here is the newsletter I emailed out last night, I hope that you didn't have to many trouble with it. I'll attach the photos later.... Naomi
The BIRD’S NEST
Greetings to our friends and family.
We pray that this newsletter finds you all well. We thought that we would fill you in on the happenings in the “Birds Nest”. We have been blessed with a wonderful year first full year in Scotland thought we have now been here 18mths. God has been faithful and ever present. We have had our ups and downs but the up far outweigh the downs. We have been involved in Dingwall Baptist Church, even though they are without a pastor we have felt at home and I have formed some wonderful friendships. Check out their web page and you may catch a glimpse of one of us in the photo gallery (www.dbc.org.uk)
We have done some great trip this past year. We have been from Lands End (most southern tip) to John a Groats (most northern tip) in the summer when Naomi’s family where visiting from Australia. We spent time in London with Naomi’s Aunty and Cornwall looking at the Lanyon Family Heritage. We have driven around the top of Scotland, an amazing trip many unspoilt spots but the roads can be a little hairy, Not in a great hurry to do this trip again soon – it took 14hr to go around the top. Visited Dundee and St Andrew in October and look forward to exploring a little more later this year, St Andrew is just amazing. A few day down in the Durham Area (December), this is where the above photo was taken. Another place we wish to visit again.
We moved into a bigger house in March 2006 (bottom) hoping that we would be here long term but our landlord up the rent making it hard to stay. So come March 2007 we will move to Marybourgh only 2 miles away from Dingwall, Into a smaller 3 bedroom terrace. We feel blessed to have been in this bigger house when Naomi’s family visited but staying would make it very hard to save for our own home and trips to Oz and Europe. We’ll keep you up to date with contact details when we move.
Here is al little about each of us.
Michael, Has had a busy year with work, conferences and writing books. Having attended approx 10 conferences (I’ve lost count) from Aberdeen to Sheffield to Budapest to Washington DC – he’s been every where. This has given him a chance to network with others in his field and make some great friendships. In his Second academic year he has taken on a full teaching load doing 4 subjects, NT Intro, Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Exploring the other Faiths as well as being the BA coordinator. He was very relieved and happy about having 2 of his books released in the last couple of months. He is hoping for another book this year and 2-3 books next year. It is a real blessing to see him doing something he enjoys and putting to use the 7 yrs of study. And don’t worry about him getting to proud – I keep him well and truly grounded.
Naomi, I have been busy with all the usual mummy stuff. I have been blessed with some growing friendship and the opportunity to get involved with the Church, I am co-leading the toddler group and running a ladies ministry called “Unfinished Project” (we all have those). I have been trying to get some scrapbooking done but time, and fewer recourses make it hard (it isn’t very big in Scotland). Fortnightly I attend a time out session, were I get a chance to do scrap-booking and Monday night have a couple of friends over for craft. I have missed not being in a bible study group this year, but you never know what the New Year will bring. After the stress of the move and everything I have been working hard to lose the baby weight and the lets move country weight, so far I have lost 2stone (12kg) and Hope to have lost another stone before my trip to Australia. I feel so much more confident and happy within myself for the change.
Alexis, is nearly 7 and is just growing so fast. Being a big P2 (Gr2) girl, it has been amazing how much she is being independent and learning to read. She read a scripture passage in Church a couple of months back and did a wonderful job. With a creative mind she could make a castle from a couple of sheets of paper and sticky tape. This year has seen her lose 7 baby teeth and grow 6 adult teeth. After being on the waiting list for swimming lesson for 12 mths she is now doing swimming weekly and loving the chance to shed several layer of clothes. She is a real thinker like her daddy and coming out with some weird and wonderful thoughts.
Alyssa, is about to turn two. I can hardly believe that we have had this little bundle of joy for that long. She is a constant source of joy and laughter, but also a right little monster when she wants to be. A couple of weeks ago she scared me to death twice in 2 days. Firstly we found out that she can open the front door, she was half way down the street when I finally caught up. And the next day she takes off from the front off the church –which is on a main road- catching her only inches from the curb. She is a joy most of the time but know how to push my buttons. Her favourite things are little cups and spoons, Hi-5, Wiggles, and jumping on the bed, almost forget that she just loves food, but not the stuff that mummy puts in front of her for dinner. We look forward to seeing how much she grows and changes this year.
I hope that fills you in our goings on. We look forward to catching up with everyone when we come home for holidays mid year. I thank all of you who have been keeping in contact with us regularly, it has been wonderful to see what you have all been up to and see photos of all your little ones.
For more photos and updates about us you can see my blog at
www.naomibird.blogspot.com I try and update it weekly but it doesn’t always happen and for those of you who are interested to read Michael’s thoughts and happenings on his blog address is
www.euangelizomai.blogspot.com but I will warn you some it can be very academic.
Blessings to you all and our love to you in Christ our Lord
Michael, Naomi, Alexis and Alyssa Bird
The view from our front door at 8:55am - this morning 19th Dec
Same shot at 9:32am ... yes that's right the sun is just getting up.
And the end result... after 3 kids have been going at it for 30 min
I'm really looking forward to Christmas this year, It should be great fun with Alyssa being that much older. We are spending the day with the Matthew's family... they are studing at HTC. Gaius is one of Alyssa good friends.
On the beach on the east coast of skye
Lovely !!!!
Handsome?????
Lexy and her best friend Rebecca
Michael doing what Michael does best!!!
Alyssa just loves shoes, here she is wearing Rachel's boots
Trying to entertain the kid because of the rain outside
Mike and the Girls Christmas Morning
icicle hanging from the hose
our tree
the frosty white Christmas 
