7 Mile Beach

Here are some photos of Teri, Kristiana and Jolie, Robin the surf, Emma sunbaking, and little Jimmy who was a bit perturbed by the elements - the water was cold, the wind was blowing sand, and mum was all wet - not the comfort he is looking for at this stage of his life. Ha! His shirt aptly reads "Most likely to change the world".
Today was warm, sunny and ideal for the beach. So off we went to 7 Mile Beach - near where Stephen and Teri, Heid, Robin and friends now live.
The countryside is green and beautiful and the kids loved it. We call it the beach but Jolie calls it the "ocean".
Stephen and Heidi are in PNG and are asking for us to pray that a shipment of donated books and CD's which is stuck in Singapore, can make it to PNG right away as time is running out for them to get around to the villages and pass out these promised gifts.

Having trouble posting comments on this blog?

We've heard that some of you are unable to post your comments. Apparently this is because there are 2 options for posting - Google bloggers/members and OpenID. To send as a "google blogger" you need to set up an ID with Google and then you'll be able to post. Trying to use "OpenID" is a little more complicated as you'd need some other ID - such as AIM etc. So I suggest setting up a Google ID.
I might not have set up a "Google" blog had I known this, but perhaps it provides some security.
Anyway, I hope you're able to sort this out.
xoxo

Trevor and Emily - Have a great trip!!

Hi Everyone,
Trevor and Emily are off to the UK very soon. I mentioned to them that we might be able to help with contacts for them when they are over there. Initially Alan and Michelle are going to get them oriented but Trevor wrote and asked if we know of places they could stay in Europe after Christmas. I am thinking of Simon and Camilla in Slovakia - so will get in touch with them - but if anyone knows of other people or places they could stay can you let them (and me) know as it would certainly make their time over there more pleasant and cut expenses.
Here's Trevor's email address if you don't have it. tjalback@hotmail.com
Have a great trip Trevor and Emily - we'll be praying for you!!

Spare a prayer for our Brisbane Battlers

It's been tough times for Brisbane with a series of huge storms lately.
Gaynor's home was hit hardest - flooded downstairs, power blackout, and damage to the garden.
She and Lois and Ruth all reported that the conditions were terrifying!
Everyone is ok - if shaken up. Thank the Lord.

Dave - pier-ing from a great distance! - the beach at San Diego

Krikki turns 12

Here are a couple of birthday wishes that I think are well worth sharing with everyone. It's a big thing to turn 12. As we've been packing, I've thoroughly enjoyed looking through the photos of you growing up. You are a joy to me and to mum and because there was that 5 year break before you came along, it's set you apart a bit for special treatment. Even though some of the older ones have given you “therapy” at times, you have the benefit of being the baby for all of us – and we've had the benefit of having you.
I won't go on – even though I'm tempted to – but I don't want to detract from the sentiments that Leigh and Ang share so well.
xoxox

Dearest Kricket-Kracket,
Wow! It’s your birthday (finally)!! You are finally (12) (Please tell me I’m not wrong…) I miss you terribly, little sis, even though I know us getting along was more of the exception than the rule, back in our day.
But you’re still my baby sister, and I know (the kids I teach here) can prove how much I love you – I’m always bragging about how smart and pretty you are and stuff…
I’m going to try to give you a little advice here, since advice is what I do best (yeah, right…). Enjoy being a kid for as long as you’re allowed to be called one – while growing up is a wonderful process, it’s going to come with time, and since you don’t need to be an adult yet, don’t let anyone make you feel like being young is a bad thing. It goes away way too soon...
And you should probably think about role models sometime too, cause pretty much everyone needs someone to try to be like. I suggest sisters Angela and Heidi.
I love you so, so much, Krikki, and I can’t wait till I can see you again!
Love and prayers,
Leigh
(From Ang)
Darling Krikki (I know that I am not supposed to call you that anymore but you will always be my Krikki),
12 oh my, how the years have passed - you are now a beautiful young lady rather than a baby sister. I miss the baby in the family, thankfully Steve and Teri and Andy and Libby have had the babies to replace the need for you in that role … now you get to be an Aunty instead.
Darling, I wish I were able to be with you more and have more to do with your life. Please know that although I am not that good at keeping in touch you are always in my thoughts and prayers. And I do pray that one day you will be able to come and live with me, even if just for a short while.
I concur with Leigh’s advice, enjoy your life and your preteen and teen years while you can … you will be an adult before you know it. It comes fast enough so don’t rush it. Enjoy life, have fun, learn what you can while the time is provided for you, soon you will have no time to learn the things that you are interested in, ha!
I love you and will always cherish the time that we spent together. You were my little side kick for a few years there, it was always fun to take you to the bank, shopping, post office, etc. I loved it when people thought that you were my little girl, I was always proud of you and I am still. You are growing into a smart, beautiful, disciple/missionary/woman. I pray that this coming year is a special one for you, that you make new friends, and that you enjoy all the new experiences moving to a new place will bring. Most of all, I pray that you continue to stay close to Jesus and that your friendship with Him continues to develop into all that He wants it to be.
You have a lot of older brothers and sisters for role models, they are all dedicated to the Lord, they love Him and are doing what they can to serve Him - what better role model could you ask for? Then you have your parents, now there are two of the best role models ever. We are all so blessed, such awesome people to look up to.
Cheers to our little sister! Happy 12th Birthday Darling. We love you!

May's (Mum, Nana) birthday was on 9th November

What an inspiration and joy Mum was and still is to our family! Her faith, love, intelligence, wit, musical talent, practical motherhood skills, - not to mention love/hate relationship with politics - and much more - live on in her children and grandchildren. Well, I don't know about the love/hate relationship with politics - maybe that was unique to her! Most of all the love and closeness that she and dad had over their 50+ years together.
With all the family that is now on the other side, there must be some fun family reunions happening in heaven - and no doubt one of them was a party for May.
She was born on the 9th November 1920 and had a good innings of 79.
love you Mum and thanks for everything!

Gaynor's Garden Party for Dad

We had a chance to visit Gaynor briefly on our visit to Brisbane a couple of weeks ago. One of Dad and Gaynor's great joys is their garden but because of dad's sickness, it was not possible to work on it. So after Dad's passing, she had it restored and it looks great! She wanted to dedicate it to him and decided to hold a party in his honour. Some of his close friends at "Ye Olde Brass" provided the music. Family and friends attended, and a nicely carved wooden sign "Jim's Garden" was displayed.

Gaynor sent me these photos and note:
"The Garden Party was a great success, perfect weather, and a sumptuous feast.[I'm not sure Dad would have approved!] About 50 people attended. ...I visit the cemetery regularly with flowers. Last Sunday was Memorial Sunday at Prince of Peace, both Jims went on the list, and Ruth came to the service with me."

Dad had conducted the band for 10 years and was held in high esteem by the members. Gaynor said "I have been asked to conduct Ye Olde Brass for a carols concert in the Redcliffe RSL auditorium [some of Dad's arrangements ]in Dec. So, this will be a "first", re-inventing myself musically once again!!"

I'm sure you'll do a great job, Gaynor and will add colour and pizazz to the performance and I hope Dad is there too as he'd enjoy it and be happy to see you standing in for him.

Happy Birthday Leigh - Congrats on becoming 19

It's so amazing that you're 19. How time flies!

I am really blessed to have a daughter like you and I pray you have a great day - one that is special and gives you a fantastic start to the next year.
Some things I love about you -

Love - you've got a lot of it and that you really care - about friends, family and the Lord
Enthusiasm - you put your all into the things you do.
Illustration - your excellent gift of art.
Graciousness - you often express it in putting others before yourself.
Hilarity - how you laugh - but not just laugh - you really get tickled when something strikes you as funny.

Have a great day - and know you're loved!!
Dad

The Grand Kids!

Angy's letter of comfort!

Over the past year or so mum, dad and Jim (Ruth's husband) passed away. Besides this a number of other friends and relatives have passed on as well. We haven't had a year like this and it has brought some great sadness as well as strengthening our bonds and communication as a family – and I believe, it has deepened our sense of life and its value.

Recently, friends of ours who we met through our jail ministry had a serious car accident – Chico and Mez. Chico is in jail and Mez has been trying to bring their 3 daughters up on her own. She had a car accident and their 6 year old daughter, Mimi had severe head injuries and died a few days later.

Bev and I went to the funeral and we shared some of a beautiful letter Angy wrote to Chico. Here is an excerpt of the letter. The whole letter is worth reading but too long to share here – but if you ask I'll send it to you.
(From Ang to Chico)
...one of my best friends, Faith, ... wrote me after she suffered a great loss when her Mum passed on from Huntington’s disease. She said: “I know now that it was part of God’s plan—a plan that He explained to me in a dream. In that dream He said, 'I bring tears into your life to water the soil of your heart. Otherwise, the goodness would be lost. These tears enrich your life and allow beauty to spring forth in My good time.' He showed me that if we didn’t have difficult times, our hearts would be like a dry, dusty desert where the sand is swept whichever way the wind happens to blow. Even the best topsoil must stay moist in order to bring forth the beauty of new life. God, our heavenly gardener, has a plan for each of our lives. Although He lets us go through difficult times, He never expects us to go through them alone and they are never without a purpose and a plan. He brings each season of “rain” to water the garden of our hearts.”...

I truly believe that Jesus really is the only one that can help you through this time. But I know that through everything we face, the trials the difficulties, we don’t come out unscathed. Often we complete the time of testing and trial with some sort of wound or scar to remind us what we have gone through. I read a book by Philip Yancey called “The Jesus I Never Knew”. It is all about the life of Jesus. In the book he said: “I take hope in Jesus’ scars. From the perspective of Heaven, they represent the most horrible event that has ever happened in the history of the universe. Despite that event, though, Easter turned into a joyful memory.
Because of Easter, I can hope that the tears we shed, the blows that we receive, the emotional pain, the heartache over lost friends and loved ones, all these will become memories instead of hurts, like Jesus’ scars.
Scars never completely go away, but neither do they hurt any longer.”... (end of excerpt of Angy's letter)

A beautiful prayer worth sharing.

St. Theresa's Prayer:
May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and everyone of us.

A few shots of Leigh and me in Mexico