Friday was a heavenly day - we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day for our picnic with our friends. When Robyn and I were visiting teaching Rosalea earlier this week, Rosalea asked us if we would like to meet at the beach for lunch on Friday. We all agreed it was a great idea, but because we figured that tons of people would be there since it was a holiday, we thought we should get there early - so, we decided to go for breakfast AND lunch. In the parks here, there are electric barbecues provided by the council. So, we all brought different items and then put them all together. For breakfast, we had eggs, bacon, onions, mushrooms and tomatoes on buns - I also had a hot cross bun - yummy! :-) We were going to go for a walk after breakfast, but we were worried about losing our place (we met at the barbecue which was under a shelter with picnic tables), so we just sat around and chatted 'til it was time for lunch. For lunch we all brought our own meat to barbecue and then each couple brought a salad to share. The weather was amazing - the sun was shining, it was so warm and there was a lovely breeze blowing there by the water. What could be better? Good friends, good food, and good weather!
After lunch, Dad and I went for a swim - well, it was more like a sit in the shallow water. :-) By the time we got to go swimming, the tide was going out - but, it was nice to just be in the water and enjoy the warm sun and cool breeze. Our friends came down to the beach after a while and Rob began using his metal detector. He has found lots of jewellry and coins and other metal things at the beach over the past couple of weeks since he bought it. Today, he didn't have much luck - he did find a 20c coin, but the rest of the things he found were things like bottlecaps, sinkers, nails and wire. When we got home, there was still a couple of hours of sunlight and so we went out onto the patio and sat in our chaise lounges to enjoy more of this beautiful day. We both were reading when I felt weary and so I turned over and rested my eyes. I never fell asleep, but it was lovely just relaxing outside listening to the music on the CD player. What a fantastic day! :-)
Yesterday was another fabulous day - nay, I would say a perfect day! :-) Dad and I packed up a lunch, put it in our esky (cooler) and headed off for the beach. After a quick dip, we ate lunch and then went back in the water again. We only went in waist deep, so we didn't have to wait for half an hour after eating to go in the water. :-) The water was quite cool, actually - we thought that since it was around noon, the water would have warmed up, but not so. It was still really nice just paddling around in the water. After our second dip, we went back up under the trees where we had put our chairs and camp stools (we use to put our feet up on) and sat and read for a while. While we were reading we noticed a bunch of sailboats on the water - it appeared that they were having a race - we don't get the local paper out here in Wondunna so we don't know what's going on locally. It was such a pretty picture with all those sailboats on the water and the sun shining down on the water - I wish that I had had my camera there to take some photos. After reading for another while, we had another dip and then read some more. Around 3pm, clouds rolled in and it looked like it was going to be a while before the sun peeked out again, so we decided to come home and spend time outside on our chaise lounges. We spent about two hours outside doing some more reading and a little napping. It was such a lovely, nay, perfect day! :-)
Today was another lovely day. We started it off by talking with our girls and boys. It's always nice to chat with our family - I couldn't believe how big Dominic is getting - he is going to be motoring around by the time we get back - I am so glad that we can Skype with everyone - it's almost like we are there. The talks today at church were focused on Easter, of course. Elder Paki, our friend, Robyn, and another member, Alistair, spoke about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Although we think about Jesus often, it's good to be reminded of just how much he suffered for us so that we can live again when we leave this world. I taught the Sharing Time lesson in Primary today and it, too, was based on the resurrection of Jesus. I first talked about how Jesus atoned for us so that when we repent, our sins are washed away and we are clean again. I did an object lesson: I showed them my clean hand and told them that this was like a person free from sin; then, I rubbed my hand in dirt and told them that this was like a person who has sinned; then, I washed my hands with soap and water and told them that this was like repenting and being forgiven and clean again. I told them, though, that it was only through the atonement of Christ that they could repent and be forgiven. The children were really focused during this object lesson. I really like these kinds of lessons because these are the ones that tend to stay with them.
After church, Dad and I went to the hospital to have a short visit with Judy, the woman in our ward who had a stroke a couple of weeks ago - she was transferred up to the Hervey Bay hospital this week which we are appreciative of as it was too far to go to see her in the Brisbane hospital where she was. It was really hard seeing Judy in the state she is. Before her stroke, she was a very active woman - she did everything for herself and her husband. When we saw her today, she could hardly move or talk. I could tell that she was frustrated, for sure. She didn't have the tv going and she had no energy to do anything else. She must be so bored. The nurse told us that it was going to be a very long recovery for Judy - I am sure inside she is screaming at feeling so 'useless'. As I was leaving the hospital, I felt very weepy. After lunch, Dad and I decided to go for a walk along the boardwalk by the beach. When we parked the car, Dad said that the car beside us belonged to friends from church. As we walked toward the boardwalk, we saw our friends, Sandy and Lloyd, so we sat with them and chatted for quite a while. They are a lovely couple - Lloyd is not a member of the church, but the missionaries tell us that he is a 'dry Mormon'. After our visit, we went for a walk along the boardwalk - it was such a lovely day today - being outside in the warmth was fabulous! :-)
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