Day out at the park.

Today I psyched everybody up into going out (like, actually outside London) to the park. We called around to some of the family and a few friends and asked them all to go with us for a picnic at Queen Elizabeth Country Park. (It's about 56 miles away!!!) Everybody was up for it, although a few people did question the weather forecast....but it's England, you can't ever guarantee sunshine! We drove through a hail storm but after that it looking pretty bright. We pulled into the car park and the sun was shining down! A few minutes later as we found a picnic spot, the skies darkened...a few minutes later, after we had started dishing out food, there were a few drops coming down....and then I looked up and over to the right of us I could see it coming...hail!!! We threw a blanket over the food, and we threw blankets over ourselves and sheltered from the attack! The only one who wasn't sheltering was Abigail, who was doing a dance of joy....just to aggravate her brother! Thankfully the rain and hail didn't last long and a few minutes later we were sheltering under the back of the van doors, enjoying a lovely English picnic!

The weather brightened up and the sun shone bright and we trailed through some of the hillside, baby buggies and all. It was lovely to be out in some open space enjoying the great outdoors. Unfortunately after so much loading up and unloading I didn't get any pictures of the 'fun in the sun'. Yes, there's lots of 'stuff' to wash now but we had fun doing it!

Can you believe it?!

It is April, and I know that the saying is 'April showers bring May flowers' but what I want to know is....what does April snow bring???? Sunday morning Abby came running into my bedroom, lifted up the blind and said 'Look everybody...it's snowing again!'. With that I pulled the duvet over my head and exlaimed...'That's it! I'm hibernating!' I can't believe that 2 days ago I had flip flops on!


So, Dean and the kids got their clothes and coats, and welli boots on and went out to gather up as much snow as they could for a snowball fight. As you can see, Samuel is a wee bit excited!

Abigail managed to make a snowman ....his name is 'Bob'. He sat on our windowsill for most of the day but the sun did come out and Bob slowly melted away. Abby just checked on him (Monday morning) and was excited to see a blob of ice...he lives!

Aleah woke up and when she came out into the kitchen she started exlaiming...'thnow! thnow!' She stood on the window ledge and just stared with amazement!

Many people who knew how upset I was about the snow on Easter greeted me this morning at church with an apology for the weather. It's nice to know they care!

Although I do much prefer sun in April and am craving some warmer weather right now I was reminded through a song at church that morning that the Lord's name is blessed no matter what.

English Rose

Today was a beautiful early spring day. The sun was shinning, and the temperature was up to around 15/16 C which is around 62F. Not exactly HOT! But it was enough for me to get my flip flops out. Today the kids scooted/rode bikes home from school with Dean. When Abby got home she was as red as a beetroot! She flopped on the floor exlaiming how hot she was and that she needed to change her clothes or have a cold bath or something!!! Her sister was still napping and because they share a room she couldn't go in to change. So I ran a lukewarm bath for her. In she went with a glass of juice and 4 icecubes. (What is she going to do when we go to Florida in July/August!?!) She is definitely an English Rose.

Little Bit o' Spring

Okay, so, I woke up on the Monday after Easter to still more snow! I decided that I needed a little bit of spring in my life. So we went to the local hardware/nursery store and purchased some flowers to plant in my window boxes and various other pots. The kids had a great time helping me to pick out bright and cheery plants for our window boxes. We also picked up some sunflower seeds to plant as well but I have to get a few more planters for them.

Abigail and I planted the boxes together inthe middle of the kitchen floor. Where else do you garden when you don't actually have a garden!

I feel very happy when I walk past the windows and see the flowers. Yesterday there was actually a bumble bee buzzing around! That's my little bit o' spring.

I'm dreaming of a White Easter !?! WHAT???

I think that the weather is a little confused...at least I am! We woke up to snow on Easter Sunday! My children were jumping around with excitement, I on the other hand, was not so impressed! Can you believe it...snow, on Easter? I know Easter was early this year and all that jazz but give me a break!!!!! You can tell this Florida Girl is itching for some sunshine to warm her bones.

Despite the weather, we had a lovely day celebrating our Risen Saviour! The kids hunted for their 'chocolate eggs' (it's a British thing) and then Dean took them out on the roof (we like to pretend it's our garden) in their PJ's to enjoy the snow. We had a lovely Easter service at chruch and then had a Dryden Family meal at Dean's parents house. We ended up staying till late evenig playing games and relaxing with the family. Good times!

The snow was too wet to settle or play with, but my kids had a good time watching it.

I just kept thinking..."Okay, Lord, what do you want me to learn from this?!"

Resurrection Day Aproaches

As I was going through the mundane task of putting laundry away, I turned on a praise/worship CD. (I did this mostly because I had stayed home from church on Sunday because I wasn't well and missed out on the singing/praise) I was soon brought to tears of wonder, thankfulness, and humility as I listened to the words of this song. If you haven't heard it please take some time to find it somewhere. (I know that isn't very helpful, but Dean is out right now and he's the one who knows where to go for music online.) Consider the words of this song as we lead up to this weekend where we remember Christ's death and resurrection and what that means for us every day!

The Power of the Cross
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

(Refrain)This, the power of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame,
bore the wrath-We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Every bitter thought,
Every evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two
Dead are raised to life;
“Finished!” the victory cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

(Final Refrain)This, the power of the cross:
Son of God-slain for us.
What a love!
What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Book Day

Today was World Book Day.At school the children had to come dressed up as their favourite book character.

Abigail chose Pippi Longstocking and Samuel chose The Gruffalo. Two fanstastic characters if you know anything about them, and if you don't you should look them up!

Well, I must say that I am very thankful for hot glue guns and duct tape! I spent most of Wednesday with the glue gun! I must say my kids looked fantastic!

One great thing was that I didn't have to stick any freckles on Abby's face...although she did think about adding a few more with brown pen! We did put wire clothes hangers through her braids to make them flick out, poor thing, it was not without a few pokes to the head! After I fixed the wire in her hair she then informed that it was her PE day and she would have to change for Cricket! YIKES! She managed with the help of her teacher and at the end of the day her hair was just as flicked out as when she left the house.

Samuel was the only Gruffalo in the whole school! He did a great job protecting his purple prickles all day. He did loose a few of his turned out toes, though! I had glued some cardboard toes onto the outside of brown socks (which he was wearing over his shoes). They came off during the lunchtime play, and although his teacher did allow him and a friend to go back out and look for them, they only found three toes.

Neither of my children won the class prize...much to my dismay, especially for Sam's costume. But they are both winners to me!