Hi it's been a while since i wrote anything. Not much has changed in many respects.
Em is down in Sydney now at Uni and loving it.
Some cut backs in funding again for Georgie's home help will mean maybe a 20 or 30 % reduction in home help hours.
Ange works two days per week at a local high school and been really enjoying those days.
James in year 11, working two nights a week cooking at achinese kitchen, breeding many birds - a good kid. Now has his "L's"- lookout Dubbo.
We have received a couple of lovely cards from people to send a word of encouragement to us knowing that this Easter will be 5 years since Georgie got sick.
Interestingly the head neurologist once made a statement to me that if she lived she may live five years. Why five years i've no idea.
Dates become landmarks i guess.
Have thought at times of writing a book as so many have suggested. I've always tried to cover the awfulness of things that really happened for so many reasons but as well as this there were so many wonderful things that happened. I read the other day how Paul said "i did not want you to be ignorant of the many trials we suffered...."
Well thanks all who keep praying!
Blessings Greg and Ange

31st Dec
Hi we've had a good holiday season and managed to all get away together in the car and had a a few days down the sth coast.
Georgie travelled well and we were all able to do a lot of fun things.
It was great for all of us to have some time reading, relaxing, swimming, fishing.
We took the boat out on the inlet and looking into the clear water over the sand flats in the late afternoon the sea was alive with fish and so many small stingrays.
We were able to take Georgie into the water as well - sitting her down with Ange so she could experience it all.
I'll post some photos later.

Hi there a month passes quickly!
We are all well, Georgie has remained settled and healthy this last month.
Her doctor rang Ange recently with tests that showed her thyroid was now working fine and no need for any supplement to be given.
When I asked her about reducing this med a year ago and whether anything would happen she just looked straight at me and said "she would die!" Nonetheless she did do some tests and start reducing the levels and she hasn't died and our observations were right.
When I look at these beautiful pictures of Georgie that Em has put on the page i think "where did my lovely girl go?" and why did this happen? but there are no answers. I am still trying to learn to say "it is well with my soul" as the very brave writer of that hymn wrote.

The Lukins family in Ethiopia (who have been there working with nomadic people) are looking for a nurse either short or long term to go and help them if anyone is interested.

Making Changes

Hi, Em has been on Georgie's blog and changed it a bit. She's added a few photos and a few other bits and pieces.
We hope you like it.
Georgie has had another good week.
This is my favourite verse this week.
Isaiah 59 v 19:- So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun.When the enemy shall come in like a flood the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

October

Dear friends we hope you are all well.
Georgie has in the main been pretty well and settled. Her bad episodes have been fewer and farther between than they used to be.
I've been asked what she is like and how she is going etc as some folks imagine all sorts of things so thought I'd just put a few things down.
She is a healthy weight and her hair is good. She has no bed sores and has only ever had one small one in fact.
She has a bit of a daily routine which involves getting her up and showered, up in a chair for maybe 6 hrs a day, has arm and leg exercises and some physio and if it's nice she can go outside on the verandah or if not so nice can sit up near the fire or watching a movie.
We read to her at night and have been reading the little house on the prairie series at the moment.
Medication wise she is not on half of the extra stuff she used to be on as each of these functions has gradually been restored so she has for some time been on no thyroxine, clexane, spironolactone, zantac and I can't remember what else.
She is still on all of the anti-epileptics, some of which have a very sedating effect.
Her awareness has gradually improved so that she will look over with her eyes when you are speaking and seems to be able to distinguish between voices etc.
She can move her arms and legs and at times can sit up with some help and hold up her head and the concentration is evident. This all shows awareness of self and balance. She is quite responsive to touch or movement. Other times she is not able to control anything because of what is going on in her head.
Of course we still hold out the greatest hopes for Georgie and thank God for the healing that has taken place and that which will yet come. At times there is such great disappointment especially when she has a set back after a long period of being settled and well.
Em has got a job a few days a week doing office admin at Wellington which  is working out well.
James has his school certificate coming up and is supposed to be studying!
We are all well.
Thankyou for your continued interest and prayer.
Sending our love.
Greg and Ange

August

We are all back now and Em is well and now looking for some work to help with going off to Uni in Sydney next year.
The trip to Vanuatu was great and in a week we got a good look around and met some really great people.

Our nurse friends Lucy with help from Karen did a wonderful job looking after sleeping beauty. Lucy said she felt stretched at times but learnt to become more dependant on God and so really found it worthwhile and enjoyable.
Thank you for all of your prayer during this time.

Spring starts tomorrow and we are sure glad that the winter is over. It has been a long cold dreary winter this year but we are thankful to our friend Darryl from church who gave us two ute loads of wood for the fire. Our fire has hardly gone out day or night for the last 4 months now.
We thank God for our lovely house and little block.

The fruit trees are all starting to bud so it is Ange's favourite time of year in the garden.
Our sheep are all lambing at the moment which is exciting to see new life and even twins.
It is interesting to see all of the behaviour that the sheep display when there is a new birth. The ewe makes herself a "nest" and isolates herself from the flock and they check on her every now and then but somehow know to stay away. When they are born the other ewes will come down and get aquainted with much excited baaing and then leave her alone again and she stays with the lamb for several days before she rejoins the flock. This is a really strong time of bonding between the ewe and lamb and they make noises to each other that they never do at other times. There is a lot to contemplate here for an agriculturally minded Christian.....
I've heard people say you can't learn more about God from nature - ie His creation but only from His word- i don't believe it - The heavens declare the glory of God , night after night they pour forth speech... Can you not learn about an artist from his artwork?

God is so willing to reveal himself to us if we will have ears to listen.

Tuesday 2nd august

Hi not long now 'til Em comes back - 17th August.
By God's grace He has enabled us to go over to Vanuatu for a week to see Em and all she has been doing and then come home with her on the same flight.
We did not think it would be possible but I was visting our friend Anne in hospital (she is at home now and doing quite well) and we were sitting out in the garden and along came Lucy our friend who is a nurse and has looked after Georgie a couple of times before. She asked when we were going to Vanuatu and i wasn't even sure how she knew and she asked if Ange was coming and i told her we didn't think she could. She said "I think she should and i will look after Georgie". I said "really?"and she was adamant she would and could.
She rang a couple of weeks later and said "I hope Ange is going because i've taken time off work". Anyway this is very exciting for us all and esp Em. So we go from the 10th til the 17th. Various people gave us money to use on a holiday so now we can.
We would really value your prayers for this time esp while we are away that Georgie will be settled and easy to look after. Lucy will basically be "angela" for Georgie for the week and will have the nurses coming out each day etc. as well as another friend who is a nurse to help a bit too.
We have a lovely nurse here now who reads bible stories to Georgie. It reminds me of the story of Moses being found as a baby in the basket in the river and needing help which pharaoh's daughter could not give and his sister getting just the right help for him - from his own mother.This is such an answer to prayer.
Another one just chats to Georgie all day long and treats her like a real person. How could we ask for better help?
Georgie turned 13 on the 17th July. A couple of her best friends wanted to come and wish her a happy birthday etc. which they did and they stayed for the afternoon with their parents. It was beautiful and also heart wrenching to see them in her room holding her hands and kneeling by her bed to pray for her and reading her stories. I pray so often for her friends that God will comfort them each in their own way and strengthen them in their love for Him.
Georgie got a bit sick around her birthday and went on anti biotics but this is still much better than last year.
She spent a whole evening recently "vocalising" it was quite noisy at times she was quite "with it" and looked like she was trying to get her tongue around something. I could have sworn she said "mum" at one point. This kind of thing comes occasionally and then goes again just as quickly.
We've been reading "Little House in the Big Wood" to her at night.

Exodus 2 v 9 "Take this baby and nurse him for me and i will pay you"