it's 22c outside...

need I say anymore, anyway I'm not hanging round to say anymore!! :)


UPDATE:- And now I am sunburnt, to much fun outside.

Lonely

I'm feeling very lonely, knowing that there is no one coming home at 5.30 to share my day with today is harder than I thought...
I'm sick of talking to childern and dealing with their needs, my needs won't even come into account till after they are all in bed, bring on 8pm.

The cracks are beginning to appear.

My Week ahead

I got told today today to post more so this is for you Simone...

Taking a page out of Simone's book, i thought I'd give you a look at my week ahead. Now remember I Mike is in OZ, so I have to do everything!!!

Monday - I'm car less today cause the car is due for it's MOT (road worthy for you Aussies). So I have to rely on my amazing friends to play taxi for me. My wonderfully beautiful friend Sheila is taking the girls to school. Then Sandra is picking me up for bible study. And after lunch Sheila is taking me to Inverness to pickup the car. And not to forget the washing, cooking, cleaning and nappies to do.

Tuesday - Lys to Nursery at 9.10 then Lexy to the Doctors at 11.30 then back to school for 11.40 and back to school at 3.30. Met a lady to buy a bumbo in Alness (15min north) at 5.15pm, Then all the kid to town cause Lexy has choir from 6pm - 7.15. Home to bed...time for.. washing, cleaning....etc...etc..

Wednesday - I like today... this is my day... I have "Time out"(link to come) run by a church in Inverness. This is often the only time I get to scrapbook. Girls to dentist at 4.10. And the usual school runs, cooking, cleaning etc..etc..

Thursday - This is a quieter day..yah.. maybe toddlers in the morning then a friend to visit. Lexy has string club today so I don't have to go to school in the afternoon.

Friday - I have something on in the morning but i can't remember. Swimming at 5.45-6.30. Lexy to truth tracker, the it's a girls night in, a group of Mike's students are coming round for take away, wine, chocolate and a chick flick. Look forward to that.

Saturday - yet to be confirmed

Sunday - Church

Monday - Longing for mike to come home!!

Tuesday - Mike get back at 3pm and Lexy has her Viola recital at 7pm

Wow there is lots to happen!

Mike in Brisvegas

I spoke to Mike this morning, he has arrived safely in Australia 37hrs after leaving Inverness. He arrived in Brisbane where he will not have much of a chance to get over his jet lag before flying home next Monday.

He will the opportunity to spend some time with His mum and brother which he hasn't seen since 2007. Eat a big steak...actually I think he will try hard to consume his weight in steak over the next 7 days, if you want to catch up with him offer him steak and he will go weak at the knees!! Enjoy the warm weather, mind you we are getting close to warm weather here yesterday was 18c. Catch up we some friends new and old, for chat and I'm sure plenty of red wine will be had.

AND then on Thurday the big day. Mike will have a job interview for a job in Brisbane. It is a big day for him with chapel, lunch, leature then interview. We are praying that this the path that god has for us. It would be good to be able to return to Brisbane and train locals for the ministry, such an honour!

And on Sunday for all those Brisbane people, Mike will be preaching at Aciacia Ridge Presbyterian church in the morning if you want to go and hear a good sermon.

Please lift him in pray this week

• that he will not suffer to badly from jet lag
• for his time with the people from the college, that they will see the passion he has for the gospel and train of god's people.
• for God to be working threw Mike with his Sermons and Leature
• Most importantly that GOD's will be done.

And please don't forget me...at home with 3 kids!

Markus

I have just realised that I haven't taken very many photos this month...bad mummy...3rd child syndrome!!!

Passport Photo, it took us ages to get the photo and do the paper work only to discover when Mike was in Edinburgh that we need to apply for Australian citizenship first!! D'OH!!

This was a first, falling asleep on the floor. Just had to have a picture of that one!!

I haven't posted photos in so long and Markus has grown so much in the last 6 wks. This Sunday he will be 4mth old. WOW that today!!

Things that have happened in the world of Markus these past few weeks,

• He is teething ..big time..no teeth yet, just lots of fist chewing


• laughs at you when you chat to him


• almost sleeping threw the night - as of this week 7pm-5am YES!!!


• Moved to more combined feeding 3 bottle 2 breast


• Had first night away from mummy, and daddy did really well


• Almost rolling over


• Growing more hair
  
• Not far off sitting on his own.

• Has learnt that if he arches his back mummy can't get him in his car seat.

Well that's all there is!!!

I'll have to make up on the photo department this month. Markus has be a lovely blessing and great joy for our family. We love him dearly

House anyone??

Anyone looking for a rental property.

hip hip hooray!!!

It almost hit 20c here yesterday, we had 19c. All winter here we long for sun and warmth. Sadly it does not get that much better here.

But we did have dinner on the grass last night, 2 picinics in a week, thats a first.

Home

Well I'm home!! I don't know if that is good thing, I few days in bed in hospital sound very appealing right now. I have had a lot more pain and discomfort than I thought, yesterday (thur) was a really bad day, today was better but i feel like my head is in the clouds. I'm sporting 4 little keyhole spots.

Yesterday I was explaining to Lexy what the surgeon did to me, saying that they cut into different spots to put the instruments in... And she said what kind of instruments...trombones, guitars, saxophones...it hurt to laugh at that one. She is taking after her daddy in the humour department.

I just keep reminding myself each day will get better.

A big thanks to all my helper , particularly Myra, Sheila, Liz and Andrea.

And an even bigger thanks to everyone for all the prayer!!

A Wee Break

Well tomorrow I'm off to hospital to have my gallbladder out....good riddance I say i can live without that pain. But getting ready to go has been a military operation, which is just how mike likes to operate. I'm surprised he hasn't asked for it all to be done in a power point or on a spread sheet. The hardest thing will be leaving my boy, I've only ever left Markus for 2 hrs before. But I just have to have faith in Mike that he can cope without me. Myra our pastors wife is going to have Markus for most of the day, and I know that she will cope will having had 5 kids of her own and a trained midwife, but a mother is the one who know their baby best. How they like to go to sleep, be held, what to sing, I need to let go.

Please pray for us all, that I can relax and enjoy the break, and Michael will manage it all well.

BTW... Mike will be Australia for the 24th May till the 1st June. He will be preaching at a church Brisbane yet to be confirmed on the 31st May. Just wish I could go too.

devotions

This devotional arrived in my inbox today..... very challenging and as always, well timed.

the job...

As I said in this post Mike had an interview for a college in Australia. We both felt it went well (I listened in with the baby monitor) and they now want Mike to fly out to Australia at the end of this month (May) for a second interview (and boy am I jealous). I did offer to go in his place but he has reminded me that we want to get the job. So if you see a red head walking around Brisbane at the end of the month and it's not Mike's twin (thankfully there is only one of him), he is out and about. We think they may get him to preach while home if so I let you know where and when.

We really have this pull home right now, we just don't see what God has is store for us. At this stage I'm feeling very unsettled and a bit down. I just want to know so I can move on. I just keep reminding myself Patience..Patience...Patience. I know that God doesn't give us more than we can handle but I feel right at my limit right now. At bible study this week this verse popped out at me

Prov 19.21 Many are the plans of man's heart but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Please pray with us that we are moving in God's will, may we be patient, willing and open to what he has in store for us next.

I'll keep you posted.

Will I fail an MOT???

I feel like I'm getting old...yes I know I can hear you all saying 29 not old.. my body as not coped that well with this last pregnancy getting all the bad thing that you don't want. Yesterday I had to visit the dentist to have a tooth putted out and then next week I go into hospital and have my gallbladder out.

And I'm more worried how Michael will cope with the kids than having surgery and looking forward to have full night sleep and waking when I'm ready. Is that sad that I have to go to hospital to get sleep??

Anyway that's just what is going threw my mind tonight. What am I going to feel like when I'm 40 :(

More of my boy

Markus at 11.5 wks growing bigger by the minute, compare with this post to see how much

His first night in the big cot, this night he slept 9hrs, yay!!!

I can't add to that bib, 11wks 6days

Starkers, after having a bath and massage. I'd just love someone to give me a massage after my bath every night.

And this one is for you Uncle Zi, it's not just daddy watching the rugby Markus loves it too.

(sorry not the best picture but he is laying there watching the TV very intently)

Job interview

Well I said in a recent post that Mike had applied for a job back in Australia, well on Tues (21st April) Mike will be interviewed by a college in Australia (via skype). So we ask that you all pray that the Lord's will be done. We would dearly love to return home but only if it's God's timing. So please lift us in prayer the week. May Mike be able to speak clearly and openly and be understood by the interview panel and give us patience as we await the out come of the interview.

We must be doing something right....

The other night Mike slept in Alexis' room so he could get a full night sleep (Markus as gone back to waking twice a night), and during the night he was woken by Lexy's mumbling. On waking a little more he realised that she was praying and praising God in her sleep. There is always that great joy when your children come to love Christ and He becomes a part of their everyday life, but never expect that they will be praying in their sleep.

All I can say is I hope I pray in my sleep too....

My Big Boy

Markus is by far my biggest baby, he just seems to grow like a weed. I can't believe how long he is. Alexis and Alyssa seem so much smaller than him. I've tried to get a smile on camera but when ever the flash goes off it startles him. So here are a few attempts

10wks 2days

Look at the length of him - 1owks 6days

11 wks

there is nothing like a sleeping babe, they look so peaceful and innocent

Play time - 11wks 1 day

CHEESE!!!!

We can't have Markus without Alyssa not far away, and when the camera comes out she get right in there. You've just got to love her.

Humpty Dumpty

The Bird tradition continues again this year .......

Humpty Dumpty Sat on a wall

Humpty dumpty had a great fall,

All the kings horse and all the kings men can't put humpty together again.

We went on Safari.....

Last week Mike was speaking at Scottish Churches house in Dumblane, so we took the opportunity to have a quick family break and went to the Safari park. We had great fun we just wish we had more time there.

Blair Drummond safari park opened in 1970 in the grounds of Blair Drummond house, which was purchased by Sir John Kay a Glasgow tea merchant in 1916. Having no sons he passed it to his nephew Sir John Muir father of the present owner Jamie Muir. The house remained a family home until 1977 when it was sold to the Camphill Trust, a charity that cares for people with special needs. The existing late – Victorian house replaced a mansion house built in 1715, which was sited in what is now the giraffe enclosure. Most of the remaining trees in the park date from the period of the earlier house.

There is so much to see and do, there where so things we didn't get to do because we didn't have time.

Yes that is Alyssa going down on her own, she has no fear and just had a blast on the slide, just has well it was the only ride that was free.

Markus just chilled in his buggy, he did get to have a swing with mummy on the play ground so he wasn't left out.

The way the park is set up you get to drive threw the animal enclosures, we really look forward to going back soon.

March

Well March has just flown by... I thought that I'd start giving you a monthly update

Markus started smiling at the beginning of the month, he has the most amazing eyes when he smiles

My wee little prince....Alyssa is starting early dressing him up

My beautiful Princess

Alexis was 9 on the 27th, the time has just gone so fast. She had a pink princess sleep over party. The girls were great we had pink food and watched the Princess dairies 1 & 2.

Markus had to join in on the fun, I don't think it will be the last time Markus will be wearing pink crowns.

Alyssa loves to play with the camera and she has taken these 3 photos, didn't she do a good job.

We moved up to the big bath this month, we still us the baby bath but sometime it is just easier to throw Markus in with who ever is in the bath or shower. He is crying above because Alyssa pour water over his head....not happy Jan.....

I toke our car into Inverness last week to be serviced, so i didn't have to wait around town all day Markus got his first trip on a train.

He was fascinated by it all and spent a good amount of time looking out the window.

My Boys.....

All in all we have had a good month, We are getting use to there being 5 of us. Markus is sleeping better, so that means Mummy is too.

The big news of the month is that Mike has applied for a job back in Australia, can we please ask you to pray for this, we are both feeling the call home. Please pray that this God's will, if this isn't the job for him that God may open another opportunity.

Till next post.....blessings to you all.....Naomi