November 2 - Elsa and Ella getting along so well was an answer to prayer and a joy to our hearts on the first day we arrived. Ella has grown so much in her faith in Jesus this year, and Elsa's friendship has been a part of that.
December 2 - We bought lights from the Boroughbridge Hardware store for our family's first real Christmas tree. It made Capstick's living room a cheerful place.
January 2 - James and KJ playing a game of Starflux - You can see a corner of the "rug" I put on the floor, but apparently a woolen rug is more like a throw here, and I was using it wrong. I continue to live and learn.
February 2 - One of the best things we did is have Ella start taking ballet lessons with Elsa. It was such a joy for her! Here she is enjoying a chocolate mousse after ballet on a Monday night.
March 2 - I learned to welcome each new month with new flowers blooming. In March we enjoyed the crocuses.
April 2 - We've learned a lot of new rituals and traditions in the past year, hot cross buns at Easter, for instance. I loved the "small-town-ness" of this sign.
May 2 - I took a lot of selfies with this boy. He's always willing to snuggle and smile for the camera. He has also made the transition to English life like a champ. From the early days of wondering if we'd need a car (after walking to the end of the street) he now gets disappointed if we're not walking. His accent has shifted the most, but I refused to let him call me "mummy." We're sticking with Mom around here. Mummy just didn't feel like my name!
June 2 - I spent a lot of time looking out this window. I looked out on the sunny days, took pictures every hour on some days to document how quickly the clouds, sun, and rain come and go here.
July 2 - James's teacher really encouraged him to sound out words for himself and to write them down. He wrote this after the Kizziahs left for the airport. God was so kind to give us those few hours with them!
And I love John David, Uncle David, Claire, Karis and Katie
August 2 - I think we've finally learned that our local supermarket closes at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoons. This particular day we were shopping in the dark, thinking maybe they were just having a power outage.
September 2 - Ella turned 9, and we felt so thankful for new friends to celebrate with her.
October 2 - James celebrated a birthday as well. The day after birthdays are my favorite because there are so many new toys to play with and keep those kids happy! And again, we were so thankful for all the new friends who came to James's party. Going to school half time has been such a gift to them.
October 18 - We made it. It has been a year of many adjustments, many moments of missing the familiar, missing our families. It has been a year of many thanksgivings as with each fresh challenge God gave fresh grace and joy to meet it. It has been a year of many new friendships and relationships with people that we love. It has been a year of seeing beautiful places and important historical places that we couldn't see anywhere else. It has been a year of learning to trust the King of all the earth, Jesus Christ, every single day, the one who says,
"Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life...
can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own."
- Matthew 6:25a, 27, 34 -
Beautiful family photo, friend. You look so pretty. Rejoiced as I read over these memories with you...I love what KJ wrote recently about your skill for enjoying life, and agree with his observation! You indeed are one of those rare gems who has a wonderful time wherever you are, whomever you're with. Love you for it!
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