We welcomed the New Year, with neighbors and friends,
and a beautiful covering of snow;
Weeks later we traded, our truck known as lemon,
for a Land Rover to get to and fro.
Natalie settled in - quite nicely with Ms. Jill,
who teaches at the local preschool;
She painted, sculpted clay, baked sweet lemon cakes,
that surprisingly would make you drool.
While Liam excelled right next door to his sister,
in a school known as Newton Tony Primary;
Reading, Writing and Maths (!) became essential,
along with phrases like “bins, squash and ‘blimey”.
Often we ride (bikes), go for runs, float "boats"
down the river in our quaint little village;
However, one of the prettiest blessings thus far,
are the sunrises and sets over the tillage.
Cindy's busy with bible study, playgroups, and the gym,
as well as being travel agent connoisseur;
She also started singing with the St. Paul’s church band,
*what a blessing*, and something she adores.
Clark tutors the students at Empire TPS,
He flies every day - come rain or sun;
He realized he's got the best job in the Navy,
*shhhh*, don't tell anyone!
April began the start of what became,
An amazing travel season;
First off, was Spain, the beautiful Oviedo,
the amazing countryside of the Northern Region.
However, not an hour had passed did our feet,
hit home soil in the great UK;
That Cindy would get sick and realize later, she had Campylobacter,
food poisoning - NO WAY!
Not one, not two, but three weeks later,
did she began to feel somewhat human;
Just in time to throw a *Circus* Birthday Party,
for her sweet little favorite twosome.
My goodness, your thinking, how much more can there be,
she's now just hit the month of May;
Standby, my friends, there is so much more,
we've only gotten to 120 of 365 days.
If April showers bring May flowers,
then I've seen loads of what the Almighty creates;
By the end of the month we'd been to Venice. Stockholm.
And several enchanting estates.
The summer in England was unusually warm,
High in the 70s with no rain;
Odd for this green grassy land we call 'ours'
where our ancestors, once called this "home terrain".
The month of June was full of firsts,
Liam lost a tooth and had his first campout with friends;
For Clark and Cindy, it was the first time we've known,
the Stonehenge “Summer Solstice” trend. (Brrrr)
The beginning of July, Clark and Cindy had a blast,
At the Boscombe Down Summer Ball;
There were bumper cars, magicians, poker tables, fine china
– it was extravagant, nothing small.
With hearts full of glee, two kids and their Mommy,
boarded a plane back to the great US of A;
Two weeks in Georgia with family and friends,
made the red eye flights worth it - in every way!
Just days after returning to Jolly Ol' England,
Clark had us packed up and ready to go;
Off to Disney Land Paris we went straight away,
a vacation that left "all four kids” aglow.
In September the kids went back to school,
to a place in Salisbury: Chafyn Grove;
We cannot say enough about where our kids learn,
we just count our blessings, in droves.
In October, we were blessed with a visit from friends,
The Howells posted overseas as well;
They came from Italy to tour this land,
we loved showing them where we dwell.
November was a blast, with Clark stepping out
in a new and exciting role;
He played several parts, in our Church’s “Mark Drama”,
giving breathtaking performances to many souls.
We wrapped up the year, just the four of us,
Snuggled 'round our Christmas tree;
Thankful for all the blessings we’ve been given,
Knowing God gave His Son for you and me.
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