Beach Bums

In case you haven't noticed (and I sure hope you have), I've been MIA for nearly 20 days. I honestly attempted to blog while we were gone, but I couldn't bring myself to take the time away from my wonderful family...or the beach.

We got back home Sunday from our trips to Atlanta (for 5 days) and Turks & Caicos Islands (for 8 days), but I'm still not 100% normal (no jokes here, please). I hope JJ and I will return to a regular schedule here in the next few days. Until then, the idea of holding my head up long enough to write is completely exhausting. 

I do, however, plan to get back in the swing very soon. I have LOTS of exciting news and fun new site features to introduce (including more Name That Tune Tuesday contests and Morgan Trail Reader of the Month). Stay tuned, because The Morgan Trail is back in business!

Until then, though, I'll post some photos of our trip to make you jealous.

This is the life.

Actually, THIS is the life.Anyone seen a baby around here?

My beach baby.I defy you, sun!Not a huge fan of the ocean...or the sand......or enormous Sesame Street characters.If I ever go missing, look for me here. Actually, don't.

iPeed

It’s been over a month since my last post, and I’m sure you’re all sitting there wondering whether or not I’ve spun into some sort of ADHD/OCD-induced coma or something. Let me assure you I’ve done nothing of the sort. In fact, my most recent trip to the doctor included only an x-ray of a toe I did NOT break and a reassuring “It’s just a bad bruise” from the doctor. So, we can now add hypochondriac to my growing list of “quirks.” Super.

In other news, Brian’s dad and step-mom spent a week with us over Thanksgiving, and I must say we had a blast! Not only is John a mean grill-master, but also he loves to fix things around the house. So, before he arrived we cut wires, broke things, and arranged the garage in the most inefficient way possible to keep him occupied for an entire week.  It worked. The grass was cut, the dog was walked, my car trunk was fixed, and I’m pretty sure we now have a dozen more tools than we did before he arrived. John, I forgot to ask earlier, but did you fix my car window? Or was that the fix-it fairy?

Robyn and I had the great task of solving all the world’s problems and beating the crap out of the guys at Taboo. Both of which we accomplished skillfully, I might add. It was a fantastic visit all around, and there were definitely a few highlights for me:

1. Watching John and Robyn play with and love on JJ. I never get tired of seeing our family and friends interact with him!
2. Going to see Wicked in London with Robyn. I can’t say enough about that show. The acting, the singing, the set, the costumes, the score, the script…it was amazing! By far the best show I’ve ever seen. Ever.
3. The two days where everyone let me sleep until noon. Best sleep I've had in about eight months!
4. Eating, and eating, and eating. Between Thanksgiving at church, Thanksgiving at home, John's famous ribs, and all the great food we ate in London, I’ve successfully gained the obligatory Holiday poundage.
5. Visiting the Churchill War Rooms in London. We've been meaning to go for years, and it was even better than I imagined.
6. Watching Brian set off the burglar alarm at the Churchill War Rooms. Apparently, big signs that say, "Do not lean on glass" don't apply to pilots.
7. Strategizing with Robyn about our businesses. She motivates the heck out of me.
8. The moment I realized that Brian and I did not get an iPad from them for Christmas. No, not AN iPad. TWO iPads! Did they realize that it would have been World War III if they had given us AN iPad to share? Share? Are you kidding me? Brian and I can share anything…except technology. And, honestly, do you really think I’d want to use it again after he went into the bathroom with it for two hours? So, yes, I’ve had the joy of playing with my very own iPad, and I LOVE it!
9. Beating the crap out of the guys at Taboo.

Now, I won’t say that the iPad was the most memorable part of their visit…but…wait, I can’t remember what I was saying.

Kick the Bucket

Brian and I were recently inspired by our friend Bo to create our own "bucket lists" (read Bo's blog here). As you probably already know, a bucket list is simply a compilation of things an individual hopes to achieve before they "kick the bucket." This seems like an especially appropriate time to address this topic since our recent visit to a bullfight in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain. While tormenting and killing an animal that is large enough to torment and kill me is certainly NOT on my list of things to achieve, I must admit it gave me pause and reminded me of my own mortality. As if Law & Order on constant rotation at my house didn't do this for me enough as it is.

Back to the lists. Ours are still in progress. And in some ways I feel like the more we travel and age the more these lists evolve and change. However, I am pleased to say that as of last week we have checked one very important item off of Brian's bucket list. This item is most likely near - if not situated at the very TOP - of his list. In the British-occupied territory of Gibraltar, on Thursday, August 26, 2010, at 2:57 p.m., Brian came face-to-face with a wild monkey. That's right, folks. A monkey. Well, technically speaking a Barbary Macaque.

I dare not question the significance of such an event to my dear husband. I can honestly say I've never seen him so excited to have his photo taken. On our wedding day, he grew weary of the sound of a shutter click. On the day JJ was born, he might have been a bit too tired or distracted to even think about pulling out the camera. But last Thursday Brian jumped out of the tour van, grabbed the camera, and achieved his life's dream. With the help of our wonderful tour guide coaxing him with peanuts (the monkey, not Brian), this wild animal made my husband's life complete. 

Have you ever seen a happier man?

So, that basically concludes Brian's bucket list:

1. Marry my high school sweetheart. (Completed on May 21, 2005.)
2. Create adorable child with said sweetheart. (Completed on April 19, 2010.)
3. Have a monkey sit on my shoulder. (Completed on August 26, 2010.)

Brian, did I miss anything? 

Here is my tentative list:

1. Pilot a plane with my husband (and refrain from saying, "Are you SURE you know where we're going?")
2. Skydive
3. Bungee jump
4. Take a hot air balloon ride with Brian (since I'll most likely be doing #2 and #3 alone)
5. Conquer my fear of snow skiing
6. Ride the 5 largest roller coasters in the world
7. Ride in an F-15E Strike Eagle...without passing out
8. Ride a mechanical bull
9. Visit every State in our nation
10. Visit every continent (except for Antarctica...because WHY would I want to do that?)
11. Visit at least 50 countries
12. Take a cooking class in Italy
13. Go camping (still can't believe I've NEVER done this!)
14. Go on an African safari
15. Climb the Statue of Liberty
16. Visit my dear friend Genii in China
17. Visit the Sistine Chapel in Rome
18. See the Grand Canyon
19. See Niagara Falls (some time other than March...it was frozen!)
20. And THEN see The Iguazu Waterfalls from the Brazilian side
21. Take JJ to Disney World
22. Salsa dance with Brian (ahem...hint, hint)
23. Conquer my fear of hotel beds
24. And then go on a second honeymoon here
25. Travel to the moon. And wait until it's a little less expensive to do so. A little less the cost of a house.
26. Learn to say all 50 states with their capitols in less than one minute
27. Learn to say the names of all 44 Presidents in less than one minute
28. Learn to say and identify on a map all 194ish (depending on your source) nations of the world
29. Learn to speak Spanish conversationally
30. Learn to sight read music on the piano
31. Learn to play the guitar
32. Learn at least 100 passages of Scripture
33. Teach JJ #s 26-32
34. Compose a song
35. Learn to sew
36. Learn to play golf
37. Publish a book
38. Perform in a play...written by me
39. Host my own talk show (yes, local daytime TV counts)
40. One day have a house with a secret room behind a bookshelf
41. Establish a business with Brian that will give us the opportunity to share the gospel, to grow us closer together as a family, to stimulate us intellectually, and to provide us with the means to support ourselves and give generously!

I have no doubt this list will grow and change as we travel the world and as our family grows. God willing, we'll have the time, resources and ability to accomplish some or all of these.

So, what are some of your bucket list items?

You have a baby...at a bullfight!

As I lay here all propped up in a hotel bed - on top of the covers and with my own pillow of course - I can't help but think about how quickly the past four months have flown. Sleeping soundly beside me is our precious miracle, J.J. (Julian James) who is four months old as of yesterday. Sleeping not-so-soundly in the other queen bed is my husband whose roaring snore is only somewhat drowned out by the giant air conditioning unit. Oh, how quickly we've become a 1950s television couple. It's amazing what a baby, a crazy work schedule and a (completely justifiable) fear of hotel linens can do to a couple's sleeping arrangements. Brian somehow sleeps comfortably under the sheets with his face all smashed up against the pillow a million other people have drooled on, and I couldn't breathe - much less sleep - for thinking of all the germs. It's a wonder I've made it this far in our European travels.

At 4 months, JJ has already grown fond of mommy's MacBook Pro. Smart boy.

Despite my (completely justifiable...have you ever seen Dateline, people?) fear of hotel beds, I refuse to allow us to become that couple that quietly drifts into a passionless marriage. But, for now I'm guessing those TV couples must have slept pretty well. He has his drool-stained pillow, and I have my store-bought blanket and pillow.

So, how's that for WAAAAY too much information after months of not writing?

I heard from many of our blog readers that you were sick of seeing the "Meet the Neighbors" entry and it was time for me to quit pretending that this mommy thing is really THAT time consuming. Okay, none of you said exactly that, but I did get the impression that you missed hearing about our misadventures. I must admit that it thrills me to know our friends and family are still with us in spirit - even if we're in different countries. 

Unfortunately, I couldn't possibly sum up the past four months in a typical blog entry, so I'm going to just write it out timeline-style:

• Thursday, April 8 - Last blog entry (the one about the cows that we're all sick of seeing).
• Sunday, April 18 - I woke up so excited that we were going to meet our son VERY soon...
• Monday, April 19 - ...but "very soon" ended up being about 24 hours. And "excited" felt more like HOLY CRAP THIS PAIN IS HORRIBLE! GIVE ME THE DRUGS NOOOOOOW!!! At 7:46 a.m., I gleefully watched J.J. take his first breath. I say gleefully, because a few hours before that, I experienced my first spinal block + epidural combo. And next time I'll receive both in the parking lot, thank you very much.
• April - June - We had the joy of visiting with all three sets of parents at our home in England. It was a precious time for us, and we hope it was equally as special to them!
• May ??? - Brian worked at an air show in Denmark, and JJ and I decided to tag along. Yes, we ate lots of pastries in Denmark.
• Wednesday, July 14 - Thursday, August 12 - We hopped on a C-17 (military cargo plane) and headed to the US of A. Thus the Tour de America began:
  • We rented a car in New Jersey (it just happened to be the closest we could get to Georgia) and drove to DC. There, we stayed with our dear friends Dave & Kearstin.
  • The next day we stayed with our best friends Jason & Whitney at their place in North Carolina.
  • We then drove to the North Georgia Mountains where we attended the H.I.T. (Hinesley Invitational Tournament) for two days.
  • We then drove to Indiana to introduce JJ to Brian's family on the south side of the state and my family to the north. We spent three days total in Indiana.
  • We ended our tour by passing through Nashville to have dinner with a dear high school friend before concluding our Tour de America back in Conyers, Georgia, where the partying never stopped!
  • Friday, August 6 - JJ has the distinguished honor of experiencing the World's Longest Yard Sale with Precious (my mom), G-man (my dad), and his Aunty Cyndi. We drove to Tennessee and back in the same day. 
  • Thursday, August 12 - Mom and dad drive JJ and me (Brian left a week prior) to Charleston to catch a military flight (on the enormous C-5) directly to Rota on the southern coast of Spain.

So, now we're presently in the small town of Rota in the gorgeous Cadiz Province of Spain. We've comfortably settled (with my own linens) into our hotel room on base, and I can't wait to share more of our lives with you. Tomorrow's adventure is a bullfight in El Puerto de Santa Maria. Yes, I'm taking my baby to a bullfight. But please save the lectures for your own blogs because - like it or not - this is a rich part of Spanish culture I truly want us to experience...and, besides, he's too young to remember. Yes, I know they slowly kill the bulls, but I'm sure there are things in our American culture that would shock and horrify the Spaniards just as much. Like Toddlers & Tiaras. Or David Hasselhoff. 

The "Morgan Way"

I can't wait any longer. I'm all out of patience. I have no choice but to give into my urges and pull out the Christmas decorations. To be perfectly honest, I'm a full two weeks behind last year's schedule thanks to our wonderful vacation. I usually give in and bring out the decorations a few days after Halloween.

Now, I know it's the "American way" to wait until one giant food-filled occasion has passed to even think about moving on to the next one, but Christmas is different for me lately. There's a new "Morgan way" we need to discuss. First of all, there is no such thing as Thanksgiving in the UK (although, some people do celebrate the harvest in their own way). Brian and I hope to do like we did last year and have our own Thanksgiving celebration with our British neighbors. However, one side of the living/dining room will have harvest decorations, and the other side will have Christmas decorations. So, rest assured, I will still get to use my pumpkin-shaped dishes.

Second, there's just something about our journey through Bethlehem, Nazareth, and the rest of the Promised Land that makes me want to celebrate Christmas differently this year. 

Allow me to explain:

For those of you who have been to Israel and seen the places where Jesus lived out his ministry, you might feel the same as I did when we first arrived. I couldn't believe how kitsch and tacky it all felt. It seemed as though someone found or designated (i.e. made up) "the spot" they believed had some significance in the life of Jesus, they built a massive church (or three), hung millions of oil lamps and paintings of Mary, and camped outside of it to sell cheap souvenirs probably made in China. Honestly, it was a bit disturbing. If one more person asked me if I wanted a wooden baby Jesus or Mary figurine, I was going to scream! Perhaps that is why I found it very difficult to buy any souvenirs from the Holy Land. Admittedly, we did purchase a few items for family and friends, but very few.

The Stone of the AnointingAs I think back on our tours through some of the churches erected in Israel, I can't help but wonder if Jesus' words to Peter, "I will build my church," are lost on most of the individuals who visit those sites. (Notice Jesus didn't say, "I will build lots of churches.") One church that sticks out in my mind is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is believed to contain within its walls the places where Jesus was crucified and buried. Within that church is a large stone (called The Stone of the Anointing) that is said to be the place where Jesus' body was laid in preparation for burial. Although we will never know the exact details and locations, there are thousands and possibly millions who travel to this church each year to "bless" their physical objects on this stone and in other places around the church. We could hardly even approach the stone for people shoving and pushing toward it to bless their bags of souvenirs. (Click here to see a better picture of the stone.)

It was disheartening to see how these places had become shrines complete with relics, idol worship and superstitious rituals rather than sites of silent prayer and remembrance. I desperately wanted to clear away the altars, the gold and silver trinkets, the candles, the paintings, and the oil lamps and to see the earth and stone beneath it all. Next to one of the altars, I caught a brief glimpse of some stones that are believed (there's that phrase again) to mark the site of the crucifixion. Next to that rock was an altar that housed something I was unable to see. There was a man standing there who shielded it with his robe and refused to allow the women in the church to see it. Although I can venture a guess, I am uncertain of his motivations behind this behavior. But regardless of his actions or my own beliefs, I chose not to press the issue or his patience (which was obviously wearing thin).

Instead, I chose to take away from Israel what I suppose I should have expected all along: 1) lots of crowd-filled pictures of places and things I will soon fail to recognize and 2) a deeper gratitude for Jesus' miraculous birth, his perfect life and his sacrificial death.

This Christmas, I still plan to decorate our home in my usual way, and I still plan to give into the urge to shop (and shop and shop) for Christmas gifts. I've already given into the urge to listen to hours and hours of the same Christmas songs I listen to every year, so that hasn't changed. I suppose what has changed for me is a greater love and affection for the person of Jesus and a deeper desire to know him better. My prayer for my family (and for all of you as well) is that this Christmas season will draw you closer to the One who redeems us rather than the stuff that distracts us. That's the new "Morgan way."