Puddingdale, Christmas Dear It seems only yesterday that we were typing our last Christmas Epistle, but so much has happened since we wrote, we can scarcely believe it was only twelve months ago!!! So, how's life in our neck of the woods? Rodney, last seen on the end of a ladder looking at the church roof after the gales, has been much occupied with church repairs. The damage was even worse than we feared, and in the end - would you believe? - the whole chancel needed rebuilding, and this took most of January and February, not the best season for working twenty metres above ground in the open air - and we can assure you, it doesn't come any opener than here!!! Rodney hadn't done much in the building line before, and when it came to lead roofs and stained glass he was a complete novice, but, nothing daunted, and with the aid of the Reader's Digest book of Home Improvements, and some very long telephone calls to the D.A.C., he got stuck in, and the result, dare we say it, is actually an improvement!!! We had a few teething troubles with the rose window, but they were soon ironed out, and high praise and hearty thanks were heard on all sides. Since that episode Rodney has been much in demand around the diocese to give advice, and he sometimes talks of going in for restoration work full time!!! Seriously though, we could think of nothing much else until Easter, and of course it was "all hands to the pump!" Even Benji used to trot out bringing Dad's elevenses!! Rodney's artificial leg was a bit of a nuisance, but he managed somehow!! The rest of the year for Rodney was mostly taken up with the Bishop's Initiative on Evangelism, of which Rodney, for his sins, was Director. This necessitated a lot of travel, and we dread to think what mileage our old banger has done (see penultimate paragraph!!!) though, as Rodney jokingly says, he would probably have seen just as many people by staying at home, as our doorbell never seems to be silent!!! The Lord has used us to bring comfort and healing to so many!!! People have said some very kind things about the way BIE has been run, and the response in terms of commitment is encouraging, we must admit. In fact - yes, you've guessed it! - most of the members of our own parish are now trained evangelists!! Of course, as Rodney says, whatever else he does, the most important work is done "on his knees"!! And how about the others? we hear you ask! Well, Kate is now with the Transcaucasian Mission, and we have just heard she is engaged to Sam, the other doctor in her team. (Please, Kate, not more than 6 bridesmaids, pleads Mum! tho' Kirsty says she'll help with The Dress!!!) Of course, we are just trusting in the Lord that Kate and Sam will get some furlough. Otherwise the wedding will be "out there", and they may even have to spend their honeymoon "on the job"!!! Roddy, or "Little Rodney" (though he's now 212 cm, in his socks, and burly with it! and quite dishy!! Though we say it ourselves!!) is loving Oxford life and is the real all-rounder of the family, On vacations, when he's not botanising in the Himalayas, he helps out at the local Sunset Home - can just see why those grannies dote on him!! Kirsty (who is turning out to be quite a beauty, by the way!!!) lives for her music. She was selected from all the schoolchildren in the County to play a sousaphone solo in the Cathedral for the Royal Visit. Benji is the same merry little chap, winning all hearts! Still has "learning difficulties", but teaches us all so much!! And he is wonderful with Rodney's "gentlemen of the road" (who been such an enrichment of our lives since we "opened our door" to them!!!). We are so thankful that something of "what it's all about" has "rubbed off" on all our children!! Makes us feel we have been truly guided somewhere along the line.!!! In February we had an increase!! Dickon weighed in at 6.05 Kg and has certainly made his presence felt!! And in late October Fenella arrived!! (!! A bit of a surprise!! Jan was demonstrating Liturgical Dance to our Women's Fellowship when she felt the first contractions!! - she produced at home this time!!!), But Fenella is so adorable and so easy, we can't imagine what life was like without her!! (Jan's attendance at the November Synod went by the board, we must admit!!!) We did wonder whether to go ahead with the adoption of the Timorese twins next spring, but after much prayer we knew it was right for us, and let it stand, so that is an adventure to look forward to!!! Tripod excelled herself last autumn and produced 11 adorable kittens. Jason (he of the Golden Fleece!!) is as boisterous as ever (N.B. and the same age as Kate!!!) and a great help to Rodney pastorally when it comes to icebreaking. As Rodney says, you can't be standoffish when two hairy feet are planted on your chest and a big pink tongue (Jason's!!!) is licking your face!! It's been quite a busy year for Jan too!! The Archdeacon persuaded her to continue her Liturgy Workshops, and she's had so many takers that she's started Workshops in three more centres. Once a month all the groups come together for a residential weekend at the Vicarage so, as you can imagine, life is somewhat hectic!!! One of these had to be cancelled when we took in several local families who were flooded out after the storms - never a dull moment!!! Still, somehow we muddle through!!! Jan's venture into Car Maintenance Classes seems to have paid off, as she now services the aforesaid banger herself. She also presses on with her Upholstery - even her tutor admits that the work she and Benji did on the Bishop's chair is not too disastrous!! Well, we seem to have run out of space!!! Next time I write we shall be in our new house - PRAISE THE LORD!! May you be as richly blessed with peace and joy in your work for Him in the coming year as we have always been. With our best love, Jan and Rodney Seems ages since we heard!! Would be super to have your news!! J.
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