Christmas Cookie Baking!

Christmas Cookies!

Here in Oxford, I'm a member of the New Comers Club. It is designed for the spouses of Oxford University Students. We meet once a week, do activities, and socialize. We do day walks, go on tours, book club, etc.

My friend Neha and I went and helped make some cookies the other day. It was so much fun. The gingerbread houses, men, and cookies were then sold for a charity in the area. I couldn't help but get in the Christmas Spirit! It has been with me ever since. Mike really likes for me to participate in the things that they do so that I can make more friends, and get out of the flat.

Afterward, I went to Wednesday market to buy some fruit and veggies for the week. Now I feel like making cookies again. Since I got pregnant I have been craving carrot cookies. My mom used to make them for us when we were little. When I last spoke to her she said,"I don't remember ever making you carrot cookies." So much for trying to get the recipe from her. Oh well, I will be combing the vast pages of the Internet in search of this recipe. If successful, will share with you.

Thanksgiving, A Great Success!

Thanksgiving Day turned out great!

Mike and our friend Jonas had school on Thursday, so we had a lovely Thanksgiving Dinner. The food was delish, and we played a game afterwards. I wanted to eat everything in site, but my body would not let me. Overall I think that this year was the least amount of food I have eaten during Thanksgiving. I thought it would be the other way around. After my first plate of food, I couldn't eat any more. I had to walk around for a while so that I could fit in the dessert.

So in the effort to make our table nice, my friend Neha and I pooled our kitchen stuff together to make it nice. She had the linen and wine glasses, I had the candles, pears, and made the place setting cards. We were so happy with our results. It took a little more effort than usual, especially since all my lovely platters, and cooking things are nicely packed in storage in DC.

(Neha helping with the pie crust!)


Afterward we played phase 10 which we thought would take only an hour. 2 1/2 hours later I won!

Very Thankful

This year we have been very blessed. We are so grateful for the blessings the Lord provides for us.

Top 10 List of what I am Thankful For:

• My Wonderful, Thoughtful Husband Mike.
• My Wonderful Davila & Bowerbank Family.
• Becoming Pregnant after much trial.
• Making it through my first Trimester.
• The Greatest Friends a Girl could ask for in Texas, Virginia, Oxford, Africa!
• The gospel and the truth it brings to people.
• Learning to share the gospel more.
• Moving to a beautiful country, and the friends made here.
• The beauty of the earth!
• Music.

As I smell the aroma of the Turkey baking in the oven, I am so grateful to have a chance to celebrate this wonderful Holiday with our new friends the Heirman! Who knew we would be able to celebrate Thanksgiving here in England. What a blessing! I miss my family dearly, and wish I could be able to celebrate with them. May the Lord Bless each and everyone of you as you gather around the table with Loved Ones! Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving.

London Was Calling

Saturday rolls around, just like any other day. We woke up, I made some yummy French Toast and some Hot Cocoa. Then we decided last minute that it would be nice to go and see London. After all I was feeling good, and we need to take advantage of it. We didn't end up leaving our flat until 20 past 11 a.m. Looking back we should of taken the train in, after all it was the same price, but we would of gotten there in half the time.

Oh well, we hit the streets of London around 2 p.m. Our first stop was Buckingham Palace. It was nice. Too bad the moment we got off the bus, it started to rain a bit.

Then after a quick bite, (baby bowerbank makes my life miserable if I don't feed him/her) we saw Westminster Abby. Well only the outside, they closed the doors at 1:30 pm on Saturdays. Oh well, we at least had a chance to admire the architecture.





We got a quick glance at the House of Parliament, and Big Ben. Walked across the river. Took the Tube at Waterloo to Piccadilly Circus. We continued to walk, walk, and walk.




I wanted to see Harrods, so we WALKED from Piccadilly Circus to Harrods. My Oh My! I did not know how far it was. The walk was a bit more than two miles I think. By the time we got there I was so exhausted that I couldn't really shop around. Since my body couldn't handle too much more, and Mike was hating me for making us go to Harrods, we took a cab to Marble Arch and waited for our bus to take us back to Oxford. I slept all the way home. We made it back to our flat at about 10:30 p.m.

Overall I learned we should plan better in trying to take a trip. They have a bus service for only a pound to London when booked in advanced. We had fun and we will go again, but for now I am glad to be able to be a bit lazy!

Nurse! Nurse!

Two weeks ago, I was admitted to the hospital here in Oxford. I had some severe abdominal pain that would not go away. It was such a blessing to know in my mind that the pain was too high for me to think it had anything to do with the baby. It almost felt like the dreaded panciaties that I had after my surgery back in September of 2008! Thank goodness it wasn't.

After some blood work and an ultra sound the doctors did not know what was causing my pain. They had planned to do an endoscopy but the doctor told me that he thought the risk was higher than what he would find out. So after a long day of fasting, no tests were done, and I was wheeled off to my bed. In my room I had the lovely company of three other women. All in their 80's. I did talk to one of them, her name was Doris, and she was lovely. My other two roomies were Kathryn and Mary. Having spent time there with them, my eyes were open and I came to like these women who I hardly knew as women who are loved by Heavenly Father. It was not easy at first but then when the nurse asked me if I wanted to change rooms, I didn't. Poor Kathryn would have to be reminded where she was and why. Every night she would wake up screaming Nurse! Nurse! Help Me! My own pain seems minimal compared to theirs.

At the end of the week our whole Ward was moved to the next floor, and I had some other roomies. I would often walk the hall wondering where my old roomies were. Two I saw, but my friend Doris(who by the way called me "Rita", I didn't have the heart to correct her.) was nowhere to be seen.

I was allowed to go home Thursday night, and they never told me what was wrong. All week spent there and no answers. I was sent home with the same medication they were giving me there. So far so good. I have felt so much better. I am so grateful for the friends we have here and their help in rides home from and to the hospital as well as for books to keep me company.

Once again I felt so bad for my dear husband. He had to write a 10 page paper that week and got behind as he tried to do it all, come visit with me, study, make me laugh, and go to class. Luckily the professor let him turn in his paper the following Monday!

Baby Bowerbank is 15 weeks along, and growing in my belly. I don't look prego at all, just a bit fat around my midsection. Time is passing by so quickly, it is a bit scary.

Halloween has come and gone.

Mike and I in Bath.

I have come to the end of my first trimester, and I feel so blessed to have made it this far. With all the complications I had at first, I honestly did not think I would get here. But nonetheless here we are. These last two weeks I have been feeling so much better. My body, it seems is getting used to the idea that I am pregnant. If it wasn't for this slight cold I have had I would almost feel like my old self again. We had our 12th week ultrasound, and all seems okay with the baby.



Halloween in England is a bit different than in USA. Not all people celebrate it, and it is looked as something dark and evil. If they do dress up, it has to be something frightening. We did not see children out in the streets trick or treating either. The night before Mike and I were invite to a traditional Halloween Party at the Bowman's home. (I have new friends, yay!) We had some yummy dinner, frosted cookies, played games, and just hung out. I carved a pumpkin, and made some pumpkin rolls, and marshmallow popcorn for the party.

(The clip above is of an old Man in front of the Roman Baths making some money.)

On Saturday Mike and I got a lovely surprise from Mom and Dad Bowerbank. We has some beautiful flower and chocolates delivered to us! Thanks! Later we went shopping at some outlets that aren't too far from our home. It was a 20 min. bus ride and there we were at Bicester Village. They had everything from Gucci, Versace, D&G and so many more. The only down side, every store (with the exception for the very nice ones) smelled. In the middle of the court yard, it reeked of dead fish. Yuck! I was in search for a maternity store and failed to find a single one. Oh well! They did have many baby boutiques which I will be coming back to, once we know what we are having.