It’s that time again……. when thoughts turn towards family and friends near and far and the joy of touching base through cards and letters, calls and emails to report and hear how the year has been. This week it will be 9 months since we arrived back in Australia and we are happy to say that we have not looked back to Hong Kong with longing…..except sometimes for our friends. We are so thankful for our years there and the friendships formed but we love being back with our family and old friends – and new ones too. Our departure from HK was a whirl of wonderful parties and meals with friends. We are so thankful to all of you who made us feel so special and loved. Thank you. A highlight for Jackie as we left was finally seeing her book 'Wonderful God' in print. It's a nice little encouraging book which contains some photos Jackie took in various parts of the world. If you want to order copies email jsimmons08@gmail.com . It has been well received by those who've read it but it hasn't been marketed commercially.
By now we expected to be settled in our new house at Murrays Beach but it is still 4 months from completion. There were frustrating hold-ups…. I think those of you who have built a house will say “what’s new?”. It has certainly been a journey of faith for us as we constantly commit the timing to God and (try) to rest in the knowledge that IT WILL HAPPEN!! As I write the roof is going on. In the meantime we are very comfortable in our terrace unit at Raffertys Resort just 15 minutes walk round the lakes edge to our new home.
Col takes Cath, Paul, Sandy, Dan & Leah for a spin.
We have enjoyed being able to celebrate birthdays with the family this year… Paul’s 37th the day we arrived home, Cath’s 40th at the end of February, Dan’s 10th 2 days before mine at the end of May. A long –time dream of Col’s was fulfilled when in May he bought a Sea Ray sports boat – mainly to have fun with family and friends, ski-ing and ‘tube-ing’. We both sat (and passed) our boat licences – mandatory in NSW so after a few times out now we (Col) are feeling a little more confident. I still need to get behind the wheel, he keeps offering and I keep declining! Our lake is saltwater and 4 times the size of Sydney harbour with much to explore.
Cath has continued her work at Rankin Park Rehabilitation Hospital in Activities and assistant to Occupational Therapists. She is feeling the need for more challenge so is hoping to begin studies for Social Work next year. She has moved to only 15 mins drive from us so we enjoy seeing her more often, for meals and scrabble or cards. Paul has gone to half time work with the RAAF in order to start a Christian Ministry to at risk youth. He and one other RAAF pilot and a Qantas pilot form the team to teach piloting skills together with life skills. They also work as advocates for the kids with their parents and mentor them to succeed in life. They have also introduced their programme to the Juvenile Justice Dept and will be working regularly with some of their young people next year. His RAAF work is very flexible and at the moment he is working 4 months full time to help train new 'top guns'. 
Sandy continues to be the mainstay for the family during Paul’s often absences with work and ministry commitments. She began to work in their church office 2 days a week this year which she enjoys along with her ministry as a singer and worship leader.The grandchildren continue to delight us. Jess is 15½ and very grown up. You can see that she is as tall as me. She is an excellent student in most subjects. Wants to be a lawyer. Cath, Jess and I enjoy going to some movies together and she sometimes comes to stay…..not as often as we would like! Dan is 10 and Leah almost 8. We enjoy time with them after school usually one day a week until Sandy comes home from work. 
It is a good chance to grab some special time with them in their busy family life. They are doing well at school. Dan is a wonderful reader with a reading age far beyond his years. He’s reading Lord of the Rings at the moment. Recently Paul gave him his first flying lesson. Yes, he wants to be a pilot like Dad and Grandad. He also plays competition Chess. Leah loves to write and is quite amazing with her note-taking from sermons at church. She enjoys craft, gymnastics and caring for the guinea pigs and their babies.
In this picture of Jess with us in Sydney it looks like she is overtaking me in height. Look out Grandad - you're next!
It is a good chance to grab some special time with them in their busy family life. They are doing well at school. Dan is a wonderful reader with a reading age far beyond his years. He’s reading Lord of the Rings at the moment. Recently Paul gave him his first flying lesson. Yes, he wants to be a pilot like Dad and Grandad. He also plays competition Chess. Leah loves to write and is quite amazing with her note-taking from sermons at church. She enjoys craft, gymnastics and caring for the guinea pigs and their babies.In this picture of Jess with us in Sydney it looks like she is overtaking me in height. Look out Grandad - you're next!
In the October school holidays we enjoyed a weekend in Sydney with Cath and Jess. The weather was gorgeous and we did a cruise up the Parramatta River, shopped at an outlet mall and explored Double Bay and the Rocks market. Breakfast at Circular Quay is always a favourite place for me, watching the world go by and the ferries leave. Cath enjoys her special times with Jess because Jess has been living with her Dad this year, 45 mins drive from her Mum.
Col has had a fairly stress-free time settling into his new job at Qantas. They have been very stretched with instructors to instruct the new instructors that they need – kind of like the dog chasing it’s tail, so Col has had many days, even weeks off on full pay. Nice ‘work’ if you can get it. He is only now starting to work 5 days a week and about to start instructing under supervision. I guess he’ll be qualified by the end of the year. He enjoys the fact that in Qantas the instructors actually get to fly the simulator, not only instruct. This means he has to have the same qualification as a check captain which is more satisfying. He did some Crew Resource Management (CRM) while he was waiting to train and was sent to Vanuatu for a few days to help teach a seminar for another airline. He recently did a quick observation flight to Bangkok.
We found a church we are happy in and getting to know the people. Sometimes I really miss my HK friends (like today when I attended a birthday lunch and didn’t know most of the people). I have helped in a little support work for Christians Against Poverty but haven’t really gotten too involved. We have had 2 high teas for our clients and friends and that made for a couple of fun Saturday afternoons. I continue to write devotionals for my blog http://daydrops4you.blogspot.com/ and email friends. I have had opportunity to speak at the women’s meeting of a local church and also at the retreat for my old church (pre HK days). I consider times like these such a privilege and hope I can do more some day. I will begin a Bible Study in my new home with ladies in the area. There are 3 of us so far including my “across the road” neighbour Diana who has become my dear friend and prayer partner. She and her husband Rob are very lovely people (our ages) and we are so thankful for them. They have quite a story as they were both in Roman Catholic teaching orders for 20 years before they left, married and had 4 children.
Col has had a fairly stress-free time settling into his new job at Qantas. They have been very stretched with instructors to instruct the new instructors that they need – kind of like the dog chasing it’s tail, so Col has had many days, even weeks off on full pay. Nice ‘work’ if you can get it. He is only now starting to work 5 days a week and about to start instructing under supervision. I guess he’ll be qualified by the end of the year. He enjoys the fact that in Qantas the instructors actually get to fly the simulator, not only instruct. This means he has to have the same qualification as a check captain which is more satisfying. He did some Crew Resource Management (CRM) while he was waiting to train and was sent to Vanuatu for a few days to help teach a seminar for another airline. He recently did a quick observation flight to Bangkok.
We found a church we are happy in and getting to know the people. Sometimes I really miss my HK friends (like today when I attended a birthday lunch and didn’t know most of the people). I have helped in a little support work for Christians Against Poverty but haven’t really gotten too involved. We have had 2 high teas for our clients and friends and that made for a couple of fun Saturday afternoons. I continue to write devotionals for my blog http://daydrops4you.blogspot.com/ and email friends. I have had opportunity to speak at the women’s meeting of a local church and also at the retreat for my old church (pre HK days). I consider times like these such a privilege and hope I can do more some day. I will begin a Bible Study in my new home with ladies in the area. There are 3 of us so far including my “across the road” neighbour Diana who has become my dear friend and prayer partner. She and her husband Rob are very lovely people (our ages) and we are so thankful for them. They have quite a story as they were both in Roman Catholic teaching orders for 20 years before they left, married and had 4 children.
We will head for New Zealand on December 3 to visit Col's brother and his family in Napier (North Island) on the first weekend, then to Nelson (South Island) to help my sister celebrate her 60th birthday on December 13, then home on December 16 to prepare for our family Christmas which we are looking forward to.
We hope that 2008 has been good for you and that the coming year will be one in which you feel God’s love in new and increasing measure. We are so thankful to Him for His wonderful goodness to us and our loved ones. He sure has given us the abundant life that he promised those who follow Him.
God bless you and keep you this Christmastime and always,
Colin & Jackie
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