2012 christmas letter

-
 Dear All,

Well here we are already at the end of 2012, and hasn’t this year just flown?

Unfortunately this year we have had lots of down moments and sadness, my stepfather died in August which was a real shock although he hadn’t been well for some time. We also had to send our beloved cat, Speedy, to heaven which was also sad as she had been with us for 15 years.

We have had trouble with cattle being sick, dying of blout and various other “incidents” as well as Dianne being extremely sick and being

hospitalised for several days and Gary being injured by a cow!
 





BUT.....

There were some highs as well – we welcomed to our family two new granddaughters – Holly and Daryl’s first child, Addison and Aimee and Jason’s daughter, Maddison. They are both gorgeous!

Sarah has finished university (studying photography) and Megan has completed year 12 (as well as taking an alternative “schoolies” trip to Cambodia). Number 1 granddaughter, Mia graduated from kinder and is starting school next year. Adam continues to live and work in Mildura.
Dianne graduated from the Loddon Murray Community Leadership Programme and has been appointed on several boards – North Central Catchment Management Authority and a steering committee for Dairy Australia.

Gary tries to fit in a game of bowls when farm duties allow and has caught the renovation bug.

We are also starting to renovate our home and have so far replaced half the windows in the house as well as removing the outer walls on the front of the house and replacing with hardi-plank. Next year comes the new kitchen and a couple of walls to be knocked out – should be fun!

Gary and I continue to run our farm as a partnership and try and make godly decisions as we go. We both love God and are continually amazed how He blesses us (even when things don’t look that great)

We hope and pray that 2013 will be a year of blessing for you all (and for us too!)

Love, hugs and blessings Gary and Dianne Bowles and family

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him”


Comments

Lynne said…
What a great idea!

God bless you all this Christmas and in 2013.
December 19, 2012 at 9:04 AM
Annette said…
Life does throw us challenges which makes us stronger. Enjoy your new grandchildren & take care of each other. Merry Christmas & best wishes & health for 2013. Luv Annette. p.s. did you have Bowles relatives in Tongala in the 1950s early 1960s, my grandmother had a friend I only knew her as "Mrs Bowles"
December 19, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Anonymous said…
I enjoyed reading this "snapshot" of your life in 2012 :)

Lovely photos of the family and I love the farm photos too.

Some sadness last year but good times too. Here's to fun times and good health in 2013.

Thanks for sharing!
January 17, 2013 at 9:05 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mums eulogy

-
Image
My Mum Mum was a quiet achiever, going through life with all its ups and downs with little complaining and always enjoyed the escape of a good book. My Mum was lovely – she cared so much about her family and so loved to hear about all our goings on Although in later life she had health issues – she faced them all bravely and worked to find out the best way to live her best life and bore them with dignity. Her life was one of change and she changed and adapted with the changes. Pamela Blanche Geoghegan was born in Bendigo on the 30th December 1938 (yes she just missed her birthday this year) to loving parents Stanley Norman Geoghegan and Emily Ada Blanche Pattinson. The year previously her brother Brian Stanley was born but he died shortly after birth. When she was only 6 years old her father Stan passed away at the age of 30 and for the next 13 years it was just Pam and her mother Blanche living together and they got on famously as Mum would say. The first change in her life. N
Read more

Ollie

-
Image
The 4th of March 2024 is now a very special day for our family - it was the day Ollie (Oliver) Michael Sterling arrived! There was a lot of waiting for his arrival and Sarah was 11 days overdue I had been in Airlie Beach awaiting his happy arrival for 2 weeks - Gary and Aimee came for a week but unfortunately missed out on his arrived by a couple of days. Oh he is such a cute little dude! Kris, Sarah, Evie and Jessie are totally besotted with him as are we all! So enjoy the cute pics below and excuse me my lack of blog posting!
Read more

2023 - week 51 - December 17 - December 23

-
Image
This week has been so very hard. My beautiful Mum went to be with Jesus on Thursday 21st December. I am so very grateful that I was able to sit with her for countless hours in her last days - boy did I talk some rubbish to her as she slept and I embroidered and I wouldnt pass it up for the world. Now we are in the midst of making "arrangements" and I am so very aware that Mum would want me to get it "right". She was definate on that when organising my stepfather Austens funeral and Id like to be able to do the same. Because of Christmas and New Year and holidays etc her funeral will be on Tuesday 2nd January at 11am at AG Adams Funerals in Kerang and then she will be joining Austen at Kerang Cemetry. I miss her so - all the phone calls, visiting her, spending time with her (and also the other residents and staff at Cohuna village) A large part of my life and days is now gone and Ill need to work out what the new routine is. I do plan on going back to the villa
Read more