Home Sweet Home!

Our three weeks in Scotland flew past so quickly.  It was great to see so many people and we are so thankful to God for the safe travels and good health he has given us throughout the whole time!  Thanks to those who made the effort to meet with us at the open day and other meetings,  and to all those who have hosted us either for meals, or accommodation or both! Thank you especially for your prayers! Although exhausting traveling with three children, we had a wonderful trip.  There were so many supporters and relatives that we would have loved to have visited but we just couldn't fit it all in. 

Playing in the leaves!

Meeting Granda for the first time!

Great-Auntie Christine traveled up to Pitlochry for a visit.

Our time in London was a little bit different this year.  Not only did we renew the visa, but we visited the staff at the MAF office in Folkestone, Kent.  We were also able to give a little presentation about life at MMS in Ohio.  It was exciting to begin talks about what is going to be happening over the next year and beyond.  I can hardly believe we only have one year left in the states, then after a few months in Scotland, we will be heading off to a MAF programme somewhere in the world! In about six months time we will start serious talks about where we will be placed.  So from here on,  there will be many 'lasts' as we enter in to a transition phase again.
We couldn't have arrived back at a better time!
Andy just had a few days back at work before MMS closed for 2 days for Thanksgiving.  These few days of rest were just what we needed to catch up on the jet lag and to 're-charge the batteries!'  We opted for a more quiet thanksgiving this year and had a lovely meal with our pastor and family.  Our pastor was raised in Haiti and it was lovely hearing their stories of growing up as missionary kids in Haiti.   We enjoyed some shopping in the sales,  and we were able to get Eilidh a booster high chair and a very long stair gate in preparation for things to come!
Abi missed her American friends a lot and was keen to get back to school.  This meant that she was up at five thirty in the morning ready on her first day back - the joys of jet lag! She is over that now and is back to her usual 6am rise ;0).   I have enjoyed going in to Abi's school to read the "Gruffalo" and the "Gruffalo's Child" to her class.  The school are looking for more involvement from parents and I am thinking and praying about volunteering to teach music in the school for a few hours each week.   At present the music education at the most elementary schools is purely vocal and the children don't get to touch an instrument until they are much older.   The school actually has a good supply of percussion instruments but they share a music teacher with many schools and he does not have time to do instruments with the classes.  I will let you know how things progress.  
Matthew is back at preschool and loving it.  He is able to read five books at home now in the "Biff and  Kipper" series,  and has been given his first reading book at pre-school which he is so excited about!  He adores Eilidh and is continually keeping her happy with cars and airplanes flying over her head.  Matthew has always loved rubbing his face against anything soft and his favourite soft place at the moment is the top of Eilidh's head! Her hair sticks up with about 2 inches of fluff at the moment and you will often find Matthew with his cheek buried in her hair - very sweet!
Eilidh is doing great and just had her 4 month doctor check.  Apparently she is very long (hence we are filling out 6-9 month clothes!)  She is doing great though and two teeth are not far away!  It was great introducing her to everyone in Scotland.  
Mother and Toddler's is going well and is was lovely to see the regular ladies there on Wednesday.  I was able to do some music and puppets with the tiny tots: 0)
Andy is back at work although he is feeling a little under the weather with a cold and sore throat at the moment.  He is persevering on with it, but would appreciate your prayers (and that the rest of the family don't get it!).
He has moved off the MAF 206 project that he has been working on for the last few months, and is now in the engine shop rebuilding 2 engines for 2 different mission planes. It is a very different kind of work from what he has been doing for the last few months, but a great way to learn ahead of his exams!