Oh Happy Day!

Well, they are here! Words can't explain just how happy I am that they are here or what I felt when they came through those doors at the bus station. I am going to take you back to yesterday morning so that you can re-live it with me.

Yesterday morning Donovan woke up at 4:30am and went off to go meet Mama and Ruth at the airport and I attempted to go back to sleep; It didn't work. I had a shower, smoothed the wrinkles off the bed, vacuumed, cleaned everything there was to clean...twice! Then it was time! I donned my shoes and jacket, grabbed my umbrella and bus ticket and off I went. As I rode the bus I had the biggest smile of my face as we got closer and closer to the bus station. Then, I get off the bus and I start looking everywhere for them! I can't see them, and as I wasn't sure which bus they were on I sat in the middle of the station and I looked both ways...then I heard one of the doors open and I look and I saw Donovan. I smiled a huge smile and started walking and trying oh so hard not to run, but then my beautiful sister walked through the door and there was nothing I could do to stop myself from running! I hugged her long and hard and then my mom. Tears came to my eyes as I couldn't believe that they were actually there. I feel like I am living a dream. We came home, had some lunch then I allowed my mom to have a nap and Ruth was tired as well but wanted to watch Gilmore Girls, so we did...or should I say, Donovan and I did...Ruth was asleep within minutes! Then we went for a walk to get some groceries, came home played some Uno, had supper then they went to bed!

This morning I sent Donovan off then I chilled with Mama for a little while then she went back to bed. I am about to go wake her up though if our noisy neighbourhood doesn't do it for me! I am ridiculously happy right now. At different moments I just want to cry because of how happy I am! They are here! It has been a very hard six months but now I have my mommy and my sister for some cuddles and a wonderful visit!

The plan for this week is to stay close to home so that they can fight the jet lag and Donovan works this week. So, we will go for walks, go into town, do some shopping, maybe go to the Art Gallery here in town. On Friday we are doing a London Day! See the sights and take many many pictures! I will be posting pictures as I have them so keep an eye out on my Facebook page!!

                                                                 My weary travelers!

Unicorns and Rainbows

I promised you all Unicorns and Rainbows...so here you go!  I actually really like this picture! I should mention that this was my sister-in-law Sarah's idea...she suggested that I put up a picture of a unicorn with a rainbow...and let me tell you that google images comes up with some very weird pictures when you type in "Unicorns and Rainbows" Yup...very strange indeed. :D


My mom and sister show up on Sunday! I am beyond excited! The house is clean and all I have left to do is make up their bed (which I need Donovan's help with...so I have to wait) and on Saturday we have to get some groceries and I'll need to vacuum. But other then that I am so ready!!! They are bringing with them lots of treats and goodies that we are missing along with our summer wardrobe! So ready for that. We are going to do many things, lots of day-trips to be planned. Mama is going to Bristol/Bath to visit a friend for 4 days and during that time we are going to London to visit some friends of Donovan's that will be in London for the same 4 days! Ruth will have to tag along...poor her. Something tells me she'll survive. Then Dad arrives August 5th and we leave 2 days later to the Lake District and we will be there for 8 days! We will be visiting Hadrian's Wall, Scotland, Pemberly, and many other wonderful sights!

In other news Donovan has been really enjoying his commute...but really glad that it is only for a season as we are starting to really not enjoy waking up at 4:50am. Somebody (me) is really grumpy that early in the morning. Even though I am waking up voluntarily to make his breakfast for him and I am happy to do it...I am just done with waking up that early. He has worked 4/4 so far this week! Hopefully he works tomorrow as well...then next week his paycheck will be so very pretty! JSA (the company that handles payroll) has been really dumb the last couple weeks...so dumb that he was only payed 61 pounds last week (when he should have gotten 360) and we couldn't pay rent. Our landlord is the greatest though and said we could pay tomorrow. So, we are praying that they pay us...we should be getting close to 800 pounds. So, they better pay up or we will not be very happy with them.

I have been doing quite well with keeping the house clean. We had a viewing of the flat on Tuesday so that helps. I have gotten into a nice routine of cleaning the bedroom/bathroom as I get ready in the morning and then I move into the kitchen and get it all tidy. I didn't do the dishes this morning, but mainly because there wasn't enough for me to justify filling the sink up for. I did them after lunch though!

Exercising hasn't been happening because I have had a cold the last week and a half or so...but I am doing better so I really should just get my butt outside and go. I was doing my yoga but I am going strictly by memory and I couldn't remember all I was supposed to do and I did one move wrong and now, my back hurts...so Sarah (My AWESOME sister in-law and old yoga partner) was going to help me...but today was Skype date two to "do yoga" and we didn't do any. :) We meant to...if that helps. There are still some stretches I can do that I remember and I have been doing those.

Eating healthy...well, when you are on a strict budget like we have been on...it's really hard to eat healthy, but I've been trying!

Spiritually...Well, I've been listening to worship music a lot more then I was. It helps that my mom bought me a new Bible (I packed mine...hehe ooops!) And we just have Donovan's and I like to write and highlight and he doesn't....so it's been difficult to share. So that will help things. God is still working new and wonderful things in us and we are growing in many ways and I am thankful for all that he is teaching us. Even when it hurts. Last week when we had to ask our landlord for a week's grace and Donovan came back from asking and he said yes and everything I burst into tears and said "I'm done with being an adult! Fun's over I just want to be a little girl again!" Yeah, that's not going to happen. :)

I hope to blog while my family is here, but I do want to enjoy every second they are here. Talk to you all soon....maybe :)

Neighbours

Alrighty, so I don't really like ranting on this blog...I have started many but usually by the time I have it all written out I'm good and I write something different! But today I am breaking my rule.

I have mentioned our Vietnamese neighbours who like staying up till 2am while their two year old screams and their teenage son blares techno or rock music all while they argue with each other in Vietnamese. For the past month they have actually been quiet! We haven't heard much. Now. We have neighbours on the other side as well...and since we have moved here we haven't heard much from them. Two couples and 2 children. The most we hear is their strange elevator music. But lately they have decided to go for walks at 2am and talk VERY loudly, or clean their car out at 9:30pm all while their children run around on the sidewalk and then they just hang out on the sidewalk for another half hour. While they have very strange East Indian music playing.

I realize that we go to bed really early (between 9 and 9:30pm) but I was raised with the cardinal rule "After 9pm you should be respectful of other people." Especially if you see a window open and you live on a very public street.

ALSO! Motorcycles and all loud cars with music playing should be banned after 10pm!!!!

Alright. Rant over. Next blog will be about unicorns and rainbows. :)

Oh England...

Well, much has happened in the last little while! Donovan got a job for next year, which is fantastic, and on Tuesday of this week he got a call from our agent and he got work for Donovan for the rest of year! True, Donovan has to commute to London everyday (which is slighty insane) but, it doesn't matter! Because, God is providing for us like we knew he would and all we can do is be greatful and uber thankful!!!!


In other news, my mother panicked when she heard that Air Transat flight attendents might be going on strike so she moved her and my sisters dates to come over so they are coming July 16th-August 18th with my Dad joining us on July 5th. I am so incredibly excited and I just can't wait!!!! We will be going to the Lake District for a week and along with that we will be seeing many wonderful things!!

Yesterday I had a nice long chat with my wonderful sister-in-law Sarah and we were chatting about how hard it is not to procrastinate about the things you know you have to do but you really don't want to do. Like housework, excersising, eating healthy, devotions. Those four things are things I know I need to do everyday but I always try to put it off with procrastination! So, I have been trying really hard lately not to procrastinate the last couple of weeks. It is really hard but I just pray and push through.

When we first got here and Donovan worked every day we got up together, ate breakfast together, did a devotion together, then he would leave I would get dressed, tidy up Breakfast dishes do a devotion then either read or stretch or go for a walk or sometimes watch something but now that is all we do! Watch TV. Somedays I just want to delete all movies we have on the laptop. Yesterday when Donovan left I ended up going back to bed and didn't get a whole lot done. Two loads of laundry and one load of dishes and of course, supper.

This morning was a different story and I want every day to be like this! I felt like I was ready to conquer the world. I woke up with Donovan, ate breakfast, he left I did some computer things and around 6am I put on some music did yoga, ballet, and some weights, then I went for a nice brisk walk was done at 7:30am had a shower, then I moved the laptop to the bedroom and put away all of those clothes that I hate putting away, did another load of laundry, made the bed and the bedroom was clean! After that was done I did a hour of reading my Bible, praying and meditating. It has been a good day. So, now it is 4:18pm and I am off to finish up the dishes and plan supper. I ask for prayers as I try to stick to my routine and my goals that I set for myself. It can be so hard to break old habits and that is what I am attempting to do. :)

Praise the Lord!

Well, things are slowly progressing and prayers are being answered and life is coming together! On Monday (June 13) Donovan had to go down to Maidstone, Kent for 2 interviews, he left at 5:30am and didn't get home until 9:30pm. Then on Tuesday (June 14) he had to go to Sandy, Bedfordshire for 8:30am which meant that he to be up at 3:30am because he had to walk to the train station because no buses run until 5:45ish. He got home at 2:45pm and told me that the interview went very well and that they offered him the job on the spot and he accepted it! So, we will be moving to Sandy, Bedfordshire (or area) at the end of August! Donovan will be teaching History and English to mainly year 9 and 10's and maybe some 11's. He is very excited to be able to have his own classroom and he is already full of idea's on how to set it up. The contract is for a full year but if we want to the school is willing for us to stay longer. So, we are leaving it in God's hands and His will to be done!

In other news we are both still not really working so we don't have a lot of money to get us through till September, so please pray that we will be able to find some part-time summer work. Other then this not a whole lot is going on! I will try to write a longer update in the next couple of days...but for now, this is all I've got! (It isn't even 8 in the morning yet....not quite alive, and with no coffee in my system yet.) Must get coffee then I will write more!

Rain, rain, go away!

I am finally getting a taste of what the weather is really like here in England! It did not rain that much during the winter which was very unusual, that is what we were told anyways. Then in March, April and the beginning of May we were having 7- 9 days straight of 25 degree's sun, no wind, no rain, no clouds. Now, we are on week two of drearyness. I want sunshine again please. I liked it. I won't complain if I am warm...I'll enjoy it! I don't want to wear a coat outside anymore! I want to wear the shorts I bought!! Anyways, I'm done complaining about that. The nice thing is, it isn't too cold. Humid and rainy. My hair loves it. :P

In other news. Donovan did not get the job that he applied for, apparently they were interviewing him for second in the department (and did not tell him) so, he went in thinking he was interviewing for a normal position. So, we weren't disappointed. He is substituting today, which I know he is very greatful for! He has interviews next month for jobs for September. Some of them are for around here and others are for elsewhere in the UK. On the job front for me, I have to get some paperwork filled out for working at schools and the Starbucks has finally opened here in Northampton so I will be applying there. The awesome part about that is...it is a drive-thru store and only the 6th drive-thru in the UK so I am pretty sure they will hire me when they find out I have expierence. That is what I hope for anyways.

I am sure I have more I could write, but I have been working on this since about 9 this morning and it is now 2:30. So, time to be done and I will post another update in the near future!

Life instead of Death

Most people know me as a very positive enthusiastic person who embraces life. Lately I have been letting the cloud of homesickness engulf me and I haven't really been that person...I miss that person. I miss being all bright and positive. On Saturday I was super hyper and I realized later when I was talking to my sister...I haven't been that happy since just after I moved here. What changed? Then, on Sunday when we finally went to church and I was listening to the sermon which was based on the reading from 1 Corinthians 15:54b, 55. "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" I realized that I had been letting death have victory over my life. I have pretty much stopped doing my morning devotions and I rarely put on worship music during the day anymore. I have been listening to lies and letting myself be depressed and negative. I have been pushing down my real feelings and not listening to the truth. Then last week I got a letter in the mail from my dear friend Katie Blum. And she told me not to be afraid to whine, complain, vent, and rant to people I trust and that got me thinking. I feel like all I have been doing is complaining...but I haven't. Not to my friends anyways. Just to myself and how healthy is that? Then last night I got terrible back spasms and this morning I am set up on the floor all drugged up and feeling horrible and realizing that this is a wake up call for me. I have so much to be thankful for! I have so much to praise God for. I need to choose life everyday and fight against the death that tries to swallow me up. I need to wake up every morning and declare life over myself, my husband and our life here. I need to tell depression to get out and be a light amongst the darkness.


I started this blog wanting to keep people up to date with our life and many times I have started to write something like this and stopped thinking "no one wants to hear this, they just want to know what we do day to do." Boring! So, starting today I am going to start afresh. I am going to stop listening to lies and listen to the truth. I am going to embrace life and love where I am! I am sure that homesickness is still going to creep in when I see pictures on my niece and nephews, when I see my friends doing fun things, when I talk to my mom. But I can choose life. So I am going to!! :)


Thank you for your prayers and little notes of encouragement. Every once in awhile I get an email or letter and it lifts me up. :) Thank you for those. I will try to send my own as well.