Children at Fountains Abbey, Musings, + Thanksgiving

I haven't done much up-to-the-minute updating, have I?  We are at the end of our second full week in Boroughbridge, and it has felt a little more settled than the week before.  The kids and I did more schoolwork this week than the previous week, though we're still not up to a full load.  We've acquired a car that I've successfully driven on several occasions (That feels like a big accomplishment.), and we've picked up some odds and ends to have ready for our move-in day, which should be this coming Friday.  We've got a big day out in Leeds planned for tomorrow with the hope of acquiring phones and placing an order at IKEA.

In the way of pictures, I have some from an outing we took on our 4th day in England.

We drove here to Fountains Abbey in the amount of time we could drive across town to Target.  It was a pretty good living history lesson, wouldn't you say?  I think they started building it in 1132.

It was also a good place for the kids to get to know the de la Hoyde children, who they are becoming fast friends with.

The first few days here were actually quite sunny and beautiful.  I love the light here; it's already low in the sky by afternoon, and I think it just looks a little lovelier in the Northern Hemisphere, but maybe I'm biased in general toward the beauty of this place.

With the combination of damp and cold and spending more time outside, my kids' clothes have never been muddier.  I think I've accepted this as a new normal state of things. 

With so much learning and change going on, I'm finding it hard to know where to begin in writing about it.  My heart feels very full.  I am daily thankful for Grace Church Boroughbridge and how they have welcomed us and loved us and encouraged us daily.  They make it easier to feel at home here.  I'm thankful for our church back home, who send us messages of encouragement and let us know they miss us.  Do you know that in 2 weeks here, we've already received mail from Alabama twice?  Through you we feel God's love, and it fills our hearts to the brim during this month of Thanksgiving.

Isn't that Autumn sunshine lovely?  And speaking of Thanksgiving, I've decided to attempt hosting a couple of Thanksgiving dinners the week after we move in.  I've never been in charge of turkey before.  Feel free to send me all your turkey tips.  And I'm definitely thinking these little English children need to make hand turkeys and color pictures of pilgrims and Indians, wouldn't you agree?  

Welcome to Boroughbridge



We are a good full week into our new life in Boroughbridge, and as I awakened early this morning I thought I'd share some picture of our first day, last Sunday.  It somehow seems fitting that our first full day here was the Lord's Day, the first day of a new week and a new life.

It began with a walk to the next village over where Grace Church puts on a Kids' Club one Sunday a month.  We probably walked 100 yards when James said, "Are we gonna need to buy a car?"

Walking may be a novel thing to the kids, but it sure is a beautiful thing being able to walk outside your front door and see...ENGLAND.

I think having a fun time focused on the kids was a good first Sunday for our kids.  When a very old and gray-looking "Joseph" stepped out to tell his story, James asked, "Is that Gandalf?" 

After a delicious Sunday lunch and paper-doll playing by the girls, we went out for another walk and to play soccer  football at a local park.  It was fun for me watching KJ play, and it was Ella and James' first time to participate in such a thing as well, and of course, they always appreciate a new playground.

The River Ure

 

 

Afterwards we were surprised with a very kind, lovely, and fun welcome to Boroughbridge.

 

 



They gave us the full English treatment, and it was perfectly delightful.  Just look at that butter, cream, and jam.

 

There were even lovely gifts:  flat caps for the boys and tea cups for the girls.

 

It was a good and full first day, and between all the walking and moving across an ocean, the kids slept until 10 a.m. the next morning. 

 

Starting week 2, how can you pray?

 

You can pray for us as we continue to set up a life here.  We were able to cross a bank account off our list last week.  This week we're hoping to get phones and perhaps a car.  I'm also trying to locate and plan out what furniture we'll need as we prepare to move into our house.  Overall, you can pray for us and our children as we adjust to a new life and a new routine, which will still be constantly changing until we're able to move in to our new home.  Pray that we'd give each other lots of patience and love when we have our "moments."  And you can pray as we meet new people and slowly build relationships. 

 

We've felt so welcomed and been shown such kind hospitality, and that has helped us immensely.  Again, we're so grateful for all of you holding the rope for us.  I'm sure we'll have more detailed prayer requests for you in our next newsletter.

Moments + Prayers

This morning I came across a couple of quotes by Henri Cartier-Bresson-a French photographer-this morning that expressed things I found to be true.

Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again.

There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a picture.  Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera.  That is the moment the photographer is creative.  Oop!  The Moment!  Once you miss it, it is gone forever.

We are soaking up moments and "the last of the sunshine," as a friend remarked yesterday. 

I can't say thank you enough to all of you who have been praying for us in our move and transition, especially the prayers you have made for our children.  Our heavenly Father who knows what we need before we ask has been graciously answering those prayers, and the kids have been remarkable.  The only children and parenting struggles are the same ones as before, so all is normal. :)

"Remember, remember the 5th of November..."

It's the 5th of November, and we got an early start celebrating Bonfire Night with sausages, S'mores, and sparklers.  (That was some accidental alliteration.)

We had to explain about S'Mores, and whenever I try to explain something that is common in the United States, I realize how much I don't know...for instance, why are they called S'Mores?  Am I the only one who didn't know it was a contraction of "Some More?" 

 

We couldn't find any graham crackers at the local supermarket, but tea biscuits were a good substitute.  They gave our s'mores a distinctly English flair. 

 



I made the mistake of not considering the importance of having a thin bar of chocolate.  In the absence of Hershey's our chocolate bar was really thick so it didn't melt as easily.  We'll do better next time, though they were still a tasty treat.

 

 

We only had one piece of luggage go missing at the airport, which happened to contain Ella's school books.  We are getting by with lessons on the go at the moment as we have lots of errands to run in setting up life here.  Maybe learning about the Gunpowder Plot in England on Guy Fawkes Day is better than reading out of our missing history book.





The First Day

Quote for the Day:

This is the greenest grass I've ever seen!  - Ella Pugh

 

How can I repay the LORD for all His goodness to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.

 

- Psalm 116:12-13 -

 

 

I told KJ I'd only post one picture because it's late, but I wanted to say a big thank you to all of you who have helped us on our journey to Yorkshire.  We could not have made it here without you, and it has been such a confirming day, full of every possible grace.  And by every possible grace, let's just say, those of you who know about the biggest struggle in James' life, he has been doing FABULOUS.  I asked Ella for her highs and lows for the day.  Her lows were "walking her legs off," (walking is a new way of life for her) and "playing this game." (Ha!  Touche.)  Her highs?  "No highs, because everything was good."  That is a good start, I think.

 

We have felt so loved and encouraged by the people who make up Grace Church, just as we have been so loved and encouraged by all of you dear people at Open Door Baptist Church and beyond in the days leading up to this.  We love you all so much.