Are you preparing for the New Year?

Dear family and friends,

I will certainly be sharing about our latest adventure in the next few days. Caroline did a great job in her blog so you can certainly get a heads up there with her Twelve Days of Christmas. All of The Thomas Troops will be blogging while we are in London as a fun school project. Even Jefferson is excited. Caroline will be a little busy getting us all going. It's fun to watch her create.

This week we are in a temporary flat in Marlylebone. The week will be filled with work and pleasure as we finish up getting ready for our move next week and other transition items like orthodontist. In a couple of minutes we're running to what we hope to be a larger grocery store...I'll keep you posted. This afternoon we are going to head to the National Museum for our first traveling opportunity in London. I saw a man,s comments somewhere that he likes to be a traveller rather than a tourist so I'm opting for this title for our family over the next seven months.

Yesterday was my 39th birthday. I've decided to celebrate it all year long this year. I think the "9th" year of any decade should be special all the way around don't you? There is so much to be thankful to the Lord for! I spent the day doing laundry British style. I have a washer/dryer combo here so I'm not really using the dryer as I don't have time. I literally ran the washer for 15 hours yesterday without a break. The whites take 151 minutes so they are the last ones I put in before we head out anywhere or go to bed. The radiators dry pants quite splendidly. We're up and going again today and hopefully by tomorrow night I will finish up from the trip laundry. In our new apartment I will have an actual washer and vented dryer which is not the norm. On the other hand, I won't have radiators.

It was a good day taking care of our sweet family. They did take me to dinner and Ed and I were alone for 20 minutes running to Tesco Express to buy fruit and milk while the children headed back to the flat. Melanee Kate made me the sweetest card ever and Wyatt ran out to grab me a birthday Coke from McDonalds which is right down the street.

Since we are going to be here for only seven more months AND it's the New Year, I'm praying for goals for our time here. I want to be intentional and God lead in what we do, who we spend time with, how we grow in His Word, and how we treat each other. It's going to be a GREAT year...

I hope each and everyone of you have had a worshipful Christmas! I will be sharing our trip in pictures in the next day or so with full commentary. Love to all...

In Christ Alone,
Dinah

December 14, 2009

Dear family and friends,

The last two days have been a whirlwind.

Church was a tremendous blessing. We were able to attend All Souls. It's always a privilege to be in the Lord's house. It always amazes me that no matter how far away from "home" I am, I feel so in place in my Father's house. This may be the first time that we go to one church and just quickly plant. It was a great morning of worship and as much as I'm excited about the next few weeks, I'm looking very forward to going back again.

Today we were able to actually plant our own eyes on the flat that we've already signed and given a great deal of money for. It's going to be fantastic, and no doubt, where God has brought us. The location is amazing! We are in "theatre land" in the west end. The theatre's for "Wicked" and "Billy Elliot" are right around the corner. We are right across from Victoria station for anyone who knows the area or wants to get out their London map. We knew that The Chantrey House was located on top of "Earth Spa" but we didn't know that we'd also be residing on top of a "Starbucks". Ed's open to any and all gift cards for his upcoming birthday on March 1^st.

We also took a walk to Ed's school which was a little less than 10 minutes. One of our prayers was that God would put us in a location that we could afford and yet the children could walk to Ed's school. We've been told through several resources that the school is very welcoming to families. I do wonder if that really means a family with four children who are homeschooled. Our children are very capable of attending adult situations with success and love the opportunity. We've made sure that they'll have the appropriate clothing and we plan on easing in slowly before we show up full force. It was really important that they be able to be able to walk home in order to be able to participate on a normal basis. Ed's studies will be in international relations and we are all looking forward to learning! We just found out yesterday that there will only be about 80 students, half of which will be internationals.

Tomorrow is filled with business, packing, and a lunch date with my man. The children are excited to all get 5 pounds to go and buy their lunch. We are staying in a flat that is right across from Tesco (small grocery), McDonalds (Wyatt's favorite Irish pub…he was so funny with his little accent yesterday saying that MIC-Donalds was a great local option), Starbucks, and many other businesses. I like standing at the kitchen sink watching the people walking by. We won't have this kind of view in our new flat which will be better for keeping our eyes on our schoolwork.

On Wednesday we are leaving for a trip that almost seems unfathomable to my little dreamy mind. God knows how much I love to travel and this year He has been so gracious to delight me. It reminds me of God loves to delight His children…don't we love to do the same? When we were in Italy Ed and I both went to Rome but this is one of the few places that we did not take our children. After our trip there we both agreed that we were hopeful that a trip to Rome would be a part of our children's education. We are going to be spending three nights in Rome this week and then meet longtime Air Force friends, John, Tonia, Rachel, and Tim Shaw, to spend 8 nights on the Mediterranean! Last summer we saw a deal for British residents only (we qualify) for a child to go free with each adult. I'm still amazed it's going to happen! This is the 17^th pack up we've done since the 15^th of October…God is good!

Love to all,

Dinah for The Troops
P.S.~ See last post for Texas pictures~ enjoy y'all!

After all this time, are you really there?

PA folks really know how to throw a party! What fine folks they are. Anytime you are with PA you can always count on great music and fun professional photos! Just few a the PA perks.

The children on the day of Ed's going away.

Saying goodbye is just out and out hard. Mrs. Waters (orange shirt) was so precious to host a little sushi party that night. "So let's get together and make sushi...oh and by they way, since you have a house can we do it there?" Emily was a fantastic neighbor and an amazing woman. Sushi making, frog disection, what does this woman not do? We are so grateful for dear friends on base and church. Nikki (black sweater) is Melanee Kate's violin teacher...and more importantly a dear part of our family!

Major had all the children out riding on Thanksgiving morning. Never a dull minute on the ranch!

For anyone who doesn't know another unique quality about are family is we have uniforms galore! Major has a collection that will knock your socks off. I felt a little queasy about my children running around the front yard in authentic uniforms that I could not replace, well, if we're going to send them to college anyway. Caroline had asked if they could take pictures and the dressing up began! We have tons of them, but this is my favorite. The Taylor children were more than happy to jump right in...

Major also built us our very own Fightin' Texas Aggie Bonfire the night we played t.u.! Now is that service or what?

Ed has been friends with Paul and Ginny Baker since his Belton days. When the four of us became friends in Colorado we had three they had one. Since then we've added one and they've added three. Neil, Rachel, Ryan, and Luke will just about steal your heart. God has been good to let us see one another over the years despite the distance. This is the second time we've been able to see them in Belton since we've left Colorado. We've also seen them in Colorado and when we lived in Montana they were precious to meet us in the thriving metropolis of Thermapolis, Wyoming...now there's friendship!

The infamous picture of Ginny and I is on it's way to London. The babies were days away from coming...we look SO MUCH livlier here. Paul and Ginny came into my heart right after I announced to Ed as we were leaving Italy, that I was done making friends.

Deanna Castello and Amy Allert met me for one of sweetest brunches I've ever had. These two woman are so special. They are willing to go with me deep, quickly...what precious encouragement!

If you know me, you understand this picture clearly.

This could be a very long blog in and of itself. This picture here is a small miracle. Long story short...I am not a runner. God has had me running. The furthest I'd ever gone on the ground (instead of a treadmill) was two miles with my mentoring runner friend Beth the night before we left Hawaii. This day I ran with Susan (who has done two half marathon's in the past two years) for 3.3 miles~what victory. God is teaching me that it's good to do hard things! This was the first annual Dunn Thomas run.

When we first met Susan and Jeff we'd only been married 8 months. Shaw was 20 months old and could say Mama, Dada, and bus. He's the enormous one in the back. Morgan is 6 months older than Caroline and is as precious as can be. What a GREAT time to reunite, fellowship, and worship. Thank you for walking through life with us...

These are eleven great great grandchildren of my great grandfathers. We had gone to church with the Permann's (my sweet sister's family) and in walks our cousins. Isn't God good to let us worship in His house together! I'd love to think that my great great grandchildren would be in church together while actively growing in the Lord!

We're only missing Royal and his family. These moments are such treasures! The children were STARVING and after this shot we ran out for great mexican food.

This is so typical of my family growing up, well and the family I'm in today as well now that I think about it. Always ending up in the smallest of places. Our family usually conferenced in my parents small bathroom when I was a child. Poor Aunt Melly...just trying to do laundry. There's always room for more!

We celebrated Christmas early with Aunt Susan (my fathers aunt)...nothing like a good story and Starbucks!

Dear family and friends,

Since I've blogged we spent 12 crazy days on Oahu finishing up all that needed to be done in order to move, a great week out on Ed's parents ranch, three nights with our best friends in Louisiana, and a week with my parents in Dallas. Both of our sisters came to Texas with their entire families to spend time with us. I could spend a whole blog on that alone but I'm going to have to let pictures take care of that.

As of today a new chapter has begun. One that will unfold slowly before our eyes, but is already fully known to our Father. I thought I would share my thoughts today as I wrote in my travel journal on the airplane:

"Landing is not far away. We are moving to London today. After all of these months of preparation, toil, and excitement, it's really here. I'm all over the map at this moment. Certainly excited, tired, and a tiny bit overwhelmed. This fall God has been teaching me that when I feel overwhelmed in any way, shape, or form- I need to let Him help me refocus- on Him! My God is always so faithful. I am grateful to serve Him...

The preparation for this particular move has been mind boggling. I've always said you can multiply an overseas move times seven. With very little support on the ground in London, I'd say fourteen.

As of yesterday the van is no longer ours, so all of our loose ends in Hawaii are now tied. All that is left for us on that island in the Pacific are dear friends and sweet memories. Two things to surely be treasured.

Our time in TX and LA flew, as we knew it would. It was wonderful seeing so many people that we love. Our time in Dallas was packed with gathering clothing, shoes, and other items. My parents were so sweet about how hard we needed to work. I appreciate their, yet again, servant attitudes. Mother is coming in February and I'm already looking forward to her visit.

Being out of pocket this long can be a little unsettling at times. It's an incredible reminder that ultimately, this is not our home. When that feeling creeps up out of the pit of my stomach I have to stop and gain perspective. Do houses, cars, and belongings provide me comfort and a feeling of belonging? Is it wrong? Do we look for security in things that can never provide it? Of course we do. There are times God uses things/people to provide comfort, but ultimately the deep peace that passes understanding only comes from our Father.

Thank you Lord for peace, may it be ours as we serve you. Thank you for letting us go all over the world to proclaim your goodness and truth. Please help us to serve in a manner that will bring you glory. We love you deeply and look so forward for all that you have waiting around the corner. May it be all about you..."

I hope to post pictures from our Texas trip this week. Caroline already has some up on her facebook page. Off to bed. Tomorrow morning we'll have our first opportunity to be in the Lord's house in England!

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops