2012 The year that was (for the Duffus family)

Well 2012 has a huge year for the Duffus family, starting with the old man turning the big 50.  He actually handled it quite well.  Sharing his special day with Laurence, who also turned the big 50, we celebrated out at the Hubertus Club (German club) with his boys and friends.  He chose this restaurant as he loved the apple strudels that they make.

For his birthday present, we decided that it was time to reward ourselves with a trip overseas and the planning began.  Anyone that knows Scott, knows that it had to be as organised as possible for him to feel comfortable.  We decided to surprise my family in England with the news that we were coming over and told them Christmas day in a Skype conference call.  Was very loud but they were very surprised and extremely happy that we were finally going over to visit them all.  My sister, Debbie, also turned 50 and decided that she would go to visit and it worked out that we would be there together for a short period of time.  It was a very exciting time for all of us as, if you haven't read our blog, it was the first time the siblings (from my family) would be together in 28 years.

Leaving our not very happy boys behind (as they weren't coming with us) we headed off on an adventure of a lifetime for the next 5 1/2 weeks.  The first question I asked when booking in at the airport was how much would it cost me to bring extra luggage back home with us.  Scott nearly turned around and came home then lol. During that time we had a family reunion, got to meet sister-in-laws and nieces and nephews that we had never met and get reacquainted with my sister and brothers again.  on top of all of this we went to the Beijing and got to walk along the Great Wall of China, Scott walked down the 1000 or so steps and I tobogganed down it.  Along with this we managed to visit other iconic places.  It was still snowing in some parts and the weather there was very cold.

After Beijing we flew to England then Rome, Paris and caught the train back to England for time with family before we headed home.  our trip was amazing and we loved every minute of it, apart from leaving family behind and saying goodbye. Whilst overseas, life at home didn't stop.  The boys survived and we came home to animals that were still alive. 

Nathan has been back home for just on 12 months, after being away for 3 years, it's an adjustment period for all of us!! We came home from our trip to find that Nathan had gotten himself a girlfriend.  we thought if that's what it takes we are going to go away more often!!  Lauren is a beautiful young lady that fits right into our mad household.  Nathan also decided that he had had enough of working for the coffee club, as there was nowhere for him to move and applied for a new job and was successful.  He now works in the city, again, but is enjoying it. 

Matt decided that he wanted to further his education and that he was unable to study at home, I think the conversation went like this:

Matt: you know what I was like in school mum, I didn't study then so I can't do it now

Mum: Matt you are older, have served a mission and should have more self discipline now
Matt: no mum it doesn't work that way!!

so he decided that he had to go to Brigham Young University in Hawaii (yes I know what you are thinking ''studying in Hawaii'').  He applied for a scholarship and just before Scott and I left for our Europe trip he found out that he had been accepted and would leave a couple of days after we returned.  I wasn't that happy, as you can imagine, he had just come home after a 2 year mission and was now planning on leaving for 3 years study - half way around the world!!

Him leaving again was very hard, but we knew that he had thought and prayed about it and that this was the right thing for him to do at this time.  He was strictly forbidden to get married and remain so far away.  He left with very little savings and thought that he was successful in getting a scholarship only to find out when he got there that he wasn't successful.  To his credit he managed to scrimp and save to survive the first semester, getting really good marks. I think he has told all the administrators what's wrong with their application system, as only Matt would!! however his perseverance paid off and he managed to get not one but two scholarships for the remainder of his time there.  He has just finished for the year and passed all of his courses.  Every time someone went over to Hawaii, Matt always requested red and green frogs.

Now for Brendan.  Brendan has struggled with finding regular work this year, the forces trying to stop him from preparing and going on his mission I'm sure, however his desire to serve a mission won out.  after many doctors appointments and having to have all 4 wisdom teeth removed, he submitted his papers.  Scott wanted him to be sent to Brisbane as this is where he served, I kept telling him that it was Perth.  Both of us were wrong and he has been called to serve in the Adelaide mission.  this mission takes in not only Adelaide, but all through central Australia to the Northern Territory and part of the border of Victoria.  He is so excited to be going and as I write this he leaves in 6 days time.  we have set up a blog to upload his weekly emails too and you can follow it at www.elderduffusmeetsadelaide.blogspot.com.  The next few days are going to quite hectic with work and getting him prepared to leave.

Scott and I have had a wonderful year serving as the Young Single Adults (YSA) advisors for the Stake.  We have enjoyed many a fireside, institute and activities with them.  As a Stake we were in charge of the regional Ball and after many, many, many meetings and with a lot of help, we (our Stake) managed to put on a fabulous Ball, enjoyed by all.  More recently the Prophet announced the age of serving missions had changed from 19 to 18 years old for males and 21 to 19 for females.  the exciting thing is that there are so many of our YSA's planning, preparing, putting in their papers and being called to serve as full time missionaries.  We have loved every minute of our time spent with these wonderful young adults and look forward to the new year.

On our work side, it has also been a very busy year for both of us.  I am still working in Ashfield, working on projects and Scott has been working in the Blacktown, Penrith and more recently Mt Druitt area, however he went for a new position and was successful and will be joining me travelling to Ashfield in the new year.

We have fabulous family and friends that support us constantly and love dearly.  We look forward to the new year with new adventures, starting with a 13 night cruise to New Zealand and back at the end of January, to planning an trip to Hawaii to visit with Matt.  We also are so excited to start this journey with Brendan as he heads off and spends the next 2 years serving his Heavenly Father and teaching people about the gospel. 

thanks for all your friendship, love and support throughout 2012 and look forward to the new year.

Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

 

Love

Scott and Jene xx