Perfect Running Weather

So, why aren't I running?  As I walked to church this morning, I was a wee bit chilly.  By the way, I totally love that I can walk to church.  Anyhow, like I was saying, I was kind of cold.  Then I realised it was perfect running weather.  My favourite running weather, really.  Mid 50's, overcast, slight breeze....doesn't get much better.

I've only run a few times since I've been here. Those of you who know me well, know that running has been an important outlet for me over the past few years.  Creating schedules, setting goals, following a plan.  It's also been a social part of my life.  Running and traveling with friends. I miss it, I miss them.  It's been hard for me to make good use of my time since moving here.  The time exists, I am wasting it. Procrastination...another one of my many flaws. There is a verse in Hebrews 12 that says "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."  This holds so many levels for me.  I feel like I've been failing on the perseverance front in many ways. Not just running, but as a mother, as a wife, spiritually. However, I'm still standing and I know why.  There are many things I could have done better during this transition time.  There are many things I need to work on.

I am working on them, even if no one else can see what I'm doing.  Though I hope that soon they will.  I am trying to be more patient with my family and with myself.  I am trying to change the environment in my home from reactive to responsive.  It is NOT easy. I fail daily. The stress of this move has set me back.  I am by nature a reactor.  I know that when I am taking care of myself by running and going to church, I will be able to take care of others in a kinder, gentler way.

Note to self.  Get off your arse and start running.  You and the people around you will be happier.

Observation:  There are a hell of a lot of snails in England.  ;-)

Keeping it Real

The picturesque scenery and the adventures to come will totally rock.  I know that they will.  However, in the spirit of keeping it real, I'm a little depressed and a lot homesick.  I have a hard time getting up in the morning.  Many days I cringe at the thought.  Don't get me wrong, I know this is where I'm supposed to be.  It's hard for me to explain how I know that, but I know it deep down inside.  This is a journey I am meant to be on. I spent a lot of time praying before this happened and a lot more now that it has! I'm growing and changing daily.  That doesn't mean it's easy or fun. Sometimes it is. 

Before we left, a lot of people commented that at least there wasn't a language barrier, but that's not entirely true.  They do speak English over here, of course, but there are a lot of variations and accents.  There have been many times when I've actually had to stop and think about what was said to make sure I understood.  I'm pretty good at using context clues, so that is helpful.

I think one of the hardest parts for me, a self-proclaimed introvert, is the feeling of sticking out.  I'm a blend in kind of gal.  I don't like to be the centre of attention, it makes me uncomfortable.  Anytime I open my mouth in public, it is obvious I don't belong here...well...it's obvious I'm not from here.  I smile and nod a lot and do my best to keep my mouth closed.  Awkward.  Even when I'm driving, there is no denying it.  My steering wheel is on the left side.  Gasp!  I am thankful to live in an area with a high concentration of Americans, but blending is not going so well.  ;-)  I'm also thankful for the people here who have been so welcoming and have pulled me out of my comfort zone.  I consider them gifts.

Taking it one day at a time.  Looking on the bright side, I have a trip to Portugal planned and am in the middle of planning our first family vacation to Belgium.  That is so beyond anything I ever dreamt I would be doing!  God is good.

It's Very Old

England, that is.  It actually takes my breath away sometimes.  The fact that I'm living in a house built in the 1800's is just plain crazy and that is not even old! We've visited Ripley Castle that has 700 years of history and Fountains Abbey with 800 years of history.  This was really just a short intro for some pictures.  ;-)

Ripley Castle

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

What's more fun than the playground and Disney World?  Running around the ruins of an old Abbey, of course!

You can't actually see it, but there was a very mangled, dead bird off to the right. Gross.

I need a better picture of the water garden.  It's actually very cool.

Bringing it Up to Speed

Month 2 was just as exciting (read full of craziness and bad news) as month one, though now we had a place to live!  Woot!  However, living in a house without your things and borrowed furniture is not all it's cracked up to be.

We moved in to the house on the morning of a great rain. ha! I know, you are so surprised.  We did have good news this day.  A new friend helped us move all of the things from our apartment to the house (which just so happens to be right around the corner.  We could actually see it from the apartment.)  Plus, she drove me to take the test for my UK license, came back to help Jason finish moving stuff in, came back to get me and took me grocery shopping with a car!  So incredibly helpful.
When I got home, Jason had already figured out that the washing machine (in the garage) was not working.  Boo.  We didn't have a stair gate, so Cait had free reign.  Not ideal.  A few days later we learned that there was one missing spindle in the stair rail.  Guess how we found out?  Okay, I'll tell you.  Cait was sitting in the crux of the top floor with her feet dangling down.  Awesome, right?  My heart flew out of my chest as I raced up 30 some odd steps to grab her.  Needless to say there is now a gate at the bottom of the stairs.
Then of course, there was the incident with the man on my fire escape.  He claimed to have known someone who used to live here.  Um...this house has not been 2 flats in nearly 8 years.  Jack ass.  Not very bright as far as criminals go.  Especially since my house has cameras in obvious positions.  I'm thankful my neighbor was home and keeping an eye out, too.  I can kind of laugh about it now, but it was nerve wracking.  I basically, confronted him, backed back in to the house, locked the door, he left and I went on with my day.
On the bright side, I have found a church I am comfortable at and it is walking distance from my house.  I feel safe in my home despite the "incident."  Our car finally arrived after 6 weeks of walking everywhere and life was looking up.  We even got the email that our household goods arrived 2 weeks earlier than I had expected.  I nearly cried of happiness when that email came through. Okay, who am I kidding, I did cry.
Unfortunately, that was not the end of our trials.  While having a playdate, Cait fell of the sofa and broke her arm.  My heat aches just thinking about it.  Not only that, but it wasn't healing properly and yesterday she had to be put under and have it reset.  Just the thought of it makes me so ill.  Thankful, for a God that is good, she is doing just fine.

I know there were several other small incidents that added up to the rough start, but I'm trying not to dwell.  I hope my next post will be of happier times and some of the fun we've had here.  Life is good.  It really is.  I am so thankful for this opportunity.  We will move forward with our eyes on the fun and adventures to come.  :)

The First Month

I'm not sure I can even remember properly at this point.  I may resort to bullets to get through the mess that was our first month.

• Torrential rains and "thundery showers".   Uncharacteristic rainfall, even for England.  Picture the 5 of us traipsing around town in the pouring rain.  Only having light jackets, broken, wind blown umbrellas and a "push chair" (stroller) not meant for daily city treks.  Yes, we did. In fact, we hoofed it clear across town (which mind you, is NOT flat) in a thunder storm to see a house.  We had to find a place to live and for some reason Jason was adverse to calling a taxi. After that, we walked to town, had some dinner and then carried on another mile to see another house, only to realise it was too small and they wouldn't allow pets.  All in all we walked about 3 hours that day.  The kids were a little grumpy. On the bright side, we got a lot of exercise.
• Cait's pink eye was taken care of at the ER after a .5 mile walk to the bus stop and a short bus ride across town.  Thanks to NHS there was no fee for service.  Unfortunately, she shared it with me and I spent the next week feeling like crap.  On top of that, Brady got a stomach bug and threw up on the bedding in our temp apartment.  It was a self service apartment and we didn't have extra linens.  Someone walked to the store to buys some, while we washed what we could in the minuscule washer/dryer in the apartment.  The dryer part of that combo was a total joke.  It left the clothes about as dry as they would be if they had come out of an American washer's spin cycle. One night Jason used the hair dryer to dry Cait's sheets so the pink eye wouldn't spread. Thankfully, a friend let us borrow a drying rack, which is still sitting in my house!  Sorry!  On the bright side, I've learned to appreciate my washer and dryer back home.
• The fridge in this place was like one of those dorm "cube" refrigerators.  Basically, we had to go the grocery store everyday.  So much fun in the rain with no car. NOT.  On the bright side, I learned my way around town really well.

After looking at about 7 houses, we finally chose the one we are living in.  Things here are very different.  We wanted to live walking distance to the centre of town and bus stop, so we could get by with one car.  We had hoped to live on the other side of town, but that isn't how it worked out.  I still get a little pang of regret when we are down that way, but I need to let that go.  We have a house that is large enough (more than large enough) for our family and any guests that decide to bless us with their presence. We have a small front courtyard the kids can play in and the kids have been enrolled in a school that has very good reports.  Despite the "attempted break in" the first week we moved in, I feel safe here.  The stairs are a bit overwhelming, but again, more exercise, right?  I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting or just plain leaving out, but this will have to do.  Hope to be more consistent and a little more entertaining.  Right now, I just want to document what we have been through.  The second month promises to be just as exciting!  I do think we have turned a corner here.  Things are not perfect, but we are settling in.  :) Cheerio for now.