Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
First bath time
Just like his big sister, Jackson did not appreciate the water the first time round. Also like his big sister, he has since loved bath time!!
Some pictures of the boy...
I thought it was time that I added a few more pictures of Jackson. It is true what they say - we have taken less pictures this time around and that is simply because we don't have as much time to grab the camera with a buzzing, energetic 3yr old running around. Nevertheless, we want to show him off and share pictures as much as we always have with Eva. We hope you enjoy these.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
A break....
Hi
Finally it seems there is a bit of breathing space in life. The last academic year has been good if not a little intense, but it is all over now for a couple of months. Jackson has been born and is now a staggering 7 weeks old. he is holding his head up and even managing a cute wee grin. Eva is coping in an amazing way with the massive change that has been thrust upon her. She is so protective of Jackson. Just last week a friend of Margaret's was visiting and I was in the kitchen with margaret getting some dinner ready when Jackson started to cry. Margaret's friend got up to go and lift Jackson and Eva simply said, "My Daddy will lift him when he is finished." This is only one story out of many in the short life Jackson has had where his big sister has looked out for him in such a way. We are proud parents of two amazing children.
Writing like this causes me to sit back and breathe a huge sigh of thankfulness. I have much to be thankful for on this journey I am on - a wonderful wife, two amazing kids, a house and cupboards full of food, the ability to move around and exercise, the most amazing friends, a solid network of support. The list goes on and on and on. Who am I thanking? God - the giver and sustainer of life, the One who walks with me in good times and carries me in bad times. God never leaves me: even when i think I am hiding he is there and that is comfort. Thank you God for all you have been, are and will be in my life and that of my family.
I should stop there really but I have some other news - exams have been passed and I am now on the way to second year of this degree without any resits. Woo hoo.
1st August sees us heading to Florida for a month. We will be holidaying there and I will also be fulfilling a placement with our old church there. I am very excited about this prospect in that I will be getting to experience ministry there in a different way from that which i have known in the past. During the month I will be teaching a bible study series on some o fthe Parables of Jesus as well as preaching on two of the Sundays that we are there. As well as this I will be engaging in some visitation and possibly some work with the local Hospice. It's all very exciting to be able to re-connect with old friends and also engage in developing my own ministry skils - and all in the muggy August heat of Florida!!!!
We have taken other photos of Jackson and Eva though not as many as we did when Eva was born - there really is much less time and energy with the second one - and as soon as I can get them up on here I will.
Blessings
Finally it seems there is a bit of breathing space in life. The last academic year has been good if not a little intense, but it is all over now for a couple of months. Jackson has been born and is now a staggering 7 weeks old. he is holding his head up and even managing a cute wee grin. Eva is coping in an amazing way with the massive change that has been thrust upon her. She is so protective of Jackson. Just last week a friend of Margaret's was visiting and I was in the kitchen with margaret getting some dinner ready when Jackson started to cry. Margaret's friend got up to go and lift Jackson and Eva simply said, "My Daddy will lift him when he is finished." This is only one story out of many in the short life Jackson has had where his big sister has looked out for him in such a way. We are proud parents of two amazing children.
Writing like this causes me to sit back and breathe a huge sigh of thankfulness. I have much to be thankful for on this journey I am on - a wonderful wife, two amazing kids, a house and cupboards full of food, the ability to move around and exercise, the most amazing friends, a solid network of support. The list goes on and on and on. Who am I thanking? God - the giver and sustainer of life, the One who walks with me in good times and carries me in bad times. God never leaves me: even when i think I am hiding he is there and that is comfort. Thank you God for all you have been, are and will be in my life and that of my family.
I should stop there really but I have some other news - exams have been passed and I am now on the way to second year of this degree without any resits. Woo hoo.
1st August sees us heading to Florida for a month. We will be holidaying there and I will also be fulfilling a placement with our old church there. I am very excited about this prospect in that I will be getting to experience ministry there in a different way from that which i have known in the past. During the month I will be teaching a bible study series on some o fthe Parables of Jesus as well as preaching on two of the Sundays that we are there. As well as this I will be engaging in some visitation and possibly some work with the local Hospice. It's all very exciting to be able to re-connect with old friends and also engage in developing my own ministry skils - and all in the muggy August heat of Florida!!!!
We have taken other photos of Jackson and Eva though not as many as we did when Eva was born - there really is much less time and energy with the second one - and as soon as I can get them up on here I will.
Blessings
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Birth and Marriage...
I updated with a short message and some pictures in the day after Jackson was born. That was nearly a month ago and I thought it might be a good idea to update everyone on what has been happening both before the birth and since.
The main thing that was going on before Jackson's arrival was a mixture of university/exam stuff and the preparations for Stevie's wedding including stag weekend/events and other best man duties.
University has been tough this semester. The classes have not been overly stimulating and also a bit frustrating. For example, in one class assignment I was marked down for having too much theological application of the bible passage I was writing on. Now correct me if I am wrong, but is not the call of a preacher to theologically apply the words of scripture to life? Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying the study of theology and in general feel that i am growing in Christ as i do so. That said, it ultimately feels like my training for ministry is more academic than spiritual in it's leanings. I am not a fan of this but am resigned to the fact that this is just how it is and that i must get the best out of it.
Stevie and Katrina were married on 22nd April and what a wonderful day it was. I had the honour of being Stevie's best man for the day and Eva was Flower Girl for Katrina. Stevie and Katrina had put a million hour of work into planning their day and making sure it reflected their characters and approach to life. At the centre of their ceremony and whole day was Jesus. Both of them are committed to following Christ as are their families and this was reflected at every stage of the day. The boys started out early in the morning by travelling to Temple Golf and Country Club for a quick nine holes. The weather and craic were great and the golf was rubbish (apart from Stevie's brother in law Gavin who is a fine golfer and put us all to shame). From the 9th hole we moved into the restaurant for a full Irish Breakfast which was very tasty indeed. Then it was back to Stevies's Mum and Dad's house to get showered and suited up. Stevie had picked great looking suits and the boys looked sweet indeed. We did have a wee bit of drama when the Groom went missing and his phone was not working - the best man did panic somewhat!!!! Stevie turned up and we left for the church and made it about 8 minutes before Katrina did, just in time for a few photos and then into the church. Katrina arrived right on time and made a great entrance. Unfortunately it was all a bit much for Eva and she cried her way down the aisle aided by her Daddy! We had a great time of praise singing and then Stevie and Katrina exchanged vows. Good times. From here we went to the Rosspark Hotel near ballymena for their reception. The food was good as were the speeches. All in all, it was a wonderful day in which the love of Christ could be sensed in a big way. Stevie and Katrina are a great match for each other and great friends for us and we hope and pray all the very best for them in their future together. I will post a few pictures and hope you enjoy them.
Family wise, we are doing well. Life is certainly changed with a second child! Jackson is a wee angel though and proving himself to be just as good as his big sister was. He is sleeping well and eating well (though we could not expect anything else from a littl'un that bears the name Charles!! Eva is a great big sister to Jackson and is always trying to help (sometimes too much!!) She is also very protective of him. Margaret took them all into work so her colleagues could see Jackson and she also had somethings to talk over with a colleague of hers. She went into see the girls in the office and let them hold Jackson while she met with her colleague...or so she thought. When she was leaving to go down to her colleagues office Eva pulled on her hand and said, "We have to get the baby off her!" She was not prepared to leave Jackson no-matter how much Mummy trusted the person holding the boy!!! She is very cute as she looks after him.
These are good and exciting times for our wee family. Enjoy the pictures.
The main thing that was going on before Jackson's arrival was a mixture of university/exam stuff and the preparations for Stevie's wedding including stag weekend/events and other best man duties.
University has been tough this semester. The classes have not been overly stimulating and also a bit frustrating. For example, in one class assignment I was marked down for having too much theological application of the bible passage I was writing on. Now correct me if I am wrong, but is not the call of a preacher to theologically apply the words of scripture to life? Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying the study of theology and in general feel that i am growing in Christ as i do so. That said, it ultimately feels like my training for ministry is more academic than spiritual in it's leanings. I am not a fan of this but am resigned to the fact that this is just how it is and that i must get the best out of it.
Stevie and Katrina were married on 22nd April and what a wonderful day it was. I had the honour of being Stevie's best man for the day and Eva was Flower Girl for Katrina. Stevie and Katrina had put a million hour of work into planning their day and making sure it reflected their characters and approach to life. At the centre of their ceremony and whole day was Jesus. Both of them are committed to following Christ as are their families and this was reflected at every stage of the day. The boys started out early in the morning by travelling to Temple Golf and Country Club for a quick nine holes. The weather and craic were great and the golf was rubbish (apart from Stevie's brother in law Gavin who is a fine golfer and put us all to shame). From the 9th hole we moved into the restaurant for a full Irish Breakfast which was very tasty indeed. Then it was back to Stevies's Mum and Dad's house to get showered and suited up. Stevie had picked great looking suits and the boys looked sweet indeed. We did have a wee bit of drama when the Groom went missing and his phone was not working - the best man did panic somewhat!!!! Stevie turned up and we left for the church and made it about 8 minutes before Katrina did, just in time for a few photos and then into the church. Katrina arrived right on time and made a great entrance. Unfortunately it was all a bit much for Eva and she cried her way down the aisle aided by her Daddy! We had a great time of praise singing and then Stevie and Katrina exchanged vows. Good times. From here we went to the Rosspark Hotel near ballymena for their reception. The food was good as were the speeches. All in all, it was a wonderful day in which the love of Christ could be sensed in a big way. Stevie and Katrina are a great match for each other and great friends for us and we hope and pray all the very best for them in their future together. I will post a few pictures and hope you enjoy them.
Family wise, we are doing well. Life is certainly changed with a second child! Jackson is a wee angel though and proving himself to be just as good as his big sister was. He is sleeping well and eating well (though we could not expect anything else from a littl'un that bears the name Charles!! Eva is a great big sister to Jackson and is always trying to help (sometimes too much!!) She is also very protective of him. Margaret took them all into work so her colleagues could see Jackson and she also had somethings to talk over with a colleague of hers. She went into see the girls in the office and let them hold Jackson while she met with her colleague...or so she thought. When she was leaving to go down to her colleagues office Eva pulled on her hand and said, "We have to get the baby off her!" She was not prepared to leave Jackson no-matter how much Mummy trusted the person holding the boy!!! She is very cute as she looks after him.
These are good and exciting times for our wee family. Enjoy the pictures.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
A Son...
Greetings!
Just a quick writtne post to proudly announce the safe and healthy arrival of our new son - Jackson Graham Charles born on 19th May 2008 at 6:05am in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The boy was a healthy 8lbs 10ozs and both him and his Mum are doing very well. I brought them all home this afternoon and so now life begins a new chapter for the Charles household. How exciting!!!
More to come soon I hope! I am in the middle of end of year exams which are almost over. Then I might have some time to update things properly!
Blessings
Just a quick writtne post to proudly announce the safe and healthy arrival of our new son - Jackson Graham Charles born on 19th May 2008 at 6:05am in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The boy was a healthy 8lbs 10ozs and both him and his Mum are doing very well. I brought them all home this afternoon and so now life begins a new chapter for the Charles household. How exciting!!!
More to come soon I hope! I am in the middle of end of year exams which are almost over. Then I might have some time to update things properly!
Blessings
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)