ANZAC Day 2014

A few years ago I trekked the Kokoda Track with my mate Mark and some other friends from church. Each ANZAC day, my mind naturally wanders back to the trail.

I wrote about this adventure and shared a few photos here.

This might mean nothing to you, but today I ate some pineapple. Yep, you’re welcome. It was so sweet it reminded me of the pineapple we all scoffed down at the top of Brigade Hill. It was here in 1942, the Battle of Brigade Hill was fought over three days where the besieged Australians desperately fought to hold back the advancing Japanese. You can read the history here. Only the lads on that trip will know how good the pineapple was, but also how hard that bloody climb was to the top of Brigade Hill in the PNG heat and humidity.

Today we headed down to support our Wahroonga Pathfinders at the Wahroonga Cenotaph. It was a great morning and they represented and supported our local servicemen association well. I’m proud of those guys and proud of their community involvement and service.

Lest we forget.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

It was 9 years ago on the 12th of March that Richie and I decided to make our thing official.

We were kind of dating since we met at our church Division Youth Congress held in Fiji since the January, but it was on the 12th of March we decided, “Yep, let’s do this.”

I remember it being the weekend that I flew to Brisbane and was thrown in the deep end. Like a deer in headlights, at the South Queensland Youth Rally with approx. 1200 people, I was walked down the middle aisle to the front row at the Youth Rally. I felt like there were plenty of eyes on me and I seemed to hear whispers in the crowd… “Who’s this Sydney girl who has stolen our Richie’s heart?” “She better not take him away!”

Woops!

I also remember it being the weekend I confessed to him that I was falling in love with him.

Bless!

Richie has a Vision meeting tonight with his school and the church so we celebrated last night with dinner in Baulkham Hills. Tim Mannah and Ben Smith from the Parramatta Eels were there with us in the restaurant. This consolation prize for not going out on our actual anniversary was all totally planned. Pity they don’t play for Souths though.

Such is the life of a Pastor’s wife.

This one time, I was told I might have cancer…

This week marks a fairly significant anniversary in my life.

Last year, after I arrived home from StormCo Nyngan, I found a lump on my breast. My first thought was “Oh crap. I have breast cancer. I better get that checked out.”

Accompanying that suspicious lump,  I also found a weird lump at the base of my neck on my shoulder. These lumps were swollen lymph nodes and the doctor found more of them under my underarms.

So this all led to many blood tests, ultrasounds, specialist appointments and finally a biopsy (day-surgery fun and games) of 3 samples – my swollen lymph node on my breast and neck, and a sample of my bruise on my arm.

Richie and I kept all this on the down low because we didn’t want to create a stir if it all came to nothing.

The following are my unedited journal entries from April 27 through to May 17, plus some funny instagram photos. Truthfully, I’m no Anne Frank – I don’t keep a journal normally, but at the time I felt a strong sense that I needed to write stuff down as a way of processing what I was going through. Also, I sensed I needed to do it just in case my journey was going to end that year. Maybe someone who was to read it would find some strength and encouragement.

27 April /2012
I feel I’m at a crossroads ready to hear a prognosis I won’t receive for about 3 weeks. I’m ready to throw on my “I’m gonna to punch Lymphoma in the face” sign. But I’m also ready to start dancing around the room punching the air and giving people high-fives for a bit of hoo-haa over nothing.

I’m so at peace it’s a little scary. “What ever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, “It is well, it is well, with my soul”. Whatever you do, don’t be mistaken, it’s not denial. I read somewhere on Twitter today, the greatest asset I hold is my faith. I can’t believe how much I have packed into only 31 years of life. As I sat in the Oncologists waiting room yesterday afternoon I thought “Stuff! If I was to die, there is really only 2 things that I wouldn’t have done in my life time: 1) Have a baby 2) Own a property… that’s it!!! People die not having done a quarter of the things that I’ve squeezed into 31 years.

I’m extremely grateful that Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, could ever pluck me from his hand. For I am his, and He is mine, here in the power of Christ I stand.

Sign, sealed and delivered – Praise the Lord, I’m saved.

1 May 2012
Talk about an amazing network of family and friends I’ve got. 4 precious individuals who prayed for me today. Besides my Mum, sister and my Dad praying for me last night at the office, today it was fantastic to be covered in prayer.

After our Directors meeting this morning, Rob held one of my hands and laid his other hand on my shoulder and prayed for healing. Jacqs called me from Perth after Richie called Dan to tell them what was going on. She prayed for continued strength in my faith no matter what I face. Tonight Cheonneth stepped out of his Re:Framed meeting to call and check in on Richie, and pray with me over the phone. Then while I was writing this, Richie came round to my side of the bed and knelt down, and prayed. I definitely feel that I surrounded with prayer warriors.

Then there was a beautiful email from Auntie Shirley and a Facebook message from Aleks filled with hope based scripture and promises of prayer. Then there was the simple statement from Delmai – Keep your eyes on the Lord.

Wow. I’m totally in awe and totally blessed.

9 May 2012

All dressed up nowhere to go. Also refuses to turn when I say “Look at me! I want to remember your smile!” – taken in the reception of Day Surgery at the SAN

Finally the day is here. My first operation in 31 years of being alive. Last night and this morning I’ve been inundated with calls and SMS’ of promises of prayers and well wishes. This morning I really just want to go to Bunnings and get my Anti-mould hangings for the cupboard because my stupid return voucher ends in a few days. Stupid Bunnings. I feel positive and confident until Richie opens his mouth, plus this morning when I got an SMS from Zan. I think I got teary because she has been through it all a few years ago. Painting the Soul Sisters painting with her and the other girls had much more significance than what she will ever realise. Her testimony touched me in a very raw way. Especially when she was explaining why she started painting… She said “You know when I had my operation to have my Lymph nodes taken out…” HELLO! So close to home. VP was the only other person in the room who knew why I was crying while we listened so intently to her.

Right now, I feel strong when I’m alone – one with my thoughts and one with My God. I’m comfortable. I’m at peace. I’m at rest. As Lumpy said to Nathan on the day he had his operation, “I’ll either wake up and see you, or I’ll wake up and see Jesus.”

I almost want to ban Richie from pre-Op. Last night he told me that he was going to go sit in the Chapel while I was in surgery. Do you blame me? I’m going to tell him to go and see a movie and trust that God has this in the bag.

Now I’ve got to go shave my legs, my underarms and wash my hair. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to that again.

Just got a SMS from Dan saying “Google task of the morning look up Heidelberg Catechism focussing on Qu 27 & 28. Dooooo it” He is so funny.

High Five for God! Rocking and rolling :) – Taken in post-Op

10 May 2012
Went to bed filled with thankfulness and woke up overflowing with thankfulness to God. I totally felt amazing yesterday when I came out into Post-Op. That is because God was totally carrying me right through the whole thing.

Downsides of the whole thing:
Can’t wear a bra
These drugs make me so woosey that I can’t think straight – at all.

Recuperating in the sun – love winter sun at Ferndale

Stupid drugs.

17 May 2012 – Morning:
I feel like its Christmas. I’m getting a present today and I don’t know what it is. I’m a little excited and a little anxious… more excited though. You know how you get sometimes when you get a present, and you don’t like it or it doesn’t fit and you hope that there is a return/exchange voucher in that box so you can take the present back?!?

Anyway, I have a funny feeling the results are going to come out inconclusive.

Through the journey so far I have had three pictures in my mind:
1. The underarm of Jesus – this is the picture I had ready to “take me to my happy place” when they gave me the anesthetic last week. The sneaky buggers gave it to me without any warning. I think it was because I was so relaxed and happy. The underarm of Jesus is where you find warmth, protection, strength, security, rest.

2. I heard God clearly say to me in Dr Duffy’s surgery: “You’re in My boat.” When Dr Duffy mentioned the words specialist and lymphoma my immediate thought was God I need you in my boat – I need you. When I heard His words it was like he came down face to face, between Dr Duffy and myself and pointed to me lovingly and reassured me that He has got this. “You’re in My boat.”

3. In the shadow of His wings. Since those incredible images, I’ve felt it has been quiet on the “Bec & God” front. I read this week a quote that went something like “It’s extremely quiet when you are tucked under the wings of the Father.” This is exactly how I feel. It’s deathly quiet. But I’m protected, I’m secure and God is battling this “whatever” for me.

17 May 2012 – Night:
I’m a walking miracle. It’s nothing but a miracle when your Oncologist says to you “Well it’s good news. I’m really stoked actually, because I was 90% convinced that you had Lymphoma.” Out of the mouth of an Associate Professor who is top of his field. “If I was a betting man…”

What an amazing day. I laid in bed with the electric blanket on and secretly planned not to get up – it was too warm and cozy.

But I gritted my teeth and went to work for a couple of hours and then got picked up by Gret and Cade and taken to Sam’s to hang out for a few hours together with Lysh and Auntie Betty.

There were tears and laughing and an enormous amount of relief when we (just Richie and I) sat just outside the doctor’s surgery and started to make the calls. First Mum and Dad who were at home at #2, then Vanessa who was at work, then Rod and Derna and then we sent text messages to everyone else to let them know.

“NO LYMPHOMA Praise God, completely benign. But something is up with my immune system. My Oncologist said “I’m pretty stoked really! I was 90% convinced you were going to have some kind of Lymphoma.” He said that he only got the final results this morning. Total miracle. Thank you for your prayers and support, Bec & Richie.”

All glory to God – He hasn’t finished with me yet.

Girlfriend photo post-Oncologist appointment

A Christmas Road-trip

Remind me not to rely on my iPhone for all my photos. Do you have this problem? Maybe I just need to get hooked up with the iPhone 5… Festival of February a.k.a. my birthday month, is right around the corner John Pye Real Estate ;)

We began our little road-trip in Sydney with our new friend Maria, who is engaged to one of the other pastors at our new church. She caught a lift up to Port Macquarie where she was gong to stay with friends for the week.  We were able to use the stop-over as a catch-up with our friends the Rajcanys & Sheltons. Playing, laughing and telling stories with their kids Coop, Makita (Richie’s name for Mackenzie) and Sully is always filled with giggling! I’ve got a super cute video I’ll have to post at some stage.

Then the next day being Christmas Eve, we continued on up through Grafton and headed slightly north-west to Casino to follow the Lions Road to the Queensland border. I had never heard of it, but it was beautiful. Definitely worth exploring if you ever catch yourself in that area. The scenery changed from New Zealand-like farm yards to tropical rainforests and steep mountainous terrain.

That night we finally made it to the Aldridge’s in time for a quick swim with Fang and Aunty Nerilye’s Christmas Eve roast.

This week, I want to try to share all our World Changers Youth Congress photos. So there may be a stack of posts. By sharing this, it means it will get done :)

Accountability people, it’s all about accountability.

First Day at the Office for 2013

Yesterday was our first day at Wahroonga Adventist Church in an official capacity. We mainly hung out with the Teens, but we did get to meet a ton of new people after the main service and catch-up with some old friends.

I like not knowing what the future holds and I trust God has got 2013 in His hand. I truly am looking forward to an unbelivable 2013.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Boxing Day Shenanigans

Today I was fortunate to be driven to the Boxing Day Sales at DFO a.k.a. a husbands worst nightmare.

Originally we were heading there to buy a pair of sunnies for me which really would have only taken 20mins but there were some winning sales… so our spree took a little longer. A couple of hours later we took our purchasers to the car and shot through. Our loot included 3 pairs of sunnies for under $100 for me, a pair of sunnies for Richie, 50% off Sheridan quilt cover and fitted sheets, Wittner ballet flats, a Berlei bra, Mimco beanie-hat thing for Chicago… and I think that’s the lot. We didn’t really get each other Chritmas presents so this was it without the trimungs and at 50% off!

Afterwards we decided to keep the ball rolling so we headed to Westfield Chermside, on the north side of Brisbane. After we parked the car, I made a bet with Richie that we would end up bumping into 5 people he knew. “Nah Bec, we’re not at Mt Gravatt.” We saw 2 people we knew.

Again the sales were awesome and I was able to pick up a few half-price running shirts and a 2XU running visor.

It was a winner of a day!

Richie snuck off to Timezone for a while to play pinball while I finished with the last few shops. It was great to beat him at Daytona USA when he thought he would totally smash me :)

Once the shops started closing up we headed up to the camp ground where the World Changers Youth Congress is to be held. This will be our home for the next few weeks.

So far there are about 80 staff there and come New Years Day, there will be about 1600 youth from around the South Pacific Division who will be staying onsite.

Can you pray for us as a staff that the set-up will go smoothly, and we will all stay safe. Also we ask that you pray for for the delegates who are coming, that the Holy Spirit begin to work on their hearts and minds, so that their relationship with Jesus will be deepened.

Wednesday Words to Live by – “I’m thankful for…”

So last weekend, we completed the gruelling 101.5km Oxfam Trailwalker from Brooklyn to George’s Heights in Sydney.

We did reach our goal of finishing somewhere between 24-28hrs – it was 27hrs 09mins to be precise. Below is one of my favourite hills on the trail –  it’s the first one at Brooklyn and it gets you in the right head space for the rest of the track.

“Put your head down and just march till you get to the end.”

Side note: see the bunch of girls in team 074 in front of me? Yeah we beat them to the finish and I beat them up the top of the hill.

Small wins people, small wins.

When the sun started to set on Friday, we had just left Checkpoint 3 at Bobbin Head and were headed to  St Ives Showground. I wished the boys a “Happy Sabbath” and started to think about all the things I was thankful to God for.

There was a list. My husband featured heavily at the top, and my legs. Serious. I was grateful to God that I wasn’t in a wheel-chair that I could exercise, and play sport, and do this thing called Oxfam Trailwalker… for the second time.

And I didn’t have cancer.

I’m grateful that I didn’t have to negotiate with my Oncologist to allow me to enter this race or battle with training and the ups and downs of chemo or radiotherapy. Yep, you read right. Cancer. I was thankful to God that I was 100% healthy and able to do this race.

Back in May it could have been a completely different story. After returning from StormCo, I found a lump on my breast and a lump on my neck. I sat across the table from my Oncologist and told him that I really needed to be well by August 24 to enter this race… and I really couldn’t have much time off training… so if we were going to operate, we needed to get onto it so I could heal and get back into the bush. It was suspected Lymphoma, even though he really didn’t want to admit it to me. My Oncologist, an Associate Professor in his field, said if he was a betting man, he would have put money on it. He was 90% convinced I had some type of Lymphoma prior to my operation in the first week of May. Not that he told me this before the operation!!!

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, IT WASN’T – PRAISE GOD!

When we were much closer to St Ives Showie, I piked up and asked the Lads:

“Oi, what are you thankful to God for?”

Dale was first and bless him, he took about 10 minutes to rattle off all the things he was thankful for. It was a long list of family, health reasons and blessings. Then Mark rains on his parade and says “What Dale said.”

Then I just came straight out with it: “I don’t have cancer.”

Mick yelled out behind me “Amen!”

I think Mark piped up “Hallelujah.”

And Dale chimed in with an “Oh yeah.”

So to my boys from “Dorcas & Lads”, it’s been a pleasure.

We raised a truck load of money for Oxfam. We are grateful to those who supported us behind the scenes at the checkpoints and cheered us on – my husband and parents were outstanding. Hearing “Babe, you’re smashing it. You look really strong” makes you just go and go and go.

I’m also very grateful for the friends who met us at the finish line at 10:09am on Sabbath morning. We were planning on going to church… but the lack of sleep got the better of us. AND a massive thanks goes to my sister VP and my brother-in-law Marcus who were at the finish line waiting for us too. What legends!

Look at that lazy eye, I look like I’ve been punched in the face. Don’t worry peeps, it’s just a Oxfam Trailwalker hang-over.

What are you thankful to God for?

P.S. I’m also thankful for this little guy: August Emil Salke. What a cutie. His Aunty Bec loves him very much.

Oxfam Trailwalker Silliness – its happening again!

Yep. We’re doing it again.

Some people are calling us crazy and they’re probably right.

It’s all systems go in the Reid household. My alarm is set for 4:30am with enough time to hit the snooze button a few times.

This year it’s not 100km in 48hrs, but 101.5km’s – and we are trying to smash 24-28hrs.

I reckon we’ll do it.

Follow us on Facebook by searching for “Dorcas & Lads Fan Club” or on the Oxfam Trailwalker website by searching for Team 122 or “Dorcas & Lads” for live updates.

Oxfam Trailwalker Training – 145 days to go

It’s on like Donkey Kong. Oxfam Trailwalker 2012, we are going to own you.

We got our stride on this morning as we hit the trail “officially” for the first time this year. The Sydney Oxfam Trailwalker is about 145 days away and between now and then, we need to raise $5000 and train like the kids out of the Hunger Games.

Today was an easy 8 or so kilometres – Cowan (Checkpoint 1) to Berowra Heights (end of Berkley Close).

Our training buddies included Peter Aitken, Jono Behrens, Marcus Pereira and fellow “Dorcas & Lads” team-mate Mark Aitken.

Breakfast on the left. Backpack snacks on the right.

Buddies from way back.

How’s the serenity? Berowra Waters.

Trail shenanigans.

Ok, smile. Ready?

Break time. Fun times at Berowra Waters for Mark & Marcus.

Stunning sandstone formations.

My reward of Smoked Salmon sandwiches at Cafe Laurella.

Interested in sponsoring us? Go to http://www.trailwalker.oxfam.org.au/sydney Everything helps, even if you want to throw $25 down we would appreciate it!

Go to the website and look for “Dorcas & Lads” in the “Find a Team” search.

This week, it was my birthday…

I turned 31 on Wednesday.

It was a great day even though my husband was away on a school camp and I didn’t get to spend it with him, as originally planned.

Instead I had a great day out with my Mum.

This is what I got up to…

I was able to get a kiss and hug from my sister – HELLO morning eyes!

Went to Ikea with Mum… and found a rug with her name on it. Literally.

Went to Costco with the membership Richie got me and shopped up a storm. Purchased items included, but were not limited to, 2Kg’s of pitted kalamatta olives… ALL for me!

Went out to Dural to some of the nurseries and found some yummy figs. These were $10 a box – God’s own fruit!

I was in heaven…

Bit of cake and a cuppa tea to recoup.

Off to Hargreaves to pick up some supplies with Vanessa.

Then back to her place for birthday dinner of pizza and salad.

Happy birthday to me :)

Sunday Afternoon Adventures – Karalundi

We have soooo many photos of our trip to the Western Desert. If you are sick of seeing mine, then just go take a trip and see it yourself.

What do you think we are all looking for in this picture….?

Snakes.

Plus we were working out the best plan of attack to climb this hill.

This is out new mate Kev mucking about.

I have another photo of him planking right in that spot.

Kev is Darren’s cousin – so he is practically our own blood.

More beautiful dirt road and sky photos!

And more beautiful bitumen road and sky photos!

“Yeah, I dunno if we’ll get down here with our cars…”

“Nup, let’s go home.”

Grandma’s Little Bakery – Fedra Olive Grove, Collector, NSW

On the way down to Jindabyne last Saturday, I stopped at this little cafe/bakery for a loo-stop. The food being served looked incredible, so I promised myself I would swing past on the way home to have a feed.

Today, I ended up spending a few hours here waiting for Marcus and Vanessa to join me. I ate tasty treats, drank great coffee and enjoyed the first decent dose of summer sun this season. Apart from the fancy food, I loved that their menu was on an iPad – it is the first time I’ve ever ordered from an iPad! The scenery was on par to the surrounds of our Chateau in Avignon and another great thing is that it is puppy-friendly.

If you are driving past, drop in and spoil yourself – see details here.

New Year’s Day – Main Range Track, Charlotte Pass to Mt Kosciusko (and back!)

Today we smashed 22 alpine kilometres walking this beautiful track and climbing Australia’s highest mountain – even though our mountain ain’t that big, It was a great way to start the new year! How blessed are we to live in such a stunning country?

How did you spend the first day of 2012?

A Little Roadie

It was last minute on Friday that I decided to pack the car to meet up with Vanessa and Marcus to walk Kozzie on New Years Day. Richie was happy as it was going to give him some quiet time to prepare some of his sermons for the upcoming Big Camp.

So the day of New Years Eve I had church in the car, and drove myself to Jindabyne.

I loved this stretch of the road.

Another blog post with stacks of photos to come.

Happy New Year!

Holiday House Sitting

This Christmas Richie and I get to have a little holiday out at our friends home in Kenthurst. While they are travelling in the US of A with 40-odd of our friends from church (lucky buggers!!!), we are babysitting a hen-house full of chooks and these two cheeky dogs. These photos below are some old photos from a few months ago…

Marley is an Australian Border Collie and Cassie is Bernese Mountain Dog

They are worst enemies who can’t live without each other. They remind me of our own two dogs back at the Parentals. Marley, the younger pup, will tease and tease and tease until she gets bored, and Cassie is extremely patient with her. I love these two like they are our own dogs.

These are our chooks. I’ll be honest, I’m not in love with them yet.

But they do have the best Chook-shed in Sydney :)

The above photo was taken this morning after I let them out of their little house. I’m missing one chook from the photo, but otherwise I would have captured the whole crew.

See Boys, look how happy they are all!!! :)

Our road trip from Perth to Karalundi

The road trip we did this last October will be etched in my heart forever.

I still don’t understand why no one had previously urged me to visit W.A.

Can I just say right now… PLEASE GO AND VISIT! It is amazing. The western desert is particularly beautiful.

Above is a map of the road we took from Perth (which is just off the map to the left) to Karalundi.

Love the names of the places out there – this is where we turned left and didn’t stop for 8 hours…

I really should have started taking these photos as soon as I started to see the signs for how far it was to Meeka. It seemed like FOREVER.

I loved the difference in the scenery from Perth to Karalundi.

Take a wide berth when you pass trucks and road-trains, don’t ask why, just trust me on that one.

My smiling driver

Paynes Find is out in the middle of no where, surrounded by nothing but shrubs and red dirt. We stopped to fill up with petrol but they had run out. So we used their bathrooms and what do you know, the water had run out as well – only an hour before we arrived!

Out in the desert, the colours of the scenery change dramatically when the sun drops.

Road train at Mount Magnet Truck Stop and Petrol Station.

A Magnum at Mount Magnet tasted so good – it needed to for $5.50 a pop. How cute is little Malcolm? That kid is a legend.

Perfect example of a stunning sunset in the west.

The rains-a-coming!

This is where we opened Sabbath – don’t know how far it was from Meeka, but I’m pretty sure we were close.

See how much the scenery changes?

This is our little oasis in the desert courtesy of Google. Ain’t it beautiful?

More photos to come of our stay in Karalundi… give me a day or so :)

Trail running – Quarry Road Track

I was able to go trail running with the boys yesterday morning. I’m so glad I went even though I was exhausted from the b’day celebrations the day/night before,  I’m very thankful we didn’t see any snakes, especially since Marcus has been seeing so many when he runs in the mornings.

I particularly loved running through the pine area where the ground is soft and bouncy with the thin brown pine needles. I feel like I could run a marathon on that stuff.

Here’s a few picts:

The historic military ‘Steele’ bridge spanning Tunks Creek. Thank you Wiki

Love the wild Flannel Flowers

This is a great training track, just keep your head down and watch the stray bullets as you come up beside the Rifle Range.

I love Kings Park – Perth, W.A.

We’ve been back from Perth forever and a day, but I have to share with you my love for Kings Park. You might remember these picture from Wednesday Words To Live By which I took in the gardens.

The Queen enjoyed the Perth sights the other week and when I heard that she was visiting Kings Park, my heart fluttered.

If I lived in Perth, I would visit Kings Park on a weekly basis. It is stunning. It’s a beautiful place to run, ride your bike, have a picnic or wander through.

I have to say, our photos don’t do it justice.

If you go to “The West” you must visit Kings Park.

Later Skater!

Right now, Richie is on a flight to Tonga.

A couple of hours ago, he sent me a text saying he arrived safely in Auckland and that he got to watch Monte Carlo on the plane – he said “it was beautiful!!!”. You know that Monte Carlo is a chick flick, don’t you?!?! I love my husband!!

The reason for this trip is not to go soak up the sun on the beautiful white beaches of Tonga, but to preach at the Youth Rally this weekend held in Nukuʻalofa. It’s his first time to Tonga and I know it will be an amazing experience for him.

Yesterday, the below couple of photos were taken so he could show it in one of his sessions.

Some of the legendary kids with Polynesian backgrounds jumped in for a bit of fun – check out the kid on the far right pointing his tongue out! Classic!

Just as I was finalising this post, I recieved another text from Richie. This one reads:

“Onboard flight Auckland to Tonga and I can smell KFC in the cabin.”

Happy Times!

The weekend in pictures…

Coco came to church to be featured in Richie’s Children Story at Castle Hill SDA Church. The girls loved her, the boys hung back and watched Richie’s slide-show. You know they were too cool for school. At one point Richie looked down at her and she was on her back with her paws up lapping up the love with 10 sets of hands scratching her tummy. She was in heaven.

After pot-luck lunch at Castle Hill we shot back to VP/MP’s for a catch up and a cup of tea. I had my first mango of the season and it was awesome.

Love lazy Sabbath afternoons sitting in the shade in the backyard of Oakleigh.

This photo is for Aunty Shirley – I’m sure we’ve got a photo of Ma, Pa, Dad and you standing together somewhere in that front yard. Life in the Cream Fibro!

We shot into the city and hung out with some more friends visiting from the Gold Coast who stayed in a hotel overlooking Hyde Park. Noice.

Dinner at il Putino Trattoria on Crown St.

Hmmm yum Italian.

I loved that our weekend finished with a play and a read with this lovely little man. I can’t believe Emmett is old enough to sit on my knee and read Peter Rabbit with me. Of course, I do the reading  but I’m sure it won’t be long and he will read it to me. Isn’t the cutest?!?