Just a few photos....

Last month I went on a trip with Dave to the community of Bulman

Only 310 km away, but don't let that distance fool you. 

The road is part of the road to Gove, which is the worst road Dave

has EVER driven a truck on! 

It takes around 7 hours plus normally, and with our load and excitement, it took a lot, lot longer! We had some drama, to put it mildly. 

There were some narrow causeways along the way to navigate, but Dave is an amazing driver! 

We were loaded with 3 trailers of stuff for a camp to go to some seasonal bull catchers. 

We were passed many times by the army on their way to an exercise on a station. They left us in their dust. 

With our air con not working, windows down, we were showered in dust frequently.

We crossed some beautiful country, which I tried to focus on after our overnight traumatic experience.

It's too long a story to tell in writing, but basically, it saw us between 1am and 3am, struggling to get up a little jump up with our heavy load because of bull dust. 

This meant unhooking trailers, backing down the hill on crazy angles and unloading the grader we were carrying, at 3 in the morning, with Dave learning to drive one on the spot, never having used one before (and they have at least 12 levers to work the articulated, bladed vehicle!). Me holding the torch, sick to my stomach with fear, praying without ceasing, srsly, guiding him down the ramps, then chaining the grader to the Scania and Dave backing back up the hill, towing me along in the Scania.

Well, that's the short story of the most terrifying night I've ever spent! And then the next morning, after camping on the road in the truck, the batteries were dead. So, the next adventure began. Thankfully, Dave was able to make himself some bush mechanic jump starter cables and get us going after a couple hours.  

We were able to camp with the bull catchers in their camp overnight and they fed us some camel steaks which were very tasty. 

I'm so glad that God looks after his children, as he did for us that night. I haven't prayed that hard in a very long time, but God got us through, testing our faith and trust in him. 

This is the jump up we got stuck on, on the way back. Doesn't look so fearful in the daylight, but we left our mark on the road, from the spinning tyres, grader tracks, etc. 

There was a very picturesque lookout along the way that we were able to stop and sit for a while and enjoy God's creation. 

I am so thankful for God's protection. Dave is headed out tonight on that very road, and although fear lies down deep inside my soul, I know that God is in control and has his hand on him.

 Holmes Family Photo Dump

May 2022

Life has been a little busy of late. 

Here's just a few of the many photos I've been snapping away lately. 

God is good! 

Our annual Mother's Day photo just goes to prove how old Dave and I are getting!

We just passed our 27th wedding anniversary! 

And then there were 7!

Miriam

Lydia

Alyssa

Reuben

Charlie

Esther

George

.............and counting..........

Often, I post more photos of one grandkid than the others, simply because of remembering to get the camera out while they're here, or seeing them more frequently, but we love them all!! 

More to come over the next few weeks, I'm sure! 

 

Welcome George Henry Hockey💕

Yes, we have grandbaby number 7!!

Little George arrived on the 10th of May.

He is perfect, just like the others! 

 Other Recent Happenings

Back in March, I was blessed to be able to speak at a Ladies Conference held at Lake Bennett, near Darwin. It was a beautiful weekend of fellowship and learning lessons from Psalm 23. 

I think we all came away with fresh insight and a new understanding of this beautiful Psalm, as well as some new friends made. 

We also enjoyed awesome sunsets, lightning storms and the beauty of the sun going down over a calm lake. 

Also, back in February, it was very exciting to hold our very own Ladies Conference here in Katherine at Savannah Way Baptist Church for the first time. 

We had a good group of ladies come and I spoke on the subject of our identity in Christ.

Due to the conference having to be postponed numerous times because of lockdowns etc, I was given more time to gather a lot of information and do enormous amounts of study on the subject and it was such a blessing to be able to share with others the things God had taught me. 

On the home front, we have had a lot of quality time with the grandkids. As Abbi and the kids stayed with us for a couple of weeks before the birth of little Esther, we were able to have a lot of grandkid time and activities. 

Time spent helping Grandpa get ready for a trip, time spent helping Grandma and the Aunties sort the freight, time to wash the dog, playing in the sprinkler, painting, play dough, chalk art, cornflour goo, reading, baking, playing the piano etc. 

We now await our turn to watch Emilee and Laine's kiddos when their bub comes. 

Recent Qld Trip

Recently, Dave and I took a quick trip to Queensland in the truck to deliver some freight and we were able to catch up with some family as well. 

It was great to catch up and visit and get a small road trip in while we were at it. 

Due to the ice-pack not working in the truck, we were not able to sleep inside the truck so we opted to take along the girls swags and sleep under the stars on the trailer. This was wonderful, staring up at the stars and feeling the breeze on our face as we slept, except, of course, when it rained. 

The first little shower had has quickly moving ourselves to some available picnic tables that worked perfectly, but the second time, it was a torrential downpour out of Barcaldine and there was no under cover space. So after braving it, with our swags pulled over our heads for almost an hour, we realised that the water was pouring in, we were both soaked, and so was every stitch of our bedding, mattresses included, so we moved into the truck. No bedding and a little stuffy but at least dry. 

Anyway, travelling is always an adventure and that's the beauty of it. I love it! 

We crossed some beautiful country and although we'd seen most of it before, I was still soaking it all in and enjoying the view, snapping happily away. 

One of the highlights of the trip was getting to go on a plane ride in a very small plane with Dave's brother. It was absolutely epic and awesome. I love flying and wished we could stay up longer. God's creation never ceases to amaze me. What an awesome God that loves us so much that he created so much beauty all around us. Despite the world's chaos, he gives us little glimpses of heaven in his creation. Boy, won't heaven be absolutely magnificent! 

Psalm 8:3, 9  When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; ... O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
 

 WELCOME

Esther Rose McKenna

Yes, we have another beautiful little 

granddaughter.

Born yesterday to James and Abbi. 

Mum and bub are doing well.

Unfortunately, due to silly government rules, we

will have to wait a little longer to hold the precious 

little darling, but it will be worth it.

Her siblings are very excited and longing to meet their

new baby sister. 

Stay tuned to this space, as any day now Laine 

and Emilee will be giving us another beautiful

grandbaby. Let's see if the girls win out once again! 

Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:

 and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Proverbs 17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men;

 and the glory of children are their fathers.

Psalm 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; 

so are children of the youth.