Saturday, December 9, 2017

Sunday, 10 Dec 2017

Monday, 4 Dec - My goodness the time flies when you are busy.  Where does it go? It is as if I just posted last week's blog and it is time for another one.  Good grief Old Man Time - Please SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW down.
Today Margaret did her weekly declutter at the Sister's house.  Mike made more silver and gold coins for the Branch Christmas party - he always wanted to be a counterfeiter (ha).  Then both went to Spotlight and looked for new curtains for the branch meeting house.

Tuesday, 5 Dec - Mike talked with his mum a day early since we will be driving to Sydney tomorrow.  Then he talked with Sprint about a new phone for Margaret to replace the one that was stolen.  We decided to get get a phone from Sprint since it would be locked for 50 days and we cannot wait that long before using it on the Telstra network.  It has been too long already.  We helped with the Tuesday afternoon primary activity - it was Faith in God today and the kids made Christmas cookies and gave them to several families, including their own.  We then went to Christ Church Cathedral (Anglican) for the investiture of the new rector in Grafton, but he was sick so the service was cancelled.  That gave us time to talk with the the Anglican reverends and find out a bit more about the Grafton Ministers Association.

Wednesday, 6 Dec - We drove to Sydney - Oh Joy.  It is a long 8 hours, including rest & petrol stops. We made it and stayed with Rhonda Crosbie.

Thursday, 7 Dec - It is Pearl Harbor Day.  Remember those who gave their lives this day in that attack. The Australia Sydney North Mission held it's Christmas training session today.  We had training in the morning and then lunch.  After lunch we took care of a number of administrative things and held some activities with the full set of young missionaries in the mission.

Friday, 8 Dec - We attended the Sydney temple in the morning with Rhonda.   Then back to her place for lunch and then on the road to Port Macquarie.  The Port Macquarie branch was holding a live nativity and the Swain's invited us to stay with them and see the nativity.  We got there in time to listen to a local choral group singing Christmas carols and then were able to see the nativity.  Both were really quite good and we had an enjoyable time.

Saturday, 9 Dec - We made a tour of Port Macquarie with the Swains.  We went to Shelley beach and to the Lighthouse beach, among other places.  At lighthouse beach they have camel rides.  We went back to the Swain's, had lunch and then headed north to Grafton.  We stopped along the way at Barry Wards and Joyce Wallbank homes.  Then home and crashed.  It was good to sleep in our own bed.

Sunday, 10 Dec - President Sadler (District Presidency counselor) and his wife spoke in Sacrament meeting today.  He held a luncheon after.  Then home to get a few things done before a branch Presidency meeting at 630 pm.

Handbag - material provided by Rhonda Crosbie.  Design and sewing by Margaret Haley

Inside pocket of the handbag

Australia Sydney North Mission young missionary Christmas luncheon

Some of our Chinese & Taiwan missionaries - Sister Lu, Sister Wang, Elder Tsen

Elder Gibbs & Sister Wang in a race to stack cups and then unstack them
And the winner - Sister Wang


Taiwan Elders & Sisters

Another photo of the ASNM missionaries

Elder Haley, Sister Wong, Sister Haley

How to eat an Oreo if placed on your forehead


ASNM missionaries



The Angel Gabriel talking with Mary

Mary, Joseph & the Christ child in the manger

The shepherds coming to see the Christ Child

The sheep and the choir of Angels

One of the wise men laying down his gift to the Christ Child

The shepherds & wise men paying honor to the Christ Child 

Past the center rocks - a pod of porpoise at Shelly Beach, Port Macquarie

Panorama of Shelly Beach

A shell Christmas tree
Elder & Sister Haley. The sun was bright and the thumb was big

Goanna at Shelly Beach - about 2 1/2 to 3 ft long

Bush turkey

Bush Turkey

Rocks & surf at Port Macquarie Light house

Sister Haley, Elder Swain, Sister Swain at the PM Light house

Light house beach and the camels in the far distance

More rocks & surf at the light house

Koala sleeping (what they do best) at the PM Koala hospital

Another Koala sleeping

In the branches above.  I wonder how they keep their balance when they are asleep

Sister & Elder Haley with Koala statue

Koala hospital at Port Macquarie


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