Christmas Greetings from the Darts of Davidson
Hello to everyone out there. Our warmest greetings to you at this very special time of year, celebrating the birth of our Saviour.
Blink… blink … look… another year gone – and yet again another busy year for our whole family – as we are sure has also happened for you and your family!
Firstly, can we please apologise to anyone (and everyone) who didn’t receive a Christmas letter from us last year. Over the years we have become increasingly disorganised and less and less people are hearing from us at Christmas time. We are still here and still want to be in contact with you at Christmas time – this year we are endeavouring to catch up with everyone.
Termite Shenanigans & Rectification Work
For those of you who haven’t heard (surely there can’t be anyone left by now?), we discovered extensive termite damage in our home in January last year, barely a few weeks after we sent our 2002 Christmas letter.
The good news is that with the payout we received from the Pest Inspector’s insurance company, we were able to undertake extensive demolition and construction work to our home in the first quarter of this year. The project manager/builder for this amazing transformation was Carey who was able to withstand the pressures of a psycho sister in law stressing at the state of her home. Wes also survived my distress and continued to bless me with so many of his amazing character traits. We also took the opportunity to modernise our bathrooms and make some other changes to the house during the rectification work. Much to Carey’s disgust we have been a bit slow on the painting, but hopefully we’ll get it sorted between Christmas & New Year. We are grateful to Carey for his usual high standard of workmanship.
Church Life Highlights
Once again we’ve have had an exciting and somewhat exhausting year at Bridgeway Community Church (www.bridgeway.cc).
Belinda & I were involved together in leading two, ten week ‘On Becoming Childwise’ parenting classes during the year. The classes had around 8-10 participants mostly from outside the church. As a church we are actively promoting these courses in local schools and community groups as a service to all interested parents.
I also had the opportunity to attend (along with three other delegates from Bridgeway) the annual New Frontiers Leadership Conference held in Brighton, UK in June. This was a fabulous, although all too short time of learning and personal growth. I built relationship with new friends and renewed friendship with many others.
This was my first time in the UK – what a fascinating place! I was glad to be able to enjoy a few brief days of sightseeing including London, Brighton, Arundel Castle, Bath, Stonehenge & Wantage. It is amazing what you can cram in when you set your mind to it! We were graciously hosted by the Fellingham’s in Brighton and Woolfall’s in Abingdon just outside of the city of Oxford.
The church has grown again over the past twelve months and we look forward to what God will do in our midst during 2005.
Holidays
We have enjoyed the opportunity to get away a couple of times during the year. The most ambitious and memorable was our touring holiday with the Lea Family over the Easter school holidays to Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands. We travelled with camper trailers in tow and stayed at a variety of caravan parks along the way, stopping at Tenterfield, Gladstone, Airlie Beach, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. Our Barrier Reef cruise, and the day trip to Hamilton Is and Whitehaven Beach were highlights in the Whitsunday’s, while our visits to Australia Zoo and SeaWorld on the way home were greatly enjoyed by all, especially the children.
About The Children
Thomas, our firstborn, turned 10 this year. Can you believe it! 10 years since he was born – we really hope that the next 10 will not be nearly as fast!
Thomas has had another wonderful year at school this year (all 3 children go to Oxford Falls Grammar School) and is looking forward to year 5 next year. He was blessed with another great teacher and he has thrived academically. He has continued his love of cricket and attended a cricket camp earlier in the year which helped his skills. He plays for the Wakehurst under 10’s. One of his other passions has continued to be Ford cars and he has become an avid Ford fan. Wes took Thomas to Bathurst for the pre-trial runs in October which was a very exciting time for Thomas. Thomas also continues to enjoy swimming in the pool, riding his bike, rollerblading, playstation, people, talking and eating. Thomas has been a keen member of Kosmic Kids at Church on Sunday’s and is beginning to think for himself and is starting to ask some deeper questions, we really pray that he will come into all that God has for him. He is still growing and will soon be overtaking his mother in height. His nickname is “treasure boy” and he is continuing to live up to that.
Our beautiful Bethany turned 7 this year and has just completed year 1. She has just flourished in every way and it has been a delight to see more of her personality develop.
Earlier in the year Bethany played soccer and we were delighted when she was awarded the “most improved player” award. She went from being a child that cowered every time the ball was kicked on the other side of the field to a child who was right in the thick of tackling. She grew in her love of the game and really gave it all that she had.
Bethany has also grown so much academically and was awarded the “Academic Award” for her class for 2004. We were so proud of her at the special assembly and it brought us to tears to see her delight in receiving the award. Bethany’s teacher, Al Boon, was absolutely amazing and really nurtured Beth’s gentleness together with her strong faith in God and desire to show His love to all others. Bethany is a popular child who has many friends and who loves everyone. She is very gentle in heart and is a blessing to all around her.
Our last born, Simon, turns 6 in a few short weeks and has just completed Kindergarten.
Simon is just as vivacious as usual and has really enjoyed his time at School. He constantly amazes us with the speed at which he is learning. Having sent him just after his 5th birthday he is 2nd youngest in the class (as opposed to Bethany who we sent just before her 6th birthday and is about 8th oldest in the class) and he is determined to keep up with everyone else. Simon also played soccer this year, which was really something to see. Watching a team of under 6’s is hilarious, ranging from the David Beckham’s to those who stop in the middle of a game to measure who is the tallest. Needless to say he really enjoyed himself and was not afraid of getting in the middle of the action. Ear infections have been few and far between recently and his speech is much improved. He enjoys playing with his friends from next door (in fact friends from anywhere will do) and is particularly addicted to the playstation, which is only allowed in small doses. He is a delight to us and all around.
About Us
What an incredible woman I have married. Belinda is an anchor in the midst of the chaos that seems to pass for ordinary life. As well as managing our household, she is working 4½ days as a teachers aide at Oxford Falls Grammar School. The job has been a real provision from God and the timing has been excellent allowing for Belinda to be at home with the children after school and during school holidays. Together we have run two 10 week Childwise parenting programmes and been co-leaders of a Home Group with another couple this year. Belinda has also continued to lead the ROCKETs Group for 3-5 year olds on Sunday morning. We enjoyed two weekend escapes together in the middle of the year, one to a lovely hotel apartment north of Sydney and one to Bowral (a wonderful 40th birthday present for Belinda from Carey and Helen). I am very much enjoying seeing more of my lovely wife now that the December/January school holidays have begun.
I have had a pretty intense year. I am still at LSE in the role of Commercial Manager with special responsibility for all things financial. I continue to be a member of the music team at Bridgeway and preach occasionally on a Sunday morning. Having a 1997 Landcruiser 4WD has also afforded some excellent opportunities for off-road travel and bush camping. I have ventured to the Cox’s River a number of times, Hill End and Wiseman’s ferry on a number of weekend trips – often with the ever adventurous Scott Lea (a.k.a. ‘Russ’ or Russell Coight – UK, US & NZ readers might have to consult Google). Looking after the house and pool has tended to fill up any remaining ‘spare’ time on the weekend. Despite the maintenance, the pool is a wonderful source of fun for the children, their friends and Dad too (but sadly not Mum very often)!
I (Belinda) was just reading what Wes has written about us and marvel at how a few lines really doesn’t begin to touch how busy things have been. I think that some of that is just the changes that come when the children are older and have sport and birthday parties to go to. Multiply that by 3 and it adds a lot more to each day. We wouldn’t change it but it’s interesting to note the seasons in each stage of life.
Our cat “Saucer” has continued to be an interesting member of our family and is happy to be in our company as long as we don’t want any physical affection from her. We have strongly considered getting a dog but so far the practicalities outweigh the romantic notion of having one.
Signing Off
Well, if everything goes to plan, you should receive our letter this Christmas. We really are sorry to have lost contact over the last few years. Thank you for being our friends. We send you our love at this time and pray that 2005 will be a year in which your relationship with God will go from strength to strength.
With love from the Darts of Davidson.
