Possums, synchronised couch play and mandos!

At lunchtime today we were sitting down to eat when we heard quite a ruckus coming from the garage. My brave Dave decided to take a peek and after much investigation (another ruckus) he discovered the culprit was this rather voluptuous beady-eyed possum...

Now to lure him out of our ceiling and convince him to make his home somewhere else !

...and some humour from those who are welcome in our home:

the latest tryouts for the 2012 Olympic games... synchronised couch play! (and no, seriously I didn't set this up - just happened to have the camera ready at the right time)

Other things we did on the weekend...Juiced up some fruit before Daddy and Josh brought the next load home from the markets!

David pruned a few branches to stop the nasty bird deposits from landing on my washing - that's my hero! Oh and here he is stopping to pose for his wife - as you do when you are in the middle of landing a huge branch on the ground!

David and Josh picked a big bowl of delicious mandarines from our lil'

tree out back - I do get so excited when even I (a very dodgy gardener) can

see some home grown fruit grace our table.... but they didn't last on our table very

long, I can assure you... fruit bats that we are!

Thank you Lord for little pleasures, blessings and fun moments!

Oh, and for answered prayers!

Andy - mentioned in previous post is doing much better (still has some radiation treatment to endure but worst seems over for now) and she and her fiance are now married - were married in the hospital on Saturday. I have been encouraged by their dedication to each other and sacrificial desire to be be there 'in sickness and in health'... They certainly had to start practicing this so early in their life together. May God's abundant Grace be felt by them both!

family

More family photos:

My beautiful sister-in-law, Beth with her nephew Benjamin!

Three brothers!

My handsome enjoying some time with Uncles and cousins!

My cute babies!

Prayers needed

Please, all my praying friends - remember Andy (relatives fiance) to the Lord in your prayers. We went to her bridal shower last Sun. and were told that later that day she was taken to hospital with severe neck pain, headaches and vomiting. She had internal bleeding in her brain (condition from birth she didn't know until now) and now has encephalitis... Please pray all bleeding would cease so no dramatic/invasive measures need to be taken (the particular area of brain is quite internal - not easy to access) and that the intense headaches would stop. When bleeding is under control she will need radiation treatment for some time...

Traumatic for her family, friends and especially her beloved. Wedding is to be at bedside with immediate family - with plans for a service with everyone later...

They need our prayers.

Friends

A wonderful, busy, social weekend. Here are some highlights:

A friend's 3rd Birthday party

Joshua and James getting aquainted boy style.

Joshua reading to Kate. These two cousins have enjoyed eachother's cousin immensly! They spent hours together outside having a mandarine picnic.

Then we caught up with a famous Bible college lecturer, theologian and author... none other than Mr. Bird himself! This is to assure his lovely wife that he is still alive and well...

oh and he had a message... and I believe it had something to do with a student...

that is what this next photo is about...

It is with a bang that this week begins -Two hospital appointments (those long ones in the waiting room) and Joshua enjoying some extra time with cousins on the coast (with a dollop of school work in-between...)

Thank the Lord for friendships which really make life so rich!

Mawwage

Some photos from a recent wedding we were invited to. We were both in the minority being white. We were told the wedding was not in traditional African style. The couple had a wedding ceremony in Africa (from what I have heard African weddings are 'official' based on the presence of a great deal of family members...but not so 'official' when then trying to convince officials in Aussie offices of the formality and genuineness of such a commitment). The couple then came to Australia and had a wedding ceremony here - which I believe was the groom's first time to Australia, so it is all so new for this couple who are starting out together.

Here are a few things that made their day unique.

• Lots of colour - (those who attended as well as bridesmaids) The bridesmaids (about 7) wore yellow and a shade of green I find hard to describe (closest colour I can name is army green... but different again... The younger girls (flower girls?) were in white/pink lace dresses... sorry the photos don't pick up on this very much (was hard to get photos over so many tall heads!)
  
• The pastor who preached was Spanish (very thick accent) though he preached in Spanglish and sermon was translated into Swahili, (though many in congregation also spoke Acholi). This pastor was quite dramatic - so used his voice that it sounded as though he might loose it by becoming hoarse! The pastor was from the church the couple attended - though the church runs an African service and Spanish service at seperate times.


• I was quite amazed by the pastor's very direct approach to the couple - turning to the husband he said - "J, you MUST love your wife... you must love her when the food is good and when it is not so good!" with constant emphasis, a thick accent (you have to try to imagine this - it really makes it even more dramatic!) and then actually asking for J to respond - "Can you do this?" to which the poor young man nodded nervously! He was also asked if he would really be willing to die for his wife?


• The most notably African influence came through with this rather loud/joyous/festive/distinct noise the women made with their tongues during pauses throughout the ceremony (an African friend since told me it is a noise the Arabic people taught them) and while the bridal cars exited. My ever-keen-to-embarass husband mentioned to one of his friends that he was keen to see his wife replicate that sound. The young man just grinned!


• There were a few more outgoing women (likely the women who had least exposure to our more conservative western culture) who freely danced and made the tongue noises to the bride and her maids as they settled into the car.

When I look at the above photo of the pastor, I can just hear that thick accent, can you?

Most importantly this sweet couple are starting out together - with the Lord's strength - we pray that the Lord would help them to keep their eyes fixed on him in all the ups and downs of married life! God is so good!

James the Jubilant!

Well, here is the handsome James when he first arrived with his Dad at our house

And a few minutes later

The two handsomes getting aquainted!

There will be more photos of big sister and the rest of the clan... only I haven't yet seen them myself, with all my running to and from the school, teaching Josh, etc...

Nice to see the cute chubby cheeks in person!

Dream baby

Eagerly awaiting a visit from David's brother and his family...

We haven't seen their newest bubs - James who is now 18mths... Coming over from USA for a visit...

a bit of scurrying around and cleaning up.

Will be fun for cousins to reunite/be introduced!

Oh why, oh why do we (families) tend to spread out across the globe/country? .... the down side to great transport, technology (hey, we can just skype and even use video now!)

Nice to dream that my sisters/brother lived down the road, too - so we could mind eachother's children every now and then or pop out together for a chat....

dreaming, I know... !

Virtual hugs will never do in my opinion!


So glad there is unhindered fellowship in the life beyond this one!

So while the virtual hugs become real ones we will try and make the most of these few short weeks together... and do our best to persuade them to move to our neighbourhood... !

What is Rosa Louise Campbell good for?

Can you remember being six?

Well our little, Czech born, cuddly, playful, burst-into-song-at-any-moment (especially with an audience) boy has just turned 6! Yes, would you believe it!? It has been a whole six years since we were in Czech as a family.

Owen, in this past year we have all seen you speak more, interact more and have more energy - climing and so very close to being able to hop with two feet together (your PE teacher has been working hard on this with you)! You have watched little sister grow up right under your nose, and now she even plays picnic and shop games with you. The two of you can be so imaginative when you play together...

You continue to hug so many you meet, try cheeky tricks on others and entertain many with your heart-felt singing! Sounds like you keep your classmates entertained with all the funny antics, mischief, drama and song! When I drive you home from school each day I often hear all sorts of chatter and then, when I catch a glance of you in the mirror, a few minutes later you are sound asleep... worn out. The next morning when you are off to school you literally run into the classroom and look out for your good friend, B... I love to watch the way you fit into the routine so quickly... I also secretly love the way you tell me to wait each time I begin to head out of the classroom - nice to know you still like having Mum around. And no shame at having Mum kiss each cheek ... or should I say eyebrows. Makes me smile to think that your favourite place to be kissed is on each eyebrow!

Well you are 6 now! No longer my little tot, my baby... This year you chose a frog birthday cake. So special to have Grampy and Nanny nearby to share the occasion with you - to enjoy their cuddles, see how you have grown and developed and to sit on the couch and snuggle up with a book. As I look on, I thank the Lord for this time, these moments, the relationships, the quiet moments (few as they are).... At times I am reminded that these busy, challenging days of parenting little ones are numbered.

How we love you, Owen!

Making memories for my Kids

A while ago I composed a list of some special memories I have from my childhood - just things that I liked/enjoyed (will spare you all my phobias/naughty moments, etc.). I thought that perhaps these are things I should incorporate more into my children's lives as special times /memories...I have had the list on the top of my fridge for a few months but thought that Mother's Day might be a special time to bring it out and look over it again.

Some memories are from very simple things - or just a feeling that stuck with me... For each child there are different things that might stand out and hey, my list is girly (sorry can't help that!) so perhaps I can ask my hubby some time what stands out to him (though he usually tells me he cannot remember much from his growing up years at all... buried somewhere down there I am sure...)

Well, here goes:

• after a bath, being wrapped in a towel, snuggled up warm and cuddled
• long chats with Mum after 'lights out'
• waking up early in the morning to find Mum on her knees in the lounge praying - she used to let me sit quietly with her
• little gifts wrapped for each day on our holidays for us to open
• being allowed to choose something in the shop (didn't happen often but when it did - wow - it seemed such a treat) I can remember Mum letting us pick out a tracksuit and I chose a yellow one with big pocket at front and picture of roller skates on front. I wore it till it was tatty.
• summer evenings with cousins laying awake at night in sleeping bag and giggling away - being rather silly, come to think of it!
• people /choirs or singing groups or any visiting speakers who came to our church (especially if they were able to stay at our house). Now this reminds me so much of my Joshua! Loved company - so like my eldest! Sharing meals with other families...
• Laying awake at night listening to Dad playing the piano while I went off to sleep - just loved this
• Receiving a puppy dog (something I just cannot bring myself to consider for my kids!)
• Prayer meetings at our house (especially when I was allowed to stay up!) I really enjoyed being around 'big' people and absolultely loved having missionary speakers show slides from strange and interesting countries
• Adults who took the time to talk to me - and not just the general 'how are you?' but who knew us a little more... I remember a couple of Sunday School Teachers who took the time to chat to me (I was quite shy and so it likely took some effort on their part to get much out of me).
• Giggling with my sisters, sitting on the kitchen benches, just the three girls and chatting about whatever (ok, ok... more silly stuff mixed in with personal 'only-for-sisters' stuff)
• Mum reading aloud to us all as a family - sometimes a missionary book, sometimes 'Little House on the Prarie'... I remember begging Mum to read just one more chapter!

Anyway, I could go on, but my aim is not to put you to sleep with my childhood history - just to share/remind myself of some things that were special...

I wonder what my kids will remember with fondness?