Top 14 Reasons I loved our trip to England

So strange, and sorry so belated... just found this in my drafts and not published!!! :)

This trip was from spring!

For a brief summary: The Buttons were our good friends who shared the first 8 years with us in Uganda.  Their kids were like siblings to Daniel, esp-- Alex sometimes held idol status, if truth be told.  Dan and Rosie are also godparents of Rachel.  Rosie is a reader, a mother, a fellow missionary, a friend without guile (as my one friend dubbed her), a wise and funny companion in our shared life in Uganda-- and now long distance as she transitions back to her homeland.  Dan has also been our family friend, a man who loves a good game, a good conversation, a humble leader in his roles, a man of mischief (our Daniel was so glad to be in England on April Fools Day--the patron holiday of Dan Button).  Abigail and Alex were amazing in hosting Daniel even after two years apart and very different experiences in the last two years.  I didn't include videos the kids made (of them all with panty hose on their faces), nor did I capture them riding down the stairs on an old mattress (those who know inside stories--it was the mattress of the daybed that is sitting in the Buttons garage), nor of Alex teaching Daniel to rollerblade.  But needless to say, the visit was a great time for Daniel and me-- both reconnecting, seeing the Buttons in their new life (work, church, home, town, etc) and re-remembering many times in Uganda.  And did I win in our Settlers game? I think so. :)

But now for top 14 pictured reasons that we loved our visit to the Buttons in England:

1. Being with my good friend, Rosie-- no matter what the temperature

2. Alex and Daniel reuniting like old friends-- here they are showing the scallop shell-- for my mom

3. Seeing Rosie and Frodo--a happy pair-- for walks, for company in seeking the sunshine of the house, for a companion in the domestic realm

4. For being in the land of anachronisms-- remember when we used public phones?

5. For watching others transition--in major ways and minor ones-- here we're laughing at the Maribu stork who is a very common "garbage-loving" bird who lives all over Kampala city.  I'm sure this Maribu stork is not thrilled to be in the freezing bird sanctuary in England. 

6. For fun-loving Dan who entered right into this snowball fight among other hosting moments!

7.  For Rosie's well-planned visit for us-- including day trips like this one to a Nature and Art museum-- a perfect match for our whole crowd. 

8. Watching friends on a similar life-trajectory,  figuring out how to be more responsible Christians in our daily lives-- here Rosie and Abigail and Alex are planting flowers, herbs and tomatoes. 

9. Joining in with the Buttons in their church life celebrations-- this is the Good Friday ecumenical service

10. Seeing Dan and Rosie settling into their lives and vocations in England--the following shots are from Redcliff College where Dan is teaching. 

Dan's top story office-- watch out for ceilings, and not quite enough room for all the books!

11.  Seeing the classic English countryside, full of hills and sheeps

12. Partaking in Rosie's yummy cooking and meal planning-- despite all slanders of British food, Rosie proved that local fare and local recipes are delicious!

13. Seeing Abby (and Alex) happy with their schools and their lives-- here Abby is in front of the oldest classroom in England-- where she currently studies science.  

14. Quality time with Daniel