Wishing you a Merry Christmas

This year Christmas is different.

 We celebrated with our families when we visited the states in October and now our little family of three will celebrate here in the UK.

The days of celebration and traditions weve grown accustomed to are now replaced with new days and different customs. While we hold on to those deep rooted family traditions that shaped our childhood we cant refuse these new ones that have shaped our community. 

Our sons will grow understanding a mixture of American and English Christmas while never really being able to identify with one or the other.. a sacrifice of the field.

It's hard when things are different,  whether its merging two separate family holidays into a new marriage,  learning to build around the loss of a loved one, or moving to a different place where maybe they dont ever have white Christmases.

However there are things that dont change. The love of a family, the excitment of a kid unwrapping a present, the heart and emotion behind the Christmas season.

The meaning of Christmas never changes either. How precious the thought that no matter the location, emotion, struggle or joy the reason we come together stays the same. The gift of Christ, the center of our salvation story came for us.

Just as our beed for him never changes niether does his sacrifice for us.

This Christmas we are preparing for our second son to be born, It affects everything we attend, all the decorations,  even how we celebrate... I cant help but think of Mary and Joseph, while they weren't preparing for Christmas they were moving, going for a census, just married... their preperation included a little baby that would change not just their life but their world...

This Christmas in the midst of all the tinsel and traditions are you preparing for the little baby that changed the world? Are you leaving space to welcome him in?

From our family to yours we hope you have a blessed Christmas ♡

The Mayers

Well.. we feel like real Britts now

When you move anywhere new theres a lot of change to get used to. You have a nee normal, a new route to work, a new shop to buy your groceries. Depending on how far it's looking for new local hang outside, learning where the best burgers are sold. When you move overseas everything us new and you have to adjust to a whole new culture of doing things. Through this period of adjustment there are things that happen that either highlight the difference between your new and old home or make you feel like you're finally putting down roots. 

Whether its being able to run the the shop on your own for a few items (not to mention food shopping for a week doesnt take 3 hours anymore), giving someone a recommendation of a good restaurant near by (even if it was given to you by someone else), or being stopped and asked for directions (ok might have pointed them in the wrong direction). 

Today after church we went to grab a bite of lunch at this amazing pub/restaurant in town. Now you have to pay to park in town if you cant find street parking. But its Sunday and we knew that Sunday is free in the car parks.so instead of trying to find street parking we just went to the car park...

After lunch and a slow (I am 9 mths pregnant here) walk in town we return to our car to see this bright yellow bag... 

Guess what.. parking is NOT free in this lot on Sundays.  So now we have a parking fine, which you get 50% off if you pay in 14 days... now here's the way this story connects... I never thought about it but getting this ticket makes this place feel even more like home...

Weird, huh?!?