On the Tuesday after we flew into Boise, Richard and Amirah and I got back on a plane and flew to New York City to try and find a place to live.  We had been coordinating with our agent Mery for a few weeks in advance of our trip and she had made arrangements.  Trying to find a place to live in NYC was a lot like trying to find a place in London, we had NO idea what we were looking for.  But there was something about NYC that just felt harder.  I can’t articulate this very well, but when we moved to London I was so optimistic, I was blissfully ignorant, naive and unaware.  I felt like we could be happy anywhere.  With NYC, I already had preconceived ideas about certain neighborhoods or boroughs from TV (ahem, Law & Order) and movies.  I knew enough to feel nervous and anxious but not enough to have any confidence in making an informed choice.  But we did what we did last time; we researched, we reached out to people, and we (mostly RIchard) looked at maps and maps and maps.  He looked at city maps and borough maps and subway maps and other transportation maps.  We narrowed it down to two options: Westchester Co. and Queens, particularly Forest Hills. 

I was trying really hard not to stress too much, because after needless stress in London it all worked out.  But I was so worried that we wouldn’t be able to find something and we would hate our home.  After looking in Queens we only found one place we liked.  The house itself wasn’t great on the inside, but it was a Tudor on a gorgeous street in a leafy neighborhood.  We went back a second time and walked to the elementary school and drove past the middle school and called both.  It all felt good.  We spent a fair amount of time looking in Westchester Co too, where the neighborhoods were ALL gorgeous and there were big yards and newer, nicer homes. We could have picked from three wonderful houses in Westchester.  So we talked about it, and after factoring in a lot of things including commute time, city experience, diversity and needing a second car, we decided we really wanted to live in Queens.  

Maybe because of our experience in London, maybe because of confusing information from our agent (who we LOVED, but maybe misunderstood) we took a negotiating approach to our house hunting.  I’ve since learned that this isn’t typical, usually the demand is such that when you find a place you like you just automatically accept the terms of the contract.  But our beloved house on Juno St. (we affectionately called it the “Juno House”) was overpriced.  We felt it, our agent agreed, and it just didn’t match up in similar comps.  Not only that, but we were committed to temporary housing in Battery Park for a month, so we wanted an August lease date and the house was already available for renters in mid-June. Richard had a bad feeling about the house itself, and wanted to have an inspection done before we moved it, and it had been vacant and listed for a long time which might have been suspicious had we not been desperate to have it.  So our agent made an offer that addressed our concerns, and we patiently waited.  

We tried to enjoy the rest of our visit in New York City but we were dying to have everything settled.  The other agent representing the house, and the owner of the property were not very accommodating or responsive to our offer so we flew back to Boise with all our eggs in one basket.  As we ate some lunch in the SLC airport I broke down in tears from the stress and anxiety of uncertainty, and even got a little angry with Richard that he was willing to lose the house over a few hundred dollars and an inspection.  But Richard was a rock star about it all.  He kept his cool, he stuck with his intuition and he reassured me that things would somehow work out.  

It took several days before we finally had some closure on the infamous Juno house.  It wasn’t going to work.  The owner was not interested in our offer, and even though we felt so confident about the neighborhood and the schools and the commute we just didn’t have that confidence about the terms of the lease that the owner was demanding.  So we let it go and we were devastated.  I had let myself get attached and it was a big disappointment. Thankfully we had temporary housing arranged in Manhattan, so we put the house hunting on the shelf and let ourselves focus on all the fun things we had planned in Boise for the next three weeks.  

Our first few weeks back in the U.S. were filled with logistical and administrative efforts that although exhausting, were helpful in transitioning me back to American life.  It was busy, which distracted me from my sadness, and it was also exciting.  

Other things we did in Boise as part of our repatration:  New cell phones, new bank accounts, new health insurance. We made appointments with necessary doctors, caught the kids up on some screenings they needed.  We had to buy new carseats for the kids, and get car insurance. Check up on our home we’re renting in Kuna. Lots of breakfast, lunch and dinner dates with friends, trying to hit our favorite restaurants.  Before we flew home Richard and I made a calendar so we could keep track of all the appointments, events, and get-togethers and it was just so crazy busy.  But as I mentioned, the busy-ness of it all was good for me.  Beyond the logistics of repatration is the emotional adjustment, and that probably deserves its own post. 

In addition to the adjustments of returning home, we also had to plan for a major cross-country move to NYC, which included a house hunting trip that Richard and Amirah and I left for just four days after arriving in Boise.  

It was pure bedlam at the airport.  The kids played bumper cars with their small suitcases on wheels while Richard checked us in and I tagged bags.  It didn’t get any better even after we had checked the large luggage, because getting through security we had to wrangle four kids, a baby, all our carry-on suitcases, the stroller, carseat and all the backpacks. We managed with the help of TSA agents and strangers and we made our way to our gate.  We had been hoping to gate-check all the carry-on suitcases like we had done when we flew TO London, but the flight staff were unaccommodating, so the worst was still ahead.  Getting all the kids, suitcases, personal items, baby and ourselves onto the plane proved to be the greatest task of all.  We couldn’t rely on Simon and Miriam to handle their carry-on suitcases, plus I no longer had the stroller so I had to carry Amirah in the carseat PLUS her and my luggage.  We simply lacked the necessary amount of arms.  It was a circus.  It’s not like you can leave a few bags behind in the jet bridge, because abandoned bags are not looked upon fondly by security.  So Richard and I awkwardly and embarrassingly hefted everything down the narrow airplane aisles, while everyone in First Class looked on. (Thank goodness for pre-boarding!)  I pleaded with my eyes for help from a flight attendant or stranger or ANYONE, but they all just stared.  It was awful, but we did it. We got everyone in their seats, and once our bags were properly stowed in the overhead bins it was a smooth ride. ​

The flight itself went wonderfully. Amirah slept quietly in her carseat, and during the entire nine hours she only cried once for 5-10 minutes. (Which of course felt like eternity.)  The kids each had their own in-flight entertainment, and Miriam watched three movies in the first four hours before I made her turn it off for awhile.  The kids have had enough airline experience to know when and how to ask for things and when and how to use the restroom. So even RIchard and I were able to watch a movie and relax.  

When we landed in Seattle we had a second round of bedlam.  Boise was our final destination but because it is not an international airport and has no border security or customs processing we had to do all this in the Seattle airport between flights.  We had to collect our luggage that had been checked in London so it could be re-checked by TSA, and then we had to exit the international terminal, where we had our passports checked etc.  Then we had to go back through security when we entered our departing terminal for our last flight  We hadn’t expected to do this and we were unorganized, tired and frazzled. 

Fortunately our last flight to Boise went by so quickly we hardly had time to get sleepy.  We landed in Boise around 6:30pm, or 1:30am London time.  Our families were there with posters and balloons and cousins we had never met and smiles and hugs and I think we all got a major adrenaline boost that felt wonderful.  We sent the kids off with family while Richard and I sorted out the rental car, and we all met up at Chik-Fil-A for dinner.  Eventually we made it back to my parents house where we all went straight to bed.  The last few hours of that day feel like a dream when I think about them; a sleep-deprived, emotionally saturated period of time that I couldn’t possibly adequately absorb.  

**Warning: excessive sentimentality and superlatives. 

By Thursday morning our house was all cleared out so we were obligation free.  We had given the kids the choice about whether they wanted to spend their last day at school or in the city and they chose school.  So after breakfast at the hotel (I opted for a full English breakfast one last time) Richard and I dropped them off at school and went into the city.  

We had a reservation for afternoon tea at a restaurant called Sketch, which had been recommended by friends and had great reviews on social media sites.  Other than that we didn’t have any plans, so we just walked and enjoyed a rare sunny, blue sky day in London.  

Our tea spread was phenomenal, and seemed like the quintessential British experience to have before we departed the motherland.  The sandwiches, cakes, tea, sparkling beverages, scones were all utterly delicious and we were utterly satisfied.  We walked a bit more and then took the train back to pick up the kids from school.  It was all quite magical.  

Once we were back at the school it didn’t take long for my tears to start flowing. (And they flow again as I type!) From my first moment at Lucas Vale I had felt an overwhelming feeling of friendship, and for two years it never stopped.  I always felt like the teachers and staff really cared about me and my children, and it was a feeling that came from consistent thoughtful and friendly gestures.  

We picked up Simon first, which was what began the water-works because I felt particularly close to Simon’s teacher.  After Mrs. Uddin and I hugged, I looked around and realized we weren’t the only ones crying! It seemed like everyone I said goodbye to was really, genuinely sad that we were leaving.  It wasn’t lip service and that realization sunk in deep.  

Earlier that day I had written a note to the mother of a little girl in Simon’s class.  She didn’t speak English but she and I had seen each other at school drop off, pick up and on the bus every day for two years.  We had exchanged smiles and friendly glances, but had never really spoken.  She had two other children and her kids and my kids were always friendly to each other on the bus.  In my note I just mentioned how I had enjoyed being around them and what lovely kids she had, but that we were moving away and I would miss seeing them. I asked Richard to translate it into Spanish for me and I gave it to her as we picked up our kids together.  She looked a little confused at first, but she found me later and had her son translate a message back to me, reciprocating similar feelings.  It was incredibly  touching and this feeling of love that can exist beyond cultural differences just kept blossoming inside me.  

We picked up the other kids, saying thank-yous and goodbyes to their teachers, all while being hugged and greeted and adored.  I seriously felt like a celebrity but I was too emotional to feel awkward or embarrassed.  

I’m so glad Richard was there for this experience. He was wonderful moral support and also kept track of Amirah and the other kids while I said my goodbyes.  I saved the hardest for last, and found my friends Fatiha, Tessa and Samira.  My three Muslim sisters, who despite language obstacles, had been my dearest school mom friends.  Interestingly, although we had some good laughs about our inability to understand each other, it was these three women who I most felt really understood me.  This is where I lose my ability to articulate quite what their friendship was and what it meant to me.  But suffice it to say, it was another tearful goodbye.  I won’t post our picture here, per my shy friend’s request, but I’ll keep it in my home forever.  

Fortunately I didn’t have to say goodbye to Cindy and Mike at the school.  They met up with us and we all walked to Greenwich Park to spend the afternoon before eating dinner at our last favorite place, Goddards.  (How did I not take any pictures?!)

Also fortunately, we took the DLR home and Mike and Cindy had to get off before us, so it was a quick goodbye on the train. Mike and Cindy were like our family in London, and even though they had family of their own, they were always welcoming and kind and helpful to us.  We miss them so much.   

We walked back to our hotel, riding a giddy high from all the love and adoration we’d taken in, and heartbroken at the idea of leaving.  Of all the kids, I think Cameron was hurting the worst.  He had been the most upset about moving to London, but saying goodbye to his teachers and friends at Lucas Vale had been more difficult than he could have imagined and he was feeling pretty raw.  

The kids crashed in the hotel beds, while the already completely exhausted parents packed up the last bits of our London life and got much too little sleep for the long travel day ahead.  

I’m not sure if it’s been my busy life, or my subconscious that has been procrastinating the next two blog posts, finishing these London posts makes me feel sad all over again.  

Our last two weeks in London is naturally a blur. I was emotional, sleep deprived, stressed, anxious and every other thing. This post is just a gathering of photos from my phone during our last few days in our beloved home.  

On a rainy afternoon there was a showing at the house, it was a second showing which I figured meant the people really wanted a chance to look it over. So we went to the library and then stopped at Lewisham Shopping Centre for some Magic Corn, one of our favorites. 

On a gorgeous day Simon’s class had a trip to Greenwich Park, Amirah and I walked from our house and met up with his class at the park.  

On a not so gorgeous day during their half-term break, we went with Cindy, Tyler and Kayden to the Thames barrier. These crazy kids.  

At the end of May we had a ward social, a sort of farewell get-together where we played games and passed around #accomodatingbabe. 

On our last Sunday we were completely overwhelmed with love and affection and fond farewells. Our dear friend Joseph Tawaiah gave us all these African tunics and we had hugs and kisses on the cheeks to last us until we found a new ward family.  These people are the most remarkable people.  Our friends were such examples of humility, loyalty, courage, diligence and deliberate faith.  They were generous and thoughtful and we miss them dearly.  

Our last week in London we stayed in a hotel because our house was empty and our furniture and dishes had been given away or packed away.  So we promised the kids they could each pick their favorite restaurant.  George and Iris joined us on Monday night when went to Nandos, and then came back to the house to say goodbye.  

And that brings us to Thursday, June 9, which deserves its own blog post.  

Our Bishop in London has been taking BYU students, and other groups, on a countryside walk for years, perhaps decades.  He loves it, and he gave us multiple opportunities to come along with him, but the timing just never worked out.  Finally as our days were fast disappearing, we made it work so we could go along.  Iris kept Simon and Mim at home with her all day, we tucked Amirah into her wrap and Cam and Eli came along too.  In one day, one long walk, we saw just about everything I love about England.  I’ll come back later and fill in some details, but here are the photos. 

The kids wanted to go to the London Eye from the first moment they saw it, but it was one of those things that kept getting put off for the “perfect” day of clear, blue skies.  Those days are rare when you narrow it down to just Saturdays, not to mention how busy it is during the summer.  So we procrastinated it until we had no Saturdays left in London that weren’t already spoken for, and of course it was cloudy.  Fortunately the clouds were high enough that they didn’t impede our views.  

We didn’t have to wait in line for long, and then we boarded our capsule with about eight other people.  It takes 30 minutes for the complete rotation, and the capsule is made up of glass windows, so you can see everywhere.  We gave the kids a hard time because all they wanted to do was mess around on the iPads that gave reference points and information about what you were seeing in the panorama.  “Come on guys! Get present!” As obsessed as millennials are with electronic devices, what are the children of millennials going to be like? 

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After we finished we had promised the kids doughnuts so we went on a doughnut hunt.  We took a bus to Bermondsy to find a market I wanted to go to, with no luck. So we walked to a bakery I’d been to with Sean and Lori on the dessert crawl,  and it was closed, gone, “finished” as they like to say.  Our next choice was Borough Market, so we walked there, but decided it was too crowded and so we just settled on a dozen from the Krispy Kreme at London Bridge Station.  Not fancy, but delicious nonetheless.  

**I didn’t take a picture of the London Eye on the day we went on it, go figure. So I dug out some other pictures I’d taken on different (sunnier) days. 

After my mom was gone, it was just Amirah and me enjoying Spring walks in the city.  I miss it so much.  I can’t believe these places are memories, and not my daily life.  

(Taking a baby and a big camera just seemed like too much so I settled for camera photos everywhere we went.)

I also have a dozen pictures of all the food I ate on my excursions, but I’ll spare my blog audience from teasing you with delicious flavors from across the ocean.  

Despite having so much to do during my last month in London I tried to get out as much as I could. Of course I wish I had been that active for the entire two years I lived there, but it’s hard to be a tourist in real life, when there is laundry and sickness and motherhood to occupy your days, not to mention bills to pay and other demands on time and finances.  So I shelf my regrets and practice gratitude for the amazing chances I did have to enjoy London’s charm.    

**As an interesting bit of trivia, there are a lot areas in NYC that share names with places in London, one of which being Kew Gardens, which happens to be the neighborhood next to ours in Queens.

Kew Gardens, at Kew Palace in southwest London, is the largest and most diverse collection of living plants in the world.  It was pretty remarkable.  We went there on a Saturday morning, with a picnic lunch.  The weather wasn’t terrible but the clouds and sky changed so much throughout the day that it was driving me crazy trying to get the lighting right in the photos. 

The area is massive, and we didn’t see it all, but we did see a lot of it, and it was all beautiful.  I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. 

We spent hours in the gardens and didn’t have time/energy to go through the Palace, which was disappointing. But a day well spent nonetheless.  

Having my siblings come to visit was the best. I know I’ve already said this, every time someone came to visit I said it, but I just looked forward to it so much. My siblings have enough in common with me that I knew how much they would love all the things I loved in London.  (Especially the food.)  Our shared heritage and common interests make traveling and enjoying places highly pleasurable.  

Amirah was just a few weeks old when they came, so I feel like I wasn’t quite as organized and energetic as I like to be.  But we had a really good time regardless.  Here are just a few snapshots from their visit. 

We took a day trip to Stratford Upon Avon, which was so lovely.  (Thanks Mike & Cindy for watching our crew.) We strolled around the quaint English town, visited the theatre, saw Shakespeare’s home and his grave and ate treats of course. (Ice cream, and a Cafe Nero Millionaire bar, my fave.)

On a Sunday afternoon we took a walk through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.  There were also so many other things! Borough Market, Southbank, Soho, Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus, National Portrait Gallery, Harrods, Abingdon sticky toffee pudding, Tower of London, Goddards, British Library, and many other things they did without me, including a trip across the channel over to Paris.  

Having visitors at the end of our time in London was the perfect chance for us to make sure we did all our favorite things one last time.