Saturday, July 31, 2010

Bristol

I am in Bristol for the weekend visiting Grampaw : )

We are having a wonderful time!  Well, at least I am!

The house is adorable and surprisingly large.  The city is really quite lovely!  We went to Clifton Down which is a plateau that looks over a gorge!  Absolutely beautiful!  I fall more in love with the countryside in England the more I see of it!

We visited the Amnesty Book Shop where Grampaw volunteers.  I bought nine books.  A learning French book ( figure I need to know a little if I plan to spend a week there), some lovely copies of older books (The Secret Garden and Emma), and then some others (The Railway Children, Anne of Green Gables, a book for a friend on Oriental Cooking, and a copy of Pilgrims Progress from around 1878)!  Oh, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers : )  And two maps (one of Germany and one from 1957 of France!).  All in all a very profitable time.

It has been really wonderful getting to spend time with him!  I have learned much about our family that I did not know and we have had some lovely conversations!

Dinner in a while and then fireworks, hopefully, late this evening!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Random, In No Particular Order, Thoughts From Me.

All those plastic signs along the road over stores really annoy me.  They take away from towns that could by quite lovely but instead look terribly tacky.

Whenever I see a car with the steering wheel on the left side (whether in person or a picture) it momentarily throws me for a loop.

For some reason, I just got annoyed.  I really could not tell you why.  I am sure I could trace my thoughts, but I won't bother to bore you.

I am going to Bristol tomorrow to visit Grampaw!

I am looking forward to driving through the countryside.

I am SO ready for this weekend and August!

Stuff starts to happen again = )

I have been learning some lessons over the past two months.  This is a very good thing.  I wonder what God is doing.

I really want a cozy cottage in the country with a lovely Garden all to myself.  For a week.  With background music.  A good thunderstorm would be perfect at some point.  Maybe a couple of them : )

I sound complainy.  I am sorry.  I think I am slightly discontent.  I shouldn't be.  I am in England.  Living here.  Like I have always wanted to.

I am missing some people.

The interns I knew in England have flown back to the states.  I have been thinking about what it will be like when I have to board that plane.  I think I will be excited to see people but sad and feeling as if I am leaving something I shouldn't be.

Becky finishes camp THIS WEEKEND!!!  That means, I get to skype her and I can call her whenever and we can talk!!!

I need to pack.  I need to clean.  I need to go to bed.  Oy.

I need motivation :)

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow...

Today began with sleeping in.  To 9:30ish.  It was my day off.  The WHOLE day!
I took my time getting ready and then headed to Bexleyheath with the intention of having an eye appointment and then going to Lenae's.  ALL by 3:00.

I arrived and they were able to see me almost immediately.  I have been having problems with my left eye and so I explained all this to the doctor while praying that they would find the problem (ok, actually, I prayed that mid examination).  Anyway, at first the doctor seemed rather solemn and eh.  While examining my eyes he would say, "Look straight, look up, look to the right, look to the left, blink, blink, blink."  The light he was using allowed me to see the veins of my eye reflecting.  Pretty cool.

When I asked if he knew what the problem was he said he did but would tell me at the end.  Oy.  Well, at least he knew the problem.  I thanked God for that.  It turns out I have a viral infection in my eye.  That would explain the problems and the blurriness.

I am not allowed to wear contacts for two weeks.  They replaced the lenses in my glasses so I can now see....mostly.  I am going back tomorrow to double check on the left one.

Anyway, at this point I know I am not going to make it to Lenae's by 3:00.  I text her and let her know.  I then ride the bus to Blackheath, catch another bus.  That bus was interesting.  It seemed to take forever and some interesting people were on it.  Then, I got off in a neighborhood that doesn't make me feel the most comfortable and began to walk to her place.  These people came out of an apartment building and one of the guys began walking behind me.  So, of course, my imagination and fear kick in and I am rather panicky.  Then, just as I am about to turn to walk up the steps to her door I see someone standing on the bottom step.  I worry that they are about to jump out at someone (or me).  I walk by quickly and buzz her room.  She came down quickly, thankfully, and let me in.  Seriously, I don't like creepy people!!!

Anyway, we went into a few cute shops and then went to a cafe :)

Then, homeward I went after saying goodbye to Megan and Lenae.

The trip home was long and tiring.  I am home and tired.  Good day, though :)

From here on out, I feel time will fly and creep by.  Grampaw's this weekend, who knows next week (all I have planned is a Roast Dinner at Uncle Gavin's), then cricket (hopefully), then I don't know, then maybe something fun, then Daddy arrives = ), then I finish work, then the wedding and lots of family : ), then, Germany.  Time is going by so quickly.  I was thinking about what it will be like to go back to the states.  Boarding that plane and leaving all of this.  I don't know how I will feel about it.  Yes, excited to see my family and then friends, but sad to be leaving this place that I love.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

The LONG way to get to church....

Please bear with me.
I did not want to wake up this morning.
I dragged myself out of bed at twenty past eight and had my quiet time.  All the while trying to decide if I was going to go to Bromley Baptist Church, where Daddy attended, or go with Mary and Tim to their church.  I decided to go ahead and go to Bromley Baptist.  I wrote down brief and vague directions (bus numbers and stops) and left.  I saw a bus coming up the hill so I ran up the hill to beat it to the bus stop.  I did.  As I was catching my breath and getting my bus pass out....the bus drove right on by.  I forgot to stick my hand out.  Fail.  Thankfully, another one came soon after.

I got off and waited for the 122.  It eventually came.  I hopped on and it took me into an area I was not familiar with but eventually things stuck out.  I missed my stop somehow and just got off when I saw the next bus I needed would stop there.  About 20 minutes later it arrived.  Gah.  I am late.  It is 10:30.  Church starts at 10:30.  Well, I hop on and end up in Lewisham.  What?!  How?!  I am SO confused!  So, I wait for the next 261 bus going in the direction I just came from.  It comes.  After I pass up buses going in the direction of my Uncle's house and my house.  I ask the driver where my stop is.  He does not know.  I get off at a stop that looks about right.  I wander looking for some place I can ask directions.  I see Sainsbury's.

I am about to call my Uncle and ask for directions.  Just then I see the 202.  It will take me back to Blackheath.  I hop on.  Three minutes later I am in Blackheath.  I was SO close but so far away!  Basically....I am pretty sure I have just found an easier route to take.  Oy.  Anyway, now it it.....11ish or a bit after (I think a bit after).  Now, decisions.  Starbucks and quiet time with Jesus or Church.  Church wins.  Another 15 minutes of walking, losing sight of the steeple, and essentially taking the really out-of-the-way route, I arrived.  I figure I can meet Tim and Mary after the service.  I arrive for the last fiveish minutes of the sermon.  Now prayer.  A song, I think, and then communion (which includes reading prayers).  Then we take communion.  This involves sharing a cup.  Okok.  I can do this.  I take the bread.  Eat it.  However, I failed at the glass part.  I didn't really take it from her hands (I didn't realize I was supposed to. Whoops.)  On the bright side.  The wine was reaaaally good.  Sweet tasting.

Church ends.  Mary and Tim are at home.  I read and wait for the bus.  I get on the bus.  I ride home.  I am now thankfully home.

What a morning!  And it only took 3 hours and 22 minutes : )  Including writing this blog!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

No Sleep

I have been tired since about 2 or 3 this afternoon!
It is in 12:02 AM.
I pushed myself past bedtime and the result is, I cannot sleep.
Boo.
I am so tired!
My mind will not stop thinking!
Oy vey!
I want to sleep.
I am thinking about the travels I might take.
I am trying to plan Germany out in my mind.
I am thinking about things that will happen when I return home.
I am thinking about friends.
I am thinking about my parents.
I am trying to decide where I am going to go to church in the morning.
I am typing with ear plugs in.
It makes the typing sound funny.
More official.
As if I am writing quickly.
For a deadline.
For an important newspaper.
If only...
No, I do not aspire to be a great journalist.
Although, it would be fun!
I would like to sleep.
I have a hopeful skype date tomorrow.
2PM my time.
9AM their time.
Actually their=approximately 5 people.
I might go to Israel.
Can you imagine?
That is what I am doing.
And Greece.
I keep thinking about what I will see.
I am thinking about France.
That roadtrip I want to take.
Yep.
And you wonder why I cannot sleep.
This could continue for a while.
I am typing without my glasses on.
I am doing surprisingly well.
I can see enough to know when I make a mistake.
My roommate cannot.
Poor thing.
BUT she is in SHANGHAI!!!!!!!
Pray for her!
She is having eye trouble.
New contacts.
I miss her soooooo much!
I miss Becky too!!!
I cannot wait to see the two of them!
Just think.
7 months.
Potentially:
9 countries.
2 continents.
HOW EXCITING!!!!!!
Wow.
This is incredible!
God has been so good!
Ok.
Sleep.
Now.
Goodnight.

Blue Hair...

Yesterday I went and visited Uncle Gavin and Auntie Lisa.  However, I took the bus.  While I was waiting (for ages) for the 124 I saw this punk girl with pink and blue hair.  I had a deja vu moment.  I thought hard about it for a few seconds and realized in my dream two nights ago someone dyed my hair.  I just let them paint it on my hair and then realized I did not know what color is was going to be.  I quickly washed it out and the top of my hair was BLUE!

Anyway, today was an "early" morning for a Saturday.  I was woken up and could not fall back asleep.  I lay there resting and realized I had gotten about 9 hours of sleep.  This morning has been lovely.  Quiet time, breakfast, washed some dishes, and I have a skype date with Daddy to look forward to!!!

Mary is having some mums over to relax in her Healing Garden (aka the back garden).  A time for mums and non-mums to relax and rejuvenate in a lovely garden on a beautiful day with some yummy goodies!  Yes, I will enjoy some of the goodies too : )

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Twosies...

What. A. Day.

Ok, 1.  I did a writing analysis by copying and pasting different blog entries.  These were 3 of my 4 results:  Stephen King (Really?), Cory Doctorow (Who?), Someone I don't remember, and James Joyce (Aha! I know that one! Except on that entry I was hoping for Jane Austen).  Anyway, my experiment shall be to put in an excerpt from Jane Austen and see what the analysis shows. Hehehe.

2.  Today was long.  And trying.  I look forward to sleep tonight and a shorter day tomorrow : )

3.  Julia's quote of the day: "Jude waked-ed me with his snoozes (snoring)." Hahahaha that little girl cracks me up!

4.  I decided to go for a walk tonight!  I saw two foxes (I am pretty sure the second one was a fox), two cats, and ate some yuuuummy blackberries!!!

5.  Miss America has it's 90th showing on January 15th.  I am happy and sad.  That means no school party, but I get to watch it at home and point out what should be different to make it better with my mother = )

6.  I really need to go to bed!

7.  Goodnight!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Late Night Phone Calls.....

*ring ring (ok, actually a cell phone tone)* I hear my phone ringing beyond my ear plugs.  I think to myself, "Is it someone who doesn't know I have this phone or is it Mary?"  It's Mary.  I answer, "Hello?"  I hear, "Would you like some pizza?"  I think to myself, why in the world are they having pizza?  They must have gotten hungry, as I say, "No (I don't remember if I said thank you)."  Mary laughs and then tells me that Tim is going to take Jude to school!  Hooray!  I get to sleep and extra 30 minutes which is GREAT because I am having a hard time falling asleep.  Anyway, I needed to make Jude's lunch, so, instead of putting it off to the morning I went downstairs and fixed it.  I got half a piece of bread with Nutella out of the deal : )  Not bad not bad!

Anyway, I am licking the Nutella off the bread (which I just did so I could write that) and wanting to sleep.  However, I am awake and want to talk to someone.  Most of the people I talk to are at camp.  Either that, or they won't answer their phone (my roommate).  Okok, so I guess there are a FEW people I could call.  My parents, an aunt or uncle, one of my cousins, but I am too tired.  See, this is a tired that stinks.  I want to do something or talk to someone but I am too tired to make it happen.

I have begin to work on my Germany plans!  Let me tell you!  I am SOOO excited!  I have to write down a list of what I need to do (that is for Daddy).  I also need to clean my room.  Blech.  Alright.  I will now finish my Nutella on bread and HOPEFULLY go to sleep!

Guten Nacht!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

English Faux Pas...

So, I am pretty sure I committed a Fashion Faux Pas (Stacy and Clinton would not have approved) this morning.  Actually, I know I did.  However, it did not hit me until it was already committed how bad it truly was.  I received a phone call from Mary this morning saying Jude had left something he needed for school and would I please meet them with it.  I was thinking, "Oh, they are just at the bus stop, a quick run up and back."  So, I left Julia and took the dog to Jude.  I went toward the bus stop....they were not there.  I look down the hill...yep there they are, so I start walking....and realize, oh yeah, I live on a very busy road.  Everyone can see me.  I am in my pajamas.  I am in BOXERS!  Hello.  I wanted to melt.  I kept walking.  I kept thinking, oh well, they don't know me.  Ok, I will just keep going.  I am in England.  They don't do this.  Oy.  Yet, when I thought about it, some people do wear very odd things.  Just not boxers.  That will so not happen again: 0

Anyway, I ended up watching the kids today so after Jude got home from school we watched Toy Story 2 in preparation for Toy Story 3 on Saturday = )  Ok.  I want to point out that when Buzz is giving his motivation speech to the toys just before they find Al's Toy Barn and it gets all patriotic and the AMERICAN flag flies behind him....yeah well not on the one.  They have a rotating globe.  Ok, I am so not pulling an ethnocentric anything, HOWEVER, it is an American film, in the USA, hence the USA flag, so WHY change it?!

That is all.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

How Faithful is Our God!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! 


Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! 



Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! 





I love this hymn!  We sang it today in church.  The first time I have sung it in a while.  I was reminded of God's love for us!  He is faithful!  When have I ever lacked anything I needed?  God has met my needs AND even many of my wants!  I am then divided and think to myself, what about all the starving people around the world who are lacking?  Why me in an already privileged country?  I don't have an answer!  For all I know it could be the simplest answer in the world, but I don't know it.  If someone does, please enlighten me!


This simple truth.  God is faithful.  it has a hard one for me to remember.  I have been struggling with God and about God so much lately.  It is hard to struggle when I feel I am making no head way.  


I was thinking the other day.  God must love us.  He, knowing that we would be a fallen people, chose to create us anyway.  Knowing He would give His son to die on a cross He went ahead and created us.  Yet, think about it. That also brought the greatest glory to Himself.  He could have just said, "Forget them, they will sin and mess everything up and cost me my son.  They are not worth it."  Yet, He saw us as worth it AND if He had not created us He would not have had the glory of creating this incredible universe we live in, the glory of creating a way for salvation, the glory of sending His son to die for us that we might live and glorify His name, and the glory of our worship, praise, and glory to Him!  Yes, that speaker second semester of my Freshman year, annoying as he was, really stuck with me.  I don't always like it all.  I like to think, Jesus died because He loves me, but then I realize, yes, He does love me, but it was also to bring glory to the Father.  No, this late at night, I cannot reason it all out.  I don't remember if I could when it was in the middle of the day.  I will try and remember to do that tomorrow.


Anyway, the whole point of this thing is, God IS faithful! 


Psalms 86:15- "But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness."

Let's Go to Jamaica!

Yes, well, you see, I decided I needed some beach and island music so I hopped a plane and....

Haaaa, just kidding (note: please read with The Nanny's voice)!!!

However, I did get a dose of Caribbean church today.  Although, in all reality, it was not too too different from a good black church in America.  I say this not to compare it to the United States but to give the Americans reading this something familiar to know what I am talking about.

Anyway, we walked in (we meaning Mary, Tim, Jude, Julia, and yours truly) and I immediately recognized the song being sung.  I jumped right in and sang and swayed away.  Yes, I love these churches!    We sing a while, and the thing that is great is how we sang such a variety of songs, yes, even hymns : )  We sang Great is Thy Faithfulness!  I LOVE this hymn and have not sung it in a while.  I was reminded, as I always am when I sing this hymn, that I have never lacked anything I needed.  God ALWAYS provides.  Lately this has been a hard truth to believe.  It is even as I type this because in the back of my mind I have something that has yet to be provided.  I realized a few weeks ago that I have not been able to totally trust God just in case it didn't happen.  In my head I was saying, "What if...?"  Yet, when I think about it, God is THE ONLY person in whom we can put our WHOLE TRUST!  It is hard. Very hard. Sometimes. Other times....psh easy peasy. But not right now.

Anyway, church was lovely!  I thought A LOT all through the service!  I observed people.  The USA was not mentioned.  How interesting.  There were a few USA flags but that was it.

The service began at 11:15 (we were about 15 minutes late) and ended just before 2 (it did run a little longer than usual).  Some of you may be freaking out at the mere thought, but, it did not feel that long.  The people were just lovely!

I was sitting there wanting to be black.  I even wondered if it was possible to go from white to black (yes, I did JUST think of Michael Jackson as I typed that.  I didn't earlier.) I mean, they can do transgender surgery (NO I am not advocating transgender surgery.  I am against it.  Just covering that base in case anyone misinterpreted what I was saying), why not change a person's color.  However, I decided it would not be worth the trouble.  Besides, it is not like they could change my hair.  And, I like my hair most of the time. And my eyes.  So, I will just work on getting tanner ; ) (And yes, I was thinking about this and MUCH more during church!  My mother got it right the other day when she told me I think about a million things in X amount of time (meaning I don't remember how long she said).

AND during one of the songs we sang you could hear the Jamaican accent in some of the words!

This is all. Oh, I skyped with my brother for 45 minutes (I think)!  It was so great to talk to him! He got a Taylor Lautner haircut (no, don't think any less of him, he is not a Twilight fan or anything like that.  The style looks good on him!)!  My cousin and I still think he looks like Zac Efron in the first High School Musical.  Well, there goes being able to think Zac Efron is attractive.  It is very strange seeing your brother's or cousin's face in a movie star.  Just wait though, one of these days he will be a Pro Baseball player!  Yep, we have already requested the private jet, shoes, hand bags, and cars = )
I mean, hey, Daddy gets a house!  Michael, you should have a swimming pool put in!  And hurry up already!  I mean, if you go pro at 21 I will only be 25...this could be fun!

Okokok, I am NOW finished.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Christmas, Lovely Christmas

"Sisters" is playing in the background....I love this song. I love "White Christmas." When Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye lip sync this song....hilarious!!!!

Yes, I am in a Christmas mood!  As Julia and I walked home from school today I was wracking my brain for something fun to do this afternoon.....then it hit me!  A Christmas in July Party!  Helloooo!  So, she thought this was "a great plan!"  So, plan we did!  Hot chocolate, nutella on bread, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer movie, and then Christmas Music!  We waited for Jude to get home and then we sat down for almost an hour and just had Christmas!  I am kinda homesick.....and now "Christmas Shoes" just started playing....so I may just end up tearing up.  Sheesh kabobs.  However, speaking of moms, since that is what the song is about, I realized today just how awesome my mom is!  I was reading Lenae's post about her mom and it made me think.  Then today I was thinking.  I have been thinking a lot about this, actually, even before reading Lenae's post.  So many of the things my mom raised me to obey and believe have stuck with me like glue.  Even if I don't fully agree they begin to make more sense as I grow older.  Then, what if Mama has been right all this time and the other parents were wrong.  I mean, parents are stewards of their children's lives.  God has entrusted parents with the lives of their children.  My Mama put a lot of thought into how she raised me.  I know my Daddy did also!  I am a product of my parents.  I know this.  I know when something comes out of my mouth and I cringe thinking "That was so just my mother" that is is because she raised me that way.  Oy, now I have to think and pray and study to learn what I believe from what I was taught so I can raise my children someday to love Jesus and to live for more than themselves but for the glory of the Father!

See! I told you I would get nostalgic!  Yes, tears are drying up in my eyes.  The song egged them on but it was because of something else.

I have been learning things.  I cannot dwell on the past.  I cannot define myself by what has happened.  I can only let God have it and move forward and learn what God wants to teach me as a result.  I have to take comfort in Him rather than looking to my earthly parents when they fail me.  That is a hard lesson to learn!  It is hard because I like the physical touch and security that my parents provide.  I guess another area God is trying to grow me in.....

Well, so much for Christmas.  Yes, Christmas.  I look forward to being home.  Yet, I am love love loving being here!  I LOVE it here!  I love Europe!  I cannot wait to actually get on the continent and explore and have adventures!!!

I cannot wait to see Daddy in a month! A month from tomorrow morning he will be landing!!!

Oh. Hands down.  Hardest thing about being in England.  Grandma is not here.  Sometimes, I will be on the bus and see an older lady, or I will be thinking about Boxing Day or the fact that my Birthday just passed and there was no card and I could not visit her, or that I am in England and she does not know because she is not here.....and I will either tear up or have to force myself not to just start crying.  I miss her so incredibly much!!!! I HATE that I did not know her!  I HATE that I can never know her!  I hate that I don't remember the last time I talked to her before she died.  I miss her. So badly. I hate that Boxing Day will come and go and that it is now a day of pain and sadness for some because she is not here to visit.

The End.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

My 1st week as a 19 year old in my 20th year ; )

Lenae posed this statement to me. I am in my twentieth year. Shoot. That means I have lived:
19 years. 
Almost 2 decades.
Almost 1 score.
Wow. I could be applied to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. 

Ok, anyway.  Since my 19th birthday I have worked, visited my Uncle, seen Lenae, Jackson, Brian, Sarah Jane, Mac, and Lenae's mom and sister, toured London some more, went inside Westminster for the very first time (which included seeing QEI's tomb!), and....SAW OLIVER!!!! It is FANTASTIC!!!! What a night! We got in well after midnight!

Sunday I left Lenae's and came home completely exhausted! We had a barbeque and I was in bed before 9:30!

I tried my first sip of English Cider.  It tasted like Sparkling Apple Cider. Pretty good. 
The sip of beer I had tasted like bread dough (mainly yeast).
I didn't get a strawberry tart.....but I will = )


I bought a new purse today because mine broke. 

I am sleepy. 

I opened a UK bank account today : )

I am SOOOO excited about Germany!

This is WAY shorter than I thought it would be.....

Daddy visits in a tad over a month!!!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

18 Was a Good Year....

This year has been full of "firsts".  I am a "firsts" and "lasts" person.  Please, allow me to share : ) (Yes, most of them are "firsts"!




- My very first camping trip EVER!  My college group and I went to The Pisgah National Forest and had a weekend full of getting lost, chinese fire drills, camp fires, smores, swimming and sliding down rocks = )  Quite fantastic memories!!!




- First college road trip with college friends = )  We went to Florida for a getaway weekend at my dads and to surprise Juliet at her soccer game that was just minutes from my house!  On the way down I saw a Bentley (I think), we stopped for Frosty's, arrived and had Sushi (DELICIOUS), had funny sleeping arrangements, kitty allergies, yummy brunch, found English candy in Publix, had my first Pita Pit yumminess!!!, and so much more! These girls are FANTASTIC!!!

- First official soccer game I went to of Juliet's (I went to a scrimmage in August).  It was SO great to see her!!!












- The long awaited wedding of my dear cousin Elizabeth finally arrived!  Just weeks before the wedding she phoned me asking me to be her MAID OF HONOR!  This was my first wedding since I was a flower girl at age 3!  My first time as a bridesmaid and I the honor of being the MOH = )
She was a lovely bride!!!  Abi was such a beautiful flower girl (in picture)!









-  I was snowed for the first time (I think ever) at the beginning of my Christmas vacation!  It was quite the adventure!  Our truck broke down and we were stuck for four hours until Joy and her dad came and rescued us!  They were lovely!  AND we got a GREAT dose of Christmas : )






- I wore my first camo jacket when we went on our hall retreat!  It was awesome!  4-wheelers, fun games, hide and seek in the dark, BUT no alligators... = (

Maybe next time = )







- I sang my first broadway song....off broadway = )

Holland and I sang "Loathing" from Wicked!  It was so great!

Next year Holland, next year = )











- I went on my very first, by myself, Spring Break trip to Maine to visit my babysitter from Pennsylvania when I was 5 and 6!  It was SO wonderful to see her again and to meet her children and husband!  I had my very first sip of maple sap before it became syrup = ) quite good actually!












- I rode my very first SNOWMOBILE while on Spring Break!  Yes, yes, I know, while everyone else migrated to Florida I went wayyyy north!  As in, I walked to the Canadian border : )







- I cut someone else's hair for the very first time on our college retreat in March (or was it April?)  Anyway, it was such a fantastic time!!!  And, his bangs turned out pretty decently, even using my Grandmother's very dull scissors : )









- I pierced someone's ear!!!! Now THAT was a college experience ; )  However, I learned after that I could have deformed her ear or paralyzed half her face.  I am SO thankful God protected her...but that is the last cartilage I will be piercing!









- I went on my very first, official trip to Charleston, SC = ) We had an awesome time!  It was quite the experience!  Beautiful, old buildings!  Lovely water!  Wonderful friends!  Delicious food!  Oh, it was so much fun!  See the girls in the picture?  I love them dearly!











-  I participated in my first ever paint war = )  It was also the last event of the semester of our Sophomore year!  What a fun time!  Although, I think about 3-4 hair washes later I still had flecks of paint in it : )  It was worth it, though!






- I boarded my first, by-myself international flight to ENGLAND!!!!!  What a trip!  I am having a fantastic time and time is flying by!  Next up, GERMANY!!!

















- To top it ALL off.....I went to the Men's Finals at WIMBLEDON!!!!  Wow, it was SO much fun!!!














God has been so good to me this year!  He has provided and continues to!  I think He is still teaching me trust and patience because things tend to go till the last minute : )  (meaning me waiting on Him).  However, I have done so much, including flying to England and living here ALL before I turned 19!!! Which, I did today = )

Oh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY,  DADDY!!!!! I love you!!!!!!

Monday, July 5, 2010

I've Always Been Told I'm a Dreamer...

Life continues.
3,000 miles away my dad, brother, and step-mom are at the beach, my mom is in VA, and I am in London.
It's ok.  I am having a wonderful and blessed time!  God has been doing wonderful things!

I have been having the gift of getting to know my England family better!  It is so nice to not feel rushed.  I know I will see them even when we say goodbye!

This past weekend I went to Stevenage to visit Auntie Michele and family.  After a few hours I made it.  During those hours Murray lost and Nadal became a Wimbledon finalist!  I arrived and began to say hi and settle in.  We ate dinner, walked the dogs, and watched 27 Dresses (a good chick flick : ) )!  The next day was a busy one full of cleaning, going out, getting ready, and finally a BIRTHDAY PARTY/Graduation Party!!!  Jess, Iain, and I have birthdays within 11 days of each other and BEx just finished Secondary school!  I was a bit nervous (ok, a little more than a bit) because everyone had invited guests (except for myself, of course) and I was worried I would end up feeling left out.  Well, it was a little uncomfortable for the first 30 minutes or so and then Jess, Jamie (Jess' boyfriend), and I chatted and then her friends began to arrive! They were SO nice!  The totally included me and it was great fun getting to know them!  I greatly look forward to seeing them again!

The night included me being the "american", the one whose brother looks like Zac Efron, telling about America, answering questions, just talking : ), setting off lighting Chinese Lanterns to fly away and in the process thought I was going to catch the tree, the table, and the roof on fire, and doing a fairy dance with and directed by a four year old with my Aunt, Cousin, and cousin's friend.  Oh, and, I tried Irish Cream.  Ew. No thanks.  At first it tasted good, then it kinda burned a little and tasted kinda ick.  After two sips I decided it was too sweet and would taste better in coffee.  After three sips....I kinda wanted to throw up.  I am still holding out for the Pink Champagne = )

Jess and I went to bed...which then led to talking until 1:30!  It was really great...except we had to get up between 8 and 8:30 to go to WIMBLEDON!!!!  So, 8:35 or 8:37 I think I finally rolled out of bed and got ready.  We left the house at 9:15, went to the train station, bought our tickets, and off we went on our adventure!  The train trip was SO fast compared to my trip there!  We took the tube to Victoria Tube Station where we waited for the Wimbledon tube!  The whole time I was trying to guess who was going based on clothes and conversations : )  We finally make it and begin walking to the grounds!  We were given free strawberries that were scrumptious and then this guy asked us something that all ran together.  Well, I replied with, "no" which is what I do if I don't understand someone.  Or I smile.  Well, he got kind of annoyed and was like you need to go this way.  Well, good thing he spoke up.  Turns out he said, "are you a ticket holder?" Since we were not (this time!!) we had to go a different way to queue up.  It really was not that long and we had a fabulous time!  We walked around and then headed off to Wimbledon Village for a picnic.  The gentleman we asked about supermarkets said, this is Wimbledon.  Well, I am sorry, but for what we paid TOTAL we would have been able to buy two hamburger meals and no strawberries.  I was pleased. Oh, and we got Starbucks.....so we saved money : )  In the process we planned our next trip to Wimbledon two years from now (hopefully).  Hello, graduation present to ourselves!  Parents are welcome to chip in if they so desire ; )  Although, we decided we would rather have a car from them than help with Wimbledon. Haha. Anyway, next time:
-December Tickets
-Summer Dresses
-Sun Hats
-Cute Shoes (duh)
-Either, a taxi or a private car (okok let me dream)
-Strawberries and Champagne : )
-Oh, and eating on top of Centre Court!

So, we planned this while walking to and from Wimbledon Village.
We got back to the grounds and the hill was PACKED!  Literally, we walked all the way around and then through and finally hit an almost dead end.  Some guy who I was standing in front of looked up and asked if I knew where I was going.  I looked at him and said, "I have no clue!"  Well, thankfully, we ended up with good seats and space to breathe!  Two cartons of Strawberries later and a win from Nadal and a few clothing criticisms later we packed up, went to the Wimbledon shop, took more photos around, and left = ) What a day!!!!!

I WENT TO WIMBLEDON, PEOPLE!!!!!!!
It was such a wonderful time!  Alas, I did not see Nadal.  Oh well, next time : )
God was so good allowing this to all fall into place!  I can't wait to see what He has planned for my first time in Centre Court!

God has blessed me so much over the past 18 years, 364 days and 5 minutes!!! Wow. One year left to be a teenager : )
I cannot wait to see what happens this year!
My parents always say, I am a dreamer......

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Because.....

I just wanna blog.
Why?
Because.
Because why?
Ok ok, I am kind of homesick at the moment.
My first birthday without either parent, my favorite time of year in VA, my dad, brother, and stepmom are at the beach (i LOVE the beach, especially with them), and....I miss my friends.
Okokok, so, I am not as pitiful as this may sound, but still, and I am kinda sitting here allowing myself to mope because I want to.  Anyway, I decided to blog about my mopiness.

Well, this weekend is going to be lovely! I get to spend it with my family in Stevenage : )  I cannot wait!  Cousin Birthday Weekend!  Wimbledon Men's Finals on Sunday (waiting to see who actually makes it considering last years finalist are both out!  I could care less about Roddick....but Federer?).

I have exactly 5 days 10 hours and 57 minutes left to be 18.  I must say, I have done something exciting = )  I came to England!!! I made my first trans-atlantic flight by myself.  This has been a very good year!  17 was good also!  I have fantastic friends that I love!  I have grown friendships!  I have the hands down best roommate in the world.  I have the best friends!  I have a faithful God even when I am not!!! I have a wonderful, loving, and supportive family (extended family also)!

Ok, so, the sappiness continues.

Anyway, this is where I end.  I have blogged my mopiness....ha.
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