My envy towards children.

'Ello from the land of accents, dirty dry humor, Marmite, fish and chips, and futbol hooligans. I cannot believe I've been here for over a month. It seems like I just arrived...yet it feels like I've been here for months.

Anywho...I want to share experiences I've had with my children with you. Well...you know...notmy children...the preschool kids I've been graced with seeing everyday.

So there is this 4 year old Blondie beauty. She looks like a dainty porcelain doll, but has the personality completely opposite of that. She is the dreamer of the bunch. Always the last in line because she is skipping listlessly around as if she is in her own world. This can be difficult at times because she neglects to sit still during "group time" or takes ages to wash her hands because she is so enthralled with the soap bubbling up. As her teacher, I can't stand it! But as a grown up woman, I am jealous and intrigued and I hold a special place in my heart for this girl. How lovely is it that kids can be entertained by the simplest of things. This girl giggles at the random est of things. Every time she "blows the wind" she always feels the need to tell me. She laughs and says..."Oops! Miss Jessie...I farted!" She has the funniest giggle I've ever heard...like she almost knows she is weird and silly. One day I was waking her up from nap time (she struggles getting up from her naps compared to the rest of the kids), and every time I wake her, I ask her "What did you dream about today?" Every dream of hers is full of silliness. One day she stares into space trying to remember her dream...and says in a sleepy, very thoughtful, as-a-matter-of-fact voice, "I...I dream of...of cookies. I dreamed of the cookies at snack time! The ones with bananas."

Ok...so this may not sound that beautiful or intriguing to you, but it is beautiful to me. And I love that. I love that I find beauty in this. In spending time with children and experiencing these moments with them. These moments of hearing their dreams. The moment when a 4 year old can sing the entire Little Mermaid song, "Part of Your World" without any help. The moment I teach the game "Blast Off" in wagons, and a little boy remembers that we float in space because there is no gravity.

The hours and hours I spend with the children is tiring, but so rewarding. The moments I get with them...when they remember that "dog" starts with the letter "D" or that "replete" means you're full....are moments that happen once in a lifetime. And I'm so happy to be apart of those moments.

Sunsets.

I genuinely wish God granted me the gift of photographic memory for one reason and one reason only- so I could never forget the moments I witness such glorious sunsets as I witness here in England.

I have experienced nothing like it. And the best part is that every sunset is unique in its own glorious way! It's like every night we are up for a surprise. Once dusk arrives, what's it gonna be?! Are we gonna get cotton candy fluffy purples and indigos tonight? Or are we gonna get the bright neons? The hot pinks and florescent tangerines that itch their way up into the clouds as the sun sneaks down into the horizon? I mean...seriously...what magnificence. What beauty!

And half the time, us measly little humans with our tiny little brains don't even care or think to grasp this amaziness. We don't let our eyes soak in such gloriousness. Instead we would rather be watching the "tube" or some cute sweaty boys weight lifting in the gym as we robotically run on treadmills.

Many attempt the search for such beauty in man made accomplishments- in extravagant architecture, intricate detailed cathedrals, massive sky scrapers, or ancient paintings. Don't get me wrong, I happen to find Michaelanglo's Statue of David fascinating and encourage all the world to experience such a creation. But I find it ridiculous that we neglect such beauty that is flat in front of our faces daily! God's creation. God's masterpiece. His gift to us each night before we move on to the next day...and the next...and the next.

Two nights ago...I went running...and I couldn't stop. I couldn't stop because I was in awe. I was in awe of the painting splattered across the sky. The panoramic masterpiece that God placed before me...for my eyes to see...to soak in. It left me in tears and speechless. It left me humbled-that a God so mighty and so great as the sunset streaking across the sky could love me and care for me. That is so rad.

The least I could do was appreciate His masterpiece for me. His exemplification of a divine romance. His sunset for me. All for me. To experience alone as I run with Him alongside.

So I want to encourage you all...take time to sit and enjoy that sunset as you finish up dinner. Spend some time thanking our God for such beauty...for such greatness. It is the least He deserves.

Sock Hop! Preschoolers experiencing the 50s...

missing so many loved ones.

But God is good and this week has been thoroughly enjoyable. However, I cannot deny the truth- I miss San luis obispo...Cal Poly...my roomies...the life there that I realized I found so much comfort in. I miss my family...talking to my mom whenever I have something to cry about...goofing off with my brothers and drinking coffee with my dad. But I am here. And I pray everyday to be filled with joy as I start my day at work with the kids.

For example, this friday, the preschoolers were exposed to a Sock Hop. For those of you who do not know what that is, I will enlighten you :) A Sock Hop is described as a dated dance for young teenagers at which they may dance in stocking feet. In more informal terms, it is the dancing that goes on in the 50s. The dances where "Grease" is inspired and poodle skirts become a fad. Well...imagine 24 five year olds, with slicked-back hair, leather jackets, poodle skirts, scarves, and pig tails all dancin' a jig with hoola hoops. Now that is a sight for sore eyes :)

This is the perfect example of why I am here. Why I am starting to feel more at peace on this airforce base. The children. They brighten my day. Seeing them get so excited about the simple things in life...about a silly sock hop dance...about getting their picture take in front of a cardboard jukebox they made themselves...about having their parents join them for some hoola hoop fun. How wonderful life is as a child.

So that is why I am here...and that is what I am excited for as I live here these next 3 months. To learn from these children about the joys of life.

Pictures of Cambridge!

This is was quite the quaint and lovely trip to the town of Cambridge. I enjoyed talking lots of beautiful pictures of the area:)

8 Hours with Infants later...

Day 5 on Mildenhall Airforce Base. England..?

Sooooo I actually forgot I was in England the other day....with all the Starbucks, Baskin Robbins, Taco Bells, Burger Kings, Southern drawl accents, and Colbie Colliat playing constantly. This is England, right? I guess living on an American Airforce Base means I'll be seeing a lot less pubs, Boots, red phone booths, and Marmite and Nuttella commericals. More or less, I am getting much the culture shock. Seriously...what an experience living on a military base! And I'm not even military! These places are like their own community...it's just so interestingly silly. Everything you need on a daily basis is provided on a base. Yes...I'm seeing how easy it can be to get cabin fever due to a bases' isolation, but overall, I am very intrigued by this world and the people that come in and out of such a community. These men and women work very hard to be where they are and I commend them.

Speaking of cabin fever...still getting over a "silly flu" bug I had 5 days ago and has seemed to have formed into the so-called Swine Flu. Welcome to England Jess! haha...but seriously...any of you out their believing in prayer, I'd appreciate some love because the sickness (along with jet lag and jumping into work) has made my transition a bit more difficult. thanks so much :)

Back to the Base life. Not only do the parents have it rough on this base, but man, the kids struggle more than you know. My job is to be available to the kids whose parents have been deployed overseas or are on their way back. And gosh, what a life it is for these kids. To see one parent for six months and then have them disappear for another six months?! How do you handle such an extreme change? I pray, and hope you all could, for all the kids whose parents are commanded to leave them to serve our country. It is a big sacrifice that has caused many issues and contraversy in many families. We are blessed.

So...imagine 8 infants. Yes...8 babies, whose parents are gone overseas for months, and have very unstable home situations, all in one room waiting to be taken care of. Yes...that has been my job this past week. Loving on 8 babies at once. Changing diapers. Wiping noses. Stuffing apple sauce and mushed peas in their faces. Holding one down in each hand rocking them to sleep. Quite the experience! I will admit, not what I expected, so it is a bitter-sweet experience, but all the same, it is a wonderful learning experience. And I can't wait to learn more and more! Now...preschoolers I was expecting to take care of, not infants. But these babies need just as much love as any other age of children. Maybe more.

We shall see where I work next week! :) The Child Development Center moves us interns around all over to whatever classroom is in need. My work schedule will be 8:30-5:30 everyday....so until I find time, I hope all is well in the states!! Cheers!

Oh Canada....

Ok. So I know I have not necessarily began my England extravaganza, but sitting in Toronto, Canada eagerly awaiting my red-eye flight that does not even leave for another 2 hours leaves me thinking lots. Lots of anxiety. Lots of fears. Lots of excitement. Lots of tiredness mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I think I'm getting sick too. Sucks. Thanks mom. :)

Side note: I am blessed with wonderful friends. Seriously. I don't know what I did to deserve such genuine, unconditional love. Community is so important. Community that is uplifting, encouraging, and real. My friends do that. I like being independent, paving my own path, challenging myself for myself and no one else, but I thoroughly enjoy relationships and the dynamics we as humans can have with one another. Its astounding how much you can connect with one individual at a certain level and connect with another individual in a completely different way. Both so deep and real. Its mind blowing!

Anyways...my friends...I will miss you all dearly. You know who you are. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Ok...Canada...for some reason, this country weirds me out. I don't know why! It's like its just....there. Just so...blah. I am in no way trying to offend anyone from Canada. My apologies if I am! You can't hate Canada for anything. It's just...Canada. I don't know. I mean...Canada is rad for so many things: it's tree cutting, farming, neutrality, "ehs", everyone in Europe loving them over the USers, Tim Hortons, French people, Degrassi...you can't go wrong!

I guess this just emphasizes the fact that I prefer good ol' England. Ah the Motherland. I can't wait to walk off that plane into custumes...with my janky uniform makes me feel 30 years older.

Until that moment...

Commencing on THE journey...August 30th

August 30th, 2009. This is where it begins. The start of an epic adventure to Mildenhall, England.

Now I'll admit, I feel very silly, nerdy, and overall NOT cyber-savvy enough to begin a blog about myself. In all honesty, I'm afraid I've been avoiding this for quite sometime-succumbing to the land of technology-savvy "diary" writing...where wit and humor and realness come out in a person (subtract wit and humor and add "poser" for me). but I figured this is the best way to journal my experiences in these next 4 months. That is...the experiences I am okay sharing with the rest of the world. 

I leave August 30th for the Motherland. Finally.

For those of you who have absolutely NO idea what I am doing over there, I shall tell you. I will be interning on a Royal Airforce Military Base. No I am not enrolled in the Airforce. Sorry. The military is for my big brother, not for me. I applied for an internship through the University of Northern Iowa that allows me to live overseas and apply my teaching/caregiving skills to the deployed children. I will work in a preschool, manage it, observe, and teach children who live on the Mildenhall Airforce Base in England. 

I am MORE than ecstatic! I get to work with children everyday...take joy in child-like faith...learn from little people who enjoy the small things in life. AND I get to do it in England. What more could I ask for? 

Soooooo....my plan with this blogging "thing" is to just keep ya'll updated with my neatO experiences. More importantly, I get to journal so I can remember my crazy adventures and experiences for myself.  : ) Enjoy!