preschool vs. earning money

The preschool was fantastic! I know I didn’t always appreciate it when I was there, but being away has made me miss almost everything about it. I loved that all day. every day I got to hang out with little ones. Outside time and snack time...man you cant beat that! Running around, finger painting, getting horribly dirty and messy, playing house, making funny noise, singing ridiculous songs, what is not to love?! Sure they cried and pooped a lot and more often than not threw their food every where....but compared to an office and a desk all day....well i think i will take the food fights!

I got an email today from Shannon Losacco, and it made my day! Shannon is the mother of little Sadie Rose. Sadie is just precious. She was in my class last year and was by far one of my favourites. I know we aren't suppose to have favourites, but I did. Sadie Rose and Carson. Oh, the Peter's family! Another one that I love. Somehow over the course of the year I managed to click with Shannon and Noreen (Noreen is Carson's mom) and have stayed in touch.

So the point is, receiving the email from Shannon reminded me how much I miss working with kids. I wish I had the chance to do it. I wish I could teach kindergarten. That is my ideal job! But alas, no teaching certificate or PGCE, and I am stuck. Stuck at a desk, working on a computer in an office full of older British men! Its really not as bad as I just made it sound, but it also is not the most fulfilling position either. But I can’t leave. It pays exceptionally well. That’s how it goes doesn't it? Preschool vs. money....shame the later of the two has to win today.

pleased and very tired

It has been a great last few days. Having Jamie and Laura over has been really fantastic. It has pleased my heart so much. It has made me want to move to Boston tomorrow instead of in three years! The last week was full of lots of activity....touring around London, lots of fun food, pubs, drinks, friends and lots of laughter. It was a great time! Now, come Monday, I am exhusted. But its a good kind of tired. Its not everyday that you get the chance to let lose for days in a row. I am very pleased at the way the last several days were spent. I was sad to say good bye at the airport on Sunday. I was surprised at how sad it really made me to see them go. I enjoyed having Laura around to just relax and hang out with. But at least I can look forward to the day when we will all live in the same town. I will go to bed at a normal time tonight. I will get my usualy 7 and a half hours of sleep. But even though I will be well rested, I will be a bit sad. I will miss Jamie and Laura and all the good times we had.

Oh, how I miss Corn Dogs!

Today is Market Day in Staines. The high street is lined with vendors selling everything from knock off designer jeans to fresh meat and fruit. I love the cheese man. Huge amount of cheese in every shape and size. The beer man also puts a smile on my face. My favourite item for sell at his stall is the make your own brew at home kit. He is always smiling and singing. Today though, I spotted a new vendor. A cart so full of glory and splendour that I actually stopped walking and just stared for a few moments.

His cart was a blinding shade of yellow with unevenly painted white stripes. An awning of teal and light blue was haphazardly affixed to the top. But the sign was the best, for it advertised fresh squeezed lemonade and hot dogs! Straight out of the Tulsa State Fair was this vendor. Unshaven, shirt unbuttoned far to low, revealing a messy, hairy chest, grease all over his hands, face and clothes and missing a few teeth in the front. He was the epitome of state fair culture. And yet here he was, in south London, selling yummy fair treats on the high street! I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was briefly saddened by the lack of Corn Dogs, but was able to over come my disappointment enough to approach the cart. It was here that the difference between this man and the typical fair man became blatantly obvious.

It was my lunch and I so wanted a hog dog. Corn dog really, but I was willing to settle. When one ventures out to the fair, it is expected to pay a huge mark up on typical foods. Lemonade for $3, extra long corn dog for $2 when every one knows full well they bought the frozen jumbo bag that came with 50 dogs at Sams for about $10! But its ok because its a warm fall night, rides buzzing about in the back ground, hands grimy with the grit that only comes in with the carney's and overloaded with cheap, furry prizes won in exchange for a small fortune. But now picture south London. A cobblestone high street that is constantly clicking with the sound of fancy work shoes worn by the busy business people, cloudy, misty and barely above freezing. None of the enjoyable attributes that make one more likely to pay outrageous prices. So when I walked up to the cart, my mouth salivating with the anticipation of a fresh lemonade and hot dog, I was appalled at what I was to find next. The lemonade was £3 and the hot dog was £4.50! A total of 16 dollars for crappy fair food!!! I walked away, shoulders slumped, beyond disappointed. I just couldn’t do it.

On my way back to the office I got a Grande Chai Latte with an extra shot of espresso and a mini sushi snack pack. Sitting back at my desk, remembering the joys of the fair back home and the market in Staines, I wished I had forked over the dough and gotten the hot dog and lemonade instead. Even with the overpriced food, what an amazing thing to have right here in London. A little bit of carney fair culture to brighten my day!

the 10 of them

Rhys has a very unique situation. He is part of a group of ten boys that are beyond just good friends. The bond that that these boys have is amazing to see and even more amazing to be a part of. The group goes back with some as far as primary school, with other just to the first year of university. But for the last 8 years these boys have lived life together in the most real way. Rhys, Tuna, Oli, Ricey, Dave, Osian, Johnny five, Ryan, Jamie and Gav. They all have a very 'speacial' bond with one another that consists of constant mockery, unending banter back and forth and a continous stream of laughter.

As the wife, I have the privelge of being a part of the group. When there are get togethers, the wives and girlfriends come along. Me, Laura, Wendy, Michelle and Lara. Michelle and Ricey have been together for the better part of 10 years. Jamie and Laura nearly 7. Lara and Oli at least 5 and Ryan and Wendy almost 4. That makes Rhys and I the baby couple at only 2 years. The girls are great too. We always have a good time with each other and with the boys. It is always a time that I look forward to.

This weekend was one of those times. Jamie and Laura flew in from Boston and we all went up to Ricey and Michelle's in Coventry. We had a great meal, loads of drinks and after playing a rousing game of 'sing star' I was sitting on the couch, surveying the room, and it hit me. What an amazing thing I am a part of. Oli lounging on the bean bag chair, Ricey, Jamie and Rhys all laughing hystrecially about who knows what, the girls huddled together, cosmos in hand, chatting away. What a moment. It is speacial to have friends that are close. It is almost unheard of to have a group who would do anything for one another, no questions asked. I dont have that. I dont really know anyone else who does. I have a few close friends that I treasure, but nothing at all like the 10 of them. It's a great thing. I am so pleased that Rhys has those boys and equally as pleased that as a result, I get to be a part of an amazing group of people. It was a fantastic weekend. And I know there are many more to look forward to.

a photo a day......

I have had a new thought. I am going to take one picture everyday of something that I find special or significant or sad or amazing or....... sometimes I feel that I waste too much time,having no recollection of what actaully happened on a given day. Every day can be unique. Every day is a gift and should be treated as such. I would love to be able to look back years from now and have a photographic record of what I thought was so significant that I choose to forever capture the moment. Time stands still, forever caught in the folds of a memory. I want to remember everyday as having a special meaning. I reslove to begin this today!

the showers

I lived in California for the summer of 2002. Specifically in the back country of Kings Canyon National Park; a place only rivalled by New Zealand herself. It was an amazing and life changing summer. Kings Canyon will always hold a special place in my heart.


One of the reasons I loved that summer so much was my job. Most of the time I worked 'the showers' at the small little lodge situated 2.5 hours down the mountain, in the woods. Basically I sat at a desk all day and sold showers to the people in the camp sites. The building was pretty old, the showers were pretty gross and they were $2 for 15 minutes. But people lined up for them. Mostly though I sat and did whatever I wanted. I journalled, I collaged, I wrote letters, I ate food, I sun bathed my legs, I talked to my good mountain buddy Jason....it was fantastic. I had hours and hours each day to reflect on life. I could pray and read and create all the live long day!

For years I have wanted a job like 'the showers' Often when I was sitting at whatever job I had at the moment, I would fondly remember the good ole' days and wish for time to reflect and ponder like I had then. I often prayed for such a chance again. A time to really sort things out.

Well, my prayers have been answered! I am at 'the showers' again. Ok, ok so not quite the same. I have no sunlight and I can’t actually collage nor do whatever I want. But on the slow days (which are kind of often) I sit and journal and think and pray and create. It’s fantastic. And for the first time today it occurred to me that God had answered my prayer by giving me a job that gave me the time to be creative, inventive, peaceful, restful and reflective! How great is our God?!

SUNSHINE!!

I want to take a moment to recognise the wonderful amount of sunshine we have gotten here in the normally gloomy, rainy, grey soup of the UK. It is fantastic! It makes me smile! It makes everything better! I am forever in a good mood as long as I can see the sun! I hope it never ever goes away! i wish I could reach up and take the sun, keep it with me always! Praise Jesus for the gloriousness that is the SUN! I would never survive without it! Stroll on winter.....come on summer!