The past several weeks, our family has had a wonderful thing - togetherness! Charity, Zachary, and Eleni came over here from America for about a month. Today is there last day, but the past several have been anything but boring. I've put links for a few photos, enjoy a look. 

They arrive 

Here are just a few things I've noticed that have been different since they have been here:

 We spend more time after meals just talking. 

There are always lots of people cleaning up the kitchen together

Our house is louder

Our room is messier 

We watch less movies and play more games

We go to the beach more often 

The beauty of a sunset 

Point Leo 

We travel a lot!

It has been a wonderful 4 weeks, and I praise God that he allowed us to be together for Christmas and several weeks as well. It's lovely!

But I know today will end, and tomorrow will come, and they will be gone. I do not look forward to the end of today. I love you dear siblings and almost sibling! And I will miss you incredible. I can't wait to see how God continues to use you all at Purdue. Keep in touch. See you later DV.

____________________________________________________________________

In other news: I got into the Early Childhood Education course at Tafe. I am doing it with a friend from church Hollie Cloherty. I am quite nervous about it, but it will be great to have a good Christian friend doing it with me. 

 

I've done it...

...I've updated!

and hopefully will continue to

Australia:

It's too hot to be Christmas, but with the tree out, and the stockings hanging above the fire, maybe we can fake the cold. I miss snow! 

Church:

Tomorrow is our (sort of annual) Thanksgiving service with Frankston and McKinnon. It's the first time it's been in Frankston, and our first joint service! Twill be exciting. They seem to enjoy it because we were asked to continue the tradition, even eating pumpkin as a sweet rather than a savory. 

Me:

I am still in the process of applying for the Diploma of Children's Services at TAFE. I have taken a test and done an interview as part of the application process. On Wednesday I am doing an observation day in a childcare centre. I am doing lots of babysitting every week, as well as my paper round. I am enjoying this short break from school to spend more time helping out families in the church, as well as neighbours. 

Future Events: 

I am looking forward to the arrival of Eleni, Zachary, and Charity in 3 weeks from today. Twill be grand to have our family together for Christmas. 

I am not looking forward to Thomas leaving in...I don't want to count the days, just enjoy him while he's still here. and he will be coming back. right?

Looking forward to camping with the Blakstons in January!!!!!!!!!!!! - so exciting, the stick and stones once again. 

Going to Tazzie in January! - what a lovely place

Well, this is a start. I will try to keep my updates often - although it could just be a phase ;)

the sad sound of silence

I spent the better part of the morning annoyed with my siblings for being so loud. I only wanted silence I tried to find a quiet place in our house to do school, I settled for the bathroom where I sat on the floor reading.

I spent the later part of the afternoon realizes that silence is a sad sound. Apart from dad I was the only one home, and I wish my siblings were here making noise after all.

I am glad I have siblings

Two years ago on this day (the 26th of January) Six members of the Blackwood family packed up belongings and moved half way around the world.

The BIG Adventure. That's what everyone said it would be. An adventure? Maybe, but the longer I am here, the less it seems like an Adventure, and more and more...it's just...my life.

Here are a few of my journal excerpts from our first few weeks here.

2006
January 28,
We landed and we all got off the aeroplane (as the Australians call it) We waited in line forever to go through security, then we went to the baggage claim. We each got a cart full and halled all 6 of them with out luggage. We manoeuvred to the airport doors. As we made out ways toward the doors, I realized that our long journey was over, and we had made it. All 6 of us and our 30 suitcases.
---------
When we walked out the doors, we found a group of people from the Australian RP churches standing together holding signs that said Blackwoods and Fishers. We received a very warm welcome. Everyone was sooooo nice to us! It was really great to see Mr. and Mrs. McEwen and Josh, Sarah, and Eleni.

Janurary 29
The birds that I heard were so unusual, but made some really neat sounds. It was nice to hear, but it reminded me that I am not in Indiana anymore.
----
after lunch Mr. McEwen drove us four kids to the beach, and we got to see a beautiful view of it from a far off, and then we walked down to the beach and felt the sand between our toes.

Janurary 31
Then we four kids walked down to the park. It was a nice walk, but the park was kinda boring, we mostly just sat around the pond, and scared all of the ducks into the pond. After about 15 minuteswe headed home... The walk was sorta scary, because most Australians don't use turn signals, so there were several times when we had to stop suddenly so as not to walk in of speeding cars [that was probably only because we didn't know how roundabouts worked.]

February 4,
we three younger kids and mom got ready to go to the beach for the first time. ...I was the first Blackwood from our family to set foot in Australian water.

February 5
Dad did a childrens sermon. He talked about shoes. He was naming differnet kinds of shoes, but they have different names for all the ones that he named such as: flip-flops (thongs) mud boots (gum boots), dress shoes (formal wear), water shoes (sand shoes), and tennis shoes (sport shoes or something like that [runners])

February 6
We moved Charity to our room and Benjamin to Charitys room

February 11
I think that we are finally starting to feel like this is our home. It isn't a vacation anymore. This is real, this is our life.

New Year resolutions

Okay, enough with 3 line posts.

As this time of year rolls around, we all seem to make some sort of New Year's resolutions.

Matthew Glover showed me The 70 resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

Here are a few that I really liked. If only we could all resolve to do these.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God' s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,- what sin I have committed,-and wherein I have denied myself;-also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12 and 13, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age, say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what am I the better for them, and what I might have got by them.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. August 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. August 17, 1723.

To read the entire list go here

I found them very helpful, if only I could, by God's grace resolve to do all those and more.

Any New Years resolutions from anyone else?

Happy New Year

Happy New year everyone!

From Australia!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And may God bless you all in the year to come

I almost jumped out of my eyes when I saw that he was 6'5"
Tamara

What's the baby for?

Mummy mummy look over there
I see a barn so crowded why?
There are heaps of animals everywhere
Look in the middle there's a baby I spy

Animals because it's where they belong
But people mummy? They shouldn't be there
The mummy and daddy and baby seem wrong
Why are they there, doesn't anyone care?

Mummy mummy, what's the baby for?
Why is he sleeping in a box not a bed
And the box is just sitting on the floor
not even a pillow for his head

Mummy mummy, please tell me why he's there
Mummy don't you know?
Mummy don't you care?
Oh Mummy if you do please tell me so

-------------------------------------------

Many years later when I am not at home
My mother now lives far away
I call up my mother on the phone
I've something to tell her, something I must say

Mother mother, the baby is God's son
God loves us so much He sent Him to die
To take away the sins of everyone
No mother, now do you see why?

I have found out why the baby is there
I care mother, and I want you to care

Merry CHRISTmas everyone!!!!!!!!!!!

my how things change

Those of you who read my blog way back in the day would realize how much my posting has changed. Something happened, I posted, sometimes I documented it with photos

Nowadays, something happens, Charity posts

I sit, not knowing what to post. I could ramble on about how two days ago there was the biggest thunderstorm I have every seen in Frankston (also the only one) and how we silly American kids ran down the streets in our bathers dancing, singing, playing in the rain. I could even show documents of it

I could go on about how mums results came back from her MRI and they were clear. No trace of anything. So we as a family went and celebrated at Yoyogies

Or even about how Charity and I just had this conversation
Charity *cutting up tomatoes* :Uggg, don't you hate it when all the guts fall out
Me: I know, the guts are the best part

or even comment about a very funny thing I remembered today. It only took me a week and 25 reasons to convince the Glovers that I wanted to give James my gameboy. After all its a game boy not a game girl :)

Instead I sit here, not knowing what to post, not knowing what to say, wondering why on earth my posts change so much since I first had my blog.

2 years

I know you've heard the stories
But they all sound too good to be true
You've heard about a place called home
but they're doesn't seem to be one for you
So one more night you cry yourself to sleep
and drift off to a distant dream
When love takes you in
and everything changes
a miracle starts with the beat of a heart
when love takes you home
and says you belong here
the loneliness ends and a new life begins
when love takes you in
and somewhere while you're sleeping
someone else is dreaming too
and counting down the days until
they hold you close and say 'I love you'
and like the rain that falls into the sea
in a moment what has been will be lost in what will be
when love takes you in
Everything changes
a miracle starts
with the beat of a heart
and this love will never let you go
there is nothing that could ever cause this lose it's hold.
when love takes you in
everything changes
a miracle starts with the beat of a heart
when love takes you home
and says you belong here
the loneliness ends
and a new life begins
when love takes you in
it takes you in for good
when love takes you in

They loved us before they met us
They welcomed us in instantly - no questions asked

Everyone said two years will go by fast enough
Everyone said see you in two years
Everyone said when the time comes you leave you won't want to
Two years
No one really believed it. No one that is, except 3 innocent girls...
2 years, then you can go home
that's what we clung to
then...
We were:
wanted
needed
loved
...and '2 years' faded away to 'until God calls us elsewhere'
2 years have gone so quickly
I won't see you...yet
The time never came, I don't want it to
Who knows what will happen in the next 2 years....

I am...
appriciated
loved
wanted
needed

Romans 1:11-12
For I long to see you... that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 16:7
For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.

2 Corinthians 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.


Galatians 5:13b
but through love serve one another.

Galatians 6:9-10
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Philippians 1:3-5
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.

Using a brand new sponge is like...

- opening a new tube of lip gloss
- writing in a brand new journal
- putting in a brand new contact
- opening a brand new sponge?
- Getting a new contact

I'm FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

School holidays

A grand 2 weeks!

- Family day in Frankston. We learned all about Creation. Carolyn was WONDERFUL!!!

-An actual free day
- Kids club in McKinnon. 33 kids, it went very well

headed to Geelong
dinner at Blismas

sleepover at the Blakstons
- Picnic at the ocean side


seeing Poppy

sleepover at Fishers (with Emily)

- Lunch at McEwens the famous no word book

back to the Blakstons
park playing in the rain
(covering up the H)

sleeping at the Blakstons

-Morning!

(GO CATS!!!)

Grand final with the Harts

pizza and after footy celebrations with the Blakstons

drive home with Ralph
-Guest service
- Denese's funeral
- Paper rounding
- babysitting for 11 hours straight

- more paper rounding
- lawn mowing
pizza and movie night
-more lawn mowing
Geelong on the train
Charity football match
movie at Blakstons (J&L)
sleeping at Blakstons (K&L)
-Church in Geelong
dinner at Fishers
church
tea at Blakstons (J&L)
Me driving home!
(sorry about the lack of photos durring the second week, my camera batteries kinda died, and I didn't have spares the entire week)
as well as lots of movies and book reading.

THE END


Since practically no one blogs anymore, facebook is taking over the world. I don't have a facebook, I am not against them, I just don't plan to get one in the near future, so for now, I blog, but....my blog is on hold until I finish year 11 and school is out of the way for the summer. Its hard to write knowing most likly, my writings won't be read. So enjoy this last post for a while, and check out my website

Praying for rain

5th Sunday of the month = Guest Service
30th of September = 5th Sunday

In McKinnon we didn't have a single guest. Nonetheless, we still stuffed chairs in our van to bring down to Frankston even though we have more then enough in Frankston.
We pray that as the rain waters the earth, so will the gospel water the hearts and minds of the people in the country. We pray for rain, but how many of us bring along an umbrella?

We brought umbrellas, hoping and praying, that tonight, the chairs will be filled up

Please join us in praying that we would have effective outreach to the McKinnon/Frankston area, and that the people would hear Gods word preached, and respond to it.

The cooolest Cole Cousins

Watch the video of me, my sisters, and my two amazing cousins Hannah and Paige.

How talented are you we?

This was taken the last night we saw them (actually they surprised us by coming to G'ma Coles to see us again). So many memories.

So this song, and this post is dedicated to them, and the whole family.

Goodbye my friend

Yesterday evening I said goodbye to my dear friend Elli. For the sixth time since we have been in Australia, I went to the Melbourne airport. This time to say goodbye to Elli Wetzel.
The past five weeks she has been staying with her Aunt and Uncle in Australia (she is German and lives in Germany) whom we girls babysit for.
We have been hanging out with Elli a lot the past five weeks. We went to the city twice (three times if you count the airport), she has come over for dinner a few times, gone to bible study together, she came to church a few times, had sleepover, had movie nights, even made scrapbooks together. We had sooo much fun! It was great to have a friend our age, right down the road to stop in and say hello, or to go up to the city together just to go to the city, or to walk to church or bible study. And we took heaps of pictures!!
Yesterday, we parted. I rode up to the airport with the Wetzels. When we got there we ate Hungry Jacks until the line opened. Elli went through, then we waited around until her gate opened. We walked around the airport, Elli and I took the boys on a few wondering, and just waited around until the time came. We said our goodbyes. I cried, I don't like goodbyes. The ride home was relatively quiet. I cried more, it is hard to be sad around 3 giggling young boys though.


I had to put this picture up, it is pretty much the cutest picture EVER!

After five wonderful weeks, she is now gone. I miss her greatly! Lord Willing we will see each other again some day.

Elli, ich liebe Dich so sehr viel! Ich bin so froh, daß ich Sie als mein Freund habe. Ich vermisse Sie bereits!

Had a grand day!

I....
woke up
ate brekky
went to maths class
came home
watched 'We are Marshals'
at lunch of oatmeal and a crumpet
Drove to Aldi's
went grocery shopping with mum
we went in
My list was still in the car
I walked out
got stopped to have my bag checked because I was walking out with an empty trolley
came back in (mum had the list with her all along)
did our shopping
bought a coffee maker
I drove home
put away groceries
made coffee
made breadsticks
I tried to put chicken seasoning rather then cinnamon in my coffee
I laughed uncontrollably
drank my coffee
...after that....
well that's it, the after hasn't happened yet
I may do a small amount of school before the time comes to make tea
I may go to Benji's game
or I may stay home and do school
I may go to Tuesday night fellowship
I may come home and go to bed and sleep until tomorrow comes
....Lord Willing

James 4:15 "You ought to say 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'"

Martha and Ruth

I am officially using my brand new (okay, second hand, but new for me) very own laptop.

The past two weeks have been computer weeks at the Blackwood home. We had one of us kids computers just die last week, so we got some new computers. Charity and I got laptops (Martha and Ruth ) and we got two new ones for outside, Tamara and Benjamins computers ( I am pretty sure they are still Matthew and Mark). Charity and I are renaming them though. Tamara and I are trying to convince Chaza that Bob Jr. is a grea name for hers. :) So far I have decided on Hezekiah, but after Robert Lachlyn Charles Laptop (Bob lachy Charlie Lappy for short) I figure I need at least one middle name if not two. Any suggestions?

Chaza and I are both pretty excited about them, hopefully we can tear ourselvs away from them at times to get other things done. :)


Quote of the post:
Charity: Woah! Its just like Bob!
Dad: Charity, this computer is ten times the man Bob was

Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents.

1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

EXCITED!!!!

making peanut butter choc chip cookies
running in and out of the kitchen to check on them
doing school
preparing Sunday school,
PREPARING FOR YOUTH CAMP!!!
I am on a high
This weekend will be a BLAST!!!!!
Tuesday is our Biology exam, but lets not put a damper on things
THEN......AMERICAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!


“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”

Joshua david

With too big pajamas on, his hair all in a mess, he looks up at me. He is so small, so young and innocent, so happy. It does not take much to make this gorgeous little boy happy. Just a bottle of warm milk and a bedtime story is enough to make him perfectly content. A smile spreads over his small round face he is so charming. He reaches to give me a goodnight hug and kiss before he lays his head against the pillow. His eyelids begin to droop as he gives into the sleep that is taking over. The smile is replaced by a somber look, no longer caring what is going on, except for in his dreams. He looks so peaceful when he sleeps. There is now no reason for him to worry or fear. Nothing can touch him now. He knows he is safe. Goodnight my adorable little friend Joshua.

Check out the music video below on the right hand side