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I had a great time at the retreat, thank you for your prayers!

I will write more once I love on my girls and hubby, get caught up on laundry, and do some grocery shopping!

PS- Marc did just fine all week and everyone is happy as could be! Although Bailey did stare at me for a few hours, probably wondering where I had gone and why I came back, she was having such a great time with Daddy! :)

I'm outta here!

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Thank you for your prayers this week while I'm away, they mean more than you know! Remember to pray also for Marc and the girls. I think they are going to enjoy having Daddy all to themselves. You won't hear from us much of this week, unless of course Marc feels inspired to let you know how the week is going! :)

(These pictures were taken this past week, but I thought they were cute- They like to sit and wait for Marc to come home in the afternoon!)

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New Every Morning

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We awoke to this one morning this week and I just knew it was for me!

Our first winter here, I was feeling rather down and feeling like this country that we had moved to would never see the light of the sun again for all the rain! Then the next morning as I stood looking out our kitchen window, over the church graveyard, the biggest, brightest, most beautiful rainbow I've ever seen was right there over our little tiny flat. I cried. I can't imagine how Noah felt on the ark after all the rain. I know that the rain we experience is nothing like that, but it sure felt like it the first few months we were here! I knew that rainbow was for me and God was reminding me that He was near, very near.

So this week I began feeling a bit down again while trying to get everything prepared for leaving tomorrow. I didn't ask God for anything, just that He would near. And this HUGE rainbow was over our house one morning this week. I ran out in our back garden with the girls, all in our pj's, and just about cried again.

I pray you feel that He is very near to you this week. Thank you Lord that your mercies are new every morning!

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Retreat

I wanted to ask if you wouldn't mind praying for me (Charity) over this weekend and next week. Next week I get the opportunity to go on a women's retreat with our company. I will get to spend Monday-Friday with a group of women, some I have never met and some that I have not seen in 5 years or so. I'm very excited about this time and am looking forward to retreating with my God. However, I'm feeling anxious at the same time. Marc will be playing Mr. Mom all week, and I'm not nervous about that, he is totally capable of course. I've never been away, just me...no sippy cups, diaper bag, stroller, pump (yes, that kind of pump) since having Cerys! About a year ago when Bailey was 3 months old, Marc and I were appointed in St. Louis and so the girls stayed with my sister in law for a few days. We had the best sleep we've had in 3 years, it was glorious...except for that dern pump.

Anyway, I am looking forward to this retreat, but just a bit nervous. I have way too active of an imagination and I've already come up with a long list of "what-if's"- to which I refuse to give any more thought to! I want to enjoy this week away so I can come back refreshed for my family.

So, if you would please pray for:

*preparations for me packing and getting things at home ready for me to be gone (laundry, meals, etc.)

*for safe travel there and back

*for me to have a fresh encounter with my God and feel His presence near me, for me to be refreshed/recharged, etc.

*for all the women that will be attending and those coming from the states to lead us

*for Marc and the girls- for them to sleep extra good at night, extra good at nap time, and for them to have a blast bonding with Daddy all week! :)

I really appreciate it! I can't wait to tell you all about the week! If I don't post before I leave on Monday, then I'll see ya'll when I get back! Thank you thank you thank you!

Run, Forest, Run

I was thinking about the last 7 or 8 months and the changes that have come into our life. Which is mainly moving back here and getting settled in again. I turned 30 (gasp!) 2 days before we moved. Happy 30th to me...now get on a plane with 2 kids, a million pieces of luggage and arrive many hours later to a new home! Stressful doesn't really describe it. :) I was thinking about all the things I've started doing and wondering if it has anything to do with turning 30 or moving here, or maybe both?

So, all of this to say that in the last few months I've started:

* drinking coffee most mornings

*baking from scratch (no choice really on this one, but it's been fun!)

*re-learned how to knit and have made a scarf, a purse and now working on a poncho (along with a few tiny blankets for the Fisher Price Little People that the girls' have-can't waste any yarn people!!!)

*working out

*tried my hand at sewing- made some "curtains" for Cerys and a few other things

And the last one, which brings me to my point-

*running.

I've enjoyed all these new things I've embarked upon, but this running thing has surprised me. I have always hated to run. I don't think I've been running since back in high school when I played basketball. And I hated it then too. Since I've been going to this Legs, Bums and Tums class I thought maybe I should throw a jog or two in the mix to kind of boost my post-baby weight loss, plus it will give me some time to think or listen to praise music on the ipod. I've thought about running for a long time- actually since 2002 when we watched the London Marathon on the telly. I was inspired. Not to run a marathon, but just to run. Anyway, now after 5 years (how sad) I've decided I should try running for fun. I put my trainers on (tennis shoes), came downstairs and announced to Marc that I was going to go running. I got a blank stare from him. He loaded up the ipod for me and off I went! That was 5 weeks ago and, I'm almost embarrassed to say- but I ran a mile tonight. Yes, only one little tiny mile, but I ran every step of it. I would usually run for a few minutes then walk for a few, then run, etc. But I've worked up to running a whole mile and I was pleased. I started setting goals for myself...like run to the red letter box, then run to that blue car, run to the round about, etc. I've thoroughly enjoyed my running time, not only for the physical benefit of it, but I love listening to some Watermark, or Ten Shekel Shirt, or U2, whatever Marc loads for me. I come back exhausted but in a good way and I'm sleeping better at night.

Now, if you are a runner and run a million miles all the time, please don't laugh at my one mile success story. I know I have a LONG way to go, but it's a start right?

And one more thing, I found this cute ticker and just thought I'd share with you that it's only one month, three weeks and six days till we are on way to Texas for a vacation! I can't wait to eat Thanksgiving Dinner! Better take my running shoes for after! :)


Poncho Smoncho

Hey y'all I'm knitting a poncho! I may or may not show you a picture when it's done...depends on if it actually resembles a poncho. :) It seemed to take me days to figure out a basket weave stitch because I was not bringing my yarn to the front of my work for the purl stitches. Not that I think you want to know all of this, just thought I'd share.

Fall/winter seems to be appearing here in Cardiff. I'm bummed. I was on my run tonight (another story for another day) and I was quite cold when I got back to the house. And it's getting darker earlier, so I may have to change my running time to the mornings. Ugh. I'm ready for the cool weather I think, but not the rain, mist, and darkness that accompanies it this time of year. I was saying to Marc how I felt so depressed the other day because it was raining, and had been raining for all of 10 minutes. I tried to explain that this is perfect weather to curl up with a cuppa and a book, but if I did that now it just means that I have months ahead of me to do that and I just couldn't fathom sitting down with a cuppa so soon into the fall season. He just kind of looked at me. I can be a bit dramatic at times I suppose.

Anyway, if you like the Shane & Shane, go on over to Boomama's she's giving away their new CD. Marc took me to one of their concerts at a church not long before we moved here and it was just fabulous. I hope I win, if not I will buy it because I just love them! So if you are interested, go leave a comment so you can be in the drawing! That is how I won my Monk and Neagle CD!

Miniatures

How sad that I have time to take a picture of miniature prinlges, but they are just so cute I had to show you. I love miniature things, just ask Marc how I can go on and on about how cute something so small is. Anyway. I bought these mini Pringles the other day, only I didn't see the "mini" written on the bag. When I opened them I was just giddy! So, without further adieu-

The miniature Pringles....

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Speaking of miniatures- here's a miniature Marc-
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How cute is this?!? Wales is playing Australia today in the Rugby World Cup 2007 here in Cardiff- so Marc and his "mini-me" are sporting their Welsh Rubgy shirts!

GO WALES!

Dropshots

For family and friends who are trying to see all our pics over at Dropshots, sorry! For some reason it's not letting us load pictures or videos right now. It keeps telling us we've already uploaded them, but they are not on the main page.

Hopefully we'll have this sorted (there's a good British word for ya!) soon!

We are off to Pontypool tonight to catch up with some friends that we haven't seen in a while!

Have a wonderful weekend!

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