That is a pretty interesting title and more about that later, but this post is really about our travels as we set out on a 6 week holiday.

ready for a fun trip

On Monday we set off for a four day drive across Australia, west to east. The day before Peter shared a devotion with the kids that encouraged us not to let the circumstances of life steal our song (joy). This was a timely word for us as we packed up the trailer, piled into the car and headed off.

45minutes out of town

We have travelled long distances ever since the kids were little but most of our trips were just to Darwin – 1 days drive. We’ve done this trip to Queensland once before in a car and once in a small plane but mostly we fly commercially. When I was young my family lived in remote Australia and we often drove across Australia to visit family over east. My parents attitude was that the travel was as much as our holiday, as much as our family time as the destination. This meant that we enjoyed our time in the car as much as arriving at Grandma’s place. We have tried to pass this attitude onto our children as well.

Our four days on the road are prime family days. We have time to talk to each other, to read, to listen, to learn, to discuss, to pray, to play, to sing, to sleep, to laugh. We’ve got lots to do! Each of us has a stack of books. I just asked everyone how many books they bought – Jess bought 12, Nomi 6, Daniel 4 and Josh has gone digital so he plans to keep downloading whenever he runs out of what he has brought so far. The girls and I have been ripping and downloading audio for days – we’ve got music, audio books and sermons to keep us going.

games - reading - sleeping - listening - talking

As we drive out of town we always listen to the same CD – Colin Buchanan – Edge of the Kimberley. Then Jess surprised Peter with a CD from the Veggie Tales – Bob and Larry Sing the 80’s. Pete and I thoroughly enjoyed bopping along to familiar tunes and laughing out loud at the twists Veggie Tales have written into these songs. Had we played these songs in their original form the kids would not have been happy (they don’t like the same music as we do) so Pete and I decided here was a way we could relive our past without embarrassing the kids!

Each day followed the same kind of routine (a balance between quiet time, fun time, listening together time, individual time) but the highlight for me was a series of sermons we began by Josh Harris on Proverbs. We required all of the children to listen and talk about these sermons on wisdom.

Pete making phone calls from outback Australia

Though we are packed to be self-sufficient for each overnight stop the first two nights we were very looked after by friends. The first night we stopped off at a Cattle Station where Pete does a lot of work and the second night we ended up staying with some friends we’ve known for a long time but haven’t actually seen for 18 years (the last time we saw them was when we drove to Kununurra – I was pregnant with Josh and we were moving towards a new adventure. The third night we bunked down in a self contained cabin which though small was just what we needed for a goodnight’s sleep.

our constant view

As we neared our destination the girls got sillier – I think excitement fully took over!! Though Nomi assured me that once they arrived at Grandma’s they would be their normal and proper selves! It was great to arrive in time to sit out on the veranda and have a cuppa before unpacking everything before dark. While dinner was being prepared I took myself away to my computer not because I was in withdrawals but because I was delighting in hearing my kids, one by one, stop by in the kitchen, pick up a tea-towel or chopping knife and help grandma prepare dinner – though it was the chatter that truly delighted my heart. Being away from family is the only drawback in living where we live – so what a blessing these next weeks will be.