Nelson's Christmas News 2007

Well we have been living in Brisbane for the last 16 months. In May 2007 we purchased a home at Thornlands which is one suburb south of Cleveland. The house is about 18 months old and is in a new estate a few hundred metres from the water (Moreton Bay). The images on Google earth are a few years old but if you go to 27°33'19.90"S, 153°16'38.70"E you will see the concrete house slab. We have settled in and enjoy being only 5 minutes from Cleveland Chapel.

Marty turned the big four zero in October. Does he feel any different, of course he does, now he can say that all aches and pains are related to being in his 40's. He has been looking after about 25 church buildings in Queensland for the last 18 months and loves the work. His territory changed recently and now travels as far north as Mackay. Marty continues to do quite a lot of DJ work at Church dances and events. Earlier this past year he was asked by the Area Presidency to chair a music committee to select appropriate music that can be played at church dances throughout Australia. This is an ongoing assignment that takes quite a lot of his time as he has to review lyrics and video clips. The list is published on the Australia LDS website every second month. Marty is a seminary teacher for Cleveland Ward. He started up a basketball team this last year and has been playing with James, Blair and some other men from church. Marty is on Skype, MSN and Facebook and enjoys talking with old friends that he doesn't get to see often.

Lorraine. Well, yes we have moved again. but we have keep the kids at the same schools as their only about 10mins away. We are in a new Ward though, we are now in Cleveland Ward. I am the Young Womens President, and I really enjoy it, we have nineteen girls. There is always plenty to do. I love this time of the year, and seeing the little ones get excited about Christmas. We will be having Christmas at home with just our own family this year. Because the family has caught the chicken pox we are house bound until we are spotless.

James our 17 year old is Mr Social. He has his drivers licence and loves spending time with his friends. He goes to the gym twice a week and the others days he works out at home. He is very fit and Plays in 3 basketball teams. He also played Aussie rules football and basketball for his School. James is a little taller than Marty now and can quite easily dunk a basketball. He graduated from seminary in 2007 and will complete his final year of high school in 2008. He is looking forward to becoming a young adult in May.

Blair now 15 is still 5 foot 11 inches tall and is a little disappointed that his growth spurt has stopped for the moment. He plays in two basketball teams and exercises regularly which has helped him loose a lot of weight this past year and has really slimmed down. Blair loves playing his guitars and helps Marty with his DJ work. Blair is a good student and achieves very good results at school. He is still focused on being an accountant. Blair will commence senior high school and 3rd year of seminary in 2008.

Jordan missed the last two weeks of school due to the chicken pox, I picked him up from school and his face had red spots on it, by that afternoon he had more and we confirmed it was chicken pox. So Jordy has had an extended holiday. He has been a very valuable player in his basketball team this year helping them win most of their games. This New Year will be Jordan's last year in primary school. He will turn twelve in July which means he will be in Young Mens.

Brooke did very well at school this year, she is a very confident little girl and makes friends easy. She has made friends with all the children that live close by to our new house. She is looking forward to her Baptism in the new year. She will be eight on the 30th of January. It's hard to believe my baby girl will be eight soon. In the new year we will start her in a netball team. Much to the boys discuss as they all play basketball. Brooke is covered with chicken pox at the moment so she is house bound to watching movies and taking baths. Brooke loves to play guitar hero on the XBox 360 and she is very good, sometimes she doesn't even look at the t.v. and see still wins.We wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year. Love from the Nelson’s