Summer fun

It has been fabulous to have a week away. It came about rather quickly. One of David's work contracts came to and end and we talked about the possibility of seeing if there was any vacancy on the holiday house belonging to friends of ours. There was - the following week. YAY. What a treat to leave the busyness behind and take some quiet time together as a family

Some highlights:

• Singing together in the evenings after Bible stories
  
• Watching Marco Polo together (or rather part of the series - there are quite a few of them...)


• Reading 'The Silver Sword' together as a family (or rather as Owen and Rosa roamed the house to see what mischief they could find while we were so engrossed in a captivating book;). We actually finished the last couple of chapters this afternoon after we had unpacked most of our things

Eating watermelon:

Visiting a lookout over Noosa

Enjoying the beaches

Eating Lebanese lentil soup (yum) with yummy sesame seed and spice covered bread. The kids had lebanese pizza. It met with approval.





Playing in the park

and just hanging out with the broom!

Overall a lovely time to relax, to read (oh and I finished reading 'Stepping Heavenward' for the second time - great book ... see below) and to enjoy the precious little ones given to us as gifts.

Thanksgiving

We enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving for the first time with some friends. Inspired by my friend Anya, I thought it might be fun to try. Also found that it has lead me to more thoughts and praise for the goodness of all the blessings I have in Christ.

It was a special treat to have Knox with us. Knox is from PNG. He was diagnosed with some type of bone cancer a couple of years ago (sorry I don't know all the specifics about his illness except that this poor man has suffered much physically and though he is quite a young man it has aged him and caused him to be much shorter than he was) He came to Australia to be treated. He was told by the doctors here that he had a very small chance of being successfully treated due to the nature of the cancer and how far it had spread. His church in PNG have been in constant, fervent prayer for him. He has received treatment here in Australia and so far he has responded remarkably well to the treatment. He was back in Australia for a check up with doctors. We were grateful to be able to share thanksgiving with this Godly man. I was encouraged at his enthusiastic spirit for the Lord, his cheerful disposition and the joy he gets from singing to the Lord with others.

We also enjoyed some precious time of catching up, sharing fellowship, food and Scripture with some very sweet friends.

It was all such a personal treat and left us rejoicing in the Lord as we set off for a week's holiday at Peregian Beach.

Thanks to our precious friends who not only made/brought yummy dessert, punch, fudge sauce and a sweet bouquet, but flavoured the evening with their presence.

... and no need to wait to thanksgiving to offer our sacrifice of praise to our Lord - make a special occasion of it around your table - bringing to each other's mind the blessings bestowed upon each.

Praise offered to God manages to calm me in the fluster of life.

Sudocream

... hmmm... sudocream... meant for nappy rash on little bottoms...

something about it just seems to be bekoning to my little Rosa....
... wasn't so fun being found was it my little smooch?