Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Feb 2009

View of Blue Mountains



"Three sisters" rock formations


Information at Echo lookout point


Cliff seen from Echo Point


Native Aboriginal man playing a didgeridoo, possibly the world's oldest wind instrument.

Leura LDS Chapel--New South Wales

Beautiful LDS chapel--unusual design


Designed by an Australian architect--won an award for the design


Chapel inside


Baptismal font in corner of lobby


Busy Family History Center in the Leura building

More of New South Wales countryside

Wentworth Falls


Blossoms look like ears of corn


Mom's hat is great for swishing away flies--with no hands!


Tree losing big strips of bark--common, and natural, in this area


Parking meter--one per several parking stalls. Buy parking slip and put it on your dashboard.

Embleys arrive at the Sydney Airport

John and Pat Embley arrive from Pleasant Grove.


Embleys are beginning their second mission (first was in Canada).


Embleys get acquainted with their new office (right next to ours).


Thought you'd like to see Dad's "work in progress"--his design notes for his database for records access management.

A trip to the Sydney Markets

Great prices for fresh produce!


Smiles after successful shopping (notice piles of carrots in background)


Booths as far as you can see--fruits, veggies, nuts, fish... and more!

Sister McKnight leaves for home

Wendy bears her testimony at her last Family Home Evening in Australia.


Office party to honor Sister McKnight, who is going home to Idaho.


Wendy was a special friend to all of us.

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.