Happy Birthday Mum

It's my Mum's birthday today . . . Happy Birthday Mum (Heather Kastelein)

Here are a few things that I love and admire about Mum.  I know she is 50 something but writing 50 things that I love about her was going to take to long . . . sorry Mum ! ! !

Auntie Su and Mum at Nathan and Penny's wedding

• Mum is very encouraging. She cherishes her time with God and shares what she has been learning with me.
• She makes really good Zucchini Pie
• Mum cares for those around her. She is always thinking of others and puts her own needs aside to help out
• Since moving away from Adelaide, Mum is always available to ring and chat (if I just need a mum to talk to or need help with something)
• Mum is very openly loving to her grandchildren. Although none of them live in Adelaide anymore, she still manages to know our kids and is always working at getting to know them.
• Mum is a very independent, capable woman who's not afraid to just go out and get something done if she sees the need.
• Mum shares the gospel with non believers in a very friendly and open but non-confronting way.
• Mum always works at loving life.  
• She loves my Dad and has taught me in many different ways how to be a godly woman, wife and mother.
• Mum is a really good friend to so many people. Whenever she can't chat on the phone, its because she is having coffee with friends, helping the oldies at church, taking neighbours out for dinner, etc.
• She loves Me !!!

Thank you, Lord

for such a wonderful, loving Mum

 "O Lord my God,

I will give thanks to You forever!"

Psalm 30:12

Immanuel - (Michael Card)

"If God is with us, who can stand against us?

Our God is with us!

Immanuel ! ! !

Who's Growing Up ?

So, I only have 2 children and it already seems overwhelming at times. I can't really imagine what it is going to be like years down the track when we have more kids but I do look forward to it.

As we add more children to the family and get busy doing other things in our lives, its easy to get lost in the shuffle. I think mothers find it easy to lose themselves when they are in the midst of raising kids. You put their needs ahead of yours. Your time isn't really your own. You can't even go to the bathroom without little knocks (or in my case just barging in) at the door. Many people may say that you miss out on life when you have children but. . .

• I am a mother.
• Sometimes invisible.
• A homemaker.
• A dependent.
• A woman who occasionally leaves the house without having given a second thought to her hairstyle (regrettably). Or wardrobe.
• Who finds herself pushing a trolley back and forth while waiting in line, because you are so used to pushing a pram.
• Who says things she never thought she would utter - "Your brother is not a dog, get that lead off him" (I think Lydia would like a puppy).
• Who's favourite TV show is 'Roary The Racing Car'.
• Someone who very happily gives big bear hugs and kisses. And someone who can put all the housework aside because your child has decided to have their afternoon nap on you.

It is very easy to forget who you were when your children come along. But the truth is, we can't really separate one from the other. I'm different now. There isn't any denying that fact. So I am learning that I've actually discovered more about who I am because of motherhood than I would have if I had never gone down this road. It's not about losing who I am but about looking at who I've become. While I am about the business of raising my children, they are actually the ones growing ME up.

Who knew?

Lydia's real doll (taken March 2010)

Romans 15:6-7

 "Now may the God of patience and comfort 

grant you to be like-minded toward one another, 

according to Christ Jesus, 

that you may with one mind and one mouth 

glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

This verse was a great encouragement and challenge to me to be unified with other believers, to speak honestly and openly with them and to together pray and glorify God our Father.

I am often overwhelmed with how much I love the people in my church (and friends in other churches too:). How much I love their heart's for God, how they are eager to do what needs to be done, to move forward with clear focus. I've witnessed this unity many times and it seems to cause me to walk closer with God.

Brisbane Holiday

At 12.30am on Thursday the 19th of May the Wyllie family started the long drive to Brisbane. Driving at night was good.  For the first time in my life I didnt feel like sleeping so I did some of the driving (which was good because for some reason Ben was exhausted). The drive was a good one. The kids were entertained with 'I Spy' games and a few DVD's (thanks to Cassandra for lending the DVD player).  We got to Brisbane at around 7.00pm.  We were staying with some friends so it was nice to just get there and already have dinner warm and ready. We then crashed and all went to bed at 7.30.

We actually went to Brisbane for Ben's cousins wedding so on Friday we went to her house to catch up with family and to help out with the before wedding rush.

So, Saturday was the wedding. It was very handy staying a our friends house...we got free babysitters while we were all getting ready for the wedding.

Megan and all the bridesmaids looked gorgeous and it was just a really nice wedding. The kids went to the ceremony and the reception so they were pretty exhausted by the end of the night (but the good side of that was they both slept at church the next day)

After Church on Sunday, we spend afternoon tea with some good old friends I knew from Adelaide days.  They how have 4 kids so it was nice for Lydia and Zac to play with them.

We then drove to Caloundra for our relaxing family holiday.

Monday was Ben's birthday and we went to UnderWater World to celebrate.  We all had so so much fun.  We got to touch a few of the animals (starfish, etc).  We got to watch a seal show called "Seals Behaving Badly".  We also went through the aquarium tunnel and walked under sharks and singrays and other big sea creatures.  I think the most fun was watching the seal show. We got to see them do cool tricks and showoff how strong there were.  We also got shown how the trainers teach the seals.

We also went to the Ginger Factory where we got lots of ginger marmilade and sauces.  We also went for a ride and the little ginger steam train.

We finished off the day by having Ben's birthday dinner at the RSL club. Lydia got up and started dancing to a guy playing guitar (along with a few older people who was waltzing around).  It was a little embarrassing when she really wanted Ben and I to dance with her.  We were nice parents though and did a three person waltz.

Lydia and the turtles

watching the seals

watching the seals

 

in the tunnel aquarium

 

nemo

lunch time

Ben and Lydia

 

Zacie

me

On the wedesday we hired a boat and took the kids out for morning tea. It was very windy but a lot of fun.  Lydia and Zac really enjoyed driving the boat.

Lydia driving

very windy

Me driving

 

crazy hair

Ben and Zac driving

On Thursday and Friday we drove home.  That was a very exhausting trip because the kids were awake for most of it and really needed to be entertained a lot. That's when the games, DVD's and family sing-a-longs came in very handy.

Overall it was a wonderful holiday. It was great to just spend time together as a family and not have anything else to worry about for a few days.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!!!