Thursday, June 21, 2007

Back in action


In what at times seemed like an eternity we are now back on line with our new computor. I was hoping to take a photo but for some reason the camera card is now protected and I cant unprotect it at this stage. Loving the new screen and the opportunity to listen to net radio on the new speakers very good quality. This photo was taken at the Nackara drought breaker night with Jeanette Wormald. In need of a good rain, the last few weeks have been very cold days with frosty nights and the crops and the feed have stopped growing.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Natalie has something to say


Howdy folks, Natalie has a question to ask. "I think jumping rope will be great. Would you like to sponsor me? I think you might help me to raise money." She is participating in Jump Rope for Heart on Friday, and we thought we'd give you all an opportunity to support the work of the Heart Foundation by sponsoring her. If you would like to pledge a donation before Thursday night, we are happy to pay now and collect during the holidays.

Thank you (and thanks to grandma and grandpa for their donation already).

Congratulations John


I raise a glass of non-alcoholic blue drink to you John. Hurray! We are so proud of you John. Looks like a fantastic day (though I'm sitting here in 10 deg weather feeling cold - but I'm assuming that the weather was actually warm and the water wasn't too cool). Check e-mail for an e-card. Sorry that we couldn't give you a real card in person. But we send our love and hugs to you through the computer (*squeeeeeeeze). Praying that your exams go well also.

Much love and God bless,
Aunty Debbie, Uncle Stuart, Natalie and Calvin.

Johns Baptism








Well, here are some photos of Johns day Sunday. All in all it went very well. We had about 100 people there and also a few more on the beach who came and watched. It was lovely that Jido Adel could be involved and I'm sure it helped him feel happier about the whole deal. He then had his first day of final exams today and has one more lot on Thursday. Please pray for him. Jessie unfortunately missed her last day of school last Thursday as it was closed because of the MP who was killed Wed night. That was disappointing but hopefully she will see her teacher and some friends Wed when we go to collect her books and things.
Apart from that, we are all tired but fine. The FundRaising banquet at Dar El Awlad went well on Friday night and the Church Council Retreat on Saturday also was good. We have also started the farewells for Ian and Ackie, so as you might imagine, it has been a very emotional weekend all round. It was tough getting up this morning!!
Lots of love to everyone and I'm sure that John would love to hear from some of you guys too!


Friday, June 15, 2007

Here it is!!!


Lots and lots of love from the Masri's. Got what you sent M&D, thanks alot. Busy, crazy, busy, busy weekend coming!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Hair hair!




Hello! Now you can see Annie with straight hair, Annie with curly hair (& Grace!) and Mummy bowling on her birthday. She finnished her 2nd game with 2 stikes!!! ( after we arranged for her to have the bummpers in she started bowling down the middle ! :))
We had a good long weekend catching up with friends and family including our famous "ring of fire" curry night and we are keeping mostly well and out of trouble.
Take care all, love the Hoggies. xx

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

If you're interested ...

Stuart has posted my latest church video on the Kitto/Brock blog. I made it for Stuart to use with his sermon this coming Sunday night. Not completely fabulous, but it's a platform for a really awesome song.

Love and hugs to you all.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Happy Birthday Grandma


Was nice to talk to you last night mum. Glad to hear that you had a nice birthday - certainly sounded like fun.

The kids decided to make a chocolate castle cake on Saturday (complete with jelly moat). So in honour of you grandma - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU (for yesterday).

Love and hugs.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Happy Birthday Mum!

Hello, hello. just a very quick note before I run off to work to say we are thinking of you today. Jessie will have a card for you later and we all send lots and lots of love.

Have a GREAT day!! Love from all the Masris.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Calvin's Haircut












Calvin's looking a little different this afternoon (especially when compared with the photo below - oh my goodness!). He sat very still for the hairdresser but moved very quickly when it was time to collect his lolly pop. Calvin really likes lolly pops.

Hope everyone is well.

Monday, June 04, 2007

Watoto and other news















Last night we all went to the Watoto children's choir at Bunyarra along with over 700 other people. They were absolutely fantastic, though Calvin became a little bit restless towards the end. I think that it is safe to say that I cried through the whole concert! Earlier in the afternoon I had gone to the shops with Natalie and we saw a poster for the concert and Natalie asked if we would be bring one of the kids home to live with us because they have no parents! I think that it was good for Natalie to hear the kids stories about how they have new parents now thanks to Watoto, though Stuart and I will probably end up sponsoring a child through the organization.

On other news, Tony and Leonie may have become offically engaged last week but this week they offically asked Stuart and I to be part of their wedding party (so we may be looking for baby sitters at the end of September).

On other other news, I fell down rather spectacularly (spectacularly embarrassingly that is) at church yesterday and managed to strain my ankle, so I'm hobbling around today feeling a bit sorry for myself (though with the lovely rain outside and the temperature being completely freezing, snuggling on the couch, with my foot up, with Calvin sounds quite attractive).

Hope that you are all well. Will be great when you get you new computer set up dad - all the best with that.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Us


No new news just some photos at last. Mike has found a new way to bbq. Annie in her new uniform. Zac and I at the mothers-day brekky at the school. Annie has also started playing soccer but no photos of that yet.
Tonight we are expecting a large no to come and hear a missionary from Vietnam so I will be re-aranging and cleaning the house which thankfully is still standing tho a tree just behind us did come down in the storm.
Take care all, love Kezza xx








Tuesday, May 29, 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEBBIE!!!!!!


A Happy Birthday to you, a Happy Birthday to you, may you find Jesus near, every day of the year

, a Happy Birthday to you, a Happy Birthday to you, and the best year you've ever haaaaaaaad!! (Sorry I can't put the tune on with this as well, but I thought it would be nice to have the alternative version this year!)

Lovely to hear that you have had a good weekend and managed to do a number of fun things. Hope your quiet day today is a pleasant one, and not too taken up with doing jobs. We love you very, very much. Jessie is sorry that there is not much on your card, but she only had a very short time to put it together before bed.

Kissy, kissy, hug, hug, mwah, mwah.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Happy Birthday to me





Had a wonderful weekend. Thank you mum and dad for looking after the kiddy winks, they seem to have had a FANTASTIC time. I was able to see a movie (POTC3) Saturday morning (still not really sure if I liked it or not) and then we enjoyed a late lunch down in the cafe on the beach. Tea was quite nice. A half meat lovers and half vegetarian pizza shared with newly engaged couple Tony Noonan and Leonie Jardine in Leonie's new house. Then off to the bowling alley where we all enjoyed our game for free because of a booking error. And finally back home for games of Irish poker, Warlords and Scumbags and fluffy balls (the table friendly adaptation of spoons). Although I bought a cake for Saturday night I ended up saving it for my kids and they had fun singing and blowing out the candles with me. All in all a very nice weekend (and nice to have mum and dad stay here last night as well). I suspect that tomorrow will be quite quiet in comparison. Now to get back into routine and face some of the jobs that have been awaiting me around here.

Hope that you are all good. I glad to see that there hasn't been any news of Lebanon in the news lately - so assuming that things have quietened down some.
Love and hugs to all (and hopefully a good nights sleep)

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Train fun, 80's Princess, mummy & son AND ..
















... you can NEVER have too many lego people!


Some pictures that I finally retrieved from our camera. Calvin and I were having some fun with the camera yesterday and the others are just from over the last month.
The kids are very excited about their upcoming holiday with grandma and Grandpa in Orroroo (so is daddy and mummy for that matter). We're all recovering from colds but certainly plan to all be better before the weekend.

Love and hugs to all.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Finally some news from Lebanon


Hello everyone. Well I am finally getting around to writing something here. What a few weeks it has been!! Phew. We had a good time with the Brazilian group Berimbau. Wadih was kept busy touring around schools with them and thankfully Scott stepped in and helped out above and beyond the call (Mum and Dad know who I'm talking about) and really saved the day. I was able to find a few windows of opportunity to see them here and there.


Friday turned into a very nice day. The ladies turned up at my place for bible study with flowers and cake, then at Baptism class they also had a cake, then while setting up the stage for Saturdays concert on a basketball court facing the YFC office, there was suddenly about 25 young people on their balconey shouting "Happy Birthday Lindy!", then when we finally got home Wadih did offer to take me out to eat, (but I'm ashamed to say I was too pooped and opted instead to stay at home with the family and a couple of friends who where there. But it was fun!).


Saturday morning we had the recording for this kids CD that my friend Mel is producing. That was fun and an interesting experience. The kids enjoyed it and are quite chuffed at the idea of singing on a CD. Will have to send you a copy when it is ready next month! After lunch all together at McDonalds it was off to finish setting up for the concert, go to the concert, come home and prepare pew sheets and stuff for church.


I won't bore you with all the details of Sunday but basically, at church we were doing Youth Praise in the hall downstairs which went okay, the opening of the chapel at MBC went okay, (played some fun songs) and then after all the fighting that had been going on during the day, we were very relieved to finally get the team on the bus for Turkey and on their way. It was coming home from the bus station at night that Jess and I were driving where the first bomb exploded, just 15 minutes or so after we were there.


Last night again, we were meeting as the Worship Team at Scott's, to watch Monty Python (Very spiritual I know!) and just as that finished we heard about the next explosion in Verdun, on the other side of Beirut. I must admit as the evening is passing, I am keeping an ear out, half expecting/dreading to hear another explosion. The city looks pretty quiet at the moment. People are not very optimistic about things settling down anytime soon and the army seem determined to get this group and they have the support of the people. There are so many rumors, theories and ideas about what is really the aim of these battles/bombs and in truth no-one really knows. Well I certainly don't.


Still, life is going on as usual here, school hasn't been disrupted as yet (much to Johns disgust) and we are all still going to work. I may not go to Tyre this week as Wadih is not keen on the idea. I guess we will see what the next couple of days brings. And that is pretty much the story of our life up to date for now. Thanks for all your prayers and please do keep writing here. It is always nice to see something new or even just a comment! Love to all.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Friday, May 18, 2007

Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy HappyHappy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy

BIRTHDAY LINDY!!!!

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Finally a post from Whyalla

Hi all. Sorry that I have been so completely slack at putting anything on the blog. Sadly, I really haven't taken any photos for weeks, and as a result don't think to sit and blog.
Thank you Kerryn for sharing about your dramatic life in Brighton. Glad to hear that your house was spared from an icky mess. Also thanks for the photos Lindy. You rock - look at you go girl! Will have to check out your band sometime.

Thanks to mum, dad and Jean for visiting on Monday. Was nice to catch up and see you all, and glad to hear that your dinner went well. The kids are looking forward to their 'long' visit over to Grandma and Grandpa's.

Well a bit has happened since I last wrote. For example, this morning was interesting!
I pulled up at kindy after dropping off Natalie and I was sure that I could hear a cat. Didn't think much of it. Got Calvin out of the car and could still hear it - then I realized that it was coming from the engine! Decided to take Calvin in first, the whole time thinking ' oh no, I going to find Katt smooched in the engine'. So thumping heart went back to the car opened the bonnet, and sure enough there was a cat (but not our Katt - hurray). It looked so stuck and at first I couldn't get it out thinking ' oh ick. its tail or paw must be crushed in something. But then it came out in one piece and so I dropped it at the vets. It wasn't micro-chipped, so I hope that they are able to find the owners okay.

Apart from having cats in the engine, life has pretty much just been 'getting through the day'. A couple of weeks back I had a series of rather intense anxiety attacks (no, my brain doesn't feel anxious but I have a lot of dizziness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, vision issues, muscle pain, back pain etc etc) that continued for over a week, at which point I went to the Dr and she gave me some heavy duty 'knock out' drugs. Not sure if these have helped as they mostly left me with the physical symptoms but too sleepy to care! Still not feeling 'well' but have reduced myself to a strict diet of boring foods (no caffeine, no alcohol, no chocolate!!!, no sugars, no fatty fats, etc) and am very careful about what I watch, talk about and I'm certainly getting through the day better than I was (or wasn't as the case may be). The Dr took blood last week and called me back today to give more, so hopefully this arvo they will have some results that can point to a solution to all of this. Haven't taken any of the meds since Friday, so I think that's a good start.

Of course life goes on ... and Natalie has really been enjoying school lately. I have noticed a huge improvement in her reading and although usually completely wrong, I can see that she is putting a lot of thought into her writing. Was very excited the other night when we pulled out the flute, clarinet and saxophone for her (and Calvin) to look at. She has decided that she would like to learn the flute (at some point in the future).
Calvin had his first morning care today and absolutely loved it (morning may prove better than afternoons). It is great to hear all the staff describe him as a 'gorgeous and lovely little boy' - much better than a grumpy thug. He has also been growing and learning a lot lately (have included his picture).


Last night Stuart and I came across this book called "The dangerous book for boys". Sounds absolutely fantastic. For those mums out there with boys you may want to check out the ad for it on You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5PSdBWvx8s
Brilliant! Makes me excited for the day when Calvin is old enough to be into all of this sort of stuff.

Wow, this is a long post! I should stop writing now. Hope that you are all going well. I'll try not to leave it so long between posts next time and hopefully will have some good health news soon. Wonder if you have big plans for Friday Lindy! Bible study here tonight, so I should go and clean and get ready.
God bless, take care, hugs to all.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

No photos yet but someone had to say something:)

Hello, I'm still having trouble with the new photo system so I thought I better get some news up and the photos can come later.
Last fri. Mike was up early to fly to Melb.and Zac and I were up a little later to go to a Mothersday breakfast run by the school,Hannah and other yr 10s were there at 6;30 to prepare lovely muffins and eggbaskets, fresh fruit and scones for us all to enjoy. Its handy having a school that is into hospitality :)
Saturday Zac spent his time making a marble run that Mike recorded and edited into an entertaining dvd( we might put it on U tube) this was his application for the tournament of the minds team. He got 9/10 for it.
Annie had netball in her new body suit, they looked good but lost quit badly and now have a good plea bargain to be moved to a lower grade loosing 74-5 :}.
I had a lovely Mothers day with no responsibilities at church and breakkie in bed then a lovely lunch at the Orienti restaurant with Ian, Jeffory and Joe joining us followed by afternoon tea with Mikes family at Kingston pk. We stayed till the sun set, it was a lovely day which braced us for a tricky Mon. morn.......
Our drains were making bubbly sounds that we have heard before and knew it could lead to trouble so rang the sa water people saying no hurry, then within a few minutes the water levels in the toilets began to rise and outside we saw raw sewage pouring out of our side drain, down the driveway and into the street!! so we called again saying actually it is urgent!! :{ Thankfully they got to the problem when we were just 2 in. away from having other peoples sewage coming up the pipes onto the floors. They also had a rapid response team come and clean the driveway and street. Amazingly the smell didn't get into the house and the kids got to school ok and Mike was able to make his 10 am meeting 'cause his lovely wife drove him into town :)
Hope all of you who got together in Whyalla had a lovely time and you Lebanon mob are keeping well.
Love you all very much.. Kezz xx

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

The Aliens Are Back!





The Resident Aliens played this last weekend at Soul Connection 2. It was fun, everything worked well and we sounded surprisingly good seeing we only had one practice before the day to choose and arrange the songs. I'll have to get you some of the video for the Switchfoot song we did!

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Kaye turns 60







It was worth the rushed trip to Adelaide to join with about 25 other people to celebrate Kaye's birthday. With Merise and Rohan in charge you can imagine it was a fun night and they did an excellent job in the reflection on her 60 years of life. they then put on a powerpoint presentation using mainly photos that had been declared never to be shown in public. We got to bed at 1.00am and we up again at 5.25 so that we could be home for church We took Dianne Ford with us a school friend of Kaye's, they have been friends since they were 8 and were in the same class at the Orroroo school.
Had a good week on the tractor cultivating 1000 acres and sowing 200 aces of oats by 12.00 on Sat. Denise made the birthday cake which was a Rocky Road cake very yummy

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Our Photos of camp








These ones are more just John and me, having fun and being silly mostly!!

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Check out the Church blog

Just a very quick note as it is now twenty to four in the morning!!! If you go to the All Saints' blog there are a few photos of our Youth Retreat which was extremely excellent by the way! And thankfully all stayed calm over the weekend and the kids were back at school today while we got on with work. Love you all xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Friday, April 27, 2007

Jessie part 2!



After some very patient waiting, Jessie finally got her pressie from Mum and Dad (and John). As you can see, she is quite pleased with her MP4. AND she loved the box thank you Grandma and Grandpa. I think her statement was, "I love that box, green is my favorite colour!" So Annie, you are in good company. Trust you are all well. We are hoping that camp will still go ahead today after the news and events of yesterday. That is currently the plan and if all stays calm we will, although they have closed all the schools and university's. Will let you know if we get there!! Love to all.