Multiplication

Or more like addition...I never was much of a mathematician! Either way, from now on there is more than just Timo and I...WE'RE PREGNANT! And we are VERY happy about it!

Ok, so most of you know this news anyway, since we were so excited we told most people pretty much straight away around Christmas (perfect time huh?). But I thought it would be good to update you and let you know how we three are doing at 11 weeks...

Well, wonderfully, I have been doing super well - no sickness, no funny food turn-offs (or turn-ons!)...I've just been exhausted and close to falling asleep nearly all the time, but that could be as much to do with moving house and starting a school of ministry this month as being preggers.

We've had a number of appointments with Dr's and midwives and we'll check out the hospital we chose for the birth on Thursday and meet staff there. But we're STILL waiting for our first scan...and I can't WAIT much longer, I just want to see little baby Hack :) We'll post pictures from the scan when we have them, but first here is one of my little tummy. I know it doesn't look much but I've never had one before so it's quite exciting! Here is me and baby...the first one is last week the second is this weekend..in one week my tummy popped out!

Mr & Mrs Patell!

I forgot to tell you about the Patell's wedding in Toronto! The happy couple have actually been honeymooning since the wedding at the beginning of October, and stopped by to stay with us on their way from Sydney back to Toronto!

Anyway, the wedding was wonderful and I was SO glad to be there to celebrate with them. The bride was BEAUTIFUL (see for yourself!) and the groom was smiles all day - so cute! And there were so many people there that I hadn't expected to see and have the opportunity to catch up with.

I stuck around for a few days after just to hang out and enjoy being back in Toronto - I loved it! But was glad to get home to my hubby!

Seasons Very Special Greetings!

I hope you all have had a great Christmas and have some fun things planned for New Year.


We are just back from our Christmas with family in Germany. We weren't dashing around too much this time, but managed to see friends and family before we got struck down with a nasty bug which seemed to be doing the rounds! So, all in all it was pretty restful (which you might think is how the holiday should be, but this is not common for our trips away!).

Here are some photos from one of our days out visiting our friend Beni in Tuebingen and some from our family Christmas celebrations!






Next stop is Edinburgh for New Years - we're staying with some friends who have got us tickets to the grande street party! We'll also be doing some tradition Scottish dancing and Timo's determined to try haggis - I'm not so sure....?

We can't wear ourselves out too much though as we'll be moving house on our return....I haven't quite got my head around the whole moving thing yet but I guess I'll just have to go with the flow!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Far Flung Places

We have been adventuring in the depths of Asia, exploring cities, beaches and yummy new foods!

So, first stop was Singapore for a couple of days with my mum's younger brother Jo and his family. I love Singapore. It's hot, it's clean, they've conserved colonial buildings and kept loads of greenery in amongst all the modern developments. The fusion between old and new is quite fascinating. We even drank Singapore Slings at the famous Raffles Hotel as a birthday celebration for mum and myself!




From there we took a rather interesting flight to an island off the east coast of Malaysia called Redang. I say interesting because not too long after take off, smoke started seeping into the cabin at rather an alarming rate! We were assured it was something to do with the air conditioning, but we all imagined ourselves passing out and reawakening in the middle of a jungle with an angered tribe!



We arrived in Redang safely. Wow! This place was gooooorgeous! See for yourself... It was hard to do anything other than lay horizontally, book in one hand and cool drink in the other. We were only here for four days so it was good to make the most of it and simply relax. We did however have a great day out on the ocean, stopping at various spots of it's marine park waters for a spot of snorkelling.






Then, Kuala Lumper. I LOVED being back in KL. Although this is my sixth time there, I loved it even more than before. The busy bustling streets, the modern architecture, the always open food places, the steaming hot air by day and the balmy stickiness by night. Plus, all the rest of my family are there so we got to reunite....always over food. That what they do there. If you want to get to know them, if you want to be a part of their world and their culture, you must eat. It's a serious business. Timo demonstrates...







No sooner had we arrived back in Manchester, I was on another plane to Toronto, Canada for my wonderful and beautiful friends wedding. More on that later!

The Celebrations of Sarah

This has been quite the month so far...


Timo and I have been off in Belfast with Raymond (my sisters now husband...more on that later!) putting on a School of Worship. We taught about the charachter of God, did individual instrument and vocal coaching, band coaching, creative/prophetic art sessions, songwriting workshops, recording and LOADS more! It was FUN and though there were only about 15 people there, their hearts we totally open and they really caught hold of something new.




We also got a chance on the last day to get out and about and travel up to the north coast...SO beautiful!

But mostly, the news of the month is that my sister Sarah married our friend Raymond, who is now our brother too! HURRAH!

It's been so exciting helping them prepare for the day, from dress shopping to invitation making to 'hen' party organising. What a joy to celebrate my beautiful sister in so many ways! Here are some pictures from the celebrations...






But we had to say bye-bye to our gorgeous friend Lise, who has been staying with us this summer. She came down south to the wedding, but it marked the end of her time with us...who will I drink white hot chocolate and eat Minstrals with now!???? No doubt we'll be seeing her again very soon tho...Pretty please! x

New life

It's been a month since I left full-time, 9-5, normal life...

and I LOVE it!

What have I been up to? Hmmmm, good question, which is actually good for me to think about and put my life into some context!

Well, I've been hand-making my sister's wedding invitations, which has taken ages since she and Raymond are having two events, but I've thoroughly enjoyed it and feel very honoured to have been asked. Timo and I, along with one of our young adults went to Germany, mid June to minister in Timo's fabulous home region. People were SO hungry and ready to receive what we brought. And we got to see family - our little neice and nephew are as cute as ever!

No sooner was I back from Germany than I was on the next plane to Holland visiting my gorgeous buddy Lise. We had a blast catching up over endless cups of coffee, visiting art galleries, the beach, shopping, even just cooking together was fun.


'Work' wise I've been putting together some new design ideas for our church publicity and news, finalising plans for our school of ministry which will be starting in January...email school@kwcm.org if you want to know more!

God knows what He's doing with our lives...He's charted the path ahead of us, recorded every day even before we lived it, He is every where and in every thing with us, He is the One who has my life in His hands, and He's doing a great job with it!

Photos

Here are some photos of my leaving do...






I learnt to 'pout'...An important thing to learn before I head out into the big wide world on my own!


Ladies whom I love!


Ah, I didn't think Kathryn would let me go! How loved I felt!

Unfortunately I didn't get any of us 'throwing some shapes' on the dance floor. But there were certainly some shapes being thrown...most don't have names yet here on earth tho!

Good-bye Rhemites!

Yesterday was my last day working for Rhema Theatre Company...my LAST day! I have to repeat that to myself so that it will gradually sink in.

What a wonderful day it was though, and how loved I felt! They honoured me and spoiled me...with cakes, with presents, with hugs, with dinner and dancing. Good times, good times. I shall remember my Rhema days for always.

P.s. If you ever want a dynamic theatre company to come and perform action packed bible stories at your church, fun day, local school...they are the people to call!

The best bits of life...

Family...friends...sunshine...food!

And we've been enjoying all of them in abundance during the last few weeks...


Lise is back in The Netherlands after 4 years in Sydney...makes me happy!


Long chats in the park surrounded by blossom trees...b-e-a-utiful!


And who should stroll passed by my brother (in-law) Jonathan...also visiting...


The taste of summer...ummmmm!


Family Hack...Micha, Nette and our most beautiful neice and nephew...with us last week.

Truly, life IS good!

Fun & Frolics!

Who's been skiing before?

Not me, until a few weeks ago. Now, just to clarify, the definition of 'skiing' in my case was slipping, falling, generally looking uncoordinated and being buried in the snow! But what a hoot! I'm actually told that I did very well for my first time, and was very brave since I didn't mess around on the baby hills and headed straight for the slopes!

Some of our friends from Munich treated us as a belated wedding present and took us away for a fabulous weekend with them in Munich and away to the Austrian slopes! They looked after us and blessed us and it was the BEST wedding present! So a HUGE thank you to you x

We also just celebrated our 2nd anniversary so the ski trip was perfectly (tho unintentionally) timed! So, congratulations to us!

New Abode

We've moved!

As anyone who has moved will know, this involves becoming friends with cardboard boxes, brown tape and smelly markers (I actually quite like the markers!)...and more aquainted with all the things you had lurking in drawers and cupboards that you never knew you had!!!

We packed boxes and boxes and more boxes...










Three van loads later and I don't know how many trips up and down the apartment staircase, we successfully shifted everything across the to new place, just in time to...

UNPACK boxes and boxes and still MORE boxes!!!!!










We are very happy the mission is accomplished and definitely deserve some time with our feet up...Aaaaahhhhhh.