Grammy get yer gun!

Aidan just received a back-to-school present from Grammy Forbes this week. So we are trying to teach our kids some etiquette and send thank you cards for gifts. So as Aidan is creating his card, drawing a picture on it of a dog. Aidan says, "Yeah, cause Grammy likes dogs." Soon another shape appeared next to the dog. Jamie - "Is that a stick for the dog?" Aidan - "No mommy, it's a gun. Yeah, cause Grammy likes guns." As intuitive as ever, Aidan picks up on our snickerings at that comment and says, "Don't be silly mommy! Yeah, Don't be DAFT Mommy!"* At which Jamie fell on the floor and had to spit out her coffee or choke laughing.

We have hilarious children...

And, speaking of back to school, Aidan's school clothes just came in the mail. This year he is in "Reception", like Kindergarten but a year early. But this means that he has proper uniform this year. Adorable kit, so we'll get him dressed and take some pictures soon.

Cheers!

*Please reference our englishisms if you don't see the humor in a 4-year old saying this.

August is slow...

Everything gets really quiet in August here in London. Loads of tourists, but not a whole lot of work going on. Kids are still on break, Jamie's not travelling, and WFM is experiencing the real summer slowdown. In fact, one of our reps came in to compare retail prices and we happened to be tasting wines from another vendor, which he tasted through with us as he didn't really have to be anywhere.

Aidan has been kitted out for reception, which is like kidergarten only a year sooner. For a four year old, school clothing bill = £160, plus he still needs some shoes. But, it will be worth all the picture we get to take of him in his classic schoolboy outfit - high socks, shorts, shirt and tie with blazer. Precious.

One cool thing on the horizon is that Nat (our nanny for those not in the the know) is heading to Burundi for a GAT trip. Our church now organizes Global Alpha Training courses for churches in countries all over to be taught how to run the Alpha course in their churches. It's pretty cool as both a cross cultural ministry trip, but also because Alpha is so basic, everyone can adapt it their church's/country's context. So Nat is excited to be heading to Africa and we are stoked for her. In addition, Jamie and I are pretty sure to be going to Malawi in November for a GAT trip. We will take the boys and Judy will come out too to look after them and then stick around to be with Lindsay as she will be giving birth soon after. Prayers for normal birth, no Aidan incidents...

One random thought before finishing: I was on the tube coming home the other day and being one of the rare hot days we've had in London, lots of people were wearing sandals. And as making eye contact on the tube is a huge social faux pas, I ended up looking at lots of feet and realized:

• a) London is still a pretty dirty town based on the gross feet of those sandal-wearers,
  
• b) feet are pretty ugly - in addition to the dirt, callouses, messed up toenails, scars, blisters, deformities from wearing too tight shoes with too high heels, and generally weird shaped feet (akin to Ben Mangrum's freaky index toes--you know what I mean), I've never been grossed out by feet the way Jamie is, but I'm starting to see her point.
• c) life and the human condition is like a pair a feet- with the inherent ability to dance, run, and perform other amazing abilities (bipedal locomotion is amazingly complex) yet still full of pain, dirt, and general ugliness. It puts Jesus washing the disciples feet in a whole new light. He says to Peter, "You don't realize now what I'm doing, but later you will understand." Do you think Peter had a chance to reflect on how gross feet are? It gives new perspective to Isaiah's words: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news."
• d) I need a new pair of sandals.

Cheers!

Focus Focus

We've been a week home from Focus, our church's All-church Holiday north of London and are still recovering from the awesomeness that is Focus. Jamie had a chance to be a normal attendee this year; I was still kicking it with the younger youth.
Highlights:

• Brad getting to see some young men grow in their relationships with Christ and their desire to know him more. Awesome!
  
• Seeing Aidan ride his new bike everywhere (and Oliver on his tail on the scooter).
• Aidan's birthday on Friday -- (he got to open grandparents presents) put on Gary and Judy's gift (a football/soccer uniform) then put on Larry and Carole's gift (spiderman outfit), proceeded to play until dinner and then crash in the buggy at the dining hall before eating a bite.
• Naps every day for the whole family
• "chalet" parties - don't get too excited. Our "chalets" are the little one-bedroom teeny hotel-like rooms (with rock hard mattresses) that we stay in. No fridge's but one little 10-inch TV that at least gets cbeebies. Best part about chalets is that lunch's are on your own so all of your neighbors (chalets are connected) that face the same green sprawl out with their cheese and wine and sandwiches and watch kids together and get to know one another. They purposefully try to put you by people in similar life stages, so we had several other little 1 and 4 year olds around. Those are chalet parties.
• Amazing teaching - Pastor Agu, Bishop of London, Mike Pilavachi, Pete Greig and Shane Claiborne (not to mention HTB's very own Nicky Gumbel!) were some of Jamie's faves.
  
• Definitely saw the Spirit move and stir up His vision for His kingdom. Theme was on "Transformation" so lots of talks about how you can transform society, your neighborhood, yourself. Cool stuff!

Definitely a tradition to think about bringing back...lots of love!
Forbes