Most of this week, I spent with Robyn at her house doing cleaning. She is finding herself quite scattered and can't seem to concentrate on anything. So, I suggested that we start with cleaning her kitchen. She has so much stuff she has collected over the years which she really didn't need. So we started with one cupboard, throwing out what she didn't want/need and then I cleaned it out - and then we moved onto the next. It took us three days to clean the bottom cupboards and the pantry. They all look amazing now and Robyn threw out tons of old food and gave away tons of kitchen stuff. I told her that she should have taken a before and after pic of the pantry to show to her children who had seen it when they were all here over Christmas. :-) We didn't take the before pic, but she did take a pic afterwards.
On Wednesday, we had one set of missionaries over for lunch. It's been really nice getting to know the missionaries and being able to feed them while we are at home in HB. After lunch, we spent some time talking about how they teach people the different principles of the gospel. At the end, they asked us to do some role playing - Dad doesn't like to do that, so it was mostly me, but it was good to see that I was comfortable doing that. The next evening, the other set were invited for dinner - they phoned us before they were about to come and asked if both sets could come (the other set of missionaries didn't have any appointments that night and the weather was awful, so they wouldn't have been able to go out tracting). We were happy to have them come, although I worried that there wouldn't be enough food for all of us, but between Robyn and I, we came up with other things we could add to the meal to stretch things out.
Both Dad and Robyn gave talks in church today - it is Australia Day tomorrow (January 26th) and so the theme for the meeting was on that topic. Dad focused his talk on being patriotic and a good citizen and where those principles were found in the scriptures. He spoke about how being a good citizen can be paralleled to living a righteous life. For instance, being a good citizen means giving service to others in your community and that corresponds with living the gospel. Both Robyn and Dad gave a good talk and others agreed with me telling Dad that they really enjoyed his talk.
Sunday, 18 January, 2014
This was a busy week for us - no more slacking and laying around and 'piddling' as I call it. On Monday, we finally got back down to the beach for a lovely walk. Well, it turned out be less than 15 minutes since it started to rain, but it was so nice to back down there again. Since it's been so hot and humid this week, the ocean water felt like bath water, it was so warm. I love walking along the water's edge.
On Tuesday, we had the other set of missionaries over for dinner. We fed them tacos like we did the other missionaries last week. We enjoyed getting to know this set of missionaries as well. Elder Josol has been out for a few months and Elder Simon is a 'greenie' (this is his first area). They came back on Thursday and Saturday - we are studying a church book called 'Preach My Gospel' - it's a book which those going on a mission study before and during their missions. Since Dad and I want to go on a mission one day, we thought that we would get a head start on studying it. We also asked the missionaries if they would come over and show us how they use it when studying on their mission. We had a really good discussion about how to start talking with people about the gospel and did some role playing (they call it 'real playing'). They are going to come back again this coming Wednesday to do some more studying and discussing with us. We are learning and enjoying this quite a lot.
Elder Simon and Elder Josol
Wednesday night we had Robyn and a couple, the Turners, from church over for dinner. We haven't been able to do this for so long with Dad working so much last year and then his hospital visit and recuperation time, so it was nice to start it up again. Rosine and Dave Turner are from New Zealand, but have been here for a couple of years - he is a psychiastric nurse and she works as a bank teller. We all had a yummy meatloaf dinner and enjoyed getting to know them a little better. They are really nice people and we look forward to having them over again to get to know them even better. Rosine is our Primary President and Robyn is her counsellor, so they know each other quite well. Robyn's son left earlier that day and so now she is on her own at home - it was good that she could join us for dinner.
Robyn, Dave and Rosine
Robyn and I spent the day together on Friday - I called her on Thursday evening to see if she would like to come and do some errands with me. We had a really good day together - we did some of her errands, too, and even had a nice 'Subway' lunch. Dad got a nice surprise in the mail the same day - he had ordered a large remote control helicopter and had been waiting all week to get it in the mail. When I left him on Friday to meet up with Robyn, he was like a kid opening up a Christmas present. He couldn't wait to get it out, set it up and fly it. It turns out that it is not as easy as he thought it would be - I think it's going to take quite a while for him to learn how to get it up in the air and keep it up there. :-)
Wednesday night we had Robyn and a couple, the Turners, from church over for dinner. We haven't been able to do this for so long with Dad working so much last year and then his hospital visit and recuperation time, so it was nice to start it up again. Rosine and Dave Turner are from New Zealand, but have been here for a couple of years - he is a psychiastric nurse and she works as a bank teller. We all had a yummy meatloaf dinner and enjoyed getting to know them a little better. They are really nice people and we look forward to having them over again to get to know them even better. Rosine is our Primary President and Robyn is her counsellor, so they know each other quite well. Robyn's son left earlier that day and so now she is on her own at home - it was good that she could join us for dinner.
Robyn and I spent the day together on Friday - I called her on Thursday evening to see if she would like to come and do some errands with me. We had a really good day together - we did some of her errands, too, and even had a nice 'Subway' lunch. Dad got a nice surprise in the mail the same day - he had ordered a large remote control helicopter and had been waiting all week to get it in the mail. When I left him on Friday to meet up with Robyn, he was like a kid opening up a Christmas present. He couldn't wait to get it out, set it up and fly it. It turns out that it is not as easy as he thought it would be - I think it's going to take quite a while for him to learn how to get it up in the air and keep it up there. :-)
Dad's first remote control helicopter (the red and black one) and his new one
On Saturday, Robyn and I went swimming at the beach. The waves were crazy! We floated around on our noodles and yakked (and took in quite a bit of salty water as the waves washed over us). We had such a fun time!
These pictures were drawn for me by my friend, Pauline, who stayed at our house when I was in Canada when Kendall was born - I FINALLY bought some frames to put them in and dad hung them up in our dining room
Sunday, 11 January, 2014
We didn't get a whole lot done this week - we did mow and trim the lawn, did some shopping (believe it or not, I bought a number of new tops and some capris and it didn't take me that long to shop, either), went to my physio appointment (the strength of my left arm is getting better) and cleaned the house. Dad is slowly getting back into doing some work around the house, although he is keeping it to 'light duties' as per doctor's orders. He is still finding himself getting tired more easily than he used to, but is hopeful that his strength will return soon.
On Tuesday, we had the missionaries over for dinner. We used to have them over for dinner a lot and we always enjoyed that. But, since we are travelling so much with Dad's work now, we haven't had them over for ages. We made them tacos and they really enjoyed it. We watched a short video called "Look Not Behind Thee" which talked about learning from the past, but more importantly, looking to and living for the future, having hope, looking forward and trusting in God.
On Friday, Dad got an exciting letter in the mail (I have attached a copy of it). He has been approved to become an Australian citizen! :-) We are both so happy - now we just have to wait until they tell us when he can attend a citizenship ceremony. Then, he will be a fully fledged Aussie - yippee!!!
We have cleaned off our patio and have been eating some of our meals outside this week - it is so lovely out there and we very much enjoy being outside in the warmth and fresh air. Pics below............
breakfast on the patio - note the birds in the air - they are actually plastic hawks which Dad put up to scare away the birds who like to come in and poop on our furniture
a closer look at our yummy breakfast al fresco
a close up of the plastic hawk
close up of our lunch al fresco
lunch outside on the patio furniture - note the lovely sky (it was blue) and the shining sun
Today, I gave the lesson in Relief Society - I miss teaching and this was nice for me to be able to do. The lesson was titled "The Great Commandment - Love the Lord". When I teach, I don't do a lot of talking, but for that I need to spend a lot of time preparing my lesson. I had one picture, a number of statements and a few questions to put up on the white board that I wanted the sisters to think about and answer. I also gave out some quotes to a few sisters to read to enhance the lesson. The lesson went really well and since I practiced giving the lesson a few times at home, I was able to maintain eye contact with the sisters most of the time which I find works really well to keep everyone interested and participating. It was also nice to feel more a part of the ward - it's so hard with travelling so much to feel that connection.
On Tuesday, we had the missionaries over for dinner. We used to have them over for dinner a lot and we always enjoyed that. But, since we are travelling so much with Dad's work now, we haven't had them over for ages. We made them tacos and they really enjoyed it. We watched a short video called "Look Not Behind Thee" which talked about learning from the past, but more importantly, looking to and living for the future, having hope, looking forward and trusting in God.
On Friday, Dad got an exciting letter in the mail (I have attached a copy of it). He has been approved to become an Australian citizen! :-) We are both so happy - now we just have to wait until they tell us when he can attend a citizenship ceremony. Then, he will be a fully fledged Aussie - yippee!!!
We have cleaned off our patio and have been eating some of our meals outside this week - it is so lovely out there and we very much enjoy being outside in the warmth and fresh air. Pics below............
Today, I gave the lesson in Relief Society - I miss teaching and this was nice for me to be able to do. The lesson was titled "The Great Commandment - Love the Lord". When I teach, I don't do a lot of talking, but for that I need to spend a lot of time preparing my lesson. I had one picture, a number of statements and a few questions to put up on the white board that I wanted the sisters to think about and answer. I also gave out some quotes to a few sisters to read to enhance the lesson. The lesson went really well and since I practiced giving the lesson a few times at home, I was able to maintain eye contact with the sisters most of the time which I find works really well to keep everyone interested and participating. It was also nice to feel more a part of the ward - it's so hard with travelling so much to feel that connection.
Sunday, 4 January, 2014
On Monday, we went to the graveside service for Geoff. Although it was a sad occasion, Dad and I felt honoured to be included. The only others there besides family were our Bishop and his wife. It was a very short service. Dad was asked to say the opening prayer. Then the bishop said a few words (and found it difficult as he and Geoff were good friends - Geoff was one of his counsellors in the bishopric) and then Robyn and Geoff's oldest son, Mark, said a few words before dedicating the grave. After that, the children and some adults threw a flower onto the coffin. While the adults were talking after that, the children began writing notes to their grandpop and dropping them onto the coffin - one of them said 'I hope you have a good time in heaven, Grandpop'. Kids are so sweet and innocent, aren't they? I'm not sure if I told you before what Robyn's irish granddaughter said. When Robyn and Geoff's daughter, Jackie, (who lives in Ireland) told her children that Geoff had gone to heaven, she was crying. One of her daughters said "But that's where we all want to go, isn't it, so why are you crying, Mom?" So beautiful.
Dad and I didn't do much on New Year's Eve - as you know, we have never been into celebrating on that day. We watched a movie on tv and then headed off to bed around 11pm. We said 'Happy New Year' to each other the next morning. :-) I met up with my friend, Chantelle, on New Year's Day (she was the girl who was a kindergarten teacher when I was teaching the kindergarten kids a couple of years ago and she also stayed in our house when we were spending so much time in Canada) a few years ago. We have kept in touch and so, when she came back to HB from where she is currently teaching (way up north), she contacted me and asked me if I wanted to get together. We both had a delicious iced chocolate while we chatted for a couple of hours.
Dad is recuperating well - just slowly - too slowly for his liking - he is not impressed with not being able to do much and is looking forward to being able to drive again starting tomorrow. He said I am too hard on the car. :-) He can also start doing 'light duties' around the house and yard.
Dad and I didn't do much on New Year's Eve - as you know, we have never been into celebrating on that day. We watched a movie on tv and then headed off to bed around 11pm. We said 'Happy New Year' to each other the next morning. :-) I met up with my friend, Chantelle, on New Year's Day (she was the girl who was a kindergarten teacher when I was teaching the kindergarten kids a couple of years ago and she also stayed in our house when we were spending so much time in Canada) a few years ago. We have kept in touch and so, when she came back to HB from where she is currently teaching (way up north), she contacted me and asked me if I wanted to get together. We both had a delicious iced chocolate while we chatted for a couple of hours.
Dad is recuperating well - just slowly - too slowly for his liking - he is not impressed with not being able to do much and is looking forward to being able to drive again starting tomorrow. He said I am too hard on the car. :-) He can also start doing 'light duties' around the house and yard.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
