Celebrating Christmas

Celebrating Christmas is a special time of our year, as we remember the greatest gift of all gifts.....Jesus our Saviour! We had our Grace Bible Church's Christmas service on Christmas Eve, then went to Samford for my parents Christmas service on Christmas morning. Samford was the first church that welcomed us to Brisbane , although we have never been close enough to go there, we have always enjoy staying in touch!

When you have had Christmas without extended family in years past, due to immigrating. You cannot but truly treasure the 'being together' when it happens....what a blessing to be with Granny and Grandad this Christmas! The rest of the family is always sorely missed. The longing to see them never ever goes away! My Oupa will be 90 next April, and it is nearly 16 years since I have seen my Oupa and Ouma. I miss my sister, Ruthie too. And Doug's Mom and sister, Hazel. ( At least his sister Pauline comes to visit with her famly every few years, but we still miss them too) I have not seen my aunties, uncles and cousins in nearly 16 years and I have never seen any of the cousin's children. How blessed we are to have our dear and precious children though and today(boxing day) we spent with dear friends...God is indeed good! So here a "few" of our Christmas photographs!


Morning tea


Yummy!


Mr Choc


Miss Choc


Cuddles with Groot Sussie ( Big sister)


Cuddles with Granny


New additions to Jessica's mug collection, from Granny and Grandad!


My Mr Clever Puzzle Man







Mr Shy ( or is he our Mr Clown?)
One,


Two,


Three - got him!


Mr Sporty






Sisterly love


Miss Patient: Waiting for presents!


Time for Christmas cracker/bonbon jokes


Miss Creative: Eating her gingerbread man creation, with LOTS of lollies/sweeties


Emma's newly adopted second hand Velveteen Rabbit (Who could leave the abandoned Velveteen Rabit in a second hand shop, with nobody to love him!He now has to sleep with Emma in case the story really can come true! I should make up a modern story of our Velveteen Rabbit.)


My Mr Clever Puzzle Man the second: serious concentration!


Or is it Mr Sporty the 2nd? ( or Mr Serious...he did laugh and enjoy is day, we just didn't manage to catch a smile on camera:( )


What a joke....Jarryn had just been pretending to take a huge bite out of our Christmas cake, recipe from Simply Da Best, delicious! At two he can really enjoy a joke like this!



Mommy Joy


Our Table (before we ate!)




Christmas Pudding, recipe from Simply Da Best. Also meringues and ice cream, with home made concoctions.



Later we took our visitors to the park for a night time play, just missing the rain.




A very tired 'glow-in-the-dark' Christmas angel!

Blessings to you this Christmas

Matthew 2:11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh


As wise men may we spend the day worshipping God in all we do and may we have a blessed New Year giving God of the best gifts we can give!

Aspergers, a brilliant write up!

Here is a brillliant article describing Aspergers Syndrome! Do keep this link to read after your busy Christmas!

http://www.homeschool.co.uk/resource/aspergers-syndrome-understanding-and-educating.html

Please Pray

Our dear Christain friends in New Zealand have just been told there is nothing more that can be done for his cancer. Please can you uplift them in your prayers at this time. They were very close to my Mom and Dad who have just left New Zealand to live near to us, so they will be feeling this loss of friendship too. Thank you!

Dear Dorothy

I can't get to comment on my or any one elses blogs/posts tonight for some strange reason? And I am too techncally challanged and tired to figure out why? So I will just coment on a comment here! The origional post was on Aspergers adn Neurotypcal. see
http://tarryhome.blogspot.com/2009/11/aspergers-and-neurotypical.html
This is the comment

dorothy said...

Well written! As mom to kids all over the neurological spectrum I love to see other moms appreciating the differences in people. Life sure isn't easy in our homes - but is it supposed to be?
20 December, 2009 00:14

And my response...is

Hi Dorothy....too true, sometmes God takes us places we never thought we would manage and yet we do manage in His strength and land up being closer to Him through it, by His grace....."consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds!" Coping well has a lot to do with the attitude you start off with, I think. (I so like your attitude and enjoy following your blog! Praying God will be close to you in the next few very busy weeks/months) See these other blog postings along a similar thinking!


http://tarryhome.blogspot.com/2009/10/when-gods-answer-is-no.html

http://tarryhome.blogspot.com/2009/10/lack-of-bitterness-when-suffering-comes.html
http://tarryhome.blogspot.com/2009/10/suffering.html

Tarry Home this Christmas

I dashed out to the shops tonight with my beloved and Jessica. Actually I spent most of the time sitting down waiting for them as I am not too mobile yet. I sat and watched all the frantic passers-by. Scurrying here and there and everywhere...looking for this and looking for that....And I couldn't wait to get home again! I sure do love to tarry home! What a blessing to be home with my children. And to have time to pause and enjoy Christ at this time of the year! All those shoppers seemed so frantic in their haste to be ready for the big day, a day that for most of them is void of eternal meaning - so it all boils down to having a big and happy party.

I hope you get a chance to tarry home and enjoy the real reason for the season this Christmas!

'Gogo' Joy is having knee surgery

In the last week I have been asked twice if I am a 'Gogo' (Xhosa for Granny. Of course no one here asked me in Xhosa) In reality I guess I am not far off from the age my Mom was when I had Jessica, my oldest and I guess culturally people here are not used to a lady having a baby of two with a 19 year old on the other end of the age spectrum - so the conclusion is - Jarryn must be your grandson. I am sure the greying hair doesn't help....I have hung out on principal (resisting dying my hair) as I am not ashamed of aging. In other cultures people with grey hair are respected more, it is seen as a passing into the age of wisdom! :) SO I guess I should not be so shocked that I have been asked twice in the last week if I am a 'Gogo'

Anyhow I did feel decrepit going to the knee specialist today- key hole surgery to be done on Monday, for ongoing issues that I have had for years. Monday....not because it is that urgent but it happens to be convenient for the surgeon and for me too. No one wants to be sore for Christmas so he had space to do me straight away, and besides it suits me in that I have my parents staying with me right now now to help, plus it is the beginning of the long school holidays - so I will have recovered by the time school starts again. There goes all the fun I was planning for the holidays :( But in reality I am relieved I will get it over and done with as soon as possible!

Please pray I will have peace and that I will be able to get everything organised before Monday. All Christmas things will need to be finished off ( nearly done!) Cars need to go in for servicing and a big grocery shop done etc Pray also that the children will have peace, and remain settled. When I was ill with the miscarriage a few months ago the children were quite unsettled....I am hoping that Granny's stability will help. Also Doug will have time off between Christmas and New Year, so the timing could not be more perfect!

Below is a glance at our toiletries bought last week...giggle ....for a small shopping expedition, although we were very low on toiletries! Once my knee is done I will be able to push trolleys again without any pain or jamming- yippee! At present I always have to take a strapping young lad with to help with the trolley....which I rather enjoy in any case!