for granny and waa waa

my mum and dad are Lucys granny and waa waa. Waa waa? It's a long story.

Before Christmas we went to visit them. Lucy really loves her granny and waa waa. 

Granny gives Lucy shortbread on arrival.

They have nice morning cuddles and granny sings to her. This calms Lucy down a lot.

Lucy enjoyed some tasty berries from granny and waa waas berry bush.

I think Lucy remembers her granny from when she was first born.








We had a pre-christmas Christmas with my family because we wouldn't get to see them on the 25th. Lucy didn't really take to the roast dinner but she enjoyed her great-nanas shortbread. I think it was the butter.

I'm not sure who they make those christmas cracker party hats for because ours almost fit Lucy and had no hope on the more boof-headed members of the family.

 Lucy loves her waa waa.

She used to not be so sure about this strange un-bearded man but now she loves being held by waa waa while he sings her some songs.

He is creating Narnia for queen Lucy in the backyard complete with stone statues and lamp-post.





Lucy got lots of lovely presents for Christmas. She likes walking with her trolley and playing her musical instruments which include a very loud horn. I hid it.

Despite the large amounts of amazing gifts, Lucy prefered the wrapping paper. Despite the fun of opening presents Lucy preferred to try open the presents under the tree on Christmas eve.


Granny and Waa waa have a dog named Molly. She is about 10 and has cataracts. She is a loveable mutt.
Lucy was very interested in Molly.
Molly was very wise and kept clear of the tail pulling baby.

2011 - I am filled with joy

2011 started with hot days. Hot pregnant days. I was uncomfortable, I had swollen feet, I was sweltering in the heat but I was so excited for the little one who was so nearly going to join our family. I spent the first few months of the year preparing. Preparing our home for a little baby, preparing my body to go through childbirth and preparing my heart to become that of a mother.

March rolled around and on the 29th we welcomed little Lucy one into our family. What joy.
Lucy's birth was hard. It was hard waiting a week for her to come. It was hard having her come too quickly and in distress. Recovering from a c-section is hard. Not being able to change my little girls first nappy because I can't get out of bed let alone stand up is hard.
But you know the thing about joy? You can feel it when things are hard. You can be joyful with tears pouring down your face. I am filled with joy because my little one is here and I am her mama.

The next few months I learnt how to live with and love a newborn. Marathon breastfeeds, explodapoos, night wakings, calming a crying baby, bathtime.
We took our little one along for the ride wherever we went. Movies, restaurants, music festivals. I look back at the photos and marvel at how small she was. It just came naturally. I think we forgot that you are "supposed" to keep your little one at home for months.
I am filled with joy when I think about all the people who gathered around us, helped us, prayed for us, gave us things and lifted us up with words of encouragement. How sweet it is to be loved by you all. Without those kind words and love, those early days would have been impossible.

When you become a mama you don't stop being a wife. I have seen my amazing husband become an amazing father and an even more amazing man. I am filled with joy when he picks his little girl up and she smiles into his face with his eyes. I am filled with joy when I lie exhausted on the bed and he picks up his screaming little girl and rocks her gently to sleep. I am filled with joy when we chat for hours about life, love, God, anything. I am filled with joy when we quarrel because I know that he loves me and our love is stronger than any little fight.
I am learning more about what it means to be not just a good wife, or an adequate wife but a wife of noble character. One who adds to the beauty and joy of her family. One who works hard but who is still filled to the brim with joy. Not a stepford wife who wraps on a happy face (this is not joy) but a real wife who, when faced with those hard moments perseveres, hopes, loves.

We've had our ups and our downs this year. I've been angry, lazy, sad, out of control, excited, overwhelmed, expectant, serene, happy, energetic. But most of all I am filled with joy for the Lord has been so good to me. 

Ulladulla

Todays stadium event was in Ulladulla. We arrived at the field as gusts were blowing. But as we started setting up the winds died down. Praise God!

We had a good day even though there were fewer players than usual. 

Lucy has been a real trooper. She has recently developed a real dislike for having her nappy changed. She screams like she is in fear of her life but as soon as she sits up again she gives a big two-toothy smile. 

She likes all the attention she gets. Being the only baby on team, she get's a lot.

The Stadium

Little One, I Know You Grow is coming at you from the south coast where we are taking a large inflatable orange soccer field around to some SUFM's. We've missed out on a few days but here is what we've been up to so far...

In our first Stadium stop at Corrimal, we were greeted by fine weather, a beautiful patch of grass and a very enthusiastic SUFM team.

What a way to start mission!

We had a wonderful first day playing soccer, greeting the locals and helping the team to spread the Gospel. Our big orange soccer field drew people from far and wide.  Many of the teenagers we chatted to were not from the caravan park but locals who, without the stadium might not have got involved in the SUFM activities at all.

Our highs of the day were seeing the great way the Corrimal team joyfully served one another and the people at their caravan park, having our trip from Ulladulla to Corrimal go smoothly with our 2.4 ton load, playing soccer with the under fives, our wonderful sunny yet cool breezy day and the delicious dinner provided for us by the lovely Joy.

Lows were a very slow train ride, a sad baby in the bus (who slept the whole way back) and a Frisbee to the shin. It was a pretty good day.

Our second Stadium event took us to Kioloa and Bawley Point SUFM. We had a great day. We had a record number of 26 teams going through the stadium. It was great to see the mass of SUFM members and how they were all scattered amongst the crowd talking to the campers who had come.

We then visited the team at Ulladulla SUFM for their water rocket afternoon. They are a mission with a different style. They have a café and different tents where activities are run. We’ll come back to them on the 2^nd.

On New Years Eve we visited Lake Tabourie for a morning stadium event. We were all on the bus at 7am to start our event at 9 30. Luckily we had some lovely neighbours (many of which are related to our team directors) who didn’t mind the tent peg hammering and large inflatable orange soccer field being put up in their front yard. The event itself was really popular. We held a round robin championship competition with a nail biting grand final.

We brought in the new year together after a delicious feast provided by the Chapple family and went home for a well deserved rest.

New Years Day was a nice relax, a swim, a trip to the cinema to see Tin Tin and church at St Martins Ulladulla.

We’d love you to pray for

 

-       The next few days as we get back into the stadium routine after day off.

-       Energy in the heat.

-       That we would be bold with our conversations about Jesus.

-       Ulladulla SUFM for our event tomorrow (2nd).

If you are in the area we'd love to see you.

2 January

•Ulladulla SUFM

•2-5pm

3 January

•Crookhaven Heads SUFM

•2-6pm

4 January

•Sussex Innlet SUFM

•2-5pm

5 January

•Conjola Entrance SUFM

•3:30-6pm

8 January

•Forster

10 January

•Gunnedah Inland Mission

 

 

 

Look out for the giant orange soccer stadium and the red t-shirts.