I realize that I have not blogged too much about our church since we first arrived in Cheltenham three years ago.
When we first moved here, I felt so stranded and so alone and so flailing that it was imperative for us to find a place to worship. To find like-minded people. I remember feeling so alone in our home with no furniture, no TV, no phone, no internet, and all of a sudden realizing that I, alone, was my children's entertainment. Before we moved here I never would have imagined my life being what it was here. It was just so different. England in the beginning.See the link for insight if you desire.
God did lead us almost immediately to the church He had in store for us - CEPC. We immediately felt at home and knew this was where we were meant to serve and live for the next three years.
So much has changed at this church since we arrived. We have a new pastor, new place of worship, many new people/friends and activities.
This church has been a foundation of faith for us. It has been a steadfast friend for us. We have all grown spiritually, as a family, and in the knowledge of what worship means while being a part of Cheltenham Evangelical Presbyterian Church. We came from a huge church were we were not even known as a family to the pastor to this church where our pastor noticed when our first-born took communion for the first time and made note of it and made a big deal of it - which it was.
We are leaving a family. My heart is mourning this loss, although I do know we will meet again some day. Ah - what bliss and comfort to know this! I cannot express enough the sorrow we feel at leaving this body of people. We are so amazingly blessed.
Sunday, 27 June 2010
Oh England, How We Love Thee, 2
I can't even come up with a good name for this post. A year ago, you would have heard me fretting about the insane English who fail to realize the beauty of putting screens in their windows. What is this about? Seriously? I know you don't have THAT many bugs, but nonetheless, you do have bugs, and spiders, and bees and other things that are creepy and crawly and come through windows with no screens.
But today, well, today I cannot bear the thought of being too critical of this country called England we have come to love. I have actually had a running list of things I will and will not miss saved on a document file. I can hardly bear to look at it. Because the things I said I would not miss, I think I'm going to miss. Well, not the faucets. I can't wait to get back to American faucets.
I am going to miss being able to walk everywhere. And I do mean, everywhere. We certainly could have lived here without a car. Except for all the sight-seeing we like to do. That would have been hard to do without a car. However, if we were living here just as a normal family living a normal life, we would not need a car. I absolutely love that. We walked to the kids' school. We walked to the corner grocery. We walked to the local coffee shop. We walked to the local DIY - which, by the way, always seems to have EVERYTHING that the huge Home Depot-like B&Q never had. I would walk in his shop and say something like, I need to glue some silk flowers on my daughter's fabric head-band for her school play. Do you have a glue gun or something like that? And he would say, I have just the thing! I'll be right back. And he would pop upstairs into his secret stash and bring me out the special glue just for my project.
This is the same man who introduced me to shuttle cocks. I know I blogged about shuttle cocks, but I can't find the reference, so let me just tell you that they are birdies - badminton birdies.
Back to walking. We can walk to any number of pubs. And many of my friends' homes. And down town. And to any number of parks.
What else will I miss? I will miss being able to send my son down the street to the post office or the grocery - all by himself. And not really worry about him. Well, I am the mum so I will always worry. But it is normal here for a 12-year old to be running errands like that.
I will miss my weekly Riverford vegetable and fruit delivery straight from the farm. And our weekly milk delivery from the dairy.
I really do believe that the things I thought I would not miss are just things that are odd and strange to me because I am a stranger living in a strange land.
For example: being at the park and hearing mums call their children to go home, but they speak so softly that I don't know how the children hear them. It is SO DIFFERENT to Americans who yell, "JOSHUA! Get over here because we are leaving NOW! And if you're not in this car in 1 minute, you'll be walking home!"
This is what you might hear at a typical English playground: (said in a quiet, English, sing-songy voice) Oh dahhhling Ooolivahhhh! Do come, dahling! We are leaving! Mummy is all packed! It's time to go home and see Dadddyyy!
So, I am not really being critical here, it's just different. Being witness to this over and over and over again, though, I totally understood why so many English children completely ignore their parents. Either they could not hear them, or they thought, "Seriously? You expect me to come for THAT?"
Again, England, how we have come to love thee. It is different, it has been challenging, it has been many lessons learned, and I still, to this day, do not fit in. Which is A-OK with me! ;-)
More to come.
But today, well, today I cannot bear the thought of being too critical of this country called England we have come to love. I have actually had a running list of things I will and will not miss saved on a document file. I can hardly bear to look at it. Because the things I said I would not miss, I think I'm going to miss. Well, not the faucets. I can't wait to get back to American faucets.
I am going to miss being able to walk everywhere. And I do mean, everywhere. We certainly could have lived here without a car. Except for all the sight-seeing we like to do. That would have been hard to do without a car. However, if we were living here just as a normal family living a normal life, we would not need a car. I absolutely love that. We walked to the kids' school. We walked to the corner grocery. We walked to the local coffee shop. We walked to the local DIY - which, by the way, always seems to have EVERYTHING that the huge Home Depot-like B&Q never had. I would walk in his shop and say something like, I need to glue some silk flowers on my daughter's fabric head-band for her school play. Do you have a glue gun or something like that? And he would say, I have just the thing! I'll be right back. And he would pop upstairs into his secret stash and bring me out the special glue just for my project.
This is the same man who introduced me to shuttle cocks. I know I blogged about shuttle cocks, but I can't find the reference, so let me just tell you that they are birdies - badminton birdies.
Back to walking. We can walk to any number of pubs. And many of my friends' homes. And down town. And to any number of parks.
What else will I miss? I will miss being able to send my son down the street to the post office or the grocery - all by himself. And not really worry about him. Well, I am the mum so I will always worry. But it is normal here for a 12-year old to be running errands like that.
I will miss my weekly Riverford vegetable and fruit delivery straight from the farm. And our weekly milk delivery from the dairy.
I really do believe that the things I thought I would not miss are just things that are odd and strange to me because I am a stranger living in a strange land.
For example: being at the park and hearing mums call their children to go home, but they speak so softly that I don't know how the children hear them. It is SO DIFFERENT to Americans who yell, "JOSHUA! Get over here because we are leaving NOW! And if you're not in this car in 1 minute, you'll be walking home!"
This is what you might hear at a typical English playground: (said in a quiet, English, sing-songy voice) Oh dahhhling Ooolivahhhh! Do come, dahling! We are leaving! Mummy is all packed! It's time to go home and see Dadddyyy!
So, I am not really being critical here, it's just different. Being witness to this over and over and over again, though, I totally understood why so many English children completely ignore their parents. Either they could not hear them, or they thought, "Seriously? You expect me to come for THAT?"
Again, England, how we have come to love thee. It is different, it has been challenging, it has been many lessons learned, and I still, to this day, do not fit in. Which is A-OK with me! ;-)
More to come.
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
A Weekend in York
So for our last hurrah, we decided a weekend in York was just the thing. Patrick visited York 20 years ago with a friend, but this was the first time for the rest of us.
We arrived Friday night, and the weather was beautiful. To our chagrin that changed overnight and Saturday turned out to be a rainy, dreary, windy day. We have never let that stop us, though, so off we went.
First stop, The York Minster. It is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe, taking over 200 years to build in its present condition. The first church on the site was built in 627 and was probably wood. The coolest bit (to us) about the Minster is the excavation underneath - you can go down into the basements and see evidence of Roman, Norman, and Saxon ruins.
So we get to the Minster and there is no way we are getting in. There are crowds everywhere and we see marching soldiers. I asked a policeman what was going on, and as is typical for me, I didn't quite understand what he explained. The gist of it is that these were soldiers returning from Afghanistan, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, had been in town to present them with new colors (?) and they were holding services for these soldiers in the Minster. So we got a few shots and decided to come back later. After doing lots of clapping and woohooing for these brave fellas, that is.
I must point out that my TB (third-born) is, every day, growing more and more into his personality. You will note in many of these photos in which he is included that he is doing the Owen frown. My advance apologies for this as I had no idea he was doing this until I uploaded these pics onto the computer. 
So off to York Castle Museum we went. I highly recommend this for everyone visiting York. My sister and her husband visited when they were here last month and loved it, too. First, though, we had to walk through the quaint streets of York. We passed this:
and this:
And saw this crazy mime:
And saw this cool old building:
Then walked down this "street":
On to Clifford's Tower, first. For info on the history: Clifford's Tower
View from inside the tower:
On to the awesome York Castle Museum.
From Wikipedia: "York Castle Museum is a museum located in York, North Yorkshire, England, on the site of York Castle, originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068. The museum itself was founded by Dr John L Kirk in 1938, and is housed in prison buildings which were built on the site of the castle in the 18th century, the Debtors Prison (built in 1701-05 using stone from the ruins of the castle) and the Female Prison (built 1780-1785).
The museum's displays include recreated period rooms such as a Victorian parlour and a 17th century dining room. There are displays of everyday life including an exhibition about rites of passage and an exhibition all about washing and cleaning. There is also a Hearth Gallery with recreated fireplaces and kitchens. A display about life in the prison has been opened in the cells of the old Debtors Prison. There is also a recreation of a Victorian street (Kirkgate, named after Dr. Kirk). What was once an Edwardian street (Half Moon Court) is now an exhibit on the 1960s. The museum also has a Barn Gallery, a Children's Gallery and military and costume displays. The former Condemned Cell, possibly once occupied by Dick Turpin, can also be visited."
Then back to the Minster for a proper viewing this time. Amazing architecture, amazing history, amazing stained glass, and we were there during a rehearsal for something - don't know what it was, but it was lovely, and I managed to get some of it on video:
That was a very full first day! Leaving the city center I got a few shots of the city gate and part of the city wall:
We arrived Friday night, and the weather was beautiful. To our chagrin that changed overnight and Saturday turned out to be a rainy, dreary, windy day. We have never let that stop us, though, so off we went.
First stop, The York Minster. It is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe, taking over 200 years to build in its present condition. The first church on the site was built in 627 and was probably wood. The coolest bit (to us) about the Minster is the excavation underneath - you can go down into the basements and see evidence of Roman, Norman, and Saxon ruins.
So we get to the Minster and there is no way we are getting in. There are crowds everywhere and we see marching soldiers. I asked a policeman what was going on, and as is typical for me, I didn't quite understand what he explained. The gist of it is that these were soldiers returning from Afghanistan, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, had been in town to present them with new colors (?) and they were holding services for these soldiers in the Minster. So we got a few shots and decided to come back later. After doing lots of clapping and woohooing for these brave fellas, that is.
I must point out that my TB (third-born) is, every day, growing more and more into his personality. You will note in many of these photos in which he is included that he is doing the Owen frown. My advance apologies for this as I had no idea he was doing this until I uploaded these pics onto the computer. 
So off to York Castle Museum we went. I highly recommend this for everyone visiting York. My sister and her husband visited when they were here last month and loved it, too. First, though, we had to walk through the quaint streets of York. We passed this:
and this:
And saw this crazy mime:
And saw this cool old building:
Then walked down this "street":
On to Clifford's Tower, first. For info on the history: Clifford's Tower
View from inside the tower:
On to the awesome York Castle Museum. From Wikipedia: "York Castle Museum is a museum located in York, North Yorkshire, England, on the site of York Castle, originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068. The museum itself was founded by Dr John L Kirk in 1938, and is housed in prison buildings which were built on the site of the castle in the 18th century, the Debtors Prison (built in 1701-05 using stone from the ruins of the castle) and the Female Prison (built 1780-1785).
The museum's displays include recreated period rooms such as a Victorian parlour and a 17th century dining room. There are displays of everyday life including an exhibition about rites of passage and an exhibition all about washing and cleaning. There is also a Hearth Gallery with recreated fireplaces and kitchens. A display about life in the prison has been opened in the cells of the old Debtors Prison. There is also a recreation of a Victorian street (Kirkgate, named after Dr. Kirk). What was once an Edwardian street (Half Moon Court) is now an exhibit on the 1960s. The museum also has a Barn Gallery, a Children's Gallery and military and costume displays. The former Condemned Cell, possibly once occupied by Dick Turpin, can also be visited."
Then back to the Minster for a proper viewing this time. Amazing architecture, amazing history, amazing stained glass, and we were there during a rehearsal for something - don't know what it was, but it was lovely, and I managed to get some of it on video:
That was a very full first day! Leaving the city center I got a few shots of the city gate and part of the city wall:
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Friends
I have to say that I feel I have been tremendously blessed in my life by a plethora of friends. And I don't mean that in a "Pop-u-lar" way. I mean that everywhere I have lived, God has seen fit to bless me with one or two really good friends. And the truest of the true friends I am still friends with - regardless of our locations, stages in life, and many other things we may each have gone through. Actually, many times, it's those hard times, hard situations which brings my friends and me closer together.
I just want to say thank you to all of you. You know who you are. I love you - each of you - and I am blessed to call you my friend.
Here in England, I have continued to be similarly blessed. I really believe God brings people into our lives at just the right time - when He knows we really need someone. And He has done that for me here.
I had good friends when we first arrived, some have moved on, (like, back to America - not "moved on") and some I am still blessed by. Some friendships are newer than others, and it makes me sad to know I have to leave some already.
Regardless, the truest friendships will prevail, as always, and in the meantime, I am thankful for the bomb diggity friends I have made.
These ladies I am abundantly thankful for:
You guys are awesome. Will miss you all. So glad I don't have to say goodbye, though - just see ya later!
I just want to say thank you to all of you. You know who you are. I love you - each of you - and I am blessed to call you my friend.
Here in England, I have continued to be similarly blessed. I really believe God brings people into our lives at just the right time - when He knows we really need someone. And He has done that for me here.
I had good friends when we first arrived, some have moved on, (like, back to America - not "moved on") and some I am still blessed by. Some friendships are newer than others, and it makes me sad to know I have to leave some already.
Regardless, the truest friendships will prevail, as always, and in the meantime, I am thankful for the bomb diggity friends I have made.
These ladies I am abundantly thankful for:
You guys are awesome. Will miss you all. So glad I don't have to say goodbye, though - just see ya later!
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Saying Goodbye
All in one day Gillian had a sleep-over playdate with her best English mate, Elizabeth, we enjoyed one last afternoon in the garden with Paul and Courtney, and we celebrated Artur's birthday. Whew. Goodbyes stink. I'm not a fan. 
Oh, Blog.
When I look at the last time I blogged I realize how long ago it was, and so much has occurred since then. It's almost overwhelming to try to catch up, but I'm going to go for it.
Our time in England is quickly coming to an end. This is bittersweet and exciting at the same time. We have loved our time here so much, complete with its frustrations but mostly it has been a great time of exploration, adventure, and growing as a family.
I promised a blog about things I will and will not miss about England, and that is coming soon.
Just a quick update, though. Since my last post, movers came and moved nearly everything out of our house. We currently have a couch, a chair, a TV, a bed for each person, and a dining table and chairs. It's sparse living, but it really gives us a sense that this is happening!!!
We have put our car on a ship to be sent back to America. It is guaranteed to arrive no later than July 16th. And there is a new cool feature to car-shipping now: You can track where your car is in the ocean using a GPS tracking tool. We just have to look up our tracking number on-line!
We have celebrated two birthdays since my last post - again, more details to follow.
This weekend will be spent on one last mini-trip. We are going to York for three nights and while we're at it, we'll be selling our English car. So we'll come home on the train to a near empty house and an even closer departure date.
So there, blog. More catching up to come.
Our time in England is quickly coming to an end. This is bittersweet and exciting at the same time. We have loved our time here so much, complete with its frustrations but mostly it has been a great time of exploration, adventure, and growing as a family.
I promised a blog about things I will and will not miss about England, and that is coming soon.
Just a quick update, though. Since my last post, movers came and moved nearly everything out of our house. We currently have a couch, a chair, a TV, a bed for each person, and a dining table and chairs. It's sparse living, but it really gives us a sense that this is happening!!!
We have put our car on a ship to be sent back to America. It is guaranteed to arrive no later than July 16th. And there is a new cool feature to car-shipping now: You can track where your car is in the ocean using a GPS tracking tool. We just have to look up our tracking number on-line!
We have celebrated two birthdays since my last post - again, more details to follow.
This weekend will be spent on one last mini-trip. We are going to York for three nights and while we're at it, we'll be selling our English car. So we'll come home on the train to a near empty house and an even closer departure date.
So there, blog. More catching up to come.
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