More Prayer Please

I've just been on the phone to Mike who is currently in Raigmore Hospital, having over night being diagnosed with viral meningitis. Thankfully it is not bacterial as this is the bad one to get. He is experiencing bad headaches and fevers with a rash. If all goes well he will be discharged this afternoon, with bed rest for up to 2 weeks, he may be fine in a couple of days. Please pray for Mike in his recovery and for the rest of us.... it has been a really hard 24hrs.

Please Pray - updated-

I've just come back from spending a couple of hours in A&E, I've got a bad pain through my right leg, and with my strong family history of DVT I headed to the hospital to get check. At this stage they haven't ruled out a clot, so tomorrow I'm back to the hospital for an ultra-sound. And to just to top things off Alyssa is just getting over tonsillitis and then vomiting. And Lexy seems to be coming down with tonsillitis.

So we covet your prayers, that we get over all our sickness and illness quickly.

Praise the Lord I have been given the all clear. I spent an hour at the hospital yesterday having my leg scanned. They were unable to see anything in my veins - apart from blood, but they can not explain the pain I'm having. Lexy didn't develop tonsillitis - thank you Lord and Alyssa is back to her bouncy self. Thank you all from your prayers.

I Surrender All.

At church tonight we sang a song that I grew up on and hadn't sung is such a long time. While singing tonight it moved me to my core....

Yes Lord, I surrender all!!!

we have moved

Well it seems hard to believe that we have been in our new house for a week. It has been a good week and I'm exhausted and would now like to have a week for myself. We have that basic unpacked and just getting into the routine of been here. We love this house. Well I must run I'm on tea and coffee at church tonight. I'll post some pics soon.

Moving Day............again

Well the day finally upon us. In the next hour friends will be arriving to help to get thing on the move. Mike and I went to the new House yesterday to sign the lease and get the key and I so forgot how much I just love that house it's quiet and large yet still homely. Sitting in the Lounge is a joy for the views. I'm looking forward to some stability, what is good is we know the house we have lived in it before and I feel like I'm going home.

For those who are local just to let you know we will be without a phone for a week and then with a temp phone number for another week. IF you need to contact us call our Mobil, leave a comment on the blog or email me on mnaabird at yahoo dot com dot au. and I'll get back to you. Well I must run we have lots to do today.. or should I say Mike has lots to do as I can only direct boxes, there sure are benefits to being preg and moving house. Hope to update soon with a few pics of our new house. Love to you my friends.

A First

Well today I did something that I haven't done in about 4yrs. Any guesses??

Well I went swimming OUTSIDE. Since being in Scotland I have been swimming but never outside. It very rarely gets warm enough outside. But today we took the kids to the aquadome in Inverness and they have a small out door area for swimming that was open for the day as the weather was great today. Boy it made me miss how much I miss swimming in Summer. We only get about 2 week of decent weather. Anyway we had a great day, the kids had fun.

12 weeks

Well we are 12 wks... it seems so hard to believe that this time has gone so fast.  Official due date is 20th January 2009. It was great having the scan see for real our little one. Seeing the heart beat and leg and arms moving. 

I am now starting to come out of that cloud that has been over me for the past few months, things can only look up from here..

---I've been trying to upload my scan photo and blogger and my scanner won't co-operate so I'll try again tomorrow----

Photos

I got in trouble the other day for not putting up any photos, because photos are so much more fun so your wish is my command.  Theses are just from the past week. 

Edinburgh Castle isn't it lovely

Andrew so kindly took to kids on the row boat at Dingwall Park.

Thanks for taking the kids Andrews!!!

I'm still here

I know that I've not been around much over the past few weeks. But morning sickness hasn't been that loving to me, you so forget because a swear I'm not doing this again. I'm now heading toward the 12 wk mark which I'm hoping will mean some more energy and less sickness. Things have been so full on here with school finishing off and heading into the summer. We have had sports days, Assemblies, toddler breakups, dinners and lots more. I was so glad to see the end of Friday. But then we spent the weekend in Edinburgh. So yesterday was meant to be my relax day but I had to spend the day cleaning for a house viewing. So today is the true start of the summer for me. 

Other news is that we have got a house to go to, we are moving on the 1 Aug. I've really struggled to continually have the house ready for viewings with morning sickness. And with the baby on the way I want to get settled, I don't want to be moving at 7.5 mths pregnant. 

I'll try and get some photos posted from the past month soon..... they are so much more fun that writing. 

Blessings to you all my friends

Going Going ..... Gone ?

Well our house is now on the market..... anyone want to buy??

Take a look anyway.  Here is our House 

Interesting times

Well let me tell this past week has been an interesting, we have come to the decision that moving into a 2 bed house is just not going to fit our 3 kids in it. Mike tried to talk me around but I have said no way!!! So did you catch that...... 

3 kids......God has been most amazing, not that I didn't already know that. After years of fertility treatment to have Alyssa God has blessed us with our very own "naturally made in Scotland baby". We are still in shock but rejoicing that we have a new little one coming to our family. So we covert your prayer as we go through this pregnancy, for safety and health.  

Well I'm going to go and enjoy and good cuppa  and thank our LORD for this little blessing.

Yes I'm still here....

Well I was told today that I haven't posted in a while and my reply was the weather has been so nice here who wants to be sitting at a computer. We have had some great weather over the last 3 weeks day temp.s from 12-25c (54-77f for you americans out there) We have spent a lot of time outside enjoying the sun. So here are a few pic for your enjoyment.

Fort William

Mike has been doing a lot of preaching of late, and one of the churches that he as been to a lot over the last couple of months is in Fort William. It's about an hour and a half drive from our place, south along the Loch Ness. It is also home to one of Scotland highest peck Glen Nevis as pictured above. We always enjoying going down, the fellowship and music are great...preacher ain't half bad either. :)
Mike and the girls feeling the cold looking up to the mountains.
and with Glen Nevis behind
And me with my girls

Rosemarkie Beach

Some of our weather has been so great that one afternoon after school we headed to the beach. We met up with some friends and had a whale of an afternoon not getting home till 6.30pm but it was all worth it.

Lexy had such a wonderful time, one our friends had a little girl aged 5. This worked really well because I always get the complaint that my Friends don't have kid for her to play with. That day everyone was happy.

Looking across the firth to Fort George
Love this Pic
I think Lyssa loved laying on the sand because it was warm. Note.. the temp was about 25c but the water was freezing...it comes from the north sea...so not swimming just wading happened
Lyssa and Guias in the water edge
My baby fix...Gideon... I get cuddles and smiles and then give him back and get to sleep all night. LOL :)

A day of firsts

Well today was a day for first in 2008..

1. I mowed the lawn - back and front
2. I weeded most of the front garden
3. It hit 16c or for the Americans out there 61f
4. so all the above was done in shorts and t-shirt

YYYYYAAAAAYYYYY

I have to laugh because only I few years ago that to us was cold, Brisbane's winter temp is about 18c so 16c was a day for coats and hot choc......fast forward 3yrs and even 12c is conceded warm once we get to these temp we start to pack up the heavy winter coats and go for the wind and water proof jackets.

because I spend the summer in Australia (winter there) last year I really haven't had a summer since 2006.....all I can say is bring it on baby!!!!

The Mom song

I saw this on another blog... it made me smile. Hope you smile too!!

Bird's Eye View of Paul

Just a little plug for my hubby new book.... It was officially released on Friday. Here is his description of the book himself.

This volume is designed to be an introduction to Paul for lay-people and first year seminary students. I am hoping that I can take the best insights of Pauline scholarship and show how they illuminate Paul's understanding of the gospel, of Christian community, salvation, ministry, Paul's narrative world, and controversial areas such as women and homosexuality as well. There are a stack of Pauline theologies available, but relatively few volumes that try to put Paul in the hands of the church - and that's what I want to do. Get people in my church and your church excited about Paul, thoughtfully reading over his letters, and see what he has to say to the people of God today.

If you want to see his post about it last week have a look here at Euangelion ...this is his blog be warned this is an academic blog, what he has to say most of the time is over my head but I love him just the same.

I have read the book myself and it is easy to follow and great to expand your understanding of Paul...I'm looking forward to reading it again as first time round I was indexing at the same time..boy do i have a whole new appreciation for index at the back of book that no one reads

Honey, great job on the book. I'm proud of you.

Available at Amazon if you wish to have a read yourself

On the Move AGAIN

We are on the look out again for a new house to rent. God has blessed us with some great houses but I would be happy to just have one, not going onto our 4th in less than 3yrs. So please we ask that you pray that God will bless us with a house that meets our need but also still gives us the opportunity to host students and have fellowship in our home. There are only 2 house that we know of that are available for rent at the moment and they are out of our budget. My prayer is that someone would buy the house we are currently in for a rental property, saving us the move and giving not just me some stability but for the girls also.

How Australian is that??

You Are Bare Feet

You are a true free spirit, and you can't be tied down. Even wearing shoes can be a little too constraining for you at times! You are very comfortable in your own skin. You are one of the most real people around. You don't have anything to hide. Open and accepting, you are willing to discuss or entertain almost any topic. You are a very tolerant person. You are accepting and not judgmental. You should live: Somewhere warm You should work: At your own business, where you can set the rules

What Kind of Shoe Are You?

Glasgow

We caught the train from Inverness, view of the snow from the train
In-train entertainment
Waiting in Perth for the Glasgow train
Oh my she is growing up fast.
The VERY MUCH wanted shoes
Glasgow High Street

I'm Smiling

As I stand at my Kitchen window, watching the washing blowing in the wind on the clothes line, there is a freshness and warmth about it. It really makes my heart sing to see washing on the line, summer is only around the corner The last time I hung washing on the line was sometime in Early September I think. Simple Joys...are what i look for. At the moment life is hard but that's for another post.

Love Naomi








UPDATE......Did I just Say WARM? well not even 30 min later and this is the seen:








Yes that is snow :(

Resurrection Sunday

Sunday was a great time spent time together celebrating our risen LORD. The Sunday school had an Easter Party with different station doing craft, activity, study and food. And the kid were meant to dressed up as their favourite bible character, any guesses who Lexy is???

Rebekkah, I think I did OK in my design.

And she Won the bested

dressed...Yah..yah..

Then after church we made our way out to Kiltarlity for Lunch with our Aussie/American mates for a Easter lunch. I forgot to take Pics but it was food was great and the company even better. The kids did an egg hunt in snow showers, photo's below..

I Pray that you had a great time remembering our loving and gracious Savour.....
CHRIST IS RISEN......

HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!

Easter Baskets

I made the girls baskets for Easter this year. Working in craft tends to get the creativity flowing which is great if you have got the time. I also made one for my prayer partner. We don't tend to overdo the egg thing at Easter believing that we should be focusing on the cross and Christ, so this year that got and bunny egg and a small soft toy that managed to get for only £.50. Lexy really liked the prettiness of the basket.

Louises basket (my prayer partner)
Lexy's Basket
Lyssa's Basket

Humpty Dumpty

Since Alexis was only 30days old we have done Humpty Dumpty with her at Easter, it was one of the few thing that Mike did growing up with is family that we were able to do with our girls. But unfortunately here in Scotland we have to be a little creative with our Humpty because you are not able to get them "ready made" So enjoy our Family Easter Tradition!!

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty Sat on the wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
All the kings horses and all the kings men can't put Humpty together again.

(they just got to eat him)

Out of the mouths of Babes

Coming in from school today Alexis was teasing Alyssa and I was trying to control and explain that this was not nice or acceptable behaviour. Alyssa pipes up and says

"you made Jesus Sad"

need I say more??

Absolutely Incredible Kids day

I learnt through Mari's Blog that today is Absolutely Incredible Kids day. So here are my wonderful, adventurous, loud, loving, sweet, and busy kids.

MY GIRLS

Alexis Jayne...is going to be 8 next week. She was our early blessing in married life, arriving 5 weeks after our 1st Wedding Anniversary. She is a real thinker just like her Daddy. But loves to be creative also. She has made some amazing things. I still can't believe she is going to be 8.

Alyssa Kate.... is 3 yrs old. A very much prayed for and wanted baby. But God made us wait 3yrs for her to enter our family. She is a bundle of energy, I think that maybe we could power some small country because of how active she is. Loves things pretty...and things HER way. But we wouldn't change that for the world.

We hope and pray that God will bless us with more Incredible Kids.

On a Hill Far Away

This hymn has got to be one of my favorites, an amazing reminder of Christ suffering for us. And whenever I hear it, not matter who is singing, I hear my Dad's voice. He use to sing this to me, his deep and soothing voice would help me sleep at night when i was a girl.

STOP, LISTEN, AND PONDER THE WONDER OF THE CROSS.



On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.


O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Refrain
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

My New Job

I promised you weeks ago that I'd fill you in on how first day at work went. Well.......

I LOVE IT!!!!!! Working at Craft Central is like putting a kid in a candy store. The Ladies I work with are very nice and can handle my Aussie sense of humour. Did I mention that I LOVE IT!! We are ENCOURAGED to play with all the great toys/machines and make things on the job. My favourite is this one, i think that I'll have to get one when I go to Boston USA in November (that's for another post). It is just been such a blessing for both Michael and I. Michael is forces to take some time out (which is a good thing) because he has soul responsibility of the kids and can't spend half the day reading... That's my life being Married to an Academic.. and I can get some much needed me time and creative time that I don't get normally..I LOVE MY JOB. Tomorrow is my 4th Saturday as a working girl (not that kind) and I'M LOVING IT. Can't wait till pay day to get some better shoes, my feet just kill me at the end of the day. I'm really blessed It's my dream job....because I wasn't actually looking for work, but we needed that extra income. And of course God took care of it all. Thank you LORD.

Must go and get my beauty sleep, so I can go and have FUN tomorrow.

BTW.. Did I tell you that I love my JOB???

Love and Blessing to you,

Naomi

Question???

Just a thought........

If Australia is the "Land Down under" does that make Scotland the "Land Up top"??????

What do you think??

Words Cloud

I can across this on a couple of blogs (Just a thought and Just another day in Paradise) that I read and thought it looked like fun and I'd give it a go.

It takes common words on you blog and makes a cloud have a look here to have a go yourself:- you will need to click on custom to get started

Happy Birthday Alyssa

My Baby was 3 today. I feel like time is just flying by and I have little time to catch up.

Anyway here are a few fact about m baby....

Favourite food - Chocolate (girl after my own heart) followed closely by baked beans on Toast

TV Show - IN the night garden and Lazy Town

Favourite things to do- getting changed, she would be in a new outfit every 10 minutes if I didn't stop her. Playing with anyone who will give her some time.

Favourite Toy - Uppsi Daisy Doll, Doctor's set and Baby Annabel.

She has this contagious laugh and cheeky grin, she just loves to help in the kitchen and around the house. Just last week I was putting her to bed and I told her that I had to do the dishes... "Mummy I help, it's fun" let's hope that last till she is 15.

Well Alyssa, my prayer for you this year is to be able to understand more of Jesus, continue with your loving nature, and just enjoy being a little girl...love...laugh...live.

Love Mummy

Happy Anniversary, to Us

Today Mike and I have been Married for 9 years. These years have been up and down, but it always turns out for the best.

Here are a few of the highlights:

2 babies, 8 different houses, 2 countries, 7 years of study, 2 books published, brought 1 house and lots of cuddles

Well Babe, thanks for 9 great year, I love you more now than ever --- and maybe even more with a move back to Australia ;) - just kidding

What a Week!!

Well what can I say I have had a very busy week. I have gone to post most nights but have been so tired that I just couldn't put my words together.
Here is a run down of my week .

Tuesday - Mini Marvels, Toddler group at Dingwall Free Church, Eleanor and Kids spent the afternoon with us.

Wednesday - Helping my sister getting her stuff together to go Home to Oz (only a little jealous),

P.A.T.CH (Play at the Church) Toddler the I help run at DBC, Home Group at Our House- we studying our way through Daniel.

Thursday - House worked call again--- why does that always happen???Alyssa goes to Kindy 1-3:30pm

Friday - Shopping and errans, swimming Lessons, throw together dinner, then off to Truth Tracker for Lexy, and Farwell Dinner for Sarah :( --- and in there somewhere I had to make myself pretty.

Saturday - First day of work!! Yah :0) -tell you about it all in another post-, Birthday Dinner for Sarah and Lyssa.

Sunday - Mike preached at Culloden Baptist Church (Inverness), Quick trip home for Lunch, Back to the Airport for the final farwells - plane 1 hr late leaving, visit with friends because there wasn't enough time to go home before mike preach the PM service, finally home at 9:30pm (yawn, yawn).

Monday - School run, Local Bible study, Lunch with Eleanor, Kirkhill Bible Study Group(new), dash back for school at 3pm, clean, clean cause I won't have time in the next couple of days.

Tuesday - Lexy to school early because she was in the choir comp. today (came 2nd), Mini Marvels again picking up friend on the way, drop friend home, run home for 5 minute to put lunch in oven, go get lexy from school for Lunch, Eleanor drops in early for lunch (ARRR....) but that really was ok, eat lunch and take lexy back to school and visit a lady from church for coffee and see her new house :). Back for school at 3pm, send kids outside to play so I may breath for just a few moments and enjoy talking with Eleanor, then Dinner, dishes and kids to bed.

WOW my fingers hurt and my mind is spinning, But do you want to know what I am doing tomorrow???

Here is the brief - Standard get ready for school, Lexy to school 9:15am, straight to Inverness (20min drive)for Time out 9:45-12, Patch 12:30-2:45, School Pick up 3pm, Homework, dinner, get supper ready for homegroup, Home group 7:30pm....I'm tired already. Not to forget that it is our wedding anniversary.

Here are a few photos from the week,

This one (above) was from a couple of weeks ago but it just so cute. She was playing in her room and you know that when it all goes quiet you think OH NO!! what is she into this time, this is what I found...so precious
Dig the pose!!!
Sarah and Lexy Blowing hard!!
Sisters, I find it hard to get a nice photo of the girls together, I was pleased this turned out so well.

(Sorry for any spelling mistakes..my spell check isn't working)

I'm joining the work force again.....so look out!!!!

Well today I did something that I haven't done in a long time.... I had a Job interview and got the job on the spot. It has been 9 years since I have had to interview for a job, I can hardly believe I have been out of the paying work force for that long. Being a mother has been rewarding, stressful and a great blessing, but it is time to start the process of re-entering the work force. We I can hear you all ask What's the Job?? Doing my dream job of working in a craft store call "Craft Central Ltd" , and even better it is only Saturday work. So I'm not having to look for childcare, it will be a Daddy Day. I'm really excited about doing this work, I start this Saturday (16th) and work a full day 9am-5:30pm.

Thanks to those who knew about the interview and prayed for me, I had planned on posting about the interview but I only dropped my CV in on Saturday so it has all happen very fast.

Must go, Mike has invited some of his students arround for dinner tonight, so I must get cooking.

I think we may have been here to long

Today is a lovely day the sky is blue, the sun is shining bright and it is 11 dregrees C. And while driving home day after have a wonderful and encourage visit with one of the college wives. Alyssa pipes up from the back seat, "Mummy, I don't like the sun. It's to hot and hurts my eyes". In all her 3yrs of life she may have seen about 300 day of sun. Just not the kind of thing that an aussie kid should be saying. How will she cope if we ever move back.... O dear I dread to think.

We had snow!!! At last!!!

These are the amazing sights that we woke up to yeaterday (Sat). We were all excited to finally have some snow worth playing in. Our last big snow fall was in March 2006.

This is the same photo from my last post, just this time no sun but plenty of snow

Alyssa was only 13months old last time we had good snow and didn't like the cold wet feel one bit, but this time round it was a totally different story. We couldn't get her inside, and this morning (sunday) she has little red cheeks from the cold and wind.


There was just no stopping her.

Lexy and her friend (not pictured) had great fun in the snow, making snow men and throwing snow balls at each other.