Update on Life

Well, as you know, the biggest news around here is the birth 

of the adorable 

Alyssa Jane Hockey.

We are enjoying being grandparents again for the third time. 

Little Miriam and Lydia are growing so quickly that it's impossible to keep up. Miriam is getting to be a real little girl, definitely not a baby anymore. And now, with Alyssa coming along, Lydia no longer seems small anymore. Lydia is crawling and is a very smiley, happy and expressive baby.

James and Laine are both busy in their jobs and work hard for their families. 

We don't get to see Lauren and Cam as much as we would like to, but they are doing well and serving the Lord faithfully in Malanda. Cam keeps busy with his business and Lauren is a great blessing to all at Jubilee Christian College where she works part time. 

Chloe and Maddie and I were able to visit them in Sept/Oct and it was great to visit with family and friends and fellowship at Grace Baptist while we were there. 

As to other life, we are very busy with our business and

so life is always a little crazy. We now have 2 refrigerated trucks (not counting the old Hino

that is well and truly past it's used by date), and these run 6 days a week with Dave and our full time employee. I have my truck license now too, so I am on call for runs when they are needed. On Christmas Eve, Maddie and I did the Mataranka freight run while Dave went in the opposite direction. I also keep busy twice a week doing local deliveries in our Landcruiser ute. 

The girls are on holidays at present and are enjoying

getting to sleep in! They both work early hours, Maddie at a coffee shop and Chloe at the Day Care. Sometimes it feels like they are never home as they work very hard, with Maddie doing 6 days a week and Chloe 5. But life goes on and we carry on. 

It has been a very busy year for all of us and we are eager to see what God has for us in the new year. 

We are looking forward to a new Pastor and his family, coming in March to take the church. We are excited to see what ministries God has for us to do and how he wants us to serve. 

The fellas in the church (and sometimes us ladies), have been working on renovating the new church building which will be exciting to move into once it's done. It will be a blessing not to have to cart the chairs etc back and forth and set up each week. It will also give us a meeting place more central and in the public view that will, Lord willing, bring many opportunities for new contacts. 

Dave has been doing all the gyprocking (with the girls and I helping), and others in the church have been tirelessly working hard on all sorts of jobs needed. There is a lot to be done and although the job looks insurmountable, we know that God is bigger than it all and we can, through His strength, get the job done. 

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

It has been extremely hot and dry this past couple of months and we are still waiting for the heavens to open up and shower us with rain, but on the plus side, we haven't had to mow the grass in probably 9 months! 

And, that's about it for now. 

I just wanted to remind any out there that read my articles, that this particular blog is becoming more of a Holmes update blog (with the occasional article) and my other blog "Learn. Live. Love. Share"

https://learnliveloveshare.blogspot.com/

is where I post most of my writings. So, if you're interested, you can sign up to that blog for articles and studies. 

Thanks for being interested in our family life here in the NT,

and we covet your prayers for God's direction in our lives. 

I pray that God will give you a fruitful year ahead and lots of opportunities to serve Him. 

Philippians 1:3-4 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy