Baptism

Our last family baptism happened on Max's 8th birthday - 22 July 2008 - he is always pleased to be '8 in 2008' etc.

Max's day began with waking up to find that Jesse had got out of bed extra early to bake blueberry muffins for his birthday breakfast - before she left for Seminary at 6 am. She then came home because it was athletics carnival at school - not her thing, but Peet had a great time and competed in all sorts of events - and spent her whole day baking for the post baptism feast!

We iced the cake for school and decorated it with lollies - which were a smash at school - though not entirely in keeping with the healthy eating week the teachers are working on.

In a very mature moment on Monday night Max suggested that we wait till the afternoon when everyone would be home for presents. The presents were a hit - but we had a baptism that night so he didn't get much time to play - hence a day off the next day.

Alec and Roger left early to get the font started and to set up tables - which Jesse fixed when she arrived. Sadly I didn't get a photo of the groaning dessert tables - Jesse baked over 160 biscuits and we took dips and fruit as well - then our good friends and family turned up with more food. But there wasn't much left over - which says more about how delicious the food was than how hungry everyone was. For the record Jesse made melting moments, chocolate chip cookies, jam drop and masses of cupcakes.

We attempted a family photo with the usual results.

Max had a heap of friends from Pine - Jessica & Maddi Parry of course, Haydn, Sean and Lauryn, Jasmine and Alexander, Sophia, each with various family members. LilyRhadika made a guest appearance, and of course Patty, Maris, Mathilda and Kate came too. Peet's good friend Tom from Kelvin Grove came too.

Friends from church came too - Lauren and Hayleigh Scofield, Lily Greenan with her precious sisters, Cory and Katelyn Cheyne, as well as their families and Heather Lawton, and Amy Manu. Of course Lee and Joan, Anne and Brenton and David and Beth's family were there too - Petie was in Sydney, Susie was working and we couldn't get hold of Marion to tell her.

The baptism program was lovely and lively - all the Pine Kids sat with Max on the front row - and listened remarkably well to talks from Jesse and Louisa. They even sang the hymns (I Believe in Christ and I am a Child of God) and sat reverently through prayers from Joan and Anne.

The Baptism followed. Max was worried that he wouldn't go all the way under. Nathan and Daniel were witnesses and say that he did.

Apparently the font was not completely warm.

Peet bore his testimony, and Max was confirmed by Roger - Alec, Daniel, David, Brenton and Mark Parry assisted.

Thomas wrote a letter for Max after his baptism which I read, then he was welcomed to the ward by Roger as Bishop. Max was doing his absolute best to pay attention and he'd nod to show his understanding - then turn away and wiggle and giggle with his friends - then turn back and nod solemnly again.

Finally we moved on to supper - I think I lost control of the kids at some point because Roger was vacuuming cake crumbs off the top of the organ!

Max had a lovely night and said that the best part of his birthday was being baptised - it must be true because he keeps telling us.

Thomas News

Ouch! My heart bleeds for Dad! The operation sounds like VERY painful business. Hope he's getting some actual rest instead of doing working around the house (which is what "rest" has meant in the past).

Well, something of a landmark for the transfer happened yesterday- we finally knocked over a whole suburb. Elder Berryhill and I had been tracting pretty much every night this transfer in only one suburb of Daugavpils. Now between us and the sisters (who have been tracting in our area behind our backs, mongrels) the area is now pretty much invalid at least for a year. And we've gotten some pretty good investigators out of it.

The family I told you about, and Nina, who now has a baptismal date. A little bit about them now, by the way. Nina has now finished the Book of Mormon. It's very impressive, because she only got the Book a little over a week before. She's an old lady and stays at home a lot, so I think she had plenty of time. The problem is getting her to pray. She's really lacking desire.

The Family are still wonderful. The parents have baptismal dates for the 17th of August and the children are now calling us the "uncles". It was very cute. We took two of their children to sacrament on Sunday, for non member's they were dressed very well. Maxim (9) was dressed a little punky, but still clean. Karina (10), looked like I may as well have been taking Simone to church. It was hard not to think that I was.

At church that day, Aleksandra also came. It was so good to see her again. We still need to hold off before we speak to her. That Devil of a daughter I think is still ready to kill her if she sees us again.

This week we had one Elder get very sick. To all future missionaries- Do everything you can to stay in good health. In this mission, every district is essentially made up of two companionships of Elders (who each handle one side of the city) and one Companionship of sisters (who take care of all the women), so if one missionary gets sick both companionships have their effectiveness cut in half at least for a day, one missionary will look after the sick Elder, while the other two go out and try to fit two days of work into one day. It's no fun at all.

My companion just gave me some VERY disturbing news. Missionaries are now no longer going to be sent to Russia. They are closing the whole country down. It will be a two year process, where all the missionaries trying to go there will finish their missions there. But aside from that, it's game over there, at least for now.

Louisa, tell me about the kids who were teasing you, I can't beat them up yet, but I can make a list. Well, that's all from me this week. I love you all, and hope you are well.

And my birthday letter:

Dear Mum,
I think now is a good time to wish you a Happy Birthday for yesterday. I want to thank you for having written to me every week. It amazing, but not all missionaries get that. I knew one missionary who didn't get a single letter or email for his first three weeks in the field. I wanted to send him one of yours to him, and tell him to insert his family members names where appropriate. There of course have been hard times as I've tried to serve here. But it is always comforting and encouraging when I read your letters. You know how you don't know what you got 'til it's gone? I guess it's a similar idea.
Love you,Tom.

Farm Fantastic

Louisa, Max, Joan and I went to Farm Fantastic on Saturday to check out the mini goats and see what else was around. Turns out there was way too much around. Joan and I went in being smug and saying that it was lucky we brought the kids because Roger and Lee couldn't be trusted to keep their wallets int heir pockets with all the goodies on offer - and left saying that it might have been better if we sent the boys!

Max was wishing that we had spent a little more - he found a 70 cc pit bike and since we had just been watching a dirt bike riding display he was pretty keen. He was begging Joan and I to combine our money and buy one. I told him it was $700 and not the sort of thing I would buy without some consultation. Joan asked how much it would be if went halves. After thinking for a while Max answered that 'one of you would have to pay $400 and one of you would have to pay $300.' I said that I didn't want to pay more than Joan so that wouldn't work - without missing a beat he said ' look for one that's $800.'

Louisa and Max also admired the 4wd amphibious car.

And swooned over the 2 week old miniature belted galloway.

It was a big day - we went to Petie's house that night to celebrate all the July birthdays - there's a heap of them.

Pterygium

Roger had a pterygium - on his eye. It's pronounced 'tridgion' and it's a growth that would eventually cover the eye and has to be cut out. The procedure is to cut out the growth, then cut a bit of the back of the eye and graft it to the front - oh dear - and it's day surgery. In fact he was awake the whole time. He had a local anesthetic and a drug that is in the same family as the date rape drugs. Powerful stuff - he doesn't remember a thing but the Doctor said he was an excellent patient and very compliant.

The whole thing is apparently horribly painful - but Roger has done incredibly well. He was only on pain killers for he first day and half and it is healing beautifully. Alec gave him a blessing on the morning of the operation which was especially nice and he has certainly been blessed with a quick recovery. We are conscious of the Doctors advice to not take it lightly and are trying to be careful.

Lucky I took a groggy photo on the first night because other than the odd but of pain he's been really well.

School Holiday Also Rans

Compared to Stradbroke. the rest of the holiday was relaxing and quiet - Max spent most of his time playing Jedi's with Ammon.

Jeanne and Mark took the little boys (and Peet) to Lone Pine Sanctuary.

On the same day the girls had a 'Disney day'. Jesse and Louisa spent the day before baking and made jam drops, popcorn balls, melting moments, cupcakes, blueberry ice drinks, meringues and scones. They set up the lounge and invited Amber (Jesse's school friend) and Monica and Simone - and had a lovely day watching Disney animation.

After a combined Fulcher FHE playing Pictionary we went to KMart and discovered that both Pictionary and Pictionary Jnr were on sale so we bought them both and spent many happy hours playing.

Straddie - day 4 - gelati party

After the pack-up, clean-up routine we trooped up to Point Lookout for a final look at the whales - who performed especially well. A play on the swings was followed by gelati.

Our family had a 'gelati party' - named thusly because at the last Pine big kids camp they pooled their money and bought lots of trial size cups of gelati to share. The remains of our gelati party are below:

After a bit of tree climbing and playing - and after talking to Peet and Nathan's brass teacher from school who was there on holidays too - we left for Dunwich where we had lunch in the park before taking the barge home.

Everyone over twelve was exhausted - sadly those under twelve seemed to be just fine.

Straddie - day 3 - 5.2 km

We split up - some went to do some more whale watching and our family and David and Beth's family went to Brown Lake,

and then did the 5.2 km (return) walk to Blue Lake.

Both were so cold that only Peet went swimming at Brown Lake.

But at Blue Lake Peet, Nathan, David, Roger and Louisa all decided that the walk warranted swimming even if it was like ice.

We walked home along the four wheel drive track,

and had pies at Dunwich for lunch. Then home for more sandcastle building and some fishing before the State of Origin that night. Queensland won the match and the series - many cheers.

Straddie bedtime

The house Anne rented is huge and fabulous - but there were 21 of us. The kids all slept on air mattresses in the lounge room - one big cousin sleepover. Alec and Daniel abandoned the happy group for the garage.

Straddie bedtime

The house Anne rented is huge and fabulous - but there were 21 of us. The kids all slept on air mattresses in the lounge room - one big cousin sleepover. Alec and Daniel abandoned the happy group for the garage.

Straddie - day 2 - whale watching

Tuesday morning was french toast for breakfast then straight off to do the gorge walk and watch for whales. We were in luck and saw quite a few - too far out for a decent photo - but close enough to be fun for us.

Then on to the gorge walk and more whale watching, dolphin spotting

rock climbing,

and turtle spotting.

Max found a hole in the rock - about ten feet up - and climbed up through it - don't know how he managed.

Finishing the walk tired out Samuel briefly - but he was on his feet again pretty quickly and Jesse, Samuel, Max, Peet and I walked all the way home.

Straddie - Day 2 - Sandcastles

Tuesday afternoon was spent on the beach - swimming in the middle of winter no less.

And most notably having a sand castle building competition. Nature was the judge - each castle had to have a shell as a flag on its highest point and the last shell to be knocked over won. A line was drawn in the sand and all building had to stop when the first wave reached the line - the idea was that the sand castles would be more or less in line - and they were - more or less.

The first shell to go was..... drum roll .... Nathan

Then David and Robert.

Then Jesse and Monica - who were so happy to have beaten Nathan that they might as well have come first.

Simone and Louisa.

Closely followed by Roger.

Then a long wait till Alec and Max fell.

A longer wait till Brenton's washed away.

Down to the final two. Daniels went first.

Making Peet the winner - though video evidence later that night cast doubt on the result as Peet was seen making some running repairs.

Some of the spectators got a bit a cold:

A few extra smaller sandcastles were also constructed - below the water line.

A bonus photo of Louisa because I love it.