Birthdays and Holidays

HAPPY 24^TH BIRTHDAY TO OUR WONDERFUL SON –We celebrated Pete's birthday down at Coolangatta yesterday. Man I cannot believe it is 24 years since he arrived in our family. It seems like only yesterday that you were born and I clearly remember bringing you home from hospital and walking through our front door with you. If you are reading this Pete – just want to let you know how very proud we are of you, and we want you to know just how much you are loved and treasured by us, and how incredibly blessed we feel to be your parents. Hope you are having an awesome day.

Now for a quick catch up – no scrapbooking layouts to share this post as we are enjoying a lovely relaxing time with our good friends Ian and Kathy, at Coolangatta on the Gold Coast after having spent 5 glorious days in beautiful Port Macquarie. We had a hectic start to the holidays, leaving Rocky straight from school to drive to Brisbane so that we could attend a wedding on the first Saturday of the holidays.. Last Wednesday night,, whilst in Port Macquarie I got to meet Casey (Scripture by Design) and her gorgeous family. In fact Casey and Michael shared their hospitality with us by having us around for dinner. What beautiful people. I had been looking forward to this visit for quite a while as Casey and I both have quite a few things in common. We both share common passions, our Christian faith, and a love of scrapbooking and than lastly, we share mutual friends. W had friends who lived in Port Macquaire last year and they were also good friends of the Baldwins. It was nice to sit around Michael and Casey’s dinner table and their log fire (which we really appreciated, as it reminded us of home) and share about our Christian walks, exchange ideas about our scrapbooking groups, discuss a wide range of topics and hear all about Casey and Michael’s business venture, Scripture by Design and see all their products. Casey and Michael make beautiful Handmade Christian Embellishments and Kits for Scrapbooking and Card making.

Casey and I also got to share with each other our scrapbooking albums, and man Casey does beautiful work – layouts in real life are just so much nicer than seeing them online. She has such an eye for colour and technique – just loved looking through her album. Her children are delightful – I know that we will keep in touch and I know that somewhere down the track we will meet again. Sure hoping that Casey manages to get to the SofF retreat.

Speaking of weather – I cannot believe how very cold this winter is this year. I know that people pay us out about having a fireplace in Queensland – but we have been checking the temperatures each day and at the moment it is colder at home (in Queensland) than it is here in Port Macquarie. I don’t think I can ever remember a winter up there where we have had continual cold weather for nearly a month. This just normally does not happen.

Also want to share some photos from the wedding we went to last weekend in Brisbane. It was a gorgeous wedding, very pretty, and also very personal – Ben (the groom) is the son our very dear friends Ian and Kathy. The happy couple were really radiant and everything about the wedding was gorgeous. We had a lovely time. The highlight of the evening was a fireworks display put on for the bride and groom just before they left the reception. It was a total surprise to them (and everyone else) but really finished the evening off. Quite spectacular actually.

We really enjoyed our time at Port Macquaire. We stayed in a gorgeous apartment at Flynn’s Beach. The first day we were there, was quite wet, which didn’t worry us at all because we got to just relax with a good book, some puzzles, and then later in the morning we went for a drive and did a little grocery shopping. On the Wednesday we went for a drive up to Big Brother Mountain for a picnic lunch and then a leisurely drive home along the coast. The views from the mountain were absolutely spectacular. Thursday we explored the beaches and did a little bush walking. Friday we headed back to the beautiful Gold Coast and are now enjoying staying in another great apartment right in the heart of Coolangatta where everything seems within an easy walk, including the cinemas. Our apartment is on the fourth floor, has beautiful views of the beach and is very comfortable. Bonus is that we also have a spa in our apartment. We have definitely been blessed and are having a much needed relaxing break.

We, along with Ian and Kathy have had a great time catching up with our kids all weekend – gone for lovely walks along the beach and around the area, spas on the rooftops, playing games, and just generally relaxing.

Just have to offer big Congratulations to Greg and Nat Marden on the arrival of their very precious baby daughter last Wednesday(on the way to hospital). Can’t wait to hear more details. Big welcome to “Lani Faith”. I can’t wait to meet your precious daughter Greg and Nat.

Also thinking of Anthea Peterson – who is due to give birth any day now. Am thinking of you too Anthea and praying that all goes well for you. Can’t wait to hear your good news and see a photo of your new bundle of joy as well.

Will share more photos from the holidays when we get home next week.