli -my favourite
Then back for home-schooling
Beautiful sky as we drove into town for dinner-cameras never really do them justice.
Teppanyaki at one of our favouirte restaurants

Sunday 18 August 2013

Few snaps from the week.

Just back from walking the dog-the muddier the better!     




Tony and Ethan teaching the neighbours how to play "Hero Quest"
The big annual event for Fiji is the Hibiscus Festival -lots of fun!
Oops -didnt actually get any of my children in thi shot, but you get the idea.
Dinner on the lawn of Parliament House
All the action in the background
I'm not sure they make them big enough?....
We almost lost Soph at one point.

Sunday 11 August 2013

Hannah's 14th birthday!!

Here are some snaps of the birthday girl -Hannah turned 14 on Friday-unbelievably! Homeschool that day was a combination of art, poetry and music. In other words, ANYTHING but maths, which she detests. Tony and I then took her out for lunch, follwed by a " Pink-nic" (see what I did there?) with Soph and Eth when they got home. All good fun, touch of the usual home-sickness we get on special days, but thankful for skype and an unhealthy amount of chocolate and lemonade!
We're extremely thankful to God for our gorgeous Hansie girl.
Breakfast pancakes
Her birthday artwork
We put in a solid 3 hour school day and then it was " off to lunch"
PINK-nic, where we played PINKtionary, PIN-k the ipod on Hannah etc.. I know, I amaze myself sometimes too!he,he
A bucket full of cake pops - take that pinterest!
Chicken and chips down by the sea wall