Golf anyone?

Marty is working these holidays, so we take what family time we can! Today it was a quick trip to the driving range (thanks grabone!), a popular choice for all the family.

Marty reckons I'm about ready to hit the twilight golf course with him, I hit the ball properly more often then not, yay - improvement! If only we had a babysitter the odd wed night...

Jaimee was definitely better then last time, Kate giggled and did her best and Luke grinned every time he hit the ball! 

...a fun lunch break indeed! Back to work Marty, and we are off home to await Kate's VERY FIRST SLEEPOVER friend....no doubt another blog awaits....

Visiting GumGum

Today we made a 14 hour round trip to Masterton and Palmerston North! Another to add to the epic road trips we like to do on a regular basis. 

This time we were off to visit GumGum, my 88 year old grandmother. GumGum has recently moved from her long time residence in a small unit of a retirement complex and into a small room of a full time care rest home. She's not really enjoying the change of lifestyle. When we piled into her little room she was glad to see us, and the 5 of us sprawled out over the floor, on her bed, and in her wheelchair for a nice long visit. 

The girls had drawn pictures for GumGum, which she spent the time to focus on, pointing out all the details. She loved Kate's letter she had written for her and read it aloud, commenting throughout. She admired Luke's Spider-man toy and flipped through his new colouring book, encouraging him to add his stickers. 

And GumGum found the loom band craze fascinating: "well I never, how clever...and that's just those little rubber bands?!". She watched jaimee whip a bracelet up for her and wore it with great pride, so jaimee made her a fancier one on the loom. "Gosh that looks fiddly" GumGum told her as she watched with interest. "Oh good, and I won't have to take them off to shower will I?!" She giggled. 

But underneath all the photo sharing and newsy updates we came with, I felt a bit sad for GumGum. She shared that her last friend had died, and she was lonely. She didn't know anyone in the home, and "what was the point in getting up and dressed". She felt tired all the time, couldn't keep up with what I was saying, didn't feel like eating and couldn't move anywhere alone anymore. GumGum was smiling for our photo, but she said she "didn't feel like that inside."

"Oh GumGum, we all do love you"I told her with a hug and a smile and hoped she could see this during our long visit.  It's not a cheap visit with petrol prices, and it's not easy to find a Saturday all 5 of us are free, but i dearly wish I could see you more. I'm so thankful GumGum has 3 loving generations right in masterton who do give her such great love and time. I CAN write more though, and will. Maybe a cheerful letter will put a smile inside you and remind you that your Hastings family love you too. 

On the way home, we picked up grandma from aunty Cheryl's in Palmerston North, staying for a yummy roast dinner and a catch up with martys sister. Cousins united, with giggles and cuddles and a lot of fun! What a great end to a special family day. 

By Kate, age 6 1/2

I found this in the mail box (with a little hint to go look!) :

.....awwwwww we love you too! 

Luke's thoughts

Luke just randomly told me "next week - I'm going to died".  I replied "no Luke, you aren't.  Why do you think that".  He looked at me for a second then said again "I'm going to died next week like Grandad." 

Feeling a bit anxious now, I assured him "no Luke, grandad is in heaven, but you need to stay here with mummy and daddy". Poor Luke burst into big sobbing grieving tears.  I think he just really wanted to visit grandad today.  Poor wee man.  Just held him till he settled.

An awakening....

Wow I have just come home from a mind blowing week of challenges, inspiration, new understanding and motivation at Carey Baptist College.  Michelle Anthony was our lecturer for 6 intensive hours each day.  Michelle is the author of some of the best eye-opening books in family/children's ministry I have ever read, and also writes curriculum and a FREE magazine for Christian parents (download the "homefront" app).  With books called "dreaming of more for the next generation" and "spiritual parenting" you can see where her heart is just in the titles! I loved sitting at her feet this week listening and gleaning as she challenged leaders from all over NZ to think deeper, expect more, raise the bar and to set an environment in our churches and in our homes for the Holy Spirit to move in our children's lives.  

I now feel like I have added depth behind my heart for our children and families, as I have read and learnt more about the biblical theology of children, the spiritual/child development theorists, and the beliefs behind our biggest curriculum and church models of education and formation of faith.  Whew, that was a lot.  Still processing, but so awesome to be able to really own and know the WHY behind the WHAT that we do. 

One of the tasks we had to do was write a God Centred story lesson. This really challenged me, as I worked hard on keeping a particular message about Gods Character very clear and relevant for a specific age group. We were challenged to focus on the power of declaring the character of God - rather then just "educating" the children on the facts of a story to learn or  a moral way to behave.  To see the transformational power of God speaking to hearts.... So  I tested this out tonight when I got home.  I looked Kate In the eye at bedtime, and said "let me tell you a story about our God, the creator".  I went on to tell her the amazing things God the creator breathed to life, ending with his greatest creation - her.  I didn't mention which number day we were up to - I really wanted to make this about Gods character and the amazing power he had in his plan for Earth. I wanted her to capture the BIG story in this one - the facts can come another day.  Kate held onto my every word, grinning ear to ear and squirming with the love when I came to her own creation.  It was powerful.  She turned to her teddy and retold him the story immediately, it was too amazing to hold in.  

I smiled, and turned to Jaimee.  "Darling, let me tell you about our God, the promise keeper."  After telling Abrahams story (their kings kids focus tomorrow at church)' she sighed happily.  "WOW. That was awesome,even though I already knew that story mum".  

The Holy Spirit is at work here.

Another little Idea I tried out at home tonight was to say a blessing over my children just before their prayers.  I looked each of them in the eye as I tucked them in and said something like "Kate, my precious child, I love you so much.  May you always know that God created you with a perfect plan in mind for your life.  May you be blessed with his peace and love in your life".  You should have seen the way the peace washed over them in that blessing.  Wow. My children went to bed still, secure, smiling and comforted tonight.   

I have been really challenged this week in so many more ways.  All I can say is - be prepared.  Be excited.  God has some great plans for our children, our families, our church, our nation, our world. Jump on board.