May Day

What a month.

As many/most of the people who would regularly read this blog already know, this month started with a tragic farm accident and the resultant death of my brother-in-law, Ray. Much of the month has been spent with Deb and the kids on their farm, helping them to cope in whatever little ways we can (mostly that just means making cups of tea!). Deb and all seven kids seem to be handling things as well, or maybe better - than you might expect...at least that's how it seems on the surface. While it doesn't lessen the tragedy of the situation, the support that Deb and the Kids have received from friends, family, churches, workplaces, old acquaintances and even anonymous strangers has been a real blessing (and in many ways a surprise - at least the extent of it - to Deb and the family). There's been a veritable supermarket in the shed, made up of all the bags and bags of groceries brought around by lots of different people, freezer-loads of meals and cakes and biscuits, and lots of others have been helping in different ways. The funeral itself was attended by a huge number of people, despite being held in a small, remote, country town. When the cars pulled out of the church on the way to the cemetery, there were at least 80 cars in the procession - the line continuing well over the horizon. Everyone at the funeral said the same things about Ray, and they were all spot on: a devoted family man who loved his wife and kids dearly, a man who relished his time on the farm, someone who was always ready with a big smile and a friendly chat, and essentially a man who knew how to live life well.

Consequently, the month has been a bit of a blur. We don't seem to have had much of a grasp on what's been going on, and have seen several birthdays and Mother's Day whizz by without us even getting around to making a phonecall, much less buying and delivering a present (So if you're one of those people - we aplogise!). Obviously blogging has had to be put on the back-burner too, but it looks like that's a common ailment for most of the blogs I visit anyway. As much as I like reading what people are up to, and I love seeing their photos, I completely sympathise with everyone who can't make time to post: life is increasingly hectic and blog-unfriendly for all of us. Maybe life will get a little more settled sometime soon, and things like blogs and emails and phonecalls and (gosh!) visits can be a top priority again. Realistically, I can't see it happening anytime soon, but we can live in hope.

(in other quick news, I managed to catch up with one of my brothers last week for our bi-annual (no not quite) coffee and chat, and I managed to spend some time with half of the family again yesterday. My sister-in-law and their five kids arrived in town this weekend, having flown down from Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory. We haven't seen any of them for over two years - they are stationed up there working for M.A.F. - but after 30 seconds of our reunion it was almost as if nothing had changed. OK, the kid's are much bigger (it takes more effort to tackle them, turn them upside down and tickle them) but in most other respects it was as if we hadn't been apart, and it was great to see them. My brother arrives in town on Wednesday this week - having driven down through the centre of Australia with my other sister. And last night my Mum hosted us for a lovely low-key dinner in her newly-created residence: a converted tin garage (it looks amazing!). Mel is at work in the City today, so I have the privelege of looking after Jessica. I moved our computer downstairs so that I could type this blog while Jessica watched The Wiggles and ate her lunch, but I needn't have bothered as she has gone back to bed. I think she's yet to recover from the hectic month, too (so don' expect her to update her blog this month either!). Speakin of the computer, we replaced our 5 year old HP this month with...a Mac! It's our first foray into the foreign world of "i" everything, and away from the well-known PC that we've been used to since the early-mid-90's, but if the last few days are any indication, it's a change we won't regret. I might leave that full review for my next post.

Take care - I'm off to vacuum, and hopefully avoid waking Sleeping Beauty in the process.

Matt

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labours increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

- Annie J Flint.

"The Hardest Thing Ever"...