A long overdue catch-up

It's been four and a half years since we last hugged. Due to covid and the all drama that ensued and remained with international travel - my friend Lisa hasn't been home to Australia for that long. I have missed her so much and was absolutely thrilled to come across a post she had made online as she started the very long trek back to Australia with her kids.

I was even more thrilled when she managed to make some time for us in what was a pretty hectic schedule and we got to spend the morning together at Hillary's Boat Harbour with her kids and my older ones. It was so good to laugh together again and hear our kids do the same.

Madeline and Madison got along like they'd been best friends for years (the last time they saw each other Madeline was 5 haha) and settled straight into piggybacks and chasing each other about... then had a wander at the shops together while the boys splashed at the end of the beach. It's never too cold apparently! 

Hooray for catch ups!

Of course we had to finish the day with Cold Rock, cause why else do you go to Hillary's Boat Harbour? It was a good day to have a good day. Hopefully there'll be a lot less years between our next catchup. ❤

 

pinker family version 2020

what a way to end the year. photos at 8am on new years eve - because after that it is just too. damn. hot. while all the pinkers are here and together, we squeezed in a photo shoot for the family at lilac park/ under the west swan road guildford bridge. it is such a gorgeous spot and we got some adorable pictures, even bringing a photo of paul along to make sure everyone was included.

there was soooo much laughing from everyone and lots of giggles from serious little skyla. she is such a doll and i loved taking photos with her.

seriously. look at those eyes! what a cutie. i was even more touched to see that the dress we sent when she arrived was the dress emily chose for the photos!

what a cute little family they make!

i know paul is missed so much by the family and i know he would be so proud of all of them and what they have managed to do and be since he passed away. he was such an amazing man and i feel privileged to have been able to know him so well.

i am sure he would be especially proud of what a good dad theron has become. what more could you want for your children, than for them to have the chance to love their children as much as you loved them.

we love the pinkers!

ngawai's baptism day

one of our absolute faves had her baptism today! miss ngawai rose. it was made even more specil by the fact that she was baptised on her actual birthday day!

let it be known here - we love their family so, so much - so much so that i've even worked a way to keep them around forever, by marrying ana off to joseph (they were mates before they were even born, mel and i were pregnant together) or manaia off to alex - or both, whatever works ahahhaaha.

it was such a lovely day. the weather was perfect, everyone was happy and laughing and the baptism and service was beautiful. ngawai had asked madeline and i to sing during the service and we sang a gorgeous song called a child's prayer that i have always loved.

Heavenly Father, are you really there?

And do you hear and answer every child's prayer?

Some say that Heaven is far away

But I feel it close around me as I pray

Heavenly Father, I remember now

Something that Jesus told disciples long ago

"Suffer the children to come to me"

Father, in prayer I'm coming now to thee

Pray, he is there

Speak, he is listening

You are his child

His love now surrounds you

He hears your prayer

He loves the children

Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of Heaven

look at these gorgeous sisters! baby sister was sleeping at the time though.

and with their proud as punch dad. ana was so funny, kept popping up in the photos. 

and my beautiful friend mel with them.

aren't they just the cutest family!

congrats to our lovely ngawai, what a special experience for you, we were so thrilled to be a part of it. 

eternal friends

have you ever met someone and just knew that you would always be friends? someone with who you could share all your thoughts? all your downfalls and all your successes? someone who just understood you? i have always had a theory regarding eternal friends and on sunday during our lesson i had the opportunity to share that with the young women. being that it was my last sunday before i will be in primary it was an especially nice thing to leave them with.

i have always thought that this life can't be the only time we spend with those people who share our laughs and lives. those with whom we spend our lives with in the gospel especially! so i have always held out that we will have eternal friends. we learn the same things, marry in the same places and make the same covenants... so why would we not live alongside them in the eternities? it doesn't matter to me that we are not sealed to each other - would they not be in the same place with their eternal families? for this reason, i feel so strongly that we need to choose our friends so carefully - so that we can continue our friendships in the next life - with those who made the same choices as us.

i was looking for a picture to go with this post and came across this lovely quote from marjorie pay hinckley, who seems to believe the same as me that gives me even more hope for it!

i truly believe that friendships are eternal and choose my friends wisely to last the test of time. 

one step closer to heaven

my sweet friend aniwa made it one step closer to heaven yesterday as she went through the temple for the first time and received her endowment, before being sealed to her parents along with her brother. it was such a beautiful moment to share with her and be a part of... she asked me to be her escort (the person who sits with you and helps you through). it's the first time i've had such a privilege and i felt so loved to be asked.

watching this sweet girl come back to church, be married just over a year ago and now this, has my heart bursting with love! there is such joy to be found from the blessings of the temple and i know she is so happy to be closer to her father in heaven.

some of the lovely girls from our ward... there to support our girl! ♥

eternal friends

my friend lisa came to perth for christmas and we some how managed to squeeze in a quick catch up this morning before she left to go back to utah this evening. we have been friends since we were little girls and still have plenty of things to talk about, even all these years later. i miss having her live close, but i am super grateful for technology and being able to talk and text still.

just for laughs... joseph stole my phone and decided to take a picture at the same time we were taking ours!