Here we go again....as you might have guessed we still have phone/internet for our last night in our "old" flat and we don't have phone at the "new" flat. I love BT (British Telecommunications) :) When I called today (the biggest consolation being I waited only maybe 1 minute and got a guy who actually cared about my problem!), after being suspicious this afternoon that nothing was going to be done about changing our phones over, I heard "Huh, the order was cancelled." Not something you want to hear when you've given the two week notice as they request. This is now the second time our order has been cancelled (once when we moved in here, once with the new flat now) and no one notified us to tell us. The good thing is the customer service rep really did seem to have things together and spent a good 45 minutes taking care of all this mess. So our new day for getting our new phone line is now Tuesday. Will you pray with us that it will actually happen? I think neither of us want another phone-hooking-up-nightmare :)
Well, it's off to bed for the last time in this flat!
29 February 2008
28 February 2008
MO & RO on the GO....again!
There is a specific reason we named our blog what we did (other than being catchy)! As many of you are aware there was a lot of traveling and moving prior to even coming here to Scotland. And we figured there might be at least one move within our time here, then the move back to the US, not to mention trips to see family and other sights in the UK (and maybe Europe?). So our "one move" during our time here has come, and I for one am hoping it is THE one! This flat has had its blessings, but also it's challenges. We can't wait to receive the keys to our new flat tomorrow evening at 6pm! Saturday we have several friends who have graciously agreed to help us carry our belongings down the 4 flights of stairs (see photo--the two windows in the top middle are ours) and back up 3 to the new flat. (They are great friends, aren't they?!) We are all grateful that the only furniture carrying involved is one full-sized mattress and two dining room-type chairs. We still haven't quite figured out how to get the mattress to the new place in/on our Ford Escort, but "nay bother" the guys will "get is sorted" I'm sure (By the way, you rarely see pick-ups, trucks, SUV's, etc so we can't just borrow one)! It's a good thing we are only moving 3 streets away (less than 5 minute walk) because they may end up having to carry it there!This blog is also a warning that we might be a little MIA for awhile (let's hope not months again!) while our phone is hooked up and internet re-established. We are supposedly getting the phone connection at the new place tomorrow, but I'll believe that when I see it! Once we get the phone line, it will be an additional 10-20 working days for wireless to work. AOL has promised, though, that
in the meantime we'll have FREE dial-up (which, curiously isn't free because we are still paying for Broadband!) ....aren't they so generous?!We are not too sad to see our street go either. Because you are allowed to park on both sides of the street (which, believe me, we are grateful for!) the street is essentially "One Way" both ways at the same time! It is also an incredible challenge parrallel parking with such a tight space (you have to be careful of your front end hitting the cars on the other side of the street). It has taught me to park so well that when I go other places with tons of room I feel like it is a piece of cake!
24 February 2008
More Signs of Spring
(This is from yesterday...wouldn't work then!)
I've just been a bloggin' fool this week! I guess I've just had the bug to blog. After starting some packing this morning, we thought we'd enjoy some time outside in the park. Mark was a trooper and tagged along as my assistant. It's been enjoyable afternoon of editing and creating, and I'm grateful again to Mark for his input. Thought we'd share :) Enjoy!
I've just been a bloggin' fool this week! I guess I've just had the bug to blog. After starting some packing this morning, we thought we'd enjoy some time outside in the park. Mark was a trooper and tagged along as my assistant. It's been enjoyable afternoon of editing and creating, and I'm grateful again to Mark for his input. Thought we'd share :) Enjoy!
22 February 2008
We Want to go Back!
Tonight we had the joy and privilege of listening to the Watoto Children's Choir from Uganda. Wow! It was so full of life and smiles and dancing! (If only I had brought my camera...) We loved it! I think it made us both want to go back to Africa again. Next month it will be 3 years (that long already?) since we went to Kenya with our church in NC. There is just something contagious about those little African children. I wanted to take one home with us!
Watoto has an incredible ministry to children orphaned by AIDS. I'd encourage you to look at their website to learn more! And if you want a little taste of what we got to see, go here.
Watoto has an incredible ministry to children orphaned by AIDS. I'd encourage you to look at their website to learn more! And if you want a little taste of what we got to see, go here.
21 February 2008
Can It Be?!
Today I stumbled out of bed around 6:45am and noticed glimmers of light beginning. And I noticed daylight slipping away around 6pm! What an improvement! I don't think I realized until recently how much the dark days for the past few months have truly impacted me. I very much enjoy the sun and often have tons more energy when it shines. I feel that energy returning and it is oh so great! Here's a little chart from Weather Underground that we like to frequent to find out our weather (though it usually just has raindrops--like the week to come--when it probably won't end up raining half the days it says it will!)
I am utterly amazed we are adding nearly 5 minutes of actual sunlight to our days right now. That's substantial! The flowers agree as they are popping up more and more.
Crocuses are everywhere around here!
And I learned this past weekend that these are Snowdrops! They are very photogenic, I think. They have Snowflakes too, but I don't have a picture of one of those yet.
| February 21, 2008 | Rise: | Set: |
| Actual Time | 7:24 AM GMT | 5:21 PM GMT |
| Civil Twilight | 6:45 AM GMT | 6:01 PM GMT |
| Nautical Twilight | 6:00 AM GMT | 6:45 PM GMT |
| Astronomical Twilight | 5:16 AM GMT | 7:30 PM GMT |
| Moon | 6:07 PM GMT | 7:27 AM GMT |
| Length Of Visible Light: | 11h 15m | |
| Length of Day | 9h 56m Tomorrow will be 4m 47s longer. | |
I am utterly amazed we are adding nearly 5 minutes of actual sunlight to our days right now. That's substantial! The flowers agree as they are popping up more and more.
Crocuses are everywhere around here!
And I learned this past weekend that these are Snowdrops! They are very photogenic, I think. They have Snowflakes too, but I don't have a picture of one of those yet.
18 February 2008
Ode to the Seagull
Okay, maybe not an actual ode because I cannot write poems (very much disliked that section in English class), but metaphorically and photographically it will be a tribute...maybe that's a better word!
Seagulls rule the sky here. There are other birds, like pigeons and large black crows, but the seagulls are monsters here. Being up high in the sky with our expansive view of the sky we get to observe the seagulls a lot from our couch. They love the chimneys;
they sit on them often. After 5 months of watching this behavior I have concluded they each have a chimney group that is "theirs"and only one other seagull at a time is allowed over onto his set of chimneys. Honestly. There are never more than 2 seagulls sitting together at a time and there is usually just one. Some days they sit for a long time on their chimneys, other days they do take off and landing practice, not resting long on the chimneys. And other times (reasons are still unknown) they sit beside their chimneys.
The gulls are also VERY loud! I am hearing them earlier in the morning already. I wonder what it will be like when the sun is up long before we want to wake up (i.e. in the summer when the sun rises at 4:30am). It's part of the sounds we hear everyday so it would be weird to not hear them and be in Aberdeen since I am now used to that.
Today on my way out to work I noticed a huge mess by the trash bins outside on the street. I suspected the seagulls must have been responsible. Given the scene I photographed this afternoon on another street as I walked home from the park, I'd say I was right!
He finally stood and stared at me after this shot, saw I had proof of his destruction, and then flew off to glare at me from his perch. He looks pretty grumpy, doesn't he!?
One of my favorite things about the seagulls is when it is a windy day and they gather in the sky just over the rooftops looking out from our living room. They somehow catch a stream of air and soar/float in circles only flapping their wings occasionally. It is even more spectacular when the sun is shining from behind our flat onto their white bodies, so they look like they are glowing. Even though they are gliding, they have still been too fast for my camera to catch on film, except for this one shot that I enjoyed enhancing with Picasa's photo tools. Kinda gives you an idea of what it is like, with a slightly artistic touch!
Thinking still of Matthew 6:25-34, God has often used these birds out my window as a reminder of verse 25 & 26 "Do not be worried about your life...Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?"
Seagulls rule the sky here. There are other birds, like pigeons and large black crows, but the seagulls are monsters here. Being up high in the sky with our expansive view of the sky we get to observe the seagulls a lot from our couch. They love the chimneys;
they sit on them often. After 5 months of watching this behavior I have concluded they each have a chimney group that is "theirs"and only one other seagull at a time is allowed over onto his set of chimneys. Honestly. There are never more than 2 seagulls sitting together at a time and there is usually just one. Some days they sit for a long time on their chimneys, other days they do take off and landing practice, not resting long on the chimneys. And other times (reasons are still unknown) they sit beside their chimneys.
The gulls are also VERY loud! I am hearing them earlier in the morning already. I wonder what it will be like when the sun is up long before we want to wake up (i.e. in the summer when the sun rises at 4:30am). It's part of the sounds we hear everyday so it would be weird to not hear them and be in Aberdeen since I am now used to that.
Today on my way out to work I noticed a huge mess by the trash bins outside on the street. I suspected the seagulls must have been responsible. Given the scene I photographed this afternoon on another street as I walked home from the park, I'd say I was right!
He finally stood and stared at me after this shot, saw I had proof of his destruction, and then flew off to glare at me from his perch. He looks pretty grumpy, doesn't he!?
One of my favorite things about the seagulls is when it is a windy day and they gather in the sky just over the rooftops looking out from our living room. They somehow catch a stream of air and soar/float in circles only flapping their wings occasionally. It is even more spectacular when the sun is shining from behind our flat onto their white bodies, so they look like they are glowing. Even though they are gliding, they have still been too fast for my camera to catch on film, except for this one shot that I enjoyed enhancing with Picasa's photo tools. Kinda gives you an idea of what it is like, with a slightly artistic touch!
Thinking still of Matthew 6:25-34, God has often used these birds out my window as a reminder of verse 25 & 26 "Do not be worried about your life...Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?"
15 February 2008
What a Faithful God Have I....
Do you know those days where you are just kinda discouraged? Today was one of them, at least initially. And it was one of the few days that I've been somewhat homesick. But, bottom line, I realized I wasn't being very content. Part of it is I am ready to get moved and resettled and we aren't sure when that is going to happen (long story involving a bank reference we were told on Monday may take 10 days). I have been looking often at the passage in Matthew 6 about worry. Specifically verse 34, "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." What a great comfort to me and a reminder to keep my thoughts on today.
So this afternoon I was checking up on the bank reference status only to be found out it was never even processed! That nearly put me over the top! But I already was planning to be near the bank so I was able to go in and talk to someone about it. Our bank is one thing that really does rock here! The customer service rep went to her manager with our problem and the manager wrote our reference on the spot and even waived the £10 fee! That was delightful!
Then it was on to my Gastroenteroligist (or however you spell it) appointment. Yeah, that's the one I have been waiting for since November. I got a postcard yesterday telling me to show up today at 4pm. Good thing my "diary"(calendar) was clear! Another thing that I can now say rocks here is my doctor! :) He was fantastic! It was worth the wait. He spent a whole hour just talking to me. He even stayed until 5:15pm on a Friday! (And some of his poor staff too!) He was very personable, empathetic, used great analogies that made things easy to understand, etc. He is essentially what would be nice to have in every doctor no matter what country you live in. He'd even been to Raleigh :) He seemed to even know what my throat tightening up response was (though I can't remember the technical term). While it's an uncomfortable feeling, he doesn't think it's life threatening (since from what he was saying it doesn't actually sound allergy related). There's not a whole lot we can do about it, other than trying to get that muscle to relax and "uncondition" itself from tightening at odd times. We'll see how that all does. We also discussed several other options for improving my health and eating. He is going to get me in to see a dietician which is something I've been wanting.
When I got in my car to go home I had tears in my eyes. God is so good and faithful. He didn't have to bless me with two encouraging events within an hour of each other, but He did. I am so grateful. I was thinking about the song that I have mentioned here before called "What a Faithful God Have I." And there was another beautiful sunset too which made everything even better! May you be encouraged by the words of the song too.
Lord, I come before Your throne of grace;
I find rest in Your presence, and fullness of joy.
In worship and wonder I behold Your face,
singing what a faithful God have I.
What a faithful God have I,
what a faithful God.
What a faithful God have I,
faithful in every way.
Lord of mercy, You have heard my cry;
through the storm You're the beacon,
my song in the night.
In the shelter of Your wings,
hear my heart's reply,
singing what a faithful God have I.
What a faithful God have I
what a faithful God.
What a faithful God have I
faithful in every way.
Lord all sovereign, granting peace from heaven,
let me comfort those who suffer
with the comfort You have given.
I will tell of Your great love for as long as I live,
singing what a faithful God have I.
What a faithful God have I
what a faithful God.
What a faithful God have I,
faithful in every way.
(Roberty & Dawn Critchley, Kingsway's Thankyou Music)
So this afternoon I was checking up on the bank reference status only to be found out it was never even processed! That nearly put me over the top! But I already was planning to be near the bank so I was able to go in and talk to someone about it. Our bank is one thing that really does rock here! The customer service rep went to her manager with our problem and the manager wrote our reference on the spot and even waived the £10 fee! That was delightful!
Then it was on to my Gastroenteroligist (or however you spell it) appointment. Yeah, that's the one I have been waiting for since November. I got a postcard yesterday telling me to show up today at 4pm. Good thing my "diary"(calendar) was clear! Another thing that I can now say rocks here is my doctor! :) He was fantastic! It was worth the wait. He spent a whole hour just talking to me. He even stayed until 5:15pm on a Friday! (And some of his poor staff too!) He was very personable, empathetic, used great analogies that made things easy to understand, etc. He is essentially what would be nice to have in every doctor no matter what country you live in. He'd even been to Raleigh :) He seemed to even know what my throat tightening up response was (though I can't remember the technical term). While it's an uncomfortable feeling, he doesn't think it's life threatening (since from what he was saying it doesn't actually sound allergy related). There's not a whole lot we can do about it, other than trying to get that muscle to relax and "uncondition" itself from tightening at odd times. We'll see how that all does. We also discussed several other options for improving my health and eating. He is going to get me in to see a dietician which is something I've been wanting.
When I got in my car to go home I had tears in my eyes. God is so good and faithful. He didn't have to bless me with two encouraging events within an hour of each other, but He did. I am so grateful. I was thinking about the song that I have mentioned here before called "What a Faithful God Have I." And there was another beautiful sunset too which made everything even better! May you be encouraged by the words of the song too.
Lord, I come before Your throne of grace;I find rest in Your presence, and fullness of joy.
In worship and wonder I behold Your face,
singing what a faithful God have I.
What a faithful God have I,
what a faithful God.
What a faithful God have I,
faithful in every way.
Lord of mercy, You have heard my cry;
through the storm You're the beacon,
my song in the night.
In the shelter of Your wings,
hear my heart's reply,
singing what a faithful God have I.
What a faithful God have I
what a faithful God.
What a faithful God have I
faithful in every way.
Lord all sovereign, granting peace from heaven,
let me comfort those who suffer
with the comfort You have given.
I will tell of Your great love for as long as I live,
singing what a faithful God have I.
What a faithful God have I
what a faithful God.
What a faithful God have I,
faithful in every way.
(Roberty & Dawn Critchley, Kingsway's Thankyou Music)
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