Thank you from Debbie

Thank you all for the lovely birthday messages. Thanks again Kerryn for all of the messages EVERYWHERE! :) I had a very nice and relaxing day.

DAD! I hope that you are feeling better and that the drugs are beginning to work and let you have a restful sleep.

Great to hear that your flights are confirmed Lindy (and even better to hear that things are settling down a bit in Lebanon now. We're counting down the weeks. Hurray :)

Hugs and stuff to all -Debbie

Happy Birthday Debbie!!!!

Still no photos but lots of love for you Debbie on your birthday from all of us on Folkestone. Hope you have a wonderfull day...C ya!!!!!!

Our Youth Group Retreat!

Hello everyone,

Just thought you might like to see the camp that John and I were on a few weeks ago!!

Here it is..............



We also have all the details for our flights now!! Woo Hoo!! We arrive in Adelaide on July 22nd at 6:15 IN THE MORNING!!! This will test your enthusiasm..... do you really want to get up that early to come get us?????? We will see :D

Happy Birthday to Lindy :)

This is where a smashingly awesome birthday surprise goes for Lady Lindy Ann ... but on second thoughts maybe you'll just have to come and receive your birthday celebrations over here in person ;)

I really hope that things are settling down in Lebanon and that you were able to enjoy your birthday. We're looking forward to partying with you. Hope that your travel plans will still go ahead smoothly.

Love and big hugs to you.


*I did actually celebrate your birthday Lindy by opening my birthday gift from the family.

Lebanon Video I found

Thought you might find this video I found interesting. I assume that it was made after the conflict with Israel back in 2006 (?), but it is very interesting to see given the current events unfolding in Lebanon.

"I Remember Lebanon"

You continue to be in our prayers Masri family and we look forward to your safe arrival here soon.

Love and hugs.

Life in Lebanon May 2008

Once again, life here has changed in a matter of days. It is strange to think that this time last week we were happily enjoying a Youth Group camp in the mountains, and now, a large part of Beirut looks and feels as though it has been through war!! Fortunately, up here in Mansourieh, we have once again been spared the close up encounters with snipers and gunmen that many of our friends have faced in the city. I won't even try to go into the details of who is fighting who and where, because, as is nearly always the case in this country, it is very confusing and jumbled. Enough to say, the kids school has been closed for the past three days, church will be closed tomorrow, although those who can will meet here at the Baptist Seminary in the morning, and many are fleeing parts of Beirut that were considered to be the safe, stable areas for the apparent calm of the hillsides. I am including a photo that a friend found on a local site, yalibnan.com that is the road next to our church!!



Lots of love to you all, and letting you know that we are all safe and well, but very sad for our country at the moment. It is not over yet, so please do keep praying.

A very Happy Mother's Day Mum from Debbie

Welcome to your mother's day gift mum. I hope that you have a fantastic day (and I look forward to talking to you at some point).

Here is your gift.

Please click to reveal more.

Love you.
Hugs and stuff -Debbie


PS. And just to let you know that you've just become famous (ish) mum. This video is featured on the front page of YouTube Australia!

What 3 years can do

I have been thinking a lot lately about the question "what has changed here in Australia since the Masri's were last down under?"
I have come up with a list as long as my arm that covers things such as births and deaths, renovations and new homes, new developments and new roads, not to mention the huge cultural shift which has occurred in Australia in the last few years (our church is now easily one third Filipino).

And then I found this photo and realized that the biggest changes of all will be ourselves. This is what Natalie and Calvin looked like last time the Masris were in Australia!














And not forgetting ...

Natalie's award

Thanks to a tip-off, Calvin and I were at school this morning to see Natalie receive a class award for













"Persistence: concentrating during all lessons and trying to do her best work"

We are of course very proud of this achievement. Well done Natalie.

Finally Jessies bday

Finally some photos of Jessie's birthday bash. She with five friends, plus family, plus the Toads all went bowling, then out for pizza and finally home for Jessie baked and decorated cake!!! Very yummy :D

Photos from Kittos

First, Question Lindy: I have been wondering how we are going to all fit in our house during your visit (assuming that is that you might be able to get over for a few days) and on Saturday after we put up the tent for the kids we wondered if we have stumbled across the answer. My question is, do you think that you and your kids would cope sleeping in this rather old, huge tent if we ran electricity out to it for lighting, heating and hopefully even electric blankets? It's no hotel room, but it is a very big (and tall) tent. Let me know your feelings.
Also, why speaking directly to the Masri arm of the family, could you please send us some birthday/ July Christmas ideas for you and you kids (and Wadih of course). I find it hard enough to buy gifts for those I see regularly, but I'm quite in the dark about what your kids might like. Also, I was wondering what size Jessie is (as I recall that Annie was about Jessie's age when I bought her a most excellent jacket, hint hint). Thanks :) Now on to our many photos.


Hello all. I finally got around to capturing all the photos off of the camera and thought that I'd share.
We have Natalie painting a portrait of Calvin.












Natalie and Calvin on a horse ride in Marion in the hols.












Our visit to the Morton's.





















N & C with Jacob and Sam, who thought it would be fun to walk around with a big piece of pipe!











A full rainbow over our house.












Hannah Stott's 4th birthday at our house. The first major event in the new backyard.




















Debbie with Grandma Jean on the 22nd of April.





















Our family in Isabelle's garden on the 21st of April.

I hope that you are all going well, love and hugs to you all. -Debbie