We made it! The trip over was long, but uneventful. On our 8 1/2 hour flight from Houston to London, we were blessed when the man sitting next to us decided to go sit by a friend--woohoo!!--room to stretch my long legs! We landed safely at 7:45 a.m., but spent one hour in a line to get through passport check and another fifteen minutes with baggage claim as one suitcase didn't make it. The trace on it said it was stopped by security in Houston. I think that means the plane was too heavy and ours got picked for a later flight. But, saying security stopped it sounds more important. Anyway, we were told we wouldn't get it until tomorrow, but it just arrived at the apartment about an hour ago. I almost missed it because the doorbell sounds like a telephone and I kept answering the phone. I know--blonde alert! Keep in mind, we flew all night and I couldn't sleep for the 360 movies offered on our flight. Hey--I was trying to catch up!
A super-duper nice man, Tim, from the university picked us up in London so we not only had a ride to Oxford, we had a tour guide. It was great. Once we arrived in Oxford, about a one hour drive, Tim took us all around town and then to the university to meet people (That part I did not expect as we had just traveled all night. So apply more lipstick and smile...). Then Tim took us to the grocery store, which was quite interesting. It was very small and neat with only a few choices of different labels per product. We thought we got everything we needed, but 2 papa had to walk back later for toilet paper (needed in any country). We had a note explaining the drainage problem in our flat. It started out by saying "this is not a cheery subject" then it went on to describe proper flushing and draining techniques. Everything they say over here sounds so nice.
As you can see from the pictures, our flat is very small, but it will be great. I went straight to work getting our clothes in drawers and in the closet and 2 papa and our commuter guru, my brother, Jeremy, got us connected to the world. Soon, suitcases were shoved under the bed and both computers were up and running. We even used the video cam to talk to Jeremy back in Monroe. How cool is that???? We hope to see the whole family soon. I have heard that another grandchild is done with the flu, so I'm anxious to get a fam-report.
It's 6:00 England time, which means it's almost been exactly 24 hours since we left Monroe. In 24 hours we've traveled over 5000 miles, set up our apartment, and then talked to loved ones back home by way of a video cam. That, my friends, is life in 2009. Wow!!
When we visited the university we noticed a saying in Latin engraved over the front door. Tim said it means, "Test everything and hold on to what is good." Sounds like a great plan to me as we will be exposed to so many brilliant minds in the next ten weeks. I'm looking forward to stretching my brain as I meet new people and hear new ideas.
Here's what James had to say about testing. "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."
We don't know all that these next ten weeks will bring, but we plan to pass the test and let God's love shine through us.
Hugs, 2 mama
A super-duper nice man, Tim, from the university picked us up in London so we not only had a ride to Oxford, we had a tour guide. It was great. Once we arrived in Oxford, about a one hour drive, Tim took us all around town and then to the university to meet people (That part I did not expect as we had just traveled all night. So apply more lipstick and smile...). Then Tim took us to the grocery store, which was quite interesting. It was very small and neat with only a few choices of different labels per product. We thought we got everything we needed, but 2 papa had to walk back later for toilet paper (needed in any country). We had a note explaining the drainage problem in our flat. It started out by saying "this is not a cheery subject" then it went on to describe proper flushing and draining techniques. Everything they say over here sounds so nice.
As you can see from the pictures, our flat is very small, but it will be great. I went straight to work getting our clothes in drawers and in the closet and 2 papa and our commuter guru, my brother, Jeremy, got us connected to the world. Soon, suitcases were shoved under the bed and both computers were up and running. We even used the video cam to talk to Jeremy back in Monroe. How cool is that???? We hope to see the whole family soon. I have heard that another grandchild is done with the flu, so I'm anxious to get a fam-report.
It's 6:00 England time, which means it's almost been exactly 24 hours since we left Monroe. In 24 hours we've traveled over 5000 miles, set up our apartment, and then talked to loved ones back home by way of a video cam. That, my friends, is life in 2009. Wow!!
When we visited the university we noticed a saying in Latin engraved over the front door. Tim said it means, "Test everything and hold on to what is good." Sounds like a great plan to me as we will be exposed to so many brilliant minds in the next ten weeks. I'm looking forward to stretching my brain as I meet new people and hear new ideas.
Here's what James had to say about testing. "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."
We don't know all that these next ten weeks will bring, but we plan to pass the test and let God's love shine through us.
Hugs, 2 mama
Love the flat! Is 2-papa playing on his phone and working on his computer at the same time in that picture?! Nothing's changed, ha! Will and Bella are home, not really acting sick after Will running 103.3 in the middle of the night. Today, however, the motrin is working too well...they are as wild as ever! Glad y'all made it safely, have fun. Love ya!
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