Blue Skies?

Well this weekend we were blessed with gorgeous blue skies and mild temperatures.  I have learned that any time the sun shines in England to – GO OUTSIDE and enjoy it because you never know when it will be back.  We did just that this weekend.  It happened to be sweet Gracie’s 3rd Birthday as well.  It is so strange to see these nieces and nephews grow up!  Because Gracie’s Mum and Dad aren't together any longer, we don't get to see her as much as we used to – so every time we see her it seems like her and her brother have grown so much!
      
This Georgia just “chillin” on the swing with me.  She loved wearing those glasses, but upon further inspection her mum and I decided they were quite strange – and I thought they were slightly reminiscent of Johnny Depp’s in Willy Wonka!
 
Anyway….

My Mother-in-Law has done a great job of making the back garden very child friendly.  They have so many toys and things to play with in the garden that a child couldn't ask for more – except…  they spent hardly any time in there at all!  Typical!

Chris entertained Madie.  She loves him more than anyone in the extended family.  She will go straight to him – all the time.

This is Madie.  She HATED walking on the grass and was quite pleased with herself when she made it to the concrete.  She is the youngest child in the family – which is strange because for nearly 5 years there has ALWAYS been a baby around.

My Mother-in-Law also provided some entertainment.  When she fell instead of Chris (or anyone) running to her aid, we laughed and Chris took a picture. 

Just look at that blue sky – not a cloud in sight! It is what the English would call “lush”.

And here is the Birthday girl…  How lucky am I?  To be surrounded by beautiful nieces and nephews and get to witness them growing up?  One of the blessings of still living in England!

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What I’ll Miss – English Summer

Although I am still quite far from actually coming home to America, I have noticed a change in my thinking since we got the first paperwork back.

There are a lot of things I am going to miss. Shocking, I know!

I have found myself saying, “This is the last time ____________.”

So, I think I will start writing about them, just so I can remember them and then, when I am really homesick, I can read back and remember what I loved – and there really are a lot of things.

Today though, I will miss the English Summer – something I NEVER thought I’d say. I wont miss the heat or humidity – but I will miss the seaside, the long hours of daylight, and the “holiday mentality”.

I love the seaside, if you’ve read my blog at all the last few years – you’ll know that. I love that it is like a time warp once you hit the seaside. You have the old fashioned beach chairs, .99 ice cream, kids running around – soaking wet in clothes, swimming costumes, undies, and sometimes nothing – and you know what, no one cares! They are at the beach!! On nice days (which are few and far between most summers) the beaches are packed – even if the beach is dirty or rocky – no one cares they just congregate to the beach.

The children here in England only have a summer vacation of 6 weeks and they use all that time enjoying the sun. The sun rises around 4:30 AM and it is still light around 10:30 PM. It leaves LOTS of time for people to get out and enjoy themselves – the English are great at BBQing.

The English love their holidays. They save up for them through the year and often go to hotter places like Greece or Spain. I love that this country takes time to relax an enjoy each others company. I think America should defiantly follow England's lead – I think it makes for a happier people.

I will miss the English Summer.

Tiny Moments Day 2 and a bit about the Heat…

This is my “fertility” plant.  You know, the one they give out every Mothers day at church?  When I got mine it had 2 flowers one was nearly dead and the other was defective (which I found quite ironic).  I thought I would just leave it do die, but then, when it was on the cusp of death (how is that for drama) – I couldn’t let it die and brought it back to life!  Now, I am happy to report it is growing like a weed (sometimes it looks like one too).  I think it appreciates the heat and sunshine – oh and being saved by yours truly!
Here is a picture of it when we weren't giving it enough water:

We thought for sure it was dead, but then I gave it some water and it perked right up – it did the same thing when we went up North for 3 days and forgot to water it – we REALLY thought it was dead when we got home, but we watered it (A LOT) and low and behold our plant that just wont die came back to life… again.  It is really nice to have a plant that actually TELLS you when it needs more water, by throwing a bit of a tantrum and playing dead.
Here it is right after I re-planted it and decided I didn't want it to die…


In other news…
IT IS HOT HERE!!!

I know 84* might not seem like a lot to those of you in SLC, but anyone who has experienced humidity – knows it is HOT (especially with no air conditioning).  I am thankful for the sunshine and the strange, but ever present breeze in the kitchen, but I have had my fill of the heat wave and am waiting and praying for cooler temperatures.

HOT!

Hello Internet.... It is HOT in England... take your breath away, dripping with sweat, sticking to the chairs H.O.T.  I don't think I will ever get used to this weather.  When I first moved here I was living in the trailer (caravan) and it was hot like this.... lets get this right when I say hot I mean, 75, but that is hot!  That is on an island with TONS of humidity!  Some of you will know what I mean when I say I'd rather have 105 with NO humidity, than this.  And to top things all off, not only does the English population on a whole not have dishwashers, dryers, and so many other things but they do not believe in air conditioners either... the only relief is in McDonalds (freezing) or the supermarkets!  Anyway, just thought I'd complain a little.  Today was Mothers Day in America and so the American missionaries came to our house to call home.  It was nice to see them happy to talk to their families.  We were bored so we called my lovely sister-in-law Rachel, and we "borrowed" her baby boy, CJ, for the day.  Here is a picture...

Poor baby, dying of heat too.... Stay tuned... maybe, I'll write more this week, that is, if I don't DIE of heat stroke.  

While the Rest of the Country Floods....

While the rest of the country is flooding -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6913752.stm
... we enjoyed an amazingly beautiful day.  The best in months...

Lovely.... Just Lovely....

P.S. Did you want to see where I live?  Here is my apartment (Top Left Window).