Family Fortunes February Update

So it’s all well and good blogging on this, that and the other – but how am I?  How’s the family?  What’s going on?

Good questions, good questions.  Almost like Bruce’s ‘Good game, good game’.  Well it’s not news now … well not to me anyway … but we have been in Little Hulton for almost two months now.  Moving, as I’ve noted on one or two occasions, can be a traumatic process and it’s one thing to leave your home, it’s another thing to leave your job, but to do both at the same time as well as leave your church and leave the city to move to parts unknown relatively can increase that trauma many times over.

The children have been alright, to be fair.  There’s an argument to say because they are young they can deal with these things better than adults.  They’ve both started their new school and Abigail in particular has just dived into affairs as if it’s a regular thing for her.  She has not been phased by the change of scenery and remains ebullient, energetic, engaging and enigmatic when she needs to be.  She is a bundle of joy, though, and that’s a great thing.

Deborah, I reckon, has taken the move a bit harder though.  As a five year old she’s more aware of what she’s leaving behind and although she has not gone berserk or anti-social, she’s still getting used to new things.  She’s also gaining in confidence in terms of her vocabulary and is more than on course to be a public speaker in no time!

Authrine, as I’ve hinted earlier, is in the family way and is scheduled to deliver in the month of April.  For the pregnancies of Abigail and Debroah she suffered from a greatly immobilising condition.  This pregnancy has seen her suffer more than any of the other two and so she’s virtually bed-ridden.  She has not taken this to heart and ever the resolute, creative soul that she is, she has refused to stay isolated despite moving in an area that is strange to us.  She’s surrounded herself with whatever people she knows for that emotional support she needs during these tough times.  She’s not down and in fact the season is a good opportunity for her to explore avenues that she may not have been able to.

We’re still exploring what Christian communities are available for us to plug into and learning some lessons from previous experiences it is so much more important to ensure the things we connect with are in line with scripture’s definition of what it is to do life together.  We’ve not been bereft of Christian support though with a number of good friends helping out physically over the phone and the medium of the email.

This step definitely brings us closer to God and a desire to do what’s pleasing to Him and recognise the struggles and barriers we often put up to that end.  It’s a tough season with a lot of challenges we face, but God remains ever faithful and ever true.  In the midst of the challenges and thoughts, He opens our eyes to just what opportunities there is to enjoy in this season – finding plenty in a time of lack, feasting in a time of fasting and celebrating community whilst living in solitude.  It’s amazing how He does it, and He does it well.  Our family still eats, has a roof over its head, has something to drink and we have much for which to thank God.

Earlier entries have indicated where some of the next steps are for me individually and I’ve hinted at the importance of stable Christian community for us to grow in the right area.  Other than that the focus is on the mother-to-be and supporting her as much as possible and using that to firm up the family ties in preparation of the third addition to the Dryden family.  If you’re interested in seeing more photos of the family especially some quality photo albums seeing how the girls have grown then go on Facebook and look to be a friend of Authrine, who has plenty of photos to keep you going.

Keep us in your prayers.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd