Extension Finally done!
Yes, one of the biggest foci on in these ramblings and shuttering is the often overwhelming extension. Well, thank God, it's done. We aren't in any rush to paint the freshly plastered walls (We're going to force ourselves to rest and have some "normal life" before diving back into decorating/painting it all--maybe even the rest of this year!
Family Life!
Well, where to start? The thing that made me take the time to write, after the longest gap since setting up this site, is what's planned for this Saturday... See, Danny went to play with his friend from Nursury school (Alusha--a Russian name which I've probably missspelled) and he came back absolutely busting to have his stabalizers (training wheels=US) taken off his bike. He wanted them taken off, but NOW! We convinced him that it would be dark soon, and eventually settled him down to giving it a try on Saturday morning. (He asked, is that after one wakeup? and we, sadly, had to break the news that it is after TWO wakeups!). Talking to a friend who's studying at university (who's teaching a fellow student how to ride a bike) he gave me a good idea--find a big grassy field. Of course that'll help soften any falls that happen during the learning concept.
Anyway, I'm really excited about teaching Danny to ride his bike without training wheels. We realize he's a bit young, and might not be able to do it just yet. But this is one of those "Father-Son Kodak Moments" that I sorta dreamed of decades before I was ever married.
We went to Cromer for a church weekend away last month. It was the most laid-back church event I've ever experienced (too laid back for some, but you can't please everyone all the time). Anyway, a big bunch of students came and brought musical instruments. It was so cool to sit around and chat (visit=Texan) while watching these guys just "jam" on keyboards, base guitar, an old piano, violin, drums and even some singing. I must have counted 6 people who I noticed tinkering on the piano while we were there. Such talent! We had a "twenties dress-up theme meal" on the first night (Friday) which was inspired by a really lovely grand staircase from this really cool old stately home that has been converted into a conference centre. We even were treated to some lovely singing and entertainingly talented paino accompaniment (cheers Jenny & Nathan!) The place is just about a "stone's throw" from the seaside. The kids had a great time "paddling" (walking barefoot=US) in the shallow water of the sea, digging in the sand, etc. I loved playing frisbee on the beach and playing games with the boys in our room. The food was BRILLIANT! We had a very good seminar/discussion about vulnerability and honesty / reality with the guys, heard a little from Nigel & Barbara about their experiences in Tanzania and met with God on the last evening. I came away from the weekend with a new love and appreciation for folks. The boys had a blast, and we trust that God was God throughout.
Last, and definitely not least
"US"
That's what we write in the diary (Calendar=US) to carve out an evening together alone for Lucy and I. It's not that we don't want to spend good time together, we DO! But we are both people who have things we're passionate about as well as being passionate about family and marriage. Anyway, we just finished a parenting course (7 week long course organized by the local government, while taught by a friend who happens to be a relative of friends we know through church). It seemend like we had some encouragement and good ideas and chatting thru some ideas "JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME. As much as I love family life and being a Dad, it sure is HARD sometimes. Same with the whole "US" thing. But God is good and He's such a source. I'm getting close to going off some tangent of something soppy or deep here. So I'll end instead.
