To be or not to be...that is the question!

And the answer? 

 Not to be!!

....Mennonite that is!

Many of you know I have been fellowshipping with the Mennonite church here in Deloraine since I moved here last July.  I have enjoyed my time with them and the opportunity to attend a conservative Mennonite church, but just after Christmas I was feeling the need to take a break and reassess which way I was headed. 

And after much prayer and deliberation I have come to the conclusion that the Mennonite way is not for me.  My biblical beliefs line up most with the Anabaptists, but I do have a problem with some of the Mennonite church rules (they call them guidelines, but they are rules nonetheless, regardless of what you want to call them), and they are expected to be abided by. 

So, although I will miss the dear friends I made there (although I think that as I did not choose their way they may no longer consider me a 'dear friend'), I will - and have told them so - continue to extend the hand of friendship to them.

So, once again, I am looking for a church to call home - I'm sure many of you can relate to that.

I have attended the Brethren church - and found it a bit too 'casual' for me (but then I guess after attending the conservative Mennonites, most churches would seem 'casual').

This morning (being Sunday) I attended the Baptist church.  I think I will give it a try for awhile and see what I think.

A step back in time....

....like about 30 years!!!!

 

Ben and Hayley had this family photo printed on a canvas for my birthday this year.  It was taken just after we moved to Tasmania...almost 30 years ago!

 

Natasha, Ben, Marnie, me and Jefferson. 

 

(if you click on the photo you can see a larger version) 

House

 

Some of you asked to see some pics of my house (and even if you didn't you are getting them anyway!)

 

So here is my loungeroom...looking from the kitchen...

And here is my dining room/kitchen looking from the loungeroom...

 

Will have to get the rest of it tidied up before I can show you any more :o)

Family

 

 

The busyness of Christmas seems to be over and I'm hoping to get back to posting here more regularly.

 

I had family come to visit over Christmas/New Year and here are some pics:

 

 

This is son Ben and daughter in law Hayley at the Alum Cliffs  lookout...

The boys in the tree: Ben and Denver

 

Jefferson's girlfriend Amy, Jefferson, and Denver

And daughter Natasha, son in law Patrick, and grandsons Dylan, Oliver and Zak - who didn't get to visit as they are living in Thailand at the moment, but they did send me this lovely photo.

 

 

 

I hope 2013 is a good year for you all!

Merry Christmas!

Here in Australia I'm actually a day late, but for you folk in the northern hemisphere I think it is still Christmas Day.  I had wanted to get this letter on a week ago but time got the better of me.  The family (Marnie and Denver - who are still in the process of moving to their own house, and Ben and Hayley - who are visiting from Brisbane, Queensland) have gone to the movies, and although the house looks like a cyclone has been through I decide to sit down and get this message to you all.

 

*Marnie and Denver decorated the gingerbread house :o)*

So following is a copy of my 'Christmas Letter' which I managed to get mailed to some, but for those I didn't, you might like to read about what has been keeping me busy this last year.  I have hopes of updating my blog more regularly in 2013.  Merry Christmas and God bless you!

Lynda's 2012 Christmas Letter

Dear family and friends - I can hardly believe another year is over...but then I say that every year!!

It's been a rather busy and eventful one for me. The year started with me still living in Stanley and still waiting on a court decision re. the property settlement case with Kerry. The magistrate finally handed down his decision in March but unfortunately the amount I was awarded was not enough to enable me to buy my own home. It took till June to see it all finalised, but I was so glad it was all over after dragging on for 3 years.

In May/June I had a visit to Brisbane to see Marnie and Denver, Ben and Hayley.

And in July I moved to Deloraine!

Natasha came down from Sydney for a few days to help me with the move. I was moving from a furnished apartment to a small unfurnished house, so did not have too much to move, but it was nice to see her as she and the family have now gone to Bangkok, Thailand to live and work for a couple of years.

In August Marnie and Denver came from Brisbane to stay with me. Marnie was undecided if it would be a temporary move or permanent, but she has finally decided (I think) that they will stay in Deloraine. She is in the process of looking for a rental for her and Denver. It was nice to have them here...but it will be nice to have my home back again too :o)

I was able to rent a small, near new 2 bedroom house and have gradually been furnishing it with some new and some secondhand furniture.

Although I liked living in Stanley and miss the beach a little bit (if I think about it too much) and some good friends I made, I think my move to Deloraine has been a good one. Stanley was very isolated geographically - only 1 bus out and 1 bus in each day, 20 minutes drive to nearest town with needed facilities, and a 3 hour drive to the airport. I am now living in a very picturesque town with all facilities, and only a 1/2 hour drive to Launceston (Tasmania's second largest city) and a 40 minute drive to the airport. Deloraine is a very 'english' town, with the Meander river running through it and surrounded by mountains (which have snow on them in winter), lovely old houses, lots of pretty deciduous trees and beautiful gardens (the roses are out at the moment!).

I go for a 40 minute walk around the river walk track most mornings, and have found a weekly ladies bible study to attend.

I am also enjoying fellowshipping with the Mennonite folk here (another reason for moving to Deloraine). Mennonite's are of the Anapabtist faith (like the Amish) . The church is only new, but we have around 25 folk attending most sundays. Most are from Canada and have come to help set up the church here (and hopefully be able to stay permanently) as the Mennonite faith is quite new to Australia. If you'd like to know more about the church or Mennonite faith feel free to contact me (lyndahkay@hotmail.com). I also post about it (among other things) on my blog (www.takemehomecountryroads-lynda.blogspot.com).

I have been selling some of my crafts (mostly knitted and crocheted items) here as I did in Stanley. Some to a craft shop in Oatlands, and I also have some in a craft/garden shop here in Deloraine.

May you know the peace and love of God this Christmas season and always!

much love, Lynda xx

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

the hurrier I go the behinder I get

Hello friends...life has been keeping me busy, but wanted to pop in to say hello :o)

With daughter Marnie and grandson Denver living here with me my days seem to be rather full.

We did manage recently to get all our things (Marnie's and mine) that we have had in storage in Hobart for 4 years brought up to Deloraine.  So now the garage is full of 'stuff' until we can get it sorted, so the car has to live in the driveway.

I have been enjoying opening some boxes and finding lots of my lovely book that I had forgotten I had....

And also making new labels for some of my craft work that I was selling in the craft shop at Stanley as the lady in my favourite shop (more on that later) in Deloraine is happy to take them on consignment... 

 

The roses around town are beautiful at the moment...will try and get some photos...

 

Time to get Denver from the school bus...

 

More later.... xx

grey

 

It's a grey day here today and is now also pouring with rain.  A good day to stay inside.

 

So I thought I would brighten your day (and mine) by showing you some crochet projects I have been working on lately and also some books I've been reading....

 

This will be a lap blanket in pink, green and cream...

It's finished now, and has been given to a friend.  Unfortunately I forgot to take a finished photo....

And this is my 'Stanley' blanket that I started while still living in Stanley in colours to remind me of my time there...the sea, sky, sand and plants (mostly grasses and lavenders)...

You can see the colours better in this picture.  I was also reading this book from the library while I crocheted...

And I had all these bits and pieces of yarn left over from other projects, so I decided....

....to make some cushion covers!  The one is finished (a 14 inch square) but I need to get a cushion insert for it.  Still working on the other one...

And I've just finished reading this very interesting, informative and entertaining book about a way of life that is foreign to most of us.  You can read some reviews about it here 

Back to the crocheting....