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.

Sunrise.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. Psalm 113:3
We don't get these amazing sunrises very often so they just take my breath away when they do, isn't our God a wonderful Creator. Thankfully sun rise is getting earlier each day... yah...

(these photos are taken at 8.15am)

Australia Day in Scotland

Well yesterday we didn't wake up to the lovely warm sun as those of you in Australia. It was a dull wet and cold day, so there went any thought of BBQ's and Outdoor cricket. So we settled for homemade damper for lunch followed by a family film... Spy Kids 2... I think Mike enjoyed it just as much as Lexy. Than an after noon nap, then because we can't spent the afternoon at the beach the girls put their togs on and pretended to go to the beach in the bath.

Being in a cold wet country, make you really grateful for the outdoor lifestyle of Australia. I feel that the girls are missing out on so much by no being able to be outside most days. At the moment the only "outside" we experience is the dash from the front door to the car and back. We all say bring on Spring......

Linger in Him

I came across this post today, it felt very close to my heart. I'm going through a stage of discontentment and unsettleness. I'm yearning for what I can not have and not taking note and realising what God is doing now and here (even if it is very cold and wet). This post has challenged me to linger with God and listen and wait on God for what He has planned for me (and not what I want God to have planned for me).

I pray that you to may be challenged...to Linger

Random Photos from the past few weeks

See look, I can do it too!!!

Group Hug


SSSSHHHH we are seal spotting!!! But we had no luck today

Lexy's very tall creation, she was very proud to get it taller than Sarah, but really it's not that hard.
Yes Mum, I like my new coat but it's still freezing out here.....

All in a Days work

This feels so much like my life, I'm sure that all mum's out there will agree.

All in a Days Work.


Love Naomi

Christmas

Well we have had an interesting Christmas, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Years Day. Someone in our house has been sick. My best friend for most of last week was the couch where I spend a good part of my day, only venturing out to do the school run. My head feels ready to explode and I'm on the 10th box of tissues, my legs hurt and I can't breath.....and I think I have just managed to described half of the UK currently.

But apart from all the sickness we have enjoyed the Christmas season, It was chance to spend time with family and friends eating lots and lots and remembering that Christ was born this wondrous day for US. Christmas day was spent with the Matthews Family, we split the cooking between us so we weren't doing all the cooking alone. It was a lovely day, the only thing that would have made it better would have been to have Mum and Dad here.... well there always next year!?!?
Here are a few pic from Christmas Morning....... then the battery in my camera died.

So many toys!!!!!

Did I really have to get up????
(Sarah didn't finish work till 2am Christmas Morning, and the girls weren't going to let her sleep in just because of that... even worse she had to be back at work 11am christmas day)

I think I need a hair cut for christmas