The problem with blogging is that once you get out of a rhythm of it, there's too much to write and it's difficult to know where to start...
Last time I wrote, I had just finish my 10K charity run for the St Rollox Destitution Fund. Since then, there has been one overarching feature of our summer (aside from rain and grey skies): lots of visitors.
- My sister Tracey spent a couple weeks with us, including a long weekend at the Ecopods in Glenshee.
- The new director of International Teams UK, Erik Fok came to see us and the ministry in Glsagow. I first met Erik during the ILF in Costa Rica. It was great to have him in Glasgow with us to get to know him a bit better outside the frenetic schedule of an international conference.
- Chris and Heather Shepherd were planning to serve in Athens, but their visas were turned down. They then took a 'vision trip' around different ITeams refugee ministries to see where God might be leading them next. We had met Chris and Heather in Switzerland last year, but only briefly. We had a wonderful time with them, hopefully giving them a picture of what ministry in Glasgow is like.
- My mom and dad came for two weeks. Niamh was totally spoilt. We enjoyed a week up at a cottage in St Fillans in the beauty of Perthshire. We even enjoyed a bit of Olympic football, Glasgow being one of the host cities for the tournament group stages.
- Emma's brother and his family took a holiday in Scotland and we were able to spend a weekend with them. Niamh had a brilliant time with her cousins and is still talking about them!
We were also visitors ourselves in Northern Ireland. We spent one week as a family in Bushmills and then another with Emma's mum and step-dad in Belfast. Niamh is still talking about 'nanny Jen and 'nanda Dave and "calls them" by holding the TV remote up to her head!
In addition to all this, during summer we have still been busy keeping the Destitution Support, Friday football and a drop-in running and providing advice and support to those with emergency issues over the summer.
And now, for some summer photos, in no particular order...
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| Granny Jen, Niamh, Benji, and Granda Dave |
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| True excitement is bubbles at Granda and Granny's |
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| Niamh & cousins and Edinburgh Zoo. |
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| Tracey and Nimah enjoy an outing in Kirriemuir -- it's our heredity (no joke) |
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| Mom, Dad, Emma and Niamh at the Auchingarrich view point. |
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| The "Ecopods" in Glenshee. A great way to camp with a toddler. |
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Photo op at Loch Morlich, but Niamh just wants back to her sandcastle.
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| Ahhh, St Fillans. Nice place to spend a week with the parents! |
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| "Peacock, I'm gonna catch you!" |
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| Granda showing Niamh some baby birds. |
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| Niamh, the child who is scared of going down a slide on her own, will happily shove her hand in a sheep's gob. No fear of animals whatsoever. |
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| Niamh and her hilarious cousins. |
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| Day trip with the Davidsons to the Falkirk Wheel. It is really cool, I have to admit. And I was a doubter. |
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| Chris and Heather at Loch Lomond, on a viewpoint along the West Highland Way. |
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| Niamh and her new hero, big cousin Joanna! |
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| Fun in Portstewart. |
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| The girls showing off their football skills on Benone Strand. |
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| Playing seagulls on Benone. |
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First time on the hobby horses (for Emma, Niamh's been on loads of times)
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