Shortly after we returned from Prague we drove up to Frankfurt to pick up the son of our close friends from Colorado. I am still recovering. 

I can't tell you how many times over the years I have looked out my window to see this boy and his brothers jumping on my trampoline, embattled in Airsoft wars on the prairie, dogs and chickens and kids in a flutter.  We have shared holiday meals and sacraments. We have watched him grow up with our own kids.  I must have blinked however, because I was not prepared for this 6ft, self-assured young man, on break from university studies in Florence, who entered my vehicle. 

I always figured this move from middle school to college, while of course important, would nonetheless pale in comparison to the unfolding of life from its first appearance on the ultrasound screen to that delightfully mispronounced speech of early childhood. 

I was wrong.  This?  This is amazing.  

It is such a blessing to have true friends.  It is an even greater blessing to raise your kids together and watch this whole crazy incredible life thing happen before your eyes.  We love you Chris and Becki, and we are so grateful that you have included us on this wild adventure. 

(pictures taken near Burg Nanstein, hiking before dinner at the Schloss Hotel )

I was not expecting to write this post this month.  Of course, I had not ever expected to be writing a post from this beautiful corner of the planet in the first place.  I serve a God of surprises, one after another.  And He has delivered a whopper in the last week. 

This summer I will be writing to you from another country. Again.  

Curious? Let me give you a hint.  What do all these things have in common:

(royals pic from Defence images)

Don't let my glasses throw you lol.  It was all I had of me lately.  And yes, I will be reporting from the beautiful British Isles come summer.  There had been hints over the past several weeks.  There was also potential new opportunity here locally.  We were just getting so ready to KNOW that we beseeched St. Joseph to join us in that intention last week. Amazingly, the day after the novena word came down on both fronts.  The opportunity here was definitely not to be, and a wonderful new door opened in England. 

 I have no idea what that will end up looking like.  We have been researching housing and have seen bright, open, gallery white spaces as well as stately old Miss Potter style homesteads.  Tudor copies to townhouses.  Remains to be seen what that will come down to in the end. My head is still spinning. 

For this Anglo-phile it is a dream come true.  I was a charter subscriber to Victoria Magazine and still own every one of them.  While my high school friends were caught up with Madonna, and long before people had personal computers, I was enthralled with biographies of old English royalty.  There are books on chintz and china, lace and needlepoint on my bookshelves.  I have never even needlepoint-ed. (is that a word?) My daughter and I have developed strong opinions on variations of black tea. I was born for this <g>

Still, I would be kidding you if I didn't say that rapturous joy over this prospect is the only emotion we have experienced.  I will be honest, when things are going well in my life I rarely rock the boat. In fact it would be more accurate to envision me huddled at the center – in my lifejacket – holding very, very still.  So it was a conscious act of faith to step out of that hull and consider that there might be even more opportunity and possibility someplace other than the pond on which I was floating.  Big leap of faith. 

The train of thought went like so…. This house is not particularly full of character, but for the first time in maybe ever, it works. What if the next one didn't?  We have good neighbors.  Even if it did take 18mo for the neighbor to speak to us on ground level. (ie instead of from her balcony, poised for a hasty retreat)  What if the new ones are awful?  I haven't had to use my GPS in recent months.  I was enjoying that.  I like knowing where the store is.  We found a dentist.  We have a groove.  

What if….??

Let me tell you, you can 'what if' until you can barely breathe, which is why my dear Gram did not approve of 'what if' in the least.  And that knowledge brought me up short with this 'what if'  instead –  What if God knows all these things.  What if He knows the plans He has made for me, plans to bless and not to curse.  What if I just step out in trustful surrender and enjoy the ride?  Like I did two years ago…

It is in that spirit of adventure that will say goodbye to this tremendous valley and these great,  Grimm forests to say hello to cottage-lined lanes and the white cliffs of Dover. I will say goodbye to summer winefestivals and hello to high teas. I will say goodbye to yellow fields of rapeseed and hello to hills of heather. 

I hope you will join me. 

Meantime, you can expect chatter about home organization and moving a big clan like ours.  This isn't across town.  It is across a continent. Across a channel. We haven't even worked out the details there yet, but we will.  I am sorting through my pinterest pins and determining what has worked here and what could be done better next time. It is a fantastic challenge and I am truly enjoying it. 

There are more countries on the continent to see before the move and a lot more pictures to take yet too. It is going to be a busy year indeed. : )