Family ...

I love life, it is an amazing experience. There is so much to learn, some of these lessons can be hard, they can stretch us beyond our comprehension but what always amazes me is the growth that comes with each one and when I take a look at who I am becoming and how we are doing as a family, I find that I and we are better off in some way than before. Amongst these Gethsemane experiences we find our Garden of Eden moments that rain down like sunshine upon us and feed our souls, building our strength, nourishing and nurturing us along the way. Moments of pure love, pure happiness, and moments of absolute peace.
I am so grateful for my family, for the love we have and the memories we have made and are still making. I am grateful for all my extended family, the Gray's, the Colling's, and the Wades. I have learnt so much from you all even though we are far apart. I have observed and tried to apply good principles you have taught by the way you live. To my Great Aunt and Uncle who are 90years of age and happily married, I thank you. To my wonderful husbands parents who have raised an amazing son and who set an example to us each day by still going out into the world and learning new things. What a great example to us and your Grand Son. To a very special Aunt who through love and service teaches me more of how I want to be. Of course I must mention my dear brother who has always throughout my life been a shining example of grace, integrity. meekness and loyalty, to my parents, a Father who told me to take life by the horns and give it a good shake and to never be scared. To face the storm and be strong and of good cheer. A Mother who is everything to me by her quiet example in all she does which speaks volumes to me and gently leads me along the path. I so want to be more like my mother. To all my children, Bradley, Brogan, Jared, Matthew and Joseph. We now know why life for each of you was a struggle to get here and how sad it has been for us all that our youngest two did not make the journey in full. They silently slipped into our world at just 19 weeks of pregnancy but I am sure they were there to witness this moment and certain that we will live together as a family in the eternities. We are a blended family that have spent the past 20 years getting to know each other and learning from each other but most of all LOVING each other. I am so proud of all of you and so excited for our future as we grow in love and unity and numbers!
I am so excited to become a grand parent in my forties! I am so thankful to be fit and healthy to enjoy this experience together with my Beau who will be a fantastic grand parent too. The priceless spirit that a new born brings to a family is a treasure to cherish. We love Brad and Caley and know that they will be great parents.
Brogan, our precious and only daughter, is now living in Albany, Western Australia, and loving it. It looks a beautiful place. She is now 21yrs of age and beautiful in spirit and of course we think is the most stunning girl ever ! She has the best sense of humour and is really just starting out on her adventures, with so many dreams yet to unravel.
Then there is Jared, our little love bug! Yes we are raising a singing, piano playing, basketball playing, animal loving humanitarian! He is coming along nicely with passion for life and the world around him. He can't stand the suffering of any living thing and wants to give service to all. I'm sure his brothers would have been just like him in so many ways and what a great example he is. He is ready to serve his mission already!
To the hero in my life, my husband or Beau as I have always called him. We have been together a long time, you were 21 I was 24, we have lived through such a lot of triumphs and trials and still here we are, at a phase in life where we are blessed beyond measure and get to plan and dream our future with family. Thanks for the journey so far my, hang on to your hat, I've got a feeling it's going to be so much fun...