CHRISTMAS 2007
To start off we have a very special present for all our friends.
It’s two fantastic e-books in which we have also contributed, and one powerpoint slide show.
To get your copy of ‘Expect More From 2008′ please click on the link below:
To get your copy of What I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Business please click on this link:
Just for a little light humour, thought you might like this one which was edited by our 8 year old son Taruna. Please click on the link to download.
Can you believe it’s Christmas again already!! We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
2007 has been a very life-changing year for all of us in Carseldine. We continue to thoroughly enjoy attending Bridgeman Baptist Community Church and we have formed many new friendships through their various gatherings. The church bought their neighbouring property and they have now built a Youth Hall and Meeting Room Centre. They draw up to 1000 people at their Sunday services so it’s quite big now.
At the beginning of the year God was really challenging us to look at how we were running our lives. In particular, we realised that we had taken on a lot of New Age ideas and its’ spirituality. This included the idea that we could create our own future and have EVERYTHING and ANYTHING we wanted if we put our mind to it.
After a lot of soul searching Gwenda accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour in early March and she was believer baptised in May. In other words she got a full dunking in the water as a symbol of her starting a new life with Christ at the head of it. Her life is now much less complicated and more joy-filled than before. This photo was taken at the Baptism and includes Gwenda’s homegroup ladies.
PJ is also looking forward to being believer baptised on 6 January, 2008 at the 10.00am service. If you are in the Brisbane Northside on this morning we would love to have you join us at Bridgeman Baptist Church, Bridgeman Downs (cnr of Albany Creek Rd and Bridgeman Rd).
After a ten year break Gwenda will be going back to Uni next year to start a Master of Divinity at Malyon College, Mitchelton. This essentially is a Bachelor of Ministry and will provide her with a solid biblical foundation for any future ministerial-type positions. In the meantime she is still immensely enjoying singing as part of the Bridgey worship team. She will be singing at the huge Carols by Candlelight in Bangalow Street Park, Bridgeman Downs this year.
PJ continued to provide his GIS Consulting and this year saw him return to the Philippines for consulting work for three weekly trips interspersed throughout the year.
Both of us also continued to service our ever-growing Acclique customer base. A new version was released at the end of November. Gwenda joined the Mums in Business networking group to help promote Acclique which has proved very worthwhile.
The beginning of the year also saw us pick up an Australian Achiever Award for Excellence in Customer Service in the QLD category of Internet and Computer Software (a big mouthful!).
The kids have all had a great year. Taruna was in Grade 3 and Rasika started Grade 1 at Aspley East State School. Gwenda took on the role of Secretary of the P&C, and PJ has taken on a role in the school’s Local Chaplaincy Committee as we will be having a chaplain start in 2008.
Prashan also started Montessori Kindy in Term 4 which he is enjoying. He is very outgoing and loves to have chats with anyone and everyone if given the chance. The Montessori Kindy has bought the old Mitchelton Preschool site and will be relocating there next year. It’s nearly a 50 perch block and is perfect. No more putting away the equipment at the end of each day plus there’s plenty of room for a vegie patch. There’s already a fort and sandpit that the kids can use straight away. Prashan will be attending there on Wednesday to Friday 9.00 – 2.30 next year.
PJ’s passion with lawn bowls has continued with him winning the Aspley Memorial Bowls Club A Grade Mixed Fours and Driving competitions and coming runner up in the B Grade Single. For something different he celebrated his 42nd birthday by having a barefoot bowls night for 120 people. It was a fantastic night as the photo shows.
Gwenda has also started back playing Badminton at a local High School hall. It was through playing Badminton 14 years ago that PJ and Gwenda both met.
Taruna played Indoor and Outdoor Soccer this year; Rasika started Tap Dancing in Term 4 and they all started the year with swimming lessons.
We also hosted International Students from Korea, Japan and the US which was a great cultural experience for everyone.
Gwenda has also continued to go the Gym but it was mainly through her dietary changes that has seen her lose 7 kilos since the start of the year and she feels great!
Well, that was our year in a nutshell. We do hope you are all well and look forward to hearing from you.
God Bless,
Prasantha, Gwenda, Taruna, Rasika & Prashan Jayawardhana
