Giving Thanks!

Yesterday was an Amazing Thanksgiving here in the UK. Nicole and I met up with about 20 people at Tasha and Carmody's loft where we had a huge Thanksgiving feast. It was great as there were mostly American's (Which are few and far between here in London) and our close friends from New Zealand, Australia, Poland, and South Africa. It was great introducing this tradition to our friends from abroad. We had 2 turkeys, Martha Stewart stuffing, green bean casserole, mash potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, rice stuffing and all of the other fixings. We left about 11:30 PM and poured ourselves into bed after a quick chat with Nicole's family and mom and dad. Tomorrow we have a photoshoot here at the house and then Nicole and I are going on a date to the Rainforest Cafe (Ha!!) and to see the new Harry Potter movie!! For our friends who live in warmer climates (Like Elizabeth in LA, or our family in Mississippi) - we had our first snow yesterday!! Oh - I feel like there is going to be a long hard winter to come - better go get out the long johns. Love to you all and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Brad

Country Getaway:

So, this weekend was crammed with excitement. It started out Friday night in Brixton, in the south of London, at a house-warming party at our friends Martha and Lindsey's new flat. They are friends from church that recently married in Wales.

After a late night, early Saturday morning we decided to trade the stale air and concrete of the city for fresh air and crisp green grass in Huntingdon, just outside of Cambridge, for another weekend with the Paynters. Having just returned, we now realize just how wonderful it is to escape every now and then; though it is only a 45 minute train ride away, it feels miles away! When we arrived, they had prepared the nicest lunch for us, true English style! After a few hours of relaxation, we decided to eat yet again! This time, it was an early Thanksgiving meal for us that Christine had so sweetly made, including a full-on turkey and all the fixin's, finished off with an English Christmas pudding. Delicious turkey meal English style!

This morning, after a lovely brunch, the four of us layered the clothing and went for a 7 mile walk through the country and a few different villages with their dog Jake. How beautiful! It's unbelievable how many thatched roof homes are still around. We couldn't stop taking pictures of them. Brad looked like a giant standing next to them...some of the windows would come up to his chest like little hobbit homes! After the walk, we returned to their home and ate yet another amazing meal before jumping back on the train and coming back to home. It was such a wonderful weekend and much needed break from the city. We love spending time with the Paytners as they feel like family to us. They have truly become our English family! Now, back to reality tomorrow morning...work, work, work.

Platform 9 3/4 - Passage to Hogwarts:

Nicole and I couldn't resist taking our pictures at Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station in London. For those of you who are Harry Potter Fans you will know that this is the platform where you go through the wall to get on the Hogwart's Express. I love how they have incoporated this toursit spot in the station! Nicole and I went to Kings Cross to board a train bound for Bryan and Christine Paynter's house for a restful weekend in the country.

The Industry Party at Umbaba:

This past Friday night we had our Industry Party. Industry is a ministry that we work with at church that specifically reaches out to people in the arts and entertainment industry. We had it at an exclusive African themed night club in London called Umbaba. The theme of the night was "The Circus". To go along with the idea, there were circus performers, sparklers, face painters, giant lollies, and dancing! Nicole was offered a couture outfit to wear for the evening and I was dressed as the other hosts solely for fun!!! It was AMAZING!!! We had around 300 people come between 7:30 and 11:00 and it was a complete success. We will be doing a party like this every month!! Pictured above from left: Fumi (from Africa), Alice (from Czech Republic), & Nicole (America, haha!)

Nicole and Brad

Day With Aunt Daffie:

We are having a great time this weekend with Aunt Daffie. She moved to Paris in August and we are so happy that she is close by. She arrived on Friday afternoon and will be here until Monday. We have had an amazing day with her shopping around town and looking at the great Christmas decorations. Today we went to Covent Garden and Harrods and bought Christmas presents for special family members back home!! It is so great having someone you love so much around!!! We look forward to many more visits to come and our future trips to Paris!!

Brad

Photoshoot:

I may have mentioned that Nicole and I were in a photoshoot with our church about 3 weeks ago. This photoshoot was for a magazine that we are creating in church. Anyway, I thought that our friends and family back home may like to see one of the shots from the day.

Have a great weekend!!

Brad

New Friends:

Sorry for the delay in Blog postings. Nicole and I have been busy running all over London. On Friday afternoon, Nicole had her hair cut by Carmody. He did such a great job, though you may not be able to see it in the picture! Then, last night we had our new friends from church, Tasha and Carmody, over for a Mexican fiesta. Those of you who have been to London know that Mexican food is not their forte'. Why in the heck would you serve refried beans with yoghurt? Anyway... Nicole and I are so thankful that our paths have crossed with them as they are great fun and so cool. We feel like we have known them forever and look forward to many more years of friendship to come.

Brad

Church Life:

This post is just to give you a little run-down of what our typical church week is like. Aside from our normal work routines, we are continuing to plug ourselves deeper into our church which we just love! Hillsong London (www.hillsong.co.uk) has become our home church, where the majority of our friends have been made. What's amazing about our move to London is that our spiritual walk has grown so much, realizing we are only on this earth for one purpose...God (not that we never heard this, but actually living it). I think we were both somewhat concerned what church life would be like here, but it's far better than we could have ever imagined!

We are involved in a Connect Group on Wednesday nights which is an opportunity for us to be social over a meal and discuss the message from the previous Sunday service, all at Tasha and Carmady's flat. There are also several teams to be a part of. Brad is keeping busy on the Communications Team, loving the fact that he can do what he is so great at but for a bigger purpose. He has the opportunity to work on some amazing creative projects with the church, primarily a quarterly magazine called Update. We are both on the Welcome Host Team for the 1:15 service, allowing us to really get plugged in, meet new people, and helping newcomers learn more about the church and plugging them in as well. This church is all about being blessed to be a blessing! One Friday a month we have Hillsong Life...a casual night hanging out at one of the local restaurants/pubs, always great fun! Today, we had an early morning, meeting a group of photographers and creative minds (all from the church) and some other Hillsong people out at Green Park (near Buckingham Palace) for a photo shoot! It was crazy actually being involved in something like that but for church! Basically, the church needed a new gallery of photos to choose from to put into the new magazines, brochures, invitations, etc. So, we were having lots of fun this morning while most of you were just entering your REM sleep!

Well, that's about it for a week in our lives...Staying busy, busy, busy!!

Trip to Cambridge:

Nicole here - Okay, so this posting is a little dated, but we had to add this one to the mix! The third weekend of September, we ventured out to Cambridge (Brad studied a semester there, but it was my first visit) to spend the afternoon strolling the streets, hitting the shops, have a little tea at Aunties Tea Room, and later dinner with Brian and Christine Paytner. They were so kind to open up their home to us and treat us to a home cooked meal..which we do not get often since I'm not too swift in the kitchen! One day I hope! We had such a wonderful time and are so thankful to have them so near by...they are like family to us. So, for my first trip to Cambridge, it was certainly a memorable one and definitely a place we will be returning to often!

Our Surroundings:

These two shots are of the area around our flat complex.

The first image image is from St. John Street looking at our flat building. Ours is the modern green building jutting out over the street. You can see that most of the surroundings are really old and our building is the only new thing around. It is very funky - and we like it. Honestly we are most thankful for our elevator, washer-dryer, and dish washer!!

The second image is from our balcony overlooking the complex courtyard. The old stone streets are from the brewery which was once here. That is why our complex is called Brewhouse Yard.

Digital Hookup:

At last - our digital camera software has been downloaded to the computer. I only asked my IT at work about it 5 weeks ago - that is pretty fast UK time!! Now you may ask - why couldn't he just download the software himself? Well, becasue my company put a software blocker on my laptop and they monitor everything that is downloaded. Oh well - the good news is, more pictures will be showing up daily.

I thought that I would first show some apartment or "flat" pictures since that it what we get asked most. enjoy...

Brad

Bleeker!!

Dad just sent this picture over today! As you can tell - nicole and i love this dog and cannot wait until he is running around our apartment soon!!

This Weekend!

Nicole and I had a great few days this past weekend. We started off by going to Hillsong Life Friday night. We meet with a group of people at Destinos, which is a South American Bar known for their Mojitos, and just catch up on people's lives. Nicole and I are amazed at how many people have come into our life since we have been in London. We meet so many people from all over the world that are so cool! We are very thankful for this.

Saturday morning we went to Fulham to let Carmody cut my hair. Carmody and Tasha (his wife) are our connect (cell) group leaders at church. They are awesome and Nicole and I think the world of them. Carmody was a top stylist at Tony & Guy Hair Salon but has recently quit the business so that he and his wife can start an event planning company. We went to Kris and Kaliegh's (another couple we know) house for Carmody to cut my hair, and we had a great time just chilling out and talking about life and a fun trip that we all want to plan to a cottage in Devon in Late November. Nicole and I then went to eat and to walk along Kings Road in Chelsea to look at Antique and design shops. It was a beautiful day and we talked about how we can't wait to bring our family and friends to this area when they come for a visit. We even did a little Christmas shopping - I know mom, you must be so proud!!

Sunday we met up with Christa and Carissa at Hillsong Church London, where we have made it our home church, and then for brunch afterwards. Christa and Carissa both went to Lee as well, but they were a few years behind us. We met Christa at a wedding in NYC last year, who knew that we would all be living in london a year later! We love that they are here!!!

The weather is wonderful here in London! There are not complaints from Nicole and I. It has been between 65 and 75 for the last 2 months - we love it!! I must run - but I promise to keep this thing updated!

Brad

Bleeker our "Little Monster":

I called mom and dad on Saturday and they were so excited about a Halloween costume that they had bought Bleeker. As you can see by his face - they were much more excited about it than he was. That is okay Bleeker - remember those antlers you loved so much at Christmas! Nicole and I are counting down the days until Bleeker arrives in the UK. Mom and dad have spoiled him for the last 3 months, which we are so thankful for!

Final Night in NYC:

I promised that I would add pictures. (See mom, I don't mind the camera too much!) I thought that I would add a picture of Nicole, Elizabeth, and I are on last night in NYC. Our friends Jeff / Anna, Elizabeth, Matt / Editha, and Christian took us to The Boat Basin on West 79th Street in Riverside Park. We had a great time but it was sad saying goodbye to friends that mean so much!! We love you all!

Brad

First Day Of Blog:

Hello family and friends!! Nicole was too cool and put this blog together so that we can stay in touch with you while we are here in the UK. This will allow each of you to see what our life is like here. We promise to take loads of pictures and keep you updated on all of the cool things that we are doing. So check back every other day to see new things!!!

We love you all!

Brad and Nicole