Celebrating 60 Years!

On this day in 1951, my parents were married in Toowoomba.
Last weekend many of our family and friends gathered to celebrate sixty years of marriage.  What a wonderful testimony that crowd of people was to the many years of commitment, patience, love and perseverance Mum and Dad have put in over that time.

They are frail and weary now, but they have worked hard and can enjoy the fruits of their labour.  Being surrounded by their seven surviving children (and spouses), 21 grandchildren (and spouses) and 25 great grand children (so far) is what they love and live for. Although a few were not able to attend, most made a huge effort to attend the special celebrations. .

I thank God for you, my dear Dad and Mum, and may God bless and keep you for as long as you both shall live ♥

Pat & Theresa
31 March, 1951

Diamond Anniversary
2011

Thou shalt see thy children's children
4 generations

Biased!
Looking very handsome
My three grandsons and a "second" cousin

Bliggity, Bloggity, Brain Block!

Hello my dear blogging friends.  It seems I am not the only one who has had little time for blogging in this season.  I notice many less daily and frequent bloggers.....Mind you I am only getting brief chunks of time for visits so perhaps that is only as it seems. 

It is 9.30 on a Friday night and realistically, I am tired! 

What a wonderful, stressful yet exciting year 2011 is turning into. 

School is progressing slowly but surely.  Our busy household of seven has finally hit a bit of a stride, so while every day is hectic, and noisy, and messy, and only very loosely routine, progress is being made.  Aside from book work, reading some history and novels, regular swimming and sporting fixtures, the boys have also enjoyed a visit to the "Frog Farm" (okay endured might be more what they did there :-) and next week will be joining our local home schooling group to tour the power station.  This will be much more to their liking I am sure.

Teen aged boys are a new and fascinating learning curve for me!  Who ever guessed that young men could be as changeable and unpredictable or more so than girls were?  I am loving the loudness and the "know all" tendencies (not) but also the maturity and tenderness which shines through at unexpected moments.

Yesterday, as hubby and I had an errand,. my older daughter took "all the boys" to do our weekly shopping.  On getting home I asked how it had gone, thinking it could have been hectic.  Remember her boys are 1 and 2 and mine are 12 and 13 !
"Mum, I felt like a fraud." she said. " Two big boys pushing a trolley each with two little boys and me just waddling along popping things in the trolley.  I felt sorry for all the mothers with little ones and no one to help." Sigh...love those guys.

I do quite a lot of ferrying around of big and small people these days and we are a little sorry that we went back to a five seater car when our girls left home.  One of our current projects is to find a vehicle with a little more seating.  Amazingly, by October, we will, Lord willing, have three more grandchildren! If the maths is not adding up check out the sidebar for a clue!

Have a lovely weekend and a wonderful week ahead.

A to Z

Melanie at Out of the Miry Clay posted this fun little meme and I thought I might participate since I am just not getting time to post these days.  I do try to read occasionally at your places.  When life settles down a little I hope to be back to my regular program!


A. Age: 48
B. Bed size: queen
C. Chore you dislike: House work!
D. Dogs: Haven't had a doggy for over a year :- ( currently dog sitting my daughter's two large canines and it looks fairly long term.
E. Essential start to your day: coffee
F. Favorite color: blues / greens
G. Gold or silver:  gold
H. Height: 5' 3" and yes I am old and can never remember what that is in Cm's
I. Instruments you play(ed):  tone deaf :- (  played the recorder, sort of, in high school. Try not to play the fool.
J. Job title: Mum
K. Kids: 5 (2 girls, 3 boys, one with the Lord) and three grandsons
L. Live:  Rockhampton,  Queensland, Australia
M. Mom’s name: Theresa (but I have only ever called her Mum)
N. Nicknames: Mum! (and Ruby of course!)
O. Overnight hospital stays:  Are you kidding?  I have three thick files at the local hospital.  Having my family alone would amount to about six months in hospital.  \
P. Pet peeves: laziness
Q. Quote from a movie:  "Go ahead, make my day!"  Not a movie I love or anything but a line that comes to mind fairly often. 
R. Righty or lefty: Right.
S. Siblings: 4 sisters, 3 brothers, I am number 6.
T. Time you wake up: 7am....not counting all the times I get up during the night.
U. Underwear: ? this is a doozy!  Melanie suggested *uniform* instead.  Denim skirts, t-shirt, flappy shoes.
V. Vegetables you don’t like: choko.
W.What makes you run late:  My husband!
X. X-rays you’ve had:  heart/ chest, teeth,
Y. Yummy food you make:  Dinner every night! Dessert...occasionally.
Z. Zoo animal favorites:  Recently visited the Melbourne Zoo and Aquarium.  Loved them all especially the penguins and the platypus.


How about you?