We are officially into 2008 and I have to admit, I am feeling a little nostalgic. At this time last year, Chris & I were packing, saying good-bye to friends and family, and preparing ourselves for the move overseas. It was a scary time, so many new beginnings and unknowns. It's hard to believe that it has already been a year, but what a year it turned out to be! We've traveled to places that we had only dreamed of, met amazing friends, and grown even closer to our families despite the distance. We learned to lean on each other when things were difficult (the humongous fly incident was one of those times!!), and to relish each other's happiness's. We've lived through an English winter, and even more jarring...an English summer w/ no air conditioning! We learned to drive on the wrong side of the road, learned to go with the flow (especially when taking directions from the GPS), and learned to savor every moment of togetherness. It has been an incredible adventure, the best year of my life, and one I will never forget.
I hope that 2008 brings even more great memories, new experiences and wonderful friends with it! Here's to a great year! Cheers!!
Christmas at Home
What a wonderful Christmas! Chris and I traveled back to the States in early December to attend a wedding in Cancun, and then spend some time with our families in Texas. The wedding was gorgeous, and the weather in Cancun was splendid...90's every day! It was a bit of a shock to our English skin, but we sure have enjoyed our temporary tans! 
And our visit back to Arlington was great as well. We spent about a day w/ each family (short, but sweet), opened presents, ate yummy food, laughed, hugged, and just enjoyed being back in Texas. My dad and I went to the amazing Ice Exhibit at the Gaylord, & Chris and his dad scoped out the abundance of 
computer stores in the metroplex :) 
When we arrived back in England, it was back to work for both Chris and I....but we didn't let that stop us from having lots of holiday fun!! First, it was off to an "Ugly Sweater Christmas Party" at one of our friends houses. THAT was pretty funny! Then, on Christmas Eve, we got together with our friends Kelly & Jeff for a Mexican Christmas Feast. Hopefully that will be an annual tradition :) On Christmas morning, we slept late and made a scrumptious waffle breakfast before starting in with the presents. We really savored being in our own home this 
Christmas, as it was our first one together by ourselves. Chris opened his Birthday present first, and I sang Happy Birthday (oh, you should have heard it, it was concert material...heehee). Presents & stockings were next...I LOVE stockings!! Then we cleaned up and headed over to our good friends Wendy & Jason's to see what their little girls got for Christmas. It was so fun to visit w/ them on such a special day, and see how joyful their little ones were. We ate some yummy snacks and then it was back home for Chris's birthday dinner. I made his favorites and then we had brownie sundaes for 
dessert...mmmm :) The next day Chris got up early (I wasn't feeling well...no it wasn't from my cooking!!) and went to the airport to pick up his Aunt Dianne & Grandmama. Though Chris quickly had to go back to work, I had a great time showing them around East Anglia. We toured Chris's "office", Cambridge, Bury St. Edmunds, Newmarket, & London. We even braved the Harrod's After-Christmas Sale....ummm, THAT was crazy! Chris & I dropped them off in London last night, and stopped by Trafalgar Square to see the enormous, beautifully lit Christmas tree that sits in its center.
Christmas, as it was our first one together by ourselves. Chris opened his Birthday present first, and I sang Happy Birthday (oh, you should have heard it, it was concert material...heehee). Presents & stockings were next...I LOVE stockings!! Then we cleaned up and headed over to our good friends Wendy & Jason's to see what their little girls got for Christmas. It was so fun to visit w/ them on such a special day, and see how joyful their little ones were. We ate some yummy snacks and then it was back home for Chris's birthday dinner. I made his favorites and then we had brownie sundaes for 
dessert...mmmm :) The next day Chris got up early (I wasn't feeling well...no it wasn't from my cooking!!) and went to the airport to pick up his Aunt Dianne & Grandmama. Though Chris quickly had to go back to work, I had a great time showing them around East Anglia. We toured Chris's "office", Cambridge, Bury St. Edmunds, Newmarket, & London. We even braved the Harrod's After-Christmas Sale....ummm, THAT was crazy! Chris & I dropped them off in London last night, and stopped by Trafalgar Square to see the enormous, beautifully lit Christmas tree that sits in its center. It was a great way to end a great Christmas!
The Meaning of Christmas
As many of you know, I am a substitute teacher at a school on base here in England. The kids are always chitter-chattering away, spreading their joy to all who will listen. At this time of year especially, they are so contagiously happy that I can't help but get swept up in the excitement of the holidays. Today, for example, the entire school gathered in the lobby and sang Christmas carols. The sound of their sweet voices filled the hallways, and I was instantly taken back to the memory of my childhood and the buzzing anticipation of Santa and his eight tiny reindeer dancing on rooftops. Their faces shined, smiles were exchanged, and hands were held as they finished with a jubilent rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". It was such an enchanting way to start the day!
So then, back in my classroom, I read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (for the first time in about 15 years!). And my "Grinch voice" would do my Mama proud, if I do say so myself! Anyway, at the end of the story, I asked the kids what the Grinch learned about Christmas. Of course, I got a few of the typical random 1st grade answers like, "He learned that he likes the color green!", and "He learned that he needs reindeer and not a dog!". But one answer stood out from the rest. A little girl in the back said, "He learned that Christmas isn't about what you get, it's about who you're with, and who you love. It's about family, and friends, and Jesus." (Yes, a 1st grader said this!) And I, in turn, teared up.
I love children, their sweet innocence and their surprising wisdom. I love how they can remind us, in their silly ways, that it's the simple things that matter the most. No matter what they go through (parents deploying, changing schools, packing their life up every 2-3 years) they always have this wide-eyed optimism that serves to inspire us to be a little more hopeful, a little more happy, and a little more kind.
May the spirit of Christmas fill your heart this year. May joy surround you and your family. And may Christ fill your lives with childlike wonder & amazement at all the blessings you have received!
With love and a Merry Christmas,
Chris & Amy
So then, back in my classroom, I read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (for the first time in about 15 years!). And my "Grinch voice" would do my Mama proud, if I do say so myself! Anyway, at the end of the story, I asked the kids what the Grinch learned about Christmas. Of course, I got a few of the typical random 1st grade answers like, "He learned that he likes the color green!", and "He learned that he needs reindeer and not a dog!". But one answer stood out from the rest. A little girl in the back said, "He learned that Christmas isn't about what you get, it's about who you're with, and who you love. It's about family, and friends, and Jesus." (Yes, a 1st grader said this!) And I, in turn, teared up.
I love children, their sweet innocence and their surprising wisdom. I love how they can remind us, in their silly ways, that it's the simple things that matter the most. No matter what they go through (parents deploying, changing schools, packing their life up every 2-3 years) they always have this wide-eyed optimism that serves to inspire us to be a little more hopeful, a little more happy, and a little more kind.
May the spirit of Christmas fill your heart this year. May joy surround you and your family. And may Christ fill your lives with childlike wonder & amazement at all the blessings you have received!
With love and a Merry Christmas,
Chris & Amy
Thanksgiving in Prague
Chris and I wanted to go somewhere different this year for Thanksgiving...Prague, Czech Republic seemed like the perfect destination! We have been wanting to travel to Prague since arriving here almost a year ago. Everyone we talked to simply raved about the "Golden City". We had our hopes set high, and we were not disappointed. We arrived on Thanksgiving Day, around the time that we s
hould have been eating turkey & dressing! Instead, we checked into our hotel and set off to explore this gorgeous gothic city. Our hotel was situated in the middle of the famed Wencelas Square and we couldn't have been more pleased with the location. We were able to trek the entire city on foot, and we did...believe me, we did! We went to the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, St. Vitus's Cathedral, Kampa Park, Old Town Square, and the Jewish Ghetto. We slept late every morning, but as soon as we were up...we were walking! Chris, (miracle worker that he is!) got me to let go of my PLAN and just go with the flow. I have to be honest, it was probably the most fun trip that we've ever been on together! Who kne
w that planning could restrict the glory of adventure??!! It was cold though, really REALLY cold. We somehow had forgotten that Prague used to be a part of Russia, and the weather was definitely RUSSIAN! But, we bundled up and found some great little shops that we could get warm in if we really needed to :) They were getting ready for Christmas and had Christmas trees up, lights turned on, and holiday music playing throughout the shops. It was a great way to start the holiday season!We loved Prague, just as we have loved every place that we have been able to go this year. Moving to England has been such an incredible journey, and such an amazing blessing. We are constantly reminded of how lucky we are to be in this place at this time in our lives. We are so thankful to have such a supportive & encouraging family, wonderful friends, and the opportunity to travel all over God's great Earth and experience the beauty that He has provided us.
We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Happy Veteran's Day!!!
When I was younger, I just thought of Veteran's Day as an extra day-off from school in November. It was always just a bonus since we knew the Thanksgiving holiday would be coming up shortly thereafter! I never really gave much thought to what it meant, or took the time to celebrate it for what it is...a day to honor those who have served. Now that I am a military wife, today seems to be a little more poignant. Did you know that there are 24.9 million military veterans living in America today? (I didn't, I had to look it up!) But isn't that number amazing? That so many men & women have fought for our Great Nation so that she can be greater still, is absolutely incredible. And it's not about politics (Ha! Me, politics?!) No, it's about sacrifice, dedication, honor, & integrity. It is about doing something for the greater good, it's about believing in your heart that our freedom is worth something, and it's about doing whatever it takes to protect your home, your family, and your country. Today is a day to celebrate those people who gave, and continue to give, of themselves for something bigger...whether it be in Europe for Armistice Day, England for Rememberance Day, or America for Veteran's Day. So make sure that you hug a veteran today...for they truly, truly deserve one!! :)
Three Girls in Oslo
Melanie, Wendy and I all headed up to Oslo, Norway on Saturday morning (a little rough since the Crud Tournament was the night before) to embark on some Norwegian "girl time". We'd been searching for a fun travel location for a few months, when Wendy & I both found a great deal on airline tickets to Oslo. We quickly booked the tickets, found a hotel, and started envisioning ourselves shopping to our hearts content (a vacation w/o our husbands...oh the shopping possibilities!!) Little did we know; however, that Oslo is the most expensive city in Europe!!! Heehee...oops, no turning back now! So, we geared ourselves up for a great trip with a little less shopping :) 
We arrived on Saturday mid-day and set off to find our hotel, after a quick trip to McDonalds, of course! We stayed just off the main road (Karl Johan's Gate), and our hotel was perfect for just the three of us. We visited the Oslo City Hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, and then went to the Nobel Peace Prize Center. They were having an exhibit on Freedom of Speech, but we were "shooed" out before we really got to look around...something about them being closed or some nonsense like that :) We then walked along the harbor to Akker Brygge...just FYI, it's not actually a bridge like I thought it was! I took the picture on the left from there...it's of the Akershus Fortress which was built in 1299. We did some shopping in the shopping center there before heading to TGI Friday's for dinner. It was so nice to sit down at a normal restaurant and actually have some delicious food and nice waiters. The prices were insane, but I have to say, I think it was worth every penny! 
On Sunday morning we got up (a little late thanks to me forgetting to change the time on my phone) and headed to Holmenkollen to see the ski museum and the ski jump tower. That's me posing w/ a troll outside of the ski museum...he was pretty cute! The museum was cool, and the ski jump was amazing! I can't believe that skiers actually ski off of that thing, it was unbelievably tall and extremely steep! From there, we made our way to the Viking museum (after roaming around Oslo for awhile, chasing a bus, several stops into convenience stores to ask for directions, and lots of laughter). That museum was pretty interesting as well, but very small. 
We then went to the open-air Folk Museum, and then to Vigelandsparken (or Vigeland Park to you non-Norwegian speakers!). The Folk Museum was great...it was the perfect time of year to visit w/ the trees being so beautiful, everything seemed to just glow. Vigeland park is huge and a sculpture garden runs right up it's center. We walked through it in it's entirety and took lots of pictures of the beautiful Norwegian scenery. For dinner we went to the Hard Rock Cafe. Why go all the way to Oslo for American food, you ask? Ummm, try living in England for a year, and I'm pretty sure that's where you would pick as well!! :) We stayed up late both nights, just chatting and catching up. Those girls are so much fun, and I couldn't have asked for two better travel partners! We had a wonderful trip, and I'm already planning the next one :)
We then went to the open-air Folk Museum, and then to Vigelandsparken (or Vigeland Park to you non-Norwegian speakers!). The Folk Museum was great...it was the perfect time of year to visit w/ the trees being so beautiful, everything seemed to just glow. Vigeland park is huge and a sculpture garden runs right up it's center. We walked through it in it's entirety and took lots of pictures of the beautiful Norwegian scenery. For dinner we went to the Hard Rock Cafe. Why go all the way to Oslo for American food, you ask? Ummm, try living in England for a year, and I'm pretty sure that's where you would pick as well!! :) We stayed up late both nights, just chatting and catching up. Those girls are so much fun, and I couldn't have asked for two better travel partners! We had a wonderful trip, and I'm already planning the next one :)A Time to Remember
Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~Stanley Horowitz
I love the fall...the beautiful leaves, the crisp cool air, the delicious smells, and the memories that seem to swirl around me during this time of year. My Nana's birthday was today. She passed away almost two years ago, yet I felt her spirit embrace me from the moment I woke up this morning. She loved the autumn leaves, the deep purples & the bright reds. She loved to listen to the sweet morning songs of the birds who resided outside her window. I remember the little things that she noticed as the weather turned cooler...and today, maybe for the first time, I noticed them too. I took the time to enjoy the golden serenity of this evenings sunset, and the silly crunching sound of the leaves under my feet as I walked around our village tonight (I might have joyfully kicked a few piles too!!). I laughed as two colorful pheasants scrambled across the street, trying to find refuge in the too tall grass. I treasured the soft smell of smoke coming from chimneys, and imagined families cuddled up together, safe and warm inside their homes. My heart ached to share these things with her. As I sit here now, I remember her...her unconditional love, her goodness, and the simple things that she cherished. She was loved, and she is missed...and I really like to remember.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
