Post Thanksgiving Celebration...

Sunday, November 25, 2007

So here we are, just a few days after Thanksgiving, and feeling about 10 lbs. heavier! Not really, but we did eat A LOT! Jon and I decided to have our Thanksgiving celebration on Saturday lunchtime because I just didn't think I could cook a huge meal during the week. We had our friends staying with us for the weekend, Dan and Rebekah Jones (which crazy enough Dan is Jon's good friend from England and he married Rebekah who is from California). So needless to say we have a few things in common!

We decided to prepare the food on Friday night and we ended up staying up until about 1am finishing off things. Saturday morning came very quickly as I got up to put the Turkey in the oven and being making the feast! Soon everyone was up and we were all in the kitchen getting things ready. Rebekah made wonderful dishes to go along with the Turkey and Dressing.

In the middle of making the feast, I thought to myself "I am TOO young to be making my own Thanksgiving meal - I have been so used to having it cooked by my MeeMaw and Mom and Aunts, but not by myself!!! After many hours in the kitchen, we are all amazing and proud of our Thanksgiving meal that we all pulled together to create. We began a wonderful tradition and made great memories in celebrating Thanksgiving in England. It will be one that I will never forget.

P.S. We were SO missing being with family in Texas but only a few more weeks and we will be there to celebrate Christmas!!! We can't wait! Love you all and enjoy the photos of our England Thanksgiving Celebration.


Jon was in charge of cleaning and preparing the turkey!


Making MeeMaw's dressing... she would be proud!


Our lovely friends... Dan & Rebekah


Finally sitting down to eat!


We worked long and hard on our Thanksgiving meal!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Love to all!
Jon & Jancie x

It Has Been Awhile...

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Yes I know, once again we have neglected our blog. So we do apologize and hope to be better at keep this updated. I am not even sure if many people read this but I will keep posting to hopefully keep in contact and let you know what is going on in our lives here in England. If you do read it, please leave us a message or email letting us know how you are (especially all of our family and friends in America)!

A LOT has happened since our last post which was in August while the floods were going on! I will try and give a quick run through of all that has happened since then. After the floods came and went Jon and I were able to attend New Wine which is a week long event where we camp out with thousands of other people and go to different Christian seminars and such. It is basically a huge Christian conference but you camp out as well. I will admit that it is very fun - but camping is not my cup of tea!

After New Wine Jon and I were off to Texas to see all of our family and friends! It was such a wonderful time, despite the fact that I had appendicitis and had to have an operation, but overall as I recovered I was able to spend more time with family and see lots of friends. I was very fortunate to see all of my friends from A&M and spend time with Taylor before she gets married! I was also thankful to be with my parents for a bit longer and see more of Millersview and also the new cafe! Here are a few photos of our trip...

Us in Millersview (we can't wait to hunt at Christmas time!)



Meet the fabulous hamburger cook at Scale House Cafe!



Me in hospital with Jon so graciously taking care of me!



All of the girls on our wonderful shopping day in Austin...



Mom and Dad sending me off to England...



Our trip to Texas was amazing, but I was looking forward to being back with my hubby. I was also ready to get back to work and be with Jon because he has started college and is doing a degree in theology at Trinity College in Bristol. He is loving it and we are both doing well and adjusting to this change in our lives of Jon being a full- time student.

Finally, we are very excited because we have already booked our flights to come to Texas for Christmas! We leave on the 19 December so we will fly in and come straight to Killeen for Taylor and Johnny's BIG DAY! We are SO excited for you guys and are just so honored to be apart of the day. We also can't wait to see everyone and are so looking forward to hunting and just spending time with family. Also, we can't wait to see Mom's cafe up and running... we are looking forward to eating lots of good hamburgers!

So we love you all and are looking forward to being in Texas. Also, we want to send our love to the newest member of the family, Bosley Kuker.



We can't wait to see you are we already love you and are praying for you so much! John and Becca - you have done well and we can't wait to see you guys too!

And finally, HAPPY (early) BIRTHDAY to my Aunt Kathy! We love you and hope you have a wonderful year full of many blessings. Can't wait to see you at Christmas.

Email or call us to let us know how you all are doing. We miss everyone and are looking forward to seeing you soon!

Lots of love,
Jon & Jancie x

p.s. I will post more pics soon!

FLOODS FLOODS EVERYWHERE!

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

It has been too long since we have last updated this blog. Not a whole lot has happened other than huge floods that have gone on in the county of Gloucestershire (which is where we live). On Friday, 20th July we had a huge downpour of rain in Cheltenham and shortly after tons of homes were flooded and the whole town was without water and some without electricity. Everyone was in a PANIC! Jon and I decided to do a few sensible things (we thought) after work on Friday like: get money out of the cash point, go get bread, milk, and other food, some baby wipes (which we had to use since we were without water) and bottled water. Well, we weren't the only ones with the same idea! Every store was sold out of bottled water, bread, milk, EVERYTHING! It was crazy!!! People were fighting over food and water in the stores - everyone was just going mad! I will have to admit that I was a bit nervous and could start to panic, but praise the Lord for my husband who is so relaxed and just doesn't worry! He was just laughing at how crazy some people were being... and I will say after looking back and now having the water back on, it was pretty hilarious!

So, after about a week and a half we now have the water turned back on, but it is still not good to drink or cook with. I do wonder if that means it is ok to bath in, but oh well... I just couldn't do with not being able to shower anymore. I will say that the worst thing about this whole situation was not being able to flush the toilet. Jon and I filled up our bath and used that water to flush but once that was out, we just had to start lighting candles! I won't go further into depth with that, but out of everything I just couldn't do with not being able to flush! When the water came back on this past Monday, I flushed the toilet and said, "that sound is music to my ears!"

So anyway, enough of the floods... but I will try and post some pictures later for you to see. If you would please pray for the people that have had flood damage on their homes - it was sad in some places. Jon and I were very thankful to be 3 floors up and not affected at all.

On to another subject - we SO missed the Doran Family Reunion this past weekend. Jon and I talked about all weekend how we missed everyone and would have loved to have been there. We talked about the hanging out in Cowboy Lodge eating good food, floating the river, playing games at the arcade, and the most importantly, hanging out with the fam! We love you all and are NOT going to miss next year!

Jon and I will be busy this whole month of August - well, not really busy but we will be away most of the time so I am not sure when I will next post something. But please check back because I will post some updates on our trip to New Wine and then our much awaited trip to TEXAS!!!

Please pray for us if you would for protection as we travel, and for me to be able to do well with camping at New Wine for a week!!! (just kidding) Love to you all! x

Tribute to the Thomas Fam!

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

As many of you might know, my cousins, Jill, Heath, Harrison, and Isabelle, have been living in England for the past 4 years up until this past Monday. Heath has been getting his PhD here in Cheltenham and when they were expecting Isabelle I decided to come over for the summer to help take care of her. Little did we all know that God had a much bigger plan! I met Jon soon after and needless to say I didn't do much "helping with the kids" like we all had thought (sorry Jill & Heath)!!!

Now 2 years later Jon and I are married and the Thomas Fam was living near us. What a dream for me to have them so close! You guys have been there from the start with us and have given us great advice and loved us throughout this time in our lives of being newly married. We look up to you guys and no words could ever express the love that we have for all of you. Your kids are basically ours, so I hope you don't mind sharing them!!!

Thank you Jill for always being such a Godly role model for me - Heath, thank you for your fatherly advice and love... as Jon and I watch you guys raise your children we hope and pray one day to reflect the love and joy of the Lord like you guys do with your family.

I won't write too much more because I get weepy as I type this but WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SO SO SO MUCH! No distance could ever keep us apart... we will be visiting often! Love you guys and you are always in our thoughts and prayers. Harra and Belle - keep the accents and remember we will always be Non and Nance!

Here are just a few pics of the wonderful times had w/the Thomas Fam...

After Isabelle's dedication...


Cute couple...


Me & Jilly...


The boys...


My fav from the wedding...


WE LOVE YOU - enjoy your new and wonderful adventure in North Carolina!!!