My flat is feeling more like home

I feel like I often am writing about transition. 

Probably because I am often in transition. 

I am praying that the move to the UK will be a staying place for a long time.

 Transition is wearying. But it continually teaches me to trust the Lord. 

And as I think of that, I am struck again by how the students I work with are in transition. The life has called me to at this point definitely helps me understand the people He has called me to work with. 

In transition there are definite stages. 

I am in the entry stages of learning my new culture. 

My flat is laid out differently than the one in Rome and differently than the two in Kandern, and differently than anywhere else I have lived. 

So I am adjusting, reimagining how to use spaces. The kitchen, living room, bathroom areas are feeling like home... that is progress. :-) Here are some photos. 

 Living space.. I love the green space behind my flat that I get to look at out my living area window

 A corner of my bedroom with the green chair I purchased 7 years ago in Germany at a flea market.

 A view into my bathroom. small but great.

 One side of my kitchen. There is a refrigerator and a freezer!  Praise the Lord! 

The shelves on the right I purchased about 5 years ago in Kandern. That piece has been so useful in different ways in different spaces!

 The other side of the kitchen.. looking over a parking lot then greenery. Pretty good. :-)

in my narrow hallway there was space for this little set up. My internet, one of the first art pieces I painted, a lovely new plant, and the phone you call me on when you call the US number I have. :-) 

The other spaces are coming together slowly.

I am learning...

I keep sitting down to write out my Musings for the month of May. 

But I am distracted and exhausted.

I am learning new routes, routines and rhythms.

It is good, but transition is always exhausting. 

I am walking anywhere from 2-5 miles a day getting from place to place. 

I am learning bus routes and train routes. 

I am learning a new university campus layout and new grocery stores. 

I am learning new words and old words.

I am meeting new people.

I am learning different cultural norms for everything from praying to greetings.

 Anytime I leave my flat to go anywhere, I walk by this scene. I love the name of the cul de sac and most times the blue mini cooper is also present.

Getting there...

As I am settling in... Some spaces feel finished.

catching up

I feel so behind on keeping up with communication these days. I have moved into my new place in Birmingham and I am getting things organised. I have been able to set up a bank account, establish a working mobile number and order internet service (to be installed this coming Monday).

I look forward to having internet at home so I can be in better communication with all of you. Internet at home means use of my US phone number, skype after work hours, updates on my blog, prayer requests, musings, etc...

I hope to send out an issue of Musings this coming week to catch you up. If you don't recieve my Monthly Musings, and you would like to, contact me and I will make sure you get them.

Thank you Tiana

For visiting...my first visitor!
For helping me unpack
For bringing my Danish Dough Whisk
For the lovely photos of Mt. Hood and LT
For sharing that great tea with me.
For the Cadbury World experience
For news from Oregon
For your encouraging words.

I appreciate you dear Tiana

May 1st

When I was a little girl, I remember making little boquets of flowers to put on the door steps of various people I knew for May Day. I loved that! A little bit of brightness for someone's day. I don't know if it mattered to the people who received the little boquets, but I loved it.

When I lived in Austria, the towns would each erect a May pole, with flowers and streamers. It brought back memories of days gone by when the young people of the town would dance around the maypole in celebration of spring and there would be a big party with all the townsfolk.

When I lived in Germany, I learned of the other side of the first of May. Labour day.
And in many countries over here, there are large demonstrations for fairness of labour, for increases of pay, for venting frustration and anger. Police gear up for what may happen in Berlin, Rome, Paris, London, Athens, etc...

I wish I could go back to when I was a child and thinking that the 1st of May meant flowers and spring. Instead I find myself with tears in my eyes as I read of the happenings in the world around this Labour Day.

But we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16