Mumers Comes Through for Valentine's Day (Again)

It's no secret that we LOVE care packages. In fact, it's well-documented. The only care package I haven't properly documented since we moved to England was from my friend, Serena, who sent us lots of yummy food, Mary Kay samples, stationery, and a really kind note. Sorry, friend! I still remember everything though! Right? :)

Anyway, just like Valentine's Day a our first year here, we got one a care package from my mom. There was a huge faff with this huge box because we had to pay customs tax on it and then be home when it was delivered, but I paid the tax online and then Pamela was home to sign for it. Yet another bonus of having housemates.

What was inside but Taylor treasures! My mom was at my alma mater a few weeks ago and sent us some treats from my beloved uni. Nathan loves Taylor too... and golf. Hence the face.

He also got a sweet vest (gillet in British terms, pronounced like the French "zsheelay"). I had been on the hunt for one like it the whole time we were in the States, but I could NOT find one for the life of me. This was a great pick by my parents. 

Here he is in his new vest, posing with his extensive VHS collection. It's grown over the years, to say the least. For those of you haters wondering what we're going to do with them when we move back to the U.S., a friend here has already called shotgun on them (bagsied them, in British terms). All 80+ of them. VHS tapes are in high demand here, apparently.

I accidentally took a picture of my new boots, but I actually think it's quite artsy. Well done, me! They're gorgeous! Well done, Mumers!

More Taylor gear, boots (at the bottom of the picture), and some new gloves that allow me to play on my mom's iPad without my fingers freezing off. Yay!

Oh yeah, I French braided my hair for the first time the other day and was really proud. I feel like I'm turning into my dad.

And here are a few more snow pictures from around school...

The sun!

Me and my Narnia lamp post. If only it lead toward Narnia instead of my classroom...

Spirit Lifters

There's nothing quite like a care package to lift one's spirits. Seriously. Every time we get a box it amazes me to see the love and care and expense people bless us with. That was a preposition at the end of a sentence. I'm sorry. I'm tired. But it's still true. And that was a sentence beginning with a conjunction. That one too. That was a fragment. I'll stop now.

After a long care package drought, last week we got a huge box full of magazines from my sister-in-law, Hannah, with additions from Bev and Natalie. Thanks girls! Magazines are the gift that keep on giving here in the UK, because they make their rounds among all the American PhD wives. For some reason, Garden and Gun didn't really take off in the UK. Not included in this picture were all the boy magazines about cars. Nathan had already squirreled them away by the time I snapped the photo.

And in the usual feast-or-famine theme that is my life, we got another box on Thursday! This time it was from Justin and Julie, and everything in it was Whole 30 approved!

The new superfood, chia seeds (ch-ch-ch-chia!) and some dates from the Dekalb Famer's Market. Woohoo!

Whaaaa?! A can of pumpkin and some almonds. Be still my heart!

We got a few bags of dried fruit, and these are by far my fave. I love mango.

I don't know if I'm more excited about the Gladware or the coconut flour and almond flour inside.

Included was a lovely note on a card made by Bobbi Jo. I love that face!

Thanks so much guys. I can't tell you how blessed Nathan and I feel to have family and friends like you. Love and hugs...

How a Cup Made Me Cry

Yesterday was a good day. The weather was nice. I felt peaceful. And we got TWO packages in the mail ("Feast or famine" strikes again!), one from my sister-in-law Hannah and one from my mom and my pseudo-mom Kathy. I wanted to wait until Nathan got home so we could open them together and document the process with the camera.

In the evening, Nathan stayed late at the library and I had book club at 7:30, so I figured we could open the packages afterwards. I got home around 9:45 and the first thing Nathan said was, "I remembered that you had book club. Are you proud of me?"

"Yeah, actually I am!" I said. Since morning, he asked me "What do have we going on tonight?" about five times, when I told him about me being out for book club. I voluntarily told him about it the day before too, just to get things started, but sometimes his memory still fails him.

"I remembered after I walked in the door and then whistled for you and then called your name and then looked for your lifeless body and then called you twice in a panic when I couldn't find you."

I chuckled... And then I saw that he had already opened his package from Hannah. So much for my plan! 

Look at these goodies! I can't wait to catch up on some American movies! The Social Network is first on my list. I'm actually kind of hoping it will rain today so I won't feel guilty for watching it while the sun is shining. Thanks Hannah!

Nathan left the house early this morning, so he said it was okay for me to open the box myself today. I love my mom's handwriting. It's just unmistakable.

I accidentally opened it from the bottom, and I first opened these beautiful, sturdy grocery shopping bags. I'm sure they'll come in handy when we move in a couple of weeks.

I literally let out a gasp when I took this out of the tissue paper. What a gem! I love it!

And a red cardigan made out of sweatshirt material. I die!

I love the ruffles.

I started feeling really nostalgic for my college town, Upland, Indiana, when I opened these: 

1) a local newspaper with two articles that made me smile (My former boss in the admissions office is now the Director of Admissions [GO AMY!] and the house where a bunch of guy friends lived - once called "The Church" because it used to be one - is now a home for girls coming out of foster care.)

2) a menu from Ivanhoe's, a famous restaurant that serves amazing food in addition to 100 different sundaes and 100 different milkshakes

3) a t-shirt from Ivanhoe's. I can always use more work-out clothes!

4) a big plastic cup from Ivanhoe's with a built in straw and lid. I got all choked up when I unwrapped it. God is so good!

Tears sprang to my eyes! I've been struggling to drink enough water lately. My mom gave me a similar cup last summer, but like the iPod and the Nalgene bottle, Nathan has taken it over. I didn't want to demand it back, so I figured I'd just get another one at Christmas when we visit America. However, I didn't have to wait! This one is ALL MINE! I know it sounds totally stupid, but I loved the reminder that the Lord cares about the littlest things.

Check out the Ivanhoe's sundaes and shakes menu! You can click on the picture to magnify it.

Moving on! Look at these beautiful school supplies! I can't wait to use them: (from left to right) nice pencils with a pencil sharpener, file holders, a journal, and note cards with lined envelopes.

Thank you so much Mom and Kathy! You made my August!

Thank You Kristi

My dear college roomie and heart friend and baker extraordinaire, Kristi, sent me a box from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada! 

Every time I think about Vancouver, I automatically hear the end of the Focus on the Family kids' radio program, Adventures In Odyssey, where they give the address for their headquarters in Canada. 

"Vancouver, BC, B6B 4G3."

I am so weird.

Yes, I was in my mom's flannel snowman pajamas when opening the goods. Yes, it was in June. Speaking of Canada, Durham shares latitude with the Hudson Bay. And yes, it was fully light outside when I was awakened by this lovely package. It is fully light by 4:00 in the morning. Don't judge me.

Whoa! Loads of new VHS tapes! Yummy food like pesto and pasta (which is already gone) from Trader Joe's (gosh, I miss that store)! A beautiful birthday card!

Kristi, you are such a wonderful friend, and I thank you so much for your love through this package of goodies! After re-looking at these pictures, I have decided to nosh on the Trader Joe's trail mix (next to my left hand in the picture above) I have hidden.

Love and miss you!

Thanks Bev

My dear friend from Atlanta, sent me a birthday package! I feel like a bad friend, because all she got for her 30th birthday was a phone call. Gulp! 

Nathan did the documenting while I was still in my pajamas. I'm happy to report that it was still technically morning when the box was delivered.

A blurry close up of me reading the card

Cute hat! This is my "What up, B?" face.

Look at all the treasures! A scarf, magazines, books, soap and deodorant, and lots and lots of love!

Woohoo! Thanks so much for your thoughtfulness Beverly! I love and miss you!

Thank You Uncle Bob and Aunt Deanie

A few weeks ago, I got a huge surprise when the Royal Mailman delivered two huge boxes from America. TWO BANKERS BOXES PEOPLE! The instructions from Uncle Bob and Aunt Deanie were not to open them until May 27th. I kept them stacked behind our bedroom door and piled things on top of them so I wouldn't be tempted. I was a very, very good girl, and I waited until my birthday. 

Dad helped me bust them open while Mom documented the grand opening with my camera.

As I was opening the card, she said, "Look surprised!" I think I just look cross-eyed.

It was truly a beautiful and perfect card for the occasion. Thank you!

Inside was cash-ola to buy some new running clothes, which I was thinking about getting. Now it's for sure! Yesss!

There was so much Costco sized stuff in these two boxes! Garlic, dried herbs and seasonings, beef jerky, plastic sandwich bags and freezer bags, hot chocolate mix, Kleenex packets, etc.

Graham crackers! I'm kissing the box I'm so excited. We took them on the retreat this weekend and introduced our British friends to s'mores. There will be an entire post to come about this. 

The sweet stuff! Hot Tamales and chocolate chips!

Dewars chews! A Bakersfield specialty. I forgot how much I loved these.

A classroom staple, Clorox wipes.

Here I am surrounded by all my birthday treats. I couldn't believe how much stuff they packed in there!!! Thank so much Uncle Bob and Aunt Deanie! I love you!

And thanks to Kelee for the earrings and my parents and sister for the outfit. :)

Thanks Ma

Super long overdue. Sorry, Mumers...

Look who *loves* the box with the Sesame Street stickers! Thanks for all the treats...

It was such a special treat to get the BC gear and some of my favorite movies on VHS. We popped in Gladiator pretty much straight away, and since then I've been keen on freaking Nathan out with my reenactment of the creepy "busy little bee" speech that Juaquin Phoenix makes. He likes to freak me out by responding with "AM I NOT MERCIFUL?!?!?!"

I'm waiting for a special rainy day to watch Anne of Green Gables. I've tried to stick to the "bake cookies only when entertaining company" rule, but I just might have to break it for that movie. Actually, I can invite people over to watch it, can't I? And then I wouldn't be breaking the rule! Who's in?

And happy, happy birthday to my brother, Matthew, who turns 27 today!

I think he was his handsomest in this picture. I've had this picture in my classroom since I started teaching, and all the middle school girls for the past seven years have thought he was hot. That sounds kind of weird now that he's 27. :)

I love this picture for so many reasons. I'm  not sure what my sister is dressed up as. Is she a pirate? a gypsy? a gang banger? a gondola driver? a waitress at an Italian restaurant? Matthew is clearly Mickey Mouse, and he was making a sign that he saw Kristen do when she played a mouse in the play Cinderella whilst polishing off an apple. The only thing interesting about my costume is that the washable Crayola markers that my dad used to "paint" my face turned out not to be so washable. That made for an interesting school experience the following day.

In other news... I subbed at a middle school today, and it was much better than my previous experiences. I'd say it was 80% positive. The most blogworthy thing I noticed was a kid picking his nose and eating his findings. While at the school, I got work for tomorrow at another school as well as a full week's booking at yet another school for next week. We praise God for his provision!

Please keep praying that I can find full time work. You've probably gathered that I really don't like subbing. The best part about it is creating stories in my mind to tell you later. I've lost count of how many jobs I've applied for, and aside from the stress of all that goes with being a substitute teacher, it's quite stressful not knowing if/when I'm working day by day. Nathan had to remind me yet again today that the Lord is for us and has brought us this time of trusting in him for our needs to make us more like Jesus.

Thanks friends...