Easter

Hello my long-waiting friends! It's been such a long time between posts I wondered if I would ever return. Today is Easter Sunday and I felt I needed to share this song that has been on my mind all week. I'm not one to reveal too much personally on the net but on this Sunday I think it appropriate. As a follower of Jesus and in celebration of His resurrection I'm posting this youtube clip which i hope you will take a few minutes to listen to amongst the busy-ness of family, chocolate and general sugar highs! This song was the recessional song at my Mum's funeral. During that time of her illness and death, although incredibly sad and taxing on me and my family, I felt as though I was carried - just like in the footprints poem. My hope is that you realise the love and grace of Jesus Christ that we celebrate at Easter.

I am Carried (Geoff Bullock)

day by day and hour by hour 
your love for me from heaven flows 
like streams of water in the desert 
living waters flow 
you walk beside me gently guiding 
leading me through every storm 
everlasting never-changing 
grace and love divine 

i am carried in the arms of grace and love divine 
i am held by hands of healing washed by water pure 
lifting up my heavy heart held in grace-scarred hands 
i am carried in the arms of grace and love divine 

mercy's healing grace relieving 
every spot and every stain 
forgiven freely no more worthy 
love has conquered shame 
the broken mended night has ended 
leading me through every storm 
for i am carried in the arms 
of grace and love divine 

never worthy never earning 
all my works now left behind 
ever onward ever upward 
you've called me on to rise 
above my darkness all my failures 
every fear and every pain 
always carried always covered 
by grace and love divine

(NB: it is not my Mum in the youtube photos but another inspiring lady that battled cancer)

Baptism (one year anniversary!)

Hello friends - I'm so sorry it's taken a year for me to post my daughters' baptism photos. Life has been hectic!! I'm now working 2-3 days a week as well as school/kinder/creche runs..

These photos were taken a year ago at my brother's local beach where Miss E and Miss A were baptised by their father. It was such a special day - shared with close family and their special friend from church.

My GirlS

I know i'm the slackest blogger around but rest assured I'm working really hard!! just not at blogging...
My big girls are now the same height (only Ellie stood on higher ground to make it look like she's still the tallest !!) I have to say Ellie has accepted the rise of her younger sister with a lot more grace than I probably would have at the same age! They get called twins a lot now when we are out in public and sometimes enjoy the charade ...othertimes not so much.

This was their traditional first day of school photo. They've settled in so well this year and are doing piano in addition to their swimming. Miss competitive (yes the older one!) wanted to continue swimming after the summer break so that she could beat me. yep. That was her sole motivation! So she's now onto learning butterfly and will probably outswim her mother sometime this year. Of course i've now started swimming training myself just to make sure she doesn't get TOO far ahead of me! I just don't know where she gets that competitive spirit from ;)

They also made the amazing decision by themselves to get baptised in February which was a beautiful occasion at Seaford Beach. Photos to follow... They sure are growing up fast.

Look who's proud as punch :)

...for their first day of kinder !



He's been waiting for this moment since he was 18months and waving his sisters goodbye! So no tears or clinginess - just boundless energy, smiles and a "bye Mum!"

In the Booth Melbourne

This is why there's been no blogging this year! We are now proud owners of In the Booth Melbourne. Kieren is LOVING his new job - I mean what sanguine wouldn't love getting parties started for a living :) So if you need a booth to get your party started, email us at melbourne@inthebooth.com.au or call us on 1300 026 684

my baby turns 2.

So here it is at long last! The day my baby turned 2... We packed the day with all her favourite things - pikelets for morning tea with her second cousin; dinner of spaghetti bolognese and carrot cake with aunts and uncles; and lots of time to play with mum and dad's present of a play kitchen! We made this out of bits and pieces we salvaged from around ours and my dad's garages. Not bad at all!! they've had so much fun with it - including Tessa's crazy brother who's a right humorous little fellow at the moment! (yes that is a saucepan lid on his head. He was launching into his rendition of "I'm a little teapot!")

Tessa enjoyed her birthday so much that everyday (yes it is almost 7 weeks later) she still asks: "is it Bubba's birfday?" , "where's bubba's birfday cake?" !!

Sleeping.

My little baby's last sleep in her cot. Bless - she looks like such a little angel all cosy and snug with her wrap and teddy. This moment is bittersweet - i'll be dismantling the cot and selling it ... such a momentous occasion after 4 little babes.