I know that it's been forever since I have written. What can I say? Getting married got me a little busy. Now the dust is beginning to settle in my new home. I suppose I'm gonna try to do this blogging thing more regularly. Perhaps I can get some motivation from fellow bloggers who do a better job. In fact, I am recently inspired by the movie, "Julie and Julia" that I watched on the plane ride here. In addition, I stumbled across the blog of another expat living in Mauritius. She is from Minnesota and though I know nothing about her, I enjoy reading what she has to say. I can certainly understand her "American" view of things. :-)
With that said, here I go... So far, we have mostly gotten our apartment settled. There are still a few small things here and there, but nothing we can't live without... We also have the ever present list of "like to haves". These are the things we can't justify spending money on right now, but we'll keep them on the list until we either decide we truly don't need them, or simply don't want them anymore. Only the most lucky items will ultimately be acquired...
Right now I am working from the hubby's parents house. It will take a couple of weeks to get the phone and Internet lines transferred to our flat. The fact that it's Christmas time doesn't help either, because people will be on holiday. Not to mention speed in customer service isn't a priority here, so they will get to it when they get to it... Tonight we are going to discuss acquiring mobile broadband to allow me to work from home sooner and also to keep as a back up for days when the electricity goes out. No electricity = no modem = no internet. Ah, the joys of island living.
In an unrelated topic, Christmas is on Friday. How can that be? I'm wearing shorts and flip flops... I guess the closest thing to a White Christmas that I will be having will be the one I share with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. I won't be eating turkey or stuffing, likely instead I will be eating curry or biryani... But I am convinced that after Jesus, I've gotten the best gift... a truly wonderful husband. I don't mind giving up snow and turkey if it means being with someone who truly loves me. I wouldn't trade him for all the stuffing or crescent rolls in the world. :-)
Okay... the randomness is over. Merry Christmas
Monday, December 21, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
I know... I am terrible at this blogging thing
So, life has been busy and I have been a bad blogger...
Lots has happened since I last wrote.
I have been to Mauritius to see my future home and meet the future in-laws. I have celebrated a birthday. I have seen "Oliver" with Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) staring as Fagin with my mom and brother. I have queued at Wimbledon, and watch a men's doubles match. I have ordered a wedding dress and invitations for the big day... Wow, that's a lot of good stuff.
I have also struggled with being here in London, when everything I love is somewhere else. Out of this struggle, the Lord has shown me several things. The one thing that stands out concerns the fruit of the Spirit. If someone were to characterize your life, would they use words like, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control? I am not talking about your friends or the people that are easy to be with... I am talking about your co-workers, your families, and the people who really get under your skin. What would they say? I have to admit that if I am honest the words they would use would probably be something along the lines of moody, impatient, frustrated, and quick tempered. That is not good fruit.
So... what kind of fruit are you producing?
Lots has happened since I last wrote.
I have been to Mauritius to see my future home and meet the future in-laws. I have celebrated a birthday. I have seen "Oliver" with Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) staring as Fagin with my mom and brother. I have queued at Wimbledon, and watch a men's doubles match. I have ordered a wedding dress and invitations for the big day... Wow, that's a lot of good stuff.
I have also struggled with being here in London, when everything I love is somewhere else. Out of this struggle, the Lord has shown me several things. The one thing that stands out concerns the fruit of the Spirit. If someone were to characterize your life, would they use words like, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control? I am not talking about your friends or the people that are easy to be with... I am talking about your co-workers, your families, and the people who really get under your skin. What would they say? I have to admit that if I am honest the words they would use would probably be something along the lines of moody, impatient, frustrated, and quick tempered. That is not good fruit.
So... what kind of fruit are you producing?
Friday, March 20, 2009
Driving...
In just 11 days, I will be packing up and making a trip back to the U.S. There are several things that I am looking forward to about this trip... In fact, I was just day dreaming about them today. A suprising thing to you may be that I am really looking foward to driving...
Because I have been here in England for a year now, I have found myself living without a car for about a year now... I have had the opportunity to drive on my two prior visits home and I had about a week that I drove here in England. Unfortunately, when my colleague went back to the U.S. the car became an un-necessary expense. Fair enough...
Anyway- sitting here today at work, daydreaming about my trip, I began to think of driving with the windows down and the spring air filling the car... listening to the radio and letting my hair go wild. I REALLY miss that. Most trains don't have windows and the windows that they do have are not condusive to this kind of feeling... I've been missing out. :)
Now my mind is continuing... the last time I road in a car was January when Yvan rented a car for us... before that, I literally can't remember. Car rides are so few and far between that I don't know... For a country like the U.S. that has mostly been built around the automobile, this may be hard to imagine, but for a country like England that was primarily built before cars, this is not an unusual thought...
So finally, I come round full circle and think again about my trip home...
A few things I am really looking forward to:
Seeing family and friends (including meeting Baby Girl Harless)
Eating Mexican food
Shopping at Target
Sonic drinks
American T.V.
Knowing that when I come back I only have 11 days before leaving for Mauritius
Taking care of my taxes (getting my return processed)
Finding people who would not pronounce Toucester the same way we pronounce "toaster"
And you got it... driving :)
Because I have been here in England for a year now, I have found myself living without a car for about a year now... I have had the opportunity to drive on my two prior visits home and I had about a week that I drove here in England. Unfortunately, when my colleague went back to the U.S. the car became an un-necessary expense. Fair enough...
Anyway- sitting here today at work, daydreaming about my trip, I began to think of driving with the windows down and the spring air filling the car... listening to the radio and letting my hair go wild. I REALLY miss that. Most trains don't have windows and the windows that they do have are not condusive to this kind of feeling... I've been missing out. :)
Now my mind is continuing... the last time I road in a car was January when Yvan rented a car for us... before that, I literally can't remember. Car rides are so few and far between that I don't know... For a country like the U.S. that has mostly been built around the automobile, this may be hard to imagine, but for a country like England that was primarily built before cars, this is not an unusual thought...
So finally, I come round full circle and think again about my trip home...
A few things I am really looking forward to:
Seeing family and friends (including meeting Baby Girl Harless)
Eating Mexican food
Shopping at Target
Sonic drinks
American T.V.
Knowing that when I come back I only have 11 days before leaving for Mauritius
Taking care of my taxes (getting my return processed)
Finding people who would not pronounce Toucester the same way we pronounce "toaster"
And you got it... driving :)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Swan Lake
I am sorry. I know it has been a while since I have written. Life for the past few weeks has been quite busy.
Spring is coming to England and it is welcome change. The sun is rising earlier and staying out later. Not that you really get to see the sun, due to the clouds, but at least there is light in the sky... Everywhere you go, there are daffodils and other flowers blooming. I noticed this morning that even some of the flowering trees are beginning to bloom. It doesn't get as cold here as I am used to, so the grass stays green all winter long and most flowers are safe to stay outside. If there is frost, it's usually not too heavy. At any rate, I am enjoying the changing of the season and am thankful that the longer days of summer are on their way.
Last night, I was able to see the Royal Ballet present Swan Lake. I found a ticket online for 10 pounds and decided that I could not pass up the opportunity... I knew in advance that the ticket would be for a standing only seat and that the view wouldn't be very good. Despite these things, it was worth going. The music and dancing were wonderful. I am really thankful for the opportunities I have had to see live productions of some of my favorite things...
I am also thankful that the Lord has given me the personality that he has. I don't mind doing things by myself... Last night I left work and had a nice dinner before the ballet and then attended the event alone. A lot of people would quickly pass up the option of doing these kinds of things knowing that they had to do them solo, but I am thankful for a my adventurous disposition that doesn't mind trying something new. I think that Lord has really blessed me by letting me do some of these things here in England.
Well, I guess that's all. I could easily sum up the rest of my life by saying three words, work, reading and commuting. They seem to be how I spend the bulk of my time. Hope things are going well in your neck of the woods.
Spring is coming to England and it is welcome change. The sun is rising earlier and staying out later. Not that you really get to see the sun, due to the clouds, but at least there is light in the sky... Everywhere you go, there are daffodils and other flowers blooming. I noticed this morning that even some of the flowering trees are beginning to bloom. It doesn't get as cold here as I am used to, so the grass stays green all winter long and most flowers are safe to stay outside. If there is frost, it's usually not too heavy. At any rate, I am enjoying the changing of the season and am thankful that the longer days of summer are on their way.
Last night, I was able to see the Royal Ballet present Swan Lake. I found a ticket online for 10 pounds and decided that I could not pass up the opportunity... I knew in advance that the ticket would be for a standing only seat and that the view wouldn't be very good. Despite these things, it was worth going. The music and dancing were wonderful. I am really thankful for the opportunities I have had to see live productions of some of my favorite things...
I am also thankful that the Lord has given me the personality that he has. I don't mind doing things by myself... Last night I left work and had a nice dinner before the ballet and then attended the event alone. A lot of people would quickly pass up the option of doing these kinds of things knowing that they had to do them solo, but I am thankful for a my adventurous disposition that doesn't mind trying something new. I think that Lord has really blessed me by letting me do some of these things here in England.
Well, I guess that's all. I could easily sum up the rest of my life by saying three words, work, reading and commuting. They seem to be how I spend the bulk of my time. Hope things are going well in your neck of the woods.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Lots going on
It's been a while since I have posted a blog and for you regular readers, I apologize. I suppose that if you read this regularly, you already know what has been going on with me for the past month I have been absent. During this time I got engaged and am now planning a wedding for April of 2010. He's wonderful and we are both so excited. I guess that sums it up!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Shack
If you know me, you know that I am not one to get on a bandwagon. Music, a book, a movie... whatever it is, I tend to avoid things that everyone else finds "Amazing" and "Wonderful"... Even to this day, I have not seen the movie, "Titanic"... Too much hype.
While I was at home in October, several friends recommended that I read "The Shack". I was reluctant at first because it was the new "Christian book" that needed to be read. I don't really get into those things... "The Prayer of Jabez", "The Purpose Driven (insert word here)", the latest book by Joel what's his name.... These are certainly not books that have made their way into my library, because I generally find they are full of hype and a 5 step plan. What is interesting is that I don't really feel like God works that way. I don't think that God creates recipes and formulas for spiritual life. He calls us to respond to his Spirit. I don't believe that looks the same for every person. If it did, I am sure he would have written these formulas himself and he would have published them in the Bible. A 5 step plan for everything...
Ironically, I used to work at a Christian bookstore, so I always knew what the latest "must read" book was. As I got recommendations for this book, I was certain it was just another of these books.... I couldn't have been more wrong.
If you are reading this blog, you need to read this book. It is beautiful. It speaks truth in such a sweet way. It is a fictional novel, not something that only a deep theological mind, or "good Christian" can understand. It challenges some of the things that we think about God, but might be too cowardly to express. It is a good reminder of the true character of God.
If you can't afford a copy for yourself, I will be happy to purchase one for you. That is how much you need to read it... Don't take my word for it. Read if for yourself.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Unexpected places
Sometimes the Lord speaks to us from unexpected places... I am sure that this is no surprise, or certainly it shouldn't be a surprise, but today I was blessed in this way. Let me tell you about it.
It all started with an email...
Here in the UK I can literally count all of my friends on one hand. Don't take the opportunity to feel sorry for me. I am okay with that. :-) The odd thing is, none of these friends are Christians. They all know that I am a religious person and that I believe in the Bible and in going to church etc... I have one friend, Sanette, who is South African. Her mother is a believer, but from what I understand from Sanette, she is really intense and judgemental about her religion... No room for fault in others. Sanette herself has said that she sees me differently because I am not judgemental of others. At any rate, this past week Sanette sent me an email about the clip below.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zCdZwitrNoY
The email contained a link to listen to this real radio call in from a 13 year old boy in Nebraska... Let me preface this by telling you that I have been feeling a bit lonely the past couple of days and really missing all of my Christian friends and family back home... I have really missed having encouragement from Christian people...
Listening to this young boy explain that God understands how we feel really spoke to me. And from all places, this message came via a non-believing friend. Isn't it amazing how God works?
I really feel like God is working in Sanette's life right now and I am praying that I will have more opportunities to share with her about my faith. Anyway- just be reminded that God can speak to you from unexpected places... just when you need it most. God gives you just what you need when you need it. He can give me words of encouragement through non-believing friends, just like he can through those who believe... That's just awesome.
It all started with an email...
Here in the UK I can literally count all of my friends on one hand. Don't take the opportunity to feel sorry for me. I am okay with that. :-) The odd thing is, none of these friends are Christians. They all know that I am a religious person and that I believe in the Bible and in going to church etc... I have one friend, Sanette, who is South African. Her mother is a believer, but from what I understand from Sanette, she is really intense and judgemental about her religion... No room for fault in others. Sanette herself has said that she sees me differently because I am not judgemental of others. At any rate, this past week Sanette sent me an email about the clip below.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zCdZwitrNoY
The email contained a link to listen to this real radio call in from a 13 year old boy in Nebraska... Let me preface this by telling you that I have been feeling a bit lonely the past couple of days and really missing all of my Christian friends and family back home... I have really missed having encouragement from Christian people...
Listening to this young boy explain that God understands how we feel really spoke to me. And from all places, this message came via a non-believing friend. Isn't it amazing how God works?
I really feel like God is working in Sanette's life right now and I am praying that I will have more opportunities to share with her about my faith. Anyway- just be reminded that God can speak to you from unexpected places... just when you need it most. God gives you just what you need when you need it. He can give me words of encouragement through non-believing friends, just like he can through those who believe... That's just awesome.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)