A little bit of this, a little bit of that...

Tomorrow will be one week since we left for England. One teeny, tiny week since I took the biggest trip of my life! Let's see... where do I begin with the lessons that I have learned in the short length of time?

Where do I begin???

Money:
You should brief yourself on the new money system BEFORE you venture out alone to get groceries. Save yourself the embarrassment!

Jet lag:
Sucks, nothing more to it. It just pretty much sucks. Especially if you have a 3 year old and a 10 month old. Pretty much the highest level of torture for a sound adult.

Driving:
Don't attempt until you can cross the street without almost getting killed.

Bank Accounts: 
HOLY COW! Just a mess! We drove 2 hours to the closest "Little America" AKA Lakenheath to open an account that we can convert $ to pounds, or in other words watch our money go from a little to NOTHING. The American dollar is useless over here. Just useless. And lag time... 3 business days. That means that your useless money takes even longer for you to get and spend once you receive it.

Stress:
It's HUGE. HUGE. Temper tantrums like you wouldn't believe from Tripp... and Mommy and Daddy.

Helpless:
That's pretty much my word of the trip so far. I can't drive, I have no money, no home and I obviously cannot shop alone. This is very hard for my headstrong, independent nature.

Beautiful. No. Breathtaking. That's pretty much the best word for this country. It's amazing.

Fried: 
Hope you like your food this way because pretty much everything is. And vegetables. HMM... I haven't seen much yet. A lot of peas.

Ice: 
Ice? What's that? You may get a cube if you're lucky.

Driving:
I haven't attempted this yet. It's like NY on crack and driving backwards here.

Coffee: 
Amazing. Puts Starbucks to shame.

Butter: 
OMG! If you know me well, you know I LOVE my butter. It's amazing. The first time I had it I thought it was margarine because it's the same color. But... oh no! It's not. It's creamy, salty, luscious butter. MMMMMmmmmm!

10: 
That's probably the number of pounds I will gain before the month is over. The food here is rich and heavy.

1837-1901: 
The Victorian Era, which means that's how old our house is. I'm sure I'll have some interesting stories about this.

We went to Lincoln Cathedral and they choir was singing. No instruments, just voices, beautiful- beautiful voices singing to Him. What an amazing, amazing moment. A perfect moment to reflect. 

As I've ventured out into this semi-familiar yet foreign land, my faith has been put to the test.

It's failed; there have been many moments of losing it, moments of wanting to make things happen in my time and on my conditions.

It's waivered. I've had many moments in my head where secretly I've wished to be back in America. Back next to a Target, a phone, a car because I'm terrified at times about how new all of this is to me. Paralyzed by my lack of control. Humbled by the experience. Forced to stop. Forced to rely, not on myself or my surroundings- but completely on Him. And I know that this fear of the unknown will only strengthen my faith. Will renew my spirit.

How often in life can we be lucky enough for God to strip us of everything. EVERYTHING that we consider a comfort, an identity only to allow us to draw closer to Him. I'm raw, I'm vunerable, yet vunerable to the right things, to His influence and His guide.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

2 Samuel 22:31

Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

Psalm 31:3

Pics are next :)