To our Fuller Family

Welcome Fuller Friends to our family blog.

It was a chaotic last week as Clayton submitted final papers, graduated and we packed everything up and said our goodbyes. The 15 hour flight went reasonably well and we are just about over the jet lag. I think that we are still recovering from exhaustion though.

Our time at Fuller Seminary was perhaps one of the best seasons of our lives (so far). We loved the Southern Californian climate and lifestyle and of course Disneyland. But more than this, our family was forever changed by the Fuller community. You became our family away from Oz. You accepted us and embraced us with your generosity and friendship. We were real with each other and supported one another. We did life together.

Now back in Melbourne, life feels a little surreal. It's like we've travelled back in time or like we have entered an alternate universe. The boys are happy to be reunited with family, but have already talked about missing their friends. Nathan has constructed an imaginary friend - 'Hannah the elephant'. He tells us that Hannah is his friend, but can't seem to find 'him'. Perhaps he is projecting his confusion with not knowing how to find his buddies from Fuller. I suppose that we're all a little confused. Fuller became our home, and we have even caught ourselves referring to it has such. It's weird feeling connected to one place and then knowing that you have to move on. It's tough wanting to reconnect in Melbourne, but knowing that our stay here is even more temporary.

I think that heaven will be like one great big reunion party. Hopefully we won't have to wait until then though!

Missing you all already.

Jordy at 8 weeks old

Reflections from our 4 year-old

Some of Judah's theological reflections:

After having read to him the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego a few nights ago, Judah stops to think about why it might be that God does not save people from getting burnt by fires anymore. He concludes that God had to save the three from the fiery furnace because they did not have fire fighters back then. Thank the Lord for our fire fighters.

Judah's interpretation of the armour of God.

Tonight Judah was talking to his Grandmother about nightmares and tells her, "Grandma, did you just know that when you have a scary dream you say 'Go away in Jesus Name.'? I think that you just don't know that yet."

Judah's reflections on family and the future:

Judah says to Clayton today - "Hey Dad. When I become a Dad, I'll have to leave you...and you'll be sad." He then started to cry - in sympathy for him. So Clayton said to him, "Yeah, I'll be real sad. But do you know what? When you become a Dad, I'll become a Pop. I'll be the Pop to your kids. And that'll make me really happy." They talked about this for a while and he worked out that Clayton would also be the Pop to Nathan and Jordan's kids. That was a bit of a concept for him cos he initially thought that when Clayton "grew up to be a Pop" that he would be Jordan's Pop. I guess that's because Jordy is so young and Clayton is 'so old'.




Judah's calculations:

He says to Clayton tonight. "Dad!" yes "Three and three is six!" (wow - breakthrough. He worked it out himself mind you). Then he said "two and two is four." "Right again" I said. "Hey Dad, Dad, Dad" (breakthrough again I suspect) "three and one is four...and two and two is four...and one and three is four - three things are four!" So he gets addition! But he also seems to be getting the idea of multiplication; he tells me, "Mum, did you know that two fours are eight and that two threes are six? "