New Years Day

We spent New Years Day with Neil and Rachel Rae, these are some of the first friends we made in Scotland. We had a very relaxing day eating, talking, eating some more and trying to entertain children indoors. It was a really great day, this is one of the last chances that we will have to spend with Rach and Neil as they head off with OMF http://www.omf.org.uk in early March. Some of you may remember that I asked for prayer for this family last year, Lucie is a living miracle of the power of Prayer. Anyway here are some photos Enjoy

Michael doing what Michael does best!!!

Alyssa just loves shoes, here she is wearing Rachel's boots

Baby Lucie.... you may remember I asked for pray for Little Lucie back in September when she was fighting Meningus. Isn't she just beautiful!!

Trying to entertain the kid because of the rain outside

from Left.. Alyssa, Alexis, Ben

Alyssa showing off her hat and her new dance move.

Christmas

Mike and the Girls Christmas Morning

Greetings to everyone, We pray that you have had a great time over Christmas and the New Year. Thought I'd fill you in on our happenings.

We had a very peaceful Christmas day, unfortunately we didn't wake up to a snowy Christmas but it was very white care of a very heavy frost. After opening Presy in our PJ's we had pancakes and Ice cream for breakfast, (I know but it is only one day of the year). As usual the Children got some great pressies and I can say I did well also. We potter about the house in PJ's till about 11am, having made the calls to grandparents. We went to some friends for Lunch and Dinner, which was just wonderful, they wouldn't let me do anything- not even the dishes. So apart from cleaning up the mess after the children descended on the tree I did nothing else apart from my 2 favorite things --- eat and talk.

icicle hanging from the hose
our tree
the frosty white Christmas

This being our 2nd Cold Christmas is sometimes hard to believe. I must say that I haven't really missed have 35c on Christmas Day. I feels more like Christmas in the cold and dark. I'm sure it is going to be few years yet until we have a hot Christmas again.

We have had a blessed year.

But We must always remember that OUR Savior Lives and that is really all that is important

Photo Update ---- again

Here are few photos of us to see how things have changed.

Any thoughts on the Goatie???

Daddy and Lissa in the cold at Aviemore
Do you think she is Michael's Daughter???? (Taken last night 5th Dec)
Lexy having a leaf shower
Me, after losing almost 2 stone that's 12kg for the metric people

(Taken Sat 2nd Dec)

We have fire!!!

It is so exciting to finally have an open fire. After having to waiting for 6 weeks just to get the chimney done, we are lapping up the warmth of the fire. We just hope that this will reduce our electricity bill some what. Well we shall think of you Aussies has you sweat out the summer month as we toast marshmallows on the fire.
PS under 6mths till I'm in OZ -- you didn't think I would forget did you?????

28 weeks and 2 days, 6 mths and 2 weeks and 3 days, 199 days.......

It really doesn't seem that far away. But that is when I arrive in Australia, I can hardly believe that it is so close. We have so much to do in the time also like........Visit with Duncan and Alison in Durham, Christmas, Away for our Wedding anniversary, Lyssa Birthday, My Birthday, Lexy's birthday, Moving house again, a visit from Dave and Hiedi, and that is just what I can think of right now. The time will just fly by. I look for to see you all very soon.

Dingwall Floods

Here are some footage of the Dingwall floods 26th October 2006. Just amazing the amount of water throught our little village. Thankfully we remain unharmed and dry --- thank you LORD!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owC_a3Xwau4

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6087168.stm

We continue to pry for rain in beloved Australia.

7mths and 18days

That doesn't seem like long does it??? Well, that is how long till I arrive back in Australia for a Holiday!!! HOOORRRRAAAAYYYY!!!!!! We have booked and paided for our flights this week, I'm so excited. Does anyone fancy meeting me at Sydney Airport at 5:15am on the 30th May???? So Alyssa and I arrive on the 29th May and Mike and Lexy will come on the 29th of June. We are looking forward to catching up with you all. See you SOON, VERY SOON!!!!!!!

Photos

Lissa and an ice cream cone
Lexy (left) on a climbing all at Landmark
Lissa watch 10, 9, 8, God is great
Lexy and Mike on the water slide at Landmark

Catch up

HI All, it seems so long since I have posted. I keep thinking what do I post on. It feels like I do the same thing day in day out. Sept has been a busy month with Michael preaching 3 out of 4 Sundays. All the groups starting back after the Summer break. And not to forget the Pray and help that went out to Little Lucie (I saw her today and she is doing well, just pray that she starts to sleep better, Mum is getting by on about 4hr a night). Then there was 4 wonderful friends having babies. Congratulation to Jeff and Anya, Pete and Jen, Matt and Laura, and Tammy and Dylan.

The girls are growing fast.

Alyssa is 19mths old, where has all that time gone. She is very mischievous and busy a few thing that I have found her doing lately is--- climbing up the front of Mike's 8ft Book case, eating butter out of the tub, drinking olive water while trying to get to the olives, toilet is a great fun toy (not), and that's just a few things. She is always on the go, loves her food and finally has a little hair. She brings many joyful moments and also much frustration. You just can't help but love her.

Alexis is 6 and a half, going on 26. She is constantly talking and you better be listening. Loves to be the center of attention. Loves to sing and dance, love craft and knowledge. She came in tonight with a new fact saying that a Red Kangaroo was 6inches, she just forgot the 6ft and the beginning at the fact. She still misses Australia lots, it breaks your heart when she starts crying because she misses her friends or Church. How do you tell her that we aren't going home for a few years. At the moment she is looking for to swimming in the mid-term break. My baby is growing up.

We are looking forward to the next few months with a trip to Stirling for me, a family trip to Dundee, a trip to Washington DC for MIke, and then at Christmas a trip to Durham to catch up with some Aussie friends. We are also in the process of booking our flights to Australia next year. It's under 8mths till I arrive -- the count down has begun. I must go and do what I always do, washing cooking cleaning

I've added some photos of the girl taken over the last month. Happy looking

Photos

Lexy and Lissa in London with in the 32c heat wave

Me and My girls Photo taken early July.

I'm Back!!!

Hi All, Sorry for the delay in posting, things have been very busy here. Lexy started back at school 2 weeks ago. I can't believe that my baby is in P2. Just getting back into the swing of things after 6 wks of Holidays. Getting up and ready after 6wks of not getting dressed before 10am does take a little getting use to. This week was a big week for mild stones.

• Firstly the on 19th August it was 12mths since we left Australia,
• On the 20th a year since arriving in the UK,
• 22nd Alyssa was 18mths old and
• 24th it was 12mths since arriving here in Dingwall.

That makes a very big week of Celebrations. Well I must go but Hope to post again in the week.

Firstly please continue to pray for Lucie there is no change, but no baby should have to fight this hard for life.

And many congratulations to Jeff and Anya on the safe arrival of a little girl.

Photos from our road Trip around the top of Scotland

Getting out of the bus at John O'Groats

Sign at John O'Groats
Mum, Lexy, Courtney and Sarah Complaining of the cold at John O'Groats - it was about 17.c, a nice day for the Highlands.

Looking into a bay up the top somewhere

clouds rolling in over the highlands near Tongue - yes that is the name of a town
looking over the Loch at Ullapool

The day we did the trip around the top we covered about 340mile but it took us around 12hrs and we only stopped for about 4hrs of the time. The roads are very narrow and windy, and with small passing places for you to stop to let other cars or BIG buses pass. We had a wonderful day, we were all able to be together in a mini bus (thanks to the Dingwall Free Church), so much better than 2 cars.

Well we went to London and Now we are back.

Inverness Castle - my bedroom in the second window from the left.

alexis enjoying Lunch at Lands End in the boot of Poppy's car

the Lanyon Quoit near St Just in Southern Cornwall - an ancient burial thing.

Life has been very busy over the past few weeks. Mum and Dad arrived from Oz 2 and half weeks ago and we have been on the move ever since. Here are some highlights of our trip a way

• We had a lovely trip down to London, apart from Alyssa getting sick.
• The waiting at the airport was almost to much to bear, it was so wonderful to see mum and dad and the girls
• Alyssa getting sicker and needing a couple of trips to see the Doc - she had bacterial thing that showed as a throat infection and lots of mouth ulcers - she was very Poorly as the english say.
• We has a week in Cornwall staying in a typical Cornish village which roads are glorified footpaths.
• Seeing the graves of our ancestors in St Allen, Cornwall
• Enjoying weather over 21.c

These are just a few of the wonderful things crammed into two weeks. I'm trying hard not to think that Mum and Dad head back to London next Wednesday. The time has gone too quickly, I'd like for it to stretch for another couple of months. But the fact that Sarah is hanging around for a while is good ( I think).

Hope you like the Photos of our trip. Lookforward to hearing from you all sometime

We're OFF - to London that is -

this bude in Cornwall where we will be staying

Well tomorrow we head south - which is a good thing since the north pole is not to far away. We are making our way down to London for when Mum, Dad, Sarah and Courtney arrive from OZ. I'm so excited but sad also because the closer it is to them arriving the soon they will be going home :( .But I'm looking forward to some time in London and them off to Cornwall. Finally we get to see some of this amazing country. We I must run as we are leaving at 5am tomorrow (Saturaday). I'll try and post some photos while I'm away but I don't like my chances.

11 Sleeps

The count down is about to start. Only 11 sleeps till Mum and Dad arrive for there visit, which also means I only have 7 days till we leave for London- AHHHHHH. So much to do so little time. Just looking at the calendar now make me realize that on Tues (20 June) we had been living in the UK 10 mths. The time sure does fly by.

A Layout at Last

Hi Friends, Well I'm sorry I haven't being blogging much laterly. Things have been very busy with end of school things, sick children etc... etc... Anyway thought you might like to see one of my scrapbook layouts I did a few weeks back.

Scrapbooking

After barely doing in scrapbooking since ariving in Scotland 9mth ago, last night I got off my bottom and got to work. It took along time to get the creative juices flowing but I really enjoyed it. I managed to finish 2 pages up to the journaling. I'm proud of my efforts. I even left my stuff out on the table with the hope of doing some more today. When I have a chance I'll take some pictures of my layouts and post them so that you can all see.

Photo Update

Heavy snow storm we had the week we moved to our new house at the end of March - that's right in spring. We had more snow in March than we did all winter.

After Church One Sunday, (the dress Alyssa is wearing My baby sister wore)

My Flower Child

Chicken Pox anyone!!!!

7 reasons not to mess with children.

Thanks Alina for the great email, if this don't make you at least smile, I'll be very worried.

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.

The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.

The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.

Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.

The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".

The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"

The little girl replied, "Then you ask him ".

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.

As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.

The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."

The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."

Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.

After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"

Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.

She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"

Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."

The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.

"Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say,'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'

A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face."

"Yes," the class said.

"Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?"

A little fellow shouted,
"Cause your feet ain't empty."

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:

"Take only ONE. God is watching."

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.

A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples.

Comments

I have spoken with a few people that have said they tried to post a comment but have not been able to. When going into the comments page they will ask to choose if you are a blogger, other or anonymous. If you do not have a blog just choose other and you shouldn't have any problem. It would be great to see that people are reading my blog.

Blessings to all my special aussie friends.