Blown in

We had a hot nor'wester blowing today - a good opportunity to have washing drying on the line. I hate wasting good weather! Our morning service was well attended with several families back from holidays; Nick is continuing his Acts series. The boys and I have set up a new work/reward system using magnetic Spiderman action figures which came with Thursday's Happy Meal. The spidermen climb slowly up the fridge, and once they have reached the allocated space a monetary reward is given. Caleb was fully into the whole idea - he almost entirely took over the making of the spaghetti bolognaise for lunch! I was pleased not only with his diligence but also his attitude in being so open to learning from me - so he has now had instruction in garlic and onion chopping techniques and the method of cooking pasta. During the afternoon the boys came up with a secret plan but being secret I wasn't allowed to know. Had Dafydd and Maria Hughes and the family from Palmerston North with us in the afternoon service; I had not met them previously (admittedly, I met Dafydd at Nick's induction in Feb last year but had no recollection of the event - too many unfamiliar faces at that point!) but Nick stayed with them in July last year when he was up there for the FRBCNZ meeting and School of Theology. We extended an 'open home' invitation to all who were left standing around after the 4.30 service as there seemed to be no rush for people to leave (and by this time the nor'wester had given way to a rain-sodden southerly) but by 6.30 when no one had arrived we assumed no one would, so popped out to the shops thereby entirely mucking up the whole point of an open home and consequently missing both the Phillipses and the Bothas. Fortunately the Bothas were accommodating of our faux pas and came back (which is not to imply that the Phillipses were not flexible, but let's sweep it all under the garage door). Ended up having some excellent laughter-filled conversation with Andreas and Danielle along with their sensational biscuits and the stragglers from my last batch of cookies.(Erika, this one's for you! Your sister says she's not photogenic but I don't believe her in the slightest.)