Happy Christmas

Click below to access our Christmas update letter! It includes fun photos from 2011…

Holyde Christmas 2011

Thank you, Laura (Ingalls Wilder)

Tonight, as I was cooking dinner, my reluctant reader came into the kitchen hiding a book like she was hiding a stolen cookie. I asked Ruthie what she had under the table and she pulled out Little House in the Big Woods. She wanted to start reading the book, would that be okay with me?

How did this happen?

Unlike her older sister, Ruthie has never been one for reading. (I have actually said words to Chante I never thought I would say as a mother like, “Put down that book; you can’t read again until you get such and such done.” ) However, things started to change for Ruthie a few weeks ago.

It started with a summer library reading challenge…read 4 books in 6 weeks. No problem, I thought, Chante use to read double or triple that. Well, Ruthie wasn’t at all pleased I had signed her up. She reluctantly finished her books, even shedding a few tears over it all. I had told her I would reward her with a trip to a local bookstore – maybe not the treat she was hoping for, but it had some sticker books she liked.

When she finished the challenge we headed to the bookstore, but instead of the sticker book Ruthie picked out three small books (something about fairies) to buy. Yay!!

Next, when school started last month, I came across some books I had purchased at a charity shop. They were four small books in a box set. The series is well known here in the UK and is called Milly-Molly-Mandy. The stories were written in the early 20th century by Joyce Lankester Brisley and are sweet tales of a much more innocent era. Ruthie hadn’t been interested in them last year, but I piqued her interest with the first chapter and she begged me to read more.

Well, habits are formed fairly quickly with younger children. We enjoyed our daily read aloud time, but these books were soon done; now what to do?

At the library I picked up another British children’s classic - The Family from One End Street written in 1937 by Eve Garnett. This book has lengthier chapters and the vocabulary is a bit more complicated. However, we waded through the first chapter and she got hooked.

And I think that is the key….Ruthie finally realized how intriguing a book can be. How exciting it is to meet new people, but in a book! Maybe she just finally got old enough to understand a plot and enjoy the ride.

Well, yesterday in her 3rd grade reading book, she read an excerpt from Little House on the Prairie.  She only had to read half, but she read the entire chapter. She couldn’t put it down. Today, I showed her that we own the whole Little House series and I told her, once we finish the book we are currently reading together, we could start the first book in the series.

So that takes us to tonight, hiding the book. She didn’t want to wait! Could I have been more excited?! Of course I told her to start the book. She sat at the kitchen table and read passages to me that she thought were funny or that she thought I would like. She then asked if I would read the chapter again to her, aloud….and she wouldn’t let me stop at one, we had to read two!

So thank you Laura, Joyce, Eve and all the other fantastic children’s writers of the past … you have sparked another child’s imagination and love for reading!

I am grateful!

Suzanne

Seizing Opportunity

When the sun comes out and the temperature rises in London, everyone seizes the opportunity to get outside.  We are no exception. Last week temperatures were soaring here and we took advantage of it. For the past two Sundays we have enjoyed outdoor picnics after church with people from the fellowship. What a blessing to spend extra time together!

Hanging out on Primrose Hill

Last Thursday the night was mild enough to let the girls have a backyard campout. Anyone that knows us knows that the Holydes are not really campers. We gerry-rigged a borrowed tent and set up a cozy spot for them in our garden area. What a fun memory for sisters!

Backyard campout

Then on Friday we decided to save some school for the evening and take advantage of the beautiful day. We headed to the north end of Hampstead Heath, an area we haven’t spent much time in. We found much to explore. We discovered a deer enclosure that not only had deer but also a Rhea (kind of like an emu mixed with an ostrich). Next to that was a small zoo that was absolutely free!

Deer and Rhea

After wandering around a bit and looking at all the animals we headed deeper into the Heath. There we came upon Hill Garden and the Pergola, which was constructed in the early 1900s. There is still a private home there (okay, more like a mansion) but the garden and pergola are open to the public. We strolled through pillared walkways and beautifully landscaped spaces.

As we headed back through the wooded Heath, Chante told us “legends” she made up on the spot about all we had seen. Such fun!

But even more important than enjoying a few sunny rays this week, I was able to seize a few opportunities with people I love: speaking with Chante about what the Lord is showing her right now and her thoughts about the future, spending time with Ruthie reading sweet stories from the Milly-Molly-Mandy series and together being charmed at old-fashioned living; eating dinner and playing Pit with friends and getting a date with my hubby while the girls were at their Saturday morning classes.

May my eyes continue to be open and may I be ready to seize the opportunities the Lord brings my way this week!

Blessings,

Suzanne

Landscaped Gardens

Sisters

Ruthie-roo

Mom and Daughter

Tired feet...big sis to the rescue!

Story-time

First SCNL Baptism

September 10, 2011 – a glorious day! We traveled to Brighton via train to witness six friends publicly declaring their faith in Jesus through baptism. This is a day for SCNL history as this was our very first baptism. Four of those who got baptised have come to know Christ in the last year and half, and we have watched all of them grow so much in the Lord!

Enjoy the short video!

Suzanne

Who Dunnit?

Who stole summer and exchanged my little girl for a highschooler? Those weren’t the only mysteries that needed to be solved last weekend. We also needed to find out which Secret Super took the Sazite and with it all of our super powers!!

Confused??

 

To celebrate Chante’s 14th birthday we hosted a mystery party. The setting – Annual Office Party… but what our unsuspecting co-workers didn’t know is that some of us were hiding our secret identities!

We were the entertainment for the party guests, while Landon, Lauren, Luke and Frida ran the show between scenes and behind the scenes!

So, summer has gone and the girls are back in school. Chante is starting high school (believe it or not) and Ruthie is in third grade! Chante is tackling online school for the first time which includes a live Italian class once a week! Her goal is to live in Sicily one day, so Italian is a must!!

Ruthie is growing in so many ways! She really is blossoming into a charming young girl, who is full of curiosity and an adventurous spirit!

 

 

 

 

We are so blessed by the Lord to have such a wonderful family and loving, dear friends close and far away! Praising Jesus for all of you tonight!

Blessings,

Suzanne

p.s. Enjoy a few pics from Chante’s party!

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Where does time go?

“Where DOES time go Mom?” This was Ruthie’s question to me the other day when I had commented that I couldn’t believe it had already been a week since Grandma and Grandpa had gone back to the U.S. She really wanted to know where time went. I said it was just an expression, but she insisted it went somewhere! I suggested maybe it was in our minds, in our memories. She decided that wasn’t big enough…(hopefully not a commentary on how bad MY memory is getting!)

Time… something that I can struggle with. I don’t have enough of it, I am chasing it, or both. I desire to enjoy the moment so to speak, not to be living too far ahead or behind. The past few weeks have been a test of that desire. We have enjoyed some precious visitors – my parents, Karen Sindayen and the Pottenger family – all in the past 3 weeks. I wanted time to stand still, so I could truly treasure every second. But alas, time passes. Regardless of Ruthie’s view about where that time goes, I know my mind will hold precious memories of these last three weeks. Enjoy some wonderful pics!

Sarastro

PT and I enjoyed a delicious dinner last night at this Opera style restaurant @Sarastro

Kung Hei Fat Choy (Happy Chinese New Year)

Our family celebrated the Chinese New Year with thousand of other Londoners today in Trafalgar Square. Highlights for the girls were the fireworks, the Lion Dance, the man who breathed fire and a special appearance by Po from Kung Fu Panda!

Chinese New Year fireworks

Po made an appearance in Trafalgar Square.

Ruthie got the best view in town.

Reflections

The New Year is usually a time of reflection.  I have been thinking about that lately. Reflecting back on this year…our life-changing move to London, saying good-bye to family and friends to welcome the new things the Lord has for us here. How our girls have changed this year – Chante entering her teen years with newfound boldness for the Lord and Ruthie growing as a 7 year old in both stature and character. How my marriage is developing into a stronger one because of the changes the year has brought.

As I was “reflecting” I realized that the word has a another meaning. To reflect can mean: to think, ponder, or meditate but it can also mean to mirror, give back or show an image.  I see myself relfected through my children. I don’t always like what I see…when one gets frustrated and grunts just like I do. But sometimes, in their sweet moments…when they comfort me or someone else with a “mother’s type” touch …I hope that is also a reflection of me and what they have seen me do in similar circumstance.

As I think about my own life I wonder – How have I reflected the Lord this year? to my husband, my children, my family, my friends….? Am I representing the Lord as He would desire?

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the     same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor 3:18

My prayer for this year is to be a better reflection of Christ everywhere I go…to those closest to me and to the stranger on the street. May people see not me, but Jesus when I come into the room.  I want to see the city of London transformed for Christ, may He begin by completely transforming me into His image from glory to glory. Amen!

~ Suzanne

Lovely fall colours of Hampstead Heath.