Recap no.1...

Hello!!!!!
Well, Its been a while but I think I'm ready to start up again! For those of you who haven't joined in the lil game in the post below, feel free to carry that on, but up here its time for a recap. And there'll be more coming every day / every other day for about the next week...

OK, well first off we said goodbye just before the weekend to Matt...



...or should I say Elder Roberts now, looking very swish with his celebratory trifle! For those who don't know Matthew is my oldest nephew and left on Friday for the Chorley MTC on his way to the Leeds, England Mission. We are all very proud of him ;o) although things will take some getting used to now with him not around.
On thursday evening we went over and celebrated our last evening with him for two years by....



Yep! Eating again ;o)

And here he is just before saying goodbye to Mum, Dad and brothers and sister at the MTC wearing his shiny new Missionary badge!



Elder Roberts We love you!!!! x

On a not so upbeat note, the Friday before we travelled to Wales for little Meg's funeral. A sad day and yet the one thing I wasn't prepared for was how beautiful it was! Obviously I didn't take any pictures however I wanted to include these from a local paper...



Meg's little coffin was beautifully hand painted by her mother with grass, flowers, butterflies etc



and arrived in this carriage, fit for a princess! Both lovely touches which I'm sure she would appreciate along with the sight of literally hundreds of friends and family all decked out in pink.
That said, I think the most beautiful part of the day to me was hearing her parents Peter and Lindsay speak at the funeral service. I can't even imagine the strength that would take under such circumstances, but to hear them stand and tell the hundreds gathered that they know they will see Meg again was such a precious gift, definitely the part of the day I think I will remember most. At the end of her talk Lindsay read a poem I had never heard before. I thought it was beautiful so I googled it
after we got back...

Gods Lent Child

Ill lend you for a little while,
A child of mine, God said
For you to love the while she lives,
And mourn for when shes dead.
It may be six or seven days
Or forty two or three,
But will you, till I call her back,
Take care of her for me?

Shell bring charms to gladden you
And (should her stay be brief)
You’ll have her memories
As solace for your grief.
I cannot promise she will stay
Since all from earth return
But there are lessons taught below
I want this child to learn.

I‘ve looked this whole world over
In my search for teachers true,
And from the things that crowd lifes lanes
I have chosen you.
Now will you give her all your love
Nor think the labour vain?
Nor hate me when I come to take
This lent child back again?

I will do that I heard them say,
Dear Lord, Thy will be done,
For all the joys this child will bring
The risk of grief well run.
We will shelter her with tenderness
Well love her while we may
And for the happiness we’ve known
Forever grateful stay.

But should the angels call for her
Much sooner than we planned
Well brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand.

Author Unknown

On a happier note, the week before that saw the Multi Stake Youth Conference (Steadfast and Immovable 2008) in our neck of the woods. I had to decorate the hall for the Dance. Not the best pic but Loni... this pics for you! I didn't do too bad in the end! Thanks for breakfast! ;o)



And, Finally for today...

This weekend was a little more chilled! Good thing as I had had a stinkin' cold all week (still have!) so heres the whole family chillin on the couch (you can just see a bit of my leg!)



Yes Dave, thats right. The cat IS part of the family, like it or not! Infact, She's been with me longer than you have ;oP

The worst thing about the weekend was that it saw our household spider combat stats rise sharply. I think we are up to about 10 really BIG ugly ones. I'm wondering if we should sell up and move!

So to finish, here is Dave the Avenger with the Mighty Dyson Spider Sucker!



I mean c'mon spiders! Give us a break!!! Surely this sight must scare you enough to make you GO AWAY!