Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Time

Time is funny. Sometimes you want nothing more than for it to hurry up, and sometimes you want it to slow down. It seems like the older I get, the faster it goes and as they say, time flies when you're having fun! When I look at my Facebook account - at pictures of friends I've known since elementary school and at pictures of friends I met in college, there's one thing we all have in common - we're all grown up. We're all "grownups" - people are married with kids and are working and are doing all the things grownups do. But even though I'm almost 30, "grownups" still seems like a term for old people - a term I have yet to grow into because I'm too young....or too stubborn.

Since moving to England from the US for my husbands 2 year job assignment, my days seem to float slowly by. While I appreciate not having to work, I have become....a housewife. Now, I have nothing against housewives or stay-at-home moms, please understand that. But I miss the routine of the work day. The smell of fresh coffee brewing in the morning, cuddling with my husband in bed wishing for five more minutes, then getting a little nudge from him signaling to hit the snooze button one more time; the dogs poking their cold wet noses on my bare arm telling me it's time to go potty. I miss my drive to work - the solemness of the calm before a busy work day; I miss interacting with clients and my boss, putting together presentations and the fulfillment I felt at the end of the day. It's funny how, when you're in the midst of a busy workweek, all you can do to get by is count down the days until the weekend. But now it's different. My routine is up to me and I make all the rules.

So what, you may ask, do I do with all my free time as a housewife? First of all, please know that I do not allow myself to be defined by this title. I use 'housewife' because well, 'Desperate Housewives' was already taken! Just kidding! Anyway, to better explain why this said title even exists goes back to when we first opened our bank account here in November. The options for my occupation on the bank form included the following: employed, unemployed, self-employed, and homemaker. I selected "homemaker" (also, "grownups" was not an option and just so you know, I still wouldn't have selected it if it were!). So for my own personal use, I chose to alter this 1950's term and went with the trendy"housewife" term instead and there you have it! But like I said, this title does not define me, it merely acts as a sort of title-holder until my real title emerges - someday. Titles I already hold: awesome wife, sweet daughter, great friend and sister, and upstanding person - hopefully everyone agrees! =) Back to my housewife-ly duties: Mondays: laundry and clean house from top to bottom, run 4 miles, plan what we're having for dinner; Tuesdays: run 4 miles, blog, plan our next adventure, plan what we're having for dinner; Wednesdays: Is it Wednesday!? I guess, I do more of the same; Thursday: repeat; Friday: repeat; Saturday and Sunday: It's Sarah and Dave time! Most of our weekends are spent traveling but on the rare occasion we aren't, we usually relax together, go for a bike ride, head to Costco to get groceries for the week - maybe Bed Bath and Beyond if there's time (from the movie Old School)! =)

During the day when Dave is at work, I sometimes reflect on our life - where we started and how far we've come. Four years of marriage has gone by in a blink. I think about my old job I left behind and wonder if they miss me, wonder if I made an impact there. I wonder what my family is doing - then glance at the clock and count backwards five hours. I imagine what they are probably doing at that very moment and wonder if they are thinking of me too. I also think about the future. I want to take advantage of all this free time and our proximity to Europe to travel so that when baby Anderson comes along one day, I can look back and tell him/her all about the adventures Dad and I had before he/she was born. I guess one could look at my free time as A) a waste or B) a gift. I am a cup-half-full type of girl so I of course choose B! It is a gift. I have this gift and I want to soak it up because one day soon, my life will again be consumed with work, husband, baby, dogs, family and friends. This quiet and uninhibited life that I live today will be nothing more than a faint and distant memory. My mind then goes back to family. Family is so important. My thoughts go to my Dad and Mom, my siblings, my grandparents, my In-Laws, extended family and friends. I wish we weren't so far away. I worry we're missing out on their lives and about the time missed not being with them and vice verse...and I hope everyone is okay and is happy.

I can't tell you how much more I appreciate my life and the people in it now that I've had a chance to take a step back out of the chaotic and stressful working world and really just take life in. When you're consumed with grownup things like working 40 - 50 hour weeks and you have bills to pay, and your AC needs to be repaired, and dogs to take to the vet - life has a way of getting in the way of living. I have come to realize how important time is and that people forget to appreciate it. They let their busy lives get in the way and they don't do or say the things they should because "there's always tomorrow." But there isn't always tomorrow. Quit being a grownup for one second or one hour - believe me, it's more fun that way - and enjoy your time.

The grownups term, like the temporary housewife term, will never define me - they serve as my reminder to not take life too seriously, to enjoy every second I am given, to continue to be humble and grateful for all that I have been blessed with, and to appreciate the people in my life and the experiences along the way.

Time is a gift. You decide how you want to spend it.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

My Dad



While on vacation a few weeks ago, I was lounging by the pool, reading my book and enjoying the beautiful day. I overheard a woman a few chairs down from me complaining to her girlfriend about her boyfriend and how there is no such thing as the "perfect man." Her friend aptly replied..."the only perfect man that exists is my dad." That really struck a chord in me. And I couldn't agree with her more.

I know everyone says their dad is the best dad, but my dad really is THE BEST Dad in the entire world. He's the guy that everyone wants to know and everyone wishes they were like. He can do anything. He plays the bagpipes; he sails; he trained for and ran the Mini-Marathon - multiple times; he buys my mom flowers every Friday, just because; he's a golfer; if you need advice - call my Dad; he's a wine enthusiast; you want to hear a joke - he's got jokes; if something is broken - he can fix it; he can mow his lawn like nobody's business; basically, he's Superman without the cape (I swear, and he even has a Superman t-shirt to prove it).

I can remember my dad always encouraging me and my siblings to do our best and to be our best. "Character," he would say "is doing the right thing when no one is watching." That can be applied to every situation in life, and I always strive to live by that.

My Dad is a great motivator. Growing up, my siblings and I always regarded him as our biggest fan and supporter. In soccer, he and I always used to have this ritual we'd do before every game - I'm not sure how or even when it started, but right before kick off, I would run up to him and we'd both give each other the thumbs-up sign and then mash our thumbs together - sort of like a high five but with thumbs. It was our little thing, and I always looked forward to it. In college, l went to an out of state school and continued to play soccer. It was tough being far from home, and even tougher during soccer games knowing my parents wouldn't be in the bleachers to cheer me on. In his absence, Dad would mail - not email, but mail - me quotes or sayings of encouragement. I would get these about four to five times a month. The quotes ranged from motivational to inspirational, to life lessons. I was always so excited when I would open my mailbox and see his letters....I kept every single one.

If you know my Dad, you know he has a soft side and a weakness for movies like 'Rudy,' his daughters' weddings and well.....us kids in general. After I completed my semester abroad in Scotland, my Dad and brother came to visit me. Dad took us to Ireland for a few days to visit Dublin, Cork, Kinsale, Blarney and Dungarven. While in Dungarven - a sleepy little coastal village - we were enjoying some pints at this little pub overlooking the Irish Sea. Dad had just completed the Mini-Marathon a month before and he was telling us all about it. He was on mile 9 and he was starting to get tired, every joint in his body ached and he felt like he couldn't go any further. Then, out of nowhere, this guy came up from behind him. Dad said this guy was just running along, breathing normally, like he hadn't already ran 9 miles. He nonchalantly said to my Dad, "We're almost there, keep going!" At this point in the story, my Dad's voice began to get shaky and his chin began to quiver. He had a few tears coming down his face. He said that it was because of those encouraging words from this perfect stranger that inspired him to keep going. Dad kept up with him for another mile or so and then noticed he was gone - thinking he must have fallen back a bit. Dad completed the 13.1 miles and as he crossed the finish line he looked around to find this guy and thank him and tell him good job. But he was nowhere to be found. Dad is sure that this man was his guardian angel. It is because of him and his words of encouragement that Dad got his second wind and finished. The motivator became the motivatee. This story is the epitome of who my dad is - sensitive and strong, humble and grateful.

Dad had little nicknames for us growing up. My brother Andy was 'Sport,' I was his 'Princess,' my sister Amy was 'Champ,' and my other sister Carolyn was 'Babycakes.' Each of our nicknames described each of us perfectly. It was as if Dad took as much care in inventing these names for us as he and my mom did the day we were born. I love that he called me his little Princess.

So, I guess it's fitting.....I married my Prince Charming, but my Dad will always be my King. And no matter how old I am, I will always be his little Princess.

Dad's are special, but my Dad is the exception. He is, the perfect man.

Happy Father's Day!!


"My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me."
- Jim Valvano

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Camping, British Style!

Ever the adventurous types, Dave and I got out all of our camping gear and headed north to the Peak District - for those of you who have never heard of this part of England, it is a nationally protected park spanning 555 square miles. It has amazingly stunning views, walking trails, lots of wildlife and a fun fact for you: it's the second most visited national park in the world after Mount Fuji National Park in Japan!







After a bit of research, we found a little campsite located in Winster. I must preface the reason for the selection of the campsite we stayed at by saying that most British campsites cater only to "caravans" a.k.a RV's and/or they don't allow campfires. The campsite we found a) allowed tent camping and b) allowed campfires and also happened to be on the grounds of a pub called The Miners Standard. Oh, and to camp there, it only cost us £5 per person! =)

After we checked in and got our tent set up, we settled up with the owner of The Miners Standard and had a pint. We were excited as this was our first camping experience in England! Now I know what you're thinking...why would camping in England be any different or any more exciting than camping in the States...and I'll tell you - because we were camping in England!!!!! =) Plus the views were breathtaking. We were at the top of a ridge, at dusk, admiring our little campsite, the view and despite Dave's busy week at work, everything seemed so calm and peaceful.







Dave's a pro at grilling and not just the grilling part - as he'll tell you, it's an art just constructing the pit and starting the fire! This bit makes me smile because I can see a slight little grin begin to creep across his face in satisfaction as he builds the ultimate man fire! If Jered were here, there would have been an exchange of "roars" and the two would carry on like a bunch of cavemen! Meanwhile, Beth and I would be looking on with the "oh gees" face! We miss them...

Dinner was great - we grilled some smoked Italian sausages and cooked rice. We sat around the campfire and talked about anything and everything - of course home came up and we both missed it.

When it was time for bed, we got our tent all set up with our sleeping bags. For those of you who don't know, I am usually cold all the time! I'm pretty sure I wore almost every piece of clothing I own! I put on my thermal underwear, hiking pants, ski socks, under armor running shirt, a long sleeve shirt, my long sleeve zip up running shirt, my coat, hat and gloves. I think Dave only put on another long sleeve shirt and a hat - and I must add, I think he only wore his hat because he really likes it, not because he needed it!

About an hour later, I woke up freezing! I debated on waking Dave up and eventually...had to. After doing so, he knew immediately what was wrong and unzipped his sleeping bag. I climbed in and was immediately immersed in warmth! Dave has this un-human ability to create an abundant amount of body heat! An hour or so later, I could feel my right hip and leg start to ache from being immobile - there's not a ton of room to spare with two people scrunched in a made-for-one sleeping bag! So, I got out and climbed back into my sleeping bag and eventually fell asleep.

Despite not having the best nights sleep, we had a lot of fun!!

















Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Little Sister, Big New World



My little sister, Carolyn has been pursuing her Master's Degree in Interior Design from the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design over the past year. On Saturday, June 4th, she accomplished her goal and walked across the commencement stage, armed not only with her fresh new diploma, a distinguished new title to add to her resume, but also with a wealth of knowledge to take with her as she transitions into the real world - a Big New World. Already hired for her first job before she even graduated, my little sister has accomplished more than she allowed herself to think she ever could. Our whole family is so very, very proud and I hope she knows that.

Two great quotes for you:

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can't change. Kiss slowly, play hard, forgive quickly, take chances, give everything and have no regrets. Life's too short to be anything…but happy."
-Unknown

Carolyn - you have so much to offer and so much talent. Never sell yourself short and always, always believe in yourself. Never forget where you come from, what you have accomplished, what you have learned along the way and always use that as fuel as you continue on the path of YOU.

Congratulations and best of luck!

Love always,
Your Big Sis

Surprise care package from Lindsey!



Today was a normal day for us in the Anderson household...woke up at 6:00am, Dave showered while I got his lunch ready. By 6:30, he was ready for work and I walked him out, we kissed goodbye and I threw out dinner ideas before he drove away. I went back upstairs and got back to my iPhone game - Words with Friends! Dave and I are both soooo addicted, it's ridiculous! It's essentially Scrabble but on your iPhone. Anyway, you can play as many games at a time as you want and I'm currently playing Dave (of course), Beth Brent and Nathan Boyd! Since we're five hours ahead of everyone from home, I usually wake up to it being my turn since they most likely played their word while I was sleeping. So I made my plays, watched the BBC news for a bit, then popped in my contacts and washed my face. As I was getting ready to get my running gear on, the door bell rang! I was surprised, because it was 8:00am and I had no idea who it could be this early!

I run downstairs and peep through the peephole and see a man holding a big box. I open the door, get the usual, "Good morning miss - need your signature please" in a British accent, sign and he hands me the package and leaves with a friendly, "Cheers." I say thanks and close the door. I have no idea who this is from. I recall that my Mother-in-law mentioned the other day that she was sending some books to us from the States, and thought to myself, "well that was fast!"

I get upstairs and assess the box. I recognize the handwriting on the address section, but it's not my Mother-in-laws. Then I see the little return address label - it's from Lindsey and Brandon Harding!!!! Lindsey and Brandon visited us about a month ago for a week and I'm super excited yet curious to see what they could possibly be sending us!!

I ripped open the box like a kid on Christmas morning! Sorry Dave - I just couldn't wait! =)

Anyway, after ripping....I mean gently opening the box, there was a little envelope on top. It was the sweetest thank you card from Linds and Brandon. They had had a great time with us and wanted to thank us for hosting. I immediately got a little choked up - could be hormones (Aunt Flow is currently visiting), or just because I was THAT excited....but the latter is what I'm sticking with and it's always nice to be thought of. It was actually perfect timing because I've been feeling a bit homesick lately, and having a piece of home come to us here in England made me feel instantly better.

The contents of the box Lindsey sent over included: Jiff peanut butter which isn't sold over in the UK and I've been missing it! (By the way, she also brought me a jumbo size one when they came last month! The thing must weigh 5 pounds!) She also sent gummy bears - I know what you're thinking, why would a couple of 29 year olds eat gummy bears, but not gonna lie, we love the darn things! Linds also burned us a CD with all of the pictures they took on it! I'm so glad to have this so we can always look back and remember their trip out here. I'm going to hold off on getting them printed until we get back to the States only because I don't want to print them all off and have something happen to them when we move home next year.

She also sent us their leftover £'s and €'s! She instructed that the Euro's be used in Ireland when we go over to tour Dublin and the Guinness factory! I think we can manage that one! =)

And last but not least, she sent us a brand new set of sheets! It really is a funny story - when they were here last month, she had used a brand new face lotion and it had sort of bleached the pillow case she slept on. She was so upset about it and sent not just a pillow case, but a whole set - two pillow cases, a fitted sheet and a flat sheet! It's also funny because the sheet sets they sell in the UK don't come with a flat sheet. So the first night they spent the night, they asked where it was and I had to tell them that I thought it was weird too! Anyway, it was not a big deal and I feel bad she bought and sent a whole new set! LOVE the color by the way! =)

So, thank you Lindsey and Brandon, for making my week with the care package! We miss you!



Friday, June 3, 2011

Canary Islands - Part II

A last minute decision led to yet another outstanding vacation for us! Dave had a few days off from work because of the bank holiday and what better way to get away from the...well, lets face it...dreary UK weather, than to escape to somewhere warm and sunny! A month ago, we spent a week in Fuerteventura and have toyed with the idea to go back there....well, there and everywhere else in the EU for that matter! This time Italy was our top choice, however, all the flights were booked and the Canary Islands, although option #2, ended up becoming our destination.

We had a great time - I got to read my book - Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. If you like any of his books, you will definitely like this one just as much if not more! It was a fast read and I couldn't put it down! So, my days were spent poolside in the beautiful sunshine, while Dave spent his time getting in some more kiteboarding training with his instructor, Danny Seales on the beaches of Cotillo.

On the last day, I did go out with the two of them to see Dave in action! He's progressed so much in the few lessons he's had and I had to see it for myself! This girl = so proud! =)

Here are a few pics and videos I snapped! Enjoy!











As you can see, Dave got right up like a pro! Also, I am happy to report there were no repeats of last trips wipeout!! (I was nervous the whole time though - my poor fingernails can attest!)







While we had a great time and got in some R&R (well, I did at least...I think Dave's arm muscles are still burning!), there was an important holiday taking place in our absence. It was Memorial Weekend back in the States and we couldn't help but think back and reflect on all the great times and memories we've had with our families and friends...and we missed home. Our thoughts became filled with the endless barbecues, family get-to-gethers, boating, Dale Hollow Lake, the sound of bagpipes (yeah Dad!), the sites and sounds of the Indy 500, and of course of all the veterans who served, who fought and died for our great country and to those who continue to serve for our freedom. We feel very blessed to call ourselves Americans, and while the UK has been a great experience, our hearts are and will always be in the United States of America.