Summer is finally here, but no one would have thought it has arrived. It was more cold than warm on Friday, and i t bucketed down on Saturday, with the skies dark and gloomy. So, the “green” week of cleaning up the gardens etc., was written off and we did odds and bits instead. Tress went to a local post office to pick up a parcel, and then we went and did some grocery shopping before going to lunch. In the arvo, I did the week’s cook, noting that Sunday would clear up the skies and we decided I’d clean up the greens then.

On Sunday, at St Alfs, the mood was a bit about Peter’s resignation. He has been the senior minister/vicar for over 24 years. He has been the vicar for as long as we have been there. It was the first day of Advent and on the stage stood a stand that had a bouquet of flowers with 4 tall candles around it, signalling it was 4 weeks before Christmas. One was lit, marking the first Sunday of Advent. We also spoke with Siew, John’s wife, who told us about events leading to John’s retirement. He had been with Scriptures Union for 12 years.

After St Alf’s and our usual lunch at Donvale, we went back, let the boys out, and then headed to Bunnings to get a small trestle table. The plan is to use it for the Weber GA for the barbie we’d be having with our dog-owner friends from the off lead dog park across from our home. We’ve been having that each year and this year, due to a number of reasons, we decided to have a barbie amongst a smaller group.

After Bunnings, we headed home and I started on the work around the house – trimmed the James Sterling, edged and mowed the lawns, cleared some weeds on the edge of our front lawns neighbouring the eastern side and generally gave the whole outside a good tidying up. Tress too got busy clearing that corner where the lemon tree sits, getting rid of thorny branches. We finished well past 6pm but it still felt very nice because the sun was well up and the day has been gorgeous. I proceeded to put some stakes to provide a truss for the young tomatoes we had put in 2-3 weeks ago, and appear to be growing well. Again, finger crossed.

Later that night, the older boy was sitting at the far end of the couch I was on, and as he got up to scratch himself, fell off the couch onto the rug. He then convulsed, went into a fit, and started to foam at his mouth. We calmed him down, put a towel under him and caressed him. After about 20 minutes, he settled down and tried to stand up on his own but his legs were obviously very weak. He went to sleep and later as we took him into the bedroom, he stood up again to walk in circles, so I took him out and waited for him to do his business – he struggled to stay on his feet and after a little while, I took him back in and he then settled down to sleep. Tress and I have been thinking if this is the beginning of his end. It’s the second time in 3-4 weeks he has had an “episode”. Our senior furry friend is still ever lovable and for now, I’m just grateful that he sleeps in his bed next to me in my home office.

On Friday night, we had had dinner with Jason and Mel. We had booked a local Thai for just the 2 of us but then Jason messaged us and we changed it to a 4 person night out. Jason and Mel had been on a long break – visiting their daughter in Hong Kong, visiting extended family in Malaysia, dropping by Singapore and having a tour in Turkey. So the catch up was very good, having not seen them for a while. They continue to hover between 2 churches, having “recently” moved away from the one that meets in a shopping centre in Doncaster towards City Life. It sounded like they are still straddling both churches. For us, we’ve been in St Alfs for over 10 years now, and even with Peter leaving next year, we’re likely to remain here. Ross did a “Kids Talk” which focused on the theme of us doing ordinary things, living ordinary lives, that allow God to tell his extraordinary story. This morning too, Tim Keller’s podcast talked about Martha and Mary. Mary did an “ordinary” thing of simply sitting at Jesus’ feet and that was the more precious action. Chugging along in our “ordinary lives” has been what I have said to myself is what we are about. Restless as I often am, maybe that (Ross’s message and Mary’s choice) is a lesson I need to nail down.