UK Edition: It Must Come to an End

The time has come. Today is my last day of work. My temporary change of residence is coming to an end. I fly out tomorrow. I'm sad. And happy. All at the same time.

It just doesn't seem like it should be time to leave yet. I'm not sure what it is exactly, I know there are probably many reasons.

Its almost time to say good bye to my newest home...

...and my front door step.

Its just like moving out of your home. This place has become my home. Not just the physical apartment home that I live in but my friends here are part of "home." That's the part I'm going to miss, the home I (and my coworker from the US) have made here. And yes, I cry about it. Multiple times already and probably many more.

Things won't be the same if I don't have to use my key fob to get through the front gate (or sneak through between the gate and the hedges near the grit box) and into my apartment.

Don't get me wrong, I will enjoy being home! I'm just not ready to leave here. :) No worries, I'm going home anyway.

See you soon! Probably on the other side of the world.

UK Edition: Just Another Walk

My time here is coming to an end and I leave for my real home in Wisconsin in less than five days. It has been such a fun experience in so many ways, I don't know how to put words to it. Its bittersweet knowing I'll be leaving this week but I am excited to see my family and friends when I get home!

The scenery is brilliant, maybe because it is different from the normal back home. I can't stop looking at it and enjoying what I'm seeing. I took pictures of some of the sights on the way home from work the other day. If I lived here forever I would not tire of being surrounded by these sights. Most of these pictures are from Cold Bath Road in Harrogate (you know, in case you want to see them for yourself one day).

Brick buildings, green trees, iron fences, flower gardens. You will be missed but I'm glad to have met you. 

UK Edition: Touring with Friends

I really appreciate these two men. Coworkers with both - one from the United States, one from the United Kingdom. Friends with both - one old, one new.

Thank you to the one who has been leading us to all these adventures while in England. Our trip to the United Kingdom would not be the same if you had not spent the time to share it with us!

We spend a lot of time together. Can you tell?? Most of my pictures of people include the three of us.

UK Edition: Bottom Looking Up

Here is a preview of our weekend near Keswick, UK when we climbed Scafell Pike, the highest point in England. Words don't do much for describing the pictures so I'll try and let them do the talking. I took over 600 pictures this weekend. I know. Looking through them all makes me want to go back. Or become a professional hiker. Or a fell runner (but more on this later).

Hope you enjoy the photos. You'll be seeing plenty more in the near future. And I'm sure distant future as well.

If you click on an image it will enlarge so you get a better view.

Scafell Pike is incredible.

Happy Half-Birthday!

Happy Half-Birthday to my beautiful, smart, wonderfully loved sisters!

I was talking to Marissa on Skype tonight when she stops and says, "Aren't you forgetting something?!" To which I responded by looking at her waiting stare while I racked my brain for an anniversary, birthday, holiday, something I was supposed to get back to her on...nothing. I couldn't come up with anything. She says, "Its my half birthday!" Gotta love her. Both of them. :)

I love you both dearly and miss you lots! Can't wait to see you! Hope you enjoy your big half birthday today!

UK Edition: On The Coast Of The North Sea

On our way home from Edinburgh, Scotland we wanted to get to the coast and feel the water, if not just take some pictures. We took a side road and this is the view we managed. The property said it was private residence only so we stuck to the road. It was a beautiful view from the top of the hill, a place I could definitely sit and relax at for a long time.

We finally decided to take a picture of the three of us (why did it not occur to us earlier in the day?!) by setting the camera on our friend's car and using the camera timer. When I saw it I said, "Awww, look! We're friends!" I really thought it was true, too. I know you don't need a picture to prove it, nor does a picture prove anything; it doesn't mean anything on its own but is a frozen bit of time for what was captured - an event, emotion, space in time. It captured us being friends and it made me happy.

I'm really going to miss these people and this place when its time to leave.

A Lot of Love

A little reminder to myself of this love of mine. My new desktop background. Ahhh, the love that flows through my body when I see this handsome one. And oh how I miss him!

The man that belongs to the two human legs in the background isn't so bad either. ;)

Here is a reminder as to why I'm not there right now.

I Love My Dad

Dad, my life wouldn't be the same without you in it. You are witty, handsome and loving. I'd like to think I get my smarts from you. :)

I wish I could spend the day with you! I hope this post dedicated to you kind of makes up for that. :)

Thanks for being such a great Dad. For always being there for us and for being a real dad. We couldn't have asked for a better Dad if we had the chance. Your girls wouldn't be the same without you.

I love you Dad! Happy Father's Day!

Luke's Second Post: The Other Halves

Yay! Guest post numero TWO from dearest Luke. He has a lot to share and its pretty cute if I do say so myself. Go on now, read it.

Greetings all from the other side of the world (aka home). I thought you all would like to know what’s been going on here while Rachel is in the UK. She’s been gone almost 3 weeks already! Wow, it has gone by pretty fast but on the other hand to she can’t come back soon enough because I miss her and worry about her. Caboose and I are glad she’s having a good time though!

Caboose and I have been getting along pretty well. It is nice to have each other for the company. It hasn’t just been the two of us the whole time though. My sister Beth stayed with us for about a week after her apartment lease was up while she finished up teaching school. It was nice when she was here because, I have to admit, she took good care of us making supper, doing dishes, etc.

Caboose and I have had a few of our own adventures in the last couple weeks…

We took a ride one Saturday afternoon to a race track that I was going to race at that Sunday night. Caboose was either shocked or amazed. Or maybe he was meowing and I caught the photo at the right time. Needless to say, my race wasn’t the best. It started with a broken throttle cable, which led to missing one of my heat races while changing the cable, and a fair performance. It was fun though. It was my first flat track of the year so I wasn’t planning on setting the world on fire. Now that I have a race and some practice under my belt, hopefully this weekend will be better! Caboose was pretty amazed by the race track and can’t wait to get his own bike and gear!

We also took a trip home for the Memorial Day holiday. Caboose stayed with Rachel's Mom and Dad and I went to my parents to work on my bikes and hang out with my family.

Cell phone quality pictures...gotta love 'em.

It’s been going pretty well at the apartment so far. There has really only been one little incident... Before Rachel left, she had a plant that was looking pretty tough. It needed to be replanted and probably didn’t need the extra water I gave it. Long story short, it didn’t make it. I gave it a proper burial and went to Walgreens and found us a new plant! I had no intentions of buying seeds at Walgreens. I went there for milk, saw they had seeds, and found one that looked good! I wanted to surprise Rachel with a new beautiful flowering plant but that plan didn’t work (yet).

I was amazed when the sprouts came up! I was a little unsure at first but, as you can see, I had nothing to worry about. The seeds are growing like wildfire! It will be pretty sweet once it flowers.

I have to throw in this last pic just because caboose is in it! (We all know how much he is loved around here.)

Well that pretty much sums up the last few weeks in the States. All is good on the home front and I will try and keep you updated. Until then, we (Caboose and I) will be here waiting and missing Rachel. It’s not the same without her here. We love her with all our hearts and pray for her safe return.

Love you honey! (Sniffle sniffle) ;)

Days Before Travelling to the UK

The two weeks leading up to my trip to the UK was bittersweet. Luke and I spent a lot of time with both our families and with each other (obviously). I felt like I could cry at any moment because I was thinking of recent events and how much I would miss each one of them while in the UK. I took a lot of pictures at this time, not necessarily with the thought that I could have them while I was here, but because Marissa had just given me her camera and I hadn't used it much before so I wanted the practice. The weather was also beautiful and we couldn't resist being outside. Its fun for me to look through the pictures while I'm here because the memories are so sweet. :)

Thank God for pictures!