Abi Birthday

As it’s so close to the time I still remember the events leading up to the birth of my second child and Authrine’s third child. As with Deborah the second birth did not arrive on time. The circumstances were different in the sense that the tension, drama and trauma around the first were not so pronounced in the second.

As night fell on Sunday 28th May 2006 I went to sleep not expecting a disturbance, but low and behold after 1am the wife woke me up insisting she was having the pains more regularly. Thankfully our friend Hughie was awake and ready to come to our aid, so eventually we made it in the hospital for minutes to 3 in the morning. There it was not a long protracted process at all. Indeed it was at 3:29am on Monday 29th May 2006 that Abigail Elizabeth Danielle Dryden made her appearance on planet earth.

Abigail was immediately different to her older sister in being very light in skin tone. This was the source of much merriment among the extended family especially our church family who would have launched enquiries as to the legitimate father of the child. Praise be to God, however, there were distinctive features that could have only come from the Dryden side of the equation.

Since her birth I’ve found Abigail’s development fascinating. It’s not unusual to see her mimicking her sister and others around her. She already wants to help with chores around the house and of course is investigating what’s going on around the house and creating chaos as well as helping in the clean up process. She’s quite something else is Abigail.

I love her smile and her giggle and laugh and making her laugh is harder than making her mother laugh so it’s always an achievement when my efforts hit home! She is a beautiful baby and I often chuckle at the fact that she’s of all people the daughter of Christopher Dryden! No she’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but she is such a blessing to my life that I’m grateful to know her and have the privilege and honour of being her father.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Return of Family Fortunes

It’s approaching 21:00 as I start typing this entry. I’m at home watching the friendly England vs. USA and it’s not a great match, but then you gotta say what is expected from an end of season game with the majority of the 11 from the Chelsea and Manchester United side that played in the Champions League.

I like the looks of Jermaine Defoe and I’d actually give him a chance to play more often. I hope next season he really does it for Portsmouth in Europe and in the Premier League. Rooney also looks the business; it’s just a pity that the team system will never make the most out of him because it will always compromise team balance. I’m up for being proven wrong on that one though. The midfield looks unimaginative though – Lampard, Gerrard, Hargreaves and Beckham. Where’s the width? Where’s the pace? Three central midfielders and a player on his last legs playing in a second rate league across the pond. Wow is that really the best England can do? I won’t put any money on them wining much with that line up.

Anyway, what to blog about? Well it’s been a long time since I’ve blogged a personal blog as it were which has more to do with me than spiritual things that I’m contemplating. It’s a good time to blog as tomorrow, should God spare our lives, we’ll celebrate Abigail’s 2nd birthday. I hope to do an entry especially on her tomorrow. In the meantime things are fairly well in the Dryden household.

The wife hasn’t been too well of late. She was hospitalised at the start of the month with breathing difficulties and she’s really not taken the hint to slow down. She is by nature a battler with a servant heart and so as long as there is the function and capacity to breathe she will be up and doing something to help someone somewhere. By God’s grace then she is what she is and is doing what she’s doing and God is blessing what’s going on in her life in amazing ways.

It is a blessing and an honour to inform you that Authrine’s firstborn Kevaughn got baptised recently, which for us is a big deal as it suggests publicly that Kev is at least interested in following Christ, which in essence to me is the only thing in life worth pursuing. Deborah has really come into her own in terms of developing her character and personal style. Yeah I think she’s a bit of a daddy’s girl, but thankfully because I’m reclusively minded she’s getting her mum’s habits of socialising, being bubbly and making her voice known wherever she can, it’s a delight to see her develop and show what a beautiful girl she is. So that’s the state of the family.

There’s so much more I could say about me own state of mind, but the wife calls, so I’ll look at updating what’s going on there when another precious window of opportunity opens. Remember the Dryden family in your prayers, it’s not a straightforward thing doing family and all that jazz, but God’s grace remains ever sufficient for me to be grateful for what I have.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

About Yesterday's Phrase - What No Image?

I wanted to post an image on yesterday’s blog entry but the blogger was playing silly … bloggers (?) That won’t translate well unless people are aware of the silly beggars bit. In any case, so I posted something without an image – shock of all shocks. Well to amend that I’ve surely got a suitable image from the wonderful weekend with friends and on the understanding that eventually I’ll do a Bubble Share type photo album of the event eventually, then wait for that with eager anticipation. For the benefit of the exercise from left to right - Charles, Katie and Lloyd LIVE in the Black Country Living Museum.

Still too busy though

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd