We had Pesto (my homemade sauce from basil grown in my herb garden last summer) chicken and fettucini for dinner Monday night. My kids absolutely love my pesto. I have to say, it's really pretty good. I put tons of extra cheese in it and it's really nice.
At the beginning of this school year, when I made out lunch menus for each day of the week, the children asked for hot lunches a couple of days a week. They said they wanted pesto left-overs anytime I made it, as well as Ramen noodles occasionally and soup some days. So, dutiful Mom warmed the pesto chicken and noodles, added salt and an extra sprinkling of Parmesan, and put them in their thermos containers Tuesday morning.
Dane came home from school yesterday, plopped down at the kitchen table (it's so wonderful to have our kitchen table back - and all the sunlight, which was in short supply in England), opened his lunchbox and began eating his pesto - at 3:30 in the afternoon.
Me: "Dane, why are you just now eating your pesto?"
Dane: "Well, I didn't eat it at lunchtime and I'm hungry now."
Me: "I can see you didn't eat it at lunchtime. Why not?"
Dane: "Well, it was embarrassing."
Me: "WHAT was embarrassing?" (in an incredulous tone of voice)
Dane: "My lunch. Everyone was staring at me when I started to eat my pesto, so I put it away and I'm eating it now."
He's only in the 2nd grade!!! And he's embarrassed by his food - my wonderful homemade pesto that he's crazy about? Something's got to change.
After Deanna clamored out of the new van this morning at school, I asked Dane to stay behind. We talked about the importance of pleasing only God and that it doesn't matter what other people think. The ONLY thing that matters is holiness and what God thinks. It's a hard thing to learn. I still struggle with it. But if he can just get this concept down now, life will go much better for him.
When he looked at me doubtfully, I took another tact.
"Make it into a joke, son," I suggested. "If the kids make fun of what you're eating, pick up a big forkful of the noodles, say, 'It's just worms - yummy!' and laugh. Your friends will all yell, 'Yuck' and 'Gross'. Some may even yell 'I want some!' Then everybody will laugh and it'll all be okay. Humor helps a lot in dealing with hard situations."
Dane's doubtful expression never changed. "Mom," he began, "we're not allowed to laugh at lunch and we're certainly not allowed to talk."
But Daelyn got a kick out of it. As he sat at the kitchen table eating his spiderman macaroni and cheese for lunch, there were several comments about it being worms.
Maybe it'll sink in with Daelyn and one of my children will rise above what other's think.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Lakes, Mountains, Beaches, and Mystery
I'm Posting from our new computer. We've been living in the Stone Age, apparently. This screen is amazing - huge and clean and has a camera inbedded in it. The keyboard is also nice and clean, bright white, and we have a new laser printer that's awesome. I just love new toys.
I've been just itching to write about our travels in England. I made reservations for a rental car with National which had an office in downtown Warrington. The kids and I packed a lunch, loaded up backpacks with drinks, school work, and maps, and headed out on the bus for Warrington. We got to the bus station and walked through town centre to the large traffic circle on the south of town, then crossed the bridges and traffic circles (we had to cross about 6 roads) and found our way to National. We signed the papers and took off.
Shifting with my left hand was interesting. Driving on the left side of the road was more interesting and driving on the right side of the car was another step up. But the biggest problem, by far, was remembering to look to the left to see through my rearview mirror instead of to the right. I spent two days looking out the right window before I realized the mirror wasn't there.
Monday was our day to the Lake District in Cumbria (a county in England). The Lake District is on the Northwest coast of England and is mountainous with amazing lakes everywhere. You would be on a narrow, windy road and look to your left. A lake would drop off directly from the road, with no barrier between us and it, except curbs in some areas. I was unaccustomed to the size of the car and driving from the right side, so I hit curbs at least 3 times. Despite feeling like we could fall into a lake at any minute, the Lake District was incredibly beautiful. The most amazing part was driving through the base of two mountains with them rising on either side to craggy cliffs at the top. Going up the mountains, all the way up the steep slopes to the summit, were impeccable stone walls, handmade, each stone chosen and placed carefully to fit perfectly, some hundreds of years ago. The fields were traversed with these walls, each with sharp, pointed stones on the top. I'm told it's to keep the sheep from jumping the walls.
The children and I drove through some minor roads and found a castle that we wanted to visit right off the main road we were on. We drove through the property and were shocked to see an imposing castle rising above us on a hill. However, it was closed for the months of December through March. Am employee of the gift shop came out to the car to talk to us. This castle is a family home still inhabited by family members. Over the holidays, they like to entertain and spread out, so the castle is closed. The rest of the year, they live in one wing and the rest of the castle is opened for visitors as part of the National Trust. The children and I drove around the front and looked at the battlements, trying to imagine what it must be like to have a castle for your family's home.
We ate our picnic lunch along the way but, as the temperature began to drop and the roads got icy, I decided it was time to head for home. We drove to a point at the far north of the National Park, then picked up the Motorway (the English version of the Interstate) and headed home. It was a lovely day.
Tuesday morning, we loaded up the car and headed out early, this time without a lunch. On Monday, we passed by snow-topped mountains. The kids went crazy and begged me to stop so they could play in the snow. It was impossible, though that seemed difficult for them to understand. Monday night at dinner, they prayed for snow the next day. I tried to explain that it would be dangerous for me to drive in the snow, so they added to the Lord that the snow should be on the side of the road, not ON the road. I was trying desperately to not burst their bubbles or rob them of their hope or faith that God COULD answer their prayers, but I also didn't want them to be disappointed. If driving through the mountains didn't produce playable snow, driving across a flatter part of England certainly wouldn't. I kept trying to explain to them that chances were slim to none that we would encounter snow, but they continued to pray and trust that God WOULD answer their prayers.
So, we headed across England, the children ever-hopeful. The temperature was -2 Celsius, which thrilled them and scared the daylights out of me, but it soon warmed up and the streets were clear. We drove for a couple of hours and then hit the outskirts of York. And wouldn't you know it?!? - SNOW, on the side of the road, not where it left the road slick. Dane and Deanna shrieked and thanked the Lord for hearing and answering their VVVVERY specific prayer. We pulled over to the side of the road and they made snowballs and had a mini snowball fight. We got back on the road soon after, but I took a wrong turn accidentally and we headed towards York proper. About two blocks down the road, we found a restaurant (a Toby's Carvery, if you know what that is) with several cars in the parking lot, covered in snow. There was no traffic or movement, so we pulled in and the children played for quite a while in the snow. I videotaped them and Deanna taught them to make snow angels. I took pictures and Deanna taught them how to make hard, big snowballs. I showed them how to scrape the snow up with their feet to build enough of a pile to make larger snowballs, and Deanna taught them how to salvage used snowballs and make them bigger. (My little girl has learned a thing or two about snow in the last 10 years.) They all had a wonderful time (and I got some great pictures - and a few snowballs in the face, to boot.)
After a very fun time, we got back on the road headed for the East Coast and Scarborough ("Are you going to Scarborough Faire? Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.") We had only been back underway for about 30 minutes, talking excitedly about how good the Lord is and how much fun the snow was and how the children KNEW he would answer their prayer, when it BEGAN TO SNOW. It got harder and harder and the kids absolutely squeeled with excitement. I handed Deanna my phone and she called my friend, Anne, to tell her. I had to concentrate on driving. We drove for about an hour in snow, then it began to clear up and the sun came out. It got very warm just as we reached Scarborough. We followed the signs to the Beach and drove down a steep hill through the mountains and directly onto the BEACH. The sun was shining and surfers were out in the waves, which were huge. It was like a scene from Hawaii. We drove up and down the boardwalk, then parked and the children got out and played in the sand while I took pictures. Then we headed out of Scarborough and turned north to Whitby, driving along a coastal road through the mountains. The road is hazardous and narrow, with no shoulder, and it winds up and down, up and down. It began to sleet, then hail. The children laughed, I cried. How could you go from sunny surfing to sleet and hail on a little tiny mountain road within 15 minutes? Welcome to England!!
As we were driving along, it seemed extremely foggy. The sky out in front of us was dark grey and bleak. All of a sudden, I noticed a ship and realized that it wasn't fog, it was the ocean. Tankers were chugging up the coast. Suddenly I realized that, if we weren't careful, we'd fall off our mountain road into the ocean. It was quite shocking. I slowed down and we continued down the winding road to Whitby.
It's hard to describe Whitby. It is an ocean port (obviously) where Bram Stoker wrote the book, "Dracula". The port and town is between two mountains, both topped by cliffs. On the right cliff is the ruins of an old Medieval Abbey. The town is cut into the other cliff. Below, the ocean cuts deep between the two mountains, dividing the town into two parts. In the bay between, there are whalers and fishing ships. There is one bridge that joins the two sides and it only has one lane. There's a stoplight to allow one directional traffic through at a time. We crossed the bridge, parked along the bay, and walked to a seafood restaurant on the other side - Trenchers. We had fish and chips and a cup of hot tea. We sat for a while and savored the lovely town of Whitby. Then, an hour before dark, we took our final pictures, loaded back up, said goodbye to the beautiful Whitby, and headed back over that treacherous road to Scarborough. From there, we headed home, praying for clear roads and warm weather, but all thrilled with our day.
I think Whitby is possibly the most beautiful town I've ever seen. It has a style and flavor that's unique in this day and time, an old-world charm that steals your heart. And the mystery of that Abbey and the cemetery alongside it, calling to visitors to explore and take a step back into time, searching for the truth about Count Dracula. It's the stuff good novels are made of.
Wednesday was even more amazing, but that will have to wait for another Post. Besides, it's pretty hard to follow Whitby and I want to let the memory of that picturesque town settle in my memory.
It was a day I will remember forever and the shouts of joy from my children are are videotape to remind us all of the pleasure of snow and the hope of prayful children.
I've been just itching to write about our travels in England. I made reservations for a rental car with National which had an office in downtown Warrington. The kids and I packed a lunch, loaded up backpacks with drinks, school work, and maps, and headed out on the bus for Warrington. We got to the bus station and walked through town centre to the large traffic circle on the south of town, then crossed the bridges and traffic circles (we had to cross about 6 roads) and found our way to National. We signed the papers and took off.
Shifting with my left hand was interesting. Driving on the left side of the road was more interesting and driving on the right side of the car was another step up. But the biggest problem, by far, was remembering to look to the left to see through my rearview mirror instead of to the right. I spent two days looking out the right window before I realized the mirror wasn't there.
Monday was our day to the Lake District in Cumbria (a county in England). The Lake District is on the Northwest coast of England and is mountainous with amazing lakes everywhere. You would be on a narrow, windy road and look to your left. A lake would drop off directly from the road, with no barrier between us and it, except curbs in some areas. I was unaccustomed to the size of the car and driving from the right side, so I hit curbs at least 3 times. Despite feeling like we could fall into a lake at any minute, the Lake District was incredibly beautiful. The most amazing part was driving through the base of two mountains with them rising on either side to craggy cliffs at the top. Going up the mountains, all the way up the steep slopes to the summit, were impeccable stone walls, handmade, each stone chosen and placed carefully to fit perfectly, some hundreds of years ago. The fields were traversed with these walls, each with sharp, pointed stones on the top. I'm told it's to keep the sheep from jumping the walls.
The children and I drove through some minor roads and found a castle that we wanted to visit right off the main road we were on. We drove through the property and were shocked to see an imposing castle rising above us on a hill. However, it was closed for the months of December through March. Am employee of the gift shop came out to the car to talk to us. This castle is a family home still inhabited by family members. Over the holidays, they like to entertain and spread out, so the castle is closed. The rest of the year, they live in one wing and the rest of the castle is opened for visitors as part of the National Trust. The children and I drove around the front and looked at the battlements, trying to imagine what it must be like to have a castle for your family's home.
We ate our picnic lunch along the way but, as the temperature began to drop and the roads got icy, I decided it was time to head for home. We drove to a point at the far north of the National Park, then picked up the Motorway (the English version of the Interstate) and headed home. It was a lovely day.
Tuesday morning, we loaded up the car and headed out early, this time without a lunch. On Monday, we passed by snow-topped mountains. The kids went crazy and begged me to stop so they could play in the snow. It was impossible, though that seemed difficult for them to understand. Monday night at dinner, they prayed for snow the next day. I tried to explain that it would be dangerous for me to drive in the snow, so they added to the Lord that the snow should be on the side of the road, not ON the road. I was trying desperately to not burst their bubbles or rob them of their hope or faith that God COULD answer their prayers, but I also didn't want them to be disappointed. If driving through the mountains didn't produce playable snow, driving across a flatter part of England certainly wouldn't. I kept trying to explain to them that chances were slim to none that we would encounter snow, but they continued to pray and trust that God WOULD answer their prayers.
So, we headed across England, the children ever-hopeful. The temperature was -2 Celsius, which thrilled them and scared the daylights out of me, but it soon warmed up and the streets were clear. We drove for a couple of hours and then hit the outskirts of York. And wouldn't you know it?!? - SNOW, on the side of the road, not where it left the road slick. Dane and Deanna shrieked and thanked the Lord for hearing and answering their VVVVERY specific prayer. We pulled over to the side of the road and they made snowballs and had a mini snowball fight. We got back on the road soon after, but I took a wrong turn accidentally and we headed towards York proper. About two blocks down the road, we found a restaurant (a Toby's Carvery, if you know what that is) with several cars in the parking lot, covered in snow. There was no traffic or movement, so we pulled in and the children played for quite a while in the snow. I videotaped them and Deanna taught them to make snow angels. I took pictures and Deanna taught them how to make hard, big snowballs. I showed them how to scrape the snow up with their feet to build enough of a pile to make larger snowballs, and Deanna taught them how to salvage used snowballs and make them bigger. (My little girl has learned a thing or two about snow in the last 10 years.) They all had a wonderful time (and I got some great pictures - and a few snowballs in the face, to boot.)
After a very fun time, we got back on the road headed for the East Coast and Scarborough ("Are you going to Scarborough Faire? Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.") We had only been back underway for about 30 minutes, talking excitedly about how good the Lord is and how much fun the snow was and how the children KNEW he would answer their prayer, when it BEGAN TO SNOW. It got harder and harder and the kids absolutely squeeled with excitement. I handed Deanna my phone and she called my friend, Anne, to tell her. I had to concentrate on driving. We drove for about an hour in snow, then it began to clear up and the sun came out. It got very warm just as we reached Scarborough. We followed the signs to the Beach and drove down a steep hill through the mountains and directly onto the BEACH. The sun was shining and surfers were out in the waves, which were huge. It was like a scene from Hawaii. We drove up and down the boardwalk, then parked and the children got out and played in the sand while I took pictures. Then we headed out of Scarborough and turned north to Whitby, driving along a coastal road through the mountains. The road is hazardous and narrow, with no shoulder, and it winds up and down, up and down. It began to sleet, then hail. The children laughed, I cried. How could you go from sunny surfing to sleet and hail on a little tiny mountain road within 15 minutes? Welcome to England!!
As we were driving along, it seemed extremely foggy. The sky out in front of us was dark grey and bleak. All of a sudden, I noticed a ship and realized that it wasn't fog, it was the ocean. Tankers were chugging up the coast. Suddenly I realized that, if we weren't careful, we'd fall off our mountain road into the ocean. It was quite shocking. I slowed down and we continued down the winding road to Whitby.
It's hard to describe Whitby. It is an ocean port (obviously) where Bram Stoker wrote the book, "Dracula". The port and town is between two mountains, both topped by cliffs. On the right cliff is the ruins of an old Medieval Abbey. The town is cut into the other cliff. Below, the ocean cuts deep between the two mountains, dividing the town into two parts. In the bay between, there are whalers and fishing ships. There is one bridge that joins the two sides and it only has one lane. There's a stoplight to allow one directional traffic through at a time. We crossed the bridge, parked along the bay, and walked to a seafood restaurant on the other side - Trenchers. We had fish and chips and a cup of hot tea. We sat for a while and savored the lovely town of Whitby. Then, an hour before dark, we took our final pictures, loaded back up, said goodbye to the beautiful Whitby, and headed back over that treacherous road to Scarborough. From there, we headed home, praying for clear roads and warm weather, but all thrilled with our day.
I think Whitby is possibly the most beautiful town I've ever seen. It has a style and flavor that's unique in this day and time, an old-world charm that steals your heart. And the mystery of that Abbey and the cemetery alongside it, calling to visitors to explore and take a step back into time, searching for the truth about Count Dracula. It's the stuff good novels are made of.
Wednesday was even more amazing, but that will have to wait for another Post. Besides, it's pretty hard to follow Whitby and I want to let the memory of that picturesque town settle in my memory.
It was a day I will remember forever and the shouts of joy from my children are are videotape to remind us all of the pleasure of snow and the hope of prayful children.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Home again, home again, clickety-click!
The kids and I came home last Sunday. Don got home this past Thursday night. Turns out, my mother doesn't need surgery, but she and my father were cleared by the doctor to go to Australia and New Zealand and we wanted the kids to get some time with them before they left. Also, there were tons of things they needed to do before the trip to prepare and Mama couldn't drive, so someone had to run them here and there.
It was a teary goodbye. My friends, Anne and Kim, came over Saturday night for a glass of wine and a last visit. Then Kim helped me pack. It was very hard to leave. The children and I cried a lot. Sunday morning, Don went with me to the airport. We wanted to upgrade our tickets to Business Class using frequent flier miles, but the Delta agent said he would need to be with us to confirm. I was very thankful he accompanied us to the airport. I wasn't looking forward to leaving him behind.
The week before we left, Dane got very sick. On Tuesday, while I was trying to pack, Dane started running a high fever. He was complaining of feeling poorly and an ear-ache the night before and was up half the night. I took his temp on Tuesday - 104.2. I've never had a child run such a high fever before. I gave him a dose of Children's Tylenol that Don had brought back with him from his short trip home and waited, impatiently, for his fever to drop. After 1/2 hour, I took his temp again, not expecting a huge drop, but hoping for 4 or 5/10ths of a degree (down t0o 103.8, at least). It had risen to 104.5. While I was staring at the thermometer in disbelief, Dane told me that the TV set was shrinking and then getting really big. I realized he was hallucinating. I made several phone calls, then loaded him in a taxi and headed for the ER (known as the A&E in England). Our insurance required us to use a private hospital but, when I arrived, they informed me that they couldn't treat him, that they didn't have an emergency room. Apparently, they are a surgical center for elective surgery - not exactly what I needed at the time. I really don't understand why insurance sent me there, but while I was discussing the problem with the reception people, Dane threw up all over the lobby. Suddenly, they found a staff pediatrician who was willing to see us.
My sweet boy had a viral infection AND a bacterial, including an ear infection. We started him on antibiotics and Ibuprofen, and his fever started going down. By the next day, Daelyn had it and began running 104.1. Packing was quite a challenge. For 5 nights running, the boys were up and down all night long, waking up crying when they fever spiked again.
But we managed to get home - to a vanless house with a crashed computer. Don has ordered a new computer, but we won't have one until later this week. I've been a crazy person, trying to run my parents errands, unpack, get the children back in school, recover from jet lag, and shop for a van. But I'm finally making a little progress.
One thing is for sure - I want to hang onto the simplicity of our life in England. I don't want to return to the clutter or our Georgia life. It's going to take s0me time and effort, but it's certainly worth whatever the cost.
I think Don just went to bed without me. Now that I know he's connected this laptop up to our Internet connection, I'll be able to Post again soon. And the new computer arrived today.
We're buying a van tomorrow. See? Things are falling into place.
It was a teary goodbye. My friends, Anne and Kim, came over Saturday night for a glass of wine and a last visit. Then Kim helped me pack. It was very hard to leave. The children and I cried a lot. Sunday morning, Don went with me to the airport. We wanted to upgrade our tickets to Business Class using frequent flier miles, but the Delta agent said he would need to be with us to confirm. I was very thankful he accompanied us to the airport. I wasn't looking forward to leaving him behind.
The week before we left, Dane got very sick. On Tuesday, while I was trying to pack, Dane started running a high fever. He was complaining of feeling poorly and an ear-ache the night before and was up half the night. I took his temp on Tuesday - 104.2. I've never had a child run such a high fever before. I gave him a dose of Children's Tylenol that Don had brought back with him from his short trip home and waited, impatiently, for his fever to drop. After 1/2 hour, I took his temp again, not expecting a huge drop, but hoping for 4 or 5/10ths of a degree (down t0o 103.8, at least). It had risen to 104.5. While I was staring at the thermometer in disbelief, Dane told me that the TV set was shrinking and then getting really big. I realized he was hallucinating. I made several phone calls, then loaded him in a taxi and headed for the ER (known as the A&E in England). Our insurance required us to use a private hospital but, when I arrived, they informed me that they couldn't treat him, that they didn't have an emergency room. Apparently, they are a surgical center for elective surgery - not exactly what I needed at the time. I really don't understand why insurance sent me there, but while I was discussing the problem with the reception people, Dane threw up all over the lobby. Suddenly, they found a staff pediatrician who was willing to see us.
My sweet boy had a viral infection AND a bacterial, including an ear infection. We started him on antibiotics and Ibuprofen, and his fever started going down. By the next day, Daelyn had it and began running 104.1. Packing was quite a challenge. For 5 nights running, the boys were up and down all night long, waking up crying when they fever spiked again.
But we managed to get home - to a vanless house with a crashed computer. Don has ordered a new computer, but we won't have one until later this week. I've been a crazy person, trying to run my parents errands, unpack, get the children back in school, recover from jet lag, and shop for a van. But I'm finally making a little progress.
One thing is for sure - I want to hang onto the simplicity of our life in England. I don't want to return to the clutter or our Georgia life. It's going to take s0me time and effort, but it's certainly worth whatever the cost.
I think Don just went to bed without me. Now that I know he's connected this laptop up to our Internet connection, I'll be able to Post again soon. And the new computer arrived today.
We're buying a van tomorrow. See? Things are falling into place.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
A Night "Out"
I'm writing from Monika's house. She and Chris invited us to dinner. The kids and I arrived around 4:30 and have had a wonderful time, right up until I locked us out of the house.
The boys wanted to play in the backyard. It snowed today (the kids believe this was a direct answer to their prayers - Dane says children's prayers get to Heaven faster than adult's) and there was some snow left in Monika's backyard. After the children were out there for a few minutes, Monika decided she needed to make a fire in the firepit on the deck, so the children would have something to look at in the dark. She got a lovely fire started, after plying us with wonderful Estonian hors d'oevres. I was so thrilled with the fellowship and food that I decided to call Don at work. He was coming after work, as was Monika's Chris. I slipped my boots on and headed out the back door, without my coat on, to tell Monika what a wonderful time I was having, carefully closing the door behind me. Unbeknowst to me, the door has no handles on the outside, and I locked it. The front was also locked, and I was outside in the snow without a coat.
Deanna, the eternal optimist, recommended we pull deck chairs up to the fire and drink wine until Chris came home. Thank goodness, I had my cellphone in my pocket, having just talked to Don, so Monika called Chris and asked him to come home and let us back in the house. In the meantime, we had a wonderful time around the fire, using the bellows to stoke it and talking about her jacuzzi (in a beautiful wooden shed that Chris built) which they're having removed because it's too big (can you imagine such a thing? a too-big jacuzzi?). Apparently, Chris installed beautiful tile and they want to make it into a sort of sauna with a small jacuzzi, and the one they purchased fills the whole room. Deanna frowned at Monika. If they had just told her they had a too-big jacuzzi, she would have brought her bathing suit.
Chris came home early, let us back in, and Monika put on another movie for the children - on her room-size TV with surround-sound, which Chris installed for Monika (such a display of love - he built her a greenhouse, too, as a birthday present, a real labor of love).
So, back to the snow. The forecast last night was for snow all night. When Don got up this morning at 6:00, I had him look out the window quickly. No snow. The boys got up about 7:45 and I heard them clamoring for the window. I called to them, "No snow, guys!" They responded, "Yes, there is, Mama. Look!!!!" I jumped out of bed, looked out the window, and there was a lovely snow falling. I yelled to wake up Deanna, and she called back that she was already up. The snow was sticking wonderfully. I helped the kids dress quickly and sent them out to make a snowman. Deanna showed the boys how to make snow angels.
Unfortunately, it didn't stick very well and was all melted, except, it appears, in Monika's backyard, by noon. But it snowed most of the day, on and off. If it freezes tonight, it will be treacherous tomorrow - YAY!!!
Don is planning on taking half the day off tomorrow to take the children to a museum in Manchester. In the meanwhile, my parents are on a mission trip to Mississippi. My mother fell yesterday and has broken her kneecap. My siblings are working together today to get her and my Dad home so he can arrange for medical care for her tomorrow. The doctor in Mississippi said she needs surgery, but we'll have to see what the Augusta docs say. I woke my sister up this morning (at 5:3o am her time) to tell her it was snowing and she gave me the news. If Mama's having surgery, I'm going home. I'm not going to have my sisters trying to drive 1/2 hour to care for Mama when I live 5 houses down from her (when I'm not in England). So, Trina's supposed to call me daily with the latest news and, if the doctors decide to operate, I'm outta here. Got to get packed and ready in case.
The taxi will be here soon to pick us up and take us home - it's almost 10:30 - so I need to post this soon, but I'm still itching to tell you about when we had the rental car.
Before that, my nephew, James, posted a comment on my last post. Thanks for the comment, sweetie. I'm so sorry we'll miss you next weekend, but I've been thinking about you. When Don came home last week, I sent your Christmas present. I couldn't find anything suitable for you before we left, but I found something over here for you that I want you to get it before you leave for Peru. Make sure you get it from your Mom while you're home. And be careful on your trip, hon. I love you and will see you when you and Brad get home.
Now, to all of those that have posted comments since we've been in England. I can't tell you how much I appreciate them. It's been wonderful having those contacts with home. I read them and even print them occasionally so Don can read them at home.
Chris and I have been sharing a glass of wine all night. I had a glass on the table to my left and he had one to his right. He kept, accidentally, reaching for mine, but we decided the alcohol killed any germs. What a wonderful evening it's been.
The notes from our travels will have to wait for another day. The taxi will be here in 10 minutes and I want to get some pictures first. I doubt I'll see them again before we leave - very bittersweet.
Pray for my parents and for wisdom for the doctors and a quick healing for my mother. We will be home now within two weeks. Our drop-dead date is February 21. If all else fails, that is the day we'll be on the plane.
Hope all is well with each of you. Rach, I hear you'll be expecting a baby for me in about 5 - 6 months. Keep in mind, I've been praying for this baby and, if it's a girl, she's half mine - the boys and Paul will have to share.
Love to all. See you soon.
The boys wanted to play in the backyard. It snowed today (the kids believe this was a direct answer to their prayers - Dane says children's prayers get to Heaven faster than adult's) and there was some snow left in Monika's backyard. After the children were out there for a few minutes, Monika decided she needed to make a fire in the firepit on the deck, so the children would have something to look at in the dark. She got a lovely fire started, after plying us with wonderful Estonian hors d'oevres. I was so thrilled with the fellowship and food that I decided to call Don at work. He was coming after work, as was Monika's Chris. I slipped my boots on and headed out the back door, without my coat on, to tell Monika what a wonderful time I was having, carefully closing the door behind me. Unbeknowst to me, the door has no handles on the outside, and I locked it. The front was also locked, and I was outside in the snow without a coat.
Deanna, the eternal optimist, recommended we pull deck chairs up to the fire and drink wine until Chris came home. Thank goodness, I had my cellphone in my pocket, having just talked to Don, so Monika called Chris and asked him to come home and let us back in the house. In the meantime, we had a wonderful time around the fire, using the bellows to stoke it and talking about her jacuzzi (in a beautiful wooden shed that Chris built) which they're having removed because it's too big (can you imagine such a thing? a too-big jacuzzi?). Apparently, Chris installed beautiful tile and they want to make it into a sort of sauna with a small jacuzzi, and the one they purchased fills the whole room. Deanna frowned at Monika. If they had just told her they had a too-big jacuzzi, she would have brought her bathing suit.
Chris came home early, let us back in, and Monika put on another movie for the children - on her room-size TV with surround-sound, which Chris installed for Monika (such a display of love - he built her a greenhouse, too, as a birthday present, a real labor of love).
So, back to the snow. The forecast last night was for snow all night. When Don got up this morning at 6:00, I had him look out the window quickly. No snow. The boys got up about 7:45 and I heard them clamoring for the window. I called to them, "No snow, guys!" They responded, "Yes, there is, Mama. Look!!!!" I jumped out of bed, looked out the window, and there was a lovely snow falling. I yelled to wake up Deanna, and she called back that she was already up. The snow was sticking wonderfully. I helped the kids dress quickly and sent them out to make a snowman. Deanna showed the boys how to make snow angels.
Unfortunately, it didn't stick very well and was all melted, except, it appears, in Monika's backyard, by noon. But it snowed most of the day, on and off. If it freezes tonight, it will be treacherous tomorrow - YAY!!!
Don is planning on taking half the day off tomorrow to take the children to a museum in Manchester. In the meanwhile, my parents are on a mission trip to Mississippi. My mother fell yesterday and has broken her kneecap. My siblings are working together today to get her and my Dad home so he can arrange for medical care for her tomorrow. The doctor in Mississippi said she needs surgery, but we'll have to see what the Augusta docs say. I woke my sister up this morning (at 5:3o am her time) to tell her it was snowing and she gave me the news. If Mama's having surgery, I'm going home. I'm not going to have my sisters trying to drive 1/2 hour to care for Mama when I live 5 houses down from her (when I'm not in England). So, Trina's supposed to call me daily with the latest news and, if the doctors decide to operate, I'm outta here. Got to get packed and ready in case.
The taxi will be here soon to pick us up and take us home - it's almost 10:30 - so I need to post this soon, but I'm still itching to tell you about when we had the rental car.
Before that, my nephew, James, posted a comment on my last post. Thanks for the comment, sweetie. I'm so sorry we'll miss you next weekend, but I've been thinking about you. When Don came home last week, I sent your Christmas present. I couldn't find anything suitable for you before we left, but I found something over here for you that I want you to get it before you leave for Peru. Make sure you get it from your Mom while you're home. And be careful on your trip, hon. I love you and will see you when you and Brad get home.
Now, to all of those that have posted comments since we've been in England. I can't tell you how much I appreciate them. It's been wonderful having those contacts with home. I read them and even print them occasionally so Don can read them at home.
Chris and I have been sharing a glass of wine all night. I had a glass on the table to my left and he had one to his right. He kept, accidentally, reaching for mine, but we decided the alcohol killed any germs. What a wonderful evening it's been.
The notes from our travels will have to wait for another day. The taxi will be here in 10 minutes and I want to get some pictures first. I doubt I'll see them again before we leave - very bittersweet.
Pray for my parents and for wisdom for the doctors and a quick healing for my mother. We will be home now within two weeks. Our drop-dead date is February 21. If all else fails, that is the day we'll be on the plane.
Hope all is well with each of you. Rach, I hear you'll be expecting a baby for me in about 5 - 6 months. Keep in mind, I've been praying for this baby and, if it's a girl, she's half mine - the boys and Paul will have to share.
Love to all. See you soon.
Monday, February 05, 2007
"Fill This Land"
What I Will Miss About England
* The simplicity of life
* The people - absolute strangers who stop you on the street to visit because they've heard your accent and figured out you're American.
* Extra thick double cream - you've never had anything like this in the States. It's so thick, you have to spoon it out, but not sweet. Pure, dairy goodness.
* The amount of quality time I have with my children.
* Single cream - perfect for coffee or tea.
* Double cream with Corvoisier and Brandy, with Amaretto, with Cointreau (notice a pattern here?) They have these in plentiful supply during Christmas. I stocked up at the after-Christmas sale - on 26 containers. I'm now down to 6. Think I've gained any weight while in England?
* The church bells at the Parish Church (only about 4 or 5 blocks from our house) calling us to morning worship. They're rung the old-fashioned way with a team of people hand-pulling them weekly. Each Parish has its own melody. The sound from the steeple echoes off the buildings and pavement and resounds in the crisp, quiet morning air. They're so clear and bold, a sound I will never forget and will always miss.
* The people - kind, inquisitive, sensitive, loving, friendly, warm - the real jewel of England.
* A kitchen windowsill so cold that I keep my ice water and tea on it.
* A lack of "stuff" to clutter our lives and minds.
* How quickly I can clean the WHOLE house.
* My friends - Anne, Kim, Monika (and their spouses), Freda, Jan and Rupert, Guy ...
* The Cul-de-sac
* My children playing outside for HOURS at a time.
* The people - the smiles I'm always greeted with as we walk down the street or encounter people in the grocery store.
* Crumpets and white chocolate (or Belgian chocolate) spread.
* Beautiful (and cheap) cut flowers in the stores. Last week, I found tulips marked down to 50 p. a bunch. I bought 2 bunches of about 9 tulips each for a whopping $2.
* Seasons - a real Winter, complete with frost and cold weather
* Fish and Chips - you've never tasted anything so good unless you've visited England. Cod that's battered to perfection and fried so it tastes buttery and so tender, it literally melts in your mouth.
* Being able to walk EVERYWHERE. We really get a tremendous amount of exercise and don't even notice it anymore.
* Puddings - what they call cakes and desserts. They have small ones that you can microwave and that are the perfect amount of dessert for a family of 5 without being decadent.
* Crocuses, snowdrops and iris' pushing their little heads up through the ground and blooming, despite the cold. They remind me of the will of live and the beauty of God's creation.
* Speaking of beauty, the beauty of the architecture. What a miracle that things so old can be so exquisite. Sometimes, during church, it's hard to listen. I find myself gazing at the beauty of our Parish Church and realize it's a small drop in the bucket of the architectural beauty in England.
* Boots - everyone has them, most people have several pairs. I am dying to buy some, but they all seem to have 8" heels, which are quite out of my range of ability.
* English hothouse leaf lettuce - similar to our Bibb lettuce, but more delicate and tender. Cheap, as well.
* Plug-in water kettles that shut off on their own when the water boils. No more burned-up tea kettles, no annoying whistle, perpetually hot tea water. Don seriously wants to find one that we can use at home. It's an amazing invention. My relatives in Canada use them, so we might try on-line.
* A bus system that's truly amazing. The trains, also.
* Living in a small town - something I've wanted for my entire life. The Lord is so good. This is a dream I never thought would come true.
* Wellies or, for those of you who don't speak English, Wellingtons (rubber boots). They have them at the local garden store in hot pink with purple accents. They have amazing, colorful designs on them, also, and I'd get me a pair if I could think of ANY excuse for wearing them.
* Tea. It just seems to be better over here. (It's probably the cream!!!!)
* Have I mentioned the people?
I'm quite certain there are many more things I could add to this list if I had more time.
Things About England I Won't Miss
* The MUD. It's on all the walls in the front hallway, the front door is coated in it. Everyone's shoes (except mine) will never see white again.
* Attempting (to no avail) to do something, anything, with my hair. The humidity just takes all the body right out of it.
* The Washing Machine. (I think you know the deal here.)
* The beds. The springs in the mattresses poke right through. My first week in the house, my ribs were bruised from the mattress on our bed.
* Being cold EVERY afternoon.
* The dust balls. I vacuum, vacuum, vacuum, and, within hours, the corners of every room have dustballs again. I don't understand it!!
* Homeschooling. While I love the time with my children, we're together 7 days a week, 24 hours a day with very little interruptions. Mommy needs a little break from her sweet children.
* Having no car, although I won't have one at home, either, since I totalled the van before we left for England.
* Not being able to cook or bake because they don't sell ingredients over here.
* Having to go to the library to use the Internet. (Although, the librarians are all lovely people, and I enjoy seeing them and the kids need the break from the house and school.)
* Paying 30 p. ($.60)/min., charged by the second, for my cellphone. (Have you ever heard of such a thing? It's highway robbery!)
* Having no landline phone so I can actually call friends during the day.
* British TV (although we get great movies on Sunday afternoons and enjoy having family movie time together).
* Don working 7 days a week.
* The schedule we have to keep so the children get to see their Daddy before bed - up late, sleep in late ... not exactly the way I like to do things, but some nights, Don's not home from work until 8:30 or 9:00.
* The water - it's so hard, I ruined about 8 pairs of socks our first 2 weeks here and have had to buy new socks for everyone in the family. It also tastes terrible. And it leaves horrible hard water and lime stains on everything.
I think what I'm going to miss far outweighs the negatives. Deanna and I are already getting teary-eyed. Sunday afternoon we had a special candlelight service at church called a Christingle Mass. We sang "Shine, Jesus, Shine" and I got so choked up, I had to stop singing. The line, "Fill this Land with the Father's glory" is what got me. Truly, my prayer for this land and these people is to be filled with the Father's glory.
We have begun to realize that we will leave a part of ourselves behind when we leave England (big lump in throat - I'm glad I'm writing and not talking). Ssomething of who we are as individuals and as a family was redefined while in England. We will never be the same again.
Thank you, Lord, for this Land, your people here, and the beauty of England. And thank you for allowing us to glimpse it and be a part of it, even if it was just a short time.
* The simplicity of life
* The people - absolute strangers who stop you on the street to visit because they've heard your accent and figured out you're American.
* Extra thick double cream - you've never had anything like this in the States. It's so thick, you have to spoon it out, but not sweet. Pure, dairy goodness.
* The amount of quality time I have with my children.
* Single cream - perfect for coffee or tea.
* Double cream with Corvoisier and Brandy, with Amaretto, with Cointreau (notice a pattern here?) They have these in plentiful supply during Christmas. I stocked up at the after-Christmas sale - on 26 containers. I'm now down to 6. Think I've gained any weight while in England?
* The church bells at the Parish Church (only about 4 or 5 blocks from our house) calling us to morning worship. They're rung the old-fashioned way with a team of people hand-pulling them weekly. Each Parish has its own melody. The sound from the steeple echoes off the buildings and pavement and resounds in the crisp, quiet morning air. They're so clear and bold, a sound I will never forget and will always miss.
* The people - kind, inquisitive, sensitive, loving, friendly, warm - the real jewel of England.
* A kitchen windowsill so cold that I keep my ice water and tea on it.
* A lack of "stuff" to clutter our lives and minds.
* How quickly I can clean the WHOLE house.
* My friends - Anne, Kim, Monika (and their spouses), Freda, Jan and Rupert, Guy ...
* The Cul-de-sac
* My children playing outside for HOURS at a time.
* The people - the smiles I'm always greeted with as we walk down the street or encounter people in the grocery store.
* Crumpets and white chocolate (or Belgian chocolate) spread.
* Beautiful (and cheap) cut flowers in the stores. Last week, I found tulips marked down to 50 p. a bunch. I bought 2 bunches of about 9 tulips each for a whopping $2.
* Seasons - a real Winter, complete with frost and cold weather
* Fish and Chips - you've never tasted anything so good unless you've visited England. Cod that's battered to perfection and fried so it tastes buttery and so tender, it literally melts in your mouth.
* Being able to walk EVERYWHERE. We really get a tremendous amount of exercise and don't even notice it anymore.
* Puddings - what they call cakes and desserts. They have small ones that you can microwave and that are the perfect amount of dessert for a family of 5 without being decadent.
* Crocuses, snowdrops and iris' pushing their little heads up through the ground and blooming, despite the cold. They remind me of the will of live and the beauty of God's creation.
* Speaking of beauty, the beauty of the architecture. What a miracle that things so old can be so exquisite. Sometimes, during church, it's hard to listen. I find myself gazing at the beauty of our Parish Church and realize it's a small drop in the bucket of the architectural beauty in England.
* Boots - everyone has them, most people have several pairs. I am dying to buy some, but they all seem to have 8" heels, which are quite out of my range of ability.
* English hothouse leaf lettuce - similar to our Bibb lettuce, but more delicate and tender. Cheap, as well.
* Plug-in water kettles that shut off on their own when the water boils. No more burned-up tea kettles, no annoying whistle, perpetually hot tea water. Don seriously wants to find one that we can use at home. It's an amazing invention. My relatives in Canada use them, so we might try on-line.
* A bus system that's truly amazing. The trains, also.
* Living in a small town - something I've wanted for my entire life. The Lord is so good. This is a dream I never thought would come true.
* Wellies or, for those of you who don't speak English, Wellingtons (rubber boots). They have them at the local garden store in hot pink with purple accents. They have amazing, colorful designs on them, also, and I'd get me a pair if I could think of ANY excuse for wearing them.
* Tea. It just seems to be better over here. (It's probably the cream!!!!)
* Have I mentioned the people?
I'm quite certain there are many more things I could add to this list if I had more time.
Things About England I Won't Miss
* The MUD. It's on all the walls in the front hallway, the front door is coated in it. Everyone's shoes (except mine) will never see white again.
* Attempting (to no avail) to do something, anything, with my hair. The humidity just takes all the body right out of it.
* The Washing Machine. (I think you know the deal here.)
* The beds. The springs in the mattresses poke right through. My first week in the house, my ribs were bruised from the mattress on our bed.
* Being cold EVERY afternoon.
* The dust balls. I vacuum, vacuum, vacuum, and, within hours, the corners of every room have dustballs again. I don't understand it!!
* Homeschooling. While I love the time with my children, we're together 7 days a week, 24 hours a day with very little interruptions. Mommy needs a little break from her sweet children.
* Having no car, although I won't have one at home, either, since I totalled the van before we left for England.
* Not being able to cook or bake because they don't sell ingredients over here.
* Having to go to the library to use the Internet. (Although, the librarians are all lovely people, and I enjoy seeing them and the kids need the break from the house and school.)
* Paying 30 p. ($.60)/min., charged by the second, for my cellphone. (Have you ever heard of such a thing? It's highway robbery!)
* Having no landline phone so I can actually call friends during the day.
* British TV (although we get great movies on Sunday afternoons and enjoy having family movie time together).
* Don working 7 days a week.
* The schedule we have to keep so the children get to see their Daddy before bed - up late, sleep in late ... not exactly the way I like to do things, but some nights, Don's not home from work until 8:30 or 9:00.
* The water - it's so hard, I ruined about 8 pairs of socks our first 2 weeks here and have had to buy new socks for everyone in the family. It also tastes terrible. And it leaves horrible hard water and lime stains on everything.
I think what I'm going to miss far outweighs the negatives. Deanna and I are already getting teary-eyed. Sunday afternoon we had a special candlelight service at church called a Christingle Mass. We sang "Shine, Jesus, Shine" and I got so choked up, I had to stop singing. The line, "Fill this Land with the Father's glory" is what got me. Truly, my prayer for this land and these people is to be filled with the Father's glory.
We have begun to realize that we will leave a part of ourselves behind when we leave England (big lump in throat - I'm glad I'm writing and not talking). Ssomething of who we are as individuals and as a family was redefined while in England. We will never be the same again.
Thank you, Lord, for this Land, your people here, and the beauty of England. And thank you for allowing us to glimpse it and be a part of it, even if it was just a short time.
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