Last night was sort of a fitful night because not only was Friday the last day of my classes at GIAL but also the day we needed to get our apartment cleaned and ready for the housing inspection. The cleaning wasn’t too much trouble but I was awake nonetheless thinking about how we were going to manage all of our belongings and two kids at DFW airport early Saturday morning. We had five suitcases packed and Emily was still trying to stuff them with the last few bits and pieces that kept coming out of the woodwork. I had gone to bed after Emily assured me she’d be able to cram it all in one way or another. Still, at 2:30 I found myself awake (like tonight) and unable to sleep (like tonight).

One thought that came to mind while lying in bed was of the first question of the Heidelberg catechism: What is your only comfort in life and in death? I love catechisms because they ask questions that really get you thinking before they provide at least one possible, well-thoughtout biblical answer. And I love the answer to the first question that Heidelberg asks. It’s the answer to the question that puts a ballast in your belly, as John Piper would say. If you can answer this question–your only comfort in life and in death–you will find yourself fully reoriented to face anything, whether that’s depression, anxiety, stress or a move to a foreign country with two kids. So, the answer. What is your only comfort in life and in death?

That I am not my own, but I belong to my faithful savior Jesus Christ.

Amen! And to report on how everything went yesterday with luggage and flying and kids, it really couldn’t have been smoother! Poppy and Henry both slept the duration of the flight from Dallas to Pittsburgh. We were immediately welcomed into the loving arms of Memaw and Papaw Maust. We drove to Bob Evans and were treated to delicious comfort food. Later in the evening, my brother Matt and family came to spend the night at my parents’. Poppy enjoyed terrorizing the house with her cousin Lily, who by the way gets more beautiful every time we see her! Thank God for family!

So, what does the rest of our year look like. We’re here in Greensburg, PA, until December 29 when we’ll leave for France to start French school. My first day of classes is January 3. Instant immersion! We’ll do a post when we’ve arrived.

In the next two weeks, we’re going to get ready for and celebrate Christmas probably much like yourself. It’s Henry’s first Christmas. He’ll be almost four months old on Christmas day. Poppy is really looking forward to opening presents. She’ll be exactly two and a half years old on Christmas day.

If we don’t see you over Christmas, know that we miss you and wish you God’s richest blessings on your family this year and next.

Merry Christmas!

Today was her first day and she did amazingly well.

I was praying that she would wake up this morning in a good mood because the last couple of mornings she has been kinda grumpy and it has taken her a while to get going.  But my prayers were answered and she woke up in the best mood and was so sweet and happy getting ready.

I packed her new backpack that she received as a birthday present from her Aunt Christina, Uncle Matt and cousin Lily and she was eager to get out the door.  If you know Poppy, then you know that she is a very busy little girl and thrives on being outside and constantly doing activities (her fav being swimming right now), so this preschool thing is perfect for her.

We had been to visit the classroom last Friday when we arrived on campus so Poppy was familiar with where we were going. She also knew there was a special friend waiting to see her today.  ”Who?” you ask.  Well, that’s when I think of the Wonder Pets because Poppy’s classroom has a pet!  A guinea pig!!  LOL.  Poppy loves it and pulls me over to the cage saying “look at this Mummy, look at this”.

Her morning is pretty full.  They have a packed schedule of free play, story time, singing, coloring, snack time, more free play etc.  It’s so cute.  When I dropped her off today the classroom assistant asked, “Is there anything special I should know?” I said, “Yea, around 10 am she starts getting tired and becomes a wild animal so good luck with that!!”  haha.

Thankfully when I picked her up just after 12pm she was still holding it together and doing well.  She must have been distracted with all that was going on.  I opened the classroom door and she ran up and gave me a big neck squeezing hug, gotta love that moment every time.  She seemed in a bit of a daze and was probably feeling wiped out from being non-stop since 8.30am but she was perfectly happy and I felt so proud of her.  She had drawn a picture so we obviously had to bring it home and put it on the fridge!  Her first drawing on the fridge, love it!!!

You know I just had to take a couple of photos this morning as we were getting ready to walk out the door.  She looks so grown up!  And then the last photo speaks for itself, lol.

"Come on Mummy"

Oh, and I forgot to mention that “we” in this post refers to me, Emily, and Hannah Polly. Emily picked that little spark plug up yesterday afternoon at the airport after playing a little prank on her. Maybe I can get Emily to tell you about her prank.

I’ve created an album in the photo gallery to house all the pictures were gonna take on our gallivanting around North Carolina with Hannah. There’s already three little albums of pictures from yesterday as well as video proof of what madness it is to get Hannah Polly and Emily Clare laughing together in an ickle giggle frenzy.

Happy One Year Anniversary Matt & Christina as you celebrate in Paris!

Soo, click on Photo Gallery now!

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I said that this coming week is going to be exciting and full of hilarity; well, that is because on Saturday Matt (my brother) and Christina (his fiancee) are getting married at 11am in Beckley at Memorial Baptist Church. Emily is a bride’s maid and I a groomsman. We will be sure to take lots of pictures for everyone to see the festivities. After the wedding, we all are going to wish them farewell as they take off for Baltimore where they will be taking a cruise! What fun, eh?!!?! Can we come along?!

That’s May for us: wedding, work, and wonderful weather!

Oh, we do need to take some pictures of our new place and get them on here because: WOW! Emily is going to town with pimping this little abode out. We got candles, and ribbons, and all kinds of creative knicknacks creating a warm, inviting homely atmosphere. And our doors are now open for guests to come and sup and dine and eat and break fast with us!

What books are we reading at the moment?
Drew: St. Augustine’s Confessions
Emily: James Alexander Thom’s Follow the River

What are we watching at the moment?
We: rented Tristan & Isolde last week.
Emily: Whose Wedding Is It Anyways? & How Do I Look? both on the style channel.
Drew: My Fair Lady, The Office, That 70s Show, the catholic channel (because the Pope’s been on and the services at the Vatican are in like 8 different languages, and the Vatican’s the only state still rocking Latin).

Plans for the future?
Eat pizza.

–drew