Australia Day

Susie had left over fillet steak (from Georgie's farewell dinner) and a hankering for steak on a wire.

In droving days they would take some steak along, stop somewhere along the way near a fence, find some wire, start a little fire and cook the steak on a wire and eat it with white bread. It's hands down the best way to eat steak. When we first moved to Brisbane we were so desperate for steak on a wire that we drove out of town until we found an open paddock and cooked our steak there and assumed the owner would understand.

So we set up a fire with wire.

Hung festive bunting made yesterday by Jesse.

And had a great Australia Day breakfast.

Richard and Anna (friends - in Australia while he studies) came and brought the highlights of the morning.

Clarissa (who dressed for the occasion and who reminds us so much of LilyRhadika)

and Hyrum.

They are to-die-for cute and the kids spent the hour or so after they left talking about them.

We talked, and rested and ate steak, white bread and lamingtons that the kids and I made this morning.

(Roger was asleep after finishing a night shift - he managed to eat some steak - but couldn't make it out bed.)

FHE

We have a new system for Family Home Evenings - it's been on trial for a while now and seems to be working for the moment.

One person is completely in charge of FHE - everything - from running family meeting beforehand right through to the treat or game or whatever at the end. I like it this way because I only have one person to follow up every week.

This week it was Peet's turn - he was desperate for a turn. We also take one of the most recent General Conference talks as the theme for the whole night - we're all about easy.

Unsurprisingly Peet picked Dieter Uchtdorf's talk from the Priesthood session - of the infamous 'roll up their sleeves' comment.

He started the lesson by asking us each to draw the three things we most enjoy doing with the family.

Great start to a lesson.

Roger: going to the beach, reading the scriptures (he can be a bit of a goody-two-shoes), and going on long drives.

Kim: reading generally, eating dinner together, and working (I can be a bit of a goody-two-shoes too - though not as often as Roger).

Thomas: road trips, bush walks, and going to the beach.

Jesse: (she couldn't keep to three) sleeping in the same room, camping, having a fire at home and talking.

Peet: going to the beach, talking and walking over the Goodwill Bridge.

Louisa: talking in Mum and Dad's bed, driving a long way to set up a fire and camp (she kept herself to three by squeezing them in together) and swimming.

Max: driving in the rain, swimming and climbing mountains.

The lesson progressed from there as Peet talked about work and the joys thereof etc.

But the lesson for the parents was that the next time it rains we should hop in the car and go camping with a fire, and talk as we drive.

Sunday night 10.10 pm

Gorgeous sheet lightening and thunder rumbling. I was reading Beloved Bridegroom (which incidentally is a fantastic book about Christ as the bridegroom and how Jewish wedding customs shed a stronger light on that role) in bed - Roger was dozing.

Thomas - asleep in his shed.

Jesse - asleep in her bed.

Louisa - awake but a bit teary in her bed. (Hormones, high school and heat I think)

Peet and Max - having a water fight -- in their bedroom - 10 past 10 at night!!!

Ridiculous.

Four Thomas Family Stories

Jesse reckons that sad experience has taught her that she can tell about four Thomas family stories before she has to stop or people will start to look alarmed. (The Thomas's are Joan's side of the family.)

At the charming and delicious farewell dinner* for Georgie (she's going to Argentina) held at Susie's house we got the next four stories.

One:

When Joan was very little she had Rheumatic fever and the prescription for a full recovery was rest.

So Grandma Thomas did what she had to do to have a rambunctious two year old rest - when she was number three of four little kids. Her clever solution was to put Joan in a pram and wheel her about the garden.

When Grandma had to attend to some other pressing matter she put Warren in charge - I don't know why - maybe she hadn't figured him out yet - or maybe she thought she had spoken sternly enough to change Warren's usual behaviour - but she was wrong. As soon as her back was turned Warren took Joan in her pram and pushed her to the top of the mullock heap and pushed her back down again for a wild ride.

Joan loved it - but it wasn't what Grandma had in mind.

Two:

At Nambour Primary School Bob said he went to the office every morning to get the cuts - and they always laughed at home because Warren had inevitably just left.

Warren reckons he took pride in at least being first cab off the rank each morning.

Three:

Also at Nambour Primary School - Warren would catch little tiger snakes - sew up their mouths - safety first I guess - and then throw them in amongst the girls to watch them scream.

Four:

Because Grandad Thomas was a kiwi he was mortally scared of snakes. So naturally Bob caught a snake, sewed it's mouth up, and then hollowed out the salt shaker, stuffed the snake inside then put the salt shaker on the table. Then, of course, when Grandad picked it up the snake fell out and slithered all over the table. Jumping, screaming and a certain amount of swearing followed. Mission accomplished - never let your weakness show in the Thomas family.

For the record - I have never sewed a snakes mouth shut and I don't know anyone else who has either - except my uncles!

* We had beef casserole, baked ham, salad greens with balsamic, baby steamed potatoes with masses of butter and herbs, french bread and wonderful homemade cakes for dessert. It was a menu worth remembering.

High Tech

Max and Louisa and I were talking about fingerprints and Max was wondering if it was possible to change fingerprints - maybe with a machine or with plastic surgery.

When I said I didn't think so Max sighed and said 'I guess we'll just have to wait till we get some high technology'.

I suppose when you are only 9 all this stuff I call high tech is just life.

Sydney

Photos arrived today from Alec's Mission President's wife - I think a gracious wife must be essential to the call - along with a lovely letter.

These are the two missionaries who will be training Alec in Orange. (Note the rolled up sleeves!)

Setting Apart

Alec was set apart by President Gilkes to serve as a missionary the night before he left.

Louisa wept.

Max too.

Both loudly enough that I opened my eyes mid-prayer to see if they were going to make it - and saw Peet and Jesse wiping their eyes too. It was a hard night.

We tried to take the edge off the tears by looking at Christmas lights on the way home - and I had lots of fair trade chocolate waiting for dessert - but nothing really worked.

Only some of us could muster a smile for a photo.