Australia Day at Parramatta Park

Marshall, Tracey, and the Larsens visit during the balloon launching.


The first balloon is ready to go.


Balloon is on its way.


Seventeen balloons were launched the morning of 26 January 2009.


Two little boys are dressed to celebrate the first landing in Australia in 1788.

Putting up a hot-air balloon

Balloon is layed out, ready to blow up.


To begin, a fan (between the balloon and the basket) blows air into the balloon.


Then hot fire is added to send hot air inside the balloon.


Now the balloon and basket are upright.


The top, circular piece has just been attached to this balloon.

New bishopric; New missionaries

Bishop Terry Bridges, sustained January 25, 2009, and his wife Maria. They have two children.


Sydney Oatlands ward's Bishop Sanders, released January 2009, and his wife Pam.


Missionaries now assigned to Oatlands Ward, Elder Ucunibaravi and Elder Ferguson.

Tracey--puzzle and video

Sister McLaughlin and Sister McKnight admire Tracey's puzzle.


Sister McLaughlin goes home tomorrow.


Tracey is excited to watch "Charlotte's Web." Notice Wilbur, the pig, on the arm of Tracey's chair, watching with her! (The wall hanging on the wall behind Tracey is hand made in Samoa. It is a Christmas gift from one of the missionary couples here. He actually went to Samoa and brought an "original" back for each of us.)

Some beautiful birds

A rainbow lorikeet comes into the back yard of our Relief Society president.


These birds don't stay around unless they are being fed.


Look how tame these two are!


These are galahs.


They are red and gray--and not very smart, we are told.

Our Family Home Evening

Mom tells the missionaries about Christian Hans Monson, her great great grandfather.


Christian was converted in Norway, lost his family because of his baptism.


Dad tells about Samuel Richard Brough's early life, including his second wife, through whom Dad descends (great grandfather), and his mission and subsequent balanced care of family and church.

Mark likes the Utah Jazz!

Our manager is on his way to New Zealand! Look at his attire! Mark follows, and loves, the Utah Jazz! Yeah!

Fitzroy Falls, 27 Dec 2008

Fitzroy Falls, north end of Morton National Park, New South Wales


Looking at the falls through the brush


At the lookout point, Fitzroy Falls


with our friends, Lois and Wendy


Kangaroo Valley, near Fitzroy Falls

The Hampden Bridge; Kiama Blow Hole

The Hampden Bridge--description


The Hampden Bridge is the only surviving suspension bridge from the colonial period of New South Wales, Australia.


The bridge was opened in 1898.


The Blow Hole at Kiama is a hole in the rock on the shore of the Tasman Sea. When the tide is high, the water blows up through the dark hole, almost like a geyser. Otherwise, you just see the water, from the Sea, through the dark hole.

Boxing Day 2008

We visited with Malcolm and Helen Arvidson in Toukley, 60 miles north of Carlingford.


The Arvidsons took us for a walk along the lake near their home, then gave us beautiful dinner, served with their best china and cutlery.


On the way home, we drove between miles of rock and beautiful green trees.


Broughs and the Larsens, who have a large dairy farm in Cache Valley. They are employment missionaries.


The Wrights (legal missionaries)invited us over for pumpkin and mince pie! He is a former mission president for the Colorado Denver Mission.

Our Christmas 2008

Our gifts under our Christmas tree


We visited with Pablo Rojas (speaks Spanish) and showed him 3 DVDs.


We showed him "Small One," "The Nativity," and "The Resoration."

Evening Barbecue 25 December 2008

The day was complete with a barbecue with the senior missionaries. The McRaes hosted the barbecue; Janet and Tracey; the Larsens (on the right)


Marshall, Janet, Wendy, Lois


Dr. (Elder) and Sister Oldroyd. They have done so much for us.


The Christmas barbecue was at "The Stables," or so it was sometime in the past.