Day Trip

Saturday was the day for our bus excursion. I woke up feeling tummy sick so I took an anti-nausea pill and went on my way. I had a hard time finding the bus but I made it on time! I sat in front, which was a bad idea because all the party went into the back. For some reason I was really aloof that day, anyways, so I wasn't the most social. I slept a lot of the way to our first stop, Avebury. Lucy came running out to hang out with me, thankfully cause no one else was! We were playing around together. I got her to touch a stone and we ran up and down the hills. She taught me how to shuffle, too. She's a tad bit younger than Annelise. 

Avebury

Haven the rogue

My roommate, Andee, Catherine, and Dr. Kerry's daughter, Lucy

On the way to Bath, Haven sat by me and we discovered that we have like the exact same taste in music, which was exciting! We then got to Bath where we were set loose to do whatever. Since I was feeling so aloof, I was afraid that I would be hanging out by myself, but thankfully Stephanie invited me to hang out with her and Josh. I love Stephanie! We only had less than two hours to wonder around so we didn't really have time to tour the Roman Baths :( Thankfully I've done it really recently during my France stay, so I was pretty ok with it. We went to Bath Abbey and wandered around a bit. I told Josh and Stephanie that if we couldn't see the baths, we should at least drink the water! We stopped for food first, and I had a YUMMY chicken and veggie pasty!! Soooo good! We then went into the fancy restaurant where I took them to the font. The water didn't taste as dank as it used to so they must have put in a filter or something. I guess it is healing water because I really did feel better after drinking it! After that we wondered around town. I found a Bath Rugby store so I went in to grab something for Titi :) It was fun just wondering around. 

The Abbey at Bath

With Josh

We liked the depiction of Jesus' temptation

Classy dinner 

Getting that healing power!

Stephanie

Our one view of the Roman Baths.

Then we stopped by a storehouse where the villagers would put 10% of their food goods for storage as a tithe type thing. I didn't really get it.

The barn where 1/10th of the villagers gain was kept. 

Then we stopped by Stonehenge where I was still feeling a bit antisocial. However, I was still having a good time! I hung out with Lucy again. I've seen Stonehenge so often that I wasn't that intent on taking a lot of pictures. I also hurried because Josh REALLY wanted to see Salisbury, and I wanted to see it too, so I hurried back to the bus.

Deb and Tom

Lucy, Kyle and I imitating Stonehenge.

When we got there, Josh ran there thinking we wouldn't have any time to go inside. It turns out we all could! I noticed one wall was bowing and showed Kyle who thought it was pretty cool. We also saw one of the original Magna Cartas through a class door. It's a really amazing building!

Salisbury 

My old room mates Clare and Bre know these guys from their hometown 

With Kyle and Mark

I look like I'm brake-dancing. I don't actually know how to land cartwheels anymore.
Also, that hair...

success

Good enough to imitate. McKenna

A succession of Haven attacking Tom

After the trip, we all went to Brother Christensen's fireside about "How to Measure Your Life" talk (it's on Youtube). It was alright but I honestly couldn't stay awake. I tried everything and it wouldn't happen. Afterwards, a couple girls wanted to go clubbing and I was down! a few of us went to eat some Brazilian food (Andee, Catherine, Matt Fee, Jeff, and me). One by one people were dropping out of the clubbing bandwagon, and I was getting really frustrated because I really wanted to go! When we got home I was about to hop in the shower when the other group who went to get pizza came over and they were all going to the club so I hopped on that! It was Kailey, Jennifer, Sophie, McKenna, Spencer Fumio, Michael, Tom, and Haven. We had so much fun! Tom dances like crazy, and at first I was the only one who was dancing that much and I danced with Tom a bunch (he was teaching me sexy dance moves. that boy can DANCE!!). I think the other girls were a little jealous so they all joined in for their turn with Tom. Haven looked like he was on ex. I was dancing "sexy quirky" according to Kailey, lol. hmmm... Sophie was impressed by me getting so down as a divorced woman, haha. I had really low inhibitions so I was able to dance all I wanted without feeling too awkward which means I had a lot of fun. We all were able to keep to ourselves and not interact with other random Brits which was actually good in that setting. Some guy took a picture of Kailey and me and it ended up on their Facebook page the next day, haha. It was grand. 

The photo that ended up on Bridge's Facebook page. Kailey with Haven in the background
You know it was a good day when my bangs look that bad

Grandma and the family the morning that she passed away

Unfortunately, later that night I learned that Grandma Lela had passed away. Dad called and I was really stoic at the time because I was prepared for it, and it seemed so surreal. I think about how she stood by my side while I was going through all the hard stuff with my former marriage. When I came home last summer, she and Grandpa loved me back into the family and were always worried for me. She told me that I made her proud and that means so much to me. Jason posted the above picture on Facebook with this caption: "From this morning. She rallied enough to meet the twins. They were there, her son Larry was there, Jesse was home from the hospital, her book was done. Her checklist was filled out"

I'm really blessed that she decided to join the Winzenried family and that she really took us in and made us her family. She is my grandmother and I already really miss her even though I knew this would happen. It's still hard. I'll always remember her kindness, love, and charity. Love you Grandma Lela!