April - September 2011

ANZAC Day on ANZAC Hill. Shoulder room only. Cool and crisp morning. Awesome to take Kurtis and Elijah with me on this day.

Joseph's first foray into Soccer. He was ok until he realised people were watching him. We haven't been back since.

Took the "Strong Way" fellas up to ANZAC Hill one night to talk about the "inner wolf".

I still got it!! Even if the hoop "appears" to be under regulation height.

Desert Knowledge Australia have started a Youth Leadership Program for the 4 Senior High Schools in Alice Spings. I am one of the teacher mentors. This is the group at the retreat we had at Hamilton Downs Station. We are planning a trip to Melbourne in September.

Kurtis' Desert Rebels Soccer team. They finished 4th this season. He played very well.

Kurtis made the Desert Storm (Alice Springs) Under 12 representative side this year and travelled to Darwin.

At the Heavitree Outback Lodge we can feed the Yellow Footed Rock Wallabies. The boys love it and the wallabies love it as well. Nothing like hand feeding nature. You have to learn patience as you compete for the attention of the wallabies and Joseph trying to touch them.

Another weekend in Alice, another festival and parade. This time the Bangtail Muster with Elijah's class on the back of a truck.

Another visit to Standley Chasm.

We have been getting visits from the navy 2 or 3 times a year at Yirara. A really good relationship developing between us and them. The main thing we stress to many visitors is to come back. This is one of the only ways to gain respect and to be listened to by the kids. Belinda was doing relief work this day and was very excited to meet some real life "Sea Patrol" people. And she was amazed that these people were nothing like the people on the TV show.

Albrecht Man made an appearance on Athletics Day this year. And won his race!

Albrecht Boy, Albrecht Man's offsider also made an appearance. He also won his race on Athletics Day.

Little Albrecht wanted to race, but was confined to the sidelines.

Finke Desert Race was on again. This time we decided to find a vantage point somewhere up the track where we could get up close and personal. The photos don't do it a lot of justice, but we were very close to the road. Again. the boys loved every minute of it. It was freezing.

All the fun of the Alice Springs Show. We had a great day as a family and spent up big. The boys' showbags lasted at least a week before things broke.

Joseph's 3rd birthday party at Araluen Park.

The Yirara Lions Girls AFL team I coached. We lost our game, but are hungry for more!

We are stil here

Not sure how many people do actually take the time to read up on the Modlins in Alice, but I have been struck down with pneumonia and this is as good as time as any to show you all what we have been up to. It has been a lot. The slow internet out here has seemed to have slowed down even more and so this could be brief or it might be a long winded showing of the many things we have done.
Firstly,
I have been writing a once a month article for Christian Today Australia. Here are the links to some of the articles I have written.
Ghost Gum Walk
Where is your Peace?
Sense of Community Alive and Well in Central Australia
Muffins

I have been busy, and the articles give a little insight into some of our adventures.  The Christian Today Australia website is very good and details many world events and perspectives. Enjoy. Next post will be all about pictures. Oh, by the way, I have turned 40. My parents, my brother and his wife turned up on the doorstep. Totally blown away...and then I got sick. I have officially retired from playing Australian Rules football. The Masters await now. I had a great season, played every game, our team went from 10th to 4th...and I ripped the groin in the first 5 minutes of our 2nd semi final. It was just not meant to be.