A Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! 2008 has flown by. It has been full of many changes, challenges, and blessings. We are so thankful for all our friends and family who have offered love and support during this past year.

The year began with hot water and new floors! As many of you know, our flat in Newcastle needed many renovations after we bought it in June 2007. One thing that needed to be fixed was the hot water. It stopped working shortly after we moved in. The biggest blessing this year was being able to turn on the tap and recieve hot water. No more boiling the kettle to do the dishes! We also were able to put new flooring in a few months later...as our flat was merely floor boards and cheap flooring with holes in it. Our flat now is beautiful and we truly feel at home in it.

In April, after a trip to America to visit family and friends, Jackie started a new job at Blue Sky Trust. BST is a Christian charity that supports those affected by HIV in the North East of England. Jackie was given a job as a womens support worker, as well as an educator within their schools team. Jackie loves her job, and sees how the Lord has truly prepared her for such a position over the years.

During this year, we started attending Jesmond Parish Church. We love our church and have made some really great friends. Chris was also able to join the worship team as one of their drummers, who can regulary be seen on their web tv from their 6:30 service. Jackie also recently joined their choir, singing in the Advent and Christmas carol services.

This summer, a new addition hopped into our lives. Little Benjamin Bunny was adopted from a rabbit farm, and has grown to be just one of the family. He is a very furry grey french lop with a major attitude. Although he has destroyed a few things, eatin a few wires, and chewed through some clothes, we still love him very much!

In September we were able to celebrate our 1 year anniversary in Greece. We had a lovely time in the warm weather, staying in a villa extremely close to the beach. We loved our time their, feasting on greek food, and enjoying the scenery.

Well...thats all the news from the year. We hope you enjoy reading more about the Parry family and all that is happening.

Again, we wish you a Merry Christmas and hope 2009 is filled with much love, joy, and happyness.

Please keep in touch through email or mail at
jacquelinerosej@aol.com

95 Stamfordham Road
Fenham NE53JN
Newcastle Upon Tyne
England

With love,
Chris, Jackie and Benjamin Bunny

What a nightmare!!!

On Sunday night as Chris and I were packing for our trip to America on Thursday, we realised we couldnt find my passport. The last time either of us remembers it was when we went to Greece in September. Both of us thought the other had it. Unfortunantly that was not true. I sit here now on a train headed towards London, for the US Embassy. I will be able to get a new passport there, but, not my visa! Yeseterday morning we called everyone we knew, even Washington D.C. to see what we should do. Everyone gave us different answers. The British Embassy here told us to call the embassy in Los Angelos. That embassy told us we needed to call the british embassy,however, by that time it was closed. Like I said it was nightmare. We just figured that I could come as a tourist and then get the appropriate visas once I was back in the UK... however, at 3 in the morning I woke up with anxiety and realised that I couldnt do that because the visa I need to live and work here in the UK cannot be obtained while on a tourist visa. So, Im having to trust God. We will be able to call the British embassy at 9 am...2 hours from now, and see if they will let us drive to Sheffield and get the visa. If not, well, Im not sure what will happen. God is in control. I have realized through this more than ever what a supportive and loving husband I have, and am so thankful for Chris. Also, God has revealed just how good our friend Ian and Rebecca are...as they offered to print out loads of forms for us late last night (our printer broke), and even ran out to buy more ink when it was out. God is so faithful to provide, and I sit here with peace that whatever happens it is for the best.

Christmas with the Parrys

Today we celebrated Christmas with Chris' parents. Chris and I started the day by both getting hair cuts, then taking out first annual Christmas pictures. Then we went on to prepare the huge Christmas feast. At 4 the Parry's arrived, and we nibbled on various cheeses, chocolates, peanuts etc, while listening to music. Then came the much awaited dinner...which started with butternut squash soup, followed by melon...then onto a chicken roast dinner...complete with sticky toffee pudding. we were all stuffed by the end. We had a nice time celebrating Christmas minus Benji, as he was a bit upset because he ate some leafy veg that didn't go well with his tummy... so he spent the night in his room. All in all we had a nice time. Merry Christmas...a few weeks early.

Thanksgiving 08

Last night, some of our friends and chris' parents celebrated Thanksgiving with us. The night before I made a few pumpkin cheesecakes and pies, then I spent the day preparing for the feast. There was a minor problem with the turkey though. When I took it out of the fridge and took it out of the packaging yesterday, there was a black spot on the leg and a green marking on it. So, I called the store where I bought it from, and they said not to eat it...and that they only had a few fresh turkey crowns (which is just the breast meat) available. However, in order to get these, I had to bring the turkey back to the store... so, I put it in a big black bin bag, hulled the huge thing (it was 9.80kg, an extra large turkey), and took it to Asda. To my dismay, they made me take the turkey out of the bag to show them what i was talking about. Gross! But, in the end I got 2 huge turkey crowns. I tried a new recipe using white wine, chicken stock, and bay leaves; you had to cook the turkey upside down. All I can say is...yum yum yum! The turkey was super moist and Delicious! I will definitely do this again; I am so thankful for all recipes! Anyways, we had a nice time, played a few games, and ate ate ate! Benji even dressed up as a little Indian. I love thanksgiving!!! I am so thankful for last night, but still miss my family back in America! I cant wait for 2 more weeks when I will get to see them!

SNOW!!!!

Today we woke up and our neighborhood was covered in snow! I am so excited, as I sit here nice and warm in our flat, with some music playing, snuggled up in my warm blanket! Snow is nice too look at when your indoors and warm = ). It makes me really excited for Christmas... and I'm sure by then I will be glad I'm far away from the snow and am in sunny southern California. But for now, I am enjoying the beautiful picture that my window is displaying.

Pumpkin Pie Candle.

Chris brought me home a surprise the other day... A pumpkin pie candle! I was so excited to light it, as it filled the whole room with a lovely smell of freshly made pumpkin pie. I cant wait till Thanksgiving! We also received a sweet pumpkin in our veg box. We kept it on display for awhile before turning it into curried pumpkin soup. Yum Yum. However, our new favorite is homemade butternut squash soup. It is so nice with a bit of cinnamon. I love fall, and all the colors and smells it brings!

Cute Photos

I just wanted to add a few photos I found on my computer of Benji. Enjoy.