We just got back from scottish dancing tonight- I've really missed the group here in Ann Arbor! This entire trip has been so refreshing and encouraging for me as I've been able to spend lots and lots of time with dear friends who live all over the US. I haven't managed to catch them all but I've managed quite a few. Although we live in Cambridge, Ann Arbor is our true home and we have a community here that I miss very much indeed. No matter how much time I spend in Michigan I never feel it's enough. I'm thankful for every minute of it, and the encouragement that I'll take back to Cambridge to keep my hand to the plow, sharing the good news with internationals in Cambridge and in continuing on with my business there. I do miss Cambridge too- I miss my friends there as well.
Can I just say how incredibly encouraged we were by the service at CCBC and our Living Proof sunday school class friends? What incredible encouragers and true friends they have been to us! We love you all very dearly and are blessed by you all immensely! Yesterday's talk in the service was about rescue- how we are rescued by JC's sacrifice. It was encouraging to remind myself that our Father is so very good and loves us well, even through the difficulties of our lives that are often caused by living in a world that is not perfect.
In 2 days we're Wichita bound- G leaves for London from there, while I have an extra week back in Michigan. I have some photo projects planned, including UM campus at night and Clinton during the day. I hope to make a little book of the village- we'll see how it goes. :)
Monday, 29 June 2009
Saturday, 27 June 2009
June 28, 2009
Talk about a busy week- I'd been hoping to blog faithfully at least once every other day but that has totally not happened. :) Highlights from this week have included spending time with G's family and friends in Algonac Monday, working, visiting friends in and around the Ann Arbor area Tuesday, Wednesday getting in some shopping followed by a late night out photographing downtown Ann Arbor with a good friend, and Thursday taking off for Pine River in Northern Michigan where we camped the night and kayaked Friday, and headed home after a stop at Birch Run. Today G went to visit family and some very old friends, and I spent the day with Jen hanging out and having an awesome time. Phew. :) I feel mostly over the reverse culture adjustment, but there are still times when it hits me, like today when I walked into a 2 story Joann Fabric and felt a little wave of panic come over me as I thought about how everything really is bigger in America.
Some interesting things happened to me this week- I went to Briarwood Mall, which as any of you who live in A2 know isn't the fanciest mall in the world, but has some decent shops if you catch stuff on sale. I was looking for some shirts for G (and some business clothes for myself) and I was ok for about 2 or 3 stores (which my brain insists on calling 'shops' now as that's what we call them in the UK) before my brain started to fry from being asked what I was looking for in every single shop, and not knowing how to describe what I was looking for, and the sales person trying to sell me something that I didn't want. I forgot that shopping is like that in America, and after the 2nd store I started to remember why I hate shopping. :) Why can't people just leave me alone? ;) I did find some stuff, and was wandering in some new stores in the mall and minding my own business after being assaulted by several sales staff when a guy running one of those middle of the aisle stalls totally accosted me, grabbed my hand, started admiring my fingernails, and whipped out some nail polish remover and was about to use it on me before I was like "Umm, excuse me, what are you doing?" I'm still readjusting to being spoken to by random strangers in public which rarely happens in Cambridge, so to be grabbed by this guy was quite a shock. He proceeded to tell me about his product for women who are busy or lazy, at which point I had to bust out a VERY firm "No thankyou" and practically rip myself away. It's funny in retrospect but it was really shocking at the time- I guess he thought I was easy prey with the glazed over look that I had. :)
Camping and kayaking was an absolute blast- it was a combined anniversary (5 years on the 19th!) and birthday (turning 30 July 10th!) present for me, and I loved it. It was indescribably refreshing to recognize all the trees, see familiar birds, familiar butterflies, and smell the wonderfully comforting and familiar smell of northern Michigan- up north has a unique and lovely smell all it's own, with every tree and plant and river contributing to a wonderful kind of Michigan experience. As I floated down the river I took untold opportunities to just breathe deeply and enjoy the Father's incredible creation. It was wonderful.
Today I put myself to work spraying roundup for my parents, pulling weeds, and doing random other stuff before I spent the rest of the day with Jen catching up, buying food at Meijer, and then checking out Joann Fabric and 12 Oaks mall for some shoes. I remembered at the mall why I hate shoe shopping- because I never find what I'm looking for. But not finding what you're looking for is SO much more fun when you're with an awesome friend! So we had a blast anyway despite going in 5 shoes stores and no luck for me.
Today is the 2 week mark for our US visit, and I'm suddenly starting to feel that time is short as we're off to Wichita Wednesday night and then G is heading back July 7th to London. I'm heading back to Michigan early on the 7th. A month always seems like such a long time, and the time has passed fruitfully and not too quickly, but still I had to remind myself to make the most of my time here with family and friends. Living Proof class we can't wait to see you tomorrow morning!
As it's nearly 1am it's time for bed here- it's almost 6am in Cambridge, which means the sun is already up and the day has begun, with birds singing and the sun shining. :)
Some interesting things happened to me this week- I went to Briarwood Mall, which as any of you who live in A2 know isn't the fanciest mall in the world, but has some decent shops if you catch stuff on sale. I was looking for some shirts for G (and some business clothes for myself) and I was ok for about 2 or 3 stores (which my brain insists on calling 'shops' now as that's what we call them in the UK) before my brain started to fry from being asked what I was looking for in every single shop, and not knowing how to describe what I was looking for, and the sales person trying to sell me something that I didn't want. I forgot that shopping is like that in America, and after the 2nd store I started to remember why I hate shopping. :) Why can't people just leave me alone? ;) I did find some stuff, and was wandering in some new stores in the mall and minding my own business after being assaulted by several sales staff when a guy running one of those middle of the aisle stalls totally accosted me, grabbed my hand, started admiring my fingernails, and whipped out some nail polish remover and was about to use it on me before I was like "Umm, excuse me, what are you doing?" I'm still readjusting to being spoken to by random strangers in public which rarely happens in Cambridge, so to be grabbed by this guy was quite a shock. He proceeded to tell me about his product for women who are busy or lazy, at which point I had to bust out a VERY firm "No thankyou" and practically rip myself away. It's funny in retrospect but it was really shocking at the time- I guess he thought I was easy prey with the glazed over look that I had. :)
Camping and kayaking was an absolute blast- it was a combined anniversary (5 years on the 19th!) and birthday (turning 30 July 10th!) present for me, and I loved it. It was indescribably refreshing to recognize all the trees, see familiar birds, familiar butterflies, and smell the wonderfully comforting and familiar smell of northern Michigan- up north has a unique and lovely smell all it's own, with every tree and plant and river contributing to a wonderful kind of Michigan experience. As I floated down the river I took untold opportunities to just breathe deeply and enjoy the Father's incredible creation. It was wonderful.
Today I put myself to work spraying roundup for my parents, pulling weeds, and doing random other stuff before I spent the rest of the day with Jen catching up, buying food at Meijer, and then checking out Joann Fabric and 12 Oaks mall for some shoes. I remembered at the mall why I hate shoe shopping- because I never find what I'm looking for. But not finding what you're looking for is SO much more fun when you're with an awesome friend! So we had a blast anyway despite going in 5 shoes stores and no luck for me.
Today is the 2 week mark for our US visit, and I'm suddenly starting to feel that time is short as we're off to Wichita Wednesday night and then G is heading back July 7th to London. I'm heading back to Michigan early on the 7th. A month always seems like such a long time, and the time has passed fruitfully and not too quickly, but still I had to remind myself to make the most of my time here with family and friends. Living Proof class we can't wait to see you tomorrow morning!
As it's nearly 1am it's time for bed here- it's almost 6am in Cambridge, which means the sun is already up and the day has begun, with birds singing and the sun shining. :)
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
June 23, 2009
We've made it to Michigan- if you have facebook you might already know that but I haven't had much chance to blog since we came in Sunday afternoon! :) I had a wonderful visit with my brother and sister in law, and my nephew and niece and baby niece! I've been enjoying Michigan and trying to schedule time with all of my random friends here in Michigan.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
June 17, 2009
Here we are enjoying the land of Cleves- the weather’s been great, and we’ve both been getting some work done at the various Panera Breads in the Cleveland
We haven’t done anything terribly exciting except rest up, get work done, go for nice long walks with our friends and play Frisbee, and just enjoy being in America. The fact is that most of my holidays (vacations that is) are a bit crazy because they’re governed by my photography eye, meaning that I end up getting up early, going to bed late, photographing at night, and all sorts of things like that. Exciting but not as restful. :) It’s great to have a restful holiday. Yesterday we ate at the best Mexican restaurant ever- it’s called Cozumel, and they won some awards actually for best Mexican food in the
Yesterday I got my bridesmaid dress sorted- the David’s people were very nice after I explained to them that I flew in from the
I was wrong- I guess I did some exciting things yesterday! :) I’ve been needing a new camera for my business, and yesterday I took the enormous step of ordering my new camera! Investing in new equipment is a bit scary, but the money for it is coming in, and I need it to get the bigger projects that I’m after. So June 29th my new baby arrives at my parents house, just in time to take with me to shoot another wedding July 1st in
Tomorrow I hope to make it to the Cleveland Rock n Roll hall of fame, and to finish up some dance photos that I’ve been procrastinating on. I also am going to the Cleveland BNI chapter tomorrow morning, and looking forward to that. I'm curious to see what their chapter is like and how it's different from mine. It'll be weird to give my 60 seconds in American English though as I've only ever done it in British! I'll keep you posted on how that goes. :)
Sunday, 14 June 2009
June 14, 2009 Made it to Cleveland
We’ve made it to the US! We landed safely after quite a short feeling flight to Cleveland. Continental has fabulous service and from the moment I boarded the plane I felt the almost overwhelming sense of American hospitality and friendliness. That might sound funny but it’s true that the price of living in a cold culture (Southern England) is that you feel almost oppressed by the friendly nature of Americans. Now I’ve found the Scottish, Irish, and Welsh to be as warm and friendly as we Americans tend to be, and I suppose that’s to be expected since so many of them were our Founding Fathers. I’m grateful to them anyway, because there’s simply nothing as warm as being welcomed home at the border to my country after a long stay abroad.
In the spirit of new experiences I am sitting in a Starbucks right now with G, drinking an iced mocha. I’ve never bought coffee at Starbucks before being decidedly anti-monopoly and anti- driving out local business, but they have wifi and so I bought something.
We’re adjusting ok so far to the time difference, but I find myself culture shocking already. And sometimes not shock, but just enjoying my own home culture! We ate breakfast/lunch at an Eat n Park, one of my favorite quality American restaurants in the Ohio/Pennsylvania area. I went for the buffet because I can never make choices when I come back to America- there are just too stinking many options for me to be able to decide on any one thing. I have horrible memories of standing in the shampoo aisle in tears and practically hyperventilating after I got back from Cambodia one summer. But I enjoyed every single bite of my food- I just felt overwhelmed with the connection between flavors and home. I think the waitress must’ve thought I was on drugs, since I sat there with my eyes closed thoroughly enjoying the flavor of an American cherry tomato, fresh broccoli with Ranch dressing on it, pierogies, real buttermilk pancakes, and homestyle scrambled eggs. Makes for an interesting meal eh? I was so struck by the wonderful service we got from the waitress, and just feeling overall that being from the Midwest rocks.
It’s been so good to see our 2 friends who are getting married, and we’ll be spending the next few days helping with any details for the wedding on Saturday. We went for a walk at the Hinckley Reserve which is simply lovely- this part of Ohio is like the baby foothills of the Appalachias, and it’s so beautiful here with lovely valleys and lakes, rivers, streams, and my favorite of all FORESTS!!!!! We did a 3 mile walk last night to help us stay awake, and I felt so very glad to recognize all the trees! I really did almost cry when we came around the corner to see a beautiful misty lake with forested hills rising gently out of the lake. Although I do really miss my friends in Cambridge (who will be laughing as I haven’t even been away for 2 full days!) I am feeling refreshed and revived by a little native air and scenery, and looking forward to enjoying every second in Michigan!
Sorry for the drama- I just can’t help myself. I hope you’re all thinking about where you live with fresh eyes, and remembering the beauty that you see on a daily basis but have forgotten about or gotten used to. I’ll keep updating from here, hopefully not from Starbucks next time.
In the spirit of new experiences I am sitting in a Starbucks right now with G, drinking an iced mocha. I’ve never bought coffee at Starbucks before being decidedly anti-monopoly and anti- driving out local business, but they have wifi and so I bought something.
We’re adjusting ok so far to the time difference, but I find myself culture shocking already. And sometimes not shock, but just enjoying my own home culture! We ate breakfast/lunch at an Eat n Park, one of my favorite quality American restaurants in the Ohio/Pennsylvania area. I went for the buffet because I can never make choices when I come back to America- there are just too stinking many options for me to be able to decide on any one thing. I have horrible memories of standing in the shampoo aisle in tears and practically hyperventilating after I got back from Cambodia one summer. But I enjoyed every single bite of my food- I just felt overwhelmed with the connection between flavors and home. I think the waitress must’ve thought I was on drugs, since I sat there with my eyes closed thoroughly enjoying the flavor of an American cherry tomato, fresh broccoli with Ranch dressing on it, pierogies, real buttermilk pancakes, and homestyle scrambled eggs. Makes for an interesting meal eh? I was so struck by the wonderful service we got from the waitress, and just feeling overall that being from the Midwest rocks.
It’s been so good to see our 2 friends who are getting married, and we’ll be spending the next few days helping with any details for the wedding on Saturday. We went for a walk at the Hinckley Reserve which is simply lovely- this part of Ohio is like the baby foothills of the Appalachias, and it’s so beautiful here with lovely valleys and lakes, rivers, streams, and my favorite of all FORESTS!!!!! We did a 3 mile walk last night to help us stay awake, and I felt so very glad to recognize all the trees! I really did almost cry when we came around the corner to see a beautiful misty lake with forested hills rising gently out of the lake. Although I do really miss my friends in Cambridge (who will be laughing as I haven’t even been away for 2 full days!) I am feeling refreshed and revived by a little native air and scenery, and looking forward to enjoying every second in Michigan!
Sorry for the drama- I just can’t help myself. I hope you’re all thinking about where you live with fresh eyes, and remembering the beauty that you see on a daily basis but have forgotten about or gotten used to. I’ll keep updating from here, hopefully not from Starbucks next time.
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Friday, 12 June 2009
June 12, 2009
It has been one massively busy week for me here- I'm going to be away for 4 weeks, which means I had a lot of photography loose ends to wrap up, and although I got most of them wrapped up I didn't get them all quite there. But overall I'm feeling pretty good about the state of things and leaving things here for a nice holiday in America. :) We're flying out tomorrow morning from Heathrow at 11:30am, and should hit Cleveland at 3:30pm EST. Once we get out of the airport, we'll be off to our hotel and then on to have dinner (I think!) with our friends who are getting married Saturday. Pr for us as we travel but mostly that we'd be a blessing to our 2 friends this week in helping with their wedding, and for my friend whose dad has brain cancer that has been recently decided to be inoperable.
I'll post again when we get safely there.
I'll post again when we get safely there.
Saturday, 6 June 2009
June 6, 2009
Just a quick update from my phone- thanks for your prs! G is giving a talk for a service in a prison tomorrow, so please lift that up. I have a scottish dance event tomorrow at Anglesey, and I dont know any of the dancers so we'll see how it goes. Should be fun. :) we leave for Cleveland Satursay! Pr for me to get things wrapped up here as i have a few projects pending. We miss you all!
-- Posted from my iPhone
-- Posted from my iPhone
Monday, 1 June 2009
June 1, 2009
I can't believe it's already Monday- it's been a long weekend for me helping with this event for the kids, dealing with issues here in the UK, and some that are popping up in the US with friends there as well. The weather has been gorgeous, in the mid 70s everyday (which people here complain about as an absolute heat wave) and pretty much no rain. It was actually warm enough to wear tank tops over the weekend. I have this big stack of clothes that I can basically only wear in Michigan in the summer because it's too cold here in the summer to wear shorts or tank tops.
Despite the lovely weather, I'm constantly reminded that our lives here on earth will be full of troubles of one kind or another as well as joys. Marriage is hard work no matter where in the world you are, but being in a foreign culture adds an entirely new and difficult dimension, so we'd love it if you'd pr for us as we work to improve our relationship and get some things ironed out.
My dear friend who is getting married June 20 (I'm in her wedding) has just found out that the cancer her dad's been fighting can no longer be treated, and he is now at home with hospice care. It had been being treated successfully for almost 2 years now, but the next 2 months are going to be really hard for my friend as she is getting married and starting a new life at the same time that her father has gotten worse. Please lift her up.
Living Proof friends we're lifting you all up- Tom has been giving us updates, and we are thinking of you all!
Despite the lovely weather, I'm constantly reminded that our lives here on earth will be full of troubles of one kind or another as well as joys. Marriage is hard work no matter where in the world you are, but being in a foreign culture adds an entirely new and difficult dimension, so we'd love it if you'd pr for us as we work to improve our relationship and get some things ironed out.
My dear friend who is getting married June 20 (I'm in her wedding) has just found out that the cancer her dad's been fighting can no longer be treated, and he is now at home with hospice care. It had been being treated successfully for almost 2 years now, but the next 2 months are going to be really hard for my friend as she is getting married and starting a new life at the same time that her father has gotten worse. Please lift her up.
Living Proof friends we're lifting you all up- Tom has been giving us updates, and we are thinking of you all!
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