One of my favourite ways to commune with my Heavenly Father.

Some key songs from a lovely CD, "Soaking in His love Vol2":

GOD WILL MAKE A WAY (by Don Moen)

God will make a way where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me

He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side

With love and strength for each new day

He will make a way, He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness He'll lead me

And rivers in the desert will I see

Heaven and earth will fade but His Word will still remain

He will do something new today.

MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR HANDS (I TRUST IN YOU) (by John de Jong)

My times are in Your hands

I trust in You

Your love will never fail

I trust in You

Even though the mountains fall into the sea

I trust in You

Even if the stars should fall and all the world is shaken

When I can't see the way

I trust in You

I believe the things You say

I trust in You

Even when I'm sinking down beneath the waves

I trust in You

I know that You will lift me up and put my feet on solid ground

Everyday, You're faithful

New mercy from above

Like a tree in Your temple

Surrounded by the strong walls of your love.

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS ( by Helen H. Lemmel)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth

Will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

Ally,my gorgeous sister, July 2008

Ally, my sparkly sister, January 2009

Please pray.

My little sister,Ally, has smashed her lowest vertebrae (L1) and is currently in theatre "to stabilise it".

The facts:

She is 29 years old.

She doesn't know how it happened.

She doesn't know when it happened.

She woke around 1am this morning (Wednesday), in incredible pain under her high story house on a pile of dirt unable to move.

She called out and a neighbour found her and called the ambulance.

She went to RBH Emergency Dept and has been there all day in a great deal of pain, even with strong painkillers.

There doesn't appear to be any sign of violence.

My mother has been there with her since Ally finally called her at 5am this morning.

My father is also currently at the hospital, waiting for her to come out of theatre (she went in at 5pm and it's now 9pm). He will call as soon as she's out to update me.

My brother, Cameron, will be flying to Brisbane tomorrow morning to stay until Sunday evening.

I'm waiting to hear before I make any decisions about heading to Brisbane (the how and when are a little complicated, to say the least, but if I need to, I know all will be okay.)

This feels like an awful dream; like I'm writing about someone else; not my bubbly, dynamic sister who brightens everybody's world just by being in it.

I want to post some more photos of grown-up Ally with her smile 'cause I know a lot of people have met her on occasions and want you to be able to put name to a face:).

More soon.

Instructions for Easter Story Cookies

YOU NEED:
1 cup of whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
pinch of salt
plastic bag
masking tape
3 egg whites
1 cup sugar
baking paper
Bible

Preheat oven to 150C (This is important - don't wait until you are half done with the recipe! ) Place pecans in plastic bag and let the children beat them with a wooden spoon to break them into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp vinegar into a small mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it then add a pinch to the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetising. Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the clolour white reminds us of the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto baking paper-covered tray. Explain that each mound represents the rock tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the tray into the oven. Close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the door. (We did this fo the kids becauseteoven was still too hot for the kids to touch.) Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open he oven dor and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to fnd the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

NOTE: I'm not sure that "cookies" or "biscuits" are the right word for these morsels; they're more like meringes, but I guess that would give the game away too soon:)

Declan's concentrating faces, fingers and little boys legs with mossie bites, scratches and scrapes

My children's hands and Declan's concentrating faces

Experiments, climbing the tree, water play

Chloe climbing the poinciana - yes, with the aide of the extension ladder (gulp) and yes, in a skirt!!

Playing with my new camera - the miracle of water droplets in a perfect line following each other to make a flood in the sandpit while Chloe (ahem) waters the plants (?)

Nanna gave the children a magnet set with which to conduct various experiments- right up their alley at them moment; thefavourite so far is flying a rocketship through a background- sky picture... "Cool"

Family Time in the garden on Good Friday

Ginger looking oh so cute!

Baby B is hiding down here in my emerging bump - the next scan is this Friday - we're hoping to find out if we've been blessed with a boy or girl:)

Gary renovating the second garden for the week- this in the front garden under the poinciana tree and (below) the clearing of the side of the house which we had hitherto referred to as the jungle; maybe one day, we could find some larger pavers to make a path down here; currently, though, Chloe has plans for a secret garden .

More reflections on Good Friday amongst our Creator's amazing masterpieces.

Ginger exhausted after his bird-watching and tree scrambling adventures, collapsed under the prunings Gary was preparing for the rubbish.

Declan's discovery of a brick' s drawing capacity on the pavers. Also, I love the tenacity of this lone nasturtium plant growing though the pavers - what a wonder!

Ginger up the tree watching 2 birds who were having the time of their lives taunting him .

Fun with a new camera I love macro photography - it gives me such a buzz to capture God's masterpieces in such detail and clarity.

Easter - Good Friday happenings

Gary makes Hot Cross Buns on Good Friday; this year, they were ready for afternoon tea; delicious! Oh and Chloe piped the crosses on them this year. She was happily munching on them until we mentioned the crosses were made out of flour and water, which you can also use for glue; this stopped her in her tracks for a while but she's now eating them again ( I wrapped the leftovers individually and put them into the freezer) :)

Sandpit thrills: major digging constructions to build an island.

Mum and I both read heaps during her week-long visit this time: "The Forgotten Garden" was the title we were pouring over, mostly!

Drawing on some found garden edging with pieces of rock and brick, after being inspired by Declan's discovery of the same drawing implement on the paved path earlier (see below).

Easter Family Time

Drumroll please... meringues that are (supposed to be ) hollow / empty in the middle just like the empty tomb (except ours needed a bit more cooking :), oh well.)

Sunday morning: opening the seal to reveal the surprise like the tomb had the seal removed.

Resurrection cookie mixture

What? Who are these two? Makes you look twice, doesn't it? They thought it was absolutely hilarious!!!!

Easter celebrations

Happy Hamper from Nanna - lots of yummies to share - thanks Mum!
Note the butterfly label - I really think this is a great idea for Easter with the cocoon becoming empty like the tomb and new life being given, like our new life with Jesus - a miracle...

Here's Declan's favourite "King George and the Ducky".

Gary enjoys Candy Eggs so I buy one for him as soon as they arrive on the shop shelves (just after Valentine's Day). The shops don't tend to order in too many any more because they tend to break so easily. Gary also hinted (heavily :)) this year that he'd like a Darrel Lea Rocky Road egg. I have heaps of chocolate moulds from when I was twelve and I used to make painted chocolates for family and friends, and I realised I'd really like to do some with the children now. However, I couldn't justify a lot MORE chocolate, so I decided to make just two - one for Gary and one for my Mum. I used the Green's eating chocolate instead of cooking compound chocolate and filled Gary's with a strip of Darrel Lea Rocky Road chopped into chunks and mini licorice allsorts for Mum's.

Look what Gary bought me!!!! More chocolate for less $$ - not hollow like eggs, but a celebration all the same - I'm wondering what Dairy Milk would be like in my newly acquired favourite chocolate self-saucing pudding recipe; hope the cool rainy weather keeps up 'cause I may be able to try it out:) It's from the Women's Weekly Winter Favourites which Saminda gave me last year for my birthday (actually 1 year plus 14 days ago ;)

It serves 6 or so and takes about an hour and a half (which includes an hour's cooking time)..

50g dark eating chocolate

60g butter chopped

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1/3 cup (160ml) milk

1 cup (150g) self-raising flour

1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar

1/2 cup (100g) firmly packed brown sugar

1 egg, beaten lightly

icing sugar, for dusting

1. Preheat oven to moderate (180C/ 160C fan-forced). Grease a 1.5litre (6-cup capacity) ovenproof dish.

2. Combine chocolate, butter, sifted cocoa and milk in medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until chocolate is melted.

3. Sift flour into large bowl, stir n sugars. Add chocolate mixture and egg; mix well. Spread mixture into prepared dish.

FUDGE SAUCE:

1 1/2 cups (375ml) water

50g butter, chopped

1/2 cup (100g) firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup (25g) cocoa powder

Combine water, butter, sugar and sifted cocoa in small saucepan; stir over low heat, without boiling, until combined.

Pour fudge sauce over the back of aspoon over urface of pudding. Bake in moderate oven 45 minutes or until firm.

Serve dusted with icing sugar.

********** Not suitable to freeze. Chocolate mixture and fudge sauce suitable to microwave.

ENJOY!