He's growing up and he's calling me 'Mum'

WARNING: Much longer post then I anticipated!!!!

Having read Michelle's post about the progression of N's language from calling her 'Mama' (a term I happen to love ... when any of my children call me 'Mama' it makes all my insides squishy!) to calling her 'Mummy', I was able to recall the days when my own called me 'Mummy' - thankfully, they sometimes still do. I hope they hold onto that term of endearment for many, many years to come. I can't say that, even though Joel and Matthew call me 'Mum', I was really ready for them to grow up yet. I have to say, I think 'Mummy' is more for me then it is for them!!! I hope that makes sense.

Well, my first-born bundle of joy arrived home from spending four days and three nights in Sydney. Ever since Joel was in Kindergarten, I have been adamant in declaring that there was no way that Joel was going on this particular excursion, which happens to be an exchange program with the school he attends and a school in Sydney. This program has been operating for the last 37 years and, as Joel's teacher pointed out to the parents (for obvious reasons), they have never experienced a problem. My main concerns involved the fact that Joel would be staying with a family I had never met and so I would not know their values/morals/approach to life/brand of toothpaste etc, etc! To this point, I have not allowed Joel to stay overnight with anyone outside the church for the aforementioned reason.

However, Rob and I were sitting in Joel's classroom on the "introduction to the teachers" night when the teacher explained the purpose of the excursion and the safety precautions implemented. My heart started doing an excited little flip, floppy type thing and I realised that this excursion would probably be a good experience for Joel. On our way home that particular night, Rob and I both agreed that Joel should probably go but we would delay telling him our decision until we were absolutely sure - you know, a "cooling off" type of period!! We realised that Joel, at the age of 12 years old, needed to make some stands and take some responsibility for himself.

Anyway, to make a rather long and tedious story, shorter and slightly more interesting, our "little" treasure departed on the bus on an extremely cold and foggy Tuesday morning at the unearthly hour of 7.15am and arrived home on Friday evening at around 6.30pm. I can tell you, I was overjoyed to see my boy!!

Joel took some rather wonderful pictures and gave me permission (you know, copyright and all that!!) to use them on this blog.

Of course, we all know this is the opera house. Joel took several wonderful photos of this beautiful Australian icon and it was very hard to choose one. The one below was taken through a fence.

Then there was the Quarantine Station where migrants suspected of carrying contagious diseases were quarantined at the site to protect the local Sydney community from infection. It was established in the 1830's and operated until 1984. In 1840 overcrowding was a huge issue - there were four children to a bed!

Designed by convict architect Francis Greenway, the Hyde Park Barracks (below) was home to convict men and a place of punishment between 1819 and 1848. Later it became an Immigration Depot for young girls and a Government Asylum for women.

The above picture shows the manacles that used to be put on the feet of the convicts.

And just before they came home -

LUNA PARK!!!!!!!

Joel had a wonderful time. When he got home, he showed us the 187 photos he took (these are a mere sample) and he told us all about everything. There were opportunities for him to draw close to God during that time as well. There were a couple of situations that might have turned out much worse then they actually did, but thankfully Joel knows how to call on Jesus and to trust Him for the outcome of any situation. I am thankful that we have a God we can call upon in any situation.

I just want to end this post with a Psalm that was part of my Sunday School preparation this week but actually, it didn't have too much bearing on the lesson itself. It did, however, encourage me and I pray you find it uplifting, too.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Psalm 121