Anne Green sent some family photos!

This year our annual family weekend to honour our daughter, Debbie, took us to Graham's Beach on the Awhitu Peninsula. We left home in the pouring rain and arrived at this very large house and had to unpack in the rain. Although the front of the house had huge picture windows with a large verandah around 2 sides  we could not see any of the sights from it. After lunch we settled in to games, chatting and music, music, music. We always take turns at choosing and cooking a meal so Tony and I prepared a christmas dinner that evening with a flaming pudding, crackers etc and we all enjoyed .a sing-a-long afterwards.

The next morning we awoke to sunshine and to our surprise views of the airport (opposite) and away on the horizon we could even see the sky tower. Beach walks and bike rides were the order of the day for the young ones while Tony and I enjoyed reading our books out in the sun.

We wrote messages and sent off a dozen golden balloons for Debbie – before enjoying a couple of hours at the beach playground.

Although it rained at night, once again Sunday dawned bright and sunny and another full day outside was enjoyed by all. I taught the little ones how to make daisy chains, while Jess gave us a concert on her guitar. In the evening our daughter produced an Indian menu complete with little jewels on our forehead.

Monday morning we packed up and drove to the "oldest lighthouse in NZ" on Manukau Heads – quite a climb for me but well worth it. From here we travelled down country to another pretty part of the west coast lunching in a very classy restaurant at the Castaways Lodge – a great ending to a lovely weekend and every day I thank the Lord for these magical moments with our young ones

We are writing messages for Debbie.