Blogging Vacation – OVER

I do check this blog quite often and never cease to feel guilty that I haven't updated it in, um, FOREVER.  But, I know you know how I feel when I say – I just didn't feel like it.  Not a lot has happened but,  I will do an update through pictures and bullet points of what has:

*  The car is still broken.  We haven't decided what to do and have run out of options.  It is getting really frustrating but in the meantime I have found myself walking a lot more and actually getting a chance to enjoy England’s unusually nice weather.  One of these days I am going to take some pictures of my walk up to my Brother-in-law’s house – not that you care too much about the sights of March, but I want to capture as much as I can before I move home.
*  Because of the warm weather we have been lucky enough to spend a lot of time at the park with some of our favourite English people (favourite people full stop really).  Little did I know when I set out to spend time with family it would cause WWIII (Loooooooong story) but we really enjoy our time with our nieces and Brother and Sister – we always have a good time and consider it a particular blessing to be so close to the girls and to that whole family.  They take an interest in our lives (childless as it is note the sarcasm) and “share” their lovely children with us – and TRUST us to be a part of their lives.

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*  Chris and I got to see two of the nicest people get married – Taylor and Beth – okay, those aren't their proper names, but Taylor was Chris’ mission companion and so I know his by his last name.  Although I know Beth’s real first name, for some reason I call her Beth.  The wedding was lovely and typically English (meaning wedding toasts, big hats, and yummy English food).  Below are the pictures from the day – there aren't too many but I tried to sneak as many pictures of hats that I could – and I have decided that next wedding I am getting a headpiece so I can be “typically English”.  If you want a full account of the STRESSFUL and EXPENSIVE day, Chris did an entry about it on his blog (link on the side).

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*  This last Tuesday Chris and I “celebrated” our 3rd wedding anniversary.  We don't have much money so we didn't really do anything.  Chris made, yes I said MADE, me a cute card – which was, by far, the best present he could have gotten me.  Every year we get a figurine to mark the year, not presents, and I think we both prefer it that way because it takes the pressure off of getting gifts.  We have a funny running joke about marriage.  When we were newlyweds a lady in our neighbourhood in Pennsylvania said, “Marriage is HARD work.  People say the first year is the hardest but I say the first 5-7 years are the hardest.  After 5-7 years you look at each other and think, ‘I could leave but we’ve invested so much time, I might as well stay.’"  Chris and I count down those 5-7 years because life for us has been far from easy so this year instead of celebrating the fact we’ve been married 3 years – we celebrate the fact that at this point we only have 2-5 years left of a HARD marriage – from there it’ll be EASY – Right!??!  If not, don't tell me – let me live in blissful ignorance!

Our Honeymoon in Ocean City, MD

So there you go, that’s the update.  Make sure you check out Chris’ site for a different “view” of things and also on his site you’ll find pictures and video’s of our life here in England.
In the meantime I have been reading quite a few books lately.  I have a up-to-date list on the side – If you have questions about any of them – ASK and I will let you know what I think.
Also I need your help.  I am wondering if there are things that you want me to write about, stories you’ve heard me tell, or pictures of places you’re interested in seeing.  Just leave a comment and I will do my best!

Who says time flies?

Hello Internet...
I passed a HUGE anniversary just this weekend.  I didn't get any cards or presents - no one even noticed or said one thing - NOT EVEN MY OWN HUSBAND.   But it was a big deal, to me. 
The reason it was such a big deal was, because at times I thought I'd never make it to this anniversary - month after month I said to myself "It will get better..." and sometimes it did, but sometimes it didn't.  Sometimes I was ready to call it quits and didn't care if I ever reached this anniversary because I liked things the way they were before.  That being said, sometimes I was so in love that the anniversary seemed to sneak up on me without warning or trouble.
I have a pair of shoes that I used to wear that remind me of my anniversary.  When I first started out they were new, blindingly white and not too comfortable... and now???

I wore these shoes on my wedding day, but that isn't the anniversary I am talking about.
I also wore these shoes when I stepped onto a plane that would take me to England, these shoes were on my feet when I took my first steps on English soil - not as a visitor - but as a resident.  I wore these shoes when I took all of my belongings and put them into a caravan to live.  I was wearing them when I walked through London and York and Newcastle.  I wore these shoes when I first drove my own English car, on the wrong side of the road.  I wore this shoes to really great days out and on really hard days in.
They are no longer new, white or uncomfortable... these shoes are me after a year in England.
I am not longer that person who put those shoes on, on my wedding day.  I have lived in England.  I am no longer white with in-experience I am a little worn for the wear but I am also comfortable, more comfortable than I was a year ago.
So Happy Anniversary to Jamie and England... here's to the tears and the laughter the sadness and the joy and here's to many more years together!

How Much Would you Pay to Feel more at 'Home'?

Good News.... Keep it Coming....

Hello Internet!!
I said I'd update more often and I feel myself slipping and not updating so here is the good news...
Good News #1 - I got a job.  It is at a day care right here in the town that I live!  I got offered part time or full time work, but I choose part time so I can still be a happy housewife some of the time.  I start next week and I am already thinking of all the ways I am going to confuse those poor English children.  I will be working with the toddlers - children just learning to talk.  I have tried since I have been here to keep using my "American" words, but I don't think I will be able to with them, for example:
American -
"After you are done with those cookies could you please throw the trash in the garbage can and then go lay in your crib for a nap - thank you."
English -
"After you are done with that biscuit could you please throw the rubbish in the bin and then go lay in your cot for a kip - ta."
I can see it now 10 toddlers with eyes wide open looking at me like I am speaking another language - because, well, I am! 
Good News #2 - As if getting a new job wasn't enough, I have decided to go to school at the same University Chris is working through, and am taking 2 classes.  It is nice to do school when, one, I want to, and two, I get to pick my classes.  Because Chris has had everything paid for through financial support, we are thinking I will too!  So I have to wait and see but 'Watch this Space' and hopefully that will work out too... oh yeah, the courses are 'Creative Writing and a Music class.  What more could I ask for?  Writing and music - this is a school they MUST have in heaven.
Good News #3 - Speaking of Heaven.... this last Saturday was me and Chris' 1 Year Anniversary!  We made it, sometimes I thought we wouldnt but, I am so pleased that we have, and I am looking forward to more and more years with him!!! 
So there is the update....  Keep posted and check out the weekend pictures...  with more snaps of - Bella the Car and our Crazy Bank Holiday Weather!