here ya go, Suz

Since I only really do a blog post once or twice a year :), Suz reminded me that I needed to post a new one. So I am.

We have adopted a new puppy named Lily! She's meant to be a companion to our dog, Z, that we adopted in December. Lily is a tricolored terrier mix, mostly black and resembling a schnauzer. They're a hoot. Although this weekend we spent $175 on them at the vet due to kennel cough. What a nasty thing that is. I actually kept Kleenex close by to wipe their noses like a toddler.

As for jobs, I am currently working for my boss from way back at a digital printing company called Vivid Ink. I'm just filling in for now, but will move into a more fitting position in the next few weeks. Only drawback of the whole thing is that I have to commute about an hour and a half each way to Baton Rouge. Which also means that I have to wake up at 5:30 in the morning....and I'm NOT a morning person. BUT, I'm thankful for God's provision when it was most needed.

Martin is currently applying for his work permit. We had to forego our trip to London in February because of the status of his application for a green card. If we had gone, they would not have let him back in the country, apparently. Good thing we found out before boarding the plane....we were checked in and waiting at the gate when we phoned the immigration lawyer. Yikes, what a close call. Can I just tell you.....the immigration in this country is a disgrace. So embarrassing considering I got a UK Visa in one day. The waiting time for a work permit is 3 months, so in the meantime Martin is working on writing a screenplay and will start painting again. Unfortunately, this means that my one smallish salary will have to do until then.

We are hanging in there. Martin will have to stay in the country for a year while waiting for his permanent green card. So any visits with the Kellys will have to mean them coming to us. Martin is discouraged but hopeful that we're still doing what we believe God has called us to do. As am I.

We still have the dream of adopting children but right now our situation is too unstable to be eligible as adoptive parents. But stay tuned, we are still asking God to bless us in this area.

That's all for now. And, as always, would LOVE to hear what's going on in your lives.


Love,
Patrice and Martin

Sweeney Todd (aka Laura's Movie)

The official trailer is out for Sweeney Todd. Laura's in the first part, looking pretty. Apparently, later in the film she goes mad and undergoes quite a physical transformation. And her singing will be done mostly as a crazy woman so her voice won't be quite as angelic as it is when she was playing Mary Poppins or Galadriel. It's release date is December 21, so should be a new twist on a Christmas movie ;)

Here's the link for the video trailer...let me know what you think.
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809834155/video/4367764

September/October Update

Whoa, my last blog was in June. That's no way to blog. Here's the massive newsy blog update....

We just got back from a glorious 9 days in London. We went up to see a specialist for Martin's back (it worked, he's well on his way to recovery after 3 months!!!). Laura, Nathanael, Paul and Jorim all helped celebrate my birthday with an extravaganza of a day! I felt like a spoiled princess. We had a scrumptious brunch at Cafe Rouge where they gave me a much-wanted birthday gift....Brain Training!!! I started off with a Brain Age of 87 but have worked my way down to 26 (whew!).

After brunch, we sent Martin off for a stylish haircut while Jorim and I went and picked out a smart, new outfit for Martin (part of my birthday present was a husband with a makeover :)



Then we went for a ride on the London Eye....fun times!!!!


Then had a lovely Mexican meal then off to see the show "Wicked" at West End. Great show, by the way, highly recommend it. To top it all off, Martin and I went back to see Spamalot on Thursday as well!!!!

Shep had a lovely time meeting all of the city dogs in the park for a play. Since we were in town on Sunday, we went to Hillsong and enjoyed hearing John Bevere speak on "Drawing Near" to God....something we both really needed to hear so we bought the Bible study series and we're looking forward to jumping into that now that we're back on the island.

We've had many viewings on the house, but still no sale. We've had really low offers but they were too low. One couple wants to buy our house for the asking price but still has a house to sell up in London that just went on the market this week. So we still desperately need prayers for the house to sell, sell, sell.

Once we get settled (probably near Mandeville, Louisiana which is the north shore of New Orleans), we will pursue adoption which is where we think God has led us, ruling out all other avenues :) We're also trying to figure out if we want to start a small business (ie, coffee shop, gift shop). Big decisions need to made and we want to make sure they are not only smart decisions, but ones from God. I'm sure that as we study what it means to "draw near" to God that we will also clarify what His ultimate will for our lives is and we will have more patience as we wait for that perfect will to be revealed.

Until then, we would love your prayers. And would love to pray for you in return. Love to all of you from the English Kellys.

Galadriel, Queen of the Forest

I've been taking the tube every day to my temp job in London. There is an ENORMOUS poster of Laura in Lord of the Rings everywhere...on the tube, on the sides of buses, on bus stops... I can't help but feel tempted to stop everyone on the street and say..."that's my stepdaughter, really it is!"

I'm so starstruck :)

This is Shep!

We got a dog! He was brought from Ireland to a rescue organization on the island. Apparently, they put dogs down after 5 days at the shelter in Ireland. So, we gave him a home. We don't know any history on him although he doesn't seem to have much experience being in a house....evidenced by him charging around like a clumsy, wild thing when he first got here. He was startled by the TV and cocked his head side to side looking at it.

He LOVES people and never meets a stranger and is hungry for love and affection. For some mysterious reason, he knows the sit command and is MOSTLY house broken so maybe he wasn't just roaming the streets of Dublin with a pack?

Shep came to us named Toby but the Kellys have already had a dog named Toby, so we're renaming him. The name Shep came from Annie's family dog. We liked the name because we think this dog is part german shepherd/border collie/jack russell?????? Your guess is as good as ours. And he LOVES Martin and follows him around constantly.

Shep had never seen a mirror before, so when he first saw his own image, he wet the floor. Now, he never misses a chance to check out that handsome stud in the mirror.

a little progress

Pics of the work we've done on the hallway! Martin is the king of wallpapering and I'm the queen of painting stairs and spindles. We have 90 spindles, I've painted 40 so far.

Christmas Snapshots

Christmas stockings.


Best Christmas present reaction.









Christmas Exercise.












Christmas Nap.










Christmas Cuddle.











Christmas Nieces (in New Orleans).

Laura's latest!

Wow, y'all. Great news from Laura's corner of the world. She's been cast in the next Tim Burton feature film, Sweeney Todd. It will be a musical and so Laura's talent will be fully out there. Yay for her. Well done, as the Brits say.

Playing the lead is Johnny Depp (apparently he sings! or will very soon) and Helena Bonham Carter, and Sacha somebody somebody (the Borat guy -- eeew). How fun, making a film with Johnny Depp - one of my favorites. Tim Burton is also one of my favorite directors. Sounds like a win, win, win, win situation. I don't know the name of Laura's character, but she plays Johnny Depp's crazy wife. It starts filming in January and will be released by Christmas 2007.

Martin is such a proud papa. And I'm thinking that I have a year to get in shape just in case I get to go to the premiere! :)