Grendel, Ian and I had planned to go to the river today, but as the breeze was quite moderate this morning we figured we’ve save the drive time and hit the ocean.

Funnily enough as we left the marina it kicked up again and got nice and choppy!

Anyway, we anchored inside the first reef out of the wind and swell and began casting. Three hours later we were up to 36 fish of various kinds and feeling pretty happy about the whole deal. Given my fishing record today rates as 5 star!

I love the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Its the holiday you have when you’re not on holidays!

So few people are at work that its pointless trying to function as normal, so this week has been a ‘hanging with friends week’.

We spent Monday in the park with local Brighton friends, Tuesday out on the river with Stu and family, Wednesday my brother and I went fishing and the Masons came for dinner and then today we went to the zoo with Nick and Kellie.

Tomorrow Grendel, Ian and I are going fishing again and then Saturday is new years eve where we have no firm plans yet.

Its been really nice to actually have time to hang out rather than catch up and then move on. Hopefully next week we’ll get to see Narnia with some of the local crew and maybe even spend a night camping in Moore River.

It might be a case of going back to work for a holiday!

As a migrant from the northern hemisphere the hot Aussie Christmas has always felt a bit incongruous!

This year we haven’t that problem much though. Today’s 27 C is about the hottest its been in the last month.

Wherever you are thanks for taking the time to stop by and read and may you enjoy the Christmas season and its true significance.

This was what I wrote as a ‘Christmas thought’ for our local Brighton newspaper:

Last Christmas I sat and watched my kids while they unwrapped their presents. As they opened each gift in turn it seemed their focus was simply on getting that one out of the way so they could see what was in the next package and the one after that. After she had unwrapped all of her presents my 4 year old daughter didn’t actually sit down and start playing happily. Instead, she asked ‘What’s next? Do I have more presents daddy?’

Of course there were more to come and later in the day after we had visited family and friends, we arrived home with an enormous swag of new toys, clothes and lollies. As I looked at the pile of loot and reflected on the day that had passed I felt disturbed. I wondered what message we were sending to our kids and what we were teaching them about life.

While much of Christmas is focused on the experience of giving and receiving gifts – something we certainly ought to enjoy – we do well to remember that at its core the Christmas story is about the gift that was given to the world in Jesus Christ, the one who’s birthday we celebrate, the one who said ‘a person’s life is not defined by what they own’.

Because after all, little kids grow up to be big kids and old habits die hard.

It was great to catch up with Glen and Lara Goss and family yesterday.

These guys are coming back to Oz in two years time to plant a church somewhere in the burbs, but for now are working and living in Atlanta. They are mates of Justin’s after being involved with their community recently – small world hey?

These guys have beel a real encouragement to us and we’re looking forward to staying in touch and hooking up with them when they return to Oz.

Don’t we need more missionaries here in Perth?!!