SPOONS!

Today we spent the day playing games indoors. Dean is working on his dissertation, and it was very cold outside! We had a great time playing SPOONS...we just wish that our American family could be here with us to a a SPOONS CHAMPIONSHIP game. As you can see, Aleah tried to join in our game as well. She certainly would cheer for everyone as they grabbed a spoon.

Dutch Blitz with Grandma

Aleah's new tricycle. It has a wagon attached on the back. Aleah loves scooting through the house on it.

Here are a few pictures of Grandma playing Dutch Blitz with Abby and Sammy. I've got a video of it that I will try and post later. I've added a few pictures of the kids and other stuff. Oh, yeah...and Sammy lost his front tooth!

Cheese! The tooth next to it is loose as well. Soon we will be calling him 'toothless'!

A day out at Kew Gardens with Grandma.

Today we took Grandma to Kew Gardens. For the last few days we have been relaxing indoors, playing games (DUTCH BLITZ) and chilling out with Grandma. But, Dean is trying to write his dissertation and so we thought we'd better get out of the house for a while. Plus, Grandma doesn't get to see a lot of parks, and gardens where she lives in China so we thought it would be a nice treat for everyone. We packed a picnic lunch, said goodbye to Dean, and off we went got catch the bus to Kew Gardens. We had a lovely time. First stop was lunch inside the children's play area 'Climbers and Creepers', then we went exploring through the gardens.

Cheese!

This an enormous pine tree that has branches leaning over so far they touch the ground. It almost makes a cave like house around it. (Not sure what Samuel is doing there?)

This 'tea house' is opposite the bus stop that we had to wait at in order to head back home. It looked VERY inviting. Especially as the temperature had dropped several degrees while we where out. We said that next time Grandma comes to Kew Gardens we will definitely have to make a tea stop there!

Dryden Christmas

Let the chaos begin!!!

Oh, look, a box to play with!

A magic set for Sam, and a Doodle Pet for Abby.

Christmas Pj's!

Here are a few pic's of Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Unfortunately, I was far too busy on Christmas morning to get any photo's of our Christmas Breakfast. We had Dean's family over plus a few of the extended family...one of Dean's sisters-in-law brought along her sister, and another sister-in-law brought along her brother from South Africa. So in total, counting children and extended family we had 18 people for breakfast! Later we all went to Dean's parents' house for Christmas Dinner and more presents...there was 20 of us there! Can you imagine the chaos!!! Especially when you realize that there were 5 children, 3 guinea pigs, 1 dog, 1 rabbit, and 1 cat amongst the crew!!!! We had a fantastic time, but we certainly did miss the family members that weren't able to be there! Hope you enjoy the photo's!!!

Slideshow

I have added some more pictures to the slideshow on the right. I will try and add photos occasionally so check back every once and a while. ENJOY!!

Hospital Visits are Over.

Just an update for those who mainly keep in touch via the blog page. All friends & family are now out of the hospital and recovering in their own homes. WE all still need prayer though, so keep it going!
PS - I also finally bought some batteries for our camera so hopefully I will be posting some new pictures soon.

Thanksgiving

As I write this blog I'm sure that many of my American friends and family are making their Thanksgiving Day plans. For my English family and friends, Thanksgiving is a day that is set aside (the 4th Thursday of November) to give thanks to God for the harvest, and the new land (Pilgrims). This is a day to get together with friends and family and eat lots of food: turkey, sweet potatoes, vegetables, pumpkin pie, ...and to spend some time reflecting on things that you are thankful for.

Since marrying an Englishman, and moving to London I have tried to share with him and his family some of these great American traditions. Being Christians, it has been very easy to get our family and friends to join us for a day of Thanksgiving. We have celebrated it in many ways, having to be a bit more creative with our time because unlike in the States, no one has the day off work. My children now look forward to Thanksgiving and like to have input on who we invite and also how we celebrate. We do have a few American friends over here that we sometimes celebrate with, and we were planning on doing that this year.

However, there has been a lot happening here to distract us from being thankful. My best friend has been in a psychiatric ward for the last week due to situations she got herself in because she suffers with Bi-Polar disorder. Dean's mum was taken into hospital with chest pains early Monday morning, and the doctors are running tests to see what is going on with her. Dean and I are having to sort through some circumstances within our fellowship, as well as Dean and the other elders at Twynholm working through finding a pastor to fill the vacant position. Between counselling people, hospital visits, supporting Dean's dad and Pat's elderly parents, looking after the children and the children of others, all added on to the regular things that we do, I must admit that we are feeling weary. With all this going on we decided that we couldn't possibly plan a big Thanksgiving celebration.
This morning, however, while I was cleaning the kitchen I decided to put on one of my favourite Christian radio stations from home (FL). The Joy FM. At the time they were playing a talk from Charles Stanley on 'Why it is good to give thanks.' Not really what I wanted to hear at the time, but I put it on. God is good and faithful, isn't He! He knew that I needed to be reminded to give thanks in everything! ...'It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.' Psalm 92:1&2
God is faithful, and His loving-kindness is everlasting. With all that is going on around me I have been feeling very anxious about things, and again this morning I was reminded that...'The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6&7
My prayer is now that through thanksgiving to the Lord for all that he has done for me, my heart and mind will have the understanding and peace that it needs during this time. I pray that all of you take some time and and reflect on all that you have to be thankful for. May you feel God's blessing on you even today!

PS - We have run out of Macaroni and Cheese!!!! Here's your chance to do a Random Act of Kindness!