We're Christians... Contact Details
 
click on an individual photo to see more
I can think of two words that sum up and characterise Simone: love and commitment.
Simone moved to England aged 15, and now, 13 years on, is a photography graduate finding herself happy and fulfilled working full-time at home caring for Lydia and Elijah (and me!). To try to say how fortunate we all are would just sound trite.
As a Christian, Simone would list amongst her ambitions a desire to be close to and serve God. Primarily, she sees this being in the context of our family life, but increasingly, Simone is finding opportunities to come alongside, support, encourage and teach other women. She is a genuinely humble and unassuming person and her surprise at the ways God is beginning to use her demonstrates this, though other people recognise all kinds of gifts and abilities that she has.
Writing all of this, I guess it goes without saying that I am a jealous husband – but equally, it’s a privilege to share Simone. - written by Tim
 

No longer our 'little' girl, in fact, an ever-bigger girl and now a big sister twice over, Lydia is special in lots of ways. Like her namesake in the Bible (Acts 16), Lydia has gifts of both hospitality (Acts 16:40) and of entrepreneurship. She quite naturally sets people at ease and enjoys making new friends. Recently setting up a book club here in Didsbury, she has built on her enjoyment of reading (she devours books at a ridiculous pace!) by haggling a deal with Costa Coffee who are providing a free venue for her group along with discounted hot chocolate for attendees, whilst various publishers have responded to her emails by sending free books!

Lydia recently won the local MP's Christmas card design competition from entries entered by all primary schools in the constituency and received a mountain bike. She is enjoying being part of a running club at school and has also taken up gymnastics at a local club.
- written by Tim and Simone
 

The first thing that attracted me to him was his passion for and knowledge about God. Not many spend their first date talking about bible and God stuff! Tim loves God and is desperate to share with people His mighty power and love. He loves people and spending time with them. He loves his wife and children, who always come first.
You’ll also notice straight away that he is a very english english man. He loves his country and everything about it- the food, the language, the music, the often strong sense of pride and ownership of it, and the people. Then there is sport; he enjoys both playing and watching football and is now a fully qualified referee. Leeds are his team, even though at the moment they've been through a rough patch. He also enjoys cricket, which, in the summer, is lovely for me too!
Tim is working as a headhunter across the country as well as internationally from an office base here in the north-west. He has a strong faith and trust in a God who provides for everything he and his family need, desperate to follow His will and "not to miss out on the thing of God". - written by Simone
 

Elijah plays with me a lot. We like playing pretending games together, like pirates. When he's on his own he loves playing with his cars and his tool kit. At school, he plays with his friends. His best friend is Zac.
Elijah's favourite food is tuna pasta and he likes drinking fizzy pop. On Saturday afternoon, Elijah watches the rugby and football on the television with Daddy.
I used to like reading stories to Elijah, but now he reads them himself.
Elijah is very sporty and likes playing tennis which he is very good at. He has special lessons at The Northern and plays in tournaments.
He has a cuddly rabbit and still sucks his thumb! If someone tickles him, Elijah giggles and wriggles like a worm. He's even got a tickly neck . - written by Lydia
 

Gideon Gershom Lael Butt was born Thursday 10 December at 6:06am and weighed in at 8lbs 6oz.
His names are straight out of the Bible and mean:
Gideon - 'Mighty Warrior' - the biblical character, Gideon, summoned a large army to go into a battle but was instructed by God to wittle it down to just 300 men who, ultimately, defeated an enormous enemy army (Judges 7:10)
Gershom - 'Stranger in the Land' - as Christians, we believe that our home is with God and that one day, Jesus will return to bring an end to the heavens and the earth as they are and create a new and perfect heaven and earth. Living as we do in a world that God created perfect but has been spoilt by humanity through our rejection of God, those who are Christians live as strangers in the here and now, hence Gideon's middle name reflecting something of our hope that he will grow up knowing and enjoying being a child of God through faith in Jesus

Lael - 'Belonging to God' - it may sound strange and rather Hebrew (it is!), but its meaning is everything. We're thrilled that God has blessed us with the priviledge of loving and enjoying Gideon, but we're absolutely clear that he belongs to his heavenly Father who new him before time began, and who loves and cares for Him infinitely more than even we do. - written by Tim and Simone