Sailing with Dad

Sorry for the blogging drought lately. Fear not. I've got a bunch of posts lined up for you every day for a good while. We arrived safely in California and (after stopping at In N Out, of course) hit the ground running with wedding stuff. My brother, Matthew, is now married to the sweetest girl, Priya, and they are honeymooning at Disneyland. More on that later.

So anyway, one of the fun things we got to do when my dad was visiting was sailing in the Lakes District with our friends Sam and Jen and their baby Will. Sam and Jen took us sailing on the Isle of Wight last summer, and Nathan couldn't wait to do it again. He had been looking forward to it for weeks and weeks.

There they go! Sam, Nathan, and my dad had a few hours on the water while Jen and I hung out with the baby.

In this placid-looking picture and among the swans is Nathan screaming, "MIIIIIIKE!!!" My dad was trying to pull Nathan's feet out of his toe holds while they were sailing in higher winds. Nathan is petrified of cold water.

Will had a serious nappy blowout and had to have a full-body wipe-down. It was hilarious to watch. We have so much to look forward to...

Afterwards we went for tea/coffee/ice cream. Uncle Nathan getting Will started early on spoonfuls of clotted cream.

Thanks for some awesome last few memories in England, Sam and Jen! We miss you already!

Goodbye England

Okay, so here's the deal.

My dad left a few days ago and very kindly took my computer to California with him so I don't have to schlep it across the ocean myself. I'm currently blogging from Nathan's computer, which only downloads pictures off of our camera if I want to dump ALL of them at once (instead of choosing which pictures you want, like on my computer). I don't think he'd appreciate a new file with over 1,000 pictures and videos, so pictures of our recent adventures may have to wait.

Remind me to tell you about our sailing adventure with my dad, eating his world-famous chicken fried steak, exploring Durham one last time, our fantastic 4th of July party, and saying goodbye to friends.

We leave our home here on Wednesday morning and will head to California for two weeks, where we'll celebrate my brother's wedding on Saturday. The next Saturday we'll have a baby shower and tell everyone whether we're having a boy or a girl. Please don't pester us about it until then! I have been very short with family who are itching to know (sorry, guys!), but I don't trust myself to talk about it at ALL for fear of giving it away! As the British would say, "Watch this space."

We head to Atlanta on July 24th to spend some time with friends and family there. We've got a week in Florida planned with all of the Parkers and their significant others. I can't wait to complain about the summer heat and humidity in Panama City, also known as the Redneck Riviera. 

After that, who knows? Nathan is still earnestly looking for work. We've had two positions fall through at the last minute in the last two months, which is disappointing, but we both feel at peace that the Lord will take care of us. Hopefully we'll have something to report on the job front by the middle of August. Please pray with us!

1. A place to live and work and serve the Lord
2. Good health for our family

We've had lots of really kind offers from friends and family to crash at their places while we wait, but I'm really ready to settle somewhere permanent. Also, regarding insurance, since I am uninsurable at the moment (two very expensive pre-exisiting conditions, you see) we have signed up for a Christian bill-sharing program. However, it doesn't cover maternity or diabetes costs (darn those pre-exisiting conditions!). Thankfully, the National Health Service here has set me up with at least 8 months worth of diabetes supplies (PRAISE THE LORD!), but we are (rather, I am) anxious about the cost of medical appointments, not to mention the bill coming when we actually have the baby. We pray on...

Poor Will/Beach Trip

It's been slow in the blog world lately. First, we've had some company, which is always fun. Second, I've had a cold. It's not the end of the world, but sometimes it feels like it.

On Will's first night with us, I went to bed before the boys, and I neglected to do my hosting duties properly. Poor Will didn't realize that there were sheets and blankets underneath the covers that are tucked in. Nathan found him in the morning covered in pillows to try to keep warm. I felt so, so bad.

The next day we went to Easington Colliery, one of our favorite beach spots. Will looks happier among the dandelions.

Darius and his finance, Christe, also stayed with us for about five days. I think Darius may be mocking Nathan here, but I'm not sure.

Both Darius and Will are amazing cooks, which didn't make their visit a pain for me at all.

It was cold. I regretted taking off the detachable furry hood on my vest that very morning. It was still fun.

York and Durham with Katie

On our last day together, Katie and I went to York. 

Here we are on the city walls overlooking the minster.

Katie loved seeing Poundland. She said it was much more exciting sounding than Dollar General or Family Dollar.

We found a boot scraper.

We really liked this belt too.

We made it back just in time to get some chai lattes at Flat White in Durham before they closed.

Cheers!

Nathan really wanted to take Katie to Colpitts, his favorite pub, so tired though we were, we went.

Cheers again!

I can't decide which picture is weirder. This one...

or this one. Your thoughts?

Beachy Keen

After church on Sunday, we and Katie had Brent and Aline over for some Indian food. After that, we did what we always do when it's sunny (but still freezing), hit up the beach!

Katie was amazed by the dark sand.

Brent and the ladies

Freezing cold fun

My beautiful friend!

Here we are striking a Nathan pose from one of our previous beach trips.

Isn't it just picturesque?

When we got home, Aline made German waffles!

Yum!

Here's the recipe if you can read her German handwriting.

Tea time!

A Celebratory Walk

Our first English friends, Sam and Emily, had us over for a celebration lunch for Nathan's completion of the PhD. After that, they took us on another lovely English walk with our friend, Katie. And... I can't figure out how to get the wide lens shot thingy off of my camera and get back to the regular lens. Enjoy the photos!

What We've Been Up To

We introduced friends Jeanette and Emma to our favorite coffee shop, Flat White.

That first sip of a chai latte is the closest thing to heaven on earth. Cheers.

I got a new pump (upgrade u!) and went to a training class on how to use it. Cookies were served and the irony was lost on everyone but me.

This was the bathroom at the doctor's office. There's a toilet next to the giant garbage bin.

And this sign was on the wall. Gulp.

We went on a winter picnic at the beach with new friends, Brent and Aline.

Freezing but fun

See all the fun we're having?

Thanks for hanging in there with me during my blogging break. I'm still amazed that despite the fact I haven't posted in over two months, about ten people a day check in to see if I'm still here. :) Y'all are the best.

Christmas updates next...