New York / Old York

So we decided to head out for the weekend.  We have not officially gone anywhere "far" yet.  So York it is, in honor of New York at 9-11.  We were not sure of what to expect, but we have heard it is a nice place.  Looking at the weather, it looked liked we'd be soaked a bit, but we brought our rain boots or wellies.  ;)
No rain on Friday.  We spent the day going straight into town 1st to find parking.  We headed right behind the Minster church and thought we could park there.  Needless to say, a young woman said we aren't supposed to- an American.  We asked her where we could and she said for us not to worry about it and go ahead and talk to this particular police man and he and she gave us the OK.  1st freebie!  Hallelujah!  So I get to talking to Lisa- the American who now resides in the UK and her job is working at the gigantic Minster- as a rep.  She was not only a Lisa, but from Ohio and she went to Miami U in Oxford- small world!  We struck up a friendship and then she escorted us into the Minster... getting us in for free to be kind.  2nd freebie!  Double hallelujah!  God was so good!  She told us to be back by 5 to hear the men's choir sing.  So we were back and enjoyed hearing this group of men sing as well as stay for a real English style service.  We met a man named Daniel as we walked through York- he had the joy of the Lord all over his face.  We enjoyed talking with him... Daniel not only a scientist, but a pastor as well.  Great guy- we parted ways.  Then while we waited for the men's choir to begin, a blind man approached us and was the most humble and kind man ever.  Originally from Australia, he shared his wife was from the UK and that is where they currently reside.  So we were able to share with him about Emily doing missions over there and we realized he was a true born again believer.  He is a retired 'solicitor' which we got a kick out of.  I'm thinking there is no way this guy did any kind of door to door stuff or phone stuff... he is a retired lawyer- or solicitor.  HA!  Anyway, what an amazing spirit.
We enjoyed our 1st day in York seeing so many ruins and hearing a lot of history.  Day 2 we got up and had our devotions and set out.  We were heading to Menwith Hill to get gas which was about 30 miles away when we stumbled on some incredible Abbey ruins!  I was so excited to get over and walk in time and wonder what on earth and who are earth resided in such a place.  Then we drove off after photos to a place called Plumpton Rocks- and saw a young woman there.  We realized this place was basically a park with some water and rock formations and decided not to pay for that as we really wanted to see Fountains Abbey.  So we left but before we did this girl shared with us that she loved America and Lucky Charms cereal.  We went on to Menwith Hill and were so thankful to be able to get gas cheap!!  We decided to head to the commissary and buy this young woman Lucky Charms.  5 boxes to be exact- and Nathan put tracts in each box.  We went back and saw this girl and shared that we had something for her and you would have thought she won the lottery.  She was so shocked!  We made her day- a little God thing.  It made our hearts glad.  On to the Abbey.  We get there and realize that the friends who let us borrow their passes and parking sticker had their names on it and we didn't feel right.  So Nathan shared that we needed to forget it and just honor the Lord by paying for this stuff- and to our shock and amazement... when we went in to pay- it was National Heritage Day- our 3rd freebie!  No cost period!  A huge savings!  We truly felt overwhelmingly blessed.  Nathan had found a very cheap deal at the hotel as well which was beautiful!  After the ruins there was a red coat re-enactment that we got to see with them shooting their muskets.  Amazing day, amazing photos.  No rain!  On the way back to the hotel... there was a storm brewing and we saw the most incredible rainbow we had EVER seen- EVER!  Not only incredibly wide, but so colorful and vibrant- bold!  We got photos and were thanking God for being so good to us- as we are so undeserving!  I got a little weepy thinking that because we gave those stupid Lucky Charms cereal away to a needy girl- that God let Emily perhaps paint a rainbow.  Sappy- silly.  Nathan felt it was just giving the Lucky Charms to this girl and God ended our day beautifully.  On day 3 Sunday... we got up and had our devotions before heading into York for the last day.  We were trying to find cheap parking and one place was 16 pound - huge money!  Another place was 7 pound but was completely sketchy- and God literally told us not to go there.  We're so thankful we didn't!  We see a fire dept. where Nathan went to ask one of the guys where a cheaper and trust worthy sight would be and they let us park there for free- 4th freebie!  Not only that, we struck it up with a firefighter who Nathan gave a Jax FD shirt to, so this guy gave him one from York FD.  They all wanted us back for the remembrance of 911.  We came back and got to hear them ring the bells, pull out the trucks and remember the men and women who bravely lost their lives.  They flew an American flag in honor of those brave police and firemen.  It was a humble and wonderful experience!  Jesus made this past weekend one to remember for a long time!  Nathan and I feel so blessed to say the least- and it was awesome!

photos

I cleaned out the computer- the camera and realized that I have taken over 1,500 photos so far.  YIKES!  I love photography!  I love the old buildings around here, ruins sometimes... anything that meets the eye.  Nathan is SO good about stopping and helping me out.  I love having eyes to see and a great camera!  I am SO blessed!

Hair cut

Nathan decided to try our local village cuttery.  A lovely woman who did a fantastic job on his hair!  I decided to go too.  A week later I went in and she did a great job, it's a bit too short for me but hair grows fast.  We were able to share with her about the loss of Em when Nathan got his haircut.  It's amazing when you share your testimony to others.  Most simply don't know what to say, some listen though and are sad for us or sorry.  But we're able to once again share what has happened and where God has us and that we will see Em again.  Thankful

a free parking stub

Now when you park anywhere- you pay!  Any village and town, any store, anything... anywhere pretty much has you pay for parking.  We went to a town the other day and a woman just handed us a 2 day free parking pass to put on our car.  It's little things like that, that make your day bright.  A ray of sweetness that we too should be passing on to others whether it be a smile, a nice word, a note, a gift, or helping someone out.  This is what God wants from us daily.  To live like Christ~

The Colonel's home

Ok I meet this woman at a Booster Parent cook out that we volunteered for.  She was very sweet and you sensed Jesus in her.  Well come to find out she is a single woman, who loves the Lord and is doing missions here (but also working with the base chapel) and is part of youth for Christ.  She has a club called club beyond and we said we'd like to learn more.  Now we are volunteers for that and we love Stephanie!  She's amazing.  We are helping out more with the middle school kids.  It's great fun!  I met another woman who had joy all over her face when meeting us.  She and her husband invited us over to their home and I felt like I walked into Garmisch Germany.  Oh my we have the same loves and tastes for Germany!  It was a show room!  We enjoyed super fellowship, great beer, and food... and in the presence of the Lord.  It's all OK.  We love when people don't have hang ups and can be real.  Thank You Jesus for such great friends we're getting to know!  We are so incredibly blessed!

Cheese and Onion (food)

Sandwiches!  We love them.  It's so much cheaper to eat this way... head to your Tesco, or other little grocery store and pick up a packaged sandwich!  YUM!  Then there are these baked seasoned chips that taste like chicken rotisserie - HELLO!!!  Wow good stuff.  We walk a lot, picnic sometimes, and see sights.  This past week we went to Bedford and saw where John Bunyan lived.  A free museum.  We hope to get back and check it out.  We were out of time with the car parking and realized we'd get a stiff fine for going over the minutes - when Julie and Matt come in November- we hope to take them there amongst other place.  We can't wait to see Julie!!!  YAY!
We have enjoyed the 2 for 10 pound meals.  That's a bit affordable.  Found out yorkshire pudding is not pudding at all.  Delicious.  And give me a shortbread cookie with coffee or tea, oh my!  I hope Nathan and I don't end up looking like Oompa Loompa's before we leave here.  It's the land of fat and calories!!!

Library

Now I'm not a reader which is a good thing I think.  It takes me forever to read a book!!!  However I did read ONE since I've been here.  I'm thankful for that gift, that book about Heaven.  It touched my soul.  I do love the library on base.  I have been able to download all kinds of new music FREEBIES!  I love it!

Neighbors

Our neighbors have been shy.  Our home has 4 families living in it.  You don't hear much from them, and it's a pretty solid place.  We did make it a point to meet Ben and Jennie and their little boy Harrison.  They are unmarried, but hopeful to get married when they can afford it.  God laid it on my heart to buy Harrison an outfit... (clearance at the BX) :)  So, I took them the outfit and bought them a chocolate bar.  In return a few days later, Jennie made us a crumble with rhubarb, blackberries and apples.  She was so proud, and even came over to our home.  Ben has been trying to get his license, and missed it by 1 pt.  Unfair!  We told Ben we'd be praying for him!  They are unchurched and searching.  We pray we can talk more of Christ to them!

Ray, Linda and Dan

We met Linda at church, are praying her husband Ray will come to church and get to know who Jesus is.  Dan was on an assignment from Germany, so he's not with us anymore.  We enjoyed fellowship and going out to eat.  We've had some good times and great laughs!  I appreciate Ray and Linda so much!  They had us for Mexican (Ray's heritage) and boy can he/they cook!  It was so good!  There are quite a few foods we miss.  Now we do like some of the UK food.  And praise God for the American stuff we get at the commissary!

Chorus!

I decided to join the Sawtry chorus group.  I asked Jennifer to come the 2nd time as it's once a week and we can certainly do that.  Tomorrow night is my 3rd week.  It's a sweet group of people singing songs for the people of the village.  Soon we'll be practicing for Christmas.  Now when in Britain, sing like the Brits... or not.  It's hard to use such strong punctuation, and accentuate words like they do.  Now I can put on a serious accent no problem, but why!?  I just deal with it and smile.  I have such lazy wording and singing I guess.  HA!

Missed Julie's birthday, Laura and Ryan's anniversary and Wesley's birthday

I hate it when I can't be around our kids for their special days.  We have not been able to skype because we have had nothing but problems with getting internet, phone service etc.  SKY was supposed to be here, and we waited patiently for 2 weeks to get our "package" set up.  We get a call the day of that there was a computer glitch and that it would be another 2 weeks.  We said forget it.  So... we went through BT phone. It was off and on whenever there was a halfway decent tower perhaps!?  It was too costly and rarely worked... unless we had the computer out the window.  We tried to get a dongle.  FINALLY- a service called 3 accepted us and we have this little plug in dongle that WORKS!  Now don't get me wrong, it's still very expensive.  Sigh... so we've been able to talk to the kids, I get mail off with prizes for them and that makes my heart glad.  I miss them SO much!!!

Moving in

We moved in our little home.  It's TINY!  It's called a starter home, and I have yet to figure out what that means!?  Let's build a home where there is no outdoor faucet!?  How about no upper cupboards in the kitchen!?  How about a narrow bathroom with a shower drape that is open to the public if anyone decides to come upstairs!?  We have a 2 bedroom (one the size of a walk in closet or jail cell) and the other fits our double bed- (we went from a KING size bed to a double) LOL  There are no cupboards in the bathroom and the tiny mirror is too high for me to see into.  There are no outlets in the bathroom... and very few in the house in general.  In the kitchen we barely fit the washing machine which is TINY and dryer.  Our frige is on top of the counter top.  Our freezer in the tiny under the stairs opening.  There are no shelves, so you have to buy this stuff, and there are no closets period.  Hello STARTER HOME... how convenient.  NOT.  The only funny part is when Nathan says he is going to reside to the living room, which is 2 steps away from our kitchen table.  We don't have a TV because you have to pay a TV tax!  And you can get fined big time if they find out you have one without paying... and trust me, they KNOW!  You are being watched all of the time as camera are EVERYWHERE.

Churches

We have visited many churches, cathedrals, and abbeys.  They are amazing with their splendor.  Such stories!  Such history!  We recently went up a hill as we say an unusual steeple.  There was a man outdoors gardening who was very friendly.  He asked us if we wanted to see inside, and of course we did.  Nathan struck up a conversation with him and we found out he was an atheist.  A man, who was well educated, and ran part of a university and was a professor... a godless man.  We challenged him, and have prayed for him ever since.  This is not uncommon here.  Most people do not attend church.  Or, church is football or other sports.  Another church we visited, a man and woman were inside and he shared with us that in his 40 years living there- 1% if that attend church.  England seems very lost.  The churches show a different story, and grave stones.  There are Bible verses, talk of God, even 'photos' of Christ, stained glass with Bible stories in them.  What has happened!?

So swim or not to swim

So in our town of Sawtry- we joined for 10 days to our Leisure 1 gym/pool.  It's a great place, within walking distance.  We enjoyed swimming, but everything is a contract around here.  We're not sure if we want to commit and pay a lot for swimming.  There is a gym and things going on all of the time.  It's amazing all that one little village can offer.  But you have to be prepared to pay the bucks.  We don't want ANY contracts period!  We don't know just how long God wants us here-  we don't want to lose $$$!  With the rainy season coming and cold cold cold days, we may check into something more simplified without the long term commitment.

what a sky!

When we have traveled, we have noticed such a vast and amazing sky.  We can't put our fingers on it, but it's bluer than anything!  The clouds are simply amazing.  It's brilliant!  When it rains, which we have had very little of... it's still gorgeous!  It's HUGE!  Unfortunately, I have suffered allergies since being here- so I'm living off of Claritin and nasal stuff.  The golden wheat was in full bloom if that's the correct word.  We were able to stop by when we saw a farmer to take some great shots.  Recently it was all cut down.  A lot of it is used for the thatched roofing.  A lady told me those roofs can cost up to 10,000 to re-do.  They are beautiful!  England is such a pretty place.  We have seen a few awesome rainbows which seem much brighter and bigger!  Lovely!

Other bases and work.

Thankful for RAF Alconbury.  I like this little base a lot.  We've seen a few other bases and this one by far is the best around here.  We've enjoyed the commissary and BX as well as cheaper gas!  So grateful for the little things God has blessed us with.  Nathan has been working hard!  4-5 days a week at night, he says it's very hard and exhausting work, but he likes the people he works with.  Everyone is very nice and enjoyable.  I was going to work, and am needed and wanted for sure.... but if I did we'd never see each other.  We have decided for me to stay home.  We get out during the day and enjoy seeing old villages, photos, eating out on occasion and the village thrift stores.

Waiting for our parcels

It was hard to wait for the 2 boxes we sent over here.  I was starting to panic each time we'd go to the Post Office on base.  On the 22nd of July, our boxes came!  It was awesome!  I have treasures in those boxes, things that are special to me, photos of the kids, a book of Emily's life in Australia when she did missions.  So that was vital I got the stuff.  It took ONE MONTH to get to us!  A few days later, my hammered dulcimer arrived.  Now I am playing music at church with Jennifer.  It's great!

Sad days

Only July 14th we found out that our good friends Pastor Paul and Lynn Coleman lost their son Tim.  He was 32 and had health issues and died of a heart attack.  Then on July 21st, it would have been Emily's 4th year of marriage.  Something we longed for, and were so excited about.  God took our daughter Emily home to be with Him- a life so precious and so short lived.  Em did more in her 23 years then most do in a lifetime.  She never got to get married, which is probably good because that would have been even harder for her fiance'.  It was certainly hard enough.  Death is so difficult to deal with, but for the Christian, it is hard, but easier to get through as we know we WILL see Emily again one day when God calls us home.  Thank You Jesus for salvation- full and free!  Hallelujah!

Car boot what and White goods?

So we happened to hear about car boot sales.  Well, with the British jargon, we had to look that one up.  We decided to head out and check out the sale to see for ourselves.
Now driving around England is quite the challenge!  Roundabouts are #1 and everywhere.  Watch out or you'll be plowed over.  People drive EXTREMELY fast and then add a roundabout and you're doomed if you're not careful.  Scary!  We get to a boot sale and it's out of the trunks of cars or they place things on the grounds of a park where everyone is lined up.  Interesting.  Mainly junk- but some good things and pretty cheap.  We bought a new baby book that I sent our pastor's new son back home.  Nathan found a fire dept. bear that still had the tags on.  And a book about traveling Switzerland.  All in all we paid a couple of pounds- or dollars.

The thrift store on base is amazing.  We have found quite a few things to add to our rental when we get in it.  Our pastor and wife are leaving because he is going blind and they have to return to America for treatment (hopeful) so much prayer needed!  Anyway, another door open as we were able to get most of their things.  God blessed us with a table and chairs, a sitting chair, bed box frame, kitchen stuff and white goods- their frige, freezer, washer and dryer!  What a blessing for us!  It would have cost a FORTUNE to buy this stuff here.

Cyber journal jots

Some of the happenings have come and gone, but needless to say I wrote down a jot for certain things.  Life has been extremely busy settling in.
As we are now in the month of Sept., I will share our life in the last 2 months.
We spent our days trying to find a place to live (rental)
Found our "home church" while here- Grace Fellowship
Spent 4th of July enjoying the fire works display on base and wearing COATS!  It was COLD!
On July 8th- a very important day for me... after YEARS of no bowling, we went on base to bowl!
Nathan 99.9 % of the time back in the old days would beat me and thus I hated bowling with him.  I beat Nathan 173-89!  4 strikes in a row... and he was laughing.
We went to London by car, then train.  Hopped on a bus to tour around and enjoyed some of the sights.  Will have to go back and take our time now that we know the ropes.
Everything cost or is TAXED!
Tried several times to get my drivers test out of the way.  The base wants you to have a certain license.  I have my international drivers license... is that not good enough?
We found a car on base for sale.  Thankful!  Hated to pay for a rental car!  Nathan also bought a bike.
The end of July- we found a rental affordable!  Hallelujah!

July 1st

After a long 71/2 hour flight (but awesome flight) we landed at Gatwick Airport in London.  It was a busy place, but the man waiting for us was there to take us to RAF Alconbury.  It seemed like a long ride to the base.  It was a complete trip to drive on the WRONG side of the road (to me) and the driver was on the WRONG side as well.  It was a bit scary at 1st, but it didn't take too long to adjust.  I was just glad I was not driving.  We got to the base and were unloaded, our few suitcases and us, dropped off at the gate.  We walked close by to the guest quarters area and were taken by van to the lodging where people stay on base as they wait for a home inside or outside of the base.  For us, because we are not currently in the military, our housing would have to be found outside the base.  We ended up sleeping because of fatigue.  Then that evening Nathan went to get our rental car for a few days while looking for a place to live.

June 30

Nathan and I have been seeking the Lord after the death of our precious daughter Emily Kiersten in April 2007.  In our search for that inner peace and joy, we dealt with a lot of grief, sadness and a feeling of complete emptiness.  Two years ago we decided to put in for overseas jobs.  A sense of adventure came over us and deciding that maybe we could step out of our comfort zone into this vast and huge world to see if God could use us.  We knew that the very likelihood of this kind of thing happening would be slim to none... after all, Nathan already had a job with the Fire Dept. and signed up for the Drop completely retiring in just 5 years!  We were set- or so we thought.  The call came in early June of 2011.  Nathan had his name on overseas work at different countries.  The one that was to change our lives was the call from RAF Alconbury where he could work if he decided to take this job.  We put a lot of prayer into this decision and decided to chase it.  There was MUCH to do in such a little amount of time.  We had to get many emails out, get our visa's, and get our home in order.  This tour is a three year offer.  Many phone calls, paper work, copies of many things, let alone all you own needs packed.  This was a huge decision with the Fire Dept. as well... Nathan retired early and left much on the table that could have been a nest egg to some, but to us, life has never been about the money- The Lord promises to supply the needs.  We find trust in Him.  Our pastor and family moved into our home which was a huge blessing.  Nathan and I did it- within about 3 weeks after accepting this position with the Department of Defense... we got our plane tickets and shared the news with family and friends.  It was shocking to many, but our children encouraged us the most, and that made it feel so right, and so wonderful.  Right now we don't have any grandchildren, so we decided to go-   We packed 2 small boxes with precious items in them and shipped them over as well as my hammered dulcimer.  Goodbyes are always hard, but Julie and Matt her boyfriend drove us to Orlando and we parted for the unknown.  We're flighty like that.  :)