Family Update!

As of today we have 2 offers on our house and Matthew's visa arrives tomorrow by post! I am so overwhelmed! Talk about moving fast suddenly (redundant)... Our visa interview went without a glitch and everything has just been rolling onward since. To think we may actually be in Texas by Samuel's first birthday...Really excited about it! A complete understatement. On that same note, it is bitter sweet. This house is the one Matthew & I have built together. "you buy a house but sell a home"- So true! We have raised our kids thus far here (I know they are only little) But is seems strange to leave it all. Friendships made here also...So strange to say goodbye. But new beginning waiting for us on the other side and I can't wait to see my family whenever I want. To see Bella & Isaac growing up and having dinner at my brother's house. Oh and all the good food! How I miss this! The Lord has really amazed me in this entire process. Allowing Matthew is come to terms with moving, getting his visa pretty straight forward and the day the house goes on the market we had a viewer...I believe it has been His hand from the beginning! Admittedly I tried to move Him along. I wanted to be back in Texas years ago, but for whatever reason it had to be in the Lord's timing and I choose to trust that. So will keep this updated for the move and everything relating to that!

Visa Update

How crazy has this week been?
After waiting and waiting everything is going into warp speed and I am trying hard not to panic. Monday we received our letter for Matthew's interview. February 1 at 10:00am at the London Embassy. We have the house lady coming on Friday to measure the rooms and the photographer coming Monday to take photos. The house will be on the market soon and my head is spinning. I can't get anything in order. I have tried making check list after check list. What room to start in? What is worth packing at the moment and what are we still going to need? Am I ready to move? Am I ready for change? Are the kids gonna adjust ok? Will Matthew be too bothered by the Texas heat? Will he find a job? Will we find a house quickly and not have to live with my parents for ages? Will my head explode if I think too much? Oh and what if for some crazy reason we can't get his visa?
Then yesterday my nephew was born. Levi John Watkin. Beautiful boy. I am so grateful we were still here for his birth! I am grateful that we were still here for Matthew's folks. We visited him tonight and my mind relaxed for awhile.
The Lord has it all under control and I totally believe that and choose to trust Him. Good grief. If He wasn't there....I think my head would in fact explode!
Ok so there is our update so far! Will try and stay posting on here. If for no other reason than my own sanity!

Will take the quiet time of the day to write a bit.
Seems the days are really passing and I have not done anything to get the house packed or ready. We still have yet to have Matthew's interview down in London and are waiting on the date. After we have an idea of the interview date we will put the house up for sale. Feels like time is just speeding by while we wait. Matthew and I are ready to go. That is what we are doing...waiting...
Then the new life will start in Austin, Texas and beyond! I have looked (out of curiosity) at the website for houses on the market and can't believe the size. Houses are built small here in the UK and I can only assume because it is an island and so flippin cold. But the thought of having a bigger house is so exciting to me!!!
Can't wait to get the kids rooms sorted and Matthew and I 's stuff up ...
Urgh...so much for writing, phone ringing! No rest for Mommas!!

Friendship

I have been wanting get my thoughts down on relationships for what seem like ages.
We have a had a strange year when it comes to this. I have personally realized so much about what relationships are than I had originally given time for.
I always hated when people would say things like " I have too many friends already, I don't have room for any more". Seriously thought it was stupid thing to say and how shallow a person to say it. But I can kinda understand it now. While friendships are indeed a gift from God, they can also be a pain! Of course by our own making. We are selfish people who want anything and everything that we can get out of a relationship and very rarely do we give much back. It is a rare occasion that you find someone you feel is "worthy" to get your attention ad love like you want yourself.
Sadly this is so contrary to what the Lord has clearly written in His word about friendship and relationships...but most people- Christian and none- are selfish.
There is a scripture that says "A friend makes himself friendly". I have tried honestly to be this kind of friend. Especially when I know I am going into a new country or place of work or anywhere where I don't know anyone. But it is honestly hard cause you are expecting others to be the same. One great example of this that I am totally guilty of...After Eliza was born and I went to my first Mother/Toddler group. I had brought a couple of friends that I knew, a neighbour and fellow co-worker. There was about 30 or so ladies there with all toddler age kids. We sat there waiting I guess for the "already mothers" to come and welcome us and join in conversation. This didn't happen. We sat quiet and chatted to each other and left never wanting to go back because of the cliques that were so obviously formed. Sadly I see now I was totally at fault, just because of the scripture I wrote above. I never engaged either. I fear this is turning into a rant. But , in a nutshell...I have learned to really appreciate the ones who enjoy my company, go out of there way to let me know I am their friend and show me. I try very hard to do the same, but know it is difficult, specially after marriage & kids. Want to be more friendly! I guess.
All done now...none of that came out how it was in my head...but so it goes....
~Beth

Foggy Day

I have decided that this will be our family blog from now on. Matthew and I both have access to update and share whatever we want to. I am quite excited about it because I actually love reading other families blogs and hope that maybe someone will get entertainment from ours. Plus it can be a little more detailed than the daily updates on facebook!
So to start this it will be a completely nonsensical blog...and I will just write.
It is 2pm and both of the kids are in their beds for a nap. Matthew is back at work today after the Christmas holidays and says it will probably be a long day today. He is a post man. Temporarily while we wait for visa application to be finalized and we make our way to the land of the free and home of the brave- No we live in Scotland now, was meaning back to the USA.
We are just waiting on the final stage of the application process which is an interview down in London. From there we will sell our house and leave. This has been quite a process for us. We started back in July of this past year. I remember coming this way after marrying Matthew, it took a total of 4 hours for me to get a visa. We hung out in LA and just waited. But 6 months is crazy! The states have really made it hard it seems, but that is another blog for another day.
The fog outside our window just now looks very cold. It has been a day of playing indoors again, although the snow is almost completely gone.
Eliza found Play Dough in her stocking this year from Santa and it is her favourite toy...and her daddy's I have found out...so we have watched Mickey Mouse and made cookies of Blue and Red and Yellow. Not sure what the afternoon hold for us. Will try and keep this updated.

Why My Heart is Full

My little girl is sick today. Her nose is running and her eyes are watering. She wants to cling to me or Matthew at all times. Right now she is napping and Samuel is gurgling baby isms on the bed. Afternoon naps are such a peaceful time. Today in particular I am so grateful for my kids. Motherhood is hard work, let that not be a lie! And I have had some difficult times since Samuel was born, but I wouldn't trade them for the World.
Eliza is the most beautiful girl in the world. She loves to dance and sing. Her eyes shine with every smile. She tells me she loves me now in full sentences. I have only known her for 20 months. So short of time, but I love her more deeply than is describable.
Samuel is just starting this thing called life and he is all smiles. My husky boy loves to play and wants mommy's bozie all the time!
I can only begin to understand the Love that the Lord has for his children. So much greater than my fallen love for mine. His love is perfect. My love for my kiddos will never be perfect. My Lord loves me more than I will ever know! AWESOME!

Family Reunion

"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together." ~Erma Bombeck

I have just recently returned home from a family reunion. A week on the gulf coast, Texas, with 18 family members belonging to my Dad's side. Beach house called Music was our home for one week. Yes all 18 of us! Yes for one full week. I am still trying to come to terms with that myself.

Surfside, Texas is a beautiful beach town. The waterside is peaceful. The atmosphere is chilled out and relaxing. A surf shop standing on the main corner boasts JESUS IS LORD on the wall facing the main road. The owner is a burnt out hippy/surfer selling breakfast and flip flops to the visitors. All the while Joyce Meyer is playing on his television in the background. The nearest grocery is called Buccees (pronounced Bucky's) and sells little to nothing of use. Milk and Beer was what my family frequented from this convenient store.

Beach House Music was in itself a very nice place. Full of sand and very colorful bar stools that were painted with something that stained the kids hands. The kitchen was spacious and falling apart. And we also learned that prior to Matthew & our family's arrival there was glass in most of the bedding. We were led to believe that the beds were queen sized. Matthew and I managed barely to fit.

The first 4 days went ok. Borderline peaceful. I was limited in my activity due to Samuel being a baby and the sun being the Scottish folks greatest enemy! Someone actually comment that Eliza's skin was "as white as snow". I was down at the beach maybe a total of 3 times.

Games at night were hilarious and everyone participated, determined that this was going to be a fun and exciting time. maybe our last together with the "olds" still alive and with us. They are the ones this was all meant for in the first place. Peter & Viv Baker, The Baker Family Reunion.

By night time on day 5 we all stopped talking to each other. Well to Grandad anyway. He managed to, in the span of 30 minutes, call 2 of us stupid and drag the rest of the family into a dramatic turn of events. Yelling, awkward silences, strange looks, crying....

So the rest of the visit was left with most of us walking on eggshells as not to offend each other, but failing miserably while the children played happily and oblivious to all the drama!
All this being said...I have come to a surprising conclusion. In my own childhood ignorance, I was not aware of the severity of it. My family is jacked up beyond repair! Now I was not completely ignorant to it all but in recent years, I have been so far removed from it all living in the quiet village of Ellon in Scotland that I probably just blocked it out.

And to actually think that my grandparents want to do it all again next year on a cruise ship!!!