They make me smile.

My daughter was telling me how her four year old has taken over giving thanks before meals since they moved out from here.  He is a great talker and uses the opportunity to be thankful for a long list of things each night :-)  When he finally winds up the three year old groans dramatically, "The End"!!!!

The same little four year old has been regaling his kindy teacher and the class, and us, with his dinosaur knowledge. When questions are put to him regarding a name or information he stands astride and declares, "I am a dinosaur expert."

Anyone with little people around will agree that the funny little ways they say things makes you smile.  Children seem to make you smile just for no real reason. Adults can use some lessons from those uncomplicated little beings!

We don't celebrate saints feast days here so last Thursday passed mostly unremarkably.  The teenagers being the only ones slightly interested :-) Seeing something on TV on tonight (Saturday) my hubby asked, "Oh, when is Valentine's Day?"  Haha.....he's a keeper all right!

I actually read a number of good, thought provoking posts around the blog world on husbands, wives and "love" in general.  In this age when many relationships are short lived it is encouraging to read the "good news" stories of lasting love and life time commitment. 

This clip has been doing the rounds but in case you haven't seen it I'm linking it.  I thought it was very special. ♥


What is real love?

I like it A LOT!

Our life is still very full but some of the chaos seems to have calmed down this week. Phew!

If only............

It goes without saying that I have missed my daughter and her children A LOT! being the first week that I have not seen them every day!  I miss their spontaneous cuddles and eager eyes.  Little twin boy, the moment he sees me runs for a ball and throws and catches for as long as I can keep it up.  Little twin girl wants me to put on her shoes and often just wants to sit on my lap when we visit.  The older boys are full of exciting events and achievements.  They all seem to have suddenly grown up A LOT!  Sigh......

I won't deny, I am loving the quiet.  I am savouring the personal space and less of everything....cooking, washing, folding, cleaning!

Suddenly I am like most other grandmothers and having to make a time for visits and fitting in with their new routine and they with ours.  It is amazing how easily we have slotted back into our old ways and I know that school for my boys is going to benefit A LOT!

The same for my other daughter and her boys since her eldest is at kindy. Oh dear, it is like weaning!  Needless to say, I have much to learn and experience of this role of mother and grandmother.  A LOT!

With a quieter house, my time for reading and prayer has come so naturally.  I have yearned for this and really appreciate it now.  While there are lots of ongoing needs in our house everything is so much less frantic and "solvable " :-)

I've listened to a number of Glen Campbell numbers today through the link which led me to the clip below.

Here is a little gem to sign off with today.  Even if you are not a fan you must love this classic?   I like it  A LOT!

Glen Campbell is suffering from Alzheimer's and  here he is playing Dueling Banjos (one of my faves) with his daughter at his farewell concert.

The Week that Was

Many's the time I have grappled to think of something to write to update my blog.  Occasionally when life is hectic, I have lots of material but little time to "put pen to paper" ( in the old speak) : This last week has been so hectic, and with very quick changing scenarios, that my head is swimming!

Last week flash flooding and terrific wind from Cyclone Oswald caused quite a lot of damage and flooding here and even more so right down the coast of Queensland and into New South Wales.  We have grieved with the city of Bundaberg which experienced its worst ever recorded flood.  Houses swept off their stumps, roads with huge craters carved through them from the violence of the water.  The power of the wind and the waters are extrordinary!  The power of our great God!

Now we wait as the Fitzroy River steadily climbs to its expected peak of 8.7m.  This is 50cm below the 2011 flood but still hundreds of homes and businesses are flooded.  For many of us it is "business as usual", yet for those valiant souls along the river flats it an anxious wait, hoping that it will not go higher than predicted.  The last thing they need is more rain ~ which has been forecast :- (

Rocky airport 1/2/2013
Taken this morning
Closed this evening except for emergencies.

GS 2

First day at Kindy

The big day arrived and my two oldest grandsons started at their kindergartens.  I've mentioned before my mixed feelings about this and I think I was more churned up by it than the little boys, or their mothers.  All went well.  The girls have begun the long years of school drop offs and tuck shop and all the related to-ing and fro-ing.

I knew long ago that my children did not feel the same way as me about schooling, though being home schooled themselves or perhaps because they were home schooled :- (.  I suppose it is just another matter in which I have to say, "Thy will be done." and leave it in God's capable hands. We made our choices with which the children have not always been happy.  Now we see them having to make choices for the next generation.  God give wisdom and knowledge to each of us as we need it.

This ol' house, in which we have lived for 14 1/2 years is back on the market.  It has been bought and sold a couple of times since we've lived here and each time we have been able to continue renting.  This time it is much more weathered than previously and we have not really had a chance to "tidy up" since the family moved out.  Again, I am seeking to trust in the Lord for our needs.  I am so pleased that my daughter was able to move into a good place before the ordeal of having people look through the house started.

With our home, our city and the state in such upheaval this week we made only a brief attempt at school each day.  Oh, it is hard to get back into the harness!!  I think the only thing the boys and I have enjoyed about it is starting the book "Twice Freed".  Reading is not their favourite pastime but listening still is :-)

I trust that all who read here are safe from the ravages of fires and floods which have swept our diverse country in the past few weeks.  For all getting back into the academic year I wish you the best. 

The Lord is on my side, I will not fear.........

These Two Years

If you were serving two years in prison it would be a very long time indeed.  Even if one was travelling or working but away from home, a two year sojourn would seem a long time to be parted from family and friends.

How amazing that our older daughter and her children have lived with us for two whole years and that time has flown! We've had lots of wonderful times together along with all of the hectic days and disturbed nights.  We've built relationships with those little people which would never have been so close and cemented if we had not shared our home with them. 

So after two years my daughter has found a great house for her to raise her family.  She has a very child friendly back yard and we are just thrilled with the way it has all worked out.

The first morning after they moved hubby stood by me in the kitchen and said, "Hear that?" (Silence :-)  Then my younger son came out and asked, "Where is everyone?"   Me: "Everyone doesn't live here anymore."
I admit that I am probably missing them a lot more than they are missing me.  Thankfully, their new place isn't far from either our house or my other daughter's.

Her moving is also just in time for us to start school next week.

I am so thankful to the Lord for his gracious provision and answer to our prayers.  He does all things well and his timing is always perfect.

Rockhampton has received record rainfall overnight.

Some areas have had flash flooding and some are bracing for

the deluge to come on down the river. :- (

If you're an Aussie

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

mate!

And to anyone else reading, tomorrow (26th) would be a good day

 to do/ read/ watch something Aussie,

being that it is our National Day.

Thanks to Mum-me at Our Aussie Half Dozen who made up

 the above collage for me

 a few years ago.



Shame! Shame!

This post at Desiring God really pierced my heart tonight.
Lord, have mercy on this "civilized"  ungodly generation.

Holiday Reads and related trivia

The heat brought my great culling clean up to a stand still a couple of weeks ago.  It really saps your energy. I hope to do the two remaining rooms before we get back to school. Time is running out!  The up side being that in seeking to keep cool I have managed to read a few books.

When Bryce Courtenay died a few months ago, I realised that I had never read any of his novels. Though familiar with his name and some of the titles it seems he began to be popular around the same time that I started having children.  I know that I have read much less over those twenty odd years.

I chose to read "The Power of One" as it was the one which most people seemed to have enjoyed.  Did you?
I did enjoy the story, but I have to admit that I am very squeamish with books that have this type of racism and violence.  Even knowing it is true and acknowledging the realism of it, it does make it a difficult read for softies like me.
Also, I was saddened by the representation of the Christian faith in the book. Again, realistic, but none the less sad and a little shameful.

We have several South African friends and I remember my shock on meeting one lovely Christian family, at how they were still very affected by both apartheid and Boar/ English prejudices.  On mentioning a family we knew from SA I got the crisp reply, "But they are English!"  It took quite a while for this family to accept that over here, we seek to treat everyone equally as regard to race and skin colour and they were amazed (appalled?) at our ease of communication with indigenous people. That's about fifteen years ago, and Lord Willing, those attitudes have changed.

I also enjoyed "The Convent" written by Maureen McCarthy.  Being set through several generations of women in one family, revolving around the Convent, it was a book which I could identify with.  Having had an Irish Catholic upbringing all the prayers and rites were familiar to me. The story is interesting just as a good read if you like those type of generational books but non-Catholics may find some of  "over the top".  One of the central characters enters an enclosed order of nuns in the early 1960s and experiences the changes which came about due to Vatican II.  There are stories of a child being taken from her mother and placed in the "orphanage", a daughter becoming a nun, leaving and later becoming a mother, the meeting of the adopted child and her grandmother etc  All this takes place around this one Convent which make it quite interwoven and in some places heart wrenching.

Because I have several nuns in my extended family, much of this was very real to me.  I also attended a boarding school in the 1970s which was run by Sisters of Mercy and identified with many of the characters.  This book, while having some heart breaking events, is not a put down or expose of  Catholic institutions..

My aunt, after whom I was named and was my "God Mother" (another RC thing) entered the Camelite Order  in about 1965.  This is an enclosed order where the nuns do not leave the convent and spend their days in meditation and prayer.  This still applies to this day (she has never left to attend funerals, weddings etc but some medical visits) although their rules are much less strict.  When I was a child we had no photographs where as now they may take photographs and make and receive phone calls.  We still have to visit her behind a grill and pass photographs or gifts through a drawer underneath.

Here she is in a picture which appeared on her Christmas letter last year.  Even in their garb she is quite easy to pick out!!! A true country girl at heart. (Top outdoor group photo)

The novel I have just completed is "A Gathering Storm" by Rachel Hore. I really liked this book.  She uses the Cornish coast which is so vividly used in beloved books such as Rebecca (yes, I am a Daphne Du Maurier fan ) as her main setting and the time period is pre and during World War 2.  I like reading this sort of historically based novel.

I have been thinking since reading about the class separation in pre-war Britain, about brave, ordinary people who risked so much to spy for their countries and about the enormous changes during and after this period. I believe in years to come this period will be of great historical interest to future generations ( should the Lord tarry) up there with Ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece.  Because of Hitler and the second World War, yes, but also because of the great advances in technology over that time.

For so long horses and slow mail deliveries were the norm, but now communication and warfare was forever changed with cars, phones, electronic devices etc.  Even we who may remember a lot of "olden day" stuff do not have the experiences of this huge time of upheaval in the same way that our parents and grandparents did.

Last year I attempted to use a devotional for my Bible reading and I frankly admit, it was a dismal failure.  Circumstances seemed to conspire to keep me from much in the way of profitable reading and study.  As you know from old posts, I was also in a low spiritual condition and I realise that was my own doing.  Both from my slackness in quiet time with the Lord and in allowing events around me to overcome me at times.  But God.......is ever faithful!

This year I am purposing to be stricter on myself no matter what the outside pressures are. 

This is my first post for 2013.  May you all enjoy a full and rewarding year whether it be with family, church, schooling or elsewhere.  May our great God and Savior bless and keep you and your family throughout.  xo

Okay, Blogger is not allowing me to put pictures on so I have just linked everything.
Please note that both "The Power of One" amd "The Convent" have some bad language.  The latter was loaned to me by a sweet friend who had already blanked out the offending words ;-)

A Half Century

Yes, I've made it!

Tomorrow is my fiftieth birthday!

Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful life. 

For an extraordinarily fantastic family. 

For the blessing of faithful, prayerful and supportive friends.

For healthy, beautiful children

For thriving, inquisitive grandchildren. 

And most amazing of all I am thankful that  ~

You have called me and redeemed me.

Amen

For everything there is a season

And a time for every purpose under heaven

I woke up early last Saturday morning and drifted back to sleep with happy thoughts of my family gathered in Melbourne and a prayer for my gorgeous niece who was to marry later that day.

When I actually got our of bed a few hours later I was greeted with the tragic news that there had been a shooting in a school in America.

Sometimes, all  the seasons seem to happen in one day.....

So while I spent the afternoon waiting for pics to come up on Facebook and visiting my parents, there was a very sombre cloud over the day, even here so far away.

Ecclesiastes 3

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

² A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
³ A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
⁴ A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
⁵ A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
⁷ A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
⁸ A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

And so it has been for most of this year.  A season of casting away but also gathering and regrouping.  A time to keep silence on some issues but with others to voice our opinions. And we have had lots of times of weeping and sadness and trial but also many memorable happy times ♥
And so it seems, it has been all my life, as I look back from this high pinnacle of fifty years.  The ups and downs, the good times and the bad, sickness and health.

The one constant in my life?...............My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
For even before I knew of my need of Him, I can see now that He was always leading and guiding my steps.  Before the Lord became the centre of my life, the love of my life, through many "dangers, toils and snares" He knew me and was working all of my life together for good and for His glory!

This is great consolation for us when we are travelling through dark valleys. And when life is going well and we are able to see all the wonderful blessings and glimpses of Glory that God has bestowed on us, we can also look back and see that the same faithful Jesus led us through that difficult time.

I know now that my niece was an enchanting bride. She  and her lovely husband are honeymooning and everyone is talking about just how special their nuptials were.

My heart aches for the the families of the sweet children and their teachers from Newtown.  I selfishly hold my children and grandchildren close, unable to fathom what pain they feel.

We do indeed "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
As we come to the end of another year, when there is a lot of rejoicing and thanksgiving, I want to give praise and thanks to God ~ for His mercies endure forever! "The JOY of the Lord is my strength" and no matter what comes our way in 2013 "Nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ which is in Christ Jesus"!

Thank you all for your friendship, encouragement and entertainment during this very eventful year.  God bless you  xo

Rawr!!!!!!!!!

"Three little words"

You know from my blog that I am a genius ~ mwhahahahahhaha!!!
Truth is I am often ditzy and unco-ordinated.  It goes without saying that I don't read maps well :-)

So last week I ordered a new bed.  One of those bunks with double on the bottom and single on top.  The boys have been back to sharing a room since our daughter and family have been here and it was very crowded, so this seemed to be the best solution to give them some space.  The picture looked so nice!  The salesperson was very accommodating and we bargained a good price - alas, those "three little words" that I dread -
 Ready to assemble!

All you Ikea loving, allen key toting readers may well laugh...  But for me, this is no laughing matter.  It strikes fear in my heart even looking over the instructions!!!!  Fortunately, other members of the household are not deterred by such confusing pieces of paper and the bunks look just fine.

                                                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My third grandson turned three today! They are all growing up so very quickly, it is hard to fathom where the years are racing to.  GS 3 is one of those absolutely gorgeous cute little boys who is into every conceivable mischief he can find!  So I can finish this brief post with those other three little words ~  "I Love You" ♥♥

Three Amigos!
Birthday boy in the middle.

The twins check out the new quad bike

We're Done!

We are officially on holidays!

It has been a typical Rockhampton week weather wise - hot and humid.  This has made it hard to buckle down.  But here it is, lunch time Wednesday and the last of the school books are packed away.  Such a great feeling!

2012 has been a year of many highs and lows. I guess that makes it a very typical year.  We've had a few good break throughs with the boys reading.  S2 particularly has improved immensely in this department.  S1, though he finds anything academic tough, has really shown maturity and applies himself to what ever  task is put before him.

Sadly, my boys do not enjoy the formal side of schooling and I am trusting that they will find what it is they love and want to do in life and then go for it with gusto!

Come on ~ it's not that bad!

We have some unfinished books which I will attempt to get read in the next few weeks.  Have you found as the children get older that it is much harder to make times to sit and read together, especially on holidays? One of the books we have almost completed is my Uncle's family history, so that is a great read together and conversation starter.

We ended the year with a bit of a bang last week (another reason why we have been sluggish this week). We had the Groves Presentation Night on Wednesday last, both boys receiving certificates for effort and character.  Then on Thursday, my older son's fifteenth birthday, he and I attended the Graduation Dinner.  This is held each year in our little home school group to celebrate the completing of Year 12 or in some cases 10, of some of the students.  This was a lovely night out for the older students.

The graduates and guest speakers

My handsome birthday boy, second right, with mates

 at the Graduation Dinner

Then on Friday we had a Break Up with all the homeschooling families.

This was a fabulous event with slip and sliding, water fights, family challenge and a shared evening meal.

The Capricornia Homeschoolers are a terrific bunch!

It is wonderful to see so many young and enthusiastic people getting involved.

This week, apart from finalising our formal work, I have a number of appointments and taking my mum to one as well.  Then it is time to really enjoy the holiday break!

I thank God for the many blessings and mercies he has showed to us this year.  We have faced many challenges but we have come through. We have enjoyed many family occasions and we are blessed to have all of the grandparents living and contributing so much to our lives.

We have learned to trust God more as he had enabled us through difficult times as well.

"The joy of the Lord is my strength"

Bye, bye books

Well, a decent portion of them.

Many of my bloggy pals are book-aholics, as so many Christians, homeschoolers and lovers of learning are, and they are posting wonderful pics of their home libraries as they grow.  I see enviable shelves, rooms even, with neat rows of books sorted into their many and varied subject areas.  I know it was a vague dream of mine in the past as well, but I have shrugged that one off completely now. (All sigh and groan with me together!)

One can dream!

I've had another enormous cull.
Refer to this post to the last big cull about two oops three years ago. Three years!  How could could over a thousand days have passed sooooo quickly?

I haven't taken before and after photos this time.  The house in general, and the school room in particular, has become totally chaotic.  The family have been living here for almost two years now and with so many little people in the house everything has had to be put "up".  Well, we only have a limited amount of "up" in this place.  Something has to be done!

ALL of the boxed books from the last clean out have gone to Life Line.  I am sorry I did not read my old post and the comments before I did this as I may have passed some things along to other, more tragic, book lovers :-) Yes, the World Book has gone.  The Child Craft books have gone.  Many of the novels have gone.  I had to make ruthless choices, disposing of many,. many novels, general knowledge and interest books. 

With my two remaining schoolies being non-readers, I was able to selectively keep the books I plan or at least hope to use over the next four years.  I also allowed myself the luxury of a few old friends like Norah, Laura and Mabel.

Of course, this school area has a lot of "schoolie" stuff as well. With all the space I have been able to move some of my devotional and Christian Biographies onto those shelves. ( Does one house need three copies of Pilgrims Progress? Just wondering?) We have never had all our books stored in one area.

I have found the book shelves scattered in several rooms of our house are constantly on the grandchildrens' hit list of places to raid.  We do not have the luxury of being able to close off ANY rooms in our house other than the bathroom,/toilet.  Not a good place for book storage :-)

Thus we loaded the Tarago to the max last week and delivered eight boxes of books, 5 garbage bags of clothing (mainly baby from my daughter's twins) and a few of her baby accessories that we were storing in double! It was liberating!

This coming week I hope to do the other book shelves but this is a tidy and not a throw out.  Hubby and I can not bear to throw out Christian Classics.  And I will be keeping my poetry books.  These two categories will grow, I know.

The receptacles for picture books and young childrens' stories are in constant use. I feel a little sad that some of the beloved titles of my own children, which we have kept so carefully, are now rather dog-eared.  Still, I am very pleased to see my grandchildren loving them the way their mothers did, their grandmother, and my own mother.

The rest of the house is preparing for similar treatment!  Every cupboard I hope by end of the holidays.  The heat conspires against me by sapping all of my energy but this is my plan at present.

I envisage a house with somewhat less disorganisation.  It does not fix up the poor old structure, nor does it clean it......That is another story. Perhaps it will give us a little more space to work with.

Have a great weekend.  We have a few more days of schooling to complete before we end 2012.  Wooweeee.....

What are your holiday plans.  Travelling? Relaxing? Cleaning? Blogging?

"Whatsoever your hand findeth to do, do it with your might"



Of Deep Thoughts and Shallow Lives

He leads me beside the still waters

For quite a long time, when I first began to blog, I posted on a regular topic "Sabbath Thoughts".  Now, it's not that these thoughts and ponderings have dried up completely, but I very seldom dabble in posts like that any more.  There are a couple of reasons.

One thing was that being uncertain of my readership, those who do not comment, I wanted to be careful what may be coming across as "teaching". 

Another thing was that the more I read around the internet, the more I found material with which I disagreed.  I try hard not to get embroiled in debates, especially on topics which might be considered straining a gnat. They will know we are Christians by the love we have for one another.  I want to be able to fellowship and enjoy all who profess Christ. I did not want my blog to become a place where offences were caused and harsh words were exchanged.  I think I've managed that.  I do not know whether I am always true to my own heart on some things but if I can't find a something good  to comment, then I don't comment at all (Thanks Mum!)

I have also experienced a long and difficult period in my life through which I am still wading.  Although I am a battle weary warrior of nearly thirty years experience I have not coped so well with some of the trials which have beset us.

Some one very close and influential let me down badly :- (  How childish and immature I have been about this.  I've had lots of disappointments in my life and they have served to show me more clearly that the only faithful and dependable one is God.  Man, male and female, will always disappoint, as we ourselves do.  I put too much store by what this person said and have felt crushed in the fall out.  I feel too drained emotionally and spiritually to share very much here.

The old saying "When mumma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" comes to mind. Have I dropped my bundle to the detriment of my family, my husband, my friends? They would say no, but deep down I know that I have not behaved and lead by example as I might have done in the past.

Time is healing this wound.  God is gently showing me my failings. I do not want to loose that ability to reach out and love and trust people, but deep hurt takes a good deal of time to resolve. All of us here have been affected and I especially grieve for my teenage boys who have seen some unpleasantness between adults who profess the Lord.  I remember this happening when my girls were in their early teens too and it grieves all the more as I know it to be a factor in their walking away from the Lord. All of my children are covenanted to be the Lord's and I trust that in His time they will search for and trust in Him.

God, give me grace to accept with serenity

the things that cannot be changed,

Courage to change the things

which should be changed,

and the Wisdom to distinguish

the one from the other.

Reinhold Neibuhr

Our lives become very shallow and meaningless if we turn back from what we know is the straight path.  Here in this place a little faithful group of believers meets together in the manner which we believe is honouring to our great God. It is simple but deep. We hold his Word to be precious and his Saints to be dear.  As my family and I move forward, we struggle with the changes that have come about in our lives.  Hubby and I find it difficult to keep the Lord's Day in the way we used to and sometimes our family worship times are greatly interrupted.  Personal time too.  I confess, I am often distracted by all the busy-ness of small children, school and family that old routines seem to have gone by.  Have I become shallow?  We do not want our lives to become just so, so.  We long to display our love and loyalty to our Lord and Savior.

The Lord is on my side

I will not fear.

Not Sabbath Thoughts but the random thoughts of a tired heart ♥

Our United Nations

Hubby and I and the boys are home from a great weekend in Brisbane.

We travelled by train and managed to catch up with lots of people even though it was only a four day trip.

On Brisbane trips we always stay with hubby's mother. (You may remember she was eighty in October).  We got to relax and chat with her as well as a nice little shopping trip and coffee for us ladies.

No kids around, so the boys spent the first two days very quietly.

Here they are on the train but the ear phones got a good work out during the trip down and back and when adult conversation just droned on for too long!

The reason for our visit was my Father-in-laws eightieth birthday.

Hubby is obscured but this is him with his sister and half brother and spouses.

Despite ongoing illness, Papa was very enthusiastic at his party!

Coming home from the celebrations, I couldn't help but ponder

about the contrast between

my own family and background and my in laws.

Hubby's dad migrated from Italy in the early fifties. His mother has a wonderfully chequered background with French and Scottish forebears.

The story of how his French great-grandparents ended up in  

Australia is fascinating and I

hope one day someone writes a book about that!

They are part of the history of early Cairns remembered by such place names as

Frenchman's Creek and Josephine Falls.

My husband's parents separated way back when he was about five. 

After that he didn't see his dad again for twenty five years!

He was raised by his mother (and grandmother).

His father remarried a much younger Philipina and had a son.

Can you imagine the scene in the restaurant where the party was held?

The excited high pitched voices of the Philipino ladies and the rich rolling

depth of all those Italians.  What a babble!

Many of their friends we had meet on other visits.

Michello, Giorgio, Mario, Giovanni.

Aurora, Rosalinda and Maria!

After the luncheon we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening

 just with the family members.

As we sat to share dinner we noted that there were we few "Aussies" with an Italian,

a Philipina, a Korean and a German! All of whom have arrived here as adults.

Before eating, hubby's half brother commented "Bon Appetit" and we all roared laughing.

All those languages to choose from yet he used French!

"Bon Appetito"

The eighty year old corrected in his beautiful throaty accent.

It is almost 25 years since we first re-established contact with my husband's father.

This weekend we realised how blessed we have been to have that

area of life "resolved".

Looking on, I believe my father in law must be very pleased to have been

re-united with the children he left so many years ago.

It's Wednesday!

It's Wednesday and we had pizza for tea.

Not exactly a blogging head line snatcher but big news in our house as we usually only ever have pizza on a Friday.  Friday is Dad does tea night.  Today however was one of those days when 6.00pm rolled around and although I had meat out nothing was even started for tea.  The babies and toddlers were tired and cranky and I might add so was the cook. Just a little.  Frazzled perhaps describes me better, so my daughter's suggestion of pizza went down very well.



The "Utopia" 150 year celebration was a great day out!

About 200 people crowded into the Library for the launch of a book recounting the life and voyages of the "Utopia" and  the passengers and crew of that first migrant ship to arrive directly to Rockhampton.  Though I know the history of my own family it was great to see them there among the interesting stories of others who settled here at that time.
My Dad's cousin at 91 was the oldest descendant present and got to cut the cake, along with one of his distant cousins who had travelled the farthest for the event.  (From Canada)

The lunch was made interesting for me being able to sit with the mother of two of my friends.  Knowing them since the eighties we never realised then that our great, great, grandparents had travelled together to the land down under way back in the 1860s.
 A maritime historian gave a very interesting talk after lunch on shipping and immigration at that time in Australia's history and the actual happenings around the arrival of the boat. Including a stoush between the indigenous people and the new settlers. The Durrumble people were acknowledged on several occasions throughout the day.

Then about 150 descendants took the bus tour around the original part of town.  This was commentated by one of the local history buffs and he not only knew his stuff but painted a vivid picture of old Rocky town, what little there was of it in 1862.  This tour ended with a wander through the old cemetery where both my Bond and Rattenbury great, great grandparents are buried as well as later members of those families.

The Utopia

If the Brits who came here thought this would be Utopia then perhaps, or no doubt, they were sorely disappointed.  Many scattered to other parts of Queensland and the rest of Australia.  Judging by the turn-out at this reunion and the enthusiasm among the attendees I think many have found Rocky to be a great place to be.
The local news paper slogan is "We live here because we love it"!!!!!


Off to Brisbane again this weekend.

This time to celebrate my father-in-law's eightieth birthday! You may recall from past blogs that I am not a real fan of Brisbane.  It is a rat race!  But seeing family is always good and I don't mind these trips when hubby is with me as he can deal with the maps and chaos much better than me.
We have certainly had a lot of family celebrations this year.  Only another oh, six or seven weeks until I hit the big 50!

This will be like a mid term break for the boys and I. When we get back we will be into the final few weeks of school for the year.  We are hoping to be finished end of November but.......

Grounded

"Friendships are like roses, the petals die but the perfume never fades away."

I was privileged this week to meet with a couple of old school friends.  It seems that as we age and our children leave home, there is more time and inclination to renew and build on some of these old friendships.  As I've mentioned before my high school years were spent in a boarding school.. Life long friendships are often planted when our formative years are spent in such close contact.

My old buddies seem to accept that I am a christian and sometimes make exceptions or apologies when I am there and something is said or done which I might not think funny/ appropriate.  This is without my saying so, they just do.

I am  very fortunate in this whole friend department with sisters, relatives and many christian women who have become my mentors, confidantes and sounding boards. I treasure these who are mostly women of faith and share so many views and commitments with me. Our friendships are based either around family ties or faith.  I always know I will get good solid advise and realistic comfort and I thank God for that.

It's different with these old school mates! What a motley crew we are! But after this meeting, I was struck by the wisdom and maturity of these ladies.  True, that wisdom is not from God and His Word but rather a worldly type, but solid non the less. These girls are grounded.  Because of our very long friendship we are able to discuss many and varied topics and share our joys, heartaches and goals openly.  Particularly on a matter that had been troubling me with one of my children, I experienced real connection and a light toward resolution on hearing one of my friends story of a child in a similar situation (Of course, I thought no one else had every had this problem :-).  Also one of these ladies who has had some very tough life experiences helped me to see things a little better concerning my daughter who is left as a single mother.

I love the Godly wisdom of my "usual" friends but I know that some of these situations are out of their sphere of experience.  I hope that I can be a realistic listener and advisor when it's needed. I suppose it is something to ponder as we deal with all who come across our path ~ sympathy, empathy, patience, shared experiences.  Of course we know that Our Jesus is the ultimate answer and we want to share it, but to the unsaved it is impossible to fathom that what ever is happening is God's will. We need to tread thoughtfully.

My cousin, my friend

"You can choose your friends but not your relatives."

One of my special friendships is with my cousin who lost her husband twelve months ago.  It is hard to believe it is a year.  So much has transpired.  I have come to love and admire her all the more for the strength and courage she has shown during this period of mourning. Again, I hope I have been the patient listening support I have wanted to be.

Do you sometimes feel, as I do, that our lives become so busy and fraught with drama that it is easy to forget the ones that need to be comforted, that are lonely, that are ill?

I hope that each one reading will forgive yet another one of my little waffles.  Also that you, like me do have a wonderful circle of family and friends in which you feel loved and are able to contribute to as well.

A big weekend

We have a busy weekend ahead with the Homeschooler's concert tomorrow and the "Utopia" reunion on Sunday.  I am still unable to load my photos on here which is annoying as I have a couple of beauties of the kids! 

Have a good weekend.

"UTOPIA" Revisited

Well, lovely readers, I have given you a short break after the wonderful Centenary Celebrations of my family, from my dabblings in history.
I love history, though I admit it is a love I have developed as I've become older and in the broader sense have enjoyed learning along with own children.

But Family History has become something of a passion for me:-)

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Therefore, in this 100th year of my father's parents settling at Jooro, I am excited to also be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the landing of the migrant ship "Utopia" in Keppel Bay.  The passengers of which then came up the river to Rockhampton.  The year was 1862 and this was the first ship to bring immigrants directly to Rockhampton. The 324 passengers swelled the population of Rocky by about 50%!

Descendants and History buffs are invited to attend the celebrations being held next weekend (3/4 November).  The launch of a book by a local Historian at the Public Library, Lunch at the North Rockhampton Bowls club which is along the Fitzroy River not far from the arrival point and a bus tour of historic sites. These include the memorial stone to mark the arrival of the "Utopia", other old establishments along the river and the old cemeteries.

Several of my own family will be enjoying the day with me and many of my more extended relatives.  My father's maternal great  grandparents, (on both sides) were passengers on the "Utopia".  Two young couples, the Bonds and the Rattenburys.  Each with two small children arrived here among the adventurous souls who travelled from England's fair shores to the blistering heat of our Australian summer.

Each family had quite a few more children after coming to Australia and my  great Grandfather, Charles Bond went on to marry Sarah Rattenbury.  As you can imagine in a large country town like Rockhampton there are still many descendants of those first pioneers who lay claim to this wonderful piece of Aussie history. 

If you would like to read a little about the ship, her voyage and arrival and the good folk who travelled on her , follow the link:

The Arrival of the Utopia

The article concludes with a photograph taken at the fifty year celebration of the "Utopia" and my ancestor, Richard Bond is in it.  He is the gentleman with the bushy beard.

(Hahahahahahahahahhahahaha)

Great great grandparents
Richard and Mary Bond

In family folk lore, and also other articles, it is told that the crew of the ship mutinied and that the able and willing men on board performed the crew men's duties to aid the captain to bring her to her destination.  It is mentioned in this article that the men were hand picked according to their skills and trades.  This was a great boon to the newly settled area.

The Bonds became dairy farmers. 
A friend of mine now lives in Bond road close to the place where they once lived and worked.

The Rattenburys were also farmers and Dad was telling me recently that they also dabbled in mining. There were several mines in the area in the early days including 

gold at Mt Morgan.

More on this after the event!

Haha, if you missed the joke I know you didn't look at the link!

   Two special people♥

21 October, 1972

My eldest sister's wedding day. 

Happy memories even though I am bawling!

Meeting the Challenges

One day at a time.
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Being a little overwhelmed by some of the present challenges that life holds before me, I came to the realisation that without challenges, it would be a very boring existence indeed!

I am constantly put to the test by technology :-) This week it is my printer. I have put in a new ink cartridge only to be told that it will not print because the cartridge is not genuine.  The trouble being, it is a genuine cartridge.  I do not have the smarts to inform my computer of this fact and so have not been able to print anything out.  It is amazing just how much printing one needs to do when one can not :-)

A serious challenge at present is planning for the 2013 academic year.  My older son will be Year 11 age.  He has no huge goals at present but is keen to try out different things and gain skills.  He is not, however, keen to attend TAFE, which was the way we thought we were heading.  The pre-vocational courses run during Years 11 and 12 look really good and interesting and useful for life no matter what he decides to do. The sticking point is the "classroom" element which is a component even of the hands on courses.  I understand that because I am his teacher and I know the challenges he has to face each day.  His Year 11 & 12 subjects will be through the Enrichment Program with Groves DE so basically continuing at his present ability.  He would like to do some work as well as school if not attending TAFE.  I am for this also but I know having had others working casual jobs and completing schooling that often the hours the student can actually do school work can be limited. 

Second son will move up to year nine but also has many challenges.
For me the great challenge at present is motivation.  They are past the stage of carefree days rambling the Botanical Gardens for leaves and bugs.  They are almost through their school years and looking at a working life but still struggling with many of the basics.
Some days it is tough to be positive and inspiring!  Come on all you creative people out there.  What do you do to ignite the fires of imagination in flailing young minds?

It is a challenge living here in our once large but growing smaller home :-).
This is one challenge that has so many good sides that it is really not weighing on my mind.  Of course, there are days, today being one, where we all heave a collective sigh when the little darlings finally go to bed.  Four active, inquisitive toddlers generate a lot of noise, mess, washing, chaos, did I say mess?  But I do love those little guys ♥
If only we could get a clear day to clean .... before the troops come tromping back through the house! I am grateful, in a strange sort of twist, that I do have a worn out, falling apart, going to mildew sort of house.  How hard I would find it if everything was "precious".

My greatest personal challenge is to keep myself on an even keel health wise.  After poor results two months ago, my Renal Clinic appointment today was a little more encouraging.  I am never going to "get better" but by being as diligent as possible my blood sugars are slightly better, my Renal function is stable, blood pressure is fine. While the heat tends to make my battle with tiredness worse, our Spring has been reasonable so far and I am enjoying the days.

My No.2 grandson was four on the weekend and again my gadgets let me down. (Seeing a pattern here?)  Therefore I have no photos to show of the fantastic little fellow with his gorgeous green frog umbrella!  Something to look forward to, eh?

The Birthday Boy

Because blog reading seems to have become almost a past fad, I am probably writing a little more personally than I used to because I know all you fine ladies who read or at least comment here.  So many blogs have finished now and I am missing some of those which I found particularly uplifting. I am not planning to cease.  For two years now I have only posted once or twice a week and I enjoy the journalling aspect of it. 

So, to all who drop by here this week.  Take up your challenges one by one.   Do not be anxious for anything and cast your burdens upon the Lord for he shall sustain you. He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.