This Time Last Year... Selling the House

It was 2007, we were both working full-time and thought it might be better to put our rent money into a mortgage. We also lived in south Alabama where you can buy a 3 bedroom, 2 bath "starter" house for what Londoners pay for a closet on the "wrong" side of town :)

So we looked and we prayed and we found it.

And we loved living in that house for the next 6 years.

We brought our puppies home to that house...

Christmas 2007 picture

and they promptly dug up the backyard :)

BEFORE

AFTER

We brought our babies home to that house...

Ellie's homecoming. Don't let the smiles fool you - we were (rightfully) terrified!

Proud Dad and Sister when Meg came home

We had lots of guests and special occasion dinners and wild fun in that house...

Robert's surprise birthday party circa 2009

2011 Anniversary Dinner 

Making ice cream with the oldest while letting the youngest clean out cabinets.

Yes, that's a doll stroller...

There just really is no sufficient caption for this picture....

And, most painfully missed, Robert and I each had our own walk-in closet...

Robert's closet on the left and mine in through the bathroom

And one year ago today we packed up our last load of stuff in the minivan and said good-bye to that wonderful home...

Sale Pending!

God had graciously sold our house... in a poor market... in a month... to a medical student who bought lots of the furniture (that we couldn't take with us) along with the house.

In many ways this seems more like a lifetime ago than a year ago. Though we can list the many comforts and memories we miss about that house, we wouldn't trade our lives in London. Not because one place is better than the other, but because of the peace that is present when you know you're where God's placed you.

And to think, this time next year we should be close to preparing for another move!

One Month Away!

We're at the one month countdown until we meet this sweet baby!!!

Ok, I guess I should clarify that I mean I'm one month away from my due date... it will probably be June, folks, if history repeats itself!

But either way that makes me so excited! ...and nervous ...and hopeful ...and ...hungry (everything makes me hungry these days... sigh...)

So, I happen to have a very talented photographer right down the hall from me. She is continuing to build her already stellar portfolio and she asked if she could take a few maternity shots of me.

I kindly told her no.

I'm sure I was feeling particularly large and insecure when she asked, and normally I'm happy to go along with these things, but I just had horrible visions of seeing my perceived self on film and thought I'd better pass.

Thankfully, Lydia convinced me that it wouldn't take long and I might even like a shot or two! The woman is convincing, and I now believe she also is a miracle worker :)

These are my two favorite shots:

Oh, and she doesn't even own photoshop! The woman knows her lighting!

I am now really thankful for these little snapshots in time. As uncomfortable as this last month can be, what a humbling gift it is to carry new life within you.

I can't wait to see what Lydia does with baby girl's newborn pictures!

Happy Easter!

He has risen indeed!

It has been another special Holy Week and Easter Sunday, worthy of recording in the ol' blog.

I said a tough good-bye in Paris to my sweet sisters and mother last Monday (this trip of a lifetime will merit its own post as soon as I can get my act together :) ), and I rode the Eurostar back home to London thinking about the week ahead.

Our last night together

Tuesday was a bit of a recovery day and then Wednesday we all headed into the city for our church's "Messy Easter" day. It was really fun! Lots of play and crafts for the girls and then an Easter egg hunt through those historic church pews.

On the hunt

Then Robert got to share the Easter story with over 75 children their caregivers from our local community (most of those in attendance were not members of our church).

As a picture of placing our sin & yuckiness on our savior all of the children got to smear paint all over Robert dressed in a white sheet. What an important picture for us all!

Then on Good Friday we picked up our long-time friend, Tucker, from the airport and headed to Oxford for a little time away.

We enjoyed the sights of Oxford on Saturday and headed back to London that night to be ready for Easter services on Sunday.

Walking around the colleges and gardens in Oxford

Thanks to Grandma the girls had beautiful new Easter dresses to wear. I could just eat those two up!

Church at Westminster Chapel was wonderful and encouraging - filled with the hope and excitement of the resurrection we will share with our Savior. Any other pregnant women out there find it near impossible to make it through a Sunday morning without weeping??

After a little nap through a rainy afternoon, we enjoyed Easter dinner together.

I actually braved lamb this year and I have to say it exceeded my expectations! The lamb leg wouldn't fit in the slow cooker so I practically covered the whole cooker in tin foil and prayed for the best :)

Dinner, just like the rest of the week, was another reminder of God's faithful provision in all things. Even these little unmerited things have a way of reminding me of the most important and unmerited thing, my eternal redemption - God's Riches At Christ's Expense (as I remember Pastor Rob explaining GRACE to us one Sunday).

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."

We have a 5 year old!

Ellie turned 5 years old this week.

Excuse me, what? I always wondered why parents were so shocked to wake up and find their children older and bigger than expected... and then it has happened over and over again to me. When did this precious light of a child become 5 whole years old?!

We had dinner with all the sisters and Grandma to celebrate and Ellie chose the entire menu: ham, grits ("Just plain, Mom, not the fancy kind!"), green beans, strawberries/raspberries/blackberries, and garlic bread. It was delicious!

We all packed into our living/dining room as we'd done for a few nights already.

Ellie also picked out the desserts for the evening: Pecan Pie, Peanut Butter Balls, and Fun-fetti cake (imported of course!). We also included Aunt Emily & Aunt Tracey in the birthday celebration as they share April birthdays with Ellie.

After cake we opened gifts. Ellie received several sweet cards from friends and family across the pond. She enjoyed each of them.

Then she opened her fun gifts!

But I have to say, I think the best gift was all that love she received from Aunt Tracey, Aunt Shelley and Aunt Emily (the name "Aunt Grandma" was even created this trip - and I'm surprised she didn't start calling Robert "Aunt Daddy"!!)

Ellie's birthday celebration also continued with a Daddy trip to Hamley's (7-story famous toy store in London) to pick out her birthday present.

On her actual birthday, the girls were with Robert away on a preaching assignment (while Mom was in Paris with the sisters & her momma). I was disappointed to miss (and, honestly, worried about not being able to help manage it all), but it was the only weekend it could work for him to preach there... and of course God provided the most generous and wonderful family for them to stay with. They even threw a little party of their own for Ellie - complete with a cake and gifts!

What a treasure you are to us, Ellie girl! I think back to knowing you as a newborn... and then a toddler... and now a big girl... and I think it just keeps getting better and better.

The day we brought you home...

Your first birthday...

You are kind and tender, cautious and clever. You are a true gift from God and you are dearly loved.

Happy #5, Ellie Belle!