Vacation

Our road trip in pictures...



First stop, Chattanooga:










Next up, Durham:

And then the Outerbanks:

2-7 and Easter

This last week was full of family. And I loved every minute. I haven’t had my parents present for my birthday in quite some time (at least 6 years). We didn’t have anything extra special planned during their visit but it turned out exactly as I could have hoped for. I was able to take a few days extra off work and just spend time talking, shopping, and being together. I feel so fortunate to have parents that put an emphasis on keeping close relationships, even though we live miles apart. I have always felt so incredibly supported by them and this visit was no different. I know the sadness I felt after they left simply points to our strong bond and for that I am so grateful.



Easter is an extra special holiday to me, not only because of its spiritual significance but because my name carries an Easter meaning,‘abounding in life.’ Only once that I remember has my birthday fallen on Easter Sunday but I always love when it’s at least somewhat close. I love that my very essence in so many ways is tied to Easter.

I have been overwhelmed this last week by incredible family and also in the knowledge of what my Savior has done for me. My heart is so full.

An update on him

Due to some recent answers to prayer, I thought I'd update you on Kyle's new adventures these days...

1. New job - Kyle begins his new job on Monday as a Marketing Coordinator for USA Funds. Hooray! We've learned a lot through the process of waiting for a new job - I think mostly that God's timing is always better than our own. Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of struggles, frustrations, disappointments, etc along the way! Yet we had to humbly learn to trust and relinquish control to the One who holds every detail in His hands. We had to trust that opportunities we thought were perfect, He knew better. And that even in heartache and confusion, ultimate peace and fulfillment are found in our relationships with Him, not in the outcomes we wish to see happen. (Much easier said than done!) I also think our own relationship has grown in new ways as we together daily sought guidance, encouraged each other when we didn't understand, and surrendered our desires and control over to Him. In these times, I realize it's more about how we handle the process than what is the end result.

2. Freelance - Kyle has begun doing freelance work for a local businessman. He manages this man's website and is introducing him to the world of social media. It's a nice side gig that Kyle hopes to continue in the future with maybe more clients.

3. Podcast - Check out a feature arsenal.com did of Kyle and Joel's podcast while we were over in the UK: http://www.arsenal.com/usa/sh/usa/news/features/feature-arsenal-review-usa-in-london-.(I'm even in a few of the shots!) It's a great plug for their podcast and they since have had a large jump in followers! They also recently interviewed an ex-Arsenal player who is now a US scout for the club. And lastly, their podcast has picked up a sponser (soccerpro.com) which allows them to have giveaways and prizes on the show. I know both Kyle and Joel are excited about the future of the podcast as they continue to make contacts both locally and abroad!



We are so very thankful for the opportunities God has given us and look forward to what the future holds!

Our UK Vacation

Ps. 19:1
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

I never cease to be amazed by our God's handiwork - especially whenever traveling to a new place. This was certainly the case on our recent vacation to the UK.

I could probably write post after post about all my favorite parts of the trip and hundreds of pictures, but I'll keep it short. We spent half our time in London and the other half in Edinburgh, Scotland.

London: I was most fascinated by all the old architecture and buildings that seemed endless. Not to mention being able to tour locations that you grew up reading about in your history books. Obviously the United States is not that old of a city in comparison to many other parts of the world. It was truly amazing to walk through castles and other parts of the city that have been there for hundreds and hundreds of years! And to stand so close to so many famous icons took my breath away.
We also got to attend two Arsenal soccer games while we were in London. And I have to say, there is nothing like experiencing a live European soccer match. It was the most fun I have ever had at a sporting event. The crowds, chanting, and momentum of the game are nothing like the sporting events here in the US. So worth it! Kyle and Joel were also interviewed by arsenal.com while we were there for a special video feature about overseas fans. We also got to meet several of the podcast's UK listeners. We will post a link once the feature is up so you can see it!
London is truly a diverse city, as are many large cities of the world. The fashions, types of people, multiple languages you hear constantly, etc reminded me we were quite a distance from home. I joked with Kyle numerous times on the trip that he missed the male skinny jeans and pointy shoes memo. ;)
One thing that surprised me about London - the affordable all natural/organic take-out food. Our favorite place to stop was a place called Pret a Manger. Apparently they have a couple locations in Chicago and NYC, which I will for sure look up next time I'm there! The food was incredible and so much cheaper than anywhere else! Dear Pret a Manger, please come to Indy asap!
To wrap up, I would visit London over and over! And next time, I plan on going when the weather is warmer. :)






Scotland: My Dad's side of the family is Scottish, so I was naturally very excited to visit Scotland. We took a train from London to Edinburgh half way through the week. The views from our train ride were spectacular and ranged from rolling hills and grazing sheep to sheer cliffs and ocean views. The city itself is built up on a hill and features old cobblestone streets and plenty of local shops and restaurants. We took one full day just to explore the city and the next day went out on an all day tour up into the highlands. The weather reminded me of Colorado summers - can be bright and clear one moment and within minutes a storm is blowing in.
I also learned more about our heritage. My maiden name 'Foster' comes from the Scottish clan 'Forrester.' The Forrester clan lived mainly in the city of Corstorphine, a suburb of Edinburgh. (Unfortunately, the old Corstorphine castle no longer exists.) Because there are so many small clans, most are found under a few core clans. Forrester comes under the main clan 'MacDonald.' Each clan has its own style of plaid, crest, etc and it was fun to walk through all the stores looking at your own clan's specific items. Needless to say, we had a blast exploring Edinburgh and I felt very proud to be from such a place!

First snow fall

Our first snow fall of the year occured this weekend. We ended up with about 3 inches or so.

Snow makes everything so serene and clean and magical. You can't help but smile and feel like you're in a dreamland of some kind.


And we had a little fun with Emma outside :)