Sophie No More

We are sad to announce that our pet rabbit was buried on 24 October after being put down at the vet's. During the previous night, she fell off her cage to the floor below and somehow broke her back. Her hind legs were paralyzed as a result and her body was starting to shut down when we found her in the morning. Sophie was from the breed called Norwegian Grey.

 Early snaps

More recent snaps

Woodcraft Variety

It seems right to share how Peter’s last school woodcraft elective went. He will try to give a balanced account from his perspective. It was a day when he wished he could have multiplied himself by five. That was about how many children needed help at any one time.

“The previous week, I asked each child to suggest what they would like to make. There were four who wanted to make a horse.  There was one who hoped to make a volcano (!).  Three children asked for planes, two for a castle, two for a model of Titanic, one for a helicopter, truck, raft, army tank and a catapult. As you might imagine it was a bit of a stretch to provide all pieces for all projects. I had to trust in the ‘craft sense’ of many of the children on the day.

Even though they all needed help to start, we somehow got going, and over the banging of the hammers were calls for my attention. I got to each as quickly as I could. As the hour progressed, I was glad to see the horses coming together (Jacquie, Claire, Mia and Tricia). The volcano was beautifully done (Paige). The aeroplanes were ‘muscled’ into shape (Tyler, Amber, Blake, Tayla). Two army tanks were made (Nicholas and Lachlan M). Three Titanics came together (Harry x 2, Lachlan M). A slowly truck grew into shape (Chace had patiently waited till I could get to him). The raft corner did have some trouble (Brendan, Brayden and Jack). They were invited to take wood home to further their project. The castle makers will have a chance to continue their project in the woodcraft clubs that happen each week (Thomas, Cooper). Liam took the initiative and made a delightful multileveled structure with what he found. Lachlan G did the something similar with what he had and made a model of a piece of fantasy machinery. A special ‘well done’ to Liam and Lachlan.

There was a time in the thick of it, when I asked myself why I couldn’t have taken an origami elective instead. :) “

Piper 2011

Jasper 2011

Jethro 2011

Rabbit Food

It is nice to announce that we have done a bit more bike riding after not doing it for quite a time. On our way back, Barb takes the opportunity to forage for dandelion plants by the side of the track. She has found that Sophie loves eating them. Yep, the rabbit is still alive and kicking. She may be a little overweight, probably from eating too many 'dainties' like choice dandelions.  

Melbourne Pan

During the school holidays, Peter had an opportunity to lunch with others at a restaurant on Mt. Dandenong overlooking the city. In the distance they could see the city skyscrapers and Port Philip Bay. Peter's little camera was hardly fit for the job at such a distance through the blue haze of the day. People living on the mountain must wake up to an amazing view each morning and experience some incredible sunsets.

Taking our loss gracefully

This year Collingwood lost in the finals. It is always hard to see the team you support go down. The game could have gone either way up to three-quarter time, then Geelong showed that they had greater mental and physical toughness. You have to take the good with the bad and it was Geelong's year. Well done to them. Another season of football is over and we can get on with the rest of life.

Jonathan's Journey

Peter saw this children’s book on display as a chaplaincy resource book at the annual ACCESS chaplaincy conference that has recently convened. The basic narrative goes like this: The frog king has given two rules at the pond. One was to obey him and the other was not to go up the mountain. Jonathan, one young frog, displays great courage, and against advice, goes up the mountain. He discovers the bones of other ‘froggies’ who have gone before him, all killed and eaten by the evil snake “Sinesticus”. The young frog is caged by the snake for its breakfast the following day.

Down at the pond, the concerned frog king sends his son up the mountain to rescue Jonathan. This frog prince arrives just in time and offers himself in place of Jonathan. Jonathan’s last vision as he departs to descend the mountain is the prince’s legs sticking out of the snake’s mouth.

Upon returning, Jonathan tells all to the king and everybody else. He is greatly vexed for three days until the prince miraculously appears. The frog prince explains that the snake could not keep him down (for digestion) because he was too ‘good’ (or something along those lines). From then on, Jonathan becomes a devoted follower of the prince. 

Peter feels that this story contains questionable theology. He understands what the story is trying to convey: the sacrificial death of Jesus who took the world’s sin upon himself on the cross. But this book, for young children ages 6 -8, reveals conflicting concepts and raises worrying questions. For example, one question a child will ask is why didn’t the prince go up the mountain to save the earlier froggies? Another question asks why must curiosity and courage to climb a mountain relate to being evil and being engulfed by sin? 

We are living in a culture where ‘blind obedience’ is a thing of the past. In fact, to think outside the square, we must ‘climb our mountain’, to take some risks in life.  Jonathan was doing just that.

Perhaps the last word should be given to another author:

“Perhaps finding the right protection is the first responsibility of anyone hoping to make a difference in this world. Caring deeply makes us vulnerable. You cannot move things forward without exposure and involvement, without risk and process and criticism. Those who wish to change things may face disappointment, loss, or even ridicule. If you are ahead of your time, people laugh as often as they applaud, and being there first is usually lonely. But our protection cannot come between us and our purpose. Right protection is something within us rather than something between us and the world, more about finding a place of refuge and strength than finding a hiding place.” 
[Rachel Naomi Remen MD. My Grandfather’s Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging. (Sydney: Hodder, 2000), page 136]

Bec to Bali

We saw Bec off at our home. Gord and the kids would drive back to Gembrook after seeing her off at the airport. We wish her God's blessings in her travels. May she bless and be blessed in return. May her return be a great blessing.

Family Time

It is a pretty rare event that our own three kids come together in the same time and space, and when they do we have to remember to take a picture even if they protest. Just one was taken. The occasion marks the night before Bec flies to Bali  for a writers conference and a reflection time.

We had a really nice meal with the Funks... chicken, salad and buns. It was just what we all needed, light and tasty.

Piper and Jaz worked on a cubby for Jet who would go in and out of it and give approving comments. They pretended that they were royal servant builders and Jet was their little prince (the boss's son).

Earlier, they made sailing ship models and spent a good amount of time adding colour to the sails and then the ship itself. This activity turned out to work very well with them. Even Jet got a ship of his own.

We will finish this post with a really cute picture of Jet sleeping in our bed before we moved him to join his siblings. This weekend has given us wonderful memories and nice pictures to share.