Let that sink in.
17 hours. In the air. But we are here. We made it. Barely sane. But we are here, and I write from my quaint little kitchen all the way across the world.
And of course, I have to represent...
Part of my computer is in Russian...not sure why?
We flew out Wednesday even at 5:10 (US time). We went from RDU-NYC-LONDON-OUR COUNTRY. We had a long layover in London, so we decided to escape from the confines of yet another airport and enjoy the dirty air of England. At first this idea seemed a little daunting, because not only did we have a sweet little baby who was running on so few hours of sleep (not to mention all of us "adults" were too), but we CARRIED ON:
Carseat
Pack N Play
the BOB
Huge diaper bag
My personal bag
My purse
My pillow
Abby's carry on suictcase
Abby's bookbag
Abby's purse
Eric's carry on suitcase
Eric's bookbag
Eric's pillows. Yes, pillowS
...and there were THREE of us to man-handle all the goods. Besides the overwhelming amount of items needed to travel with a baby, AG was a total rockstar. Seriously. I couln't have been more proud of her. On our long flights she slept or sat quietly most of the way. She was ready to play the last two hours of our last flight, but who blames her right? I sure don't. Goodness. I was ready to play.
But, back to London. Excuse the random thoughts. Jeg lag going on over here.
To our great delight, the London airport has a baggage service where we can pay per item for them to store our things while we sightsee. So of course, we felt it necessary to fork over the cash. We took many pictures, saw many tourist-y spots, marveled over amazing architecture, and ate outside at a cute cafe. AG slept for most of her time in London.
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| On the Heathrow Express to Paddington |
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| Heathrow Express to Paddington |
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| Our taxi ride from Paddington to Buckingham Palace...Yes, we straight up rolled the stroller into the taxi. |
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| What's London without a selfie? |
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| This telephone booth was so gross and smelly |
When we arrived in our country, we hauled our many items inside to Customs. One thing I learned about this country from the get-go...no personal space.
Somehow we ended up in the BACK of the line. We did not start in the back. Apparently if you aren't touching your nose to the back of the persons head in front of you, people think its fair game to cut you in line. OH YES. MY PET PEEVE. Line cutting brings out a side in me y'all. Not to mention the lack of sleep.
Anyways, my conscience, aka ERIC, gave me a look that said "cool it." Okay fine, but remember I'm holding a very fussy baby right now so this mama bear is about to flip out if she doesn't get through customs ASAP!! Many people staring at white girl with red hair, who speaks a funny language, in a funny dialect, rocking a baby back and forth.
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Real life. Tired baby, daddy, and aunt |
After an hour wait, we finally made it through. The very last ones. But on a positive note, it was very easy to find our bags. Except that one of Abby's didn't quite make it.
So we are missing a bag, and we have this huge language barrier going on. How do we communicate to these people...WHERE IS OUR MISSING BAG?!
Oh. Right. It just so happens, that one of our team members (from Alabama) was on our flight with us and speaks fluent Russian. G-ds grace. It's incredible the amount of His grace that has been so evident within the last few days. I could cry thinking about it. We learned that Abby's bag got stuck in NYC, but thankfully is making it's way to us as we speak.
On a random note...Eric and I opened one of our huge duffle bags to find a little boy's Sketcher shoe?? Just one of them. Our theory is that this kid's shoe fell out of his bag, so while they were stuffing it in a random bag (aka ours), they forgot to load Abby's bag. Yeah. This is probably what happened. Poor kid only has one shoe.
We walked out of baggage claim to be greeted by our friend Liz and our driver. They brought ONE van. Our bags were stuffed to the ceiling. Abby squeezed in the front with Liz. Will, Eric, Addie, and myself squeezed on one row. Will was holding the Pack n Play in his LAP. Eric was holding the BOB in his LAP. The front wheel to the BOB was poking Liz in the head the entire 45 minute ride back to our apartment. We couldn't have squeezed in one more bag. G-ds grace that Abby's bag was delayed.
Since we got to our apartment, our schedule has been jammed packed. It's Sunday here, and we still have not unloaded our bags. We have not had one bit of time. Our team here is AMAZING. We have our meals provided the entire next week. They have taken us grocery shopping to help show us what is what. We have already pr-yed together. Sang together. We have a family away from family here.
G-d is SO good. He is so kind to us that He has provided so much already. Just a few things I for me to remember:
1. AG did amazing on the flights. His kindness.
2. When we walked into our apartment, I immediately cried. Overwhelming tears. I just wanted to go home. This apartment doesn't feel like home. Then I walked into the kitchen. My dream kitchen. I see this kitchen as His kindness to me.
3. I was anxious about getting AG milk/food if we ran out, since we don't have a car. Across the street from our apartment is a little market. WITH AN ENGLISH SPEAKING girl who works there. His kindness.
4. There is a fresh fruit and veggie stand down the street from us. His kindness.
5. Our first night, we left our apartment to go to a school picnic. When we came back, we had no idea how to get into the door of our apartment building. We just stood outside. Couldn't get in. Someone eventually came out, and let us in. So I decided to ask, "Do you speak English?" Pretty rare, here. The guy said, "yes." He said YES!! So we asked him how the door works, and he showed us. His kindness.
6. Although the buildings aren't very pretty (old Soviet architecture), we have an amazing view from our living room of the mountains. His kindness.
7. The amazing community here amoungst our team. His kindness
8. I have already met several young American moms who are blvrs who want to help/hang out. His kindness.
9. Will (from Alabama) was on our last flight. He helped us get through customs and find Abby's bag. Out of all flights, all times, all days, someone from OUR team was there. His kindness.
9. Will (from Alabama) was on our last flight. He helped us get through customs and find Abby's bag. Out of all flights, all times, all days, someone from OUR team was there. His kindness.
I could go on. I cannot get over the amount of grace He has provided in so short amount of time. One thing after another. I am overwhelmed with the amount of love He has for us. He is a good G-d. A kind G-d. A loving and gracious G-d.
Marty, a dear friend of mine from back in NC sent me the most encouraging email the day we left for CA. It is a quote by Charles Spurgeon, that I highly recommend you take the time and read. So let me leave you with these encouraging words:
"All events are under the control of Providence; consequently all the trials of our outward life are traceable at once to the great First Cause. Out of the golden gate of G-d's ordinance the armies of trial march forth in array, clad in their iron armour, and armed with weapons of war. All providences are doors to trial. Even our mercies, like roses, have their thorns. Men may be drowned in seas of prosperity as well as in rivers of affliction. Our mountains are not too high, and our valleys are not too low for temptations: trials lurk on all roads. Everywhere, above and beneath, we are beset and surrounded with dangers. Yet no shower falls unpermitted from the threatening cloud; every drop has its order ere it hastens to the earth. The trials which come from G-d are sent to prove and strengthen our graces, and so at once to illustrate the power of divine grace, to test the genuineness of our virtues, and to add to their energy. Our L-rd in his infinite wisdom and superabundant love, sets so high a value upon his people's faith that he will not screen them from those trials by which faith is strengthened. You would never have possessed the precious faith which now supports you if the trial of your faith had not been like unto fire. You are a tree that never would have rooted so well if the wind had not rocked you to and fro, and made you take firm hold upon the precious truths of the covenant grace. Worldly ease is a great foe to faith; it loosens the joints of holy valour, and snaps the sinews of sacred courage. The balloon never rises until the cords are cut; affliction doth this sharp service for believing souls. While the wheat sleeps comfortably in the husk it is useless to man, it must be threshed out of its resting place before its value can be known. Thus it is well that J-h-vah trieth the righteous, for it causeth them to grow rich towards G-d."
