Spring Break

Well, it amazes me how fast the weeks fly by between school breaks here!  Term 3 is officially over and tomorrow is the beginning of Term 4 for the boys.  We can hardly believe that in just over three weeks we will have been here in Australia for a whole year!  In some ways we feel like we were in Canada yesterday and in other ways it seems much longer.  

The highlight for Nelson this term was his missions trip to Tasmania.  As a missions-based school, MST sends all their full-time students away for a week in September every year to do outreach work in different areas.  I found the idea of him being away from us for eight days more than a little intimidating, but many were praying for us and we got through the week smoothly.  I will get him to do a blog one of these days to give you all the details, but suffice it to say, he thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity and fell in love with the beautiful state of Tasi!  I look forward to the chance to visit there one day..

Braeden got to go on his class trip in September also - quite a leap of faith for Nelson and I to send him, but his EA accompanied him with the class to a lovely camp about 1 1/2 hours north of here, where they spent 3 days and 2 nights.  He did really well, after many reassurances of "it's okay Mommy, you'll be fine while I'm gone"! and packing and repacking his suitcase for a month before leaving!  We all really missed him as it had been his first time away without us and the house was extraordinarily quiet without him.  He has a lovely class though, who really try to include him in everything and treat him like part of the gang.  Such a blessing!

The boys have been home for their two week spring break and we have spent a lot of time just around home, but did get out for a couple of outings, north to Ballarat, our favourite historical town, and due east to Golden Beach on the east coast of Victoria.  Our favourite thing to do here is just to head out in the car and explore a new place we haven't seen before.  Everything is new to us and the beaches are amazing!  We went to Golden Beach with the intention of playing in the sand and maybe getting our feet wet, as it is still cool weather, but the draw of the ocean was just a little too strong and before we knew it Jonathan and Brady were soaked!  Next time we will go prepared!  

Church at Grace Community is going well.  I have recently joined the worship team - a long-time dream of mine!  Nelson is busy with the pack-up/set-up team and being involved in evangelism.  He has really missed preaching and loved the opportunity to preach in Tasmania twice, but we know that God has a plan and will use us in His time.  For me, I am so thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to just soak up and learn more of God's word through Bible Study Fellowship, great teaching at Grace and our home group study, The Truth Project.  

Well, I don't think there is much more news to share.  We think of you all often and miss you more than you know.  Skype is great and a life-saver in so many ways, but it's not the same as a hug!  Till next time....