A picture of Jen, Jess and Helen decorating their pizzas
Family Photo
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The "Joy" of Fellowship!
The Bible Study that I lead at our home on Tuesday evenings is now doing a Beth Moore study on the Fruits of the Spirit (Living Beyond Yourself)! It has been an incredible blessing to all of us. We all have been challenged in our daily walks with the Lord and living out our faith in visible ways for the world to see. Our "challenge" this last week for the fruit of joy was to to do something to find joy in the fellowship with other believers! So we planned a pizza party, we decorated our own pizzas with peppers, mushrooms, British bacon, chili sauce, sardines, and lots of other creative toppings. I love these "girls" so much and I thank God for His faithfulness for giving me these Sisters in Christ!
A picture of Jen, Jess and Helen decorating their pizzas
A picture of Jen, Jess and Helen decorating their pizzas
5 1/2 More Weeks to Go!
Jillian's Babysitters!
Jen, Mike, and Jillian playing with bubbles!
The most incredible gift has been offered to us by our friends Jen and Mike! The both of them (or one or the other) have offered to babysit for Brad and me once a week until this next baby comes! So we can have a little time together, before things get a little more hectic, and there isn't as much time for "mommy and daddy" alone time! Its been incredible for the both of us, being able to get away, to hold hands, and talk without interruption or distractions. We have not spent any money on either of our dates so far, but just have found a secluded place to talk and have brought our own dessert to share. Its been simply BEAUTIFUL time together!
More about our sweet friends: I met Jen last November at a "Girlie's Night" (organized by another girl at our church and in our Bible Study, Vicky) and Jen and I instantly hit it off! She is probably one of the most fascinating people I have ever known and I love talking with her. She is extremely knowledgeable, as well as articulate in describing English culture and history. And I of course, am fairly clueless, so its nice to know someone who not only is English, but knows how it explain it to me as a "foreigner". LOL! She is an extremely compassionate person too. And in addition to that, she served as a missionary in a former USSR nation for two years and the four years after that she has been teaching as a R/E teacher (Religion and Ethics, required course work in England).
All last semester during our Bible Study we prayed for her situation at her teaching position, because it has just been exhausting for her. At the age of 28, she was the head of the department for R/E for the upper grades at her school. In addition to all the ordinary requirement of a teacher ( planning lessons, grading, meetings), she was creating an entirely new curricululm and was being enormously overworked. So, after much prayer, and after the school year was completed, she decided to resign from her job. She is praying now as to where God will take her next but for now is enjoying this time of rest.
About Mike, Mike is an American, and he and Jen have been dating for the last six months (but have been good friends for over a year). Mike graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis and was chosen for his "first assignment" to earn his masters in engineering for two years in Cambridge.
The two of them had planned a trip to the States (before Mike begins his new assignment in South Carolina) for her to meet his family in the States at the 1st of September. But Mike had complications from his back surgery earlier this year and his disc reherniated itself, so they had to cancel their trip. The "good news" is that we get to spend more time with Mike and Jen! This last week, we visited Mike in the hospital (the military has insurance that allowed him to have his surgery in a private hospital in Cambridge). He already is doing fairly well and the surgeon is pleased with his recovery at this stage. Mike LOVED that we all came for a visit! And he sent us a text on our cell phone telling us that his nurse told him the day after we saw him that she thought the little girl who had come for a visit (Jillian) was "POSITIVELY ENCHANTING"! :) Isn't that just precious? I just love English phrasing of things! And we are so blessed to have these dear friends!
The most incredible gift has been offered to us by our friends Jen and Mike! The both of them (or one or the other) have offered to babysit for Brad and me once a week until this next baby comes! So we can have a little time together, before things get a little more hectic, and there isn't as much time for "mommy and daddy" alone time! Its been incredible for the both of us, being able to get away, to hold hands, and talk without interruption or distractions. We have not spent any money on either of our dates so far, but just have found a secluded place to talk and have brought our own dessert to share. Its been simply BEAUTIFUL time together!
More about our sweet friends: I met Jen last November at a "Girlie's Night" (organized by another girl at our church and in our Bible Study, Vicky) and Jen and I instantly hit it off! She is probably one of the most fascinating people I have ever known and I love talking with her. She is extremely knowledgeable, as well as articulate in describing English culture and history. And I of course, am fairly clueless, so its nice to know someone who not only is English, but knows how it explain it to me as a "foreigner". LOL! She is an extremely compassionate person too. And in addition to that, she served as a missionary in a former USSR nation for two years and the four years after that she has been teaching as a R/E teacher (Religion and Ethics, required course work in England).
All last semester during our Bible Study we prayed for her situation at her teaching position, because it has just been exhausting for her. At the age of 28, she was the head of the department for R/E for the upper grades at her school. In addition to all the ordinary requirement of a teacher ( planning lessons, grading, meetings), she was creating an entirely new curricululm and was being enormously overworked. So, after much prayer, and after the school year was completed, she decided to resign from her job. She is praying now as to where God will take her next but for now is enjoying this time of rest.
About Mike, Mike is an American, and he and Jen have been dating for the last six months (but have been good friends for over a year). Mike graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis and was chosen for his "first assignment" to earn his masters in engineering for two years in Cambridge.
The two of them had planned a trip to the States (before Mike begins his new assignment in South Carolina) for her to meet his family in the States at the 1st of September. But Mike had complications from his back surgery earlier this year and his disc reherniated itself, so they had to cancel their trip. The "good news" is that we get to spend more time with Mike and Jen! This last week, we visited Mike in the hospital (the military has insurance that allowed him to have his surgery in a private hospital in Cambridge). He already is doing fairly well and the surgeon is pleased with his recovery at this stage. Mike LOVED that we all came for a visit! And he sent us a text on our cell phone telling us that his nurse told him the day after we saw him that she thought the little girl who had come for a visit (Jillian) was "POSITIVELY ENCHANTING"! :) Isn't that just precious? I just love English phrasing of things! And we are so blessed to have these dear friends!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Mommy's Makeup! :)
FINGERPRINTS.
Sometimes you get discouraged,
because I am so small
And leave my little fingerprints
On furniture and walls.
But everyday I'm growing
And soon will be so tall
That all these little fingerprints
Will be difficult to recall.
So here's a little handprint
That you can put away
So you will know how my fingers looked
On this special day.
~Author Unknown~
For those of you who have been around Jillian for any period of time, you know that our little girl loves to "organize" things. She will take all of the things from our "pantry" ( really its only a low cabinet filled with food) and arrange them in the living room against the wall. She is very particular about what order all the items go in, it is very amusing to watch, and try to figure out what is going on in that pretty head of hers. But her organization savviness is not just limited to our pantry foods, she will do it with all of her toys and a new item she has discovered is mommy's lotions (and small samples of make-up).
When Jillian's Grandad and Grammie came to visit in May, Marilyn gave me a sample of some Clinique goodies and I put them in a bag. I normally make sure that there isn't anything in there that will cause Jillian to get into trouble before I give it to her. But today, I was distracted and I left this cream blush in the bag and sure enough when I left the room I heard a big "uh oh" in the other room. (Jillian likes to say "uh oh" when she knows she has done something wrong!) She got the cream blush all in her hair, her cheek, as well as her ear! I took a picture, because I couldn't resist capturing this memory.
One of my favorite pictures of my brother and sister is a picture my mom took of the two of them covered in sticky, ooky mud. I think I appreciate that picture even more now that I AM A MOM. I am thankful that my mom kept her sense of humor, even when her two children came home a huge mess! She had the wisdom to know that she wouldn't always have little fingerprints all over her house. I know that this next year (maybe even the next couple of years) will hold its challenges with having two little ones, but I pray for the grace and wisdom to cherish this time while I have it with them. I hope that you have a blessed day!
PS: I did explain to Jillian we only play with make-up with Mommy's help, because we often have fun in the morning, with me putting a little bit of Mommy's make-up on her cheeks, so that she feels like a big girl too!
Sometimes you get discouraged,
because I am so small
And leave my little fingerprints
On furniture and walls.
But everyday I'm growing
And soon will be so tall
That all these little fingerprints
Will be difficult to recall.
So here's a little handprint
That you can put away
So you will know how my fingers looked
On this special day.
~Author Unknown~
For those of you who have been around Jillian for any period of time, you know that our little girl loves to "organize" things. She will take all of the things from our "pantry" ( really its only a low cabinet filled with food) and arrange them in the living room against the wall. She is very particular about what order all the items go in, it is very amusing to watch, and try to figure out what is going on in that pretty head of hers. But her organization savviness is not just limited to our pantry foods, she will do it with all of her toys and a new item she has discovered is mommy's lotions (and small samples of make-up).
When Jillian's Grandad and Grammie came to visit in May, Marilyn gave me a sample of some Clinique goodies and I put them in a bag. I normally make sure that there isn't anything in there that will cause Jillian to get into trouble before I give it to her. But today, I was distracted and I left this cream blush in the bag and sure enough when I left the room I heard a big "uh oh" in the other room. (Jillian likes to say "uh oh" when she knows she has done something wrong!) She got the cream blush all in her hair, her cheek, as well as her ear! I took a picture, because I couldn't resist capturing this memory.
One of my favorite pictures of my brother and sister is a picture my mom took of the two of them covered in sticky, ooky mud. I think I appreciate that picture even more now that I AM A MOM. I am thankful that my mom kept her sense of humor, even when her two children came home a huge mess! She had the wisdom to know that she wouldn't always have little fingerprints all over her house. I know that this next year (maybe even the next couple of years) will hold its challenges with having two little ones, but I pray for the grace and wisdom to cherish this time while I have it with them. I hope that you have a blessed day!
PS: I did explain to Jillian we only play with make-up with Mommy's help, because we often have fun in the morning, with me putting a little bit of Mommy's make-up on her cheeks, so that she feels like a big girl too!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
A Scottish Wedding
Our dear friends Cheryl and David got married the 4th of August. We were unable to make it to the wedding, because it was in Dumphries, Scotland (which would have been an 8 hour trip EACH way). But we were so honored to be included on their wedding list; they even had a traditional Scottish 'Ceilidh' and David wore a kilt for the occasion! :)
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Dried Fruit Cream Scones
Here is one the promised recipes from the Clare Hall International Recipe Book that Brad and I compiled for my play group! These scones are absolutely delicious, I hope everyone has the chance to enjoy them! :)
Dried Fruit Cream Scones
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup dried apricots, chopped
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
Glaze:
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Use an ungreased baking sheet.
Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a bowl, stirring with a fork to mix well. Add the dried apricots. Still using a fork, stir in the cream and mix until the dough holds together in a rough mass (the dough will be quite sticky).
Lightly flour a board and transfer the dough to it. Knead the dough 8 or 9 times. Pat into 2 circles about 6 inches round. For the glaze, spread the butter over the top and side of the circle of dough and sprinkle the sugar on top. Cut each circle into 8 wedges and place each piece on the baking sheet, allowing about an inch between pieces.
Bake for about 11 minutes, or until golden brown
Note: You can always modify the “filling”. For example: cheese (don’t put any sugar), chocolate chip, sultanas, etc
Dried Fruit Cream Scones
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup dried apricots, chopped
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
Glaze:
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Use an ungreased baking sheet.
Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a bowl, stirring with a fork to mix well. Add the dried apricots. Still using a fork, stir in the cream and mix until the dough holds together in a rough mass (the dough will be quite sticky).
Lightly flour a board and transfer the dough to it. Knead the dough 8 or 9 times. Pat into 2 circles about 6 inches round. For the glaze, spread the butter over the top and side of the circle of dough and sprinkle the sugar on top. Cut each circle into 8 wedges and place each piece on the baking sheet, allowing about an inch between pieces.
Bake for about 11 minutes, or until golden brown
Note: You can always modify the “filling”. For example: cheese (don’t put any sugar), chocolate chip, sultanas, etc
Sunday, August 12, 2007
32 Week Picture and Our Ambulance Adventure!
An update on us: We had a "interesting" day yesterday ( I think "interesting" is such a funny word and I don't use it often, but I think itis the perfect description of our day). To start out, I should say that I think I have found this pregnancy a little more difficult this last trimester than I did with Jillian. I realize that this could only be my perception, or simply "in my head", but I think having a very active toddler is contributing to this "feeling" I am having. It really hard sometimes, because I want to play with Jillian! But she doesn't always understand that its hard for mommy to sit on the ground with her, play outside for long periods of time (she especially loves us running down hills or going up and down stairs!), and then carrying her for semi- long distances. It was a lot easier to get a nap when I was pregnant with Jilllian than it has been with this one, but I think that is good preparation for what the future is going to hold and I am confident His grace will be sufficient. We CAN do this through His strength! :)
But here is the story of our "interesting day"! Yesterday afternoon Brad and I walked into town with Jillian, which is completely normal and even a short walk for me. But on the way home, I started having this abdominal cramping and it wouldn't go away, I sat down to try to let it pass but it didn't, so I finally just decided I needed to continue the walk home, which was very difficult and laborious. But more than anything, I think it scared me, because I never had anything like that happen with Jillian. So we called the GP and the doctor came for a home visit.. Everything appeared fine from her perspective, except for a tenderness over the lower abdomen/ bladder. So she decided to do a urine test which came back completely clear.
She then decided that it would be best for me to be further evaluated at Addenbrooke's hospital. So we called an ambulance (not because we needed to get there in a nick of time, but because it was a free service and the GP offered it to us) and went to the hospital. Both of our ambulance driver were very compassionate and reassuring and I really enjoyed the ride and getting to talk to them (the pain had resided over an hour before). But despite their friendliness, I was not reassured in their compentance to get me to a hospital (at least if I were in a hurry), we missed the entrance to the hospital not once, but TWICE!!! When I discovered what had happened, I couldn't help but bursting out into laughter. And then when we got to the hospital, they parked the ambulance on the other side of the hospital, opposite the side of the maternity unit. So we went on a big scavenger hunt to find where we supposed to be with me in a wheelchair (with Jillian on my lap) because my blood pressure was low and I was feeling dizzy/ faint. ((Also, I forgot to mention, poor little Jillian threw up in the ambulance! ))
Upon arrival to the delivery unit, they connected me to monitors. They monitored my uterus "contractions" (I had several Braxton Hicks but nothing more) and the baby's heart for an hour and then I waited for the OB for an hour. When the OB did arrive, he didn't even examine me, but went and found my chart, reviewed it, and sent me home. I am thankful that all is fine, and the mid-wife reassured me that no answer was a good thing. It was a long night, we didn't get home until midnight. But I learned more about how the delivery unit operates, rode in my first ambulance, and had a interesting trial run! I am glad that I went just to be reassured that everything was alright. But I know that I have to trust this baby and myself in the Lord's hands. I am both anxious and excited that our second baby will be coming to meet us in the next 8 weeks.
But here is the story of our "interesting day"! Yesterday afternoon Brad and I walked into town with Jillian, which is completely normal and even a short walk for me. But on the way home, I started having this abdominal cramping and it wouldn't go away, I sat down to try to let it pass but it didn't, so I finally just decided I needed to continue the walk home, which was very difficult and laborious. But more than anything, I think it scared me, because I never had anything like that happen with Jillian. So we called the GP and the doctor came for a home visit.. Everything appeared fine from her perspective, except for a tenderness over the lower abdomen/ bladder. So she decided to do a urine test which came back completely clear.
She then decided that it would be best for me to be further evaluated at Addenbrooke's hospital. So we called an ambulance (not because we needed to get there in a nick of time, but because it was a free service and the GP offered it to us) and went to the hospital. Both of our ambulance driver were very compassionate and reassuring and I really enjoyed the ride and getting to talk to them (the pain had resided over an hour before). But despite their friendliness, I was not reassured in their compentance to get me to a hospital (at least if I were in a hurry), we missed the entrance to the hospital not once, but TWICE!!! When I discovered what had happened, I couldn't help but bursting out into laughter. And then when we got to the hospital, they parked the ambulance on the other side of the hospital, opposite the side of the maternity unit. So we went on a big scavenger hunt to find where we supposed to be with me in a wheelchair (with Jillian on my lap) because my blood pressure was low and I was feeling dizzy/ faint. ((Also, I forgot to mention, poor little Jillian threw up in the ambulance! ))
Upon arrival to the delivery unit, they connected me to monitors. They monitored my uterus "contractions" (I had several Braxton Hicks but nothing more) and the baby's heart for an hour and then I waited for the OB for an hour. When the OB did arrive, he didn't even examine me, but went and found my chart, reviewed it, and sent me home. I am thankful that all is fine, and the mid-wife reassured me that no answer was a good thing. It was a long night, we didn't get home until midnight. But I learned more about how the delivery unit operates, rode in my first ambulance, and had a interesting trial run! I am glad that I went just to be reassured that everything was alright. But I know that I have to trust this baby and myself in the Lord's hands. I am both anxious and excited that our second baby will be coming to meet us in the next 8 weeks.
The Visits of Friends!
We recently had Ben Arbour (a friend from college) come and stay a night with us and Brad and I were just reflecting on how nice it has been to have some of our friends come visit while we are over here! The following photos are dated back as early as this last March with the Holliday's (friends from A&M), to the O'Shea's in April (our neighbors in Maryland), the Kornegay's this early June (our SAM family at A&M), and Ben Arbour mid- July.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Making Cambridge Home
It has been a long time since I have blogged and I feel like so much has happened since we have been "home". That has been strange to me to call Cambridge, England "home", but it is, and I realize more and more how much I am going to miss it when our time comes to an end here. In the month we have been back, I have been "Mrs Nesting Mum to Be". Brad and I have completely rearranged our bedroom, as well as "re-decorated" the living room and the "girls room". I have found a lot of joy preparing our home for the homecoming of our baby and I have had a lot of help from our dear friends at Clare Hall who have now moved back to their homes and left us behind some of their things.
We have been blessed to be the recipient of MANY hand-me down gifts from several of our neighbors who have moved in this last month. Our closest friends/ neigbors at Clare Hall gave us a bookshelf with baskets, a couple of drawer organizers, a house-plant, as well as some family games to play. My friend Ruth from New Zealand gave us a very nice three-wheeled double stroller, some beautiful hand-knitted New Zealand baby girl sweaters, and a flower plant . Gry from Denmark gave us a moses basket with stand, a baby bath tub, a nursing pillow, a baby sling for our Chariot trailer, and some 0-3 month baby clothes. Friends from Japan gave us a hand mixer, friends from Russia gave Jillian a play "pushchair" (stroller) and pack and play for her dolls, and another American friend gave us a "real baby" pack and play with some baby toys!
We feel so blessed to have friends from all over the world. Every one of these neighbors gave us these gifts with the condition that we send pictures of Baby Girl Holmes come this October! I, of course, wish that they could be here with us, but I know God will be faithful to provide new friends at the college. Just tonight, some new neighbors from Canada brought us over some freshly picked/ home-made Blackberry Pie with vanilla ice-cream. I gave them chocolate chip cookies upon their arrival, and have been lending them measuring cups, wrenches, maps, and even my bike (I can no longer ride it for the next couple of months). It is so strange that I have become an "EXPERT" on living here. I still find myself suprised when I have the answer to people's questions, whether it be about transport in London, places to visit in Cambridge, or things about college life, I have learned so much about English culture and living in Cambridge. And I am loving it!
We have been blessed to be the recipient of MANY hand-me down gifts from several of our neighbors who have moved in this last month. Our closest friends/ neigbors at Clare Hall gave us a bookshelf with baskets, a couple of drawer organizers, a house-plant, as well as some family games to play. My friend Ruth from New Zealand gave us a very nice three-wheeled double stroller, some beautiful hand-knitted New Zealand baby girl sweaters, and a flower plant . Gry from Denmark gave us a moses basket with stand, a baby bath tub, a nursing pillow, a baby sling for our Chariot trailer, and some 0-3 month baby clothes. Friends from Japan gave us a hand mixer, friends from Russia gave Jillian a play "pushchair" (stroller) and pack and play for her dolls, and another American friend gave us a "real baby" pack and play with some baby toys!
We feel so blessed to have friends from all over the world. Every one of these neighbors gave us these gifts with the condition that we send pictures of Baby Girl Holmes come this October! I, of course, wish that they could be here with us, but I know God will be faithful to provide new friends at the college. Just tonight, some new neighbors from Canada brought us over some freshly picked/ home-made Blackberry Pie with vanilla ice-cream. I gave them chocolate chip cookies upon their arrival, and have been lending them measuring cups, wrenches, maps, and even my bike (I can no longer ride it for the next couple of months). It is so strange that I have become an "EXPERT" on living here. I still find myself suprised when I have the answer to people's questions, whether it be about transport in London, places to visit in Cambridge, or things about college life, I have learned so much about English culture and living in Cambridge. And I am loving it!
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