Friendship

I have received the loveliest reminder this past week of the beauty and importance of friendships. Everything from the sermon at church to my daily readings to some CDs that I was listening to... really friendships are essential in our lives. We were made to be in fellowship and friendship. We actually need friends- we're not capable of doing life without them. Even Jesus had friends. He had a large group of people He fellowshipped with, a smaller group of 12 and those much needed intimate friends, His group of 3!
It's so true that honesty is a key element in a friendship. I think we all long for those safe places to share our hearts and still be loved. I know that it can be the hardest thing at times to open up with those vulnerable truthes, but then it always seems to be the most freeing, fulfilling thing to me to have my secrets released or my deep feelings embraced or my twisted thoughts understood.
I also believe that to have great friends we must be one first. Kinda like an example on a CD I was listening to by Helen Burns- its like a bank account. You can't always be withdrawing and withdrawing from a friendship, you need to make deposits too, or naturally there will be nothing left in your account (friendship). I find it so beautiful that God is a God of relationship. That He's designed us to NEED relationship. Although in relationships there is always risk, I find the rewards are greater and personally I LOVE needing people. I love how all my different friends fill a different void in my life. They all know me in different unique ways and are able to invest into my life in so many diverse ways.

My prayer is that I will be able to do the same in your lives! I'm asking you, my friends, if you would be willing to be honest with me, to open your hearts to me...I will be working on the same!

• Naturally I realize that it is not realistic to be ultra close with everyone, but that's why there's different circles, layers - and "everyone loves parfait"(For those who are clueless, its a quote from Shrek).

Went for a drive...to Scotland!

Well as some of you may know, we had some more lovely company this week. Our dear friends Ang and Shane came for a visit. So we were able to drive up to Scotland to see a few sites- isn't that just neat "just drove up to Scotland". Anyways we had such a nice time with them. Great fellowship, convesations, and exploration of some pretty neat castles (including the William Wallace Monument-we got to see his sword!). Scotland is a really fun place for us because that's Ronnie's roots, his Nan being from Scotland and all. So it was super nice being able to visit like old friends do, but it certainly reminded me of home and all you wonderful folk back home. Well I'll keep this short because last night was a short night. As many of you might have done, Ronnie and Shane stayed up to watch the Stanley Cup game last night, and us gals did some of our own late night bonding. The time factor however meant staying up from 1 till 4 am to see the game. So after sending off our dear friends, we're in need of some good sleep tonight!

Missing you...

I just felt like letting you all know that we do miss you muchly. Having all these wonderful visitors just reminds us how many wonderful, very lovely friends we have back home (and here too) -God has been so good to us! So thanks for being such great friends and family. We're truly soo grateful!!
And HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all you dads out there. Be Blessed!

Look, Listen, Feel

Well it's been a busy but wonderful three weeks with my mom! I must admit though, its been great to rest yesterday and today from the business and fulness (physically and emotionally) that they brought. I've found myself having a lot to process today. Its interesting isnt it how you sometimes learn more about yourself while trying to learn about others. I find I always learn so much while with family. Maybe its because we all resemble each other a little more than we think. I feel asthough I've put lots of 'processing' on hold while out and about visiting with mom. I don't know about any of you, but it seems that 'business' in general tends to do that- rob us of some of those precious 'thought moments' or 'processing life' or maybe just the moments to sit and relax and drink in what God has created for us to enjoy or hear what is being spoken to us (likely in that still quiet voice). I feel that already, just being here a few months, God has stirred soo much in me. That I'm growing and needing to learn that much faster or something.... Amazing what starts to stir in our hearts when we actually take time out to listen, to think, to dream, to understand... That's my goal for the week (amungst cleaning the house for our next visitors-I'm so excited Ang!!!, finalizing some nursing decisions-please pray for me- and finish settling in the last of our boxes, which yes, did arrive safely a couple weeks ago) Right, that's my goal for the week, to MAKE time to look,listen, feel the breath of God! (Funny, just like in CPR- sorry, I'm a nurse!!)

Still playing...

Still playing I know- I'm feeling guilty already, but my mom's still here playing with me and STILL waiting on this nursing course thing to pan out!!!! Please pray for me in regards to the course- everytime I talk to them some new issue has come up and all the other course (which I may just have to take-rather than the on-line course) are all sooo far away and would be very expensive due to travel and accomodations!!! But in the meantime I'm trusting and having a good time with my mom!!!
So the three of us were in London this weekend showing mom the sites. We were blessed with being able to stay with some family of friends of my mom- what a blessing!!! It was great! So we went to the London Tower, the London Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, saw 'big ben' really the parliament buildings, the national art gallery, Borough market (the largest outdoor market in Europe- so cool) etc etc...and you wouldn't believe how much of it was free!!! Which is also so great! We also went to the -can I call it a musical?!- Stomp! Wow, was it great!!! Here's some pics of our time there....

Reality of a corsette!!!

So we went to the Costume Museum in Bath. Really quite an extraordinary exhibit of styles and fashion through the ages!!! So along with the exhibit, you could try on a corsette to see what it really felt like! No joke I'm sure that I dislocated my inner organs! Forget the fact that you take atleast one dress size smaller, my stomach muscles ached the entire evening and into the next morning!!! Thank the Lord that we don't still have to wear these things- seriously!!! Isnt' Ronnie a great sport?!!! 

Bath Time

 

Afternoon Tea at Coombe Abbey

Coombe Abbey is an old monastary that is now used as a hotel. It also has a huge beautiful park and garden to stoll through- if it's not raining. Afternoon tea is much nicer in the rain!

Before & After Pictures

"After" Pictures of our house.

I know that this might ruin the effect, showing you the after pictures before the before, but I figured I can't keep anyone waiting any longer. I'll show the after pictures of our wonderful home (we just feel so blessed) first and the 'before' pictures will have to come after. Sort of mixed up but oh well...Here you'll see pictures of our living area/dining area, our kitchen (yes that is our clothes washing machine you see in the middle of our kitchen, kind of a standard way out here), our guest bedroom on the left and our bedroom on the right. You'll also see a picture of our "bonus room" which is off our living area, it is our conservatory-a beautiful sunny room of windows- Carol you'd love it. Well, this room is sunny when the sun actually shines! But we feel SOOOOOO blessed by God's gracious and generous provision and all the bargains He blessed us with.

My mom's arrived!

Now let the fun begin! Mom's here for a few weeks so we're going to squeeze in all the fun we can!! We'll keep you posted... 

Happy 28th Birthday Ronnie!!!

I’d like to wish my wonderful husband a very blessed birthday today! My prayer for you Ronnie is that it would be a year of stepping into destiny. Stepping into the fullness of the man God created you to be. I pray for discovery of your true heart and passions and fulfillment of your dreams. I pray for a peace and a joy that only God can give! I pray for strength for your trials and perseverance to see them through. For a celebrative and thankful heart for all the blessings and gifts that await you in the year to come. I pray that you will be used mightily by God for His purposes and that His grand favor would rest upon your shoulders at every step. I pray that our love would deepen with every sunrise and that your faith would grow strong as a “tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the streams”(Jeremiah 17:8). Happy Birthday Ronnie- I love you!!!

Here we are celebrating with some of our wonderful new friends! Anna and Sheldon Armitage and their daughter Mia.

Learning from Elijah

Sorry. Still no photos of our place. I'm waiting for the before pictures so that you can see the contrast! Ronnie's at work now and I'm gearing up for my Nursing course that I have to take to be liscenced here. So the routine is starting to set in. Although we're praying that the excitement of our purpose and being here won't wear off now that the routine is setting in. Speaking of purpose, God's been putting a lot on my heart resently about purpose. The past couple of Sunday's the sermons have been regarding or including "purpose". The one message really stood out to me. It was about Elijah and where God had taken him in his life. Each geographical place represented different seasons(and reactions) of life Elijah was going through as he experienced different attributes of God. One was a place of provision during the drought, another a place of power on Mount Carmel, next was panic when he fled to Horeb. But the next part was the part that was particularly personal for me. The following place was a place of intimacy (yah,it was supposed to be the 5 'p'- a word that started with a 'p' was used but I can't remember what it was) when God spoke to him with a gentle whisper(in a cave in the mountain of Horeb), following this came a place of purpose(Desert of Damascus)! God really touched my heart in that purpose comes through experiencing intimacy with God. It was just such a good reminder for me during a time where I feel like knowing my purpose of being here in England is so important. It was a reminder to draw close, know Him, and plug into God's heart, follow Him, that'll lead me to my purpose. Sometimes I think it's so easy to be focused on "what's the plan for MY life", "what's THE purpose of my life" rather than just focusing on LIFE itself, the lifegiver. (Text found from 1 Kings 16-20). " Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3) "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10)
*I hope that this all made sense- it's always a little hard putting Heart in Words.*

Just moved in!

Hello all! We've just moved in to our own place! It's been quite a while- hopefully I remember how to cook! We just wanted to let you know that due to the transition we may not have internet for a while. We need to hook that all up and as some of you may know, these things can take a while. We will still have access to the internet, but it will be a little more few and far between. We'll let you know as soon as we're set up (and of course pictures of our new place will be posted). We just LOVE our new place! We feel sooo blessed!
love the Zerrs

To My Mother...

I recently discovered my mother's love of tulips. So mom, these Parisien beauties are to brighten your day!!! Love you.