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Well, we’ve been a bit silent over here due to a string of foreseen and unforeseen events. The big January meeting Brian chairs (Annual General Conference or AGM) always takes it out of him. I’m usually a bit wiped out trying to single parent and support him well throughout that week so he can focus on the meeting. We were gearing up for this last one a bit differently, but still in high energy mode. We made it through the lead-up events and into two days of the five-day meeting when the flu hit all the Branch kids in a big way. Well… not all the kids. Willa stayed strong the whole time and spent the rest of the week going to the office with Brian. The PNG staff applauded her out on Friday afternoon for being the last kid standing!

Willa had a grand time, but life was less pleasant here at home. Ray, Gemma, and myself all got the flu gifting us with days full of temperature checks and Bluey on repeat. We’re now back in the land of the living, Gemma is speaking almost exclusively in Australian English (thanks, Bluey), and we’re catching up on all the things. The Branch wasn’t able to complete AGM until the following week, but it did get finished up. Our family also got to make-up our annual Australia Day celebration with our teammates who also have an “Australian” kiddo (their son and Willa were both born in Cairns… we consider them Australian even if the Australian government does not). This is a treat we look forward to every year that gives us an afternoon of thong-throwing (chucking your flip-flops as far as you can), TimTam Slams (sucking hot drinks up through a chocolate cookie), and letting the Japanese lanterns go.

We’re grateful we are through both AGM and the flu, but are a little overwhelmed with how fast May 8 is barreling down upon us. Prayers appreciated as we balance work, school, packing, and mentally preparing during this downhill slide.