Well this is frustrating... for some reason the blog has posted these pics backwards. I can't seem to get them reversed, so I guess just scroll down to the bottom and read upwards! ;) Sorry. I blame it on 2020.
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| complete with a zipline! This kids totally approves. |
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| finding the nearby playground ... and enjoying it very much ! |
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| happy to be together and happy to be out |
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| Just gorgoeous |
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| Taking a walking tour around the Stockton bridges |
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| Seeing our new home!!!! :) |
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Our first day out of isolation after landing. And boy did it feel good!
We kicked it off by meeting our new friend Elspeth and our pup at the nearby park.
Ahhhhh fresh air and conversation! |
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Happy Thanksgiving! and it was a memorable one indeed!
We had turkey breasts, mashed potatoes, and corn. Also enjoyed was ketchup.
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| playdoh for the win! |
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| These two enjoyed their handwriting and storytime |
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| School looked different. But we tried to keep learning every day |
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| this was the kids watching the kids program on Sunday evenings. Getting to know the teachers and songs |
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| lots of snuggles! we missed one another |
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| we got to bring schafer in for a night while Millie was away and enjoyed an evening of play and snuggles with him |
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| we spent a lot of time during our quarantine playing cards, chess and reading. And this little man learned our favorite family card game and got GOOD at it too. |
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| And we had a great backyard to explore in |
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| Andrew always gave ice cream for dessert ... even if mom said no ;) |
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| He had LOTS of new legos to go thru and build with - the kids were very pleased |
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| Not where we anticipated to spend our first night, week or month! However we are ever grateful and SO glad God chose this. It was a delight to be a guest in Andrew's home. |
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| on our way |
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WE MADE IT!
The flight was shorter then we anticipated, but we all got a few hours of sleep on rows all to our selves!
We landed ready and eager to get out of the airport and into English air! |
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The airports were strangely empty! We were the only ones on trams and in terminals at times.
It was creepy yet very helpful |
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| waiting to fly! |
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| All packed up |
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God never gets the address wrong.
Am I ever glad he doesn't.
This gal and her family become like 2nd family to us! <3 |
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| crazy - and we loved every day of it! |
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| neighbors like these last forever! |
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| one final round with the bestie across the street! |
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My first NC friend and one of the last NC goodbyes.
Golly I'm so glad God gave this girlfriend to me |
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Best Friends! These girls exchanged BFF necklaces.
Melt my heart! |
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My last morning on my porch with coffee and God was bittersweet.
I cried and told God just how I felt and let Him have it all. As it rained around me, I felt as tho the world was crying along with me. |
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This was a terribly hard goodbye. Even tho we knew he'd meet us in England, it was SO difficult to let others take him to the airport and what not.
However, if you need help with getting your pet(s) relocated, we have the people for you!
Click Here for the best Pet Relocators! |
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| Goodbyes are so hard when you love people this much |
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2 nights before leaving God sent this incredibly beautiful double rainbow over our neighborhood.
I stood in tears at the beauty and timing... totally and completely ALL God. |
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| Science and Nature walk with Uncle Scott |
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| And so it begins.... |
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| Little did I know when we rolled in 3 years ago how deeply this place would leave it's mark in my heart. |
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| <3 |
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| Another favorite spot and read aloud time |
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This season, this street, and these 3 years will stay with me FOREVER!
I believe they were THE BEST 3 years of our family life so far...
EXCITED to see what God has in store next!
Thanks Catawba Springs family! We love and miss you all dearly! |
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| Our Mock Up of how it will all go into the container... |
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the last week at "home" we had Tim's brother and wife come help us finish packing and say goodbyes.
It was a beautiful distraction and such an enjoyable time together.
THANK YOU GUYS for all the help! |
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| As more and more got packed up ... we ate more and more cereal |
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| Lots of game nights with our favs! |
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And I may have bought Chic-fil-A A TON the last 2 weeks in the states....
I don't' regret it at all! In fact this photo makes my mouth water. |
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| We of course had one final American Pizza and movie night the last friday we were home |
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| Already miss this yard SO much |
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| There was always time for silly faces in the blue hammock |
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God blessed us with AMAZING weather the final few weeks in NC.
If I wasn't packing, I was hammocking in our yard and soaking in the sunshine. |
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| the beginning of the end.... haha |
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we also spent A LOT of time on our front picnic area ... bittersweet.
This is Tim reading The Hobbit to the kids at lunch |
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| Our pup DID NOT like all the boxes and luggage that slowly took over our home... and he spent a lot more time sleeping near and on one of us at all times. The final week at "home" he slept the first half of the night with the kids and the second half at my bedside. |
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| LATTA!! |
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| We took much needed packing breaks thru the beginning of Nov. to enjoy some of our favorite spots, one last time. This was our final picnic to Latta - and the weather was just gorgeous! I let the kids all pick out their favorite lunch foods and we had a feast! |
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Election Night was spent watching and doodling with Mo Willems - NOT watching race results!
so much more relaxing |
November felt like a year in and of itself! A lot happened and there were so many emotions I'm surprised I haven't found any gray hairs on my head yet!
We started with the election in the USA and ended awaiting a new home in England. WHOA! What a rollercoaster ride. If you are scrolling up thru you will see a few photos of goodbye and farewells and we thank everyone who came and helped in the final days with packing, meals and gifts. It was a hard season and there were plenty of tears, but God gave us strength and peace. As we landed, we went straight into lockdown for 14 days but we had some unexpected twists and turns... the home we were going to rent was not ready for us to live in and in the end we found it was better we didn't live in it at all ... there were many problems that had never been fixed and the agency didn't seem keen on helping or fixing it up to be livable. SO we spent the first half of lockdown on our knees praying for a new home and FAST! God answered! (As he always does!) And altho it was a smaller place the location was perfect and we spent the final few weeks of November anxiously awaiting our signing date.
While in quarantine, we were able to stay with our good friend and pastor, Andrew. However, our pup stayed with another amazing family cause Andrew just got adopted a new pup who is still getting use to other dogs. It was hard, but we were able to see him on occasion and once out of quarantine we were able to meet up for walks and play time. It did our hearts good. We really missed our furry beast! It's the longest we'd ever been apart.
We tried to do normal things like school and keep our daily routine going, but it wasn't always easy. However we were SO grateful for Andrew's hospitality and care while we were getting our feet on the ground here. He fed us some wonderful meals, and we enjoyed great conversation during meals and in between his comings and goings. We actually miss being around him now that we are settled at home.
All in all, we really leaned in and had to hold tight to our Father and His plans. Seems like our plans NEVER go to plan - but in the end HIS plans are always better. It's a mystery for a while but it also teaches us to hold tight, pray hard and lean into Him!
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