To make things a bit easier reading, I've decided to break it down a bit. As you all know WHO I am, we'll skip answering that question and get right into the WHAT.
WHAT (am I doing)?
I'm visiting mom and dad - for 3 more weeks now - before heading back to England. And in between there I'm becoming an AUNT!!! woohooo! Little Caleb Daniel will be arriving any day now, so tomorrow morning mom and I are making the 17+ hr trek to Florida to be with Laura and Phil for the happy (and oh-so-painful... yikes) occasion. I'm so excited to be able to be there for his birth. A new little person who I get to have as a part of my life for the rest of my life and his. What an amazing thing. God is full of all sorts of blessings for us...
However, as I am jobless at the moment, I'm also applying for jobs. Loathsome task that it is. Lord willing, I would love to enter into the field of agriculture and conservation, and still have my sights set on the developing world (once I get my loans under foot).
I am also still dating a certain Steve Whitfield. This past week we past our 8 month mark. grins (sappy enough for you?!) I love him and am currently missing him terribly. Please continue to pray for him (the Lord is doing such amazing things in his heart).
WHERE?
Kind of already answered this, but to elaborate a bit more, I'll be staying with Steve's parents in NW England (they live in the Yorkshire Dales National Park) until I get a job. I didn't even ask them - they just "expected" me to stay!! They're wonderful, and I'm really really enjoying getting to know Steve's family. After I get a job... my 'where' could change to anywhere in the UK really. We shall see. Steve and I are hoping to end up in the same vicinity... and hopefully that would mean that we could both attend the same church, which would be a huge blessing (we found an amazing one in Norwich!).
WHEN?
Also touched on this a bit too... I'll be leaving the US again on Oct 7 (arriving in London on the 8th at early o'clock). I'll not be back for Christmas, as tickets are expensive and I don't have a job yet and it's very possible that the UK government will have my passport, as I'll be applying for a Post Study Work Visa at that point. PLEASE PRAY for that as well. It's expensive, so I don't want to mess around with it. I WILL, however, be back again here in March... FOR MY BROTHER'S WEDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! eek!! :D He's marrying an awesome girl - Laura Bruckman. (haha Another Laura!) And I'm so so excited for them. Steve's hoping to come along as well, and it would be wonderful to have him meet everyone and vise versa.
WHY?
Why England? Well, several reasons. I accidentally fell in love with it. There are a fantastic amount of opportunities in the field that I want to pursue there that aren't equaled here. If you're looking for work in conservation here and hope to work with agricultural communities, you kind of end up taking on this attitude and role of policeforce, regulation/fine slapper. It kills any attempts at fostering good relations between the two entities. In England, however, the attitude toward both agriculture and conservation is completely different. Community development enters into the picture, along with a stronger perspective towards solidarity and preserving natural heritage - both in nature and in the farmers. Oh, and yes... also met this certain Yorkshire guy... and kinda like him a lot. :) That sort of helped me decide in earnest what I'd been toying with (and praying about) for a few months.
HOW?
By the grace of God. The incredible support of friends and family, here and abroad. Absolutely budgeting every finance. Fervently hunting jobs. Securing a visa. Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. So please... pray with me.
And now, the yummy part. PICTURES!
Michelle came!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Us in Trafalgar Square. :)
And Tegan!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hurray for 15 hr layovers and picnics in Hyde Park! And Steve got to meet both Michelle and Tegan!
Two of Steve's Cambridge friends (a really sweet Christian couple, Tom and Emma) were married in August. So Steve and I stayed with another two of his friends, Lauren and Paul (in the picture) over the weekend. A fantastic time. :)
Our last girly get together at Frank's. *sniff* Hannah, Chieko, me, Miriam, Vicky and Laura (another British friend).
Possibly one of my favorite pictures ever. :) Steve and I went for an afternoon walk after church our last Sunday in Norwich and found the Norwich Botanical Gardens. SUCH a gorgeous day!!
Super fun girls night out with Emma and her girlfriends!! (Rich and Emma live 10 min from Norwich, so Steve and I were able to see them quite a bit!)
Rich, Emma, and me (with Steve taking the picture) at the Norwich City (The Canaries) Football (soccer) match. Rich is Steve's older brother (he also has a twin sister) and Emma is Rich's wife. Love them! (the Canaries tied 0-0)
Me and Hannah, one of my closest friends from UEA (and also a sister in Christ), at the Dev Ball.
Me and my 3 housemates in front of our house (65 B Connaught Road) :) , ready to go to the Dev Ball. Chieko from Japan, Miriam from India, and Vicky from Taiwan.
One of my favorite hikes. :) Steve took me up Ingleborough over Easter break. I took this picture when we went on the Ingleton Waterfalls Walk the week before coming back to the States.
Me and Steve in front of Thornton Falls - his favorite.
Next I'll post pictures of my new nephew! :) So much love, and thanks everyone for all your prayers!!! (I wouldn't be where I am without them!)
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