It’s been about three and half months since we moved to England and whilst there is still some measure of transition going on, there is also a definite feeling of being more settled, having our bearings and taking hold of the ‘new’. It’s been a big move. Over the last months we’ve had to hold firm to the knowledge that God called us here and then made a way for us to be here. At times it’s been shakey and challenging, but that foundation has kept us.
Moving to a whole new environment with new people, different culture & lifestyle, new territory and different spiritual atmosphere certainly highlights cracks in ones security. Indeed, awareness of insecurities has been high over the last months and we’ve had to continually bring them before the Lord to let Him deal with us. So many things have shifted – friendships, routines, patterns of life – there’s been so much change and in that there is the wondering of ‘who am I?’, ‘what am I doing here?’, ‘who are my friends?’, ‘what is my role?’… Back in the US where we were well established in ways of life, routines, friendships and roles, such questions were not at the forefront as they are now and life just ticked by in the security of those routines, friendships, etc. Nothing like a leap to the other side of the pond to shake all that up! It’s good and at the same time it is sometimes painfully exposing those cracks that need to be secured and healed.
Adjustment has been necessary on so many levels. From getting used to hanging out the washing on the line (or throughout the house on rainy days), to having to shop 2-3 times a week because the fridges & freezers here are much smaller than we were used to in the US, to driving in rush-hour traffic to do the school run on roads that are far narrower than those in Florida, to working to a budget because the cost of most things is higher here in the UK, to climbing hills (which are non-existent in central Florida)… That’s just a few things on a practical level! The weather here so far has actually been far more enjoyable than in Orlando (especially now that ‘summer’ has hit there) and we’ve been delighting in exploring some of the multitude of footpaths that criss-cross fields and hills pretty much everywhere, as well as enjoying our little garden. One of the blessings of our location is discovering that even though we are in the suburbs of greater London, there are so many green areas close by, and we are only about a 20 minute drive to real countryside.
Abigail and Audrey started school 3 weeks ago and have settled in beautifully. They are enjoying new friends, routine and the excitement of learning (somewhat anyway…until it comes to homework!). Katherine has been offered a place at the same school to start in September and she is very excited! Every day when we go to pick up the girls Katherine runs to stand in line with them in the playground as they are dismissed from school. I think she’s probably too cute for the teachers to complain about it!
Below are a few photos from the last month. Don’t forget to follow our blog (click on the ‘follow’ button after inserting your email address) to get updates right to your inbox.
Pursuing Purpose 