Friday, December 31, 2010

Snow Slide Pics


Nathanael's favorite place to be.

Dawn and Hudson have a snowball fight.


Savannah "pulling" Elliot... I think it should be the other way around.




These pictures were from the evening before.
It gets dark here way too early for Hudson and Elliot.


Cute kid, even with a snotty face!



Snow Slide

Our friends, Andy, Dawn and Savannah, came over for the day. Andy helped Mark build a sledding hill that Pop had started for the boys. I think the big boys had more fun than the little ones. Here are a few videos of the fun. The best part of this first video is the end when I happened to catch Hudson trip Nathanael. Yes, I am the mom who just laughed and kept recording. The second video is of the tunnel they built. Sorry you have to see Hudson's stellar attitude... The third is Mark trying out the hill.


Elliot's Prayer

Tonight at dinner Elliot said he wanted to pray. Pop was giving him leads after he ran out of things to say. Pop said, "Jesus, thank you for the new year." Elliot repeated, "Jesus, thank you for our new hair." Gotta love it.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas Day

Dave and Kelly and Tatum were over for the day. Tatum was a little under the weather, but she managed to still have a good time opening some presents.


The boys all enjoyed opening presents. Elliot and Nate both got Buzz Lightyear for Christmas. It's been the favorite.





They've had a great time letting Pop read to them since we've been here.




Snow


We've had a little bit of snow the last couple of days. The boys have had a blast. We're supposed to get up to 15 inches tonight and tomorrow so stay tuned for some more pictures. I think they won't know what to do with so much snow!








2010 Family Pictures

My brother-in-law's sister, Leann, took our family picture for us this year. We had a good time in case you can't tell. :)




We used this next pic for our Christmas card to show a little English/British cheer.

We got a few pictures of Owen and Jack mixed in too for a good cousin combo.







Friday, December 17, 2010

Moving


We moved out of seminary housing in Fort Worth on the 14th. It was bittersweet. Four and a half years seemed never ending at times, but amidst the stresses and difficulties of seminary life, we made some really good friends that were super hard to leave behind. God was so gracious to give us like-minded people in the same stage of life to endure with us. We couldn't have made it without them. Although the friendships will persevere, we'll dearly miss being neighbors!


This is in our empty apartment, the last night. We had pizza with my parents and sister and 2 other families that we've become close friends with. I think our boys don't really get that we won't see our friends for a long time. It was hard to watch them all hugging, not really understanding why everyone was so sad.

Anne Marie, me, Melinda and Rachel all prayed together every other week for a time. I'm so thankful the Lord provided these friendships to challenge, pray for and encourage me.

Rick Driggers and his wife Lynette, (who regrettably I don't have a picture of) have been great to grow our love for God and each other as a married couple. They have been a godly example we won't soon forget. Their ministry to others for the sake of Christ is far reaching and has touched so many. We're thankful for all their kindness in loving us!

This is Hudson and Elliot with our neighbors John Michael and Ben. Can you say 4 peas in a pod? I think the saying says 3, but anyway, that's what they are. It will be hard not to have them right at our back door. Melinda, their mom, has been a kindred spirit as a fellow mother of 3 boys.

This was after a Halloween get-to-gether in our courtyard. I love this picture! Lucy and Henry are Brian and Anne Marie's kids. Anne Marie and I, before they moved off campus, walked miles together with our double strollers. Our kids have spent a ton of time looking at each other from a stroller view. I miss my walking buddy!

Another one of the boys. Quite the biker gang!


Graduation





Yeah, yeah... I know the last time I posted it was pictures from December 2009. I recognize that was a whole year ago. As I've had to recommit to blogging, I'm asking for a second chance (as if you have a choice!) I've decided to start afresh in December 2010 since you'd get bored trying to look through a whole year's worth of posts. (The real reason is there's no way I can catch up!)


The first thing I want to document for December 2010, is Mark's graduation. Hooray! We made it through 4 1/2 years of seminary at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary!

My husband, the hottie masters grad.

My family was able to come down for the day to celebrate with us. We were so glad they could be there to enjoy the moment.

So happy and thankful to be done!

We were super happy that it turned out that Mark ended up graduating with his friend Brian Curtis. He and his wife, Anne Marie, are dear friends and a cherished part of our time in Fort Worth.
The ever proud graduate.
Hudson and Elliot joined us on the big day.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Aunt Ginger's House

While Mark was gone, the boys and I went to my Aunt Ginger and Uncle Steve's house for a few days. The boys love it there. They rode on a tractor with Uncle Steve and played with my cousin's boys, Cutter and Colter. They know nothing about feeding cows, but they really enjoy helping! Ginger had the electric trains up and running. The boys REALLY loved this. A wonderful way to spend our time waiting for Daddy to come home!





Mark's trip to Bristol

Mark was able to take a trip to England in early December to visit the University of Bristol for consideration of further studies. Unfortunately I didn't get to go, but here are a few highlights of his trip.


Westminster Abby, London



Burial site of John Owen at Bunhill Fields


John Bunyan


Theology building at University of Bristol.
Note worthy because this is where Mark would be if he were to get accepted there.



George Muller's grave in Arnos Vale Cemetery in Bristol.