This was how it was for at least six years after the old balcony "collapsed" due to rot setting in through neglect. Peter and Steve, the property manager, schemed up a new design and Peter drew it up (over an existing photo) to get an idea how it might look. The plan was not an ordinary rectangle of decking like last time but a trapezium with the wider end opening out to the view. And as well as decking there would be a tin roof inder it to keep the front door area dry for once. The design was approved and the details nutted out.

Some weeks prior Peter came and prepared the wall and the concrete and steel footings for the three posts. Without this prep the project could not commence. Steve purchased all the necessary materials in readiness.

Because of the trapezium shaped deck and the sloping roof under int there were compound angles that Peter and Steve had to be very careful about. They made the odd 'blue' but by and large the structure came together like a well cut Chinese puzzel.

By the time the roofing was up there was growing encouragement that the worst was over. The posts had reasonable flashing at the roof to divert the rain and the wall had fairly effective looking apron flashing glued into the bricks.

At this stage the project has only reached the decking joists stage. The decking is still to come. In the four days they had together that was all Peter and Steve could do for the project. Peter will return sometime soon and add the decking and handrailing. That is still a fair bit to go but he feels that he is on the home stretch. Praise God. Plenty of God's grace in this project already.

Milestone

Well Bec our daughter reached the bit three-o and Barb got flowers and a cake to bring with us when we went there the day before. So we had a bit of cake then, and on the real day, and the cake lasted a further couple of days at least because Bec had mastered the art of cutting very thin pieces. It was a very good idea too because it was a very rich and solid chocolate mud cake.

There was not one big party, and instead there seemed to be a lot of little ones with different groups in Bec's community gathering separately to celebrate in creative ways. Happy Birthday Bec.

Farewell Nan

Barb's Mum left on her next leg of her trip south, this time to Madonna and John in Tazzie. Barb and Peter shared a last coffee with her before the boarded the plane. We had enjoyed a wonderful week with her.

As often these days, we record the "look" of our coffees for future record and comparison. We all thought the coffees were good considering it was at the airport.

The day before, we linked up with Kelli, David and their father Hal at St. Kilda beach. Kelli had organised kite-boarding for she and her dad. This was a late Christmas gift coming to fruition. Kelli always thinks big.

The wind was good and there was plenty of kite-boarding happening and two kite-boarding classed being conducted on the beach. Kite-boarding means being pulled along by a large kite with your feet firmly strapped to a surfboard. Those skilled at it can tack back and forth across the wind direction without losing ground and even leap into the air over five metres just for the fun of it. Very spectacular.

Garden Visit

Four of us went to a nursery place called Rivers for a coffee and look around. There was even a great range of water plants available for purchase. The day was perfect.

Our friend Denise came with us. Nan found something worth getting. We strolled about enjoying the sun, the breeze and bees doing their thing in all the flowers.

Armchair Love

Peter and Nan stayed up in Gembrook one night this week. Nan stayed at the Funks and Peter stayed close to the work at the Retreat. On both evenings Peter joined the Funks for famly food and fun. Nan caught peter with her three great-grandkids about him. Actually it took a bit to arrange considering that Piper had a particular agenda and Jethro had to be sat on his lap at the last moment. These kids are such a tonic. All three are a blessing and delight.

Nan's Visit

Barb's Mum has come from Brisbane for a visit with us and one of the first things we did was to have a coffee at a nice place. On the following day we did the same and this time with our Dan. He was glad to join us and we made a breakfast/lunch out if it. We look forward to a week of fun and sharing with Nan.

How the Sea got its Salt

Our niece Michelle took this powerful picture the last time she came to Australia... of a bit of our south coast. She is coming for another visit soon and that is very exciting for all of us 'Down Under'. The snap captures the essence of the words below.
.

There are fish in the yammin there is life
The yammin is one great Yam the godess
Yam contended with Baal and Mot
She was a force to be reckoned with
Within her flowed life and death in abundance
She watched as Baal and Mot struggled for supremacy
Over air and land over her waves
And endeavoured to submerge them both

Her substance flowed out of the bowels of 'Erets

As 'Erets cracked and moved his crust

Yam expanded in opportunity and power

Searching for a new crevasse to fill

Baal was a minor god of war and destruction

Mot existed to enclose the dead

Both in Yam and on the surface of 'Erets

But could do nothing to subdue the force of Yam

When she decided to display it

And Mot was there to take the crumbs

'Erets expands and feeds Yam

His minerals dissolve as Yam struck him

'Erets slowly broke up and lost to Yam

And Yam gathered up and found his salt

Without this harvest Yam would diminish

If Yam over-gathers she would surely wane

She would smother the life within her

She carries within her an infinite life

All sharing Yam's plunder of 'Erets

Baal does not understand and Mot does not care

But Yahweh gives her knowing

And has created in Yam this gift

As the blood of 'Erets came gushing up

Gushing up as the God's Great Flood

With salt disolved

To recycle life enclosed in time

Coffee Communion

First, let us share some words of the Apostle Paul writing (in 53 or 54 CE) the earliest reference to the Christian Eucharist (I Corinthians 11:23-26) for some background.
.
"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and said, 'This is my body which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way after supper he took the cup saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
.
Our coffee time are our communion times - blessed, sacred times - where we sit in the moment, share ideas and dreams, reflect together and nurture our marriage. Before we drink, we give thanks for the moment - a prayer of blessing. We drink remembering Christ who has led the way to live under God's new covenant. By seeing our coffee breaks this way, we drink and enter into Christ's death until he comes for us, beit in our own death or something so amazing it is beyond explanation.

Funky Growth

Peter had the opportuinity to visit the Funks this week. It was pretty much unanounced but he fitted in to what was happening really well. And of course he got out his trusty camera.

The title of this blog is about growth. Bec and Gord's three little ones are growing in leaps and bounds. Jethro has shown that he knows how to do "steps" and it is just the balancing part that lets him down. But he sure knows what he is supposed to do with his feet.

A nice tea was had outside on the decking table. The day was perfect and there was hardly a fly in sight. The next series of pictures show off Jasper and Piper's tree climbing skills. Somehow Piper has found out about the character "Tarzan" and has developed a new roleplaying game using the tree as a prop. How on earth did she find out about Tarzan?

Seeing Jaye off

We sadly saw Jaye off for her return trip to WA. It had been wonderful getting to know her more. Asher is staying on a few more days and then he leaves too. They are such great value.

It is very few airports that allow such a good photo shot of someone we are seeing off. But at Avalon Airport near Geelong you can do that from the windows of the transit lounge. People call it one big shed, but it is better than that. It is very out of the way but obviously suits those living in the Geelong area, so JetStar will not be short of passangers.

Visiting Geelong

After seeing Jaye off, we drove on to Geelong and strolled along the foreshore. There was a steady sea breeze which made what would be a very hot day very pleasant. Peter was impressed with the clever way jetty pylons were used to make colourful people characters to augment the place.

So we strolled about and talked of church, state, and any other issue that came into our heads. It was a good walk/ talk with our godson Asher.

And of course there was the obligatory coffee at one of the joints along the shore.

After all that we dined at an Indian restaurant near the centre of Geelong. They accepted Asher wearing a singlet. Asher played a critical part in diciphering the menue for a great meal.

At Dan's Restaurant

The Funks visited to spend time with Asher and Jaye and us. This along with coinciding with our anniversary was enough reason to dine out and we went to Dan's new restaurant. It was a place called Shuga. The reviews were either 5 or 1! and nothing in between so we weren't sure what to expect.

The location at the place was perfect for our needs. We were able to expand into a lounge area without affecting the lives of the other patrons, so the kids had space to roam and we relaxed in air-conditioned comfort. The remaining pics are just snippets of the evening.

Dan on Wheels

Dan has resumed work at a new restaurant which is a good distance from his home. So he has resumed biking just to get there in reasonable time.

Our Thirty-Second

The Early Years

The Heady Years

The Expanding Years

The Transitional Years

The Recent Years

Let us always make each day an adventure with God

Coffee at Maling Room

These are snaps of the stained glass windows of the old post office that the place once was. And Maling is the right spelling because of the name of the street outside. So it is a play on words. It is in a nice location with bookshops, antique shops and plenty of other coffee joints near by. Peter, Aster and Jaye went there and found that the recommendation was a good one.

Breakfast at Greensy

Today we were able to bring Daniel into our lives for breakfast at Greensborough Shopping Plaza. It was brunch really - lunch for some and an early breakfast for Dan. He enjoyed catching up with Aster and Jaye and they him. We all had a good chin wag.

Dan is between jobs but may have a new one by the end of the week. Otherwise, we will grab him for another time together on Friday, all being well.

Jaye has made Dan seem taller than he really is, or is Dan really taller than we think he is. It is embarrassing for Peter to give his son a hug these days because he is so dewarfed by Dan!

Rainforest Memory

As we passed through Savers as we often do when we are in Greensborough, we saw a framed Heinz Steinmann print. We know Heinz and were delighted to see it. It is titled Cape York Rainforest, created in Babinda North Queensland 1983 with mixed media. Quickly we snapped it up before anybody else noticed it. Now it has pride of place on one of our living room walls.

Heinz, a Swiss artist, and his Japanese artist wife and their very creative young daughter, all visited Peter's mum early December last (blogged). It turned out to be a very enjoyable morning tea and Peter was blessed to be there on that occasion.

Long Awaited Wedding

At last the 2nd January arrived. Bec's close friend from primary school married Chris, a young minister, in a much anticipated wedding. Bec was the maton of honour and Piper carried the rings to the front at the appropriate time.

Anna's parents were married in the same church in the 1970's and to add to this link with the past, Anna wore the wedding dress that Chris's mother wore for her wedding. Nice connections.

Anna was a little late due to unforeseen misadventures during the morning. But she got there and that was the main thing. Bec was next through the door after Anna. Sorry about the blurred look. The camera can't cope well with action photos in church.

Afterward everybody was encouraged to stand outside for a large group pose. The photographer had to work hard and be very patient as ever so slowly we all came together for the 'snap'.

Jasper scored with a bouquet during this waiting for the snap time. It was his mum's and he could help take care of it.

This is one of a small series of Bec and Gord snaps as we waited outside. They both scrub up very well. These were memorable outfits to suit the memorable moment of Chris and Anna's wedding.

Jethro was a very good baby the whole time. He stayed with Pippa during the service. He almost became upset on those times when the singing got very loud, and just before it was all too much the song ended. He was senational, taking everything else in his stride.

Piper also had a turn with her mum's bouquet. The flowers were a unique combination of plant matter that Peter had never seen. Some of the stuff looked like underwater coral.

Peter gets into the picture from the edge and it just catches Jasper before he 'dives' for cover again. Sometimes catching kids on camera is like trying to take snaps of a rare animal species.

The renovated church complex that Anna's dad had managed over a long time with lots of volunteer help proved to be a very good venue for the reception. There was plenty of food for the three hundren who attended. It was a huge church family team effort. Well done. And this last picture is Barb with Hannah, a school friend of Anna and Bec. We saw a number of people we knew. A very special wedding for many people.