Satisfied

The other day the 'Herald Sun' featured an article about a pack of cheetahs that hunted down an antelope, even though they weren't hungry. "For more than 15 minutes they remained with the young antelope without doing anything other than licking it or putting their paws on the impala's head". The antelope escaped without a scratch. God used this story to trigger some thoughts about being fully satisfied in Him, which I put into a poem:

One of these days I will be satisfied
by my Father's love, planted inside
No more need to protect, kill and fight
Insecurities gone, selfishness out of sight

A satisfied world, what glory indeed
When all want is lost, there won't be no greed
The fullness of love leaves no room for need
and all this is growing out of one tiny seed

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for the Father's love, seeking His kingdom first
As they die to self a new species is birthed
Bringing life to dead places, blessing all that was cursed

Ulf at Tarrawarra Abbey

From the 4th to the 7h of Jan, Ulf spent 3 nights at a Cistercian Abbey, in the beautiful Yarra Valley, about 15km from our place. He used this time of solitude and peace, to reflect and to just spend some quality time with Father. There was also chance to partake in the daily routine of the Cistercian monks, who would schedule their day around set times of prayer and singing the Psalms. The first of these "offices" starts at 4am (I never managed to get up for that) followed by personal prayer and meditation, then 6am followed by breakfast, 8am followed by work or study 11.15am followed by the main meal, 1.40pm followed by work, 6pm and finally 8pm. Their main work and way of provision is cattle farming. They have a large property, with paddocks filled with Red Angus, that goes right down to the Yarra River, featuring many beautiful spots to sit in the shade of a tree and just relax...
Der Ulf war da mal im Abtei und hatte eine schoene Zeit... ;-)

The entrance to the 1.5km drive way. The bus took me only thus far, the rest I had to go pilgrim-style. :-)
Die Einfahrt zur Abtei...ein 1,5km langer Weg. Der Bus hat mich hier abgesetzt und den Rest bin ich zu Fuss Pilger-maessig gewandert. :-)

The chapel on the left and the guest house on the right.

Die Kapelle links und das Gasthaus rechts.

The view...
Der Ausblick...

Christmas 2009

So it's a little late, but at least it's finally here...! Emma's younger brother, Aaron, came to visit for about 10 days over Christmas and New Years... and here's how it went...
Also, es ist ein bischen spaet, aber endlich ist es hier...! Emma's juengerer Bruder, Aaron, hat uns fuer 10 Tage ueber Weihnachten und das Neues Jahr besucht... und hier ist wie es war...

Right: Here we are together at our place in Lilydale.
Hier sind wir bei uns, zu Hause in Lilydale.

Right: Aaron with his Christmas present. We opened our presents on Christmas Eve, according to German tradition.

Aaron mit seinem Weihnachtsgeschenk. Wir haben unsere Geschenke Heilig Abend geoeffnet, wie in Deutschland.

Right: Ulf opening a present.

Ulf oeffnet ein Geschenk.

Right: Em got a bike for Christmas! Big surprise, that one. And yes, it was cold enough to be wearing a warm jacket outside!

Em hat ein Fahrrad bekommen! Das war eine grosse Ueberraschung! Und es war wirklich so kalt, dass man eine Jacke anhaben musste!

Right: Hanging about at Mt Lofty, with the 'Roos...

Right: For two nights we enjoyed the peaceful solitude of a retreat in Torquay. Here's Aaron enjoying the campfire while Ulf works on his third wooden kangaroo.
Fuer zwei Naechte waren wir in Torquay und haben die ruhige Atmosphaere genossen. Aaaron und Ulf am Lagerfeuer. Ulf schnitzt sein bereits drittes Kangaroo

Right: While in Torquay, Em finally finished her knitted blanket!
Emma und ihre fertig gestrickte Decke!

Right: It was cold on the clifftops, at the beach!

Es war kalt auf den Klippen am Strand

Right: Shadow creatures!

Schatten Kreaturen

Right: Em and Aaron watching the sunset.

Em und Aaron schauen sich den Sonnenuntergang an.

Right: On our second day at Torquay, we went for a drive on the Great Ocean Road...

Am zweiten Tag in Torquay fuhren wir die Great Ocean Road entlang.

Right: ... on the way we enjoyed the beach, but stayed out of the freezing cold water!

Wir genossen den Strand, aber trauten uns nicht ins eisige Wasser!

Right: Aaron trying to get reception... so much for solitude...
Aaron versucht das Internet einzufangen...Schluss mit ruhiger Atmosphaere...

Right: Sunset at retreat

Sonnenuntergang

Right: Aaron likes big stores...

Aaron liebt grosse Einkaufshaeuser...

Right: At the start of the Warburton Trail, which is the old railway line from Lilydale to Warburton, 40kms long.

Am Start vom Warburton Wander/Radweg. Dieser Weg ist die alte Eisenbahnlinie von Lilydale nach dem 40km entfernten Warburton.

Right: "Can you believe it!? The chain came off my bike already!"

"Kaum gestartet und schon ist die Kette abgesprungen! "

Right: Em and Ulf enjoy the moment...
Em und Ulf geniessen den Moment

Right: Rest stop number one.

Erste Pause

Right: Woori Yallock station. All of the all platforms are still to be seen.

Halte Woori Yallock. Die alten Gleis Plattformen sind alle noch da.

Right: Rest stop number two. Bear in mind that we picked a 30 degree day on which to do this ride!

Zweite Pause. Es war ein ueber 30Grad Tag.

Right: The beautiful Yarra Valley.
Das schoene Yarra Tal.

Right: We made it - yay! Last stop, Warburton station.
Geschafft-juchuh! Letzter Halt, Warburton. Endstation.

Right: We cooled off in the Yarra River, right in the heart of Warburton.

Sofort sprangen wir in die Yarra direkt in Warburton.

Right: Ulf and Aaron made a last dash to the city to see the sights, on New Years Eve.

Ulf und Aaron in Melbourne an Sylvester, um noch mal schnell alle Sehenswuerdigkeiten abzurattern.

Right: We went looking for a cafe on New Years Day, in Sassafras, but none were to be found.

NeuJahr... war nicht einfach ein Cafe zu finden das offen war.

Right: Instead, we checked out the view from the 'Dong', as Aaron called it. (Mt Dandenong)

Der Ausblick vom 'Dong'.

Right: On the last night Aaron was with us, Em and Aaron took Ruthy, a friend's dog, out for a walk, under a pink sunset sky and a double rainbow.

Am letzten Abend an dem Aaron zu Besuch war, gingen Em und Aaron mit Ruthy der Huendin unter rosa Sonnenuntergang und doppeltem Regenbogen spazieren.

So it was a fast, full on and fun ride into the New Year!

Es war also ein schnelle, entspanende, und froehliche rutsch ins Neue Jahr!