Happy New Year

The past week has been one of reflection as we review the events of 2013.  Some of the big events of the year were the birth of Andrea Shay in January,  our trip to Scotland in February,  preparing to leave for our mission and our arrival in England in April.  Since then Craig has gotten somewhat used to driving on English roads, we have learned some new English vocabulary,  we have met many people from all over the world and learned much about what it means to be a missionary.  We are learning to keep working in the face of discouragement and be better disciplined in everything we do.  We are learning that as inadequate as we feel sometimes, the Lord is working with us and he can make up the difference.  Truly in a mission, it is by small things that great things are brought to pass.  In July, Missy and Mike joined their families and we are blessed to have four new grandsons.  In July,  Brent and Loni left their tropical paradise for Arizona and new opportunities.  In November, Debbie and Jim and their family found a new place to build Zion,  in Zionsville, Indiana.  Their family is happy to have more time together.  We know there were times of sadness and trial for some of our children.  We wish we could have been there to offer comfort, but we  trusted them to the Lord and we know he has and

will bless and help them.  For a few short days in July our children and their families were all together.  We were glad for this rare opportunity for them.
We celebrated the New Year in Manchester at a YSA dance after having dinner together in a Chinese restaurant.  We helped another senior couple make smoothies at the dance.  We even danced one dance on a rare slow dance.  Many DJ's nowadays play music that doesn't promote dancing as couples.  It is more like "hanging out dancing".  Young people seem to have a hard time forming a dating relationship.  I wish that trend could be reversed.  Anyway, we didn't get home until 2:30 in the morning.  We managed to sleep in until 9:00.  I didn't think we were capable of that anymore.  We spent New Year's day quietly in our flat.  We did some extra cleaning and organizing and we watched a movie on our computer.  We have had many new and varied experiences in the past months.  It will be interesting to see what the New Year has in store for us.

Our Last District Meeting with our current sisters and elders.
Transfers are next week

Three of our YSA from Liverpool at the New Years Eve Dance