Welcome to our "blog" (whatever that means..)

So... this is my second attempt at starting a blog page to keep everyone up to date with what has been going on with Grant and I since we were married nearly 7 months ago. First of all...has it already been 7 months?! I know the old cliche 'time flies,' but honestly- it's gone by so quickly. I suppose I should update you on some things that have been happening as of late- so please humor my best efforts at a re-cap of the past 7 months...

After our wedding, Grant and I honeymooned in 3 places...first we were off to Chicago for 2 nights so I could pick up my Marriage Visa, (which was retrieved without any difficulty!) Next it was Tampa, just for 2 nights, so we could get to our final destination, really. (If anyone is ever in Tampa, we highly recommend Landry's Restaurant for some excellent seafood!). And finally, the surprise of a lifetime- we were off to Bermuda. Now, to be completely honest, and at the risk of sounding more naive than I ever have, I didn't actually know where Bermuda was. . . nor did I actually know it existed outside of the tales of the "Bermuda Triangle" and the Beach Boys song telling me they wanted to take me to Bermuda AND Jamaica...but lo and behold- it does exist... and it is breathtaking. Grant kept this destination a secret the entire time we were engaged, and I can honestly say it has been his best surprise to date. We stayed in a 5 star hotel, went snorkeling (way cool except for the unfortunate boat ride which led to near sea sickness!), and ate at some phenomenal restaurants. It was the best trip, and i can only hope to someday go back again. Bermudians are amongst the friendliest people, I'm convinced, on this Earth.

After our honeymoon, we flew back to England where I would now be settling in to make this a "home". I suppose, even now, it is hard to think of anywhere besides Ohio being my home, but I feel I'm adjusting quite well. My dad flew over on August 16, which was the same day Grant and I flew in, so we were really excited to see him. My mom wasn't able to make it due to the August terror threats and her hesitation- which I can't say I blame her. My dad's stay in England was a BLAST. He enjoyed every minute and I did as well. It was so fun to have him here, finally seeing my new life as it began...hopefully he and the rest of the fam will come back soon! After all the hustle and bustle of the wedding month ended (it really did last the whole month...), I started my first job as the Youth Pastor at Christ Church in Braintree. This church has never had a Youth Pastor before, so I had a large order on my plate. I can honestly say, though, it's been one of the most challenging, rewarding and demanding things I have ever done. I love it, and the youth are so much fun. It's great to learn a cultural lesson everyday, and I can honestly say I do learn from them...so much. For example: in England, PANTS= UNDERWEAR and TROUSERS=PANTS. This means you should never tell a 10 year old you think her pants are cool...because you will get weird looks and a possible prison sentence. lol. Second, DINNER=LUNCH and TEA=DINNER. Yes, tea is also a drink, but people in England many times call your evening meal "tea". You can imagine the first few times i was here thinking they were really weird for having tea as their evening meal, but i was soon corrected in my silly American ways. And last, but CERTAINLY not least, the BATHROOM or the RESTROOM are not acceptable terms when you are out to eat and need to go. You must say "where are the TOILETS" or "Where is the LOO." Follow these 3 steps and you are well on your way to becoming an Englishman (or woman). Oh yea- CRAP is a swearword over here, too.

So, with that English lesson done, I suppose I should let you all know Grant and I are doing well. Adjusting to marriage is sometimes difficult and we've had our share of feuds, but everyday I truly believe God is teaching us more and more about the other and it's really humbling, most of the time. He is a fantastic teacher, husband and support. I suppose I should let you all on your way now, but please know we are both well, we will keep you updated regularly now, and you are all in our thoughts and prayers. We'd love to read your comments if you have the time!

All our love,
-us. :)