This Weekend

This weekend Eric, Brooks and I are heading up to Malshanger. It's outside of Basingstoke, a little village just an hour's train ride from London. Malshanger is a country house owned by our church for the use of its "Pastorates" - that's their word for community groups. We have really enjoyed getting to know the folks in our Pastorate - included in it are people from all over the world... Malaysia, New Zealand, Wales, Australia, the US, Scotland, Korea, France, Hong Kong, yes, even England! They all call HTB home in London and are looking to get connected, as are we. We're really thrilled about the chance to just spend good quality hang-out time with folks and deepen some of our new friendships. We're also excited about introducing Brooks to some of our new church friends. He stays home with a sitter on Tuesday nights while we go to Pastorate, so I'm particularly looking forward to showing him off! :)

Eric actually has to leave early from the weekend away as he'll be jetting off to Germany and Austria for a special event with work. He was a part of a team that put together a great project for a very happy client - as a thank you, the firm is giving the entire team an extremely nice bonus. They are sponsoring an overnight stay at an "ice hotel" along with a day of skiing in the Alps. Wa-hoo! Eric will love this as he's been aching to hit the slopes again after our New Years' blizzard in Tahoe in 2003. I'm only a little bit jealous. No, really. Hopefully he'll love it and want to take us back with him!!

A Hard Day in the Technology Sector

I've noticed that logistical problems, however small, tend to explode all over me in London. I'm sure this phenomenon is probably related to the isolation we sometimes feel - I miss the safety net of having our Chicago community and both our families within easy reach. Back home, issues seem to have solutions and support doesn't seem so far away. Today is one of those "exploding problem" sort of days.

I'm having computer trouble with the Mac. Now typically, I love my laptop. It's easy to use and generally without problems and best of all - zero viruses. Last week, I got really excited about some new software that a friend recommended, so I was cleaning up my files (mostly music and photos and videos of Brooks) and started doing some back-ups with the intention of purchasing the new software and playing around with it before Eric's parents' visit. Unfortunately, in the process of backing up my photos this weekend, I've created a problem. I think I know what the issue is, but I have NO CLUE how to fix it, and what's worse, I don't know any computer gurus over here to even ask. What seems like a small annoyance then starts to grow to a calamity in my mind. What do I do?! Who can fix this?? Who do I call? What will it cost? What will I do in the meantime? Will I even be able to get all my files back? And, gulp, what if we have to buy a new computer?!

I think of myself as a positive and pro-active person. A "Bring it on" kind of gal. I've done all sorts of things that I'm proud of and figured my way out of all kinds of messes. But these days, this kind of challenge tends snowball around me, particularly when I feel as under-resourced as I do right now. Yes, yes, I recognize that this really isn't that big of a deal (my litmus test - "no small children will die if..." - helps me gain perspective) but, boy, it feels like it is! All our warranties specify US/Canada only. All our tech support phone numbers are US toll-free (meaning they won't work over here). The London Mac retail store doesn't have any Genius Bar availability until Thursday night to help me fix it myself. And frankly, schlepping over there with a broken laptop and Brooks in tow just to stand in line for a few hours to get some answers? - that feels like a challenge I could do without. I just feel quite alone trying to figure out how to solve this problem. Yuck.

The current computer issues also mean that I don't have access to skype for the time-being (oh dear!) so we will get this fixed right away. Please pray that I can keep my cool and just do the _next_ thing towards a resolution. That way, I will eventually figure out how to fix it instead of just turning circles...

A New Friend

Today I had lunch a couple of blocks from here at the home of a gal I met last week at Tots n Toddlers - my church's weekly play group for moms. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit how we met. I overheard my new friend talking to another one of the American moms there and saying that she'd just moved to Bayswater. I came bounding over "BAYSWATER!? That's right by _my_ neighborhood!" I probably sounded like a loon, but I was so excited to meet a neighbor. As great as our church is, we have to really commit to get there, as it requires a tube ride with a baby in a stroller each time we make the trek.

Anyway, we realized that we lived just a few blocks from one another and exchanged email addresses. Today at lunch I learned that in addition to both being rather new mothers, and recent arrivals in the UK (they just moved from NYC because of her husband's job), they were actively involved in Campus Crusade for Christ back in college - a great point of connection as that was Eric's ministry at Rice. They are looking to join a pastorate to get more involved at church, and I've invited them to come along with us to ours this next week.

Weren't we praying for a momma friend for me to have stroller dates with?! And weren't we praying for just one "couple friend" to do life with here in the city?! Could this be God's provision, all in one package, right around the corner from us!? Yesterday, I literally walked by her front door six times. How great to discover a new friend is also a neighbor, within this city of neighborhoods.

I'm ending the week hopeful...

Observations from London Life - Jan 08

This morning, on my way to "Tots n Toddlers", I passed by a flower bed in our church yard and was completely overtaken by a lovely smell. I looked over and saw several daffodils in full bloom (what?!) and some other flowering plants popping open. I have no idea what caught my nose, but my heart started racing when I saw the fresh blooms. Early, too early, perhaps, but a great first sign of spring.

Later today, I started noticing that lots of borders and flower boxes had all kinds of green things peeking up out of their dirt. And some of the trees look like they're fully budded and just about to explode. Wait, isn't it January?! And isn't it freezing back home?! I guess this is what happens when a place has days on end of above-50 degree weather in January. I will _always_ take a few gray, soggy days in exchange for milder temperatures.

Tonight the stars were crisp and bright, twinkly, silent as the city seemed to dim its electric glare in deference to their right to shine. I thought of all the famous characters that have strolled the streets of London, under those same stars... perhaps passing by this church, or that very pub on their way to or from work or play. And I marveled again at the chance, my _second_ chance, to call this lovely neighborhood home.

I can feel my heart coming alive as I look outside of myself and notice all these little things. They bring me great joy and remind me how glad I am to be a pedestrian in this remarkable city....

Multi-tasking, or not...

About half an hour ago, I paused with what I was doing and had this thought -

I'm actually trying to do four things at the exact same time right now.

I was switching out the laundry, making a pot of chili for supper, entertaining Brooks, and working on my computer (uploading videos to youtube, saving pictures to blogger, attempting to back up my 2007 photo files). While all of it was sort of getting done, I could only rate myself an A in the chili-making and laundry. Once I get those particular "plates spinning" they sort of do the work for me. The attention I was giving Brooks was not at all focused or engaged, and the computer work was just proving to be a frustration, as it really demanded more concentration than I was able to afford it. However, I didn't feel like I could stop doing any of those things so that I could to put my hand onto fewer projects. I was just like a racquetball, incessantly bouncing off of all four walls ...

Recently I had a conversation with a woman I greatly respect about this topic. She gently observed that it appeared that I'm typically trying to do at least three things at one time - reading email, playing with Brooks, talking on the phone, checking in with Eric, paying bills, catching up with people online, packing a suitcase (I'm always packing a suitcase), trying to have a "heart to heart" with whomever I'm with. How could I possibly be really present at any of those activities if I continue to do them all at once?

I felt very uncomfortable as I listened to and felt all the layers of her probing question. Uncomfortable in part, because I knew what she'd said was true. And in part, because I knew also what it's like to feel like your companion doesn't have time to slow down, to talk to you or hear you out... Or maybe it's not a matter of not having enough time - they just *won't*. I had a gnawing feeling in the brief conversation that I had been short-changing the important people in my life.

Even sitting down and writing this all out is an exercise in focus... The washer is now beeping to tell me that the wash cycle is done. I need to go hang the wet clothes up so that I can get another load started. The chili is now bubbling like mad, and I need to check it as I don't want it to stick and scorch. Plus, Brooks is finally napping - now's my best chance to scrub the bathroom!! Ack! All of it screams at me "now"!

But wait. No. There is a time for everything. Sit, SC. It's okay to just sit. Rest. Listen. Have "a cuppa' tea". Look out the window for a moment. Take a deep breath.

I am not required to push myself towards 100% efficiency. My days are made up of more than just "what I got done today". And I might actually enjoy all those daily moments in my life a lot more, if I'm not simply racing through them.

Brooks "reading" his favorite bedtime story

Brooks current favorite book is "Llama Llama, Red Pajama". It's been at the top of his list for months, actually (thanks Cousin Erica for the recommendation!). His dada has always read this story to him with much vocal inflection, lots of drama and excitement, and I'm wondering if you can tell.

Be assured, he is happy as a lark as he's "reading" Llama Llama to his Grandma in TN - he's just playing up the angst for his audience.

For those of you who know this children's book, can you tell which lines he's saying over and over again? We can certainly tell, but then, we're his parents...

Enjoy!

Brooks eats his breakfast

I've been playing around on YouTube the last few days... Let's see if this works.

Here's Brooks enjoying his breakfast banana and doing some of his current favorite tricks - washing his hair, kissy face, and make a big mouth "O"... We have no idea where he learned that last one! :)

Enjoy...

"Now boarding, all passengers traveling with children under the age of 4..."

I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post. What an exciting month it's been, too! I celebrated my birthday and then we spent several wonderfully full weeks in the States over the holidays, soaking up time with family and a few friends, eating some of our favorite foods, and generally re-charging our batteries before plunging back into the London Life a couple of weeks ago. I feel a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of sorting through all our photos (I got a new digital camera for my birthday from my darling husband and his parents!). So, instead of tackling all the holiday stories I have to share at once, I'll begin again with a smaller task - what it's like traveling with a 13-month old!

Aside from the obvious challenge of taking a small child across six time zones (Brooks, can you say "jet lag"?), we really enjoyed traveling with our son. No, we can't arrive at the airport 30 minutes before the plane is scheduled to depart. Yes, we have to pack a lot more stuff. No, we no longer need books or computers in our carry-on luggage to entertain ourselves. But he's an extremely happy baby most of the time and with some food, a drink, a clean diaper, and the occasional nap - he's good to go! This trip, it got to be a fun past-time for us to watch Brooks interacting with strangers in planes and airports - particularly on the flight from Cleveland to Nashville just after Christmas. When Brooks boarded the plane, he gave a dozen or so fellow passengers high-fives as we carted him down the aisle. He laughed and squealed at all the right times, and generally was an ambassador for goodwill to all men. One traveler predicted that Brooks would be running for office in 30 years, and if so, he'll definitely vote for him!


On the flight from Midway back to Nashville, without Eric, I got to take Brooks into the cockpit for his first real glimpse of a pilot's world. Our friend Scott was the first officer on that flight and he snapped a few pictures of Brooks enjoying the view from the captain's chair. Too FUN! Thanks Scott for a peek at the front row!

As we made our way to our seats after that quick view out the windshield, one grandfather-ly fellow passenger said he'd be thrilled to hold Brooks on the flight if I needed a break. And his friend announced with a twinkle-y grin that they'd be auctioning Brooks off to the highest bidder after we were up in the air. Once in Nashville, that same group of plus-65 year olds strolled by me, mom, Sissy, and Brooks as they were greeting us in the airport, and everyone playfully teased mom that they were going to "take this boy home" with them. It was all very cute. (Can you tell how proud I am of my sweet baby?!)

I had been nervous about traveling alone with Brooks back over the ocean, but he was charming as ever throughout our trips last Friday. I had very little trouble navigating check-in, customs, baggage claim, customer service, switching terminals, etc all with him in the baby backpack. (What did mobile parents ever DO without this invention!?) Only one major exception - On the flight from Chicago to London, in our row the seats and the reading lights didn't line up properly. That seems like no big deal, but when the travelers behind us left their reading lights on (until almost 5 in the morning!), we were basically under spot-light-bright lights for hours on end while trying to get some sleep. Brooks tried to be a good sport about it, but I could feel him getting more and more frustrated as he twisted and turned to avoid the glare. I even put his winter bear cap on him, trying to block the light. After several *hours* of this, I requested the sleeper cot that should have been available for our bulkhead seat, but of course, the ground crew had removed it before leaving Chicago. But the flight attendants were great and thankfully the plane was less than 1/2 full, so instead they moved us up to the darkest spot they could find. The last row of "premium economy" meant a dark, quiet place for Brooks to finally nod off in my arms and a larger more comfy seat for me. In all we slept just one or two hours of the eight hour flight, but we made it.

I can't tell you how thankful we were to see Eric, to be finally home and to nap in our own beds that morning. It was probably good that the hardest flight was the last one. While we were certainly sad to say goodbye to friends and family back home, by the time we got back here, we were not sad to unpack the suitcases again and put them away - at least for a few weeks anyway!