a new post

From Crowell Post

The Crowell Family has begun a new post--The Crowell Post. As we've started afresh here in England we wanted to do something new and exciting. So, we've decided to send a postcard every week.
This week's postcard is one of relief. We are settled in...and we love it. We love being settled in and we love it here in Woodbridge. So, it is generally green here, but all the trees, bushes, and plants have really taken color. It is glorious! We have lots of trails around our home and Elsie LOVES to go for walks. There are plenty of dogs, birds, and bunnies to keep her entertained for hours. It really is quite lovely.

April Showers Bring May Flowers...

{A cliche very much true for the Crowells}.

While we were in Spain, we sent our passports to CA to complete all our visa work. Well, while they were in transit, the embassy in CA called Corey to make sure he'd sent all our biometric info. Corey was a little confused as the

{embassy never mentioned biometric info BEFORE we left the States}.

We completely understood we would be able to send our passports to CA from a foreign country, i.e., Spain. We asked the embassy if we could complete our biometric info from Spain--to which they clearly said no. The biometric info needed to be taken care of within our country of residence. Perfect. Now we needed our passports to fly back to the US, but the only problem was they were already arriving to CA.

{That weekend we just prayed our passports could turn around asap}

and arrive IN our hands BEFORE Spain's Holy Week started. This would require a miracle. That Wednesday EVERYTHING would be closing down for the holiday.
For some reason, that very same weekend, Elsie started drooling like CRAZY. At first I thought her teeth were coming in, but there was WAY too much drooling going on. Her mouth was half open and the poor girl would not eat a thing. She would not let me put her down. So, we decided to take Elsie to the hospital. No passports.
We showed up to the after-hours clinic with lots of other little sickies--the perfect place for hanging out for a couple of hours. Anyway, the hospital let us through thanks to our friends/hosts and diagnosed

{Elsie with cankers of the mouth. A virus. I felt horrible.}

They were all under her tongue and spread throughout her lower gums. How did I miss this?! The poor thing could only take ibuprofen and an oral gel to numb the pain.
Well, Tuesday brought Elsie nasal congestion and Wednesday conjuctivitus. Wednesday did, however, bring some good news--the passports were in transit to Jerez (30 min. from Cadiz). We drove to pick up the valuable booklets an hour before FedEx closed. This meant we

{could be home for Easter Weekend!! Most importantly, Elsie could see a doctor.}

Thursday morning I had to pull out the warm washcloth and everything---Elsie's eyes were sealed shut. She needed eyedrops. The only problem was, everything was closed down. I also went to change Miss E's diaper and realized she only had 4 diapers left. Like this was going to fly--literally. So, I took Elsie out for a walk. We looked in EVERY Chinese/Arab bazaar. Everything (pads, T.P., and even diaper wipes) BUT diapers were to be found. Thinking I would have no other option, I ended up buying night pads and thought I could at least put those in her diapers to spare the only four I had. Well, I finally

{saw a pharmacy with it's door half open.}

I poked my head in and immediately saw a package of size 4 diapers. I asked the pharmacist if they were open. He told me they were for sure closed--everything was closed. Like I was some dumb foreinger or something. :) I told him my story. No go. He was NOT going to sell me diapers. Fortunately, another man in the pharmacy (who maybe was helping with inventory or something) told me there were diapers at the gas station.

{Entered the gas station.}

Yay diapers!! Like 20 of them....for 27 Euros. Ya right. I commented to a woman next to me--buying yogurt, baby food, and baby formula--how ridiculous it was to pay that much for diapers. She whole-heartedly agreed. I then told her my story. I was SO relieved to hear that there was ONE pharmacy open and only a 20 min. walk away.

{Elsie and I were off. Bought the diapers. Bought the antibiotic. We were set.}

After 24 hours of travel, we were warmly greeted by family. Elsie was relieved to find herself so comfortable at home.

The next morning Corey and I took Miss E to the pediatrician. Elsie had an

{ear infection in BOTH ears. No wonder the poor girl couldn't get comfortable on the flights! Corey and I were both surprised she didn't scream the entire way.}

Needless to say, we are here at home for a couple of weeks. Our biometric appointment lasted an entire half-hour. :) At any rate, our visas are for sure being completed in CA and will be mailed to us in a couple of weeks. The laptop is STILL in the UK, so pictures may not be coming for a bit. Long story, but I had to write it down before it slipped my mind.

{We had some showers--at times it felt like it was pouring. Flowers are blooming--we're here with family, Elsie is healthy & happy, and we will finally have visas for England.}

March Madness...beginning in January :)

Well, these last few months have really flown by and it´s incredible just how much can happen such a short time.
We had the amazing opportunity of attending an Indian Wedding in Jaipur. It was one of the most royal events we´ve ever witnessed. I have yet to sift through literally thousands of pictures of not only the wedding events, but of the sites throughout the "Golden Triangle"---including the Taj. That will be a HUGE project, but pictures WILL come. :) From India, Corey and I connected in Paris where I continued on to Salt Lake (awesome direct flight via Delta) and Corey on to Venzuela for work.
During the two weeks Corey was in Venezuela, I spent the first week out sleeping as often as I could trying to rid myself of Mr. Jetlag and a "Delhi Belly." It found both Corey and me the last meal we ate---at the airport. :( I spent the second week getting together boxes and suitcases while also delineating between various international moving companies. We figured out tbe best solution the day before we flew out. Thank goodness.
Because the plan was to meet Corey in the UK, my mom graciously flew with Elsie and me to the UK with one stop in JFK. Elsie did really well on the first leg, but was quite awake during the second to England. Naturally she fell asleep an hour before we landed--just as everyone is waking up and the flight attendants come through with breakfast and drinks. Both my mom and I took turns walking up and down the isles, reading book after book, and playing any game we could think of. Ohh Elsie....the little darlin´. She really did quite well, though--at least she wasn´t screaming.

We landed in the London-Heathrow Airport where Corey picked us up along with our 6 pieces of luggage (including some clubs and a Pack-and-Play). We then drove for and hour and half to Melton-Woodbridge where our lovely home was waiting for us. We really lucked out in stumbling upon this charming little place. There are a couple of smaller parks just for children 3 years old and under. It is absolutely delightful. It´s also next door to a couple of golf courses (for all you golf lovers). The town of Woodbridge is very English with some unique little shops. The new library in the center of town is calling for Elsie that is for sure. We can´t wait to get settled in.
For all those who dislike fish & chips, we may have found a little shack that might change your mind. Woodbridge is near the ocean so the cod is fresh and the batter is not nearly as thick as something you might buy in London. Order the fish with vinegar and salt--it makes a difference.
Our stay in Woodbridge was short--one night to be exact for we were off to Cadiz, Spain to attend a friend´s wedding. They were married civilly in the government center and then it was up to Madrid (6 hours away) where our friends were to be sealed in the Madrid Temple. Thanks to Mom DeYoung, we both were able to attend the sealing.
A couple of days later, we sent Mom DeYoung off to Utah and then we flew on to England. After a stop at IKEA (which of course lasted at least 2-3 hours) for kitchen/bed/bath needs and a bite to eat, we headed for "home." We found a fridge and were very excited to fill it. Our first homemade meal tasted like it was sent from heaven. Actually, our first bowl of cereal with milk tasted like the best thing we´d eaten in a long time. :)
So now we are visiting some friends in Cadiz, Spain for a couple of weeks while Corey works on a company project. Needless to say, Elsie barks at every dog we see (meaning multiple in one minute) and loves to eat napolitanas (yummy chocolate pastries) and magdalenas (mini muffins). Elsie loves playing games with our friends´kids--especially peek-a-boo. We felt at home with a nice homemade puchero (tasty soup), rice with meat, and lentejas (lentils). Of course you can´t leave out the fried fish nor the jamon serrano (cured ham). I was quite disappointed--that´s an understatement--then my friend told me I couldn´t eat the jamon serrano because I´m pregnant (3 1/2 months to be exact--and I consider myself lucky with it being March and all, that I went almost my entire first trimester without knowing I was really pregnant)! The weather is perfect--sunny skies with an ocean breeze. Oh how we love Cadiz. There you have it--all madness. :)

This March Madness has surely included some incredible star players:

My husband--who has planned almost every detail you can think of--flights, hotels, car rentals, apartment rentals, places to eat and stay--you name it. He´s a perfect travel agent. He has the MOST patience out of anyone I´ve seen. Not once did he lose his temper--even after we got a 50 pound ticket after going to a Riverdance show on St. Patrick´s Day (a surprise from Corey), backed into a square pillar with our rental car, watched a rock ding the windshield of the same car, broke the only screw to our fridge while changing the hinges from the right to the left side, bonked his head pretty hard on the door frame after picking up a tool, and....well, I know I´m forgetting something. He never got after Elsie--especially as she was a great helper while fixing the fridge. I thought I had patience. I was GREATLY humbled to say the least.

Miss Elsie Jayne--who has hopped back and forth from country to country, flight to flight, new place to new place without much complaining. A couple of times she´s wanted to sleep with us at night insteadof her crib, but she´s dones really well overall. I was worried about her adapting to all of this change. Truthfully, I think she´s adapted to it all much quicker than I have.

Our family and friends--who have give much time to help us get boxes and luggage prepared for shipment. Many helped with laundry, cooked meals, and watched Elsie while I prepared to move. Corey´s parents prepared the nicest meal for Elsie and me just before we left. It was so nice to be with them. Family is everything and we are filled with gratitude.

Through all of this March Madness I feel like the only glue that has held us together is the gospel. It is constant. It is an anchor during waves of dramatic change. Eventhough we´ve gone from place to place, the gospel remains the same. The routine of personal and family prayer has made all the difference. Granted we had a share of missed prayers and they were definitely noted. Attending church has also been such a spiritual boost. Corey found a meeting house every Sunday and boy did it feel like going home every time we walked into a meeting house. The gospel is real. We are so grateful.

It´s been a really "lucky" month! Everything has fallen into place as needed. I feel like Corey is always lucky--it´s a good thing I´m married to him. :) We hope the luck keeps coming for everyone!

"Christmas Time {Was} Here"

Even though the holidays flew by, there were many highlights: Lights at Temple Square, Luminarias at Leavitt's Mortuary {over 6,000 luminarias representing the lives of loved ones passed}, playing in the Nutcracker--always timeless, a tie skirt made by my darling Lori, an Assorted Course Dinner at the DeYoung's {we each drew courses and brought our favorites}, and of course all the festivities on Christmas Eve and Day. It is always a blessing to be around family for the holidays.

Lovely Lights

Corey and I had such fun watching Elsie's eyes light up as we decorated the tree. She took every opportunity to help--even to clean up the pine needles from off the floor in true toddler fashion.

{straight into the mouth}

"Do {We} Have Room?"

This clip was passed along to me and it touched me so much I felt to post it. If we have room for Him, we will feel His love in abundance. With that love, we can do as he has commanded--that is to love one another as he has loved us. There is nothing else that can bring greater JOY--in its purest form--to our lives.

Southern Charm

Earlier in November, we paid a visit to the Rabe Family {Corey's sister and fam} and were warmly greeted and treated with all the Southern Charm you could imagine. When we walked in their apartment, you could smell the ever-so-yummy pumpkin chocolate-chip cookies she'd just brought out of the oven. She set them out on the most darling glass pedestal platter.
Those cookies hit the spot.
Ben, Kendra, Sophie, and Graham refreshed our memories with details of Civil War history. We ate at some really fun and cozy places--including a new ice cream parlor {MY FAVORITE}. A nice drive lead us to delightful Leiper's Fork, where we ate a
hearty Southern breakfast at Puckett's.
We learned all about Studio B where Elvis, Dotty West, and other Country heroes made their debut. We ended a fine trip walking down Broadway in Downtown Nashville listening to the twang in all its glory--echoing out into the streets. We LOVED it.
Thank you Rabes for a good time.