Christmas in Texas

Here are a few shots from our time in Texas so far. They are mostly of Christmas Eve and Day, but a few others at the end from when we first got here. 

 Me and Catherine with our buddies, Mason and Camden (They really had a fun time playing together tonight).

 Camden and soon to be Aunt Lauren having a fun play time at my parents house.

 Uncle Andrew and Camden in their matching Chelsea jerseys. We got Andrew the shorts to go with his jersey for Christmas.

 Me with Meme by the Christmas tree! It's so great to have her here with us this Christmas.

 Papa Mac helping Camden get baby Jesus out today on the final day of the Advent calendar!

Me reading to my niece Carson on Christmas Eve

 Camden and Carson in their matching cousin pj's that Aunt Jordan got them! So adorable!

Brient Family Christmas Eve before church service.

 Buddy in his Christmas finery!!!! I can't even handle this picture!!

Grandma with the two babies on Christmas Eve. (4 months apart)

Cousin Clare and Camden (She was so great with Camden!).

 Carson playing with the scarf I got Clare for Christmas.

 Camden trying to scale the wall!

 Buddy in his flying hat!!

We got to see Shannon and Rhodes a few days ago! It was so great to see them but we were sad to miss Reese.

A family pic before a night out. We enjoyed the sun the first few days we were here, but then the London fog and rain decided to follow us!

 Me and my little one. I will be printing this one out when we get back to LA!

Grandmummy  (my mom's mom) and Camden the first day she got to see him when we got back. He was having a great time playing with her and for a 91 year old had a surprising amount of energy to follow him around for an hour!

More pictures to come, I'm sure, so I figured I'd get a head start so I won't get behind!

Last Sunday in London

Here are some pictures from our last Sunday at Reality London. We will miss these friends probably more than they will ever know. Our time at Reality London was filled with amazing people who loved and encouraged us, and gave us so much knowledge and wisdom! We are so grateful to God that He blessed us with such amazing people in our lives for 20 months!! 

Camden was loving all the attention!

 Bye Lizzie and Chrissie!

 Mark and Lizzie are on the left (Our pastor and wife). :( We will miss them so much!

 Jo and I. There were many tears. It didn't hit me until the service was over that we were actually leaving...

 The Dent's and The Brient's! We have each welcomed a baby in to our families since we met. :)

 Their daughter Bella and Jared trying to copy her face. Hehe!

Ted and Sarah and us. One final fish and chips night at ours after church! More tears of course...

I know we will be reunited someday with these lovely people! May it be faster than we think!!

The Pink Buggy

Camden is learning to walk with his Cousin Carson's pink buggy! Luckily my grandma got him a slightly more manly version for Christmas. :)

We are still a little jet lagged, but Camden is making the adjustment very well. The first morning he got up at 2 and 4, the second morning 4 and 6, and this morning 4 and 6:30. So gradually we will get back on schedule.

One week to go

It's official...one week until we leave on a jet plane for Houston. Here are some shots I got of Camden the other day! He's growing so fast. He's pulling up and walking all around the furniture, but hasn't let go quite yet!

 Contemplative stare out the window

 Blurry but couldn't resist this face!!

Chewing on the beefeater

Advent

I stumbled across this resource from The Village Church in Dallas thanks to a friend on facebook who posted it. It's a way to reflect during this season of Advent. There's a little write up about different topics every week and then questions to reflect on after.

I'm really looking forward to redirecting all of my anxiousness about the upcoming move in 2 weeks to focusing on celebrating the past Advent (coming/arrival in Latin) of Jesus as a baby, and look forward to the future (second Advent) arrival of Jesus!

http://www.thevillagechurch.net/mediafiles/advent-guide.pdf

What a better way to anxiously await an arrival to the states!

I also thought this is such a brilliant idea for an advent calendar. Unique and creative! I hope to make it next year when we are settled in our LA home. 

http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2011/11/our-simple-advent-calendar.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PassionateHomemaking+%28Passionate+Homemaking%29

Time

Our time here in London is quickly flying by and way too fast for my taste! Have you ever felt like you are trying to be so intentional with your time but see it slipping away so fast right in front of your eyes? Time is a strange thing, isn't it? I've been thinking a lot about this phenomenon lately and haven't come to very many conclusions. I have realized that I can't be so concerned with the fact that I'm "running out of time" because it will just go faster and I won't actually have time to do what I want to do before I leave. Make any sense??

I have also been worrying way too much over canceling final bills, selling items on gumtree, shipping boxes, giving away stuff and the like instead of relaxing and trusting God that it will all get accomplished because He has given me the gift of organization (definitely to a fault in this case). I'm learning how to use my gift to help our family, but not let it take over to where it's becoming a hindrance to enjoying time with  Jared and Camden, and also enjoying time spent alone and with friends. 

I have anxiety about what life will be like for us as we transition back to the states because we have lived here for 19 months now and have immersed ourselves in the culture here. 

I am wondering how the plane flight back to Texas will be with a 13 month old who is almost walking! 

I worry about how Camden will adjust to being in someone else's house for a month, then another house in LA for a couple weeks until we find a flat there. Then he will have to adjust to our new home (which I am worried about finding!)! 

I get stressed about seeing everyone in Texas over the holidays.

So there's everything out on "paper"! I'm working on releasing these things from my grip and handing them over to Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit (the Helper) to help me gain a different view on these things. 

John 16:7 (Jesus speaking before his death)
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you."

Playtime!

Camden had fun with his friend Isla at our house today trying to follow her around and figure out how she climbed up on the couch. They have both had growth spurts recently and are so big!! Camden doesn't have other kids in the house very often so he was VERY excited the whole time.