Friday, July 18, 2008
Saturday, July 5, 2008
BRIEF UPDATE!
Happy Day-After-The-Fourth!
We had Nahnee & Pookie, Ginger, Casey, Maddie, Jack & Andy in town for 4 fun filled days! We ate, swam, went to 2 fireworks shows, played Guitar Hero (Joe's latest obsession) and just had a great time. The kids are good & tired now, so we're hoping for an early bedtime tonight!
A few updates:
1. WE ARE NOT MOVING TO LONDON!!! When we got back from our trip in late May, we knew there was a possibility that the company might be moving a direction that would require Joe to stay in the U.S. We had to continue down the path of "possibly moving," because the details of Joe's position were still up in the air. What I can tell you now is that Joe will office part of the time here in Dallas, and part of the time in New York City. There IS a possibility of a move to the Northeast in the future, but we've decided to try this commute thing for at least a year. While the news was somewhat of a relief to 4 of us, Joe is still a little disappointed not to be traveling all over Europe! I reminded him that we don't have to live there to GO there!
2. I got a new van! Not super exciting, but I'm telling you what: Honda makes a minivan that is the absolute best thing going for mommas who drive carpool and have several car seats to maneuver! I love my new van! It has a sunroof for those days when I'm feeling particularly old - I'll just open it and pretend to be 22 again!!! I also have an iPOD outlet so I can listen to all my 80s faves! It smells so good (which I know will change quickly), and so far, no one has spilled anything in it!
3. Emmy is moving into a big girl bed! She is beyond excited about this! We are having her room wainscoted white & painted hot pink next week! It is a little sad to be putting the crib away for the last time, but I can't wait to pull the whole thing together with her new bedding - I think it will be fabulous! In other Emmy news, she is going potty (both kinds!) on the big potty now! This is beyond exciting for her mom!
4. Ross is going to SKY RANCH for a whole week! He wanted to do a sleep away camp this summer, and we think he's ready! He will be in Van, Texas the week of August 3, and I know it will be a great time for him! I will send info on how to write/email him while he's gone!
That's it for now - I need to go fix 2 planter boxes for our back patio! Have a GREAT weekend!
We had Nahnee & Pookie, Ginger, Casey, Maddie, Jack & Andy in town for 4 fun filled days! We ate, swam, went to 2 fireworks shows, played Guitar Hero (Joe's latest obsession) and just had a great time. The kids are good & tired now, so we're hoping for an early bedtime tonight!
A few updates:
1. WE ARE NOT MOVING TO LONDON!!! When we got back from our trip in late May, we knew there was a possibility that the company might be moving a direction that would require Joe to stay in the U.S. We had to continue down the path of "possibly moving," because the details of Joe's position were still up in the air. What I can tell you now is that Joe will office part of the time here in Dallas, and part of the time in New York City. There IS a possibility of a move to the Northeast in the future, but we've decided to try this commute thing for at least a year. While the news was somewhat of a relief to 4 of us, Joe is still a little disappointed not to be traveling all over Europe! I reminded him that we don't have to live there to GO there!
2. I got a new van! Not super exciting, but I'm telling you what: Honda makes a minivan that is the absolute best thing going for mommas who drive carpool and have several car seats to maneuver! I love my new van! It has a sunroof for those days when I'm feeling particularly old - I'll just open it and pretend to be 22 again!!! I also have an iPOD outlet so I can listen to all my 80s faves! It smells so good (which I know will change quickly), and so far, no one has spilled anything in it!
3. Emmy is moving into a big girl bed! She is beyond excited about this! We are having her room wainscoted white & painted hot pink next week! It is a little sad to be putting the crib away for the last time, but I can't wait to pull the whole thing together with her new bedding - I think it will be fabulous! In other Emmy news, she is going potty (both kinds!) on the big potty now! This is beyond exciting for her mom!
4. Ross is going to SKY RANCH for a whole week! He wanted to do a sleep away camp this summer, and we think he's ready! He will be in Van, Texas the week of August 3, and I know it will be a great time for him! I will send info on how to write/email him while he's gone!
That's it for now - I need to go fix 2 planter boxes for our back patio! Have a GREAT weekend!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
SHOES
Have you ever thought about the different shoes you’ve worn in your life? I don't think about it often, but when I do, my mind automatically went back to my FAVORITE pair of shoes when I was a little girl. They came in a hand-me-down bag from my cousin, who had worn them as part of her ensemble for a family wedding. They were purple patent leather Mary Janes, and I thought they were beautiful! I was absolutely convinced that they went with everything I owned – shorts, orange plaid pants (think Partridge Family), swimsuits… it didn’t matter. It was a huge blessing that my dad was in graduate school and my mom was working full time when I was little. Dads don’t tend to pay attention to the details that we moms think are so crucial, and he let me wear those shoes everywhere. I felt empowered by my purple patent leather shoes. I was so upset when I outgrew them.
The next pair of shoes I distinctly remember were also, surprisingly, purple. They were the popular Nike shoes with the purple “swoosh” on the side, and I remember they were the must have shoes in 6th grade. They separated the “haves” from the “have nots.” They were almost as important as the Gloria Vanderbilt jeans and the rabbit fur jackets we all wore back then. I had a problem with these shoes, though – my mom wouldn’t buy them for me. She thought they were too expensive, and encouraged me to save my own money to buy them if I really thought I needed them. By the time I saved enough money, the sense of urgency I once had for these shoes had worn off. But, a seismic shift had taken place: I realized I was not going to be part of the “popular crowd,” and this was determined primarily by my wardrobe. I didn’t realize I wanted to be in that crowd until I wasn’t, and it stung. No one enjoys being excluded, and many times, the reasons for exclusion are as silly as not approving of their clothing.
The most important pair of shoes I owned in college were my running shoes. Image, fitting in, again, were priorities to me. Being 4’10” leaves no room to gain the dreaded “freshman fifteen.” Before I left for college, I bought a pair of running shoes. Nothing fancy – I was on a BUDGET- but they served their purpose. Some days after my last class, I would change into shorts, lace up those affordable shoes, and hit the track. I did not (and DO NOT NOW) enjoy exercising, but I learned to be disciplined about it. I even had myself convinced that my shoes might get lonely if I didn’t use them every day!!! And, they did their job. The freshman fifteen was avoided, and I made some friends at the track. It was a win-win situation.
How many of you had your shoes dyed to match the EXACT color of your wedding dresses? I did, too. They were satin 2 ½ inch pumps that I selected so our wedding photos wouldn’t make me look so short! I felt like such a beautiful bride in those shoes that I kept them around, and every once in a great while, I pull them out and try them back on. I may not be able to get my wedding dress buttoned, but those shoes still fit! And, they identified me as a new person – one half of a unit. Married. Those were very important shoes.
These days, I enjoy my flip flops. They aren’t the most attractive shoes, but I don’t care. I really just want something that is comfortable, quick to put on, and practical. They identify me as a mom in a hurry. When you have kids, there is just much less time to worry about where and how you fit in – and it is enough for me to just be the mom. There are some moms who still buy the expensive, trendy, “gotta have them” shoes, but not me.
I’m guessing Jesus never owned a closet full of pretty shoes. He wore practical, sturdy sandals. His feet were probably never perfectly pedicured. He was humble enough to wash the feet of others. People didn’t believe He was who He said He was, because He didn’t look the part. John the Baptist tried to tell the people who Jesus was.
"I baptize with[i] water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in? Has it been because of something as superficial as your shoes? How you dress? What you drive? Where you live? Be encouraged, my sisters! The Lord God Himself knows just exactly this kind of rejection!!! He stood in front of His own people, and they denied Him!!! They placed bets on His clothing (which I’m sure they never intended on wearing!). They humiliated Him by spitting in His face. They were the ULTIMATE “mean girls and guys.” And you know exactly what Jesus did? He made room for all of us in His house. So, bring your comfy shoes. Come barefoot. He doesn’t care – He just wants you to show up!!!
I think I’m glad I never owned those purple swoosh Nikes. Maybe because of that little experience, I learned that fitting in isn’t as important as growing up. That friends can be anyone – people you least expect- and in times of crisis, we don’t look down and say, “I just LOVE your shoes!!!”
The next pair of shoes I distinctly remember were also, surprisingly, purple. They were the popular Nike shoes with the purple “swoosh” on the side, and I remember they were the must have shoes in 6th grade. They separated the “haves” from the “have nots.” They were almost as important as the Gloria Vanderbilt jeans and the rabbit fur jackets we all wore back then. I had a problem with these shoes, though – my mom wouldn’t buy them for me. She thought they were too expensive, and encouraged me to save my own money to buy them if I really thought I needed them. By the time I saved enough money, the sense of urgency I once had for these shoes had worn off. But, a seismic shift had taken place: I realized I was not going to be part of the “popular crowd,” and this was determined primarily by my wardrobe. I didn’t realize I wanted to be in that crowd until I wasn’t, and it stung. No one enjoys being excluded, and many times, the reasons for exclusion are as silly as not approving of their clothing.
The most important pair of shoes I owned in college were my running shoes. Image, fitting in, again, were priorities to me. Being 4’10” leaves no room to gain the dreaded “freshman fifteen.” Before I left for college, I bought a pair of running shoes. Nothing fancy – I was on a BUDGET- but they served their purpose. Some days after my last class, I would change into shorts, lace up those affordable shoes, and hit the track. I did not (and DO NOT NOW) enjoy exercising, but I learned to be disciplined about it. I even had myself convinced that my shoes might get lonely if I didn’t use them every day!!! And, they did their job. The freshman fifteen was avoided, and I made some friends at the track. It was a win-win situation.
How many of you had your shoes dyed to match the EXACT color of your wedding dresses? I did, too. They were satin 2 ½ inch pumps that I selected so our wedding photos wouldn’t make me look so short! I felt like such a beautiful bride in those shoes that I kept them around, and every once in a great while, I pull them out and try them back on. I may not be able to get my wedding dress buttoned, but those shoes still fit! And, they identified me as a new person – one half of a unit. Married. Those were very important shoes.
These days, I enjoy my flip flops. They aren’t the most attractive shoes, but I don’t care. I really just want something that is comfortable, quick to put on, and practical. They identify me as a mom in a hurry. When you have kids, there is just much less time to worry about where and how you fit in – and it is enough for me to just be the mom. There are some moms who still buy the expensive, trendy, “gotta have them” shoes, but not me.
I’m guessing Jesus never owned a closet full of pretty shoes. He wore practical, sturdy sandals. His feet were probably never perfectly pedicured. He was humble enough to wash the feet of others. People didn’t believe He was who He said He was, because He didn’t look the part. John the Baptist tried to tell the people who Jesus was.
"I baptize with[i] water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in? Has it been because of something as superficial as your shoes? How you dress? What you drive? Where you live? Be encouraged, my sisters! The Lord God Himself knows just exactly this kind of rejection!!! He stood in front of His own people, and they denied Him!!! They placed bets on His clothing (which I’m sure they never intended on wearing!). They humiliated Him by spitting in His face. They were the ULTIMATE “mean girls and guys.” And you know exactly what Jesus did? He made room for all of us in His house. So, bring your comfy shoes. Come barefoot. He doesn’t care – He just wants you to show up!!!
I think I’m glad I never owned those purple swoosh Nikes. Maybe because of that little experience, I learned that fitting in isn’t as important as growing up. That friends can be anyone – people you least expect- and in times of crisis, we don’t look down and say, “I just LOVE your shoes!!!”
Thursday, June 19, 2008
FAVORITES!
1. What time did you get up this morning?
At 7:30
2. Diamonds or Pearls?
Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
27 Dresses with Leslie
4. What is your favorite TV show?
In the summer, DESIGN STAR on HGTV... series: Greys or Boston Legal. And, of course, AMERICAN IDOL!
5. What did you eat for breakfast?
M&Ms and a diet coke with extra ice from Sonic
6. What foods do you dislike?
Any raw, uncooked meat.
7. Your favorite potato chip?
Ruffles
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
Listening to Taylor Swift & Rascal Flatts to get ready for the concert Sat. nite!
9. What kind of car do you drive?
'03 Honda Odyssey
10. Favorite sandwich?
My dad's ham & cheese
11. What characteristics do you despise?
Deceptiveness, people who can't take responsibiity for their lives/situations, etc.
12. What are your favorite clothes?
Jag jeans & a fun blouse, heels since I'm 4'11"!
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Turks & Caicos
14. What color is your bathroom?
Um, beige... what an interesting question!
15. Favorite brand of clothing?
Nordstrom petites!
16. Favorite time of day?
Right after I drop everyone off at school!!
17. Where would you want to retire to?
I'd love to have a lake house in East Texas.
18. Favorite sports to watch?
Football (college & NFL), gymnastics, hockey & basketball
19. Coke or Pepsi?
DIET COKE WITH ICE & A STRAW, preferrably from Sonic.
20. Are you a morning person or night owl?
Used to be a morning person, turning into a night owl.
21. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
NOT MOVING TO LONDON!!!
22. What did you want to be when you were little?
A teacher and then a stay-at-home mom...done both, second gig is much better!
23. What is your best childhood memory?
Neighborhood hide & seek, Pizza Inn on Friday nights, football games, Salado Creek!
24. Nicknames?
WINO, momma (hee hee!)
25. Piercings?
Ears, one hole each.
26. Eye Color?
Blue
27. Favorite day of the week?
Friday night
28. Favorite restaurant?
Asia de Cuba in L.A.
29. Favorite ice cream?
Can't do ice cream. It hurts my tummy.
30. Where would you max out a bredit card?
Container Store or a SPA!
31. Bedtime?
GOAL: 10:30 REALITY: 11:30
32. What are you listening to right now?
On the phone with Holly Clemons
33. How many tattoos do you have?
Not a single one!
34. Next film you'll see?
I have no idea!
At 7:30
2. Diamonds or Pearls?
Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
27 Dresses with Leslie
4. What is your favorite TV show?
In the summer, DESIGN STAR on HGTV... series: Greys or Boston Legal. And, of course, AMERICAN IDOL!
5. What did you eat for breakfast?
M&Ms and a diet coke with extra ice from Sonic
6. What foods do you dislike?
Any raw, uncooked meat.
7. Your favorite potato chip?
Ruffles
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
Listening to Taylor Swift & Rascal Flatts to get ready for the concert Sat. nite!
9. What kind of car do you drive?
'03 Honda Odyssey
10. Favorite sandwich?
My dad's ham & cheese
11. What characteristics do you despise?
Deceptiveness, people who can't take responsibiity for their lives/situations, etc.
12. What are your favorite clothes?
Jag jeans & a fun blouse, heels since I'm 4'11"!
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Turks & Caicos
14. What color is your bathroom?
Um, beige... what an interesting question!
15. Favorite brand of clothing?
Nordstrom petites!
16. Favorite time of day?
Right after I drop everyone off at school!!
17. Where would you want to retire to?
I'd love to have a lake house in East Texas.
18. Favorite sports to watch?
Football (college & NFL), gymnastics, hockey & basketball
19. Coke or Pepsi?
DIET COKE WITH ICE & A STRAW, preferrably from Sonic.
20. Are you a morning person or night owl?
Used to be a morning person, turning into a night owl.
21. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
NOT MOVING TO LONDON!!!
22. What did you want to be when you were little?
A teacher and then a stay-at-home mom...done both, second gig is much better!
23. What is your best childhood memory?
Neighborhood hide & seek, Pizza Inn on Friday nights, football games, Salado Creek!
24. Nicknames?
WINO, momma (hee hee!)
25. Piercings?
Ears, one hole each.
26. Eye Color?
Blue
27. Favorite day of the week?
Friday night
28. Favorite restaurant?
Asia de Cuba in L.A.
29. Favorite ice cream?
Can't do ice cream. It hurts my tummy.
30. Where would you max out a bredit card?
Container Store or a SPA!
31. Bedtime?
GOAL: 10:30 REALITY: 11:30
32. What are you listening to right now?
On the phone with Holly Clemons
33. How many tattoos do you have?
Not a single one!
34. Next film you'll see?
I have no idea!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
GIRLFRIENDS!
Here are some SWEET pictures of Chloe and her cousin, Maddie, getting "caught" eating Girl Scout cookies at bedtime!
Monday, June 2, 2008
LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL!
We are 4 days from the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! Can't believe that in August, I will have a 6th grader and a 2nd grader! Time certainly flies!
This is my first attempt to post with pictures! I found a few snapshots of the kids I thought were "blog-worthy," so here they are! If all goes well, I will post pics later this week from awards ceremonies at school.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
LONDON SUMMARY
We're home!!! I never thought I'd say this, but I LOVE the Texas heat! I couldn't believe how cold and damp it was in England. We took more cabs than Joe wanted, because my lips were chattering in the 40 degree night air. Overall, it was a great experience, and I think I could live there! Here is the trip summary:
We found London to be a bit crowded and busy for us. After living in the suburbs for so long and feeling “safe” letting our kids play outside, the city had some drawbacks. I told Joe I felt nervous when I thought about getting the kids to and from certain places, like school, sports, the park,and even church. There is no such thing as a "quiet street" in our price range in London!!!
We saw 11 properties in the city, in areas where Paul McCartney lives & works out, where Elton John owns a home, where the guy who dates Kylie Minogue lives (we would have been his next door neighbor!)… so all areas that we would consider upscale. The downside was the size of the properties. It would be a foreign experience to live in a 5 floor home with 1700 sq. ft. of living space. I noticed at all the properties each room was separated from the hallway by a door. That is because it is against fire code to prop open ANY doors. Well, you KNOW my anxiety kicked up a notch when they mentioned "fire" and I thought about climbing 4 flights of stairs to get to each bedroom... HUGE deal breaker!!!It is fair to say that we saw a couple places that we could make work for us, but nothing that just knocked us out. And in that price range, I want to be IMPRESSED!!!
City schools are also different. Very secular, child-centered (to the point that I actually thought the kids were running one place we visited), and DIVERSE. Again, that’s not a bad thing, depending on the diversity. For example, at the American School in London, I saw at least 3 classrooms where teachers had prominently displayed the rainbow symbol. All were male teachers (music, drama & Kindergarten - surprise!!) working with young children. That creeped me out. Another school told us that our “religion” would be “celebrated,” along with the Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, etc., who also attend the school. The same school also told us to prepare our children for some “lively debates” on faith… no, thank you. I am pretty certain that Ross could hold his own in an apologetics conversation with someone, but Chloe is still being molded. And Emmy? Please. There are days when she wakes up and says she doesn’t want to “be friends with Jesus” today. Another drawback to the city schools was their availability for our kids – one place had potential spots for Ross & Chloe, but nothing for Emmy, one other could handle Chloe but not Ross or Emmy, and at one place, the kids would be on campuses that are 20 minutes apart. They would be bused back & forth.
After 2 days of searching, our relocation person took us out of the city to Surrey. Think downtown Dallas to Celina, distance-wise. It is the quintessential English countryside, like you’ve seen in the movies. It is about a 20 minute train ride into London’s Waterloo station, and all in for Joe, the commute would be about 45 minutes– 1:20, depending on the time of day. We visited and fell in love with the American Community School, which is a little more what we’re used to, minus the Christian influence. The SINGLE campus is on about 700 acres and has tennis courts, a swimming pool, a track, and rugby & soccer (football) fields. They offer GYMNASTICS as a sports option for Chloe, which is beyond necessary at this point. They also have a chess club and a robotics club for Ross. Ross mentioned in one of his "why you should let me come to your schoo" essays that he would like to play tennis, which they also accommodate. Wimbledon is a 15 minute drive from Surrey. Their school calendar is very similar to the American school calendar – time off for Thanksgiving & Christmas, spring break, a fall break – and a nice, long summer. It sounded as if they had availability for all 3 kids (Emmy would go a half day), so we applied online & sent school records & references there.
Next, it was time to house hunt. We saw 3 properties and could live in any of them. They are very similar to Texas housing in size and scale. All have garages, yards (gardens) with year-round GARDENERS, and are on streets in neighborhoods. Interesting tidbit: the houses have names! One is Mayflower Manor, one is Hydrangea Place... very fun! The last home we saw was our absolute favorite. It used to be a manor house with 5 bedrooms and an annex for “the help,” as the landlord said! I laughed and told Joe I’d move up there by myself!! The major upside for me was that it had an American refrigerator and an American washer AND dryer. I felt like we’d struck gold when I saw those!! It was beautiful – all remodeled in the last 3 months – and on a street that gets Joe to the train in about 5 minutes and me to the kids’ school in 10. The bigger bonus? Our next door neighbors have 3 kids, similar in age to our three. I felt like we were following the breadcrumbs like Hansel & Gretel right into the house God chose for us!! It was way cool.
Downtown Cobham (the name of the council/city)is this tiny village that is so quaint. It has all the necessities – coffee shop, book store, gift shops, grocery store, gas station, clothing stores – and was on a cobblestone street that was amazingly quiet, a very sharp contrast to London!!! I knew we were in “THE PLACE” when the relocation person told us there is a COSTCO about 20 minutes from Cobham!! Hallelujah!
So, we think we have two winners! We’re just waiting for the company to decide exactly where they want us. It could be that we stay right here. But if we don’t, I feel certain the Lord went before us and showed us exactly where he wants us.
We will definitely keep you posted. And, if y'all ever get to London, which is a must for this thing to go through, we have PLENTY of room for your sweet families! How fun would that be?!
We found London to be a bit crowded and busy for us. After living in the suburbs for so long and feeling “safe” letting our kids play outside, the city had some drawbacks. I told Joe I felt nervous when I thought about getting the kids to and from certain places, like school, sports, the park,and even church. There is no such thing as a "quiet street" in our price range in London!!!
We saw 11 properties in the city, in areas where Paul McCartney lives & works out, where Elton John owns a home, where the guy who dates Kylie Minogue lives (we would have been his next door neighbor!)… so all areas that we would consider upscale. The downside was the size of the properties. It would be a foreign experience to live in a 5 floor home with 1700 sq. ft. of living space. I noticed at all the properties each room was separated from the hallway by a door. That is because it is against fire code to prop open ANY doors. Well, you KNOW my anxiety kicked up a notch when they mentioned "fire" and I thought about climbing 4 flights of stairs to get to each bedroom... HUGE deal breaker!!!It is fair to say that we saw a couple places that we could make work for us, but nothing that just knocked us out. And in that price range, I want to be IMPRESSED!!!
City schools are also different. Very secular, child-centered (to the point that I actually thought the kids were running one place we visited), and DIVERSE. Again, that’s not a bad thing, depending on the diversity. For example, at the American School in London, I saw at least 3 classrooms where teachers had prominently displayed the rainbow symbol. All were male teachers (music, drama & Kindergarten - surprise!!) working with young children. That creeped me out. Another school told us that our “religion” would be “celebrated,” along with the Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, etc., who also attend the school. The same school also told us to prepare our children for some “lively debates” on faith… no, thank you. I am pretty certain that Ross could hold his own in an apologetics conversation with someone, but Chloe is still being molded. And Emmy? Please. There are days when she wakes up and says she doesn’t want to “be friends with Jesus” today. Another drawback to the city schools was their availability for our kids – one place had potential spots for Ross & Chloe, but nothing for Emmy, one other could handle Chloe but not Ross or Emmy, and at one place, the kids would be on campuses that are 20 minutes apart. They would be bused back & forth.
After 2 days of searching, our relocation person took us out of the city to Surrey. Think downtown Dallas to Celina, distance-wise. It is the quintessential English countryside, like you’ve seen in the movies. It is about a 20 minute train ride into London’s Waterloo station, and all in for Joe, the commute would be about 45 minutes– 1:20, depending on the time of day. We visited and fell in love with the American Community School, which is a little more what we’re used to, minus the Christian influence. The SINGLE campus is on about 700 acres and has tennis courts, a swimming pool, a track, and rugby & soccer (football) fields. They offer GYMNASTICS as a sports option for Chloe, which is beyond necessary at this point. They also have a chess club and a robotics club for Ross. Ross mentioned in one of his "why you should let me come to your schoo" essays that he would like to play tennis, which they also accommodate. Wimbledon is a 15 minute drive from Surrey. Their school calendar is very similar to the American school calendar – time off for Thanksgiving & Christmas, spring break, a fall break – and a nice, long summer. It sounded as if they had availability for all 3 kids (Emmy would go a half day), so we applied online & sent school records & references there.
Next, it was time to house hunt. We saw 3 properties and could live in any of them. They are very similar to Texas housing in size and scale. All have garages, yards (gardens) with year-round GARDENERS, and are on streets in neighborhoods. Interesting tidbit: the houses have names! One is Mayflower Manor, one is Hydrangea Place... very fun! The last home we saw was our absolute favorite. It used to be a manor house with 5 bedrooms and an annex for “the help,” as the landlord said! I laughed and told Joe I’d move up there by myself!! The major upside for me was that it had an American refrigerator and an American washer AND dryer. I felt like we’d struck gold when I saw those!! It was beautiful – all remodeled in the last 3 months – and on a street that gets Joe to the train in about 5 minutes and me to the kids’ school in 10. The bigger bonus? Our next door neighbors have 3 kids, similar in age to our three. I felt like we were following the breadcrumbs like Hansel & Gretel right into the house God chose for us!! It was way cool.
Downtown Cobham (the name of the council/city)is this tiny village that is so quaint. It has all the necessities – coffee shop, book store, gift shops, grocery store, gas station, clothing stores – and was on a cobblestone street that was amazingly quiet, a very sharp contrast to London!!! I knew we were in “THE PLACE” when the relocation person told us there is a COSTCO about 20 minutes from Cobham!! Hallelujah!
So, we think we have two winners! We’re just waiting for the company to decide exactly where they want us. It could be that we stay right here. But if we don’t, I feel certain the Lord went before us and showed us exactly where he wants us.
We will definitely keep you posted. And, if y'all ever get to London, which is a must for this thing to go through, we have PLENTY of room for your sweet families! How fun would that be?!
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