Check out Abby Rocks for my latest post! I accidentally posted it on Abby's site.
Merry Christmas - Joy to the World!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Levi Benjamin!

Check this out! This is a video (in a series ...Street Essentials) created by the pastor of the church where we are now ministering. There's a bunch more of these on youtube and you can also check out the link for New Life Church on the side bar. This is a glimpse of where we are at and what we are doing. ENJOY.

Hi there! I know...it's December already! Here's a few things that we've been up to recently.

We had a visit from Flat Stanley.  We took him out and about around our neighborhood.

The street we live on.

A willing bus driver.

The local post box.

Richmond Park ...(Kelli - you would LOVE this place)

Our favorite climbing tree.

Playing 'London buses' with Levi and Aleah

Thanks for visiting, Flat Stanley! Hope you have a safe journey back to Florida!

Have any of you mothers found that there is a certain time almost daily when chaos erupts in your house? Usually in my house it's that hour before dinner - when I'm trying to fix dinner, someone is trying to finish up their homework and needing help - immediately, another one is practicing piano, hunger is setting in along with that comes a bit of grumpiness, and usually there is at least one phone call...at least one!

Then, finally we sit down to eat. With four children this can also mean that there is a bit of competition to be heard as we go around talking about our day. One interrupts, another gets frustrated because they were cut off.    My picky eater is shuffling food around on his plate and has to be reminded again and again that the food has to go on the fork and into the mouth. A bit more conversation ensues. Another reminder to eat the food, and another. Children who are finished waiting to be excused from the table, while one sibling is still thinking about eating.

Needless to say that I was feeling a bit stressed and drained by the time dinner had finished. Knowing that we were having Bible study at our house, I also knew that dishes had to be done, pronto! Bed time routines needed starting, and I hadn't had a chance to read the chapter of the book we were studying yet.
My lovely husband have me a 'time-out'! I was sent to my room to read and have a break.

Aleah instantly piped up with - 'Mummy, I'm going to make you a card while you are upstairs. I'm sorry we've made you tired!'

 When I came down (after fighting off sleep, and reading the chapter) this is what was waiting for me.

 Outside:  It reads...'To Mummy we all love you very much, from Aleah, Daddy, Levi, (Sam and Abby are there somewhere I think)

Inside: Levi, Aleah, Abigail, Sam














Things like this completely wipe away all stress and frustration, and God reminds me how much of a blessing my little ones are.

It's me...again!

Ok, I know a lot of people have just about given up on this blog (mother) - I am asking you to bear with me yet again. The longer I leave putting up a post - for whatever reason- the more there seems to post and then I get blogged bogged down. There is so much that I want to share, especially with those living far away from us!
So here's my summary of what's been going on:

July: My mom's visit came to an end along with the school year.
Glory Hunters Children's Holiday Bible Camp with help from some great people from First Baptist Church Mt Washington, Louisville KY!

We signed a contract to rent a 4 bedroom house in Roehampton and started our next adventure in our journey with Christ.

August: My birthday (30...again I think.)
Family camping trip to The Forest of Dean including 15km bike ride and rain of course!

Contagious Youth Bible Conference - awesome and challenging time studying the life of Christ with approx 180 teenagers!

THE BIG MOVE - moved from our 3 bedroom flat at Twynholm Baptist Church (where we've lived since we were married) to a 4 bedroom Council Estate house in Roehampton.

September: School started again. Abby - Year 8, Sam- Year 6 (last year of primary school), Aleah Year 1...and Levi is at the school of life with Mummy!
We celebrated Abigial's 13th birthday - yikes - I am a mother of a teenager!

We handed over the ministries that we had been doing at Twynholm to teams of great people who God will use to further the ministry there. We had a celebration evening with the people of Twynholm (past & present) in which we felt very loved and blessed.

October: Officially began ministry at New Life Church!
Dean celebrated yet another birthday!
We celebrated our 15th Wedding Anniversary!

I do have pictures to post for some of these events, but they are currently on Dean's laptop and he is busy 'sermonizing' for church tomorrow - so it is a 'no go zone'! Stay tuned and I will have some photos for you within the next few days...I promise!

Happy Birthday, Aleah!

Our little girl turned 5 on Friday!
She was SO excited about her birthday...it had kind of been building up since our little celebration with Grandma on Monday. Aleah woke up around 3am! She was very happy to see balloons, banners and presents waiting. We had to put her back to bed and tell her it wasn't quite time yet...and again at 4am...and again at 5am...by this time Dean went and slept on the couch and Aleah crawled in bed with me...and eventually fell asleep til 7!

Birthday presents on Mommy and Daddy's bed is our tradition, so the others helped her carry her presents to our bed. (Thankfully the coffee maker had done it's job as well and Dean brought the coffee!)

Nanny and Grandad made a surprise early visit during breakfast! Then it was time to get ready for school...birthday badges and all!

Friday night is youth group night in our house so celebrations were then postponed to Saturday - cake and fun @ Richmond Park with family and church friends.

Saturday was RAINY! Thankfully we were able to take shelter in the basement of the church where we were able to enjoy food and fellowship together. We had a great bunch of people come and fun was had by all.