Our Clan of Celtic Offspring: September 2008

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Geoffrey's Deployment

It's official. Geoff is deploying in December to UAE, the United Arab Emirates. He has to report there Christmas Day, so he will probably leave the UK on or around December 21st. The deployment is tasked for 6 months. We will miss him terribly while he is gone (I'm not sure how I will fair, but I know the Lord will be with us).

Here is a site I found with lots of info about UAE:

http://www.emirates.org/about.html

And if you are into Where in the World is Carmen San Diego aka Where in the World is Geoffrey Lorenzo Marrott, here ya go.

Please pray for him and all our troops as well as the troops from other countries fighting for freedom and basic human rights. I recognize there are many against this war, but these troops are out there risking their lives in service of their countries which boils down to each of us. Whether we are for or against this war we should support the troops and pray for them and their families.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Moving Again!

Ok, so now that we are settled, we are moving again. Not countries, merely houses, but it is another move. We are excited and nervous. It will be another transition to get the kids through, but after careful thought and prayer we have decided it is ideal for our family.

The new house is in the small village of Northwold. It has four bdrms (all with closets!), 2 1/2 baths, an office, big kitchen w/separate dining room, fireplace in living rm, 2 car garage, huge HUGE lawn, a gardener and a window washer all included in the rent. The local primary (elementary) school and the nursery school (preschool) share a parking lot and are just at the end of our street. So, the kids may well come back to America with British accents.

We are so excited. This house is going to offer us the experiences we wanted when we first moved here, but were unable to find. Heavenly Father sure is mindful of us and I truly feel that this house is a sign of His hands in our lives. It is an answer to prayer.

November 1st is our big moving day (tentatively)! Which is right before Geoff deploys, but hopefully things will all work out.

Quotes of the Week Vol 3

Ready for this? Warning: You may want to relieve your bladder before reading, giggling uncontrollably is a possible side effect.

1. The kids had a half-day Friday and thus came home to eat lunch. Daeglan did not understand the change in routine and cried all the way home on the bus, telling the bus driver: Take me back. Why are you starving me? I need my lunch!

2. On learning of our new house and another move, Brody was reluctant, mostly about the school change. He said to me: Mom, how can I go to a British school? I'm American, I don't speak English.

3. The other day driving in the car Emeryss gets it in her head we are going the wrong way. She insisted that we were not headed for home. I assured her we were. The following is how our conversation proceeded from there.

Ryss: We are not!

Me: We are too.

Ryss: We are three, we are four, Mom. We are not two, we are not going home!

4. For some reason we got on the topic of babies and Mac wanted to know whose tummy everyone was in. After talking about how I was in Grammie's tummy and Geoff was in Nana's our conversation had this interesting development.

Mac: Mom, was I in your tummy when I was a baby?

Me: Yes, you were in there with Daeglan.

Mac: Then you threw up.

Me: What?

Mac: I was in your tummy and then you threw up?

Me: What?

Mac: You threw up and then there I was, a cute, new baby.

The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth. He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come. He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth. We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world. He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10). Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: “I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4). Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! “For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father— “That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24). We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—“built upon the foundation of … apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts. We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son. © 2000 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. English approval: 12/99. 36299