2013 - Part 2

We spent a bit of time in the Midlands, staying with my parents, where we got to attend Elijah's baptism (my brother David's second son), and spend bits of time with their lovely family. We also got to see more of Tom (Michael's youngest brother) and his lovely wife Becca than we probably have before, and their dog Byron of course. Actually, all but Rachel, Hannah and I did see quite a lot of them last November when they stayed in Kidderminster for a few weeks, but this was the first time I really got to speak properly with Becca. We had a bit of time with my parents, a bit with different families combined, and we finished off that stay by breaking our journey home to join David's family in Stratford-upon-Avon for the afternoon of his birthday. The children enjoyed playing together and it was lovely to be around them all. Their little Isaac is so cute, and of course Rachel loves to be around Elodie. Samuel loves her lots too.

In Gramps' wonderful garden.

Playing Upwords in teams with Mum and Dad.

Going for a walk in the beautiful Wyre Forest...

... then playing at the playground there for a while.

Football in the park on David's birthday

Playing in the sand.

A short ferry crossing across the river.

Not many weeks later, Sarah, Rachel and I (Ceri) travelled up to Chorley in Lancashire to stay at our church's Preston Temple site. We were there for a couple of weeks to take part in a historical play (a pageant) about the early members of our church in the British Isles, most of which travelled to build up the church in America. It was the first pageant of its kind to happen in this country, and we were so happy to be involved with it. We lugged our suitcases half way by train, then talked with and sang to my Dad the rest of the way (still learning the songs we were to sing) as he very kindly drove us up from the Midlands. Taking part in the pageant stretched us in many ways. For me it was an effort as though I love music and wanted to take part, acting in any way in front of anybody has never been something I felt anything like comfortable about! Yet I found as I put everything I had into it that I could do it. I was also stretched to my limit physically, yet found I had the strength to do what was needed. We sang, danced and acted together each day, the first week learning our parts, (while another cast were performing), and the second week performing each night after joining in the pre-show activities with our guests. The pageant was set in Lancashire in 1837, and we had music, dancing, craft activities, childrens' games, photos in costume, etc. for people to have a go at or watch beforehand. We each grew in confidence as we did new things and spoke with lots of people each day. Rachel and I especially enjoyed going around meeting and talking with people who were visiting. Sarah preferred to join in with the folk dancing a lot of the time. She loved wearing “old-fashioned' clothes, and she also loved the friends she made while there. That was probably her greatest joy – meeting great friends. We all made some lovely friends there, and were blessed to renew some old friendships. Now the challenge is to continue those friendships while the rest of life happens! Participating in the British Pageant was an amazing experience for us. It was like one huge family (hundreds of people) working together. To be in such an uplifting absolutely positive atmosphere for those two weeks did us so much good! 

Sarah very excited and full of bounce after our dressed rehearsal.

Outside the Preston Temple

Ready for another performance.

Sarah with some special pageant friends.

Rachel with some of our company.

Me with some lovely new friends.

 
Michael and the other children enjoyed coming up for the last night of the show, and they then stayed for the weekend in Chorley with us. We spent the Sunday together, then on the Monday we visited a few church history sites there before travelling back to Brighton, while Rachel travelled by coach with other teenagers from the area to a special Youth Conference she was attending at Nottingham University for a week (“Especially For Youth”). So she had a third amazing week added on to the two she'd already had. She had some great experiences there, saw again some of the people she'd met at the pageant, and made plenty of other new friends. Partway through that week Hannah spent a few days on a church youth camp for 12 and 13 year olds, which she also really enjoyed. 

Music at the activities beforehand

Inside the pageant theatre

Back together again.

On the Monday - all apart from from Rachel who was already on the coach to EFY.

The River Ribble, where our first baptisms took place.

Dad and Daniel by the River Ribble.