The waiting is over....

Some months ago, actually May 2014 we asked you to pray as Eileen put in her application for British Citizenship. The 6 months that we were told it would take came and went and the various phone numbers and emails we were told could let us know where they are at in the application all came back with the very helpful... Yes, we have your application.  Not the question we asked but atleast we knew it wasn't lost!! That's a starting point. 

We continued to wait with no real news but really... What other option did we have? 

Thankfully, today in the mail we received two letters. One stating the application was successful!! The other giving the info for my ceremony!  Wow! I guess no news really is good news!! 

Thank You to all of you who prayed for this process! 

Goodbye is never easy....

Goodbye is never easy.  This is a statement used in so many ways... used without really thinking about in many cases.  I have had the privilege of saying goodbye to friends that are moving far from me knowing that they are entering another wonderful stage in their life, i have had the opportunity to say goodbye to friends who we always knew we would only be physically close to for a short time. I have also unfortunately experienced the pain of saying goodbye to those i love. Some with notice, understanding and planning and some because of circumstances, medical and otherwise out of our control.

Earlier this month my dear Grandpa passed away.  He was a lovely man who is now at peace after a long healthy life of joy, laughter, music and being surrounded by those he loved.   Grandpa had been unwell for a short time and we new with the inclusion of Hospice care into his life the outcome would probably not be as we hoped.  It appears that even with advanced warning and waiting for this info it sill does not make the final news any easier to take.

Grandpa... he did love the music!!
(The fiddle was his favourite!)

Grandma & Grandpa not to long ago. 

On a postive note; I was already planning on being in the USA for a short time with some friends which meant i was in the right place at the right time.  I was able to add a flight on to my arrival into Newark and fly home to actually be part of the goodbye's with the rest of my family.   What a blessing that was, and amazing to see how as always God knows the plans he has for us and had arranged for me to already be on my way in the right direction making it possible for me to be there.

Thoughts on Advent

Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas.  Advent always starts on the Sunday closest to November 30th.  If Christmas eve is on a Sunday, that week actually counts as the last week of Advent

Christmas runs for 12 days, also known as the 12 days of Christmas Dec 24th – Jan 6th.  (Christmas technically begins on sunset of the 24th, this is why it can also be the last Sunday in Advent). 

The word Advent actually means coming or arrival, the focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in his first Advent/Arrival and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his second Advent/coming.  Therefor advent is much more than just simply marking an event in history.  It is the chance to celebrate the truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. This is the process for which we participate and that of which we anticipate. 

As we recognize the double focus of Advent on both past and future this symbolizes the journey of both individuals and our larger congregation. We affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that he will come again in power.  This knowledge proves that basis for Kingdom ethics, for Holy living coming out of the sense that we are living BETWEEN THE TIMES and that we are called to be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us.  So as we celebrate God breaking into history with his birth and the anticipation of his return “all creation is groaning awaiting it’s redemption” This also confesses our own responsibility as a people commissioned to “love the Lord your God with all your heart” and to “love your neighbor as yourself”. 

The Spirit of Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, anticipation. preparation and longing.  It is in that hope, however faint at times, and that God, however distant He sometimes seems, which brings to the world the anticipation of a King who will rule with truth and justice and righteousness over His people and in His creation.  It is that hope that once anticipated, and now anticipated anew, the reign of an Anointed one, a Messiah, who will bring peace and justice and righteousness to the world. 

The Advent Wreath.  The advent wreath is unique and in my opinion much more interesting that the average Christmas wreath.  The Advent wreath lies flat on a table and does NOT hang on a door. It is generally made of greenery and hosts five candles four in the structure of the wreath and one in the middle.  

*The circle of the wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end.  

*The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life.  

*Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sunday of advent, which themselves symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ. 

The lighting of the candles itself becomes and important symbol of the season, we light the candles each week in anticipation of the coming light.  With each week that we light another candle and more light comes from our advent wreath we can visually see and process the evil and darkness in the world being pushed back as we the children of God move forward each week in His light.  Finally through the advent time the light that has already come to the world is plain to see as we light the Christ candle. At Christmas and we celebrate and rejoice over the fact that the hope and promises of long ago have been realized. 

The first candle we light is traditionally noted to bring EXPECTATION and HOPE.  

The second reminds us of the leading of the TRUE SHEPHERD 

The third should symbolize JOY.  

The forth candle symbolizes the JOURNEY traditionally the journey of the MAGI to find the true light.  

The fifth candle.. the Christ candle reminds us that Jesus is the heart of the season, giving light to the world. 

Thanksgiving 2014

Living in the UK Thanksgiving is a day that could easily just pass by without much recognition. It is not a day that is celebrated in the British calendar. 

We did enjoy having friends around in the evening to make the occasion.  Some of our guests had never celebrated Thanksgiving before which was extra fun. 

Ireland 2014

At the beginning of November Aaron and I both had the opportunity to attend the ELM (European Leaders Meetings) for the company we work for.  We enjoyed being part of the meetings and felt that during our time there we could see how God was working in the various situations that we had been praying about, and asking many of you to pray about. 

On one of the days the weather was even nice enough for Aaron and i to take a walk and see some of the city that we were staying in (Athlone)

On the first day when I flew into Dublin, a wonderful friend who i haven't been able to see for way too long picked me up for a coffee before i headed to the meetings....

oh... I almost forgot.... The oldest pub in Europe is also in Ireland and in the very city we were staying in.  The weather was damp and this was in the evening so the picture isn't great but this is Sean's Bar!

Turning 40!!

This Summer/Fall Aaron and I both Turned 40.  Aaron in August and I in September.  We had thought it would be fun to throw a party and invite our friends to help us celebrate this milestone.  We were so excited with the turn out we had.  It was a real blessing to see how many of our friends and family wanted to celebrate this special day with us, although in saying that we know there were many who wanted to but because of distance were not able to join us.  in saying that.... 

My Dad and Carolyn flew over just for the weekend to help celebrate with us!!!

So, if you have a daughter turning 40 anytime soon, let me tell you from experience.  Flying over to where she lives as a surprise for the weekend will make her feel very special and very loved!!

Some friends enjoying the party

These amazing girls served drinks and food all night long!!!  They did such a great job and are still owed a huge thank you!!  (Eden is in the red dress!)

hmmmm... two big cakes and two chocolate fountains!!

What amazing friends we have to have helped us prepare such great food!

more great food!

another view of friends enjoying the party.


We were so pleased to see that so many of our friends from different area's of our lives were able to come together and enjoy the evening with us.

THANK YOU to all of you who helped make our birthdays so special. 

A visit to Athens

At the end of October I had the opportunity to attend meetings in Athens.  The meetings (as expected) were fun and productive.  On one afternoon we had the opportunity to go into Athens (we were staying in a little village just outside of the city). 

As we walked around the city as a group of tourists i was saddened by many of the things i saw.  The economic crash a few years ago in Greece has caused great heartache in the city and probably through most of Greece.  You could easily see where once there had been thriving business' now stood vacant run down buildings.

It was an interesting experience for me to stand on Mars Hill and look over the city.  This is a place where in Biblical history we know Paul stood and made note that they worshiped anything and everyone even to the point of have a plaque to an unknown God.  As i stood at the top of Mars Hill looking over the city I was saddened to realise that in this place there are still so many who don't turn to the one and true God. 

A Panoramic view from Mars Hill looking over the city of Athens. 

Amongst the amazing beauty of the historic city are the lost and forgotten buildings.