Hannah's missing two front teeth

Well the picture speaks for itself! Hannah has now lost both her front teeth in the space of two days. The tooth fairy, namely "Trixibell," has been very busy and Hannah has some new found wealth. It is so cute to hear Hannah speaking as she tries to make an "S" sound!

It has been good these past couple of days to unwind and not be running out the door to various appointments and classes. It's been snowing quite a bit and there is still snow in our back garden. Fenella has one more day to work tomorrow and then she has the whole of next week off too.

Last night I went up to the church building with John Campbell to play some Table Tennis for a couple of hours. It was so good! I thought it was going to be easy after going 2-0 up, but then John came back and we ended up at 3-3. I can just about live with that. Sitting writing this makes me miss George, my brother. Two summers ago when we went over to the States I got to play a lot of Table Tennis with George - good times!

Well catch up later - God bless!

A Proud Father

Today was beautiful! It was Amy's school Prize giving this afternoon. Amy was awarded 3 prizes!!! Two of them were music related - The Kirkwood Scholarship, this is the second year she has won this prize, The music Performance Award and The Lyons Shield which is awarded to the pupil who has contributed most to the well being of the school. We are so proud of Amy and what she has achieved this school year. At the prize giving both Amy and Beth were involved in various performances. Beth played her oboe in the school orchestra and sang in the choir. Amy also played the clarinet and sang in the choir, but also had a solo singing "Can't stop lovin' dat man." Even with a sore throat she was outstanding. She told me I could upload her performance so feel free to watch her - note the fact she has no shoes on, she has started this thing of kicking off her shoes before she sings, she says it makes her feel more comfortable and relaxed.

Well tonight I had class with the older boys and the later the mixed class with the girls - it all was great and a fitting last class for the Easter break. I get a break now from my school's and the classes until the schools go back in 2 weeks. I can now start to work on some lessons for the young adults weekend coming up in April.

That's all for tonight - take care!

AMY!

Had a brilliant last few days. Saturday morning we went through to hear Beth playing in the North Aberdeenshire Orchestra in Fraserburgh - she was fab! Music is very much part of her life and she is really enjoying playing her oboe. We had Billy Cheyne drop in for a visit. Good to catch up with him and share some bacon sandwiches!! He has a kind heart and came through to fix a faulty lighting transformer - thanks pal! Fenella has been struggling with her back over the weekend and in now just starting to feel some relief.

Had a good time on Sunday evening! The Aberdeen church came through to use our baptistery. Peter and Stacy, a lovely young couple with 2 children, became followers of Christ! It was a good night and it was especially good to spend some time with friends we don't get to see that often. John Anthony, Kristen and Brennan Renwick, Nathan, Stacey and Kellan Hogue, Epoc, Ian Starrs to name but a few. The fellowship was good!

Monday I had 3 schools - Crimond in the morning for assembly, Dales Park at Lunch time and back to Crimond for football in the afternoon. At the assembly it was really neat because it is coming up to Easter and I got to talk about the importance of Jesus and His Resurrection! I started with telling the story from the "Most" movie and got the kids hooked on the fact that God had to let Jesus die in order for all of us to be saved, but that God couldn't wait for the moment when He would raise Jesus from the dead. The kids really were engrossed and many hearts were touched. Over at DP school it was the P1-4's and we had fun playing living table football. It was so much fun and they all loved the time together. Back at Crimond and football was excellent! The group were great and I had nothing to worry about and everything to be happy about.

On Monday night we had the last class before the kids break for Easter holidays. We had 4 new kids come which is fantastic - three from Clerkhill school and one from Central. Everybody was in a great mood and the class was no effort at all. We had our prayer time early and then played some team games. The high point of the class was the Awards presentation. There were the most awards handed out tonight ever!! Bible points went to Holly Strachan, Lewis Emslie and Leah Ramsay - MVP Bronze went to Darcy, Lucy, Dylan, Aalannah, Lexie, Paul and Claire - MVP Silver went to Hannah, Kimberly and Andrew - MVP Gold went to Holly, Leah and Lewis. I had some chocolate Plaques from "Thornton's" made with the winners name pipped in white icing for the Task Award. There were 13 winners and the prize was a huge hit with everyone! It was the perfect class to finish up the term with and so much to be encouraged about leading into the new term in 2 weeks time.

Today I had 3 schools again. In the morning I had 2 assemblies at DP school one for the P 1-4's and another for the P5-7's. Both assemblies went well, but I must say the older one had the most impact. With the young children I talked about Easter being a time for new life with the flowers and the baby lambs and the animals coming out of hibernation and talked about God being the one who gives life. We talked about Jesus and God raising Him, but not to deeply. However with the older kids I told the "Most" story again and got the kids deeply into the choice God had to make and had a great time working the kids through the importance of Why Jesus had to die and why the Father had to let Him die. I have no doubt, as with Crimond yesterday, that many kids hearts were touched. After finishing up at DP I was off to Central to have some fun with the P1's. There was a group of 14 today, which is pretty much the whole class! The kids really know me now and they look forward to Tuesday lunch times for our sessions. It was Kate's birthday today and she was so excited and couldn't wait for her party tonight.

Well, I have saved the best news till last - Amy got in to the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS) and will be training through the summer and doing some concerts with the Choir!!! We are very proud of Amy and know she is going to love every minute of her time at NYCOS.

Take care!

Fixing Holes!

I had a couple of encouraging phone calls these past two days, one with Jerry Bowling who will be leading our campaign in May and the other with Paddy O' Sullivan from Dundee. After talking with Jerry about campaign I am truly excited and can't wait for May to come I believe the community will be influenced by much good over the 3 weeks they work among us. Paddy and I talked about the young adults weekend coming up in April and about the focus of the weekends classes. I am so glad to be a part of that gathering and am looking forward to putting three lessons together about living a connected life.

I have had plenty of contact with the schools as ever having both Dales Park and Central appointments and the big picture continues to be bright! the kids are responding well to the sessions and the head teachers are delighted with the results - so it's all good. This afternoon the girls from Central school were all talking about the classes we have at church and three girls who have never been before commented that they would like to come along and also Laura Swanston who was a former Central girl told me she was coming with her niece on Monday night - so more to look forward too!

This morning I was doing some damage repairs at the building. A couple of weeks ago one of the older boys knocked a good sized hole in on of the youth hall walls, so I spent part of this morning cutting out the bad piece and repairing the damage. We will need to strengthen the walls a bit soon.

This afternoon I managed to squeeze an hour with my dad for coffee. It was good to talk. I'm really glad his Wednesday night class has been successful in bringing about some discussion amongst the adult members in the congregation and we are convinced this has been a huge step in the right direction.

Shouldn't be too long before Fenella's home from work. We'll catch up for a wee while before i have to go to older boys class at 6.00.

God Bless!

Hunkie Dorie!

The weekend has come and gone! Saturday was nice, we took Holly and Hannah to their swimming lessons in the morning and then dropped them of at their friends house for a birthday party. Amy was working all day - so that left Beth to tag along with Fenella and I for the day. We did some shopping down town and had lunch in Simpson's. It was nice and peaceful just the three of us!

I was presiding at the Table on Sunday morning and enjoyed the prep time focusing on the supper. In bible class before worship I talked with the teens about the importance of the "Table" as a place of thankfulness and remembrance. In the afternoon I had our men's leadership meeting. Got everyone updated on campaign preparations and everyone is anticipating a good campaign.

Monday was filled with Dales Park working with the P1-3's and Crimond soccer coaching. DP school is getting to be far more relational now - when I walk in now everybody knows me and the staff smile and talk rather than look and wonder who I am. The children all know me now and they are all at lunch when I arrive to get set up, so it is a fine time to go round talking to the kids and just finding out how they are doing. Ellis wasn't doing to great - she couldn't go to ball games because of a sore head. At Crimond we had a really good session. We had to have the practice indoors, but it was good to play some indoor soccer for a change. The P7's were just back from a trip to the academy and were full of story's about what they were up to there. It was an orientation day in prep for them moving up in August. They have asked me to be involved in an inter school challenge and manage their school team for it. It will be good to have my assistant here to help again, Jenny, who was part of it last year when she was over.

In the evening we had class at the building. There was a really good atmosphere tonight. After class was over I felt very calm, which is not normal after getting all 28 kids out to their various cars and then drop off the rest. I think the general behaviour and noise levels are really improving. During the test tonight there was pretty much quiet all the way through which was for over 20 minutes! This is really encouraging as anyone working with community kids will relate. Another piece of brilliant news is that Lewis Emslie has made his mind up to go to camp!! Lewis is a great kid and it makes us so happy knowing he will be there this year. He has three friends, Adam, Shakeel and Andrew who are all going too. They are going to have the best time! Had a great team tonight with Angie, Maureen Keeble and 4 teens.

Things are going well and got Burnhaven School into the campaign schedule so things are just "hunkie Dorie!" God Bless!

Time is Flying!

These last days have been so fast. I am amazed how quick Thursdays seem to come round and can't believe another week has gone! On Wednesday I had a relaxing morning and was able to make it to Simpson's with Fenella. In the afternoon I had Dales Park School and ball games with the P5-7's. We had a brilliant session and the list of kids taking part continues to grow each week. I am so thankful for the opportunities at DP school.

At church we had a good time with the kids we had 2 new kids come tonight which is always nice. Fenella and Angie sorted out chicken burgers for the supper and the kids loved them. We had a good time just before going to classes the singing was great with Andrew Main, Lewis Emslie and Jake Crawford leading some of the songs. The "Bible Quick Draw" was as popular as ever. Hannah won the under 10's round, Julia the up to teens and Megan the teens. We got a nice surprise to see Billy Cheyne walk in tonight! It's always good to see him. After classes he came back to the house and visited for a while - he's a good guy! In class tonight we looked at Peter and his qualities as a disciple. Didn't quite get to where we needed and so will continue with Peter next week.

Thursday saw two more schools get on board for campaign - things are really starting to take shape now. Just waiting to hear back for one school now and that will be all 8 schools involved in our campaign - that's over 2,200 children!!! I also got an outing booked to the bowling alley in Fraserburgh for during the campaign. It will be open for Adults and teens and will hopefully get everyone together to get to know the campaign group better.

The older boys class tonight was fantastic! We didn't have as much as normal and maybe that made for a more intimate setting than usual. Rangers, one of the big Scottish soccer teams were playing in the European cup and many of the boys wanted to watch their team - they beat a German side 2-0 which is brilliant! Anyway, the lesson I stole from my Sunday night gospel, and challenged to boys to think about the Egyptians and their commitment to preparing for the afterlife. It went really well and I am confident that the lessons are getting through - I pray God is working on their hearts! When the girls arrived at 8 it was good to see so many come. Beth had invited her friends and 4 of them came - Lauren for the first time. We had 14 guys and 10 girls. The night was good and made better by the noise of the Buchan Ice Cream van outside the building.

Beth has been highly praised by her music tutor and has been told she needs a new oboe because her old one is not good enough any more, which is fantastic, but when she told us that the oboe she needed cost £1,600 we about fell away! Later that night Mrs Green, Beth's teacher called and gave us some extremely welcome news that the music council was going to fund £1,200 to purchase a used oboe for Beth! What a relief that was!!! Beth has also been invited to a week long residential "select" music retreat. We are thrilled for Beth.

Well, today Fenella and I will get to spend the afternoon with Amy and I will have more news about that tomorrow, we are really excited!
Both Amy and Beth are hugely gifted in the field of music - I often wonder where it all comes from. I must have hidden talent that has not been taped into yet in the musical sphere. Although, I suppose it could have something to do with Fenella too!

Anyway, more to follow - take care!

On the Campaign Trail

It has been a tough last couple of days. Getting ready for preaching both meetings on Sunday took it's toll. I am happy looking back that the congregation were blessed and challenged. It was so nice to get back to the house and change out of the suit and tie and unwind.

Monday was a full day! Had Crimond assembly in the morning and then Dales Park lunchtime club and back out to Crimond for football coaching in the afternoon. The greatest part of the day was talking about the Harding campaign group coming in May. I got three schools booked up to have the group - Central, Dales Park and Crimond. The really cool thing this year is the prep being done by the group who are working on specific programs for P1-4's and also for the P5-7's. This has allowed me to get the schools to agree to a slot of 90 minutes. 35 minutes with the P1-4's then a 20 minute session with the full student body and finishing up with a 35 minute slot with the P5-7's. I am very excited about this opportunity!

Today I got another two schools on board - Meethill who have agreed to the 90 minute program and also Anna Ritchie, which is the special needs school I work closely with. The 90 minute program would not work in Anna Ritchie so we will do a 45 minute full school assembly and then get to visit with the kids in their classes for a wee while. I have two more schools to get in touch with tomorrow and that will be the ground work started for the campaign starting in May.
Last night we had our class at the building for primary school kids and had a good class. It was encouraging that out of the 28 who were there 20 had done their task at home, which was to help cleaning up after supper. Tonight's lesson was Jesus being tempted by Satan, which was enthusiastically received. We only have two more weeks till MVP awards and next week will be their last test which makes up quite a bit of their points. We played some team games and had our prayer before refreshments. We had 5 teens as well as the adult help from Angie and Angela Stephen.

Today I was at Dales Park for two assemblies first thing. Had a good time and I am getting to know the children well now as a result of the lunchtime and after school clubs and it is having a good impact during assembly times. It was off to Central next for the P1's ball games at lunch-time. We had some fun with a huge beach ball. This afternoon I visited with other schools, getting them on board for taking the campaign group in May.

Looking forward to tomorrow - should have some time to take it a bit easier and of course there's our appointment with Simpson's tea room!
Good night!