Friends

My Christmas wish for you is that in these festive times you can see past pain, hurts and troubles to reach out your hand. I pray that your hand will give hope to another as you reach out to help.

My Christmas wish for you is that all that you do, albeit the same as any other day, that it will be done with appreciation for all that you have that others may not. I pray that you are enveloped in joy as you serve others.

My Christmas wish for you is that you take the time to love someone else that you find hard to love. I pray that in doing so that you feel loved for just being yourself too.

My Christmas wish for you is that you can consider others with a higher regard than yourself. Then, when you arrive home safely after your celebrations, I pray that you can bring thanks to God that no one lost their life at your hands that same night.

My Christmas wish for you is that you can share the spirit of Christmas in special ways with those who see you in a faceted way. I pray that your life is a testimony of love to work colleagues and clients, to playgroup mums and to the barrista at your local coffee bar.

My Christmas wish for you is that as you contemplate the year ahead that your already laid plans clearly seen as wise or unwise. I pray that all fear, angst and stress be replaced with empowerment, encouragement and, above all, peace.

With love at Christmas

So, I previously posted on the situation that friends faced. Their little boy battled on for five days before his little body gave out and his spirit moved on. Our thoughts remain with his parents who remain earthbound and whom we love dearly.

For many, the last few weeks have been an opening of old scars of babies loved and lost either during pregnancy or in the duration thereafter. There have been hugs and tears all round with a true sense of community not just wanting to wrap around this couple but around each other.

Love does conquer all.

At some point, for many of us, our world is turned upside down. Usually this is a short-term journey and often to do with our health or that of our family. No-one goes untouched in these situations as family and friends do what they can. For some it is too much to even see you, afraid of what they should or should not say, or even fearful that they may not have the words to say anything.

It was almost two years ago now that this image appeared in my web browser:

Yes, a friend is pictured in the background with his baby girl born at 30 weeks. The pre-Facebook world had us in that same situation. As we had not been in touch for some time it seemed that to pray for the best possible outcomes would be the best thing we could do until we were able to re-connect after the hard journey of parenthood at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit had passed and the next chapter opened.

In the weekend that has just passed we have been touched in the same way once more. This time a young man, born at 27 weeks gestation, has entered our lives. Already he has made an impact on friends and family as they consider what they can do to reach out and support his parents at a time when they need the space to process all that is happening and the events that brought them to this place.

There have been many ideas thrown around about how to practically support them. Meals are an obvious need, as I expect washing clothes would be too for the first-time Mum who would want to be by her baby's side as much as possible. Other suggestions have also included supporting the immediate family with meals also to free them up to be there for emotional support and to also bring something regular to bless the NICU nurses who are entrusted to care this little baby's life. The question is, what else can be done? If you have any ideas then please let me know!

Image Source: Rusty's Bleeding Edge Page

A friend of mine, Geoff, is again getting himself media attention. What is now over two years since the creation of 'meta', the open source segway, Geoff's work has rated a mention in New Scientist magazine's December issue and has now also been published in Gizmag also. Many people will remember 'meta' from linux.conf.au 2007.

Hi all!

Well it's been almost 6 months since we left Canberra now so I thought I'd drop in an update as to how we all are on the family front.

My man and I successfully made the move without too many more relationship stressors. Our bank was able to transfer the deposit for our new home with our permission over the phone whilst we were in Hay, half way there. The reason there were a lack of photos of the bedrooms of the house was that there was paint peeling off the walls. We had all the private areas of the house painted our first week or so in the place before we assembled beds etc. Other than that the house is great - especially since we hadn't seen it until the day before settlement!

We live in a 'leafy suburb' with a council who aims to preserve our native trees. I am curious to find out though how close bitumen should go up to a tree before it inhibits its ability to grow. Let me give an example:

Sir Sonic is doing really well. Rather than using child care, between Kindy (Preschool) and an Early Learning Center (ELC) he is out and about five days a week and PJ Bear is at the ELC for two days a week. They really enjoy having 'holidays' too which they really don't have a chance for in a child care environment. So this is them in the last month:

Boof has been an absolute gem. He is so happy to just be in a room with his brothers, or, more recently, to sit with me in the office and play in his high chair. Life has become a little easier as a result but at the same time I am saddened at how fast the time has gone.

Here is a photo of him sitting up all by himself. A skill that I hope does not lead to other milestones too quickly. He is also enjoying two playgroup sessions a week and time in creche with other littlies whilst I am in adult company.

I still miss Canberra, well not really Canberra, but all of you that I knew in real life. You have all touched my life and I miss that. I decided to write this post as it has been the first whole week now that I have buzzed around the place and not looked up expecting to see a familiar Canberran face at the shops or school which I was so used to before.

I hope this post finds you all well. As much as I am 'around' online I don't really get to the forums unless something grabs my attention on the home page so this is by and large a thanks for being company for me from when I joined.

Life has moved on a lot and my focus has been changed to what lies waiting here in Adelaide so I just wanted to let you all know that you are appreciated for putting up with me in my manic highs and my *cry like a banshee* lows. Your all worth your weight in gold in my books!

ETA Yes, Boof is a thumb sucker with no encouragement on my part!