Happy Birthday Mum

I want to wish my Mum a very Happy Birthday today. What a blessing she has been in the lives of our family. She has also been there for us, unselfishly giving of her time to cart us here there and everywhere when we were growing up, always there for us to chat too and direct us in our very formative teenage years. She was a wonderful example to us of God’s love and always encouraged us in our walk with God. She was my best friend growing up and is still someone I can sit and chat to about anything. I love her to bits, and I thank God daily that he allowed her to be my MUM – I couldn’t have asked for a better one.

Mum was fortunate this year to have us all on the coast to celebrate her birthday. We all went to Sizzlers for lunch. Not only was it great to celebrate Mum’s birthday with her, it was good for the cousins to all catch up and spend some time together also. Thought I would share some family shots. I have very few photos of my sisters and I together, and even fewer with us with our parents so it was nice to take a few shots today. Also managed to get a few shots of the three generations, with my girls and I with mum also.
We have spent also a week on the Sunshine Coast now and haven’t even got to the beach once, It has rained everyday we have been here and the beach has been closed for most of the time, due to the strong winds, and rough surf. We have spent a good deal of time out and about as my sister and her family are also staying here in a Caravan. Steve has set up the X-Box in the shed down the back (it is massive) and most nights entertains the kids down there with games and movies.

Sarah and Colin have also been holidaying down on the coast here with Colin’s family and we spent New Years Eve with them all and had a wonderful time. It is also a blessing that our families get along so well. Our son Pete shares a house with Colin’s brother, so both families getting together is a bit like a family reunion.

I am also feeling very thankful to the Lord for his protection over us as we travelled to the Sunshine Coast, as we had a back tyre blow on our trip here. The tyre blew and it sounded like a bomb going off. Steve had asked our mechanic in Rocky to rotate the tyres before we left, but he told us that he had not rotated that tyre as he didn’t feel that it should go on the front. There still appeared to be plenty of tread on it, so we were a little surprised that he left it. I am sure the car travelling along the motorway next to us would have got a heck of a fright as it certainly gave us one, It was so loud, and then the noise of the rim on the bitumen was loud also. I took quite a few photos of the blown tyre and of Steve and Chloe changing it ( Chloe was having a practical lesson in changing a car tyre) but unfortunately my memory card corrupted and I lost everyphoto I had on my card. I was pretty disappointed as I had also taken some great photos of Pete's place to show friends at home whose son also lives with Pete, and for once the house was really clean (not sure when we will see it that clean again) so unfortunately I cannot share these photos. (edited: - found a couple of photos that Chloe took but these don't really show the damage - still good to have a couple of photos for my reference)

This weekend we celebrate our 28^th wedding Anniversary, and we are off to take Chloe to Hervey Bay so that she can go on a camp with a group of her friends from Rocky. We have decided to find a motel or resort there to spend the night, and make a weekend of it to celebrate. Another blessing in my life – how blessed have I been to have the most wonderful husband who I love more today than I did on the day I married him. He has been a wonderful loving, encouraging and supportive husband, who has not only been there for me, but been a wonderful and very hands on dad to our children, and all of us love him to bits.

Want to also wish everyone a very Happy New Year also, may your year be full of love, joy and peace.

There are so many things I am thankful for each and every day, and these are just a few of the things that I am really thankful for today.

1. My wonderful parents, especially my Mum who celebrated her birthday today.

2.My sisters and their families and that we were all able to share this day together with my mum.

3. Also have the afternoon with my wonderful husband and wonderful girls.

4. Having a girls night out tonight with my girls, sister and her girls.

5. The sound and smell of the rain as it beats down on the roof of the house as I type this. That it is falling on the earth and refreshing it. (Don't often get to hear it at home so am really enjoying it even though I am on holidays)