Brisbane Brene babes

My dear friend Evelynne, her mum Barbara and I have been doing an online course presented by Brene Brown entitled "The gifts of imperfection" ( check it out ).

It's been so fun and I really wanted to catch up with these gals and chat about the course and also see Ev who moved to Brisbane a few years ago. 

It was sooo fun. 15 hours of catch up in gorgeous Brisbane ( thanks Jetstar for the handy direct flight from Hobart ) 

Thanks Dave ( Ev's husband)  for taking a wrong turn along the river so we ended up passing the Brisbane LDS Temple and deciding to get out and walk around. 

Thanks Brisbane's balmy autumn evening which held off from the thunder storm so we could wander from Southbank through the city , across the Story Bridge and back along the river to the Temple where we had parked the car. 

Thanks Tony for watching our boys so I could escape for the night ( and then while I slept most of Saturday because this 41 year ole body doesn't cope with only 3 hours sleep :) 

Thanks dear friends for the fabulous time. I LOVE Brisbane ! 

Teaching Seminary

This is what I've been doing lately :) 

I have been called to teach early morning seminary to the youth in our ward (congregation of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ). 

Seminary is a scripture study class that youth ages 14-18 attend.  We have it from 7am -7:50 am each weekday / school morning up until Hobart Show day in October.  I spose that's not too bad really. It's just juggling life around and preparing for  this 50 minute lesson that's the interesting part. But I KNOW I have the Lords help. I have felt it. I have had ideas , promptings and help that I KNOW have been sent from above as a result of my prayers of pleading and questioning and guidance seeking. 

Seminary is such a fab program. Such a protection for our youth in this crazy world. 

I feel very blessed to have this responsibility at this time. If you ever get the chance to be a seminary teacher - go for it !! All callings in the Church are voluntary and unpaid , but you are certainly blessed ! :) 

We have the class in our lounge  room each morning because Tony travels heaps for work and so I need to be here for our 2 younger boys. They think it's fab too because they get 50c to spend at the canteen everyday they are good and they can go on screens ( iPad / iPod ) while I teach (our morning rule has always been "no screens at all ") so they think it's a great deal. 

Our 2 older sons attend the class. They can't be late or misbehave hehe. They are very good and let me know all the ways I can " improve !" 

Most days I tell the students " pray and have faith that our Heavenly Father and our Saviour Jesus Christ will hear you and bless you and forgive you and help no matter how bad you think things might be !"

This has surely happened in my life. 

I stand all amazed - but so very grateful :)

 

Tribute to Fluffy Stonia

The genius of Gilbert. 

Sails in the bedroom and a cave in the bunk. 

Love it !

MUCH better than screens all arvo ! :) 

Regatta day cruise down the Derwent

Not room enough to receive

In our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ,we are encouraged to pay a tithe. 10% of our increase. A promise is given that if we pay an honest tithe The Lord will " open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it " ( Malachi 3:10) 

Tony and I pay a full tithe. We can testify that the windows of heaven have been opened to us and miracles have been wrought in our lives. It's awesome ! 

In our garden we have a " windows of heaven /not room enough to receive it" peach tree. Every year since we moved here it has produced more fruit than we can receive , eat or pickle. 

Gilbert kindly picked as many as he could this summer but the ground under the tree is still covered with fruit. If you want any peaches next year please come and pick them :) 

I made peach chutney. Yum. 

I'm feeling very grateful :) 

Motor bike star

L'il ole Josh is a motor bike superstar. 

Here he is all decked out in his new gear which was bought because I had a fit when he burned  his leg on the exhaust recently. I had to listen to the doctor and nurse lecture me about the dangers of motor bike riding. Do you think I can convince the boys to sell the bikes and move onto kite flying or some thing less life threatening ? :) 

Anyway I'm proud of my little guy( and the big guys ) that hoon around the farm all day long. 

This is Tony and Ammon constructing fence number one ( of about 500 ) for the farm. Ask Fletch and Gil how much they love working on the fences :) 

We've had fun camping and setting things up on our land out here -back'o'Bourke  ( ie. Campania :) 

Ps. No animals on our farm yet yet just a tractor and a bulldozer and lots of plans :) 

All my bros lane

Note angelic light resting upon me!! Hehe. I tell ya I needed it today ! #nearlytheendoftheschoolholidays and motherhoodislikebeingpeckedtodeathbyaduck!!!!! 

Enjoying this lovely summers evening. 

A bike ride to Bellerive for ice cream. 

Last week we walked there and back for a fish and chip dinner but we thought bikes would be quicker and funner :) 

I ran along behind taking photos. I need a bike :)