Move from the Bull

Crappy title I know.

Well, here is some big news for you all. I meant to post it yesterday, but I completely forgot. Russell reminded me this morning!

On Sunday we announced to the church that we are going to be leaving at the end of the year. While we were on holidays we just took a break to think about what we need to do in terms of church. Whether we stay where we currently are (exciting things are just starting to happen) or if we leave at the end of the year and choose a place to worship together.

Two weeks earlier we told the elders, then last Wed. Russell told the youth. This would have been one of the hardest things for Russell. He loves those kids to bits and to see the disappointment in their faces was tough. Then on Sunday we made it official.

I didn't receive the best response from people which made me want to leave even sooner, but it is not because of the people that we are leaving. We had to leave at some point, and we have decided that that point is this year.

We have no idea where God is calling us. We have not visited any churches yet, and we have a couple of things in mind. The scariest one is starting our own church...

All we know is that we have felt enormous peace since making the decision and that God is going to be with us no matter what.

I am excited for Bull Creek and I hope that they continue down the path God is taking them. I hope that they find the pastor God has planned for them, and that they will be able to get an amazing Youth Pastor. Their last 3 have been students still - not fully qualified Pastors - Russ and I think they need to get someone a little more experienced. Anyway...that's our news.

Anyone need a youth pastor??

I may be broken

*sigh* it has been an eventful day...not that I can elaborate at all...maybe sometime in the future.

I went to the doctor today and she weighed me amongst other things and I was only 50kg's!!
I claimed that it was only because I hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch yet and she only got angrier! *sigh* I now have a list of things I need to be eating and do's and don't's. I will be weighing myself every night after a big hearty dinner (cheating I know)...hehehe

I need to get to at least 52kg to even start thinking that we could fall pregnant! So, please start praying that I can start packing it on... so to speak.

Anyone have any tips or advice?

80yrs of Marriage

This is just such a nice story...very positive

It's a boy!

Congrats to my friends, Ali, Jamie and Lachy on the arrival of Zac Jayden!

Born yesterday at 3.45pm weighing 8 pounds 11!

We are heading over to visit the family and our new little man this arvo! Will get photos most definately!

Written by Rob Furlong

Christians need to think carefully about their vote and they need to think beyond just environmental issues. Rudd says he will ratify Kyoto which is done and dusted, the coalition are making noises about a future agreement that will enable them to set better targets on green house emissions. So what!? There is plenty of evidence that points to the fact that most carbon dioxide emissions are caused naturally through volcanic eruptions, earthquakes etc. ie. man is NOT the number one polluter on the planet. Apart from that, what about our families that are being negatively impacted by rampant divorce, the ready availability of porn on the internet, liberalised abortion laws, so called registers for gay couples - I could go on but I hope you begin to see where I am coming from.

Our families and their values need MORE protection than the environment! If we don't protect families then what is the use of protecting the environment? There will be no one around to enjoy it.

There is no doubt at all that the ALP is heavily influenced by the Union movement - if people think that Rudd can/will stand up to the Unions, then they should think again and they do NOT understand the politics of the ALP. The ALP has a definite Leftist agenda which is anti-Christian: they are pro-abortion,pro-gay rights,pro-anti vilification laws, - how can we as Christians cast a thinking vote in that direction? This does not mean that you automatically vote Liberal - what you need to do is to look for a party that genuinely upholds Christian principles.

So think seriously about the Christian Democratic Party - a grass roots party of ordinary people who are genuinely concerned about the direction our nation is headed. They are pro-family which means they will uphold and encourage laws and policies that PROTECT the family unit. If you want to know more then check out their website at www.cdpwa.org.au There is a real chance that if their Senate candidate, Gerard Goiran is elected then Christians would hold the balance of power in the Senate. Senator Steve Fielding of the Family First party is already there.

I really encourage you, especially young people, to think seriously and prayerfully about your vote this election. How you vote does matter!

Is it wrong to want something so bad that you fear God may never bless you with it?

No glove no love

Yes, Im onto that topic again!!

I posted about this a while back and it has still been on my mind since! Is contraception for Christians the right thing to do? Should we be taking control over our lives instead of allowing God to have complete and utter control? This is a tough one for me. I love kids and I am looking forward to the day when, God willing, we will have our own little brood, but I am struggling with the fact that so many people use the excuse of not being able to afford more than 1 or 2. I find this really really sad. Aren't children a blessing? I know they can be little terrors, I was, but surely we should be looking at them more so as a blessing than a natural step to take in marriage.

God has slowly been working in my life this year, as much as I hate to admit it, and this is something that God has been touching me with - prodding my heart you could say. I like to have control over everything. If I can't control what is happening I get frustrated. I can't control my fertility or Russells. I also don't think I should be trying to control my life, and for me that includes contraception.

These days women are putting off having children more and more and are being told to put their eggs on ice. This isn't what God intended when he said "be fruitful and multiply" he didnt say, "put your eggs on ice, you can get back to them later". We women weren't meant to have our 'periods' for so long (sorry guys) before having kids! (does that make sense? - Maybe I should get pete to explain this, his the scientific guru) I know that there are rough days with kids, rough years even, but I can think of nothing better! When I look at Russell I see how much I love him and how much I want to bless him with children. I know I know...reach for the bucket, but it's true!

I was chatting with Russell a couple weeks back about how there is an inate desire for women to have children. When we are 2yrs old we have baby dolls that we carry everywhere with prams and we love playing house. It's as though we are programmed in the womb, by God, with a nurturing gene. I know not all women may feel this, and some may feel they missed out on this gene, but I also think the roles our parents play have a lot to do with this too. I guess what I am trying to say is that I don't know how well contraception sits with me at the moment. What do guys think?

*Recently Edited*

I just came across this article...quite an interesting read with handy links

That went as expected

Mon. night went how I expected it would.

Things haven't changed and I have done all I can in the situation. Time to move on I guess. I have close friends I would rather spend my time and energy on rather continually try to make something happen who doesn't return anything.

Done and dusted

Quote of the day

"The church is like manure. Pile it together and it stinks together. Spread it out and it enriches the world."

- Luis Palou

Get a grip!

Me: Can you please get this lid off the orange juice?

Russ: *tries with hands, no luck, tries using shirt, no luck, walks to drawer and pulls out his heavy duty multi-grips - Woolah, it works*

Me: What do you call those things again?

Russ: Multi-grips...wait your not going to blog about this are you?

HELP!

Help ME!! I am wanting to put this photo up under my profile and I am having so much trouble! Can ANYONE help me!!??!!

Backyard Blitz

As promised, here are some shots from our weekend with Middo from AGT. It was a great day and you will be amazed by these pictures! Middo did a fantastic job, and we will certainly be calling on him for all our gardening needs ;)

The backyard

Side of backyard

Gazebo and fruit trees

The top half of the backyard - jet loves to run around and get lost in there

There are 3 fruit trees and a chicken cage somewhere in there!

Again the gazebo and more fruit trees

Middo whipper-snippering away

The frontyard with 6 of the 12 trees we removed!

3 trees along the driveway

A random shot

The last 3 trees in the driveway

My herb patch. I love it!! It's an old outdoor laundry tub the previous owner left. I am going to be planting different lettuce's on the right

My tree art. My arms hurt to much towards the top, so I just left it...much to Russell's frustration!

Middo trying to de-root a tree ;)

Pushing and shoving

Backyard Blitz #2

Crazy Middo throwing one of those suckers!

Russell sawing the tree to a stump

The aftermath

Russell mowing out the back - you can see the difference already!

The driveway mess

Where the 3 trees used to stand

The backyard

How amazing does this look!?!

The gazebo and fruit tree area

Another shot...I just love it so much!

And again....

And cleanup begins

Still going

Where the other 3 tree stood - my new driveway!!

Dru's Birthday

Dru and his new shaver

Dad telling some joke

The "look"

Granny and Russell

Mum made a delicious spaghetti. Every birthday, the birthday person gets to pick what we will have for dinner. Every year Dru picks spaghetti

He is so jolly tall I couldn't get him and the cake in the one picture, he had to keep bending down a bit!

Dru picked a fruit cake for his cake - Mum's special

Cake and pressies!! YAY!! The best combination

Opening his gift from us siblings (and mum and dad)

Me and my little (big) bro

Me and my cousin Elise - yes I saw her in Sydney, but she arrived in Perth the day after I left Sydney!! Crazy timing!

Me and Granny

Me and Kate

Kate and Josiah - or should I say Jos

Tough guy Robbo

Silliness

"Work" trip to sydney

The Opera House

Walking across the bridge. I started to walk over on the left side, got halfway and stopped by a security guard who said I was on the cyclist side and that he would give me a $500 fine if I didnt walk back. I had to walk all the way back and start again!

Under da bridge...under da bridge - sing with me!

At the opera house looking at the bridge

Trying to be an artsy fartsy

Sydney City

The city from the bridge

Me, Cath, Minda, and Nicole

How cool is this dress!?! My cousin made it for Uni, she is now a Home Ec teacher!

Poser!