One Hundred Years of Farm and Family

In the blink of an eye it is all over....

All the months - years really of planning

culminated in a fantastic celebration yesterday.

I will post a few pics over the next few days as we

have a lot going on and I am too tired for one long post.

Driving up to the house the marque looked like a

circus tent in the distance.

Every one got a name tag on arrival,

the colour depending on which family group one belonged to.

The marque provided excellent shade.

Food, drinks and memorabilia housed in the shed behind.

It was a brilliant Spring day with a nice breeze up on the hill.

Looking back towards the front gate

over the car park.

This wooden gate is one that my brother and sister-in-law

have branded with the cattle brands of four generations.

It is hung on a steel frame to represent to present.

One of my thoughtful aunts and uncles set up a sand pit for

the children, also under shelter.  However,

the golf buggy and little jeep were a magnet for the little fellows.

These were used to help the older folk up the hill from

the parking area.

Dad, (left) the oldest living decendant present.

My Uncle Tom (right)

He lauched his book, "One hundred years of farm and family.

The Six-forty Acres"
He and six of my generation were the principle organisers.
He put his heart into it ♥

To be continued....

Through my Eyes

School days.

Gotta love the 70s

Here is a link to the poem I have written for tomorrow's Centenary Celebrations at my childhood home. I have scrapped it, very simply, with photographs and made a nice little book for the occasion.

Through My Eyes

My very dear grandparents, just three weeks before
 Grandad passed away.
My 18th birthday.
1980

Jooro means road in the aboriginal language.
My Grandfather pronounced it Jew-row
but ever after it has been pronounced Jew-roo, thus the
rhymn in the poem.

Looking Forward

Just to share some of the excitement of the coming weekend I have chosen a few pics

 from around my old home

The front gate at "Glen Erin"

House is in the centre above the fence.

My childhood home.

My second brother's home, "Jooro"  Once owned by my uncle and named after the district when the railway stopped using this end of the line. My crew will be staying here.  Are they ready!

Old Rannes Town

Once a bustling little centre with pubs and shire office.

This photo was taken in the twenties.

These days Rannes is just a dot on the map, a ghost town.

It is about 8km from our place.

Goovigen in the 1950's.

Taken from the hotel where my mother lodged as a

teacher at the then two teacher school.

Goovigen is about 10km from home and now

 the nearest town. With a one teacher school where my SIL

 does a day a week and my nephew is the Sports teacher,

 also one day a week.

My own children join their grandparents, uncle, aunt and 

cousins representing Jooro school.  My dad attended this school, which his father donated land for, in the 30's and my older brother and sisters all began their school lives there until it's closure in 1965. 

Hearts ease ♥

The Billabong at our place, looking tranquil

 in a good season. I have so many happy memories

of games and cubbies in this creek.  There used to be

a majestic white gum which was like a lighthouse

marking our spot.  Sadly, it has gone now.

In Top Gear!

Yesterday we held our final meeting for the Big Centenary Celebrations next weekend! It has been a pleasure just working with the eight other relatives on the committee. and everyone has done a fabulous job,  Most especially the families who still live on the home properties and will be hosting the big event. Not only have we spent many hours on all the details of the day, but we've enjoyed sharing anecdotes and memories and had lots of laughs and a few tears.

On the site where my grandparents pioneering hut stood (above) we will be planting a grove of Moreton Bay Ash which were the original trees in the  surrounding  area.  Each tree will represent one of the original family members and those living will plant their own, and descendants will plant the ones for those who have passed.  My cousin Jenny and I will plant a tree for Norah, the little still born baby of my grandparents in the 1920s, as we have both lost babies.

We checked out the site yesterday, where the current residents of that block have done an enormous amount of work to prepare for the planting.  This gate will be branded on the day with the brands of all of the family members who have them.  Behind it is the sandstone rock in preparation for the plaque which will be unveiled on the day.  This will have the beautiful poem "Our Song" written by another cousin.

"Glen Erin"

This is my older  brother's house where most of the day will be spent.

He and his wife have made it into a beautiful home.  I hardly recognise it as the simple 50's style house that I grew up in! For many months now they have been doing preparation jobs including grading a car parking area below the house and a better road up to the Lookout.  This house sits on a hill but it rises much higher behind and from the top is a glorious,sweeping view of the valley below which encompasses all four properties owned by family members.  After a very full day we will be taking the drive to the Lookout for wine and cheese at sunset!  Something more modern after a day of reminiscing back to the "Good Ol' Days"!

Of the almost two hundred relatives, friends and neighbours invited nearly one hundred and eighty are coming!  We are really excited with how many relatives are making the trip from Brisbane and places further afield to come.  We are revved up and in high gear.  Can't wait for the big day and I hope to have lots of memories to share from it.

School holidays here so there is a much more relaxed feeling about.  Next weekend the Centenary, then the following week we will head to Brisbane to celebrate the 80th birthday of my
Mother-in-law.

Stand Up!

Sometimes I feel as though our, my, witness to the world is less than a little dull flickering glow :-(  We are called to be like a city set on a hill which cannot be hidden.  Often times I hear and watch the situation in the world and tremble.  The nation that does not honour God he will reject.  We are, as a nation, deserving of his wrath.  But like Lot and his family, He has graciously spared some.  Will we STAND UP in these desperate times, for that which God has clearly shown us to be right, to please and glorify Him?

Stand up for life

I was heartened by the quite good attendance at a Stand Up for Life Rally here on the weekend.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made from conception to the grave.  It is not enough for us to say Abortion is wrong.  Euthanasia is wrong. We need to be sharing the gospel and praying for changed hearts and lives.  We need to be actively supported those who find themselves in such desperate situations as to take a life ~ theirs or another's.

Meanwhile

Life is chugging along.  I have had some small improvements in my health which has been a wonderful answer to prayers.  If you are among those remembering me in prayer ~ thank you ♥
The boys have a few bits and pieces to finish up before Wednesday when I am declaring Term 3 over.
As always, some slow progress, but reasonably happy with the amount we have covered.  I love September and we have a lot on in these holidays to look forward to.  However, the Summer terms as always a struggle against heat and fatigue.  Most likely we will go back to the Library routine which is more comfortable here in Summer.

The Capricornia Homeschoolers acquitted themselves well once again, at the Sports Day.  I have mentioned before, but we are very fortunate to have a couple of small Christian schools in the district who include us in there Sports Day and sometimes other combined activities.

 

Looking Forward

Less than two weeks until our 100year celebrations.  I have been busily making name tags, completing pages in my Family History Albums and trying to write and illustrate (in pics) a poem.  Well the words are done but the book is not finished so I am very pleased to be having a break from school as it is time consuming.  Mind you, I can't even think about getting scrapping gear out while the littlies are awake.  That cuts down the opportunities a little :-)

Joshua 10: 25

And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.

It's fun galore being four!

My eldest grandchild is four today!

He asked for a volcano cake!

Mum and Aunty did a great job of it.

There she blows!

The baby of the bunch and the little girl twin.

This inside play ground is a great place for littlies to play.

Let me outa here!

We declared a half day of school and headed to a joint called "The Crazy Joker"  to celebrate GS1's fourth birthday.

It is a fabulous indoor playground and a good place to keep an eye on small, mobile people.  That takes some doing at parks etc when we have all six grandchildren in tow.  My big boys are very co-operative even though they are too old for this equipment.

I can hardly believe the way the last four years have flown.

Have a great week everyone.

The "Lois" Project

 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

2 Timothy 1:5

Aren't the above verses beautiful....special.  What a tremendous blessing to see generations called and believing in the Lord!  For many years now I have sort to be like the faithful mother of Timothy and to raise our children in the faith which we profess.  In Timothy was found that faith and love for the Lord.  Eunice and her mother Lois must have come to trust and believe that Jesus was that promised Messiah for whom they had longed and waited.

My children were brought into the Covenant because of the faith professed by their parents.

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call

Acts 2:39

.  Much to my grief, though some profess faith, they are still reluctant to commit whole heartedly to follow the Lord.  While there is life, there is hope and I still pray earnestly for them and try to lead by example.

In my last post I spoke of the difficulty in accepting that my little grandchildren will soon be going out into the wide, wonderful world of education.  Their parents are doing a wonderful job in their raising, and they must make the decisions about the way they will be educated.  I commit them daily to Lord for his protection.

I was recently reminded that when the Israelites rebelled in the wilderness, a whole generation of the Jews perished.  But God... who is rich in mercy and long suffering, spared all those Covenant children under the age of 20 years.  His mercy and grace to His people is everlasting.  Oh, what influence a Godly grandparent can be. 

I know that all who are mothers and grandmothers will share with me the great longing to see their loved ones brought into the Kingdom.  Those of us who do not have children have such a privilege to also serve the Lord in influencing the young people in their circle.  It has been much on my mind and heart that we are not to be fearful but trusting. The Lord is on my side, what can man do unto me!

Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Proverbs 17:6