Sweet Goodbye...

     We are still spending a fabulous time in the good ole US of A!  Our time has been wonderful.  My youngest daughter has gotten VERY attached to her grandparents once again.  Especially her Pawpaw!
     I have love to watch Emily and my dad play together.  Emily even has my dad smell her STINKY feet and they have even learned a little broadway "jazz hands" together! ha!  It has been so sweet to watch them together.  The last time we came to The States, Emily was scared of EVERY man we met. She barely let the ladies hold her or hug her, but if you were a man??.....forget it!  Now, as a mama, her staying away from boys does not really bother me too bad! ha ha!  I do love it though that she has a special place in her heart for her grandparents - ALL of them.  

     Emily follows her Pawpaw just about everywhere and I am thankful that even in his busy schedule, he makes time for my children to follow him around and pester him to death:)  Emily likes nothing more than to go somewhere with her Daddy.  Being here at my parent's house, she has transferred that excitement to my dad as well.  The other day my dad had to go to the church and she was told to just stay in the house and he would be back soon.  Knowing that her Pawpaw would be coming back in the house soon, Emily just stood at the screen door and waited.  She kept saying "Bye, Pawpaw!  I love you Pawpaw.  I miss you Pawpaw."  And then she waited and watched for signs of him returning!  What a sweet picture she was for this mama!
     I am so thankful for the relationship my children enjoy with all of their grandparents.  I am also thankful for the time they have been able to spend with them while we have been in America.  I feel so blessed to be able to watch a special relationship develop between my children and our parents.  

God is good!

No Place Like Home!

     I have to admit that I have neglected our blog here in the last week or two.  We have been back in the good ole US of A and it has been so much fun!  We have gotten to see friends and family and get reacquainted with everyone!  So much fun!!
     I have always heard people say "You can never go home again".  Meaning, home is just never the same once you leave.  I know that to be true, and we have happily make England our home.  We love it there!  I do have to admit though, that each and every time we come back to little, old Amelia, Ohio, USA and the amazing folks at Central Baptist Church, I feel like I have come home!  
 

     My parents live at the parsonage (manse) that I grew up in and it feels so comfortable and "homey".  I immediately remember favorite childhood times and happy family holidays together in this home.  I can even see little (and big:) dents in doors, etc that us kids put there when we were growing up.  Each nook and cranny of this place holds special memories for me.  It is home!  Not my current home, but still home to so many happy memories.

     My father has been the pastor of Central Baptist Church of Amelia, Ohio for 32 years now!  This church was really the only church I knew growing up.  The pews and the classrooms hold a special place in my heart.  I care for the Central Baptist Church building, but the Church itself - the dear people - I love with all my heart!   So many of these church members have been around most of my life.  They helped me grow up.  They taught me in Sunday School, I worked on bus routes along-side them and together, we served the Lord.  I learned to be a productive Christian through their example.  Again, I have to say,

I love my Central Baptist Church family!  

     I have a few preachers that I can listen to endlessly but there are two in my life who are and always will be my favorites:  my husband and my father!