Mum's 70th birthday

Sent to Coventry

"Sent to Coventry" was a new term for me until I was describing Samuel's new move to Mum. This lead on to a quick trip to Google and a little history lesson on Oliver Cromwell's era. This is a round about way of introducing Samuel's new abode on the edge of town. It is a ramshackle farmhouse that is owned by the Anglican Church and was once used as an orphanage. I am a little concerned that it will be fairly impossible to heat and am knitting him a nice warm jumper. Ultimately though he is young and healthy and he can always come home, here, to warm up in the evening before heading to his own home and bed armed with a hot water bottle. Actually, he said that he spends very little time at home as he is kept rather busy with his new role as Youth Pastor Intern at ACC, two days a week at the Optus shop and his lesser role at Young Life Drop in Centre. The first shot shows the rustic kitchen, then the new residence (bookshelf) for Samuel's old friend, Woofa and lastly, his office - pre cleanup.

Yo Ho Ho Me 'Arties.

Last night was Samuel's pirate night at ACC. In a half hour makeover Jacob brushed up fairly well as Pirate Jake. Ellie actually had a good time using my dark brown eye shadow creating a 'three o'clock shadow on her brother.
One comment on the night that pleased Jacob was that while some others had 'dressed' as pirates, Jacob was one!

A Picnic at the Park

One of the advantages of Home schooling is to make the most of a beautiful day. To pack lunch and go for a bike ride. Last Monday, Grace and I grabbed our bikes (Grace was on a geared bike!!) and headed up to McDonald Park. We enjoyed our lunch, a bit of reading and a little play before heading back home and hitting the books.

Australia Day

How about this for an Australia Day Long weekend. The Parises who never seem to go away for long weekends actually got to Nambucca Heads for two nights. Terry had a great time christening his brand new surfboard. I wasn't quick enough with the camera to catch the nanosecond he was up for! Grace had a really great time with some fishing gear - caught her first ever fish. Yes I know we should have put it back in but it had swallowed the hook and we put back the two smaller ones! The last shot is of Ellie being a typical teenager. One minute complaining that I don't put many pictures of her on the blog and the next, not wanting to turn around for the camera - well here she is. Grace and I contemplate Ellie's lack of rationality at times and Grace says that she is just not going to go through this phase. Well we shall see!

Our boy, Samuel

There has been a comment lately that Samuel hasn't been featured enough - well here he is. The first is him calling in after a full on week at Planet Shakers to be quickly followed by a week at Jindabyne as a cabin leader for the Young Life Summer camp. He called around for a little chat and ended up on the floor asleep. I'm not sure of the occasion with the balloons but the blue hair was after they had painted the Drop-in-Centre and things got a little out of control. I'm also not sure of the story behind the Coke can blowing up photo but there are a few things a bit unexplainable about our dear and fun loving boy.

Student accommodation at Mt Gravatt

Here are some internal shots of the house at Mt Gravatt (upper Mt Gravatt actually!) We had one week of removing old furniture, sugar soaping all the walls, painting the bedroom walls, and installing new furniture. It was a huge effort and we couldn't have done it without the help of Rory, Jacob, Talitha and even Grace. The end result was a house nearly ready for students to move in and help us pay the mortgage and make inroads on a more comfortable retirement. As of a week ago, three of the five bedrooms have been taken. Yeah!!