The Culpers

My 32nd Birthday!

2009-10-20T06:31:00.003-06:00

Autumn birthdays are the best! For years I've harboured this feeling that September birthday babies get the most attention. With the school year in full swing (yes, we still evolve around the school schedule!), there's a strong desire for community & folks are enthusiastic about getting together. Introduce a promise of yummy cakes, and you instantly have a party!

After a great day trekking in the English countryside, AJ surprised me with a delightful party in our big ol' college house. He's such a thoughtful hubby! Here are a few photos from the occasion. Thanks for making my birthday so special, AJ!

One of many yummy birthday treats!

Our housemates Diana & YB made an AWESOME shoe-shaped cake. It was fantastic!

Emma & I after lots of cake!

AJ's First Day of School!

2009-09-24T06:09:00.003-06:00

Hard to believe it's that time of year again...Happy First Day of School AJ (for the 24th time!)!

AJ says he's getting too old for these pictures...but with him soon to be in the full-time teaching industry, he has many, many first day photo routines to look forward to.

I'm so cruel.

We're Alive!

2009-09-17T08:49:00.003-06:00

Hiking Pen Y Fan, Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales

HELLO EVERYONE!

It's been ages since we've last posted, but we wanted to extend a big 'hello' your way! AJ & I have been enjoying life in England & keeping busy with work & fun adventures. Thanks for checking in! Hope to post a bit more frequently now.

Cheers!
Andrea (& AJ)

AJ's First Day of School!

2008-10-30T08:58:00.002-06:00

In keeping with tradition, I just had to take AJ's 'First Day of School' photo! Poor guy! I doubt he'll be free of this custom until he retires, since he plans to be in a school setting for years to come!

So here's AJ on the first day of his 23rd year of school!!

Andie's 31st Birthday!

2008-10-29T06:34:00.004-06:00

Hello Everyone!

A massive THANK YOU to so many friends and family who thought of me on my birthday! I received several lovely cards in the mail, countless emails, phone calls, and over 35 Facebook messages (you gotta love technology!). Thank you so much! I felt so loved!

My actual birthday was so nice! It started off with an early morning long run, followed by a trip to the doggie pound (I'm in doggie withdrawl!) where we got to walk a big, slobbery dog named Sylvester. His massive features make him look a bit scary, but he really was a (slimy) teddy bear! Hopefully the poor guy gets adopted soon. After the pound, AJ and I joined up with some friends for an authentic lunch at a lovely pub in Bristol, called the 'Dove Cote Inn'. We were amazed that it was built in the 16th century, which appeared to boast the same features of yesterday (low ceilings, old fireplaces, wooden beams). Can't wait to take family and friends there someday!

After a lovely afternoon walk, we headed to our friends Dave & Emma's house for a birthday celebration! I was greeted with a balloon tierra and butterfly (fairy?) wings, which Dave instructed me to wear the rest of the evening! Emma knows that I've been missing my recipe books, so she purchased several great cookbooks for me to use...I was thrilled! One of them is full of traditional (English) 'pudding' (a.k.a. desserts) recipes, which we've come to love!

Here's Emma and I (note I'm still wearing my crown)!

After pouring into my new books, I fluttered into the kitchen to find AJ secretly cooking my favorite meal, SPAGHETTI! Yum! Doesn't AJ look thrilled?! Ha.Ha.

To make my birthday complete, Emma baked an enormous, rich 'Mississippi Pie' in honor of our homeland (note the wings)! Ha.Ha. It was fabulous! I think we walked away 5lbs. heavier that night.

Thanks for the great birthday everyone!

12 Hours in Dublin!

2008-10-27T03:12:00.003-06:00

It's been such a joy working for an international company! Although our project managers are often the ones called upon to travel (Maldives, South Africa, Dubai, Romania, Turkey, Libya...yes, even Libya!), sometimes we little engineers get to go places, too! In mid-September my company sent me to Dublin for a project meeting, which I so calmly agreed to (I WAS JUMPING FOR JOY!)...so off I went! Unfortunately the journey was just 12 hours long, but I made the most of it and crammed in as much sight-seeing as possible on foot. Below are just a few things I encountered on my journey.

I couldn't resist taking a photo with a lepruchan!

My co-worker Allison and I followed the music down the cobblestone streets to find this fun Irish band. I loved the classical Irish tunes!

I was amazed that Trinity College was within walking distance!

Here's a photo of the original door at the entry of the College.

After power walking the streets of Dublin, we returned to the Dublin airport to find over 100 screaming school children with banners and balloons. The Irish para-Olympic team was just returning home from Beijing! I tried blending in with the crowd & joined in on the cheering games, waiting in anticipation for a glimpse of some pretty neat celebrities...but unfortunately their plane was a bit delayed, so I had to settle for a jog to get to my gate on time!

We Passed!

2008-10-24T09:00:00.002-06:00

AJ and I are pleased to announce that we are now holders of official U.K. Drivers Licenses! Hooray! (If you look closely, you will see that they're pink...AJ's favorite color!). So now, brave friends & family members can enjoy a delightful drive with us in the British countryside without the fear of running into hedge rows, a herd of sheep, or 3-wheeled milk trucks.

Dr. Quinn!

2008-10-24T08:59:00.004-06:00

Was anyone else enamoured with the series Dr. Quinn - Medicine Woman? I remember looking forward to experiencing the next adventure with Sully & Dr. Quinn! Well, my co-workers just informed me that THE Dr. Quinn (Jane Seymour) lives just 10 minutes east of here in a town called Bath. Now I can't wait to peruse the city streets looking for my childhood hero! (anyone want an autograph?!)

Exmouth

2008-10-20T05:01:00.008-06:00

Okay, so it's been a while. We know this and we repent. With that said, though, we're still going to keep this one ever so short. Sorry, but it's a taster.

This past Saturday we went to Exmouth. It's right below us as the crow flies, though it's also on the bottom coast of the island. The reason for our going is because, frankly, I wanted to fish for sea bass, which we can't do by Bristol (the wretched Severn river dumps too much mud in the water). So we went south. It's our new playground, as Exmouth offers a cute little sea town, trails, and fishing. You'll notice Andie's not in any of the pictures. This is because she was busy working on engineering stuff. She said she'd rather come along and work outside. So work she did while I brought home the bacon, or sea bass as it were.

Exmouth coast.

More coast.

Also coast.

My first sea bass! I got the little bugger out on a rocky finger at low tide. He was in shallow water feeding on crabs. After looking thoroughly professional and untangling an enormous line-mess made by the wind, I cast one of my new sea flies and--wham! Sea bass are supposed to be really good eating, so we're excited to try!

Camping in Wales!

2008-07-25T11:40:00.000-06:00

Hello Everyone! It's been ages since we've last updated the Blog...thank you for checking in!

AJ and I are BIG fans of our close neighbor Wales. It is a BEAUTIFUL country, and we're thankful for the opportunity to see some of its hidden treasures!

In early June, we set off on our first group camping trip to the Gower Peninsula with some lovely Trinity College friends. This area is absolutely stunning, and it's just a short 1.5 hours' drive from Bristol. :)

Here's a photo of some of our friends (we like to think we have friends). If you check our Blog on occasion, you may have become familiar with 'Big Dave' in the car. Such a jokester!

AJ and I on the beach, just before the tide rolled in. As you can see, AJ took advantage of the moment to fish!

A view of Rhossili beach from above. I was almost overwhelmed by the beauty!

Another view of Rhossili.

Ladies in blue! Here's Lauren and Emma, loving our weekend adventure!

After visiting the beach, we ventured out and walked along the rugged coastline. Here's a photo of the group having a picnic on the edge!

Here's another shot of the sea, looking west. Can you tell we're enamoured with the ocean?

I couldn't resist snapping a photo of the setting sun near our campsite.

If you're able, please come visit! We'd love to return to the Gower!

Speaking Horse to a Pony

2008-07-02T08:17:00.008-06:00

It seems the animals here don't like me. Normally, I'd think it was just a misunderstanding, but Andie's noticed it too. It began early in our time here, when on a hike I tried speaking Horse to a pony. 'Neehehe' I said to the little fellow. He ignored me, so I said it again a little louder. 'Neehehe.' Well, that little pony let out a slew of profanity like you've never heard. I'd rather not repeat it here, but it was to the effect of 'Don't you come talkin' your Horse-talk to me, boy. I ain't no horse, and I'm not having you talk to me like I was. Do it again and I'll come stamp on your face.' 'Alright, buddy,' I said, and we walked away to his cursing. Terrible little creature.

It wasn't long after that we met another pair of ponies. They were in a pasture we needed to cross to get to my trout stream and to continue to Andie's trail. Well, as you can see Andie was loving up on them. She kissed and petted their soft little muzzles, and they followed her around like ducklings. At one point I came up to Andie to give her the camera. The boy pony must've taken offense to me moving in on his women, so he bit me. Fast and sharp on the back of my arm, he nailed me. When I wheeled to see what the heck had just attacked me, he trotted away snorting. Evil beast.

Every now and again we babysit our housemates' ferret. His name is Koo-koo, and probably not by accident. Typically, we have the little weasel up to our flat and try to keep him from doing too much damage in the requisite exercise time. During this time, he runs around trying to pull over, pry open, and fit into everything that either contains food or stinks. Here read laundry basket, fridge, and garbage cans. He's usually successful. Sometimes he even leaves us a little poop-present in the corner. Well, this past weekend he was doing his thing but, for some reason, kept trying to climb up to our open windows. Being that we live on the fourth floor, I didn't think dear Koo-koo would survive the educational experience. So I kept shoeing him away from the windows. Eventually, I just closed the windows and locked him out of that room. Well, he was none too happy and showed it by raring up on his hind legs and hissing at me. I just ignored him and kept reading. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the demon ferret came flying from the side and attacked my leg. He bit me and ran off. Koo-koo and I have filed for separation on grounds of irreconcilable differences.

Doing What I Do

2008-06-10T02:30:00.006-06:00

People again have been asking what it is that I do on a daily basis. It's a fair enough question, considering UK PhD's look very different than US ones and, further, that nobody seems to know what a US PhD looks like anyway! So, upon the request of inquiring minds and of my wifey, I here divulge the mysterious and enthralling details of my daily life. Buckle up, it's going to get wild.

Observe me in my habitat. We PhD's are a rare and illusive species, as you can see by the picture. This is the library, where I do my work. It's empty, quiet, and cold, and probably the reason I got pneumonia. If you're looking for the training vicars, who make up the bulk of the college, you'll find them in the common room drinking tea. Perhaps I chose the wrong field.

Ah, how beautifully this passage speaks. Don't you think? Well, it actually says something like 'and these are the names of the sons of Israel...' The title of Exodus in Hebrew is 'And these are the names', which follows the protocol of naming books by their first two Hebrew words. Not too exciting. Of course, when it comes to Leviticus and Numbers, I think the Hebrew titles are a steep improvement: 'And he called to Moses' and 'In the wilderness'. You win some, you lose some. Either way, the point here is that this is the Hebrew text, which I read for an hour to begin each day (to keep my Hebrew-brain muscles big and strong).

And another fickle language: German. I'm currently spending a good deal of time learning German. After the hour of Hebrew, I spend a couple in basic German grammar. So why learn German? Good question, one that I ask myself at least two hours a day. If you ask my sister Summer, she'll tell you it's because I need to read ancient German manuscripts of the Old Testament. I like this explanation because it's mysterious and exciting. The problem is that it's entirely untrue. I actually have to learn German because a vast amount of scholarly material has been written in German. But why not read those things that are translated? Because only an itsy bit has been translated, most of which is not helpful for research. Those are the cold, boring facts about German.

Okay, so we're now 3 hours into my day and all we've done is study languages. Apparently this is normal. The rest of my workday is spent in reading and writing. I don't have a picture of my recent reading, so please imagine a few books on the psychology of memory. Yep, that's my most recent endeavor. Basically, my advisor Gordon has me do readings and then essays on particular areas, in hopes of turning some new stones. The reason I'm now reading in psychology of memory is because it might help frame my particular interest in memory and community formation. I really do think it's going to be valuable. Thus far it has been incredibly interesting as to how our memories work. Let's do an experiment: imagine two things, the first your most recent trip in the car and the second your earliest childhood memory. Searching, searching, searching...Got 'em? Okay. If you think about how you view those memories, you probably see the recent one through your own eyes and the older one from a bird's-eye persective (that is, you see yourself in the memory). Is this true? This is the tendency of remembering: we see old memories through an observer perspective and new ones through our own eyes. Interesting, isn't it?

At the end of the workday I go home and prepare dinner for my lovely wife. After that, I work on a whole variety of things, including preparing talks, completing job applications (for CCU!), or composing articles for either outdoors our academic journals. Anywho, I know this isn't nearly as exciting as our other posts, but felt it'd be good to do nonetheless. I promise more exciting posts are coming soon!

The Contest: Part II

2008-05-28T02:22:00.005-06:00

The contest officially ended yesterday, May 27. It was a long road, one full of blood, sweat, tears, and heartache. Memories were realized, memories were shattered. Lives were changed.

This is Jimmy, or at least it should've been. He failed to show for the judging. We do, however, have confirmation from an unnamed witness that as of Sunday, May 25 Jimmy was clean-shaven and defiant. He purportedly justified his actions saying, 'My wife was ashamed and we had dinner plans with friends. At least the other guys look like they actually have facial hair!' Very sad, Jimmy. Wide is the path to destruction, but narrow is the path to righteousness. Jimmy will soon be donning a new pair of skin patches where his eyebrows used to be.

Mr Cei, the Welshman, after a few days' growth. You'll remember that he shaved for his hot date and, according to sources, it went quite well. Cei is quoted as saying it was the most nerve-racking thing he's ever done. This is really saying something, considering he has run for parliment and had a kidney transplant! Also, it is widely agreed that he was right in thinking he could grow more in a week than Jimmy did in the month. Cei's penalty for shaving early is a full leg-waxing. It should be a real treat seeing those smooth and white Welsh legs.

Jon Swales, the northerner. Jon did quite well with his beardage, though you'll remember he was penalized for leaving his sideburns for the contest. His penalty has just been decided, and it's a good one. Firstly, though, we should consider some breaking news. Jon is a New Testament research student studying the ideas of N.T. Wright, a world renown scholar. Ironically, just yesterday at the contest's close he got word he'd been accepted to an elite gathering at Oxford this weekend, at which Dr Wright will be speaking. Now, we figure the gathering should be especially interesting considering Jon's contest penalty: perfectly shaving half his beard. That's right, directly below the nose a line will be drawn down his chin to his neck. From that line over his beard will be shaved, leaving him with one half of a beard. He and his half beard will be meeting Dr Wright this weekend. We've suggested Jon meet Dr Wright from the side.

Big Dave Brae. Dave also did well, though not well enough. He lost out at the end because nothing but his neck would grow hair. And a neck beard is no beard at all. Of course, there's been some controversy over the judging. Mr Daniel Lowery, the judge who is also an American, granted me the victory but Dave declared it was an unfair ruling due to Dan's 'obvious bias for Americans'. Dave suggested instead that we ask Vanessa Parr, a Brit. Ironic. All this said, though, nobody seems to be convinced by Mr Brae's appeal, and it's beginning to feel a little like Al Gore's litigation against the Florida voting system. Dave will be sporting a new pair of handlebar staches for the end of year celebration.

Ladies and gentlemen, your winner. Yes, I won the contest, a true milestone in my life and academic career. I'll be updating my resume soon with this new achievement. I'm expecting the book and made-for-T.V.-movie deals to start coming in soon. Of course, it's all overshadowed by the small fact that by the age of 20 my dad could grow a lumberjack beard.

The Contest!

2008-05-15T06:00:00.010-06:00

For reasons now lost in the past, several of us from Trinity College are in the midst of a beard-growing contest. It seems to me the contest arose from ongoing banter as to which of us, due to poor facial hair, would have the worst beard. Men being men, it wasn't enough to know we couldn't grow a beard; we had to show everybody it was true. And here we are: two weeks into a four-week contest.

Me, post shave.

Me at two weeks. Yes, the hair is ginger (as they say here), which apparently is a big insult. It cuts deep.

Jimmy our housemate at two weeks. Unfortunately, it's universally recognised that Jimmy is in last place. The price of losing is to shave the hair into a foo mustache and attend the end of year celebration. Now, some have suggested an ammendment because Jimmy has such little facial hair as to nullify the shame of the foo-stache. The ammendment would be shaving an eyebrow.

Cei, the Welsh Wonder, at two weeks. Cei has an interesting situation. After a long dating drought (28 years to be exact), he's landed one next week. The problem, of course, is the beardish growth on his face. As of today, he's leaning toward shaving and incurring the penalty of leg waxing. He figures he can still avoid losing the contest by growing more in the last week than Jimmy has in the month. It looks like it's getting ugly, people.

Dave at two weeks. Dave is currently one of the contest frontrunners, though he's also been oppressed because of his ginger hair.

Jon at two weeks. Jon currently has charges pending over alleged cheating for not shaving his sideburns for the contest. The penalty would be loss of an eyebrow in addition to the foo-stache.

Me at two weeks. Though the picture doesn't show it well, I've actually had relative success with the beard. In fact, I might be disqualified if proven I had full knowledge prior the contest of beard-growing capability (which is the chief contest rule).

Please Spread the Word!

2008-05-01T08:27:00.002-06:00

A woman named Erin has a large & beautiful transracial family that now includes two preschoolers from Ethiopia who are HIV+. Below is a recent post on her blog. Please help spread the modern facts about HIV+ children. Things have drastically changed from what our generation was taught in sex eduation. Thank You!

Thanks to Janee for finding this!

******

Today I have heard from several different parents of HIV+ children who are facing negative reactions to their adoptions based on the stigma and ignorance surrounding HIV. It is extremely frustrating to me that in 2008 there is still so much unfounded fear caused by a lack of education, that results in nasty, ugly and mean treatment of people who are HIV+ and their families.

The reason people in the U.S. are not educated about HIV is that most people don't care, because most people in this country are not affected by it. People still see it as the problem of homosexuals, drug users and people in Africa. The reality is, HIV/AIDS is everyone's problem. It is a devastating problem in Africa and many countries, but there are many, many Americans living with this disease as well. In fact, new cases of HIV in the U.S. are now being seen in the largest numbers in heterosexual women. HIV/AIDS is a HUMAN problem.

Living with this nasty disease is hard enough, but compounding that with the misguided fear and judgment of society is beyond tragic, and as the mom of two HIV+ children, it is sad and frustrating.

So, if you are one of the many who check in to this blog every day, I am asking you to do me a favor. I want you to tell at least two people about HIV. Spread the word that...

- HIV can NOT be spread through causal/household contact. HIV is not spread through hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing toys, sneezing, coughing, sharing food, sharing drinks, bathing, swimming or any other causal way. It has been proven that HIV and AIDS can only be spread through sexual contact, birth, breastfeeding and blood to blood contact (such as sharing needles).

- HIV is now considered a chronic but manageable disease. With treatment, people who are HIV+ can live indefinitely without developing AIDS and can live long and full lives.

- People who are HIV+ deserve to be treated with love, respect, support and acceptance as all people do.

If anyone wants more info on transmission, there is great info on the Center for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/transmission.htm

Help me spread the truth about HIV, and take a tiny stab at the stigma against HIV. Tell your friend when you talk on the phone. Tell your spouse. Tell your parents. Post it on your blog and ask other people to tell their readers. Ask them to pass it on as well. I would love to see this spread beyond the adoption blogs.

Even if you have no real interest in HIV/AIDS, even if you are not involved in adoption, even if you don't think you know anyone who is HIV+... education and knowledge are always a good thing. It is so easy to say to someone, "hey, guess what I learned today?" and it is even easier to put it on a blog or in an email.

Do it for me. Do it for the other adoptive families and the HIV+ orphans that are waiting for homes. Do it for Belane and Solomon. Do it for all of the other people on this planet living with HIV. If everyone that reads this blog tells at least two people, that is a whole bunch of people we can reach and a little bit of difference we can make.

Easter in Cornwall!

2008-03-31T03:29:00.024-06:00

A view over the lake on Bodmin Moor. We'd planned to camp here, but the wind and rain convinced us to keep going south. We later learned that this moor has played host to settlements of people throughout time, beginning back in the Stone Age and serving as a center for trade of stone axe heads! Also interesting is that near this lake is The Jamaica Inn, a famous establishment which featured in Daphne du Maurier's classic book by the same name. Entirely by coincedence, of course, this Jamaica Inn is where fishing licenses are sold for the moor.

This here is Land's End, literally. It's the furthest most point of England in the south west. Above are the eateries and other things that we humans clutter across special places. The first picture was taken, I think, because Land's End clothing is a company from Andie's home area. Some of her family has worked in the one there, but not in the one pictured here.

We appreciated the sign. Without it we may have been caught unaware that these towering jagged cliffs were dangerous.

More cliffs. These too are dangerous, we were told, though there was no sign.

Andie talking to Momma Honsch, whose family originated in Cornwall. We don't know for sure, but rumor has it that they immigrated to escape the dangerous cliffs.

Notice my shadow in the lower right corner. This is the second time I've seen it here in England.

As the sign says, this young lad is soon celebrating his 1500th birthday. Please send letters, he doesn't use the internet.

Since most of our trip was spent driving, this is the only thing that kept us sane: BBC Cornwall Radio.

Yep, that's where we were: Falmouth.

Me.

Truro, the capital of Cornwall, and its towering cathederal. We went to Easter service there.

Andie as a Cornish lady. Rather full in figure, don't you think?

Me as a Cornish lady, trying to put out the vibe for a strapping miner man.

Me, the solemn miner man.

Just short of heaven: scones, cream, and tea.

A treat: Looking out the window of the B&B our last night in Cornwall.

Andie celebrating the end of her Lenten fast from chocolate.

An Exmoor pony. This is a native breed of pony that has lived wild on Exmoor for a very long time. Exmoor, by the way, is a national park just an hour or so from us. It's incredible.

"Unique" Signs in England, Part II

2008-03-11T03:15:00.006-06:00

Thank you for following our blog! We're hoping we can infuse some energy in our rather infrequent posts...thank you for your patience!

Here are a few more signs that are bound to make you ponder and smile!

The Bull sign. This would've been very helpful had we not seen it upon EXITING the pasture it belonged to!

In Exmouth, on the southern coast, this "Hate Rubbish" sign is a common feature along the beachfront. I think it speaks for itself. (I'm still laughing!)

My personal favorite...the common "weak bridge" sign! This definitely makes you wonder...should I or shouldn't I?! Ha.Ha. You man notice the Welsh translation above!

Becoming British: Part I

2008-03-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

This is the first part of a series on becoming British, that is, on acquiring the true markers of the Brits, so to live amongst them incognito. This first part has to do with the defining element of life here: one's football (soccer) team.

Aston Villa shield: the Lion, Rarr.

After much reflection and fasting, I've decided to support Aston Villa. That's right, I'm now what they call a 'Villan'. The reasons are simple. One: Villa is an old team, one of the founding twelve of 1888. Two: they're close to us, just a couple hours' drive away in Birmingham. Three: they're manager, Martin O'Neil, is a good coach and a neat guy. And four: they're good, darned good.

Villa Park in 1948, 70 years after the team was founded.

What this means in practice is that I'm now opposed to our arch rival, Birmingham City. When this name is mentioned, I become visibly angry and say bad things about them, really bad things--about their mothers, their breeding, and of course about their working-class accent. But our rivalry, I'm told, is not as bad as with other teams, so I don't stab, shoot, or generally maim them.

My guys doing their thing.

What Have We Been Up To?

2008-03-06T02:26:00.005-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Boy, it's been too long since we've tried being organized and kept our blog up to date! I have so many photos and stories to post! We want to thank you all for checking this site on occasion, looking for updates! Hopefully we can remedy our "blogless symptoms"! I thought I'd jot down a few fun things we've been doing these days!

1. Driving! - AJ and I acquired a fun, little Citroen AX car and been having a blast with our newfound freedom! Not to disappoint the Colorado blood that now runs through us, I often demand at least one good "walk" a weekend. AJ found a great book on walks around the Bristol area, ranging from 5 miles to 25 miles. We've tackled about 8 so far...and we have been inspired by the England countryside! If any friends or family make it here for a visit, no doubt we'll want to drag you along on one of these ventures!

2. Fly-Tying! - AJ just joined the local fly-tying guild that meets on Wednesday nights. He tells me that he is one of the youngest attendees! It's a known fact that fly-fishing is an "older man's" sport here. Ahhh well! An early start is never harmful, I suppose!

3. Running! - Okay, I must admit...I am having a BLAST here! I joined the Great Western Runners days after we arrived here, and I just can't get enough. If I can explain, the enthusiasm for running here seems to surpass even that in Colorado...which is a BOLD statement! It's incredible! Folks are very serious about their running. Formal practice is available almost every day of the week, if you're up for it and every weekend has between 3 to 10 available races in the area. The cross country season just ended, with the last race this past Saturday here in Bristol at Blaise Castle. It was awesome! I think I scared AJ when I appeared to be in "La La Land" at the finish. It was a little warmer outside, I think. Ahh well, it was a successful race! AJ and I have our eyes set on the Brisol 10k coming up and then the Welsh Castle Relay in June! Lots of fun!

4. School/Work! - Nothing too exciting to report on this front, except good progress and good work, I suppose! AJ is flourishing under his "mentorship" program here at Trinity College. He's made a permanent home down in the basement of the college library and even has "his seat". Next year's freshman ought to beware...they better not sit in his spot! Ha.Ha. Work is going great for me, too! They give me so much responsibility that it's almost scary! I had a blast working on a hydraulic modelling job and was even summoned for meeting with the client in Glasgow & Edinburgh, Scotland! Boy, I was enamored with the sites, the accent (way strong!), and the scenery!

5. Church! - AJ and I are truly enjoying our Bible Study that meets every Thursday. Contrary to our experience with Honeymooners at Little Bible Chapel, we are about half the age of the next youngest attendees! Ha.Ha. There is great wisdom to gain from that, for sure! We've learned a lot and have enjoyed the engaging conversations and study.

I suppose I should sign off here and attend to my responsibilities here at work! Thanks for reading and we hope to be in touch sooner than later!

AJ & Andie

P.S. We're looking forward to our grand U.S. adventure in mid-April! We'll be in CO from Wed. April 16th - Fri. April 20th and WI from Thu. April 3rd - Fri. April 11th. Cheers!

Tea!

2008-02-05T01:59:00.000-07:00

Did I ever mention how much the English LOVE their tea? Ha.Ha. AJ and I have to admit that we’ve jumped on the bandwagon, too! I usually end the day consuming at least 4 mugs of tea at work. As feared, my teeth are not as pearly white as they used to be! Ughh!

Last December, AJ and I helped move our dear, newly married friends Dave and Emma into their first home. Before work could begin, an electric kettle was found in the stash to brew some tea! Here’s Dave, Eddy, and Jimmy taking a break after moving the couches!

Not to be outdone, here we are with my mug. As you can see, AJ is pondering the joys of tea…

Bridgend Cross Country Race!

2008-02-04T01:52:00.000-07:00

Running has been a BLAST here in England! When the running club I joined in September invited me to run on their cross country team for the season, I was thrilled! So far, I’ve participated in five races, with locations ranging from Wales to Exmouth (south coast). Supposedly, cross country is a “winter” sport here in England, and with that comes MUD!

In one particular race (Bridgend, Wales), the mud was so thick and so sloppy that it was almost a joke! (It didn’t help that I left my running spikes in the U.S.!) I wish I had carried my camera during the race to document the adventure! We were greeted with frosty, gusty winds at the start, then a downpour of rain for most of the race, with pelting hail greeting us at the finish! Whoa, that stuff is painful! We did capture a few photos minutes after the race…great memories!

Here’s Cat, Lucy, and I! How did they manage to stay so clean?!? Ha.Ha.

My shoes were only 1 month old prior to the race…sparkly white, no more!

Here’s 67 year old Audrey racing home to the finish! What an inspiration!

A close-up of the backside damage! Yikes!

The frigid streams made for a great make-shift shower for scores of runners like me! Brrrrr!!

Here’s a picture of the start of the men’s race…check out that mud!

I have to say that joining Great Western Runners has been one of the best experiences of my time here in England! I always look forward to the hard Wednesday night runs and the racing adventures! There are just too many memories to describe! Coach Antczak would be proud to hear that I am signed up to run the 10th leg of the “Welsh Castle Relay” race this June! The two-day race starts on the northern border of Wales and ends at the Cardiff Castle in the south! I’d like to think of it as an affordable way to see all of Wales! Ha.Ha.

Amusing Signs!

2008-02-01T02:04:00.000-07:00

Living in England has been amusing these past 5 months! From 80's fashions and high boots, to narrow roads (so narrow you have to pull over for others to go by!), tiny refrigerators, uniformed children (even toddlers!), to different names for things (for instance, what we call “bangs” for hair, they call “fringe”, and what we call "desserts", they call "puddings"). Our cultural differences are always a topic of comical discussion! AJ was inspired to have a dedicated blog segment to some of the funny signs hanging around. We’ve captured a few on film for your amusement!

A common sign posted on electrical stations…no room for imagination on this one!

The company I work for has had a number of break-ins this past fall. In an effort to ward off potential thieves, a manager decided to post 20 of these signs around the building to scare them off! The problem is that it’s obvious our building sits on a tight piece of land…where would these (friendly) dogs be hiding? Hmmmm….

I thought this was kind of cute!

You will find this hilarious sign in parks around Bristol. AJ thought the doggie looked ferocious!

Our personal favorite! Can you believe this one? Would you be insulted if you were elderly?! Wow!

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY AJ!

2008-01-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

A HUGE THANK YOU to all our friends and family who remembered AJ's birthday on December 20th, whether by email, post, or by phone! He absolutely LOVED hearing from you all! It was especially treasured because he spent his birthday (AND Christmas AND New Year's) sick with the flu, and later pneumonia. Yuck! It's been a tough two weeks for him. Hopefully he'll be up and running here soon (literally)!

I came home from work on my lunch hour and found AJ like this on his birthday! This is just before the full-force of the flu/pneumonia kicked in.

You may recognize the book in his hand...Harry Potter, Book 7! AJ "discovered" the joys of the Harry Potter series and ripped through all 7 books in less than 2 months. He was so thankful that he didn't have to wait a year between books, like our dear friends Aaron & Ellie!

Our Baby Niece Natalie!

2007-12-19T02:22:00.000-07:00

In August, AJ and I became an Uncle/Aunt to little Natalie Marie Humbert! She is a doll! AJ's younger sister Dani Jo and her husband Daniel live in Oshkosh, and are sweet to send us pictures on occasion! We wanted to share some with you today! Enjoy!
Sweet little Natalie!

Daniel, Dani Jo & Natalie in October.

Mama and baby!

English Automobiles!

2007-12-18T14:57:00.000-07:00

Ever since we moved here, AJ and I have been fascinated by all of the funny, little vehicles driven around! They're hilarious! We've been trying to take pictures of some of them along the way so that you, too, can share a laugh. The standard vehicle size seems to be something on the line of a mini-Cooper! Can you imagine a family of 5 on a long road trip in one of those things?! Ha.Ha.

There are so many more car types I wish I could share...hopefully I'll remember to take more pictures along the way!

The "Smart" Car!...so cute, you want to pinch it's little bumper! Ha.Ha. These little guys can parallel park in a standard parking space!

Not your typical car...but on one sunny day, AJ saw a Lambourghini, a Porche, and 2 Ferrari's!

One of the many ice cream trucks in Bristol!

Is this a mini-mini-Cooper?

This van was parked outside of our house. It is super skinny, and kind of reminds me of Bart Simpson. Ha.Ha.

I'm not sure what kind of "truck" this is...it is TINY! I think it sits permanently at this spot next to the grocery store...so if you ever come to visit, you'll get to see it for yourself!

The Friends Who Clothe Me!

2007-12-14T02:09:00.000-07:00

Hello There!

I've been meaning to comment for weeks now on how often I think of our Colorado friends...especially when it comes time to go to work! I've come to realize that my entire wardrobe consists of clothes that my friends have shared with me! Here's a little snippet of this week's selection:

Today: jeans & blue sweater top (both from Heather!)
Thursday: trousers (Valerie), top (Heather), grey vest (Janee)
Wednesday: pink sweater (Sabrina), trousers (Valerie)
Tuesday: skirt (Bethany)
Monday: olive jacket (Sabrina), trousers (Valerie)
Running: everything from Heather...minus the socks! :)

Thank you ladies!

Prayer for Brayan

2007-12-07T02:09:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

I wanted to draw your attention to our dear friends Tony & Julie Bolos's blog (link on right). Tony & Julie are currently in Arequipa, Peru caring for children at an orphanage Tony's parents began years ago. AJ and I are so encouraged by the work they do...from loving the children to teaching them lifeskills and Christ's love...THANK YOU Tony & Julie for your investment and care!

On November 30th, Julie wrote an entry about a little boy Brayan who just arrived at the orphanage who's endured harsh, harsh reality in his 11 young years. Could you please read this entry entitled, "Cry out to Jesus" and lift up Brayan in your prayers?

Thank you!

P.S. Today is the 66th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor...

Car for Culp's!

2007-12-06T03:41:00.000-07:00

Isn't she a beauty!?! That, my friends, is a 1992 Citroen AX...very tiny, cute, and very British!

AJ and I have much to be thankful for...and in recent days blessings have quadrupled! AJ and I are overjoyed to finally be planting roots at our church Woodlands Christian Centre, partly due to joining a Home Group (relative to a Honeymooner's...this time we're the younger ones! Ha.Ha.). At our first meeting last week, we met a bubbly lady named Hannah. Our first moments with her went something like this: "Hi! My name is Hannah...are you new here? Do you need a car?" It was hilarious!

Since then, we've been praying about this new-found blessing. Wow, us, with a car, in England? We never envisioned such a thing since being here and have been content with walking and biking (though today, for the second time this week, we both arrived to school/work completely soaked from the pouring morning rains! Gotta love England!). We have been happily planning our weekly hiking trips based on train & bus routes and schedules...so the need for a car was non-existent. However, ever since Hannah planted this in our thoughts...there have been visions of roadtrips, seaside trips, visits to obscure places, and camping trips...and possibly airport runs! (hint, hint).

So, this Tuesday, after much prayer, budgeting, and brainstorming, we accepted Hannah's offer. Our next challenge is...how on earth do we get it back to our apartment?! Ha.Ha. (AJ and I are going to have to practice driving at midnight in a parking lot somewhere!)

Cheers!

Cross Country!

2007-11-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

I am overjoyed to be able to still compete in cross country races! (AJ's thrilled that I have this "outlet" too! Ha.Ha.) It's been a good 6 years since I've strapped on the ol' racing shoes...but now they're coming back out! This past Sunday, we competed in the 2nd race of the Gwent Cross Country League series at the University of Bath. It was AWESOME! I am just fascinated with racing here! Typically in the States, cross country races tend to include high school and university-aged folks. Here, however, cross country is encouraged at an early age (13) and continues through the ages (see pictures below!). Our 6k race included ladies 20 years and older...including many college runners. It was fast, somewhat flat, and included "land mines" galore (a.k.a. cow pies!). Ha.Ha.

Hope you enjoy the photos!! Can't wait for the next race on December 2nd in Bridgend, Wales!

Here's the ladies team just after the race! Go Great Western runners! Did I mention that the majority of our teammates are over the age of 55?!! Audrey (on my left) is 67!! Go Grandma! She's a sweetheart and a super-funny lady!

The University of Bath campus sign welcomed our team!

Here's Arthur, competing on the men's team! You may notice that there's a "great range" in age of male running participants, too! (hee.hee)

Here's Audrey and her husband Chris after the race! Chris took some great race photos. He even got one of me surrounded by 50+ aged ladies during the race! Phew...there are some tough ladies out there! I'm pleased to say my teammate Hollie (age 20) and I got 31st and 29th place, respectively, which boosted the team score! Our teammates were so proud of us! :)

Until next time!

Costco vs. Small Refrigerators!

2007-11-15T02:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our wonderful Colorado friends (the Crowley's, Pedersen's, and Pitzer's!), we were introduced to the wonderful world of Costco - the land of large quantities and yummy things! Often times, AJ and I miss the joys of buying 4lbs of peeled garlic, 15lbs bags of grapefruit, and 2.5lbs bags of spinach in one fell swoop! Not to mention a 12lbs hunk of cheese and a loaf of bread large enough to fill your refrigerator! Look, I still have my card!
However, I must admit how much money we're saving on food here in England...and it's not because we're eating ramen, carrots, and parsnips! It's pure and simple...using a small refrigerator! AJ and I used to joke about our "little guy", but now we're thankful for the lack of space! It would be impossible to freeze a 4lbs bag of chicken (note: our freezer is the size of an ice cube tray holder!) or house a 3lbs tub of sour cream (it's known as "soured cream" here and is sold in tiny yogurt-sized containers). As you can see below, our little guy is stuffed to the max and is well loved! Ha.Ha.Ohh..and another money saving idea is having to walk 1.5 miles with groceries! It really cuts down on overbuying! Ha.Ha. AJ and I miss the luxury of overeating Costco things...but are enjoying the savings! :)

Note: There is a Costco store at the edge of town...what I want to know is, how do the English manage?!! Ha.Ha.

Hedgehog Rescue!

2007-11-14T05:30:00.000-07:00

Who can resist this little guy?! My co-worker just informed me that the Hedgehog Rescue in town is searching for foster care-givers over the winter months for their little "chappies". Unfortunately there are too many of them for the volunteer staff...thus they're going into premature hibernation. I tried to "work my angle" by giving a sound argument for being a hedgehog foster care-giver, but was reminded that our property manager won't allow for it. Darn rules! Can you imagine us with these little guys?! So scrumptuous!!

What I Do

2007-11-02T02:49:00.000-06:00

Enough people have asked about my studies that I'm beginning to think it's more than mere politeness! So here are some bits about my life as a PhD student. Regarding routine, I try to keep things quite regimented. At least 8 hours a day are spent in the library. The basic breakdown is like this: 1 hour doing Hebrew reading, 3 hours doing research--lunch break--1 hour doing German, 2.5 hours researching, and some more Hebrew to finish the day.

Concerning the research itself, I'm looking at remembrance in Deuteronomy. You will see by looking at Deuteronomy that remembering has a lot to do with how the people behave. In fact, the books following Deuteronomy record the distaster of when the people don't remember the Lord and his ways. So, anywho, right now I'm studying exactly what 'remember' in Hebrew means. The tool I'm using for this is modern linguistics. People often want to know why I don't 'just study the Bible and not mess with frilly-dilly ideas such as linguistics.' A fair question. The simple truth is this: Linguistics is the study of human language. The Bible is written in human language. Therefore, linguistics can greatly aid our interpretation of the Bible. Anywho, that's a little about my studies.

Here's where AJ sits! (posted by Andrea)

If you're sneaky enough...you can hide behind bookshelves and scare Mr. AJ!

AJ on Sunday Mornings

2007-10-30T15:09:00.000-06:00

AJ is such a goof! I thought I'd share some of the fun moments of this past Sunday. Looks like we're not lacking in entertainment at our house!

At one point before church our place got quiet...so I peeked around the corner to find AJ sitting on the couch "researching" fly-fishing in a manly fashion!

Practicing his balancing moves just after breakfast!

AJ found a big leaf near our home and wanted everyone to see!

Reenacting Adam in the garden! Hee.Hee.

THANK YOU AUNTIE GINNY!!

2007-10-30T15:02:00.000-06:00

It all started with an early morning doorbell...that only means one thing in our household...a package has arrived!!! I ran down the stairs of our 3 story house, flung open the door and there was a Mr. Royal Mail guy with a big ol' box of goodies from Aunt Ginny!!! The mailman said he would be back to "take halve-sies" of our treats! Ha.Ha. The moment I brought the box back up to our flat, we tore it open to find pounds and pounds of our FAVORITE candies and bags of chocolate chips! AJ and I were sooooooooooooooooo excited!! THANK YOU AUNT GINNY!! You brought miles of smiles to our faces! Here's a picture to prove our happiness...AJ eating the fruits of our first batch of a true American classic...chocolate chip cookies!!! Mmmmmmmmm...

A Peculiar Thing!

2007-10-29T08:12:00.000-06:00

AJ and I are just fascinated with folks running here! We live adjacent to a big park (approximately 4 mile perimeter), which hosts hundreds of runners on a daily basis. What amazes us the most is their speed! Everyone seems to be running as if they're on the home stretch of a big race...it's crazy! For example, just this morning we saw a grandma sprinting! She was going so fast that we were RELIEVED that she was going the opposite direction! Seriously! And what's even more funny is what they wear. I have to admit that I think someone's a seasoned veteran when they dress "the part". Here, you'll see scores running in polo shirts, collared shirts, spandex (about 90% of the women wear spandex, I swear!), and the infamous 80's super hi-cut running shorts. These things provide ample entertainment on our morning runs!

You all have to come witness this peculiar thing!!

Missing Colorado!

2007-10-29T08:07:00.000-06:00

The sun is out today and it's so bright, cheerful, and inspiring. It makes me miss Colorado all the more!! AJ and I are thinking of you, our beloved CO friends!!!

Hoping to visit in March 2008!!

My First Day of Work!

2007-10-23T12:54:00.000-06:00

On Monday, I started working at Parsons Brinckerhoff! Just two days in, I'm beaming! I enjoy my co-workers, my environment, my responsibilities, and having the ability to walk there! Here are a few fun photos!

Here's a self-portrait on the way...I forgot to take my 'first day' photo in front of the door with my lunchbox! Ha.Ha.

This is a shot of Durdham Park Road, which is the road I take to the office...it's so nice not having to fight traffic. :)

Here's the building I work in! It's called the Queen Victoria House, which used to be a nunnery, I believe. The company conducts meetings and gatherings in the old chapel. Neat!

Here's the little company sign.

A view from our window! I work in a small room with 7 other engineers and scientists ranging in 2 years to 20 years experience. I LOVE this new work environment...where you can just shout a question across to your neighbor or tell a joke. I think the only hang-up is plowing through work if someone is on the phone....but it works well to plug your ears!

My computer hadn't arrived in time for my first day, so here I am working at a co-workers' desk (hopefully I can keep things tidy...I wouldn't want to lose anything in Jon's piles! Yikes! Ha.Ha.) Thanks for the fuzzy, pink sweater Sabrina!!

I was hoping to catch a shot of my co-workers...but they politely declined the opportunity today. Ela said she had a bit of a cold...maybe another time! It's interesting that in our little room, 3 out of the 7 are internationals! Michelle is from Quebec, Ela is from Poland, and there's me! Technically, Alasdair is originally from Scotland, which the English like to think as "foreign"...but we won't count him. Thanks for viewing!

Tea Question

2007-10-23T02:17:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was my first day of work at Parsons-Brinckerhoff! Yay! I'll have to post some pictures soon!

I've noticed that it is customary to take tea or coffee throughout the day. I was offered tea on 7 occasions by a little lady with a platter of mugs! Wow...they are serious about their tea here! My question is...do your teeth turn brown if you drink too much tea? Just curious!

A Nasty Cough...and a Remedy!

2007-10-23T01:44:00.000-06:00

For the past 5 days I've been having coughing attacks...with most of them occurring in the middle of the night, it seems. I've been spending most of those nights camping out on the living room floor. AJ and I thought we'd try to find a remedy...so off we went! The grocery store had slim pickin's...perhaps everyone else is suffering from the same thing! I grabbed something called "Soothers", which looked like cough drops (made by Halls), but later found out that they were for sore throats. Whoops! That would explain why they were so ineffective! At least they tasted okay (juicy centers with REAL fruit juice!) Ha.Ha. After that discovery, we set out again and went directly to Boots Pharmacy. After inquiring from one of the lady workers, we picked out a store brand cough syrup for dry coughs. What the package didn't say was that it tastes NASTY! If anyone has tried Marmite, you could appreciate it's flavor! It tastes like liquid Marmite with the essence of Black Licorice...not a good combination by any stretch of the imagination. Though it tastes disgusting (AJ almost gags at the thought of it!), it is somewhat effective, which is a relief!

Common Phrases & What NOT to Say!

2007-10-23T01:29:00.000-06:00

AJ and I have been royally entertained by common English phrases and by what not to say as Americans here (unfortunately, we speak from experience!). We thought we would start a blog pinpointing some of them so you can be well rehearsed, just in case you come for a visit! :)

(American phrase = English equivalent)

1. khaki pants = poopy underpants

2. do not say 'fanny pack' here! = "hip pack" is more appropriate

3. you're welcome = it's alright!

4. it's cold outside = it's really fresh

5. nice outfit = you look smart

6. cell phone = mobile

7. to add more = top-up

8. drawings = drawrings (this one's hilarious!)

Mountain Biking in Leigh Woods!

2007-10-22T14:36:00.000-06:00

AJ and I are so blessed that we live in an area with adventure at our fingertips! On Sunday after church, AJ and I set out to explore miles of groomed biking trails in Leigh Woods...it was a blast!

AJ trekking by!

A self-portrait...in action!

The trail eventually led down to the River Avon. It was a GORGEOUS fall day. Wish you all you were here!!

Beautiful Bath!

2007-10-22T13:33:00.000-06:00

WARNING...massive blog ahead! I have to apologize for all of you AJ-blogging fans...he was going to take the reins and add commentary to our adventure to Bath...but I spoiled the fun when I told him we should include 20+ pictures. So...you're left with another blog from Andrea!

AJ and I ventured to the beautiful little Roman-inspired town of Bath on Saturday. We are so excited to show this town to all who may wander our way! (We were thinking of you Pitzer's!) It's just a 11-minute train ride there! Amazing! We found a Borders bookstore in the Bristol city-center after church one weekend and found a great book of 30 area hikes around our city. One of the trips was a 8.5 mile trek around Bath and the surrounding countryside. We were inspired to give it a try. We hope you enjoy our photo journal of our day!

Here we are in Bath! Brrrr...it was super cold! We could see our breath for hours!

AJ standing next to one of the ancient wooden locks along the man-made canal...stretching from Bristol to London. This amazing engineering feat enabled industry to grow in the late 1700's.

Common features of the canal include canal boats. We were told that a sort of "indigenous" folk live on these boats, which range from old-timer "RV" type, well-to-do models, to run-down boats just keeping afloat.

Houses line part of the canal, giving it a little feel of Venice!

Another pretty shot of the home on the canal outside of Bath.

A saying we've been living by! ("Pudding" is equivalent to dessert!)

Here's Dave...a friendly retiree who moved to a river life with his wife..."now that the kids are out of the house!". He gave us a great history about the "River Folk" and learned that 18 kids were born on the boats in the area in the past couple of years! Wow!

A pretty shot of the embankment behind Dave's docked canal boat.

Here's a photo of the countryside along the canal path, just a couple of miles beyond Bath.

One of the villages the trail led us to was Bathampton Spa. Here's a shot of one of the local gathering spots!

At one point we spotted a little kitty on the trail. AJ stooped down to pet him, and he immediately made himself at home! He eventually crawled on AJ's neck and perched on his shoulder. Looks like he needed some love! (A man on a bicycle came by and said that one of the canal folks had lost their cat...and this little guy matched the description...phew!)

Eventually, the hiking route took us off the canal path and into a little village along the bank called Cleverton. Some of the buildings were constructed in the 15th century. Unbelievable!

AJ and I ascended a relatively large hill along the way and came upon a random American Museum. We didn't feel the need to check it out...maybe next time!

As the day progressed, we realized our hike took us to many random encounters! Just when we thought we were in the middle of the countryside, we came upon a bobsled training center. A couple steps later we found ourselves at the edge of the University of Bath property. I still think it was random! Ha.Ha.

At lunchtime, I made AJ stop for a pose!

Towards the end of the hike, we stumbled upon the "Sham Castle", which is just a small castle-like structure that a gentleman built to enhance the view of Bath from his cottage up the hill in 1792. Interesting!

Descending into Bath once again!

This was a hilarious attempt at getting a self-portrait of ourselves with Bath being the backdrop. Instead, we've made ourselves look like goomba's!

Once back in the city, the trek led us along the River Avon, where a boat trip came and docked. You can't tell in the picture...but the driver looked just like Steve Faulkner!!! To our Faulkner friends...we miss you guys!

A couple steps further we came across Bath's local rugby team stadium...sort of like the Packers or the Broncos are to us back home. It was a beautiful field!

With just 45 minutes before our train departure, AJ and I ran through the center of Bath to catch a glimpse of the area. Here's a photo of the The Abbey. It was beautiful! The day was so perfect...and it was so nice to see the sun!

As if to make our day of random encounters complete, we came across a sword-juggling, unicycling clown. His commentary was hilarious!

On our little journey home (11 minute train ride, an 18 minute bus ride, and a little walk), we saw a big ol' hot air balloon just over our heads!

Then it got closer...

And then it landed on the Downs! AJ couldn't wait to share this photo...notice how massive his hands are! Ha.Ha.

A Hike in Leigh Woods!

2007-10-22T13:13:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday after church, AJ and I ventured away from the city by foot and found ourselves deep in the beautiful woods across the river from where we live. What a blessing it is to walk just a bit and find solitude and a bit of country! Here are a couple of photos of our venturing...

In order to reach Leigh Woods, we have to cross the tall & beautiful (and often scary!) suspension bridge!

Here's me at the beginning of our 4.5 hour "hike"!

I admit I get a bit "snap-happy" and thought I'd share a picture of AJ by the fields!

A pretty little farm outside the Timberland hiking trail.

Here's the trail leading into the park.

A view of the field.

AJ on the trail!

When we circled back near the Clifton Suspension Bridge, there was a random miniature train with jolly riders! It was hilarious! I had to wave...luckily for me they waved back. So fun!

There are multitudes of hot air balloons here...so I snapped a photo of a balloon against the setting sun.

A view of the River Avon on the way back across the bridge. We've noticed that the river is quite lifeless...we figured it's due to the fact that it ebbs and flows with the tide.

Something New!

2007-10-18T15:39:00.000-06:00

Hear-ye, Hear-ye...the sun was out today!!! Wahoo!

Hay-On-Wye (Wales)

2007-10-18T13:59:00.000-06:00

Last weekend AJ and I jumped on the opportunity to travel to Hay-on-Wye (the town is called Hay and located on the Wye River) in Wales with our friends and visit our friend Ceiron's family on the way home. Though time with friends should be reason enough to hang out for the day, the underlying motivation for AJ was that the little village of Hay-on-Wye is famously known for having the largest used book population per capita in all of Europe...or something like that. So off we went!

Here's living proof of the adventure ahead!

AJ and I on the edge of the village.

A view from the car park (a.k.a. parking lot) on the edge of the village. So beautiful! Check out those grey skies! Ha.Ha.

Here's the group, computing the "plan of attack" for reaching the most book stores in the littlest of time! Ready, set, shop!

AJ checking out the classics!

The Honesty Book Shop...how neat! No doubt there are some treasures in there...some books are hundreds of years old!

After everyone was shopped out, we headed to Ceirion's family's home. We lovingly call him the Welsh Wonder...two seconds with this guy will get you in stitches! The Welsh accent is awesome!

On the way to Ceirion's home, we passed through Brecon Beacons National Park...it is gorgeous! We already have plans of doing a 14.5 mile hike along the ridge line of the beautiful "mountains" here! Hopefully next time the sun will show itself!

I thought this view from the backseat was pretty...this was just after a pass in the "mountains"...I recall it being just over 1,300 feet. Whoa...now that's a big mountain! Ha.Ha.

Here's Ceirion's family...what a neat family! They served us tea, cake, and biscuits. Yum, Yum!

AJ's Love of Tolkien

2007-10-18T03:44:00.000-06:00

Okay..this morning during breakfast AJ started strolling about our flat with a book in his hand, reciting something over and over. When I finally tuned in, I asked him what he was doing. He has this fascination over "The Lord of the Rings"...and he's decided to memorize the opening poem. Since then, he quizzes me on things written in the poem (probably to check to see if I'm listening), like "How many rings are there?"...after I said "One"...I again realized I wasn't listening. Ha.Ha. (The answer is 20, by the way!)

World Series Bound!

2007-10-16T04:35:00.001-06:00

CONGRATULATIONS COLORADO ROCKIES!!!

AJ and I are super excited that you made it to the World Series! It's been a blast following the season...we're just bummed we can't be there to celebrate with you all! To our beloved Colorado friends...HAVE FUN living the excitement!!!

GO ROCKIES!!

Weekend Away!

2007-10-13T13:31:00.000-06:00

Last weekend AJ and I joined 90 other Trinity College students and their families for a retreat in the Forest of Dean, located just outside of Wales. It was a beautiful retreat center, with free-ranging sheep just outside of the front gate...fuzzy little sheepies! The Forest of Dean contains miles and miles of walking paths, which makes you feel like you're in the Shire!

Smile AJ & Dave!

Here's little Elias from Denmark...modeling the latest fashion in rubber suits! Great for that rainy English weather!

Smile!...AJ's such a good sport!

One of the first activities we did as a group was an egg toss using a garbage bag, a piece of string, a tissue, and anything natural...with the goal being that your egg doesn't get smushed! Our group thought of attaching our little egg to a homemade parachute (our science teachers would be so proud!). As the English say...it was brilliant!

Here's our parachute about to take flight!

One of the families that came celebrated their anniversary at the retreat...and brought cake to share. What were they thinking handing it to AJ! Ha.Ha.

Here's little Bethany playing on a rugby ball...what a doll!

Philippa and I went for a hike for a couple of hours further into the Forest. I loved the tunnels of trees!

Philippa and me!

Along the hike, there were some random pieces of artwork...the stainglass piece near the end of the hike was definitely a highlight.

Being from the Dairy State...I couldn't resist holding 11 lbs. of yummy cheese!

AJ having a late night theological chat with friends Thomas and Lize...I was on my way to watch "Notting Hill"...Ha.Ha.

Lize and Elias enjoying a snack!

The ways of the English are learned early! Here's little Rebecca drinking tea with bread!

Rebecca insisted on sitting on AJ's lap during our little church service on Sunday morning. What a cute little bug!

On a walk, AJ spotted this little duckie bush!

Here's AJ helping to make his first ever custard for the pudding (dessert).

(I'm presently blogging during the England vs. France semi-final rugby match...I better pay attention (shame on me!)...especially since there's only 7 minutes left!...WAIT! England just scored...which means that if they can hold off France for 4.5 minutes, they're heading to the World Cup Final!!!)

CONGRATS ENLAND...you're heading to the World Cup Finals!!

Game Night!

2007-10-11T15:02:00.001-06:00

Our friends were itching for a game night...and anytime I hear there's a game night, I'M THERE! (and AJ comes along, too!) Ha.Ha. Catherine introduced us to Planet Hollywood...which was quite amusing playing with English folks! Here are a couple of photos from our super fun evening!

The guys team!

Some of the ladies' team!

Here's a shot of Philippa and me!

After lots of laughs, great answers and bad answers...I'm sad to say the guys won. Boo Hoo.

An October Walk

2007-10-11T14:49:00.000-06:00

On my way to the College (from our flat), we have the privilege of walking through a large beautiful park called The Downs. I snapped a few photos on the way to share with you all! The day was so lovely and inspiring...I could've walked for hours...on second thought, I think I did walk for hours! Ha.Ha.

Our New Home!

2007-10-11T13:31:00.000-06:00

AJ and I moved to our very own flat after 3.5 weeks in the dorms (which was a blast, by the way!). Here is a fun little preview of our place, just after unpacking our few boxes from home. Hopefully it'll be more homey when you all come in person!! (hint, hint!) We're on the top (attic) flat of an old stone house, built in 1886, which is quite young for this neck of the woods!

Here's a view of our bedroom. It's the biggest and most spacious we've ever had!...complete with a pink fireplace!

Here's our bathroom...you'll notice that there is no shower!

Our living room!...don't let the bookshelf fool you...it's hiding our third fireplace (this one's peach).

Our kitchen.

And finally...our fridge. It's so cute!!!

Here's a view from our living room. The colors are beautiful!

This is what we see out of our bedroom window, looking south.

From our bedroom, looking east.

I forgot to take a picture of the house we live in...but for now, imagine an old, grey, stone house with bay windows and a red door! :)

Dilemma!

2007-10-11T13:13:00.000-06:00

AJ and I need your help! We have the most beautiful flat that has a lot of character. However, there is one characteristic that we could do without...the color of our bedroom's fire place. What do you think...is pink our color? Yikes!

A Potato a Day...

2007-10-10T07:21:00.000-06:00

I just realized that I've eaten a potato at least once a day for the past week (including the weekend)...and I didn't even notice until yesterday! These English folk are potato-sneaky! (we get served lunch at school...just like middle school...but the food is too good here, it's dangerous!!)

Chocolate Chip Cookies...English Style!

2007-10-09T14:29:00.000-06:00

Anyone who knows me (Andrea) knows how much I LOVE cookies...especially chocolate chip cookies! Yummers! I've been missing baking them...so I ventured out to begin the journey! I found the process so amusing that I just had to blog about it! First, I think it took days and several trips to 3 different grocery stores to find the basic cookie ingredients (by the way, I just found vanilla today!).

Preheating the oven...don't forget that it's Celcius here! Thank goodness I remembered the equation...9/5*C+32=F!! Thanks to Jaylene, I now have the metric equalivent chart! Thanks Jaylene!

First, you must gather a few eggs. Don't go to the refrigerator to find them...they're in the cupboard!

Next, add brown sugar and butter. Brown sugar is hard to find...and I still haven't found butter yet (and we've been here for 1 month!). I really don't know where they hide it! Ha.Ha. I forgot to mention that UK refrigerators are 1/3 the size of standard American fridges...so you may find it amusing to hear that I found a SALE on Utterly Butterly...so I stocked up...which takes up a big part of our space! Ha.Ha.

Next, add the oats. We don't have a blender yet, so I tried using a knife to cut them up. That didn't last long...Also, oatmeal was hard to find...but then I realized that it doesn't exist! It's called "porridge" here. And, it was cheaper buying muesli and extracting the raisins and hazelnuts than buying straight-up porridge at Tesco! (I've since found them plain!...phew!)

I can't find chocolate chips anywhere..which is such a blessing! I have too much of an addiction. So a Cadbury bar sacrificed it's life for our cookies. Next time I'll get dark chocolate than milk chocolate.

Now bake the cookies for 7 minutes in the little oven!!

Waah-la! They're done! They look okay...but tasted very different. We'll try again next time...hopefully they're better!

Until then!

American Faux Pas

2007-10-09T14:16:00.000-06:00

So yesterday I sent an email to the ladies of our Bible study about the details of our meeting. I explained that our Bible study leader was serving "tea" at 7:15pm, with the study (on the book of Esther) beginning at 7:45pm. What I should've remembered was that "tea" means the drink (if it's 11am or 3pm) and it means dinner when referred to after 6pm! So you can imagine my embarrassment when my English friends left a bit hungry after our study! Ohhhh no!

Happy 57th Birthday Dad!

2007-10-04T10:58:00.000-06:00

Happy (belated) Birthday Dad!! Hope you had a memorable, fun, and delightful day on Wednesday!

I was able to call my dad...and it sounds like he's a Happy Camper with the Packers doing so well!! :)

Love you Dad!

A Birthday Journey to Cardiff (Wales)!

2007-10-02T12:05:00.000-06:00

AJ surprised me for my birthday by setting up a little adventure to Cardiff last weekend! It was a delightful day visiting the capitol of Wales. We happened to be there at the same hour that the Welsh team faced France in the Rugby World Cup. The city was buzzing with spirit and excitement! AJ arranged for us to see the Cardiff Castle and St. Fagen's Historical Area. The original foundation of the Castle was built around the time of Christ and the St. Fagen's mansion was built in 1580. To us Americans that is so very old!! Here are some photos of our time in Wales. You may notice the consistent overcast skies in all of the photos...don't be jealous our beloved Colorado friends!!

AJ took this beautiful photo of the Cardiff Castle from the gardens behind the Castle. The leaves are just beginning to turn here. We're told that most leaves fall by the end of November! Wahoo!

AJ and I atop the tower of the Keep. It was an amazing view of the Castle gardens.

A view from the gate of the Keep, overlooking the grounds of the Castle.

A photo of the Keep, located in the center of the Castle grounds.

Here's a photo of the St. Fagen's mansion, built in 1580 on the ruins of an old Norman fort. The mansion was passed along through the centuries and even stood empty for 150 years. The interior was updated in the early 1800's, however many pieces of original furniture from the early 1700's was on display. It's difficult to comprehend that America was still in her early years at that time!

Behind St. Fagen's was an old English farming settlement.

A tunnel of grape vines in the gardens of St. Fagen's.

Here is a beautiful piece of art in the gardens made of trimmed bushes.

A small view of the gardens of St. Fagen's.

Another view of the gardens.

While walking through the gardens of the Castle, AJ and I were surprised to see this interesting character! It actually scared me at first! :)

Our Friends: The Swales Family!

2007-09-30T07:55:00.000-06:00

Hello Everyone! I couldn't resist sharing some fun photos of our friends Jon & Sarah Swales and their two adorable children Rebecca & Benjamin! They adopted us the moment we arrived here...and have blessed us so much! We enjoy "Swales Cinema" on Saturday evenings where we've watched Amazing Grace and The Mission on their projector screen and often have great discussions and share lots of laughs! Here are a couple of photos of their family!

Jon & Sarah in their home!

Here's little Rebecca in her princess outfit! Whenever she sees me at the College, she often greets me with a big ol' hug!!

Here's little Benjamin after eating dinner!! Ohh my! He's already showing talent in the art of painting! Ha.Ha.

AJ at his finest!

A View of Bristol

2007-09-28T21:29:00.000-06:00

AJ and I spent a couple of hours exploring downtown Bristol last weekend. What we found was quite a treasure!...a tower built in 1497 in honor of explorer John Cabot. Wow, what a view!

Here's AJ and I at the very top...boy it was kind of scary up there!

Here's the plaque outside the tower.

A view from the first observation deck.

A lovely view from the top deck.

Denmark is THAT way! Neat!

That way to the United States!!

A Passion for Sports!

2007-09-27T11:25:00.000-06:00

I'm so excited!! Last night I joined a running club...a true, crazy bunch of running enthusiasts who love running just as much (or more!) than I do! They meet Monday and Wednesday nights either for long runs or speed work-outs and there are competitions almost weekly, between half marathons, 5k's and 10k's, and cross country races. I think AJ would like to join in, too...as long as it doesn't interfere with his fly-fishing meetings! We noticed that there is a 1/2 marathon in Cardiff (Wales) next month, which is only 45 minutes away by train. We'll have to look into it!

Also, AJ has joined the Trinity College football (a.k.a. soccer) and rugby enthusiasts on Wednesday afternoons. A group of guys get together to play nearby the college, which is super fun to watch. I asked folks if AJ was qualified to play by simply watching the Rugby World Cup these past 2 weeks. AJ must have learned something along the way...he scored a "try" (our version of a touchdown)!

Have blessed day everyone!

P.S. It's my 30th Birthday today!! Wahoo!

Our First Trip to ASDA (Wal-Mart)!!

2007-09-27T06:34:00.001-06:00

It was an exciting Tuesday night adventure!! Our friend Becky invited us along to ASDA...little did she know that her would-be 15 minute errand turned into an hour of fun!

Welcome to ASDA! Even Wal-Mart has made it's impression in the UK!

AJ's new discovery...Foamy Fruits! Believe me, these nasty little things leave you feeling icky for hours! It's perfect for AJ's sugar-demanding appetite!

Is this a regularly sized can of beer? Oh my!

Fisherman's Pie flavored food for babies? Only in England...

Prawn Cocktail, Chicken Dinner, and Steak & Onions are just a few flavors of chips (or "crisps" as they say here) you may find! Interesting...

AJ discovered the Halloween aisle!!

Egg Balancing on the Autumnal Egguinox!

2007-09-27T06:20:00.000-06:00

It's that time of the year again! Egg Balancing! Wahoo! Twice each year you're able to balance eggs...a strange phenomenon, indeed! This go-round, AJ and I tried convincing our new UK friends that it's actually possible to do such a thing! Becky claimed that it was really just a "dodgy American theory"...until she actually did it herself (a story paralleling "Doubting Thomas", I think!)! I took a dozen photos of the event...many took it upon themselves to try...but I'll just post a couple for your viewing enjoyment!

Here's John, giving it a try!

Here's Becky, Phillipa, and Tom...way to go Becky!

Until next spring!

I Did It!

2007-09-26T04:18:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it, but it's true. I, Andrea, made myself a cup of tea this morning...and I actually liked it. I never thought it possible... Ha.Ha.

We're Contact-able!!

2007-09-25T08:33:00.000-06:00

Hello Friends and Family!

How are you all?! We hope you're having a blessed day!! AJ and I are pleased to announce that we're now contact-able! We finally took the plunge and got our first ever cell phone (called "mobiles" here), so now we're hip and available. Okay, so maybe we're not so hip. Ha.Ha. Also, we have made some major changes in our plans here and have decided to relocate to the beautiful city of Bristol, where AJ's college is. We're currently reliving our undergraduate years by living in student housing...and it's been an absolute BLAST! We love sitting in the common room chatting, laughing at each others' accents, and squabbling over who has the cooler "football". I don't think we have too many sympathizers for American football. Ahhh well, they're missing out!! Ha.Ha. GO PACKERS!!

Our Cell Number:
011-44-7942-448971
(011 is the international code, 44 is UK's country code)

Our Address (as of October 1st):
30 Blenheim Road
Westbury Park
Bristol BS6 7JP
UK

We intend to update the blog more regularly...unfortunately the internet was down again for a while!

Pictures of England

2007-09-16T06:16:00.000-06:00

The River Avon, overlooked from the Clifton Downs. In the distance the Avon flows into the sea.

A nice little pub, aptly named, here in Bristol.

Trinity College itself, in all its sunless beauty.

Me at the college on the first day. Notice the little Hobbit knob, set lowly on the door.

UK Arrival

2007-09-14T11:56:00.000-06:00

Despite rumors otherwise, we are alive and well and have arrived in the UK. Things went along without a hitch and, in fact, went so quickly that we ended up spending lots of time at O'Hare watching other BA planes dock and leave with funny-talking peoples.

Once in country, we spent the first day finding Trinity College and dropping off some things. On our way back to the hotel, we had ourselves a truly English experience. We walked through an enormous park called Clifton Downs, which borders the River Avon in Avon Gorge, and continued down along olden streets laden with bright little pubs. English indeed.

Since then we've added the experiences of watching a soccer match (including beer and wine) and taking a pub trip, both of which were organized through Trinity College! Apparently we've got one of the newer schools around, with its contruction being completed right around 1699. This reminds me of a joke: The primary difference between an American and an Englishman is that the American thinks 100 years is a long time and the Englishman thinks 100 miles is a long way!

Anywho, we do need to 'pop' out, as the English say. We'll include some pictures when wireless is again up and running.

Cheers,

Up North

2007-08-20T20:39:00.000-06:00

We just got back in town today from our trip around the state. In short, to spare you the volumes of details, we visited friends and family throughout Wisconsin, regularly seeing in a day four different parties separated by at least an hour of driving. It got to be grueling but was well worthwhile. However, the affects were at times serious. I remember one such day.

It began with us breaking camp, loading the canoe, paddling back across the rather large lake, packing the car, driving four hours, visiting with friends for two, driving for more than another hour, and visiting again with more friends and at whose house we spent the night. Well, that last hour of driving found us in sad shape. Let's just say we've got pictures of me doing the eggbeater to 80's music driving our wagon down the interstate. We've got pictures of Andie, in the passenger's seat, doing the Hammer dance. The dog actually forced his head beneath the blankets in the back seat and refused to move until mental stability had returned to the captain's quarters. Poor dog.

There were, of course, normal times, even good times. While up north, we visited Andie's former camp, called Manitowish, and wandered around the area for a few days of camping, canoeing, and fishing. Our favorite times were in the evenings when the loon would let out its haunting call over the open water. There is something entirely unique about the North Woods. We left the north to news of my sister Dani's first child, Natalie Marie, being born; we shared the first few days with them at their home in Oshkosh, along with the rest of my immediate family. I do believe Andie and I ate and laughed more in those few days than we've done in a long time.

Unfortunately I've just been given the nod, so I need to wrap up. Tomorrow we go fishing with Andie's Dad and Grandpa, the four of us in one small boat. Hopefully none of us comes back with new earings.

Boredom Untold

2007-08-06T13:02:00.000-06:00

To those in the area who are looking to solve their sleep problems, I will be speaking August 12 at 9:30 at East Clarno Methodist Church. The talk is titled, "2 Samuel 11: The Purpose of Privilege." Following the event will be a brunch gathering at my grandparents' home on Five Corner Rd which, in all honesty, is the only reason I'm going.

We Made It!

2007-08-04T21:46:00.000-06:00

Hello Friends!

This is a bit overdue, but AJ and I wanted to share that we made it to Wisconsin safely on Wednesday evening (August 1st). We like to say we made it in record SLOW time! It was one of the longer 16 hour stretches we ever remembered....but we made it! Phew! We're already missing our beloved family of friends, but we're continually reminding ourselves that we are blessed to have had the opportunity to live in Denver in the first place. It was a true blessing to us! It has also been a blessing reconnecting with family and friends in Wisconsin. It made me laugh thinking of all the things we'd forgotten about Wisconsin, like:

1. The mosquito really is the state bird
2. It's so humid your hair curls
3. We can now recognize our accents!
4. Folks here know how to eat...and offer more!
5. There is so much road kill...it's so sad!
6. This IS Packer Country...everyone's mailboxes, flags, and lawn ornaments prove it!

I wish I could remember all of the other observations...but I'm coming up blank!

AJ and I wanted to sincerely thank our friends for thinking of us during our time of transition...including the Witte's who hosted a lovely Going Away Party for us (and thank you everyone who attended...we LOVED it!), Janee's yummy bread and muffins, Lonnalee's awesome peanut butter cookies, Heather's "hotel" and sweet hospitality, the Seibel's coffee pick-me-ups along the way, Jo's wonderful scents, Thao's beautiful jewelry, and many others. Thank you!! Please stay in touch! We love you guys...

AJ & Andie

P.S. WELCOME BACK STEVE HUNT!!!

4 Summer Nights!

2007-07-25T11:00:00.001-06:00

Our church, the Littleton Bible Chapel, recently held their annual summer teaching classes called 4 Summer Nights. We were thrilled that AJ was granted the opportunity to teach a session on The Stories of God: Understanding Old Testament Stories. It was a great time of learning, discussing, asking questions, and stretching our minds around some of the happenings before Christ, as well as the connection between the Old and New Testaments. I was really impressed with AJ's teaching...he has a true gift! We're excited to see him spread his wings in his own classroom someday!!

4 Summer Nights is not complete without some desserts prepared by our friends Laura (with daughter Annie) and Lonnalee (they're also sister-in-laws)!! Thank you ladies! [Dad - I thought you'd get a kick out of Laura's apron!]

The Walters' Visit!

2007-07-24T16:43:00.000-06:00

Our dear friends Sarah & Patrick Walters and their darling daughter Bridgett came to visit us in Denver in mid-June! What a pleasant surprise...especially now that they live in the Phoenix area! Sarah and I met in 2000 when we both participated in a REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) program at the University of Washington, in conjunction with a NASA Space Research Grant. What a fabulous summer! Since then, Sarah traveled thousands of miles via car to witness our wedding in '02, and we have gotten together on numerous occasions when our time overlapped here in the West for 3 years (us in CO, they in WY). It's been a joy being treasured friends! Thanks for stopping by Walters' family!! Here are some fun photos of our time together!

Sarah & little Bridgett observing the geese at Washington Park!
Patrick helping Bridgett on the slide! Here's Bridgett crawling through the tube on the playground...too cute!!

The New & Improved Fly Bench!

2007-07-24T16:36:00.000-06:00

Here's AJ's new fly-bench! It's a simplified version for easy disassembling for our move to the UK! He's added a spool-holding feature...so we'll have to include a picture of the final product someday. AJ's such a great little craftsman.

Our Beloved Friends - The Golackson's

2007-07-19T12:22:00.000-06:00

Our friends Josh & Lindsey Golackson and their adorable kiddos Lily and Caedmon (originally from WI) came to beautiful Colorado for in-depth missions training this summer and we had the priviledge of hosting them here in Littleton for a day in early June. It was so nice to see them! The Golackson family have been serving in Eastern Asia. We're thrilled that we'll get to see them in AJ's hometown in mid-August before they head back and we move overseas ourselves!! We're praying for you Golackson's! Here are some pictures of our time together!

Here's Caedmon!

And Lily! Josh & Caedmon heading down the slide!
And AJ & Shadow, too!

Rafting the Arkansas!

2007-06-25T12:32:00.000-06:00

We survived our first rafting trip on the Arkansas...and it was AMAZING! In mid-June, AJ and I had a blast with our Seminary friends down in Buena Vista rafting, camping, catching up on each others' lives, playing games, and encouraging each other in our walks with the Lord. We felt so honored that many flew in for the occasion! And our amazing rafting guides Chris & Chad, cousins to Julie, offered their raft and equipment, so rafting was free!...talk about a blessing! It was so fun spending an extended weekend together! Enjoy some of our pictures!

Here's Nick & Emily Ogle (Fayetteville, AR), Amy Gravseth (Portland, OR), AJ & Andrea (Littleton, CO), and Julie & Tony Bolos (on their way to Peru!)

Tony & Nick being men and providing "fire wood"!

AJ grilling burgers over a "one-match fire"!

A beautiful view of the Collegiate Peaks near dusk!

Amy & Emily on their evening "adventure"!Enjoying time by the campfire...

AJ can't wait to go rafting Saturday morning!

AJ's idea of a morning alarm system!
Emily getting fitted for the trip (I love this picture!)
Amy, Julie, and Emily just before take-off!
4 hours & 16 miles later...We did it!

AJ and I just after coming ashore!
The Guys!
The Gals!
Packing up and flattening out!
Thanks for a GREAT trip Chris, Julie, Tony & Chad!
After all the excitement in Buena Vista, we came back to Denver to celebrate Tony's 27th Birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TONY!!
One of our favorite pasttimes with the Seminary crew...playing games!
What's going on here?
BAD AJ, BAD!!
Thanks for a GREAT weekend everyone!!

HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY!!

2007-06-22T09:46:00.000-06:00

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AJ!

In honor of our anniversary, I wanted to post one of my favorite pictures of AJ! Here's AJ in August of 2006, celebrating the summit of Quandary Peak, near Hoosier Pass (Breckenridge, CO) with Mr. Puffy Paws (a.k.a. Shadow).

I LOVE YOU HONEY!
Andie

Where in England?

2007-06-19T09:20:00.000-06:00

Many of our beloved family and friends have asked where we're moving to in the UK. Great question!

Living: We plan to live in Cheltenham, which is a "twin-city" to Gloucester (directly west of London).

AJ's School: AJ is affiliated with the University of Bristol/Trinity College (south of Gloucester/Cheltenham) and will attend seminars, lectures, etc. at the actual University on occasion. His schooling will be more of a mentorship rather than actual classroom study...so we're living conveniently near AJ's professor, Dr. Gordon Wenham, and our dear friends Brian & Jaylene (who are three years ahead in school)!

Andrea's Work: I will be working at Hyder Consulting in Birmingham (north of Gloucester/Cheltenham)! I've learned that there is a direct train route from Cheltenham to Birmingham (45 minutes), then a little shuttle from the train station to the office. It'll be so nice to use the commuting time to read and soak in the scenery!

Steamboat Springs!

2007-06-14T12:20:00.000-06:00

AJ & I finally made it to Steamboat Springs! We feel like we saved the very best for last! AJ and I traveled up to Steamboat the first weekend in June to run a half-marathon, fly-fish, hike, and soak in God's beautiful creation! Wow!! Our wonderful friends Lars & Laura, along with their two adorable girls Josie & Annie, invited us to stay with them in their amazing timeshare vacation spot The Steamboat Grand the first evening, since our vacations there overlapped. They spoiled us with lovely food, great company, and amazing views. This is a view of the ski hill from our balcony!

Here's a picture of AJ fly-fishing the Mad River just north of Steamboat! Beautiful waters!

Our fuzzy animal, Shadow-dog, loves going fishing with his daddy!

The second evening, we had a blast tromping through another National Forest area for more free camping! We had some wild neighbors that night who also had the idea of crashing a site! Unfortunately, we didn't get the most fitful evening of sleep before the big race, but we shrugged it off once the alarm hit 5am! AJ also slipped on a rock and bashed his knee the night before...poor guy!

The race was super fun and fast...unfortunately, it only felt that way for AJ up to the 7 mile mark! AJ toughed it out and finished strong (our second fastest to date!), but I know he won't rest until we beat our time from the Jackson half-marathon (Jackson Hole, WY) last summer. We love running races...well, AJ thinks he's just a runner "by marriage", which isn't true! We now have our eye on the Robin Hood Half in Nottingham, UK this September! We'll see if we can settle in quick enough to our new surroundings to make the race!

Here's a picture of us at the finish! AJ let me win this time! So sweet!

I couldn't resist adding a picture of AJ and Shadow the morning after the race and all the excitement of Steamboat Springs!

Cheers!

Beautiful Buena Vista!

2007-06-14T12:13:00.000-06:00

AJ and I were so blessed to spend our Memorial Day Weekend in beautiful Buena Vista! This breathtaking view is from our campsite in the National Forest area! The middle peak is Mt. Princeton, which was our first 14'ner climb 2 years ago. It was a tough, challenging, a little scary, but rewarding experience!

Buena Vista is known for its wonderful outdoor splendor! From fly-fishing, hiking, mountain biking to strolling with ice cream...it's one of our favorite places to be in Colorado!!

Here's a picture of AJ fishing, from Shadow's perspective!

I couldn't resist snapping this picture when I woke up one morning!

The three of us (AJ, myself & Mr. Puffalump) went hiking, too! Here's a view from the trailhead.

Here's a picture of us at the half-way point at 10,000+ feet!

We're thrilled to be returning to this very same campsite this weekend when we head down to try our hand at whitewater rafting with our beloved Seminary friends! Can't wait!

AJ Graduated!

2007-06-14T11:26:00.000-06:00

AJ graduated from Denver Seminary on Saturday, May 12th! Here's a picture of my handsome hubby just following the ceremony.

Fly Vice

2007-06-07T16:07:00.000-06:00

Okay, peoples, no names have been sent to date. If no entries are logged, an awful and boring name might be given to this fine vice. Would that be any way for him to start his life? I think not.

So that you know, he has been in the Culp household now for two days. He seems to be adjusting fine. On a test run, he performed marvelously. A true pro.

Names suggested so far by Andie and I: Oscar, Peety (sp?), and Ahaz (which means, 'He grasped' in Hebrew).
Cheers,

One Thing

2007-06-01T12:08:00.000-06:00

Rich Mullins once sang, "Everybody says they just need one thing, but what they really mean is that they need just one thing more." A sad but true commentary on us humans. Please let me make known my humanity, then.

Among the gifts for graduation, I received a very nice gift card to Cabelas from our friends the Pedersens. Things like this don't happen every day, so I put much thought into the card's use. Even Andie had to tell me, finally, that she couldn't help me any further with a decision. Fair enough.

After much prayer and fasting, I've come to a decision. Only one thing passed the strict criteria applied to it: a fly tying vice. Yes, it's true. Considering the time and energy I spend tying flies, it only made sense.

With much joy and twitterpation, I give you the Danvice New-Classic! No name has been determined yet, but the suggestion box is now open.

Cheers

Submission

2007-05-22T10:16:00.001-06:00

I've been commanded by the head of our house to submit something new. Thus this.

Not much new. German is coming along consistently poorly; I'm trying to finish up and publish a couple of articles for outdoors magazines, for which I expect rejection letters; and my legs are still the hottest lady-like legs to carry a man. Andie has hot man-legs. We make a good couple.

Going to teach a class for church this summer, 'The Stories of God.' It should be fun. I look forward to it.

Andie has signed on with a company in England, so we'll be able to eat when we arrive. That is good; we do like to eat.

Thesis

2007-04-25T13:17:00.000-06:00

It shouldn't have been a surprise that it went this way. The rest of it was much the same. At the beginning, I was told that the thesis was merely like writing five twenty-page term papers. That is all. In the middle, I often was encouraged to have a looksy at this or that source. And at the end, I just needed to print it off. That is all there is to it.

Not exactly. For statement #1, five term papers can be entirely unrelated. However, in the thesis the very first word needs to relate to the last. And for that matter, so do the 36,000 words or so in between. For statement #2, when a professor says 'have a look at this or that source,' what he means is that you need to understand exactly what the said source(s) believes, which in academic circles is no small task. This, of course, is to be done in the midst of everything else, which has already left one in sleep debt. And for the third and last idea, using public printers is never easy.

I came in to print just past 8am and expected to be done soon after. First, before printing, I wanted to tweek my page numbers just so. Took my computer to my friend Mr. Morrow in the bookstore, who changed my footer tab by one tenth. For whatever reason, this one tenth translated to my computer erasing its memory of the two fonts I had used for the thesis. This nice move shortened my paper by 21 pages, rearranged the structure, and turned the Hebrew words into alien symbols. Two hours later, the Mac hotline had me back on my feet, with both fonts functioning and a full 140 pages of thesis. The second problem was that a whole host of folks were also using the printer at that time. Of course, with limited, expensive paper, one has to be careful. No problem, I'll just send my thesis to one of the ancillary trays. Trays set, paper sent. Apparently other students had the same idea. They were using various special settings, so before I cancelled my print job, a few costly sheets of my thesis were used for charts in a counseling paper. I never did like charts. And the third problem came late in the game. After printing off two full theses, a fellow out by the printer unknowingly removed my special paper and replaced it with the regular kind, which had been piled alongside the printer. The poor printer didn't know that my precious paper had been switched, so it dutifully ran off the whole 140 on common stock, which of course is no good to hand in. So I threw it in the circular file and began again. But my account had been drained of money. Off, then, to the business office to recharge the account. And back I came to the computer lab. Wonderfully, only three students were left, and none seemed to be using the printer. Ran a trial page just in case. All systems go, so I loaded the big daddy and sent it on over. The first page, and then the second, came out horizontal, like a chart. But the rest ran off according to schedule. I still don't know why those pages were defective, though I have a theory that the sin embodied in counseling students passed through their papers and into the poor machine, only to corrupt it too.

Around 5pm I packed up and went home for dinner, finished theses in hand. Not exactly the day I had planned, but the thesis was done nonetheless.

Mr. Puffalump

2007-04-16T09:14:00.000-06:00

As you might know, our little dog Shadow is an endless source of entertainment. Just this morning we had another incident. When I shower I leave my watch on the bed, along with my clothes for the day. But this morning there was no watch to be found. The clothes were there, but no watch. So I dressed and began to call out to Andie to see if she'd seen my watch. As usual, she ignored me assuming I'd find that Shadow had knocked it off or covered it with the covers when he went out for breakfast. But there was no watch. I called to Andie again. Then Andie told me I had better come out to see something. And there it was: there in Shadow's puffy hinter regions was my watch, velcroed to his fur as if it belonged there. So Andie gave Shadow a treat while I unvelcroed the watch. I called Shadow a thief, though Andie says it hardly seemed intentional. I'm not so sure.

BIG CELEBRATION!!

2007-04-12T10:24:00.000-06:00

AJ's GRADUATING!!
Exactly 30 days from today, AJ will be graduating from Denver Seminary! I'm so proud of him! We're really excited that many family members are coming out for the occasion to help us celebrate on Saturday, May 12th, 2007.

Cheers AJ!
Love your wifey.

Beginnings

2007-04-12T09:46:00.000-06:00

When we're far away from family and friends and in the land of clouds and rain, this blog will serve as a way to share our lives. For now, it just serves as a source of frustration. At some point there will be a picture of Andie and I, when me and the little stubborn machine work out our differences. We're not currently on speaking terms.