Camping/4 Wheel driving trip 2011

These school holidays have been busy yet very relaxing for the kids and myself. We have enjoyed not having to be up at certain times, rushing to get to school, rushing off to school pick-up etc. The weather has been really beautiful - almost spring-like in it's warmth and sunshiney goodness.

A new friend of mine that I made from craft group asked our family to join their family on a 4WD/camping trip in the Flinders Ranges during the school hols, which we eagerly agreed to. So we set off up to Hawker, a 4 hour drive away, and were awestruck by the beautiful ranges that we drove through to get there. We set up camp and then relaxed for the rest of the evening, playing games, & drinking hot coffee/chocolate. Although the days were sunny and relatively mild the temperatures plummeted when the sun set, making it very cold at night. I had 6 layers on and a double wool blanket and still felt icy cold!

The next day we were up and ready for our 6 hour 4WD trek that we were about to do through the Flinders.


*Aboriginal etchings on a rock*










*The kids climbed this massive hill after lunch - can you see EJ at the very top?*


*Here he is again*


*Mop went up to get him*














*The kids and Daz contributing to the big rock pile at the peak of our journey*


*Curious little eyes watching us*




We had an awesome time and it was very refreshing and a much needed break for all of us.

8 years ago....

8 years ago with a cry of shock and surprise that the heavy bulk within me had suddenly left my body, I took my first step into the unknown world of motherhood. A wet slippery body was placed into my arms, and I stared into the still face of my daughter, her mass of black hair sticking up all over the place, looking sooooooo completely beautiful. The cord was cut, separating her from me completely physically,  so she could grow and be her own little person. 8 years ago I didn't even think about what she would be when she grew, for now, she was my tiny and beautiful Mop.

8 years ago I learned how completely and utterly heart-wrenching having a child of your own torn away from you and taken off to have medical treatment so that they could live. I learned that 4 hours can feel like a lifetime when you don't know what is happening to that beautiful little girl you held just for a moment.

I learned what effect that little life would have on me when the doctor told us grim news about our baby. Possible brain damage. Possibly going to be flown to a far away hospital during the night. You can't take her home. You can see her, but you can't hold her. You can't take her home. We don't know what will happen. We don't know what happened. I also believe in a God who would help me, no matter what the outcome. I learned that before Mop was a day old, that I had to place her into the hands of the Father and trust him. I learned about real joy and jubilation when 5 days later, against all odds, I took my baby home.

8 years ago, I began the steep learning curve of motherhood - and it's something I would do again and again and again.

8 years ago, God gave me my beautiful baby girl. 8 years ago she was still a baby, today she is a tall, long, smart, beautiful, sweet, funny girl with a big smile, a big heart and laughter that sounds like bubbles.

Happy birthday my Mop. I love you bigger than the galaxy.

I can smile at the storm

Lately I've been teaching the kids all my old Sunday School songs - omitting Father Abraham because that is officially THE most annoying song on earth! Anyway, I taught them "With Christ in my Vessel, I can smile at the storm" complete with leaving out the words so they sing "With____ in my____ I can_____ at the________"

The other day a storm landed on us, thunder rumbled, the rain pelted down... it was pretty amazing. I was at the other end of the house, and Milly came running down to me, looking scared. She doesn't like storms. "Mummy!! It's storming!! It's raining and thundering and windy!" I tried to calm my girl down, seeing she was really worried about it. "Darling, we are inside, don't worry, we are safe here." She looked up at me with a crooked smile, "That's ok, because with Christ in my Vessel, I can smile at the storm" and off she went. :)

My prayer is that one day she will have Christ in her "vessel" and that she will have the same complete confidence in her Saviour.