Isn't he gorgeous?

Kaiden is growing so quickly!

I looked after him for a couple of hours yesterday - he slept most of the time but he was awake long enough to play with Grandma's camera!

He is nine weeks old and is growing steadily - Sam is doing a wonderful job as a mum and Kaiden is thriving with all the love and attention he gets from his extended family.

Happy Birthday Michelle!

Where have the years gone? Our 'baby' celebrates her 35th Birthday today!

It doesn't seem all that long ago to me that we were celebrating her birth, her first day at school, and all the other milestone that happen over the years.

Happy Birthday, Shell - we love you and are so proud of all you have acheived. Bless you heaps!

Love Mum & Dad
(Michelle and her family: l to r at back Michelle,Isaac and Malachi
front: Anna, Sam and Kaiden)

More Getting Away From It All

Friday we packed the motorhome again and headed off 30 kms away to a little place on the Murrumbidgge River called Darlington Point. We were joined by some friends for a 'chill out' weekend.

I went for a few walks alongside the river - seriously lacking in water! The others went bike riding but I haven't figured out how to take photos while riding a bike (just an excuse really- lol) so I stuck to the walking.

Saturday evening we set off for a little walk over the bridge to the pub for a drink before heading to a new resturant that has the most wonderful Italian food - Riverdestra. After eating WAY too much we walked home and continued our evening under the stars.

We plan on taking lots more such weekends this year.

R & R at Lake Wyangan

Rest and relaxation was the order of the day (week) after we returned from Canberra.

We called in at home to restock the van and headed out to Lake Wyangan and had the van set up and tea organised by dark. It was a wonderful relaxing time.

We had a visit from the rest of the family on New Year's Day - they enjoyed the sailing the kids spent most of their time in the water either sailing, swimming or canoeing.

A good start to the new year.

Canberra

On Boxing Day, we packed up our motorhome and travelled over to Canberra to visit our family there.

We were blessed to spend time with our 3 grandsons. We took them on a cruise around Lake Burley Griffin. As first they were very apprehensive but soon were in their element. We had lunch on banks at the sailing club overlooking the lake.

What is it about new babies?

There seems to be something about new babies that bring out the best in us.

Is it a desire to nurture new life or maybe the maternal instinct is stirred? There is a freshness, a beginning, I guess like the New Year ahead, the promise of things to come.

This photo was taken on Christmas day - Kaiden's first Christmas with us - it was so nice to have our first great grandchild celebrate with us. I think he looked a little stunned with all the proceedings of 'present giving time'

He continues to do well - has put on weight and at eight weeks old is starting to interact with us all.

Such a nice age!!

Persevere

My word for 2009!!!! I have been doing a little reading and this word has been cropping up quite a lot!
I read this in the Word For Today last Friday.

It's said that Walt Disney's request for a loan was rejected by 301 banks before he finally got a "yes". But because he refused to quit, he built the world's most famous theme park.
So, this year remember two things: (1) Perseverance is needed to win the prize. At a sales convention the manager said to 2000 of his firm's sales force, "Did the Wright brothers ever quit?" "No!" they responded. "Did Charles Lindburg ever quit?" "No!" they shouted. "Did Lance Armstrong ever quit?" "No!" they bellowed. "Did Thorndike McKester ever quit?" There was a long, confused silence. Then a salesperson shouted, "Who in the world is Thorndike McKester? Nobody's ever heard of him." The sales manager snapped back, "Of course you haven't - that's because he quit!" Quitters never win, and winners never quit.
(2) Perseverance turns adversity into advancement. Paul writes, "Everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News" (Philp 1:12 NLT). Paul didn't give up - he rose up! How did he do it? He found the benefit to him personally that comes from every trial. One Christian author writes: "Today we're obsessed with speed, but God is more interested in strength and stability. We want the quick fix, the shortcut, the on-the-spot solution. We want a sermon, a seminar or an experience that will instantly resolve all problems, remove all temptation and release us from all growing pains. But real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving." Growth is gradual. The Bible says, "And we...are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord" (2 Cor 3:18 NIV).

Last year was a real time of testing but I realised the importance of moving on, of persevering even when all around is not looking good. So , 2009, for me is going to be consolidating that moving onwards, looking ahead and not to what has passed! Yay 2009!