Post 128: Woburn Safari Park and Mothering Sunday

What a weekend! We decided that we needed to get out and go do something this weekend if the weather was nice, which thankfully it was. Today however, very windy! Anyway, we went to Woburn Safari Park. It was like a drive through zoo. The kids loved it and we had a GREAT time! We got really close to a lot of the animals this way, the guy behind us - the Rhino got a little too close to his car...he has a nice scratch on his paint job. Rhino was trying to scratch his nose on their car!

Sometimes we had to keep the windows up, like when we drove through the Monkey's - they'll climb in! They climbed all over cars and it was so funny. The kids kept hoping they would jump on ours but they didn't, maybe next time! We got some really great pictures. We rode the paddle boats and went down the super slide. We took a picnic and got some ice cream. It was really great. We spent most the whole day there!

The kids have already decided that we need to take Nana in July when she comes. The keep adding things to the list of places Nana wants to see and the places in which we want to take her. I got a feeling I won't sleep for 2 and 1/2 weeks and I'm going to get one heck of a work out!!! I hope Nana is ready for all that!

Anyway - here are some pictures from our day out. Enjoy!

Sunday - was Mothering Sunday. Here is what I've learned about it:

Mothering Sunday From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Not to be confused with Mother's Day.
Mothering Sunday is a Christian festival celebrated throughout Europe. Secularly it is used as a celebration of motherhood, and is synonymous with Mother's Day as celebrated in other countries; the latter name is also increasingly used.
A religious festival celebrating motherhood has been existent in Europe since approximately 250 BC when the Romans honoured the mother goddess Cybele during mid-March. As the Roman Empire and Europe converted to Christianity, Mothering Sunday celebrations became part of the liturgical calendar as Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent to honour the Virgin Mary and the "mother church"[1].
During the sixteenth century, people returned to their mother church for a service to be held on Laetare Sunday. This was either a large local church, or more often the nearest Cathedral. Anyone who did this was commonly said to have gone "a-mothering", although whether this preceded the term Mothering Sunday is unclear. It was often the only time that whole families could gather together, if prevented by conflicting working hours.
The Epistle for the fourth Sunday in Lent as set out in the Book of Common Prayer gives a special place to the theme of maternal love: Galatians 4:26 states that "Jerusalem which is above is free; which is Mother of us all."
The other names attributed to this festival include Simnel Sunday, Refreshment Sunday and Rose Sunday. Simnel Sunday is named after the practice of baking Simnel cakes to celebrate the reuniting of families during the austerity of Lent. Because there is traditionally a lightening of Lenten vows on this particular Sunday in celebration of the fellowship of family and church, the lesser-used label of Refreshment Sunday is also used, although rarely today.
Rose Sunday is sometimes used as an alternative title for Mothering Sunday as well, as is witnessed by the purple robes of Lent being replaced in some churches by rose-coloured ones. This title refers to the tradition of posies of flowers being collected and distributed at the service originally to all the mothers, but latterly to all women in the congregation.[citation needed] The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, however, asserts that "the Golden Rose, sent by the Popes to Catholic sovereigns, used to be blessed at this time, and for this reason the day was sometimes called 'Dominica de Rosa'."[2][3]
This Sunday was also once known as "the Sunday of the Five Loaves", from the traditional Gospel reading for the day. Prior to the adoption of the modern "common" lectionaries, the Gospel reading for this Sunday in the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Western-Rite Orthodox, and Old Catholic churches was the story of the feeding of the five thousand (for instance, the Anglican Book of Common Prayer stipulates St John's Gospel 6:5-14).
Another tradition associated with Mothering Sunday is the practice of "clipping the church", whereby the congregation form a ring around their church building and, holding hands, embrace it.
For some Church of England churches, it is the only day in Lent when marriages can be celebrated.
In later times, Mothering Sunday became a day when domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mothers and other family members.
Mothering Sunday remains in the calendar of some Canadian Anglican churches, particularly those with strong English connections.

Interesting uh?

Well, we went to Church and I got a card and a bookmark. Then Ashlynn made me a card and bookmark at school as well. It was really sweet. After Church we went out to eat at Pizza Express - I was shocked that both my kids cleared their plates! WOW!!! I was afraid they would say "eww I don't like that pizza". Thank heavens they didn't. That right there made my whole day! It was the best gift I could have gotten. I so hate dealing with "I don't like that" or "I don't like this" or "Eww that sauce taste funny"...you name it there is usually a complaint to go along with it. I love my kids dearly, but cooking for people who do nothing but complain about what you cook - makes me wonder more and more why I even bother. So the simple fact that I did not hear one complaint about the food (even though I didn't cook it) and on top of that, that they ate it all...made my entire day!

After we ate, we browsed a couple little shops and then came on home. Shortly there after Ashlynn and I went to Homebase to purchase some flowers! We spent the rest of the day outside planting flowers in hanging baskets and pots! I even got my face a little sun burnt! Now, it's really starting to feel like spring here. It was so nice to be able to plant some flowers - somewhere! I don't promise that I'm very good at it, but after not being able to plant anything for 3 years - it's nice to be able to once again. Ashlynn has the green thumb in this family...so hopefully - everything will bloom and look lovely. I'll take pictures soon, right now it's windy!

When we finally came in we were tired and so we sat on the couch and watched 2 episodes of House. It's about time to buy Season 2. We are so way behind! :-)

And that was our weekend! I hope you had a wonderful weekend too and were able to enjoy some warmer weather. It seems like this has been the longest winter ever, for everybody.

Well - I'm off, talk to you again soon!

P.S. Hailie's temps are still down! I will let you know when we have more updates! Thank you some much for your continue prayers over her. We are still awaiting test results...but we are thankful that the temps are down and for your prayers!

Post 118

Sunday, we finally returned to Church! Hallelujah! It’s about time uh? We kept thinking we’d find one closer to home…nope. We went to a service at the Church here in the Village and for as unique as it is, we could handle it, but there are no Children’s classes. We want to be somewhere, where our children can learn to. They do have a family service once a month – but I’m not sure how that works.

So we returned to the 1st Church we tried. The one Lydia goes to and had invited us to as well. It is a nice Church, they have classes for the kids and they seem to enjoy it. It’s not Ginghamsburg, but it’s manageable and we are praying to learn more, grow more, and make friends there soon. The Pastor seems very nice and boy can he dance! Yes, he was dancing in Church Sunday. I can’t remember the lyrics to the song, but we were supposed to dance and the Pastor…well he was really into that! He seems very animated and he also likes Mission Impossible – you would have had to be there to understand!

Yesterday, I had lunch with my friend Lydia and since she is moving back to America this summer, I told her to pick a place she would miss. Most of the places I go with Lydia, I’ve never been! So it is always an experience and I learn something new each time. So she chose Emily’s Tea Room.

Now, I wasn’t sure what those were so I never bothered going into one, until yesterday. It was a quiet, cute, very British looking atmosphere and I think everyone in there was American! Of course Lydia had said, “It’s very British, with a lot of American’s in there”. Guess maybe they’re going for the atmosphere and experience, which is why I would go. It was very cozy and very quiet – kinda relaxing really. I’m hoping to take my Mom there – she’d love it, I think.

The British menus are always fun for me, because I have no idea what half of it is. Thank God for Lydia! Anyway, I settled on a turkey sandwich, with a small salad, and parsnip crisps (chips). Now, this is the first time I’ve ever eaten a turkey sandwich with butter on it. They butter both sides of the bread and put the turkey in the middle. It was good though! So were the salad and parsnip crisps.


The funny part was I ordered Lemonade, it was the closest thing to sprite and since I gave up Pepsi for Lent, I’ve been drinking other things. Lydia had asked me if the Lemonade was any good and I told her yes, it was, but it was also different. I should have saved the bottle and taken a picture of it or something! Anyway, I began to look at what was in this Lemonade, when I notice on the bottle “No more than 0.5% alcohol”. Well, that must have been what was “different”. You really have to pay attention to what you order in this country, you never know what you’re going to get!

After that Lydia took me to something called “Banner Club” at the Church. I met a few ladies and they all seemed very nice. What they do at Banner Club is actually make the banners that are hanging inside the Church. A little sewing, ironing, and a lot of cutting I’m thinking. I might go back – it was a nice time.


I also had my first “British” cup of tea with biscuits (cookies). It was very good. I’m not sure how it was made, but I think I’ll have to ask Lydia…because I really did enjoy it. I’ve yet to have Tea with James & Janet…they give me 7 up! J I love them, they’re so awesome.

Last night was Lady’s second class of obedience training. I believe it went well other than my son who could not behave and Lady nearly dragging me across the parking lot! Lady does wonderful here at home. She does wonderful when I walk her here in the Village. I have very little trouble from my sweet friend.

However, at class, there are so many different scents to sniff that she goes bonkers! She pulls the lead, nearly trips me, along with anybody in our path, and nearly pulls my arms out of socket! My arms are so sore today – that cleaning up and moving things around, although I’m doing it…is going much slower!

Thankfully, last night we were shown something’s to help with our dogs pulling on the lead. I will be working on those with her this week and praying that come Wednesday night she doesn’t rip my arm out of socket again!

She does amazingly well with “sit”, “down”, and “leave it”. We are still working on “stand”. She can also give you her paw and she can say please, which is both paws on your lap. She really is lovely and very smart. She gets spoiled all the time! James & Janet spoil her every morning. James gives her biscuits (dog treats) and Janet gives her cuddles and Lady tries to make Janet jealous a lot! It’s very entertaining. My morning chats are something that’s for sure!

This morning James was wearing a big green pin or button on his shirt that said, “I’m feeling good”. I asked why and he just said, “Because I’m feeling good”. Then Jeanie (she’s another of his employees, but she’s not there very often) comes in and sees it and says, “So you’re feeling good uh?” like it was nothing for James to have some statement pinned to his shirt. He is a very humorous man. Perhaps I should make him one, with a photo of Lady on it!

Alright, one more thing and then I’m off – I’m so not getting a darn thing done by blogging all day!

This morning I was having “Parking Problems”. You see I am not very good at this parallel parking thing, never have been, and avoid it at most cost. The problem is living in this country nearly requires you to learn it, learn it good, and do it. So this morning I was trying to park in this spot that would have given me front row (kids and I like that sometimes).

However, when people are watching me I have a horrible time accomplishing the task! My blood pressure rises, I get hot, and I’d bet money my face turns red. So I’m trying to do this and do it to where the back end of my car is not out in the way and there are these 2 people watching me. I’m not sure exactly their titles. They were in uniforms, odd looking ones to me, yet they kinda look like “cops”. Thing is, I think the back of their uniforms say something like “Community Support” or something – I’ll have to check and correct myself later. Anyway, they kept walking, but every minute or so they’d turn back and look at me!

Finally, flustered I pull out and go park some where else, because these 2 women in these odd uniforms won’t stop watching me! When if the people who had parked in the same area before me, had parked closer to each other I would have had no problem slipping right in there. So frustrating.

Well, now I have 2 hours to get something accomplished for the day…so I better go! Talk to you all again soon.



P.S. Be sure to check back for information on Red Nose Day tomorrow - I'll have pictures!