Gillian was star of the week last week in school. This means she got to bring a stuffed animal and trophy home, to be returned at the end of the week.
She also had the privilege of running all her teacher's errands to the office.
But most importantly, the other students in her class were asked to write on a small sticky what they liked best about Gillian. She was able to bring those sticky notes home. Here is what they all said:
'because she is very friendly.' - edward
'Gillian is kind loving tender girl ' from Annabel
'Gillan is really sweet to me and VERY helpful.' from Ellie
'Gillian is very kind helpful and escstremlly funny.' from Elizabeth
'SUPERCALAFRAGLISTICEXPALLYDUSHUUUST!!!! Briliant star of the week Love Jacob'
'Gillian has a lovely axent and she has lovly golden hair and funny' by Katie
'I like Gillian because she is smiley funny kind and has a nice accent' by Alex
'Gillian is very kind, funny and a great friend and has got a buteful acsent!!' love Elisha
'Gillian is friendly and kind'
'I like Gillian because she is hard working and helpful' from Zack
'Gillian is kind, helpful, funny and fun to play with' from William
'Gillian is the best star you could have.'
'I like Gillian because she is funny and helpful'
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Music to a Mom's Heart
When my sisters and I were growing up, our parents often requested we "perform" for guests and company we had over at the house. And by perform, I mean, we were often asked to sing, play the piano, and sing in rounds together. We were pretty willing as we three older children had learned to perform at an early age.
We always had music on in our house.
We were never without a piano wherever we lived, and Mamma and Daddy really encouraged our musicality.
I had my first record player when I was 4, and I remember sitting in front of it singing along to all my records, including The Candy Man and Sesame Street.
"Rubber ducky, you're the one, you make bath time so much fun! Rubber Ducky I'm awfully fond of you ... you-hoo-dee-dooo ...."
Later on, my record collection grew. I listened to class acts such as The Second Chapter of Acts, Shaun Cassidy and John Denver.
Mostly I loved musicals and could sing along word-for-word with West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Paint Your Wagon, My Fair Lady, Oliver, you name it. I knew all those songs. I had giant brown 70s earphones that I would plug into my giant record player and sing along. By the time I was in 5th grade I had a new, way-cooler big fat grey record player rather than my small Fisher Price record player.
I think back and imagine the laughter I must have provided my parents singing along to all these songs with all my heart in my bedroom at the top of my lungs with my giant earphones on.
But now, I get it.
I understand the joy of a parent listening to their child on a musical instrument.
Joshua, Gillian, and Aidan, I promise you that I will never ask you to perform in front of dinner guests. However, I want you to know how much I LOVE listening to you practice your instruments. And Aidan, you aren't playing yet, but you are singing, and it brings joy to my heart.
My children love certain types of music. Gillian loves her High School Musical music but also Hide 'Em in Your Heart and Celtic music. Joshua loves U2 and Billy Joel. And Aidan sings along with whatever is in the cd player - he has an ear and can repeat songs he's only heard once. He has a special affinity for Sovereign Grace's music, but he sings everything.
What absolute joy. What gifts they have been given. I think of the angels singing in heaven and in joy over the little voices of our precious children.
We always had music on in our house.
We were never without a piano wherever we lived, and Mamma and Daddy really encouraged our musicality.
I had my first record player when I was 4, and I remember sitting in front of it singing along to all my records, including The Candy Man and Sesame Street.
"Rubber ducky, you're the one, you make bath time so much fun! Rubber Ducky I'm awfully fond of you ... you-hoo-dee-dooo ...."
Later on, my record collection grew. I listened to class acts such as The Second Chapter of Acts, Shaun Cassidy and John Denver.
Mostly I loved musicals and could sing along word-for-word with West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Paint Your Wagon, My Fair Lady, Oliver, you name it. I knew all those songs. I had giant brown 70s earphones that I would plug into my giant record player and sing along. By the time I was in 5th grade I had a new, way-cooler big fat grey record player rather than my small Fisher Price record player.
I think back and imagine the laughter I must have provided my parents singing along to all these songs with all my heart in my bedroom at the top of my lungs with my giant earphones on.
But now, I get it.
I understand the joy of a parent listening to their child on a musical instrument.
Joshua, Gillian, and Aidan, I promise you that I will never ask you to perform in front of dinner guests. However, I want you to know how much I LOVE listening to you practice your instruments. And Aidan, you aren't playing yet, but you are singing, and it brings joy to my heart.
My children love certain types of music. Gillian loves her High School Musical music but also Hide 'Em in Your Heart and Celtic music. Joshua loves U2 and Billy Joel. And Aidan sings along with whatever is in the cd player - he has an ear and can repeat songs he's only heard once. He has a special affinity for Sovereign Grace's music, but he sings everything.
What absolute joy. What gifts they have been given. I think of the angels singing in heaven and in joy over the little voices of our precious children.
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Thanksgiving, American-style, in the UK
We celebrated this past Saturday because Thanksgiving is not a holiday in England! And we wanted our friends and family who have to work on Thursday to be able to join us. We had a wonderful gathering of family and friends. We managed to squeeze 14 people around our table (there was a kid on each corner) and feasted on turkey with all the trimmings. It was a great day full of fellowship and fun. Joshua invited his English friend who was able to experience his first Thanksgiving celebration. We topped off the day by watching Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving. Some of us for the first time, ever! 
Friday, 14 November 2008
So Lately We've Been ...
The natives are getting restless and I've been bugged about updating. I apologize for not being more on-the-ball lately. It's partly that I don't think our lives are very interesting lately and partly that it's that time of year when we don't have enough light in the day. Which makes me tired.
But, last weekend we did have a wonderful time celebrating Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night at the home of some wonderful English friends we have met here. David and Sharon have a big, beautiful farm right outside of Cheltenham, and the past two years they have invited us with our other American friends, Jason and Elizabeth, to their farm for a huge bonfire, chili and cornbread. They set up a lovely lit tent in one of their fields along with music, hay bales, and of course, the giant bonfire. We get to roast marshmallows, drink drinks, and have a general good time. There is also a donut eating contest which Gillian couldn't wait to have a go at again this year. I am surmising that this contest is a tradition as we done it both years, but I don't know for certain. It's definitely a highlight, though.
Alas, this year, about ten minutes after we got out to the field, the rain came. And came. And didn't stop. We tried to stick it out. I think we lasted maybe an hour. The children loved running around the bonfire in their wellies getting soaked to their very cores. What an adventure! We have paid for that this week with their coughs and colds, though. I think they thought it was worth it, though!
So we packed up the trailer and made for the farmhouse where we spent the remainder of the evening - in typical fashion wherever you go in the world, with the men in the living room talking politics, history, and other boring topics; the children in another room watching a movie; the women in the kitchen laughing it up and talking about everything! Thank you, David and Sharon, for a great evening!
But, last weekend we did have a wonderful time celebrating Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night at the home of some wonderful English friends we have met here. David and Sharon have a big, beautiful farm right outside of Cheltenham, and the past two years they have invited us with our other American friends, Jason and Elizabeth, to their farm for a huge bonfire, chili and cornbread. They set up a lovely lit tent in one of their fields along with music, hay bales, and of course, the giant bonfire. We get to roast marshmallows, drink drinks, and have a general good time. There is also a donut eating contest which Gillian couldn't wait to have a go at again this year. I am surmising that this contest is a tradition as we done it both years, but I don't know for certain. It's definitely a highlight, though.
Alas, this year, about ten minutes after we got out to the field, the rain came. And came. And didn't stop. We tried to stick it out. I think we lasted maybe an hour. The children loved running around the bonfire in their wellies getting soaked to their very cores. What an adventure! We have paid for that this week with their coughs and colds, though. I think they thought it was worth it, though!
So we packed up the trailer and made for the farmhouse where we spent the remainder of the evening - in typical fashion wherever you go in the world, with the men in the living room talking politics, history, and other boring topics; the children in another room watching a movie; the women in the kitchen laughing it up and talking about everything! Thank you, David and Sharon, for a great evening!
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