England

"This royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle ...
This other Eden, demi-paradise...
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea...
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England." - William Shakespeare, King Richard II

The day my mother went back to England, after staying with us when Maeve was born, I could not stop crying.  Part of it was hormones, but part was the emotional reality of being a mommy without my own mom close by.  I decided the only way I could survive the 8 months until Mom came out at Christmas was to go out for a visit, and I tearfully plead with DH to make it so. And he did.

Almost six months later, I am so ready.  Although we Skype twice a week, it's been lonely here without my parents, and I know they've been missing their gorgeous little granddaughter.  So DH and I will cross our fingers and hold our breath all the way over the Atlantic that Maeve doesn't scream her way from here to Heathrow.

My parents have lived in England for almost 10 years now, and visiting is always a treat.  I was an English major (I know, I hear your sharp, surprised intake of breath!) so England is like my Disneyland.  This trip we're planning 3 major destinations: Oxford, Stratford-on-Avon, and Ikea.

I will promise daily pictures while we're gone, but actual writing may be sparse.  Tune in for Maeve-in-England pictures, and I'll catch up with y'all and get back to my regularly scheduled thoughtful musings in 11 days!!!!

Taken a few years ago - looks like a postcard, huh?