Brett's Brother-From-Another-Mother Dan and Aunty Bim

Many moons ago, Brett lived way out west.

He formed a friendship there that would stand the test of time, adversity and geography.

We hadn't seen Brett's best mate Dan for over 6 years (since he came, travelling 10+ hours to surprise Brett for his 30th birthday) and we hadn't seen Dan's Mum, Aunty Bim since our wedding day.

We got word that Dan had made the semi-finals playing about 3 hours away from us so we decided that we'd rock on out there to support him and have a catch-up!

It was so wonderful to see him again and for him to meet Zippi and Zeeki for the first time.

 

{Zeeki, who has had major anxiety when meeting new people was TOTALLY relaxed in both Dan and Aunty Bim's arms. I think he knew he was with family ;) } 

 

We didn't know Aunty Bim was going to be there.

When she saw Brett, she embraced him, like a mother a son, and they both cried (and so did I! I know how much Aunty Bim means to Brett and it was very special to be with her once again).

 {Catching up like no time has passed at all! Brett and Aunty Bim have a laugh.

The last time we saw her was on our wedding day when we had a 7.30am breakfast wedding. Aunty Bim and Red had driven through the night in order to get there in time. They made it, stayed for our vows and we didn't even know they were in the crowd until right at the end when Brett spotten them as we walked down the aisle. He cried and I knew, even though I hadn't met them yet, that it was them! Aunty Bim told us this day, almost 12 years later, that she couldn't hold it together she was so emotional! It was so wonderful of them to make the 10+ hour trip to be there for our wedding; something we will NEVER forget}

 

{Dan rips it up the field - go #6!}

 

{Aunty Bim and Zeeki having a special cuddle}

{Dan's team - although they didn't win on the day, they played really well.}

 

{Having a last photo together before saying goodbye. Wished we could have stayed and chatted all day!}

{Two brothers embracing}

{Once they were teens together; now they have partners, are daddy's and strong men.}

 

We love you Dan and Aunty Bim x

Snow!!!!!!!!!!

We had snow forecast to land in our town last night (well a chance of anyway!) but it didn't arrive.

Two towns away however it did settle.

So at 7am this morning, the kids scoffed down some brekky and we decided to go off in search of the snow!

Here are a mix of normal camera and iphone photos.

{Ethi and I all rugged up}

{The only sign of snow at our place...some snow flakes frozen on the windscreen}

{As we drove into the town, the kids were squealing with delight seeing parks covered over with snow}

{Zippi enjoyed it for a very short time}

{The kids were cold but were loving the novelty the snow brings}

{Zeeki's first sight of snow!}

{Park benches were covered over in a thick layer of soft white beauty}

{Snow angels!}

{A winter wonderland}

{Just after this shot was taken, Zippi picked some snow which of course meant that her hands were then freezing. Poor thing ended up having a monstrous size meltdown. I underestimated how much the cold would affect her. I thought she would be cold but she was more than just 'normal' cold. This is what happens with kids who are hyper-sensitive to heat/cold. I just underestimated it. But lesson well learnt. For the rest of the time she stayed in the car and I right next to it while the bigger kids played.}

{In your face Ethi...literally}

{Small toes kept warm and dry thanks to our rubber boots}

{Poor snotty Zeeki was outside all of about 3 minutes before he'd had enough too. Back into the warmth of Betsy the bus for the babies}

{The big kids however...!!!}

{More snow angels}

{Such beauty; snow in the Australian bush}

{Someone had made a cute little snowman on the bonnet of a car!}

{One of our fave parks...now transformed into a white snowy playland}

{Stass pegs a snowball right at me!}

{Going off together to make snowballs and a snowman}

{A car is completely covered in snow. The kids spot this one and think it's fabulous!}

{Ethi shouts out, "Wait up for me guys!" as they going up a small hill}

{The sun begins to shine through and slowly starts to melt the snow}

{Snow ball!}

{Am glad of my boots too!}

{Snow fight}

{This little duck came up to say hi and stood in the sun for a moment}

{Ah yes that is snow in Liji's mouth! These are the sorts of memories I hope my kids' childhood are jam-packed with; fun, exploration, experience, togetherness}

{My snowy shadow}

{As we went to drive out of the town, we went past a hill where a couple of families were toboganning. Our kids have never done that before and loved watching them. I didn't have anything for them to use as a sled/toboggan. I said if they wanted to go and ask if they could please have a turn using the for sale sign the other family had brought with them, then I would wait for them. They weren't sure about if they wanted to and there was talk about who would go and ask, etc. Liji decided he would be brave and go forward and ask the Dad of the family. I was so proud of him and so thankful that the man was so kind and replied with a very enthusiatic, "Yes! Of course you can mate!" How wonderful!}

{Liji launches himself down the slope on the for sale sign and lets out shrieks of joy as he travels very quickly down the hill}

{Stass enjoyed her run too!}

{Ethi loved it and went sliding down the hill to the right and left and then backwards!}

{Liji and I went down together!!! It was SOOOOO MUCH fun!}

{And um yep maybe as I pulled up, I ended up on my bum! Cold and bumpy but hilarious!}

{Another snowball fight!}

{Liji and I were going to jump in the air together but while I jump, he aims and fires yet another snowball at my head! lol! It's ok, I got him back ;)}

{Snow Day!}

{When we drove back into our town, the kids noticed there was heaps of snow on the mountain ranges. So we drove to a lookout and I snapped a couple of photos of the snow-capped ranges}

On the way home, Zeeki fell asleep and transferred well out of the car into the cot so the kids and I could enjoy a hot chocolate and begin our day in the warm of our heating.

Blessed, we are!

5 Things I am Thankful for Today:

1. Heating

2. Homeschooling so we can have those kind of fun exploring moments together

3. Betsy our bus

4. Play-doh

5. Our amazing creator who sends snow!

More another time,

Lus x

More of My Fiji

So, as promised, more of our trip in Fiji.

Even as I was going through these tonight, I felt teary all over again. It's such a difficult thing to try and put into words; feeling SO close to people and a place that it feels like that should be your norm and yet living here IS our norm.

Even though it has been weeks since our return, I still feel a mix of emotions being back.

Caught between two realities.

It's so weird and yet this is the way Yah has destined it to be (at least for now).

Anyway, here are more shots to share :)

{There were lots of meke's (special songs and dances) and in some of them the women stand up and 'choose' their partner by tapping them on the shoulder. They dance side by side with arms around waving joyously in the air. Siba!!!}

{Our kiddos had practiced 'Waltzing Matilda' as a little song 'gift' for our village. I accompanied them on the guitar and even Zippi joined in!!!}

{We enjoyed so many beautiful sunsets on the farm. It was like my skin and eyes were trying hard to drink in the colours and light, knowing as each day passed, that it was getting closer and closer to the time that I would say goodbye to these kind of simple pleasures}.

{Ethi and Liji were in their element playing footy with all the village children. It was so special to see them run and play so freely despite any language or cultural barriers.}

{Here I am with my sisters and with Samu (my cousin) and his wife Peci (in the orange) who visited us in the hotel. I couldn't believe how grown up Samu had become in 14 years.}

{Back on the farm, another feast is prepared. Our family went to so much trouble to cook and prepare food for us. It was so delicious and I'd give anything right now for some of that curry from Peceliema!!!!}

{This is where we ate together. In Fijian culture we eat on the floor as a sign of respect that no one is considered 'higher' than anyone else. A table runner is placed on the floor and food is spread out over that. My sisters fan the food to keep the flies away until everyone is called to eat}.

{Here is the volau (shed) which was errected in our honour. This is to house all the visitors who will come to the village to meet and greet us! The volau is decorated with many woven leaves and flowers, mats and in our case (because of my parents' bad back and Dannii and Brett's knees) they even put out a couch setting for us to use. Again in Fijian culture, they don't have lounge settings out when people are sitting in a lower position but there was an exception made for us because they understood our needs. That is LOVE and GRACE in action right there!!!}

{Dannii, my SIL, was loved and accepted immediately by my family there. This was so touching to us and to her too. She feels like blood to them and they to her. And I know she misses Nau and the family and the land there just as much as I do.}

{My beautiful Aunty Nana Kasa}

{My cousin playing guitar Sevo and his nephew (the oldest of the 41 great-grandchildren) Ropate (in the blue) whom I can still see as a little 2 year old running around the village getting into trouble from my Pupu (grandfather) }

{Another of my 40 first cousins (YEP!) Peiwa and his brother-in-law Joe}

{Two of my beautiful first cousins Mena and Ta'ke in the blue who is the eldest out of all of us grandkids. I love these girls SOOOOO much and miss them to bits}.

Zippi with little Lusiana and Sisi

We played many games of Pani which we have played since I was a small child.

I first played it on the farm in 1988 and then would request to play it in Australia with my family in our backyard and every time we went back to the village to visit. Our kids and Brett have been taught by my dad how to play and we LOVE this game!
So the kids requested we play while we were there.

{The two teams are established - the throwing and the catching teams. Coconut shells are stacked one on top of the other and the throwing team tries to knock down the stack in one hit. The throwing team can catch the ball and if it bounces once and is caught, the thrower is out! However, if the thrower manages to hit the stack and knock it down, then the whole team has to try and restack the shells while the catching team set about throwing the ball about to one another (no running!) and trying to peg the ball at the throwers. If the throwers can restack the coconut shells, they get a chance to throw again and it begins again. Otherwise, the catchers change ends and get to try their best at knocking down the stack. Sounds complicated but it's not and it is SO much fun!!!}

{The ball has been thrown at one of the 'throwers' but has missed and ended up on the roof of the shed! In the meantime, the kids try to stack the shells!}

 

{Kit does well with the stacking}

{Dee gets hit on the back and cracks up laughing! No more stacking for her now. She cheers on the rest of the 'throwing' team}

{The coconut shells have been restacked and here comes another thrower! The village kids have a great aim!}

{Almost had them stacked but oops they've falled down again! Quick, got to stack more before the ball gets thrown at you!}

{Love this photo of Liji who looks like he's trying to avoid the ball by standing diagonally!!!}

{While Pani is being played, little Zeeki strips off for a bit of a cool down. It's humid this particular day and he's enjoying being in just his nappy}.

{Aunty Meng catched the ball and gets ready to throw it again!}

{The game goes on while Sisi washes some pots...}

{...and my aunties and cousins chat and prepare the next meal. They are so incredibly hospitable and display a real servant heart to us. Makes me so thankful to them and inspired to do the same in my life to those I love too}.

{My cousin Via in the outdoor kitchen and verandah}

{My dad's beautiful sister, Nei Seno, whom I adore. It is her village that are hosting us each day. While Momo Kameli has passed away since I lasted visited, she and Ta'ke (her daughter) have been looking after Nau and Pupu Samu which makes my heart happy}

{Two of the great-grandkids...Giri and Sitaita}

{Zippi and Emily played beautifully together.}

{She loved the freedom of play and being outdoors so much too}.

{Meanwhile, pani goes on!}

{More cousins and friends come to the village to lu lulu (meet) and it is SO lovely for me to catch up with Kelera and Basi whom I played with as small girls. We are now all married and have small children of our own}.

{My incredibly beautiful Nau (grandmother) sits on and watches. I ADORE this photo of her. She is such a gorgeous woman inside and out. I'd give anything to be able to sit right there next to her, feel her hand on my hand as we laugh to a familiar joke or at something one of the kids are doing. I am so thankful for the MANY moments like this that we shared during our trip.}

{As day turns into night, the generator is plugged in (no electricity on our village) and the kids sit under the volau playing hand clapping games; teaching each other Fijian/Australian ones and enjoying such a sweet connection between distant cousins}.

Beautiful times and memories.

I have many more Fiji photos to share but I also need to try to keep updating my blog with photos of things that have happened since we've returned!

I'll keep going between the two when I can.

More soon.

Hope my friends in blogland are doing well.

Yah bless you,

Lus x