Birthday Girl

We finally celebrated Meg's #3 birthday today - the real deal this time. We've had this sweet spunky little thing in our lives for three whole years!

She woke up and picked out her clothes for the day (thank heavens Gramilu built that shirt Ford tough!!) and sat down for the breakfast of her choosing: cereal. I offered an omelette, fruit with yogurt, bacon, scrambled eggs and grits... there's just no competing with that sweet stuff out of the box!

Then she played with her big sister who was obliging even to the point of letting Meg read her stories. I'm still collecting little pieces of my heart off of their floor.

Then we got to celebrate over at Paulo and Paula's house. They'd invited us over for dinner and it was muy delicioso! I pigged out on spaghetti and then realized it was just the first course... lesson learned the tasty way :)

A neighbor brought us a big bag of baking apples so I used a friend's recipe for apple cake for dessert - really good:

We then sang to Meg and she blew out her tea light candles. It's been a long and windy road, but I'm glad to know we're unofficially the parents of the cutest 3 year old on planet earth. I wish I could show you the video to prove it, but I can't get it to upload so you'll just have to trust me :)

Happy Birthday, Meg! You are a true gift to us in countless ways. We love you!

PS - Robert just posted 71 sweet pics of our birthday girl on Facebook for you grandparents!

This Time Last Year... a Foretaste

This time last year we were ... in England!

We started our journey in Bury St. Edmunds staying with those lovely Jolleys. Matthew and Kristen were the most considerate hosts you could ever hope for - opening their home, taking us everywhere, buying us donuts, really just our heroes the entire visit!

They showed us around Bury - think of the most charming English town and then multiply that by 100...

Walking through the town centre

historic church and gardens

ancient abbey ruins

Then Matthew took us into London to visit the seminary he had attended. We loved the people and the program, but deep down felt like it would be a long shot for us to go there. Everyone was busy as it was their first week of class, and yet they all made the time to answer our questions. It still shocks me to realize that we're actually living here one year later and Robert is starting classes tomorrow!

Robert was able to sit in on a lecture

We then met up with some pretty fun folks in the city:

We did a little sight-seeing ...

... had a little bite to eat ...

... and watched a little Les Mis! SF!

Early the next morning we took a train back to Bury St. Edmunds... but stopped off in Cambridge to visit a very dear friend, Michelle. She was our long-standing babysitter extraordinaire while my family lived in Cambridge and then for 1 year in the US.

After a few more meetings in Bury St. Edmunds, we met back up with those same great friends in Oxford. We talked with a few ministries in the area and really enjoyed the short time we had with them.

touring Blenheim Palace

looking out over the city from the top of a historic church

The night before we left, we were welcomed for dinner by another American family in Oxford - one that we'd never met before but cheerfully took the opportunity to feed us and answer MANY questions! It was the best way we could have closed such an exciting but overwhelming trip.

And we flew back and watched God provide abundantly in every way over the next 11 months. He has guided and He will sustain us. We want to record all He has done so that we will remember His great faithfulness!

Robert still journaling upon our arrival back in the US

BSF and the Rest of the Story

I get to study the Bible with other women every week here:

I get to sing hymns, hear testimony of God's faithfulness, and discuss the book of Matthew in this room:

My children get to learn right along with me in their own class:

girls in front of their classroom

I joined a local Bible Study Fellowship class and I'm pretty excited about it! An interdenominational Bible class inside the city was one of the things I was most hoping for with this move. I meet every week with women from ALL over the world with ALL the same purpose: to know God through studying His Word.

breaking it down on the front steps!

I've met a lady who lives in Oxford and leaves every Tuesday before 6:30 to make it in time. This makes my hour commute look rather pitiful. Our leader is Chinese and brings in the most fascinating illustrations from her heritage.

heeeyyy!!

The girls loved their class. I was the last parent to pick them up, but Ellie has told me several times she hopes I'm late every time!

After we left we stopped at a restaurant right by our tube station for a bite before the long ride home. We started with a chocolate biscuit and finished with a delicious panini.

We sat right by the window. This might become a tradition.

And as I reflect on my Natural History Museum post and this one, I become acutely aware of the only half-story I'm presenting.

Moving is hard. Moving across an ocean is really hard. Moving across an ocean with 2 kids feels near impossible to me some days.

I've found myself hoping for night to stretch on a little longer so I don't have to get up and face the paperwork and applications and errands with no conclusion. I "topped up" my mobile phone today and still really have no idea what that means I can do with it. Yesterday I struggled to understand the man at the post office while the girls jumped on the furniture and then ran out the door toward the busy street. I take countless trips to the store because I can only ever remember to buy chocolate and not more important things like milk and bread. Scratch that... chocolate has been VERY important! I have to remind myself often that there is the sweetest woman in my same building that is doing all of this and doesn't yet speak English!

So let me say that in between the magical moments is a lot of gnashing teeth and cleansing breaths and tears... and I hope a little sanctification.

Yes, I'm very glad to have joined BSF this year and am hopeful that it will be one of the tools God uses to frame this struggle of settling in.

Natural History Museum

We took the bus...

... to the tube... walked through the underground sidewalk...

and emerged from the tunnel to see... THIS!!!

Natural History Museum

I think there were 4 children at the Natural History Museum on Saturday!

We were ALL wide-eyed! Really just in awe of God's creativity and masterful creation. Robert decided it was the right time to figure out that panoramic feature thingy on his iPhone:

The girls have been wanting to match clothes these days. They picked out these cute shirts that Gramilu made for them before we left Dothan:

Everything was just... BIG! I mainly wanted to show the height of this prehistoric bird compared to Robert, but I didn't even get the poor thing's head in the picture.

I think we should refer to this bird as "Michael" after that really good looking family member that makes everyone else feel a little cheated, vertically speaking...

Look at this squid!!! And look at the cute little shrimps at the bottom of the photo!

Then we made it over to the blue whale exhibit.

This was a two story huge room with the largest land and ocean animals. We had to take it in from both floors.

They also had fantastic bird exhibits:

Robert found a familiar face from his time at Auburn. I mean... it WAS Saturday!

And we had to say hello to the King:

You could even take an elevator ride through the middle of Earth!

When we arrived we saw notices that the main attraction - the Dinosaur Exhibit - was closed. We were pretty disappointed... for about 30 seconds until we walked inside and realized how much there was to see! I really can't wait to go back (maybe with grandparents?!?!)

To top off an already great day we got to eat lunch with a great friend from Dothan, McDavid! He's a student we met when he was in 8th grade who is now studying in London for the semester. We were so excited to hear how well he's doing!

Then came the inevitable journey home. Dad was all of our heroes by carrying Ellie AND Meg the last bit of the way home so I wouldn't have to carry either. He really loves ALL his girls!

I repaid him later with THIS when we had Memphis friends over for dinner:

I couldn't find my Aunt Jamie's recipe that I normally use, so I used a similar Pioneer Woman's recipe. I also used Cadbury Cocoa. WOW! We begrudgingly gave the girls the last 2 bites today and I'm having major withdrawals!

We had lots of fun meeting those "Memphis" friends - Lisa and Chris. It is so encouraging seeing someone who's made it through a year in this bustling city!

Praise God for fun at the museum and fun friends new and old!

I married Superwoman

That's right, I did it, hooray for me - I married Superwoman. And everyone reading this post right now is nodding their head in agreement wondering, "How is Robert so athletic and humble?"....wait, that's what you are wondering right? Or maybe, "How in the world did Robert get Kim to marry him? She is WAY above his class!" Ok, that's what you are wondering!

It's been 3 weeks since we moved to London, and everyday I'm amazed at my wife - her drive, her creativity, her hospitality, her spirit, her mothering, her cute hair! It's really cute, isnt it?!

Over the past week, Kim has really shown her true self. She invited 3 families...that's right 3 families over meals! Each meal was big and delicious! We just moved here, and she's the one inviting people over - that's why I love her! She, like her mom, is great at loving people in her home. 

And preparing all this food isn't as easy as it used to be - she can't just zip down to Publix in our car. She walks 15 minutes both ways, with the girls, and stuffs the groceries in the stroller. Friday morning, she did it IN THE POURING RAIN (the rainiest day in London since 2009) - and she didn't even flinch, she was beaming. Some women might see rain and crumble - not SUPERWOMAN!

The other night, we went to a small group connected with Westminster Chapel, so we had to take the tube into central London. 

We had a wonderful time connecting with the group (12 people from UK, Canada, South Africa, Malaysia, Asia, and USA!) On the way home, we got off the tube, and I was looking for the nearest bus stop. It was raining, and it was 10:30pm. Kim was like, "Nah, let's just walk home."  No sweat. We loved it. 

Ok, so the girls look a little tired, but they honestly were having a great time. We carried them for about 25 yds, then they had to walk, then carry, then walk, etc. 20 minutes later we were home. 22 minutes later we were asleep in bed!

So just in case you didn't know, now you do - Kim is rather amazing. She is the only reason that I have a chance in London. Kim is my favorite person in the world and my greatest gift from the Lord. And with each phase in life, I realize more and more - I married Superwoman.

Figuring out the Food

We've enjoyed getting back in the habit of family dinners since we've been here. As the primary Jones family chef, using my new English kitchen is one of the mountains I've been enthusiastically climbing. There are different measurements for temperatures and food weights, but in a world with internet I'm simply bypassing the need to learn the conversions for now.

One of my biggest obstacles will be learning to accurately shop and plan our meals before the food spoils! Robert has been kind to smile and gulp down all of my repurposed leftovers - tonight was a leftover mixture of rice, beans, chicken and sausage. It was far from Louisiana fabulous, but it did the job!

Add to this planning for company. We had Paulo and Paula and their 5 month old Isabelle over for dinner on Tuesday night. So, on the way home from a wonderful introductory BSF class Tuesday morning, I stopped at the store for enough food for dinner that night and lunch the next day (we were having more guests come on Wednesday). I started to get nervous as I lugged my overflowing handheld basket to the cashier wondering "How in the world am I going to carry this home??!!" And I'll tell you it was pretty much a Christmas miracle - I FELL into the house with those groceries!

That night we had our very American version of quesadillas. I am sure it was a COMPLETE sacrilege to the Italian and Argentinian dining with us, but they ate happily and we enjoyed our time together. Paula is still learning English, so I had a chance to practice my Spanish with her. Señora Morales would be horrified to hear the steep decline in my vocabulary and verb structure, but we mostly understood each other (eventually) somehow!

The next day we had another family over for lunch. The father of this family has held our hand through this entire process of moving to England; helping us know what to expect, what forms to fill out, etc. He really could not have done more for us, and, in keeping with his nature, he brought us an entire TRUNK LOAD of housewarming (flat-warming?) gifts! I meekly offered his family lasagna and salad! Maybe if I get my trusty crock pot I'll feel a little more confident in the kitchen!

My go-to dish to bring to events (like the BBQ) has been my oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I'm not sure where my recipes landed, but the one I found online at Williams Sonoma is just about perfect. It's been a hit everywhere we've taken them - except at home where I hear grumbling about "none left for us!"

I've gotten much better at grocery shopping. I've stopped looking for the eggs in the refrigerated section and know how much milk to buy to avoid spoiled leftovers. And I know what I will probably never leave the grocery without: British Strawberries! They're just so delicious here! Perfectly ripe and sweet... hmmm... I think I'll go have another...

Little Slice of Heaven

Have I told you that I have the greatest husband ever? Well, I do.

He encouraged me to spend some time away today. So, sandwiched in between bank appointments, I ventured into the city. Just me and my thoughts and my raincoat. It rained the whole time and it didn't bother me one bit.

With lots of maps and a little luck I found a coffee shop I'd seen online and wanted to try: Kaffeine. I ordered a Cafe Americano (I know, I know! But it's good!) and then asked the cashier what she would recommend in the way of a sandwich. All I heard was "brie" and I was ready to try it. I think the rest of the ingredients were sliced roasted lamb, spinach leaves and some kind of plum dressing... basically a little slice of heaven on Foccacia bread. I'm telling you people, it changed my life: September 9th, 2013, the day I ate some heaven. So I sat and read a paper and enjoyed my lunch:

And while reading the paper I found this interesting comic... I think I gathered that the young man is worried about an escapee and the concerned train attendant then asks the boy where he's going... but then everyone gets all crazy talking about stookies and haivers! Ay yi yi! I think this perfectly encapsulates the many times the past two weeks I've felt like I was from another planet. The English language can be so very diverse...

So after a little food for thought and food for the soul, I strolled down to Oxford Circus. I had a few minutes to look around H&M before it was time to hurry back to the tube.

After dinner Robert headed downstairs for a conference LTS is hosting today and tomorrow on the life of Noah. I took the girls for an after dinner stroll. It wasn't really raining but the girls wanted FULL rain gear, you know, JUST in case:

And of course we had to share rain boots, even-steven and all. And the cute matching raincoats from Nana (can you tell we try to avoid the clothing arguments when possible?!)

We did somehow manage to find a few decent puddles along the way. The last one was a real winner!

Baths and then bedtime... what a day!