Adding Dan

We had a doubly special time at Gembrook last visit because we convinced Dan to come with us. This was the first time he has ever been there. He threw aside all concerns about just how unusual it was going to be and how out of wack his body clock was going to become. He came.

We travelled there in the late afternoon. The Warburton Valley route was beautifully lit. We had to stop for a few snaps.

Jethro looks older each time we see him. Barb was in her element.

What props we use for play! Our mattresses we brought along created a 'secret place' which was immediately utilised by Piper and Jasper for mystery and adventure.

Piper and Jasper both had a 'Poppa leg' to sit on as they poured over loads of photos recording their life in Canada, while Poppa and big Uncle Dan looked on.

During our visit, Bec was able to finish her baby rug. This is a gift for a friend with a new infant. The rug is around Jethro just the once to remember it by. Nice rug. Cute kid.

Eighty Year Mum

Happy Birthday to a fine lady of the Lord. May we pay tribute with a poem we found that seems to reflect what we like to say. (source: Crystal Bowman, Meditations for Moms, p 56)

"What do you want for your birthday?" My children asked one day.
I did't have to stop and think, I answered right away.

"I'd like a house that's nice and clean, and children that love each other.
I'd like the laundry to wash itself without the help of a mother.

"I'd like the meals to be easy to make and always tast delicious.
And after our elegant dinner is through, a little help with the dishes.

"I'd like to soak in a bubble bath and never answer the phone.
I'd like to listen to Mozart and have an evening alone.

"But if it isn't possible to give me all of this,
Just tell me that you love me, and give me a birthday kiss."

Love you Mum. XX 40 and 40 again.

Guiding Jethro

Imagine if Jethro were twins. We would have to get used to two personalities. Jethro changes his expression as quickly as he breathes, but just two snaps will do this time. How precious children are and how fascinating is their development. How reliant they are of our love and care. For Jethro it is especially Bec at the moment. All mothers hanging in there with their babies should be given an OBE or even knighthood. Mothers experience the cutting edge of God's creation first hand and influence a future genreation at its foundation. They are leaders of the highest order.

Moon Adventure

The local toy library supplied the props for a special game on a recent visit to the Funks. We shared a rocket adventure to the moon. Little Jethro had his own hover buggy and thereford did not need to travel with the rest of us.

We joined up with Piper and Jasper as they travelled to the moon in their library moon rocket. They brought with them lots of unusual Austalian animals to keep them company.

It was a fairly quick trip and after a very smooth landing they had to watch out for a moon monster outside. There were growling noises outside the rocket, and they saw a large dark object near the enterance waiting to pounce on them. They had to be very careful of being eaten.

Jasper escaped through a separate escape hatch, and before long another but smaller moon monster was sighted throught one of the rocket port holes. There had to be great care not to lose any of the Australian animals to the dangers outside the rocket with all the to-ing and fro-ing. Somehow, kitchen headquarters managed to convince the travellers to eat their lunch and then to have a nap. We need to rest up after that kind of trip.

Jethro Snaps

It just so happened that while we were at Bec and Gord's last time, we got a great series on Jethro. Peter just kept snapping away when Barb held him for a time. Surely some would be OK. Jethro is just starting to smile a lot and he is really cute. He certainly enjoys all the interaction. He likes to watch what is happening about him. Peter is learning all over again what a four month baby is capable of. Having fun with Jethro is a good start but there might be an art to that.

TGS Sympathy

It was nice to see Peter's dad mentioned in this years Townsville Grammar School Grammarian magazine. We also note that one of Pa's likely class members, R.M. Linnett died during the same present period. Some people on this list died young and that is such a great loss for their families. Life is the work. We don't know how long it is going to be before our time is up and it seems that this future is bound up in our faith in that future. That is a mystery. Well done to all these people who have done their little bit.

Meeting the In-Law's

Peter thought this picture deserved to be posted. I records a remarkable moment that happened about sixty years ago in Townsville. His mum, Val, visited the home of Max her husband to be. She had travelled by train from Brisbane and made a stop in Townsville to lunch with her future in-law's. Max was not there, so she met them for the first time without him. That was a courageous act, to be entertained by a large family all focused on 'checking the new girl out'.

Max's sister Shirley picked her up at the station and dinked her on her bicycle about 5 Km to their home in Guliver. During the lunch, Max's brother John ceremoniously sliced the bread and showed his expertise by flinging the slices onto Val's plate from the other side of the table. Those memories especially stuck with Val.

The photo was taken probably by Max's mum (Pete's Nan). What is remarkable is just how young Kelvin and Geoffery look. The older brothers John and Colin looked old enough to have already left home, but must still be doing high-school. Shirley might have had a job at that stage and is wearing a nice dress that she may have made herself. It must have been a weekend day since they were all at home. Pete's grandfather (Da) seems to have been called to join them from hosing. He has that look of only being there for that moment. He seems very old looking to be their father, sporting white hair at that stage in his life.

All the males were wearing white shirts, making it likely that they had all been to church earlier, pointing to a Sunday. It is a very interesting photo made all the more remarkable seeing Val positioned top centre with the look that she had taken the measure of them and embraced them as her own.