Hello!  I have finally made my new blog “presentable”, from this time on I will be posting my daily life on there so if you have an RSS feed or a link on your page please change it to my new one

http://jamieinjest.blogspot.com/

See you there!!!

I started my blog nearly 4 years ago to the month.  I started a blog when no one really knew what they were, but found it a great way to share my life and practice my writing – two things which I love.

In that time I’ve been engaged, single, dated, been engaged again, moved to PA, moved to England, and lived life here in England for nearly 3 years.

I have a certain loyalty to Windows Live Blogging, but have found myself thinking of moving my blog to another site – for ease of use and because I am a girl, I like to accessorize (something I cant do very well here).   The main reason I am changing is because at some point I want to have my blog made into a book, for me, and Windows doesn't do that.

So I am going to be moving my blog.  I could never not blog, but I think it will be easier to have it through the same site as my fertility blog.

I will keep this blog, and as and when I “launch” my blog I will put all the info right here.

So sorry Windows, but I think it’s time we broke up… don’t worry it’s not you… it’s me.

Yesterday was Chris' Birthday, and it was a big one – 30!  Last Saturday we had a party for him.  We had it at the chapel where we meet for church.  We spent quite a bit of time setting up and cooking party food.  We didn't have as good of a turn out as I would have liked, but we had most of the family there and some good friends from church.  I made a special train cake for Chris which he really liked and so did the kids!  That along with 45 cupcakes kept me in the kitchen the entire night before here is the cake:

I was pleased with the way it turned out. 

Here is the party before the party:

His sweet sister Rachel did the signs and also spent a lot of time helping me set up.

Yesterday we didn't do much to celebrate.  We went to dinner but it was PACKED so we ended up coming home and getting a take away.  I felt really sad because no one from Chris’ family said Happy Birthday to him but his dad and sister and he has to wait to get his present from America, so I tried a new recipe for a chocolate cake.  It was one of the best cakes I’ve ever had (if I do say so myself):

One of the things I did for Chris’ party was get his friends from around the world to send him birthday cards – we got quite a few and I am so thankful for them because I think it make Chris’ birthday even more special knowing that so many people care about him.  Here in England they give cards for everything and then display them so here are Chris’ cards:

17 cards in all (yes the one on the far right on the TV is a pickle – thanks Abbie).

All in all it wasn't the surprise 30th Birthday party that I wanted but, I hope Chris’ knows how much people care about him!

I know it is past time for an update:

*  My Celiac test came back with bad results – My score 119, normal below 8.  I am now off to get a endoscopy and biopsy.  I still haven't gotten back to the hospital to get my other 5 tests done.  Hopefully when I do they will all come back normal.  With the prospect of a diagnosis of Celiac I have decided, for right now, to cut out most of the gluten in my diet but not all.  I know a lot of people disagree, but I know my body and I know right now, this is the answer and way to go for me.

*  We spent a busy weekend with our lovely nephew Tyler.  He was VERY hard work, but an absolutely perfect baby.  I loved the time with him, loved watching Chris with him, and loved having someone to take care of – but realized once again how much work it is! 

*  I put up new pictures.

*  It is still freezing here in England!

*  I have found some websites that I think are great, you should check them out!!!!

http://tipjunkie.blogspot.com/

http://cutegirlshairstyles.blogspot.com/

http://annemariesmusiccorner.blogspot.com/

http://www.sugardoodle.net/mambo/

It is Chris’ big 30th birthday party tomorrow.  It has been quite stressful getting things together and having some disappointments but hopefully it will be a very good night.  I am sure pictures will follow.  I am in the midst right now of putting together Chris’ train cake!

Chris’ parents and his brother, sister in law and 2 nieces are headed over to America Sunday for a few weeks – I am so jealous!!!  I cant wait to get back home.

After a quite ominous letter received the day after Chris and I got back from our HORRIBLE Brussels trip, saying “YOU HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COELIAC!” (Alright maybe not in bold or all caps but that is what it translated to me) I FINALLY, today, had my first appointment with my Specialist (THANKS FOR THE 2 MONTH WAIT NHS!). 

I had to take the train down to the hospital, after getting there an hour early and then waiting in the dreary clinic an HOUR after my appointment time – I walked into the exam room.  The doctor was very, very kind and took time to ask all about my symptoms and SHOCKINGLY wanted to read all my past history from Utah and even wanted to take some copies for her notes (very refreshing!).  She told me that I should have been officially diagnosed back in Utah, but that she would do a full work up to make sure and then get me on the road to better health :)  She told me that I needed to get another Endoscopy (oh joy!) and also, she would need a full blood work up because often thyroid and glucose are often closely related. 

If you know me at all… you know I have horrible time giving anyone any of my blood – see exhibit A:

This was my arm when I was in hospital a few years ago and they could only find one vein down that arm that they used again and again – and I wont even get started about about the time they had to use and ultrasound machine to find a vein during another hospital stay – needless to say I give those nurses a run for their money!

All of this being said, I knew there would be problems today because I had only had a few bits of muffin and a half a bottle of water in the morning and that equals trouble.

SIX tries later, and not just one little try - the nurses get so frustrated they root around in there moving the needle all around the vein (PAIN) – they found no blood.  So now, instead of getting the results within the week, now I have to go to my regular doctors surgery and get it done there and sent away (THANKS AGAIN NHS!)

So how am I feeling?  I will be honest – I am not at all ready to face it, to change my whole lifestyle and to miss out on some of the things I love.  I have it under control for the most part, I know what makes me sick (including chocolate) and I know how to handle it – can I commit to it? NO, not now.  But then the doctor says, “this is a complete change – there is no halfway about it!  You may not want to hear it, but this had health consequences that reach far beyond an upset stomach.”

I guess I’ll just have to see how the next few weeks play out and see if I really want to do this right now – regardless of the consequences.

I have said it time and time again on this blog that one of the few things that makes my life happy here in England is family, especially my nieces and nephews.  I love spending time with every single one of them and Chris and I we lucky enough to be able to watch Georgia while her mom was recovering from having Georgia’s little sister Madison.  It might be wrong, but I love to spoil all the kids when they come to stay – I figure I would be happy to have the title of the “fun auntie”.  Georgia made the start of the week so much fun and always brings out the best in Chris. 

We decided to go to Peterborough and since I still cant drive we got to take the train.  The night before we made some dinner and muffins, painted her fingernails, she got a bubble bath, and got to snuggle with me and Chris eating popcorn and watching a DVD.  The day in Peterborough was LONG and cold but we had a very good time. 

Here are some pictures I of Georgia’s visit:

We love her!!!  If you want to see the whole set of pictures (including the mini-espresso included in the KIDS MEAL) take note of the new picture album.

I did this on Facebook and thought it would make a good blog post… enjoy!!

1. I didn't want to follow the crowd and do this, but couldn't stop thinking about what I'd put if I did.

2. I saw my husband for 3 months through out the 2 years we were dating - not recommended - but its worked for us.

3. I love it when my mom calls me Jamie-Jo - it reminds me of my amazing childhood.

4. I used to never tell my mom anything, but now I tell her everything (the wisdom of age).

5. Even though I live in the UK, I have never visited Wales or Scotland - but have been to France and Belgium.

6. In Junior High I was voted, by my peers, as "most likely to have 10 kids".

7. My 2 best friends have had that title for nearly 18 years - and we've known each other as far back as we can remember.

8. I lived in Hershey, Pennsylvania - where the air smelled of chocolate and the street lamps were the shapes of Hershey Kisses.

9. I've lived in England for nearly 3 years - I always thought I would live here at some point - even before I met Chris.

10. I LOVE the smell of rubber.

11. I have to look at the same websites in the same order every morning.

12. I have never heard my parents fight.

13. People in America say I am getting an English accent, people in England say I'm not.

14. I started my blog in 2005 WAY before having a blog was cool.

15. When I used to have braces, it hurt to eat popcorn.

16. I collect magnets from all the places I've travelled.

17. I used to have 2 cats named Sophie and Lola - named them from characters in musicals.

18. I once spent $90.00 on concert tickets for the boy I liked and told him he could take a date... he took me and the seats were horrible, but it was a good night because he picked me.

19. I went to Weber State University for a term and spent all my time chatting online, hanging out with friends, taking LONG drives just to sing in the car, and calling England - I went to classes no more than 5 times - all funded by my mom - I still feel guilty and plan on paying her back to this day.

20. I used to hate the fact that my hair was red and curly - now I really like it.

21. I have the same hands as my mom and grandma - I love that!

22. The night before my Sophomore year started, I got nail glue in my eye and had to go to the hospital they gave me an eye patch to wear (ironic because we were the Cyprus Pirates) - I missed school the next day.

23. I went on a date where my date prayed at the beginning and end - during the date he told an entire comedy club that he was a polygamist and also told me about his two other girlfriends who disappeared.

24. I love getting acupuncture and it works like magic for me.

25. I stole paper from my 6th grade teachers closet when she trusted me to clean it - I also stole a pocketful of mints from a family I was babysitting for - my friend Amy found out about it and reminds me of it on occasion.

When I was "working" for the government, I spent a lot of time downloading songs I LOVED!  I would be sitting there day dreaming and a memory would pop into my head and inevitably it would have music associated with it. 

My high school experience has a great soundtrack full of: swing music, Broadway, punk, and alternative music. 

Whenever I think of my 2 greatest friends from life my memories often are accompanied by "In The Jungle", "Going to the Chapel", and many other 1950's era favourites and a constant stream of belly laughs!

My family life is fully of Eagles, Crosby Stills and Nash, Beatles on Saturday mornings and I can sing MANY Olivia Newton John songs all learned and recited while growing up.

My first love was full of pining away and LOTS of popular love songs often fit the situation - but the song, I Wish I Wasn't - by Heather Headly was the song that described it as if I wrote it myself.

I still remember the parts and words to so many songs I learned while in Young Women's and can even still do the sign language to one!

My relationship now started with songs about waiting and distance - even picking out a special song just for me and Chris (The Promise). Now I find that instead of enlarging my life's soundtrack - I find it more comforting and more joyful to listen to the past music of my life.

I have always had a love of music.  I took voice lessons for around 10 years and burst into song quite often during the day, having learned enough songs to link to almost any subject! I can sit in a restaurant and very often I make note to my companion that, "my dad has this CD!"  I used to play a game with my grandpa when I would visit him in St. George - he would give me a subject and I would find a song that involved that subject.  There were are few friends that would participate in "in-car" concerts with me and we would sing complete musicals in the car - and drive around just to do the whole show.

Music moves me in a way that nothing else does.  Music can move me to tears or bring me complete contentment within seconds.  Just take a moment to think about it, I dont think we realize how much it is involved in our lives.

So, what are some songs that are in your life's soundtrack??

I'm not afraid to admit it - I've been watching the Presidential Inauguration since 12:30 (my time) - it is now nearly 10:00.  I did take a break to walk to town.  I guess I just need to feel connected to my country - and I've felt connected.  It's funny, if I were actually living in America I probably wouldn't have watched it for so long (to be honest I cant even remember where I was for President Bush).  But sometimes, here in England I feel so dis-connected that I LONG to feel a part of it, a part of the patriotism that England lacks.  I can say that maybe Obama isn't who I would have voted for, but, today as I sit on my couch here in freezing, dreary, March, UK; I can say, today I am proud to be an American.

Hello Internet!  I just wanted to let you know that I've updated my other blog.  For those of you who dont know what it is about, it is about me and Chris' struggle with infertility.  It is a private blog but I would love to share it with those of you who are interested and who care about what is going on in my life, on a more personal level.  If you want to read it please email me, leave a comment, or leave a message and I will send you an invite. 

Don't you ever wish you could just turn back time and remain ignorant of certain knowledge you've acquired??  I don't, for much, but this past Friday I WISH I could!

It started quite simply with an innocent letter from our car insurance company saying that the couldn't re-new the account, but never said why.  We figured that it had something to do with my foreign license and so while Chris was out doing errands I started calling around for new quotes, getting continually denied - ending up with me calling our current provider and asking why we couldn't re-new... the woman said, "because you cant drive, you've been in the country for more than a year."  This rule I thought I knew, I thought the rule was that you couldn't drive on a US license for more than 12 months from the LAST TIME YOU ENTERED THE COUNTRY.  For this reason alone Chris and I spent a few days (and LOTS of money) in Paris in 2007 and experienced Brussels earlier in December (THE TRIP FROM HELL) - all in aid of me getting a new stamp in my passport, thus ensuring 12 more months of driving.  The woman on the phone said this was illegal and to stop driving immediately (not that I was driving, but to never drive again -- you know what I mean).  I didn't want to take this answer and so I called the DVLA to get an "official" answer.  I told the woman on the phone the situation and she assured me that it has been illegal for me to be driving in the UK since July 2007 - and that it was the rule that you could drive 12 months from the time you became a RESIDENT of the UK.  She then told me I shouldn't drive and that I HAD to get a UK license before I could drive again.  So what do I have to do?

1. Apply for a provisional license - £50

2. Take driving lessons - ££££££

3.  Take the Theory Test - ££££

4.  Take the Practical Test - ££££ (and also RENT A CAR FOR THE TEST!)

WHAT?!!?!?  I could, and I DO count my blessings every.single.day that I had NO problems for those months that I was an unknowing rebel, and because of that, and my HORRIBLE luck - I wont take a chance driving the car until everything is done and dusted with the shiny new license ... it will increase my heavenly £16.16 monthly insurance payment, no doubt, because to the companies I will be a new driver - even though in reality I have 12 years experience and NO CLAIMS - but I don't think they'll care.

I went into the situation strangely confident -- with my horrible Life in the UK test (see archives) I didn't know anything - but with this I had nearly 2 years practice...  the downside??  That confidence has been SQUASHED with 4 practice tests all ending in FAIL.  I think I have more studying then I thought ...

And what do I need to study??  The Highway Code - a foreign book of sorts that deals with 4 different kinds of pedestrian crossings (pelican, zebra, toucan, and puffin) and questions like:  A person herding sheep asks you to stop you should:  B - stop and switch off your engine ... and so much more -- I think I am in for some serious studying - 2 years practice or not!

So now I am stuck in STUPID March!  BORING March - and at the mercy of family to get us where we need to - NEED being the operative word -- I know I'll be cursing the DVLA when I have to WALK to the doctors tomorrow, leaving the house at 8:15 to get there - I'll just pray for no rain (yeah right)!

And so Internet, if you'll excuse me I'm off to learn the rules of the British road - and to pray not only to pass the test but that, that pesky MONEY TREE will start sprouting pounds so I can pay for it all!!

I hate New Years Eve - I always have, I used to think that it was because I didn't have a partner to spend it with or that I didn't do fun things, but it turns out - I just don't like it.  I know I haven't been a complete failure this last year, but I think this stupid holiday makes me think of how I've fallen short.

I usually do a list (in my head) of my "resolutions" but find that calling it a resolution instead of a goal or habit, doesn't make it any easier to keep, and I usually don't, I never do actually.

So, these past few days I have been consumed with thinking of things that I need to do better this next year and had a bit of an overwhelming feeling trying to figure out how to make it happen.

One day years and years ago, when I was stuck in a rut, I went to one of the best friends I've ever known and also someone who knows how to get things done - my nanny mom Gail.  She had me sit down and do a monthly goal list.  She proceeded to fold the paper in quarters and label each box:  Spiritual, Physical, Financial and Mental.  In each box we wrote goals that were not unattainable, but that were easy, examples?  Read one book a month, exercise 3 times a week, $10 in savings, focus on the positive, etc.

I think this is what I'll do again -- at the bottom of the paper she wrote in big letters - DO IT DAMN IT! I think I will look forward with those word in my mind this new year and work on improving slowly instead of failing quickly.

***

Just as one more note - sorry I didn't keep up on my countdown to Christmas but I've added a new album with some pictures from the seasons... but the best thing about the holiday??

THESE 5 (soon to be 6) kids are one of the BEST things about my life England.

I said I'd do a week of Christmas pictures countdown, and, baring any drama - I plan on it.  I will also be putting some English traditions of Christmas into the mix as well.  I hope you enjoy!

This holiday season is our first here in the apartment.  We were in the apartment last year, but for Christmas we were in America.  We didn't have any decorations, so this year they needed to be purchased - but, Chris and I didn't want to spend much - so I got these cheap stockings and added my own "personal" touch.  Be it ever so humble (and ever so empty) these are me and Chris' first stockings.

Christmas dinner to English is what Thanksgiving dinner is to Americans - on the menu:  turkey, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, mashed potatoes, pigs in a blanket (bacon wrapped sausages), stuffing balls, parsnip, carrot, brussel sprouts, and trifle.  This year I am going to throw a pumpkin pie into the mix :)

Well things have settled from the holiday.  Although the holiday is over, it appears we are still paying for it.  Like I said in the last entry, Chris got his wallet stolen while we were in Brussels.  He had his wallet in his back pocket (we do know now, not a good idea, but we didn't think about it or worry about it before hand).  He had a long T-shirt on and a long coat that covered his back pockets and yet, we both know when it happened because we both noticed the guy bump into him, but didn't think about it until we where about a block away and Chris noticed it was gone.  We tried to ask people on the street and in shops where the police station was but no one would speak English so we walked back to the hotel, asked the mean employee, who, wouldn't give us a phone number, only circle a general area on a map, and cancelled the cards.  Chris had 2 bank cards in his wallet.  We called and cancelled the card within 45 minutes (at the most) of the card being taken.  We took out the money we had put in there for "emergency holiday funds", loosing money by getting it out in Euros and felt quite assured that the man who stole it could do no more damage, until Chris remembered that the overdraft for the checking account was directly connected to the Visa card that had a bigger balance on.  We crossed our fingers that we had caught it in time. 

Monday morning we realized we hadn't caught it in time at all...  in that 45 minute space of time whoever stole the card had managed to spend around $600.00, not to mention all those foreign conversion fees.   We called the bank and they said they didn't know the details of all the transactions but two were for - women's wear, and one was at an art gallery.

I am sure the person who stole the card has it all down to a science and I am sure they were busy that night because at the police station there were 3 ahead of us that had purses/wallets stolen and 2 more come in while we were waiting, but we continue to watch the account and to be amazed at how much they got in such a short time.

So.... all we can do is say, Merry Christmas to someone out there who now has an extra wad of cash, thanks to their "Secret Santa"!

Chris and I got back from a LONG (2 days but LONG) weekend trip to Brussels yesterday.  It was quite an eventful trip.  We took Chris' parents with us to split the driving, cost, and to just have some company.  Since so much happened this entry will be in the form of a list - Pros and Cons:

Cons:

*A Midnight leaving time - no sleep for over 24 hours, once we got there.

*No good food at the rest stop - no good food for over 24 hours, once we got there.

*Driving in Brussels where the speed limit was up to 90 mph sometimes, and a car that refused to go that fast!

*One hotel room that was ready for four tired adults to "wait it out" in - until after 15 minutes, I went down to the desk and asked for a 2 single bed room - to save everyone's sanity.

*A HIGHTLY rated, HIGHLY expensive hotel with HUGE let downs -- crap, really.

*FREEZING cold.

*The confusing subway system with scary, non-English speaking people... drunk men asking MIL (mother-in-law) for money or groups of rough teens ranting in French - are they going to push me in front of the tram?!?!?  Who knows!?!?

*RUDE people pushing past you like you are invisible.

*Crowds of people in a normally quite city.

*Chris getting his wallet stolen right out of his pocket as someone pushed into him - a walled with both bank cards in it, plus, all the money his parents gave us to split the cost of the trip.

*The panic that ensued trying  to find a police station in a country where NO ONE would speak in English to us and then walking back to the hotel to ask a very mean front desk employee where the police station was, and finding it was only 1/2 a block away from where the wallet was stolen.

*Spending 14.00 Euros to call the banks to cancel cards.

*Chris and me being treated like common criminals because we spoke English at the police station.

*Chris cutting his finger on a glass at Pizza Hut and the manager doing nothing but say, "I don't know what to do!" and giving him a band-aid.

*Finding out that the in-laws shower didn't work.

*Arguments, enough said!

*A horrible breakfast.

*Problems with the tyres all the way home.

*Walking around some french mall for ages trying to find out what to eat and not understanding enough French to order, finally ending up at a supermarket getting bread and cheese.

*Waiting for the train, getting some chicken dippers (against my better judgement - I am VERY picky with meat) and biting into a huge chunk of gristle, gagging so loud the entire restaurant heard and the rest of the trip Chris calling them "gristle dippers" and me still gagging at the mere mention of it. (It was funny too, quite a good laugh).

*Longer train journey for repairs.

*Being stopped at customs.

*Driving the whole way home - with, at times, 3 people telling me what lane to be in.

*Bloody feet (so much walking...)

 

Pros:

*Uh.... I get to visit Europe.

*Getting my passport stamped (the reason for the trip) - another year of driving in England.

*Vouchers so everything we buy at the rest stops is FREE!

*Buying motions sickness wrist bands (I suffer SO bad from motion sickness) and - THEY WORKED!!

*Parking the car in the train and a smooth, relaxing ride.

*No migraines or headaches all weekend.

*Not much traffic in France and Belgium (2:00 AM) so I could go 20 miles under the speed limit and feel more comfortable.

*Driving on the right side of the road.

*Hotel was easy to find and a straight road 99% of the time.

*Nice Christmas decorations around town.

*The passports weren't in Chris' wallet - best pro EVER.

*Belgian chocolate.

*An earlier train home (5:30 PM instead of 11:30 PM)

*No traffic on the way home.

*Good company, most of the time :).

*Belly laughs with MIL and Chris.

*Going to the beach at Dunkirk, feeing the history and actually getting Chris to come to the water with me and then on the way back him helping me pick up shells.

*Arguments between Chris and I stopped after the wallet incident.

*New adventures!!!

*The whole trip back taking only about 5 hours!  Can you believe I live only 3 hours from Europe?!?

So, there you go.  Sorry it is long.  The best pro about the whole thing was my new appreciation for England and my little apartment here that I complain about so much.

I know in an earlier post I was going to do the "12 Days of Christmas" in pictures, but that was spoiled by the trip.  I will do a week leading to Christmas though and hopefully that will be alright.  There are new pictures from the trip (not many) up in the photo album.

Coming up in the next few days will be blogging about the continuing disaster of the stolen wallet AND my new diagnosis of Celiac's Disease.  I will also hopefully be putting up some posts about Christmas in England and some pictures or updates about our upcoming trip to London (that is, if the dirty pick-pockets don't spend ALL our money).

Also, in the new year I will be picking up again on the infertility blog - if you are interested in reading it, please send me a message with your email address - thanks!!

It has been way too long since I have written, I have had quite a bit to say but tend not to write when I am feeling homesick or depressed because if I did that my blog would be quite boring and would end up being a "pity party" and no one wants to read that -- do they?

It has been a very long hard month (November) here in the Flattley household.  It first started with some family problems that, at the time. was soul destroying and all consuming.  Luckily, problems have been hashed out, apologies have been made, and relationships have been mended.  Right on top of those problems Chris and I were continually hurt by people we considered friends.  We are attending church in a branch that goes by its own rules and accepts dishonesty more than honesty, gossip more than truth, and ignorance rather than acceptance.  We have 5 primary children in the branch but it feels just like dealing with lots of children.  Never in my life have I been somewhere (school, work, family or otherwise) where I have felt so unimportant, bullied, or so ostracised.  This, unfortunately seems to be getting worse, not better and although there are some genuinely lovely people in the branch - as in life, the bad outweighs the good a lot of the time and Chris and I are praying for a miracle i.e. dissolving the branch.  All of this, coupled with a bit of a cancer scare (nothing dramatic, just a visit to a specialist who said nothing was wrong, the result of a concerned GP), a very lonely Thanksgiving, some missed opportunities, and a dear husband who forgot an important date - November has not been my month.

So now here is December and after all that I am supposed to be feeling the "Christmas Spirit", which usually comes quite quickly (in the middle of November) for me but seems to be seeping in slowly but surely - enough, anyway, to get our pathetic 4 ft. tree put up and a few decorations up.  This Christmas is difficult, mostly because I am comparing it to last Christmas when we were home in Utah.  This, hopefully, will be our last Christmas in England (living here anyway) so I am trying to be positive. 

Our town is lit up with lights (pictures to come) and it is absolutely FREEZING.  We've even had some snow...

This month we are planning a trip to London, it is lovely there at Christmas and helps me re-connect with Chris, since that is where we spent so much time when we were dating.  In a few weeks we are driving (with Chris' parents) into Belgium to spend a weekend there.  I am really looking forward to it. 

We do have a lot of goals for the new year, one of which is to travel a lot more.  With £1.00 flights all over Europe it should be a good goal and we are now making every Friday our driving day -- driving to places all over the country that we've not seen.  I am trying to be positive and figure since we are here we should take advantage.

So this is me trying to forget the past month but, I find it quite difficult.  I am sure a lot of your have had to deal with tough family or church situations, being away from home or being depressed - what has made you feel better or forget past wrongs??

I will be posting more and plan on doing the 12 days of Christmas through photos so look for that.

OH! By the way.... if you are wanting a good, by good I mean amazing, online radio to listen to with never-ending choices for Christmas go to www.accuradio.com -- I usually listen to the broadway station, but switch over for Christmas (although, the do have a Broadway Christmas so I get two-in-one).

Hello Internet.  I hope you all had a very good Halloween. 

As for me, it was my birthday.  Now, I have not had too much good luck with birthdays so needless to say I didn't hold out hope for this one.  I kept joking to Chris that I was just going to sleep until Saturday morning.  He didn't let me - I awoke to a lovely breakfast in bed (made by Chris).  He seemed more excited about me opening my presents than I did.  When I did open them I was pleasantly surprised by a CD that I had really wanted, one CD that I already had (its okay, he didn't know), and a lovely silver heart necklace.  He did very good.  I also got some clothes from my mom back at home.  I got a great phone call from my mom and dad, which topped of the great morning.   I was so glad that they called even though it is hard to be away from home for me, but it gets especially hard on birthdays and holidays.  I just relaxed before we were supposed to go out to dinner - I had a bit of a set back of fleeting depression - but after I read what Chris wrote about me on his blog, there was no way I could be depressed and we got ready and went to Chili's.  This is a special treat because it tends to be kind of expensive and it is in Cambridge - but it was a special day so we went.  It was such good food!!  Then we came home and relaxed.  It was a low-key but absolutely lovely birthday.

The weekend was made even better by my Saturday.  Some Americans that I know had arranged to go to the base and they were kind enough to invite me to go along.  One of the girls is called Jenni.  She has a husband in the military and she was the one with access to the base.  She is such a fun person, not only does she have 6 kids, but, she is on her 3rd book.  She is re-writing all of Jane Austins books for teens.   The other girl is called Natalie and she is in a similar situation as me.  She married an Englishman and moved from California to be here.  She and I have a lot in common and it is very good to have someone who knows how I feel.  We went to the base and we were in HEAVEN!!  We got to eat at Taco Bell, went to a mall type place and got some holiday candles and then we went to the grocery store on base, at this point I thought I'd died and gone to heaven... isles and isles of American food.  If I tried really hard I could almost forget I was in England.  I was surrounded by American accents and using dollars!!   Jenni shared her groceries with us. I got things that I had been craving for a year.  She also was so kind to get me a Yankee Candle with an amazing top for Christmas, as a birthday present.  We shopped and shopped and looked and looked.  Not only was the experience so fun, but I made some great friendships with Jenni and Natalie.  When I was wavering if I should go or not, my wise mother said -- you've been craving friends and Taco Bell, you never know what a blessing this might be.  And she was so right.  Now I have an invite to Bunco on the base every month were I get to meet more Americans, but more importantly friends.

This weekend has been unforgettable.  There are few times, especially as of late, that happiness has been a part of my life.  Chris makes me happy but that is the extent of it.  It just goes to show how the little things mean so much.  I am thankful for Chris for making such an effort this year for my birthday - he knows how difficult its been for me.

I have so many plans for this new year... I like to try to make Birthday Resolutions and I have lots of goals for the coming year - and hopefully most of them will take place in America.  I just have to keep telling myself -- STAY POSITIVE - after all, I may be on the upper end of it, but I am still in my 20's!! 

Hello Internet.  It has been a while since I wrote, and I do have a lot on my mind.  Lately I have been taking care of a poorly husband who has had some bad luck with the dentist.  After 3 visits in the space of a week (one emergency visit), he is now minus 2 teeth, 1 abscess, and probably one stomach lining from all the pain killers - through fevers, infection and sever pain (agony as he says) he now seems well on his way to heath (thank goodness!) .  Funny thing is, he is waiting for another appointment to get one of his wisdom teeth out that has fused to the bone and we can start this whole song and dance again.  But, that isn't the reason of the post.

The other day in Sunday School the teacher said that we are mean to others because, "it is human nature."  I don't think I quite agree with that.  I don't think we are sent down to earth with a human tendency to be mean to others... I think it is taught or learned.  But is it? 

Today I was babysitting 2 year old twins.  Their parents are both doctors and they have never watched TV at home because there isn't one for them to watch.  They are very well cared for and very sheltered.  But, they can be mean to each other.  Teasing and bullying - that wasn't taught... so is it human nature??

The other day at the dentist Chris and I were waiting in the room next to some large floor to ceiling windows and I heard a loud thump.  As I turned to look I saw that an old man had fallen to the ground and wasn't moving.  My reaction - to jump out of my seat and go see if he was alright, luckily a man walking past got there before me and was taking care of him.  The thing that SHOCKED me was that the second he fell down a woman saw the whole thing and actually stepped over him and walked on by, not checking to see if he was alright - just walked by.  So is that human nature?  

So what is human nature when it comes to how we treat others?  Are we born with the ability to walk past an injured person -- does it start to show itself when we are children?  Or, is it our environment, our lives or our situation that feeds that attitude? 

What do you think?

I realized this weekend that I had quite a few pictures saved on Chris' phone so if you look in the pictures on the side you'll find them.