Easter

Easter weekend has been quite an event for us this year.

But first a photo from last Sunday - Palm Sunday

On Easter Sunday:

Our church combined Easter service with the Tongans and Congolese congregations that use our church building (exciting that we had to dust off piles of chairs in the back room to make room for so many extras).

The Tongans sang incredibly - I could imagine being surrounded by their choruses back on an island in Tonga - just so beautiful and 'islander-like' (is that a word? Not sure that really describes it well - but it was just beautiful and very harmonic - so many different harmonies at once. I managed to catch a glance at their music sheets and wondered how long it took to write up the various harmonies - looked quite complex from where I sat.

They used a big mat to put down the centre isle of the church. I wonder what traditions we have that cause them to smile or snicker (politely of course:). Perhaps our lousy singing has them buckling over with laughter - we really do fairly whisper in comparison :)

I had to smile at some differences in customs/denominational differences. The Congolese pastor finished every other sentence with "Amen, Amen" often followed with a question mark, waiting for the congregation to reply "Amen!".

Many of the Tongans wore hessian-type mats around their waist, held up by a belt. Other women wore woven or carved thin timber decorations hanging from a belt around their waist. A group of young ladies and another of men arrived about 30min after church had started (not easy to enter subtly when you have dingle dangles on your belt:)

In the afternoon/evening we were invited to an African Easter event (really it was more of a meeting up of Acholi people from various states of Australia). I did feel, being white, that we were somewhat of a spectacle, but was good to learn how they must feel at times amongst so many pale faces:)

Owen felt right at home amongst all - even decided to do some negotiating...

And I was pleased to find he stood out in an otherwise dark crowd and could be easily found:)

And there was absolutely no question that this is our baby:)

We learned more about our friends - a dear family that come along to our church. After chatting to Mr. S above, David learned that he had lost both of his parents when he was 15 and was then left to raise his brothers and sisters. He attributes this to keeping him out of the drink/drug issues that many of his peers were beginning to explore at the time. He, and his family are now highly respected amongst the Acholi people.

Joshua spent the weekend with Grandma up at Mt. Tamborine Easter Convention. As usual he made a stack of friends... We decided to drive up to Tambo. on Monday and catch up with the excitement. Was lovely to see Grandma make new friends, too and even managed to meet a few lovely people myself between nappy changes and looking out for wandering tikes!

So our weekend was a very multi-cultural one. A precious reminder that the Lord is worshipped by people from all nations - that he draws so many to Himself! Amen Amen!?

Looking outward

I used to feel angry when I discovered that our suburb opened a brothel. Can you imagine it - a brothel in our suburb - not way off in the distance, or in the Valley where you might expect to see one.

We frequently drive through industry and commented a couple of times on a particular run down looking building on the corner. Some time later that shed was renovated - an amazing transformation. What was once quite an eye-sore was tidied up, painted and made to look presentable... Being somewhat curious I wondered what company was now occupying the place. The name of the new "company" was not particularly insightful - though it did seem opened unusual hours and was well lit. Then, quite by accident I spotted the name of this "company" in our local paper and saw the ad. that followed. I felt sick. I think my feelings were particularly related to bringing up my kids in a world filled with this sort of sin so out-in-the-open...

Now I just feel sad - my thoughts ventured on to the damage that the promiscuity behind those doors brings to families - to loved ones - the betrayal, the lack of trust, the loss of a precious bond... Now as we pass by I am reminded to pray - to pray for those who work there, for those whose lives are damaged by the sin committed. I think my change of focus came through some Christian literature I picked up at church which mentioned some particular organisation (name escapes me) that ran a valentines dinner for prostitutes - with a real focus on letting these women know they are loved and that someone wanted to have them come for a special dinner... Got me thinking about our Lord and his love for sinners, his compassion and his nature. Not, of course that he ever condoned the sin - but that he loved those so lost in it.

And then my thinking focused on the repulsiveness of my own attitude, my own sin and selfishness (where my focus should have been in the first place) and how easy it is for me to feel repulsion towards another's sin and yet tolerate my own selfish tendencies, sins and attitudes... etc.

So, no, I am not impressed to have a brothel down the road, but I think it has caused me to remember that there are needy souls all around me, that I shouldn't be complacent and that I have something so precious and that I ought to share more with others. Others, right here in our very own suburb.

Smiley Owls

...Finally, introducing the owl I made for Jay...

Here is where I got my idea...

And here is a very good excuse for not blogging much lately...

Lovin' those gorgeous smiles! There truly is nothing like it! You melt my heart lil' blue Jay!

Palm Sunday

Some fun Palm Sunday treats. No, they are not Christmas trees as one person thought;)

Our pastor brought some palm branches from his back yard. After hearing about Jesus riding amongst the people as he rode on to Jerusalem the children waved their branches around as they circled the adults. Apart from a few irritated youngsters and incorrigible boys who couldn't resist wacking eachother with the branches ;) it was lots of fun and really helped to imagine being part of the crowd as Jesus rode through... Hard to imagine the feelings Jesus must have had at this point. Quite hard to imagine the contrast Jesus made to the typical Roman royalty on lofty steed, head held high and so aloof from the commoner....

What a beautiful picture of one who loved the lowly, the scum, the low-life. Donkeys (and especially a young colt - never having being ridden before) would be much lower, much shorter and here was Jesus the mighty at eye level with the ones he loved so dearly - knowing that he would die for these very people in such a short time...

Thankful

So thankful!

Thankful for my hubby who won double movie pass tickets and decided to take me out to dinner and spoil me (an extra special treat after an extremely tough homeschooling week)!

Thankful for my very thoughtful son who decided all by himself to record 'Better Homes and Gardens' for Mamma while she was out. What a sweetie!

Thankful for a very contented baby who survived on the pittance of expressed milk I could manage until I got home and lay totally relaxed on our dining room table with not a care in the world (Grandma found it the best spot to keep an eye on him) while she ...

Cleaned my entire house, managed four rambunctious children, cleaned my fridge (seriously - my fridge is in total submission and is now even aesthetically pleasing)

and all the other 'normal' things I often take for granted - good health, a family who loves me even when I get very cranky (and often over things that really don't matter that much), beautiful green grass again after the rain, a letter from my Mamma to my kids, a grandmother who is in remission from cancer, a tiny window of time to do some craft, a quiet moment to chat with my first born who missed his Mamma...

Thankyou Lord... in the good times!

( PS - Please help me to be thankful in the tough times too)

Just for Fun

Some little hand biscuits to celebrate our new boy! I actually had pre-made dough in the fridge - so all I had to do was cut out the shapes and ice them...

... and most importantly take them along to church to share with friends...

Updates

Other recent happenings in the Campbell clan include:

An insiders tour of the new Clem Jones tunnel (the last tour before the big opening). David grabbed a group of friends from church and neighbourhood and took them along. I stayed home with the kids (had to be over 16 for the tour). This was prior to Jayden's birth so was relieved to hear later that mobile phone connection still worked in the tunnel should I happen to go into labour at that convenient time :) As we know Jayden was most polite and decided to wait another week or so...

Just noticed, looking at this photo that our darker skinned friends are rather camouflaged against the black statue:)

And more photos of our Jay with Grampy and Nanny. So nice to have them able to come and have some cuddle time.

Our little quiver full...

Our first photo as a family of six!

So our lives go on...

• Jayden helps me do the daily school run with Owen - has many admirers now and I can usually find a willing pair of arms to cuddle him while I help Owen settle in.

• Joshua is in grade five this year and has started Youth Quake (for pre-teens). Hard to believe I have a newborn and pre-teen! (ok, he is only 9, but still...)

• Owen just achieved a major milestone for me on Saturday and spelled out his name (when I wrote each letter on his Magnadoodle). Wow - Onya Owen!

• Rosa has become a real chatterbox and brought a smile to my face today when she used the potty and told me that I should come and see and that I should tell her "well done, Rosa, you can have a lolly" Children don't come with instruction manuals when they're born but I think Rosa has one for me ;)

Facial Expressions

I was telling my brother about how Jay's facial expressions change even while he sleeps.

This is what I mean:

He also does some funny eye brown raises and lip puckers - but of course he declined to let his mother photograph these and plaster them on her blog;)

What do you think he is dreaming about?

Baby love

Cuddles with Aunty Jen

Your first bath

With the most protective big brother in the world!

How you spend most of your day

Having fun with Owen and Rosa.

The details for those who got the general "they had a boy" from their hubbies

...Oh, and here are all the details for those who like to know

Jayden (meaning "Jehovah has heard") Matthew Campbell

• was born at 3:11 am on Tuesday 9th February 2010

• Is the smallest of all four of our babies at 8 pounds 5 1/2 oz or 3780grams

• Was not born at home (YAY) or even in the back of the ambulance or car but arrived with plenty of time to spare at the hospital!

• Is 54cm long

• Has a head circumference of 36.5cm

• Hospital UR number.... just kidding :)

• Has Joshua, Owen and Rosa stoked - each one has already taken to him very quickly and informs me the min. he squeaks as to his needs, life goals and aspirations ;) I can see Jayden has them well trained already ;) ;)

Now did I cover all the necessary details?