Family Photo Album

The Great Wall of China

2006-05-01T19:37:00.000+10:00

Elena and I at the Great Wall of China.

For more photos from our trip to China and Hong Kong, you can download and open a PDF photo slideshow album of the trip here.

David and Elena (post "Shear a Shepherd")

2006-01-27T18:33:00.000+11:00

Elena and I, after a swim at the local pool. This is the "new look" me, after the Shear A Shepherd event last Sunday.

Ministry at ECC

2006-01-19T09:04:00.000+11:00

A snapshot of ministry at ECC (taken before the "Shear a Shepherd" event).

Family Christmas

2006-01-04T03:49:00.000+11:00

We had an early Christmas this year, due to the busyness of church activities, and so my parents joined our family for a Christmas Eve dinner and opening of presents.

I've provided a link here to the web gallery, which provides more photos that the smaller sample I posted earlier...

http://www.online-bible-college.com/galleries/family/

Bushwalk

2006-01-04T01:31:00.000+11:00

I went for a bush walk with Stephanie and Jordan (and the dogs) this afternoon up Fourth Hill, in Warrandyte, and it was absolutely delightful. We had such a great time - laughing, searching for rocks, and just chatting about things in general.

Rather than post all the photos (too many for this blog), I've uploaded them as a web album. You can see them at:

http://www.online-bible-college.com/galleries/bushwalk/

New Year's Yum Cha

2006-01-01T17:37:00.000+11:00

The family having yum cha on New Year's Day.

From left: Jessica, Jordan, Elena, David, Stephanie.

Carlos, Enrique and Me

2005-12-26T06:07:00.000+11:00

During my visit to Uruguay in 2003, I met up with a number of our Spanish Team, including Carlos and Enrique.

Elena

2005-12-25T23:52:00.000+11:00

Elena under the banana palm behind our old home.

Stephanie and Lorrikeets

2005-12-25T23:50:00.000+11:00

A picture of Stephanie with some new friends.

Stephanie in a Box

2005-12-25T23:49:00.000+11:00

An older picture of Stephanie, in the box she came delivered in.

Me at the OBC Office

2005-12-25T23:47:00.000+11:00

Me, working at the Online Bible College, in 2000. At this time, I was writing course material for the Biblical Studies Course.

Mum and Me

2005-12-25T23:45:00.000+11:00

My mum and me, at King Edward Park in Newcastle.

Jordan's Moves

2005-12-25T23:42:00.000+11:00

Jordan, doing his Tae Kwon Do "moves".

Stephanie

2005-12-25T23:41:00.000+11:00

Stephanie at a park in Warners Bay.

Jessica Sparring

2005-12-25T23:39:00.000+11:00

Jessica with Wayne Doherty, her Tae Kwon Do instructor. Jessica is now a black belt.

Stephanie and Jordan

2005-12-25T23:38:00.000+11:00

An older picture of Stephanie and Jordan, after picking them up from school.

Karenna and Jessica

2005-12-25T23:37:00.000+11:00

Jessica with Karenna.

Stephanie and Jordan with their Grandfather

2005-12-25T23:35:00.000+11:00

Stephanie and Jordan, with my dad, whom they call "Papado".

Collins Kids + Laklem Kids

2005-12-25T23:33:00.000+11:00

A nice shot of the Collins and Laklem children (cousins).

From top left, clockwise: Gabriel, Stephanie, Ellysha, Jordan, Autumn, Tiffani, Tammi, Karenna and Jessica.

Rebecca and Jacob Laklem

2005-12-25T23:31:00.000+11:00

My sister, Rebecca, with her seventh child, Jacob, when he was newborn.

Rebecca writes her own online weblog at called "Ask Bec" at http://askbec.blogspot.com.

Collins Kids Pointing at Mars

2005-12-25T23:29:00.000+11:00

Jessica, Stephanie and Jordan out on the night of August 28, 2003, when Mars was closest to the earth. I love astronomy and always seek to instill the same love and sense of wonder in my kids.

Jessica

2005-12-25T23:27:00.000+11:00

Jessica, on my laptop computer.

Jordan

2005-12-25T23:26:00.000+11:00

Jordan, at one of the Collins-Laklem family gatherings.

Karenna and Jessica

2005-12-25T23:25:00.000+11:00

James Bond, move over!

The Collins and Laklem Children Praying

2005-12-25T23:23:00.000+11:00

The Collins and Laklem children, praying for their grandmother.

Jordan and My Dad

2005-12-25T23:22:00.000+11:00

Jordan Paul Collins with his namesake and grandfather, Paul Collins, doing a little spot measuring.

The Chess Game

2005-12-25T23:19:00.000+11:00

Mum and I enjoying a game of chess.

Yes, that really is me, with an extra 23 kg and a close-cropped haircut!

Niagra Falls

2005-12-25T23:15:00.000+11:00

Me, at Niagra Falls. This was my first visit to the Falls, and it made a very big impression on me. The sheer power and noise is indescribable.

See Psalm 42:7 for the analogy of the waterfall in our experience of walking with the Lord.

In Ohio

2005-12-25T23:13:00.000+11:00

In 2003, I visited the USA on Online Bible College business. Here I am in Ohio, preparing to drive to Connecticut.

My Dad

2005-12-25T23:06:00.000+11:00

A great shot of my dad (Paul Collins).

Dad has been an absolute bastion for me during this trial of faith.

David, Carlos and little Pablito

2005-12-25T22:30:00.000+11:00

In November 2003, I met up with Carlos Duran in Montevideo, Uruguay. Carlos heads up the Spanish Campus of the Online Bible College.

Here I am with Carlos and his son, Pablito.

I plan to fly Carlos and his family to visit us in Australia in 2006, the Lord willing.

David and Carlos

2005-12-25T22:21:00.000+11:00

Carlos and me, working on the general operations setup for the Online Bible College.

Jordan's Birthday Dinner

2005-12-25T22:06:00.000+11:00

We really threw money to wind on Jordan's 12th birthday - no expense was spared!

Here we are at KFC. :-)

Jordan's 12th Birthday

2005-12-25T22:02:00.000+11:00

Jordan and his new bike, a present on his 12th birthday.

Father and Son

2005-12-25T15:50:00.000+11:00

Jordan and me, in front of our driveway.

David and Jordan

2005-12-25T15:48:00.000+11:00

Jordan and me, at our home's driveway, after a friendly game of cricket together (dusk on Christmas Eve).

Jordan's Christmas Card

2005-12-25T00:18:00.000+11:00

Elena and me, with a card made for us by our son, Jordan.

Christmas Eve Dinner

2005-12-25T00:16:00.000+11:00

Our Christmas Eve dinner.

My Parents Praying For Me

2005-12-25T00:13:00.000+11:00

My parents (Paul and Bunty Collins) visited me this week. Today they prayed for me, anointing me with oil (see James 5:14).

2005-12-24T15:51:00.000+11:00

Elena and me - you'll tend to see a lot of us together :-)

2005-12-23T19:25:00.000+11:00

Another shot of my beloved.

2005-12-23T19:23:00.000+11:00

Karenna and Autumn (my sister's daughters) with Jessica (my eldest daughter).

Autumn, sadly, has a serious eye condition that activates as soon as a camera is pointed in her direction.

2005-12-23T19:21:00.000+11:00

Elena and me (this photo is a little dated now).

2005-12-23T19:20:00.000+11:00

Bunty (my mother) with Autumn (my niece).

2005-12-23T19:16:00.000+11:00

Paul and Bunty Collins' "downline" - the Collins and Laklem clans.

Front (from left): Paul, Rebecca, Bunty, David.
Back (from left): Autumn, Karenna, Jessica, Gabriel, Stephanie, Tiffany, Alex (who was one of our homestay students), Jordan and Elena.

Timothy (Rebecca's husband) was away at the time, and Jacob (Rebecca's seventh child) was not yet born.

2005-12-23T19:14:00.000+11:00

Elena and me.

2005-12-23T19:13:00.000+11:00

My parents (Paul and Bunty Collins).

2005-12-23T19:11:00.000+11:00

Elena, Stephanie and Jessica, with Alex and Brian (two of our homestay students in Newcastle).

2005-12-23T18:59:00.000+11:00

Stephanie at the Anna Bay Sand Dunes, carrying Cookie and Talcum (you decide which is which). In the background, Jordan is climbing the sand dune.

2005-12-23T18:57:00.000+11:00

My family (and my mother) with me on my 40th birthday celebration (2002).

2005-12-23T18:55:00.000+11:00

The Collins and Laklem families at Glen Rowan (the site of Ned Kelly's last stand).

2005-12-23T18:53:00.000+11:00

Me, at my heaviest (98 kg).

2005-12-23T18:51:00.000+11:00

Elena. What more can I say? :-)

2005-12-23T18:49:00.000+11:00

Jordan, my best son.

2005-12-23T18:48:00.000+11:00

Jordan, Jessica and Stephanie.

2005-12-23T18:47:00.000+11:00

My beautiful kids ... What can I say? I'm biased!

2005-12-23T18:45:00.000+11:00

Stephanie, Elena, me and Jordan, on the steps of the Sydney Opera House (Jessica is taking the photo).

2005-12-23T18:44:00.000+11:00

Jordan, Stephanie and Jessica on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

2005-12-23T18:43:00.000+11:00

Elena and me on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

2005-12-23T18:42:00.000+11:00

Elena, the love of my life!

2005-12-23T18:40:00.000+11:00

Elena and Stephanie.

2005-12-23T18:39:00.000+11:00

Jordan, when he was 10 years old.

2005-12-23T18:37:00.000+11:00

Stephanie and a crab at Newcastle's Horseshoe Beach.

2005-12-23T18:35:00.000+11:00

A picture of Elena with me, before I began to lose weight.

Jordan's 11th Birthday Bash

2005-12-23T18:32:00.000+11:00

Jordan's 11 birthday party involved putting together home-made armour and having a "war", Troy-style.

This was a birthday bash in the literal sense of the word!

2005-12-23T18:30:00.000+11:00

Stephanie with Cookie and Talcum.

2005-12-23T18:28:00.000+11:00

Jordan at his 11th birthday party.

Jessica

2005-12-23T18:26:00.000+11:00

Beautiful Jessica.

2005-12-23T18:23:00.000+11:00

Jessica and friends getting ready to board their limousine, which will whisk them to the Year 11 Formal.

Bunty with Jessica

2005-12-23T18:21:00.000+11:00

My mum (Bunty) with Jessica, all dressed up in her formal gown, ready for her Year 11 Formal.

David and Jessica

2005-12-23T18:19:00.000+11:00

David with Jessica, preparing to go for her Year 11 Formal.

You can see from this photo what I looked like before I had lost most of my weight (I had already lost about 6-7 kilos by this time).

2005-12-23T18:18:00.000+11:00

Cookie Closeup!

2005-12-23T18:16:00.000+11:00

Jordan with Talcum (left) and Cookie (right).

2005-12-23T18:06:00.000+11:00

David and Elena with Jordan and friends (William and Daniel) at Jordan's Year 6 Graduation Formal (aftermath).

David and Elena

2005-12-23T18:03:00.000+11:00

David with Elena at Jordan's Year 6 Graduation Formal.

Year 6 Graduation

2005-12-23T18:01:00.000+11:00

David with Jordan, on his way to his Year 6 Graduation Formal.

Jordan and Stephanie on the Sofa

2005-12-23T17:59:00.000+11:00

Jordan (with Talcum) and Stephanie on the sofa - vegging.

2005-12-23T17:57:00.000+11:00

Jordan, relaxing.

My Family - In the Backyard

2005-12-23T17:55:00.000+11:00

The Collins Family in the backyard.

From left: Stephanie, David, Elena, Jordan, Jessica.

The Collins Clan

2005-12-23T17:52:00.000+11:00

My greater family.

Back row: Jordan, Jessica, Stephanie.
Front row: David, Bunty (my mother), Paul (my father), Cookie and Elena.

2005-12-23T17:50:00.000+11:00

Stephanie, Jordan and Jessica.

2005-12-23T17:09:00.000+11:00

A picture of my family in our living room.

Clockwise from top left: Elena, David, Jessica, Stephanie and Jordan.