My Sister's Babies

Caitlin was telling me today that when Joshua was born that she couldn't imagine loving any other babies as much as him. But then Gillian came along and then Josiah and Mila and Aidan and Camden and Samuel and Jacob and Hannah and now her very own baby, Lael. And instead of love being taken away from one baby and given to another baby you realize that your love grows 100-fold, it seems. And that you love all the other babies just as much and as the years pass you realize that your love grows more and more for all of these children.

I think all my sisters would agree that we love each other's babies as much as we love our own. And having sweetie Lael here this past week has just solidified that truth. I must share some of our latest photos of this red-headed beauty with her cousins.

BFF

Sometimes friends come into your life and you know you'll always be friends. My friend, Sara, is one of these. Sara and her family were only in England for one year and just left last week. I have been grieving since then. Our boys were fast friends, and we had one last night playing together before they left. We miss you, Sparks! And are so glad you made it home safely. See you soon!

Daisy, Daisy, Give Me Your Answer, Do ....

I am well aware I am way behind in blogging lately. This post is a long time coming as we have had our little kitty-cat, Daisy, for nearly six weeks now. I have been meaning to post a blog about her for some time. But it has taken all this time for her really to be comfortable in our home, to become a part of our family. I can assuredly say now, that she is a part of our family.

There were several posts regarding what her name was going to be, and some of you have asked how we finally came to the decision to call her Daisy. It was nothing fantastic. It was basically the culmination of days of bickering and arguing about what everyone thought her name should be. The name "Daisy" had been in the running to begin with, and we just decided that that would be it.

As I may have mentioned before, I am not a cat person. There have definitely been cats that I like, including Tricia's Topaz and Blythe's Tati, but generally I am not a fan.

Daisy seems to fit into the Topaz category, though. I'm not going to go on and on about what a great cat she is, but let me just say that she is one cool cat. We even let her outside now because she knows this is home. She never goes too far. And she loves to play. We have never even given her any catnip, but she still manages a rampage around the house like there's an invisible dog chasing her. It's hysterical. Anyway, I will leave you with these photos just so you can see how cute she is.

End-of-Year Concert

I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't heard it with my own ears, but they really DID sing 'Old MacDonald had a gahden' at Aidan's end-of-year concert. Also on the program: 'Incy Wincy Spider,' 'Brown Bread, Brown Bread,' 'We Don't Mind the Rain,' and 'Sun Cream Dance.'
And, I assure you that at home Aidan sang all of these songs out to us with gusto. So I was most disappointed to see him sitting on the bench with his finger in his mouth almost the entire time the rest of his school was singing their hearts out. But oh well. We know he has it in him!
In case you can't tell, that is Aidan on the far right on the bottom row - the one with his finger in his mouth.
Near the end of the singing, Aidan did decide to join in every once in a while.
Joshua and a friend came up from the Junior school to watch their siblings sing in the Kindergarten concert.

A Boline Family Visit

We were blessed and privileged to have Patrick's brother, Chuck, and his sister-in-law, Ann, come for a visit last week. It was a special time for them as they were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary on this trip.

The first part of Chuck and Ann's time was spent in London where they got to see the city. Most importantly, though, was the day they spent at Wimbledon - in fourth row, center court seats watching Nadal play Andy Murray. I do believe there was much more Nadal watching than Murray watching, but point being, they got to be there.

And then they got to be here, with us! The boys in Bourton-on-the-Water
Punting on the River Avon in Bath
Dinner at the Green Dragon Inn
Uncle Chuck, Auntie Ann and Gillian at Warwick Castle

One Year

I guess I need to change the description of what this blog is about. Today marks the one-year anniversary of our arrival here in England. I don't believe we are in "transition" anymore. I can say with certainty that we all feel quite at home here now.

One year ago today, we landed at Heathrow and were met by a driver who brought us to our temporary house in Cheltenham. Our sponsor, Elizabeth, was waiting for us at the house. Elizabeth got us situated and brought back the rest of her family to visit with us before we had an early dinner of spaghetti and crashed for the evening. I must say that I can no longer describe the McMahan family as just our "sponsors." They have become dear friends to us in the past year.

The first few months of our time here brought many challenges, including moving into our home on the day of the biggest floods England has seen in recent history. Having no linens, cutlery or cooking dishes for the first week, losing water for nine days, not being able to get phone/internet hooked up, having to walk down the street to fill a bucket with water just to flush the toilet were several of many struggles we faced. But what tested us made us stronger as a family as we learned a little more of what faith is all about.

We have survived one year here with success, I believe. We found a wonderful church home where we have made life-long friends. We have made other wonderful friends here who I believe we will always know. All three children had successful years in their schooling. Patrick is excelling in his job, and I have managed to meet many of the goals I have set for myself, too.

This past year has been one of magnificent change and growth in our family, and I credit all of it to our mighty Savior. I am so thankful for the challenges we faced as we were made to - okay, forced to truly learn to turn to God in many moments of struggle and despair (the despair was on my part, personally, not the rest of the family).
I do praise God with all my heart as I think on how he has changed my heart in so many ways this year and I am nothing but thankful.

And thank you all, my faithful family and friends who have traveled this sometimes weary path with us this past year. Praying for us and with us, loving us and bearing with us and lifting us up.

Here's to two more years!

Our Little Flower

Gillian's school performed their final concert of the year last week. Isn't she the sweetest flower you've ever seen? What a great job she did on her lines and singing.