Happy Firsts

Now that jet lag is wearing off, and sickness is dwindling, we've had some happier firsts the last few days . . .

First Tube Rides and Double Decker Buses 

First trip to Costa for delicious hot cocoa (and sandwiches that did not include mayo)

First time jumping in London

First home cooked meal that we ate around the table - bangers and mash (except not really since I roasted the potatoes)

First chillaxing rainy Sunday afternoon, complete with a visit from the Elder's Quorum President who was dropping off a plate of cookies (and also helped give blessings to our sick kids the day before).

First driving experience . . . we have now both driven are still scared every time we turn on the engine on what feels like the wrong side of the car. 

First Thames and Tower Bridge sightings.  We also made it to 9 3/4 platform at King's Cross but weren't able to get a decent photo with the crowds.

Here's to many more exciting firsts over the next few months!   

10 hour flight + 2 sick kids = Awfulness. But we survived and arrived!

When travel day finally arrived, I was giddy.  Could it finally be here?  

I felt as ready as possible.  We had turned over the keys to the house the night before, and our careful planning and packing were all set.  During Christmas I had carefully stashed away gifts just for travel and arrival days.  Anne, Rex, and Becky cared for the kids so Matt and I could spend the morning finalizing travel & packing details.  As our family drove together to the airport we sang with enthusiasm and nostalgia, "All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go . . . . I'm leaving on a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again."

Yes, Abby and James had woke up with minor colds and James had a tooth coming in.  And Kaylee had a meltdown at minute 1 at the airport (as seen in this photo).  But it was finally moving day!  Let's do this! 

We got to the airport 4.5 hours early and were first in line for when they would open up the check in counter.  With 8 checked bags, 4 carry-ons, 3 backpacks, 2 strollers, and 2 car seats, we did not want to leave room for error.  The British Airway people at the counter were helpful and patient, and the kids played nicely while they waited for us to get everything checked in.   

With two hours left to wait, we were happy to have access to the lounge courtesy of Matt's research and preparation.  Unlimited snacks, wifi, surprise gifts to unwrap from Aunt Anne, and being able to spread out a bit made the wait much more bearable.  

It was finally time to board the plane, and we were all smiles.  Time to go to London!  Such excitement and enthusiasm!!!  

And then the flight started.  Despite Amazon paying for James' to have his own seat, we were told upon departure (not earlier at the check in gate mind you) that his seat was not airline approved so he would not be able to use his car seat for take off and landing.  Or if there was turbulance.  This meant that on multiple occasions when he was fast asleep in his seat I had to wake him and take him out so he could be safely held.  I do not understand the logic in this, but I suppose I don't know much about airliner safety . . . nonetheless it was a discouraging beginning.  The kids cheerfully watched shows and sort of ate the dinner provided.  But then the pain started.  

Head colds and air travel do not go hand in hand.  Especially when you are 3 years old, or 6 months old, and cannot articulate just how much the air pressure is hurting your congested little head.  So for about 70% of the flight either Abby or James was screaming in pain.  Matt was able to sooth James by rocking him in his car seat when the seatbelt sign was not on (thankfully much of the flight), but poor Abby was just a wreck.  She couldn't get comfortable and just flailed on my lap (or Matt's).   Eventually she settled down when I made a little makeshift bed on the ground.  At one point she started coughing so hard that she threw up though.  

Luckily Danny and Kaylee did fall asleep pretty well, though Danny would wake up every 30-40 minutes and ask how much longer until we landed.  In this shot you can see where Matt finally sat down to sleep for a bit (he was standing and rocking James probably 4+ hours) and Danny passed out.  

The breakfast boxes they brought us just a bit before landing were charming.  The kids were so exhausted that none could even eat a bite though.

 At the end of the worst flight in the history of the Hong family, we awaited our strollers.  And waited.  And waited.  Finally after waiting 15-20 minutes at the end of the gate one of the flight crew told us they must have made a mistake and taken it to the baggage claim.  Which is not a big deal at all unless you've been waiting 20 minutes and now have to carry a sick, exhausted 3 year old through the passport line.  Fortunately by the time we got to baggage claim all our luggage was ready to go, and our stroller was there rather than lost.

We took a couple taxis to our Air BnB, which is truly lovely.  Nonetheless I'm sure as the owner walked us through, it was with great trepidation since we all looked like zombies and several of us cried the entire time.  Matt helpfully went out and bought some late lunch for us, then discovered none of the children really like mixed mayo sandwiches (ie chicken salad or egg salad) so they ate leftover fruit snacks and fish crackers for lunch.  We got some medicine down James and Abby, and then rallied to take the whole family over to our new house.  Abby Jo's ibuprofen seemed to kick in right when we arrived, and there were some blissful moments of hide and seek and exploring our new home while Matt did a walk through with the agent.  We had finally arrived.

 That night we opted for a safer option for dinner - we ate at Pizza Express.  The kids were thrilled.  Matt literally fell asleep during the meal we were so exhausted.  We were all asleep in bed by 7:30 that night.  Unfortunately the rest of the night went about as well as the airplane ride with more wailing then sleeping. . . but we survived and we are in London!

Endings and Beginnings

This is the first post of a new chapter in our lives.  We are at the beginning of a dream of ours to live abroad with our family.  

Last Spring an Expedia London job fell into our laps.  Matt saw a posting, followed through on it, and the job was extended within a week.  We felt thrilled and excited that this was the right path to follow.  And then it completely fell through.  The timing would not work with their need to fill the job, visas, and Matt's availability based on our new baby's arrival.  We were discouraged and disappointed, and most of all confused.  Why had we felt so sure about accepting this job opportunity?

Well it lit a fire in our desire to pursue an overseas job.  When Amazon reached out to Matt in the spring, and mentioned UK possibilities, we decided to follow it through.

It was a long process, and in September we found ourselves weighing out two very different job opportunities.  One would keep us in Seattle, and one would take us to London.  It was a very difficult decision with much study, pondering, analysis, and prayer.  Ultimately we felt inspired to take the path to London.  The job decision had been made, but now there were a myriad of other decisions to be made.  What to do with the dogs?  Sell or rent the house?  Property manager or not?  Sell or store the cars?  Where to live in London?  Where will the kids go to school?  Will we have a car?  What to do with our extra stuff? How will we get around?  When will we go?  And on and on and on . . .  Each day for the past few months decision after decision has had to be weighed out and finalized.  It has been exhausting to say the least.  

But now, as I sit in our temporary London flat, listening to the rain outside, I am humbled reflecting on all the tender mercies of the past year that have brought us to this point.

Because we did not move to London in the spring . . .

• The kids have had much longer to process the change and move and are more comfortable and excited about it.
• We were around when Matt's grandpa unexpectedly passed away in June and able to participate in family gatherings to honor his memory.
• The summer was spent focused on the arrival of baby James, and all our family was able to support us as we adjusted to baby #4.
• We were able to welcome my sister's family when they moved from Texas to Washington state.
• We had more time to savor the northwest summer and enjoy a couple more camping trips and a trip to Mt. Rainier.

As we've made decisions, things so often fall into place making it clear that the Lord is guiding us ...

• We reached out to family friend's in Manhattan about living in the city with a family.  Instead of just advice, they connected us to several LDS families who live/have lived in London who were an immense resource as we began making decisions. 
• We found an LDS family with young kids to rent our property.
• Matt's uncle and my sister's family were able to buy our vehicles.  
• Family members willingly took and cared for our dogs, and even though the unexpected death of Daisy was heartbreaking, Chris, Stacey, and Paul were able to focus on her so tenderly those last days and the trip to take her to Colorado enabled me to introduce James' to his uncle and aunt.
• We were able to get one of our favorite house's in London at a price lower than we expected.
• There was not room at the school closest to us, but the next closest school, with outstanding ratings, was able to accommodate Danny and Kaylee so they will attend the same school and start right away.
• We found out a family from our new North London Ward attends the same small school.
• We found out the next door neighbors have two daughter's the same age as our girls.  And go to the same school as us (not necessarily the case in UK since schools are all done by application).

And during the entire process, we have been so blessed by the support and love of others  . . .

• Childcare and meals while Matt was working in London.
• Childcare while Matt and I searched for houses together in London.
• Borrowed pillows, chairs, bedding, and towels.
• Handy hands sorting, cleaning, organizing, painting, and fixing things to prepare our home for renters.
• An army of cleaners coming to our house to help polish everything before our tenants moved in.

In one of my favorite talks by President Uchtdorf titled Fourth Floor, Last Door  he shares the following: 

Faith means that we trust not only in God’s wisdom but that we trust also in His love. It means trusting that God loves us perfectly, that everything He does—every blessing He gives and every blessing He, for a time, withholds—is for our eternal happiness.

8

With this kind of faith, though we may not understand why certain things happen or why certain prayers go unanswered, we can know that in the end everything will make sense. “All things [will] work together for good to them that love God.”9

All will be made right. All will be well.

We can be certain that answers will come, and we may be confident that we will not only be content with the answers but we will also be overwhelmed by the grace, mercy, generosity, and love of our Heavenly Father for us, His children.

When we were unable to move to London in the spring, I felt confused and disappointed and did not understand why we had felt so good about the decision to go.  Yet as the year unfolded, I have seen even more greatly the Lord's hand in our families life and truly have felt overwhelmed by the grace, mercy, generosity, and love of our Heavenly Father for us..

These past weeks have not been without tearful endings as we say farewell to family and an area we love so dearly.  Our friendships, traditions, and memories run deep in the Pacific Northwest.  But we are confident that as we begin this new chapter, and continue to trust in God, all things will work together for our good.