Dirt-Bikes and Kites

Dear Friends,

Another week begins! It is fairly quiet for us these first few days - but the end of the week is sure to be busy. We will have Bede, Jemima and the boys staying with us for 5 nights, which will be lovely. And then there will be family gatherings on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Last Saturday we spent time with Joel's family; at Luke and Kylie's place. They work on a Christian Camp Site; and therefore have many outdoor activities on the property, that the staff do with the groups that stay there. And one of those activities is Dirt Bikes. So Dad and Luke showed the younger boys how to ride them and the older brothers decided it was worth a ride too! Michaela, Joel's sister, gave it a try also; but Becky and I stood in the shade of the ute...and watched...took photos...and chatted.

(Louise and Uncle Raphael)

(A Dirt Bike)


(Raphael, all ready to go)

(My Man, Joel, fixing his helmet)

(Instructions for Benjamin)


(The Landscape and a lone Biker)


(Here they are - about to set off - one at a time)


(Kylie organized kite-making for the younger ones. Here are Bethany and Rohnen with their kites.)


(Kite-Flying)


(David, Becky and Louise)

We didn't manage to get many more photos of the rest of the family but never mind! Well, I think Joshua has woken from his morning sleep so I must go.

Until next time, Beth

Consider this...

"The day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of the Lord?

(2 Peter 3:10-12)

This is the first rose, from our first rose bush

('Crown Princess Mary') planted in our garden!

Michaela's Birthday Party

Dear Friends,

Today I have been able to spend a quiet day in the home. This morning I was out at 8:15 am to do the Weekly Shop and buy meat from the Butchers. Thankfully I was finished within the hour; and was off back home to get a tired little boy into bed for his morning nap. I looked at the half unpacked shopping and slightly untidy house; but decided in favour of a short nap myself. I find it's helpful to rest in the morning for a little, otherwise by evening I am really tired. Baby is over 10 weeks along now, so I'm hoping I don't feel so tired in a few weeks. (But then people tell me - it just gets busier!) When I got up again, I had another hour to do the general tidy, washing, sort through the fridge etc before Joshua awoke. After a nappy change, he got excited watching me whiz around with the vacuum and grinned happily at me!

This afternoon I was able to continue working on my prayer calendar that I am organizing. I am using several index cards for each day of the month; to place specific prayer points on. I find it helps to focus on specific details instead of being vague and general in my prayer time. I'm looking forward to beginning it properly in the New Year. It's always fun to begin something fresh!

I also spent a bit of time holding and playing with Joshua as he was a bit restless. I needed to bank a cheque; after which, I stopped by the the shady playpark. I sat on a swing, held my son and pushed off. Away we went through the air and back again. I think it was Joshua's first time, so he was quite curious about it all. Then we wandered through the lush grass, sat beneath a large leafy tree, heard a Wattle bird call, and then drove home. Back to bed for Joshua and soon after I prepared dinner.

Now my husband is cooking the Herb and Garlic Sausages, and Rissoles - to eat with Coleslaw and Salad. A nice easy meal for a warm Summer's day!

Here are some pictures of my sister-in-law's 18th Medieval Birthday Party. It was over a week ago now, but I haven't had time to post them earlier!

Michaela W.

Dad W. cooking the Roast (Sheep and Venison)

My youngest Sister, Mercy

Jesse and Anna B.

Rachel and Jessica A. ~ Rachel also posted some photos at -http://rachaelsnotes.blogspot.com/2009/12/michaelas-18th.html

Playing a game

Some of the Ladies

My brother-in-law, Paul-carrying a book of letters from friends written for Michaela

Our family (Joel's side) - not the best photo but it's everyone!

Well, I should go as dinner is ready. Enjoy your evening too.

With Love, Beth

Photos from our Travels

Hello everyone, I thought I'd post a few photos from our time away, just over a week ago. It was a busy but lovely weekend. We attended the Wedding of Joshua and Joanna; drove to Pinnaroo SA to see Joel's Great Grandma (96yrs) and then drove home. We were away for 4 nights and did about 25 hours driving. Joshua had his two top teeth coming through so it didn't happen to be his most enjoyable driving experience! But he did very well considering. Anyhow here are the photos...

(The cute house we stayed in with Mum, A, G, C and B & J & the Boys)

(Joshua and Joanna saying their vows, with Mr McP. officiating)

(The Cutting of the Cake)

(The Bridal Couple with their parents)

(After the Wedding we spent time at the house with the Wong Family and the Harrowsmiths. We took a photo, just before the Harrowsmiths left!)



(Cute Cousins - Amos and Joshua - only 7 weeks age difference. They had a lot of fun together chewing on these wicker balls. The wicker balls were originally ornamental table pieces but became baby toys!)



(Caleb - checking out the Camera)



(Great-Great- Grandma with Joshua)



(Joel, Great Grandma and Joshua)

I need to go now; but I do hope to write more soon. It seems there are always photos to post and then I usually don't have time for much else! But thankfully, if anyone is like me - photos are usually fun to look at. If you enlarged the photos, you may notice that some are blurry - sorry.

By the way, Joel has updated his blog again so feel free to wander over and read his latest post!

Have a lovely day. Love Beth

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." Heb. 10:23-24

A Blessing from the Lord

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth." Psalm 127:3-4

On the Road...

Good evening all! We are presently in the car, along the Sturt Highway on the way to Wagga Wagga. My darling Joel is driving and our beautiful baby boy is asleep after a long afternoon of 'wide-awake-ness'. I am using our convenient laptop to write this post. It has been steadily raining since we left home, about 1.5 hours ago. Praise the Lord - it is so good to see the rain falling again. Today was hot and it's great to have the air cooling down. Tonight we are staying in a motel before driving on to Barham, NSW tomorrow. We thought it would be a good idea to break up the drive, particularly as Joshua hasn't been travelling as well as he used to! On Saturday we will be attending Joshua and Joanna's Wedding. We are looking forward to celebrating the marriage of another godly couple. It is also going to be wonderful to see Bede and Jemima and our two cute nephews again. We are staying together with them; and with Mum, Abbie, Grace and Charis in a house only 3 kilometres from the Wedding. Dad, Sophie and Mercy will be 'keeping house' and being around for Grandma back at home. I hope each of you have a blessed and enjoyable weekend. Until next time! Beth

True Love...

"Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave." Martin Luther

~ This is MY Man with our son, Joshua ~

I am so blessed to be married to such a wonderful husband! Joel shows me true love and I am so grateful that he is my husband!

“Love suffereth long and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

But just as I delight in his selfless love to me...do I consider how my love should be to him?

"Love does not ask, “What is in it for me? Will it benefit me? Will it bring me gain? Will it make me happy?” Instead of this, it asks, “Will this be a blessing to others? Will it impart happiness to them? Will it give comfort and enrichment of life?” “Love seeketh not its own.” J.R.Miller 'Learning to Love'

We all have people to love. These people should include our families, our friends, our relatives; among others. Let us love them, with a love like Christ's.

And let's remember that these people don't need to deserve our love before we give it. True love is self sacrificial.

In Christ, Beth

~ Joshua, happily playing with his toys! ~