Annie B Garman

Motherhood, Mayhem, & The Meaning of Life

You are here: Home / Archives for Annie

Without Daddy

Yesterday morning, I went in to Darcy's new bedroom to wake her up (I'm too embarrassed to say what time it was...I guess they we're worn out).  She looked so precious, so I just watched her sleep and prayed for her and this whole transition.  She opened her eyes, stretched out her little arms, found my neck and gave me a classic, tight Darcy hug.  After a few moments of cuddling, she asked if she could wake up and sat up in bed.  Almost immediately, she fell into a little Read More

TWENTY-TWO

Thursday the girls and I headed to the airport in Keflavik, Iceland and said goodbye to Colby.  He'll be joining us in 2 weeks after he finishes up some stuff in Reykjavik.  Darcy was very angry and defiant after he kissed us goodbye, and it was obvious that she was just scared about the whole transition (especially without Daddy).  This was the kid's 22nd flight in the last 14 months, so they knew the drill.  They watched Angelina the Ballerina for the entire 5 hour flight Read More

The True Adventure

On September 1st, 2000, Colby asked me if there was any chance we would ever be more than friends. I told him absolutely not. I was happy to be neighbors for the rest of my life, but getting into a serious relationship was out of the question.  I wasn't ready to start dating him because I feared that would lead to marriage, and marriage... would lead to boring lives that consisted of work and PBS television every evening. I told Colby early that late summer evening that getting into a Read More

Dinner with Deb

Since we moved to Iceland, we have tried to invite people over every week to share a meal and get to know eachother.  This spring, with going to school every day, getting pregnant, and experimenting with different ways to meet people, we have really been strained.  Solution: Our friend Deb is in school learning to be a master chef. She doesn't have a kitchen in her tiny apartment and really loves to experiment with food and cook for friends and family.  One day she came over to make lasagna and Read More

Getting the disease

I am a certified, licensed ESL teacher.  I spent three years teaching English to foreigners in a public school and have done private teaching since then.  In college, my degree was in ESL and I learned all about how to be sensitive to and teach a Second Language Learner.  The last year of my life, the roles have been reversed and now I am the Second Language Learner, sitting at the desk, experiencing everything I'd been trained in.  I hadn't anticipated this experience, and it has caught me off Read More

Rewind

In January, Colby and I started going to a Framhaldskoli.  Basically in Iceland,  Grunnskoli is the "elementary school" where you attend from ages 6-16 (Haley starts that in September).  After that, your compulsory education is over, but there are Framhaldskolis you can choose to attend that continue your education (KIND OF comparable to technical colleges). Okay, so we go to a Framhaldskoli to learn Icelandic and are in class with 16 year olds and 17 year olds.  It has been like reverting back Read More

Clint Clifton Saves the Day…

The last time I purchased soda was October 1994.  It was at an Oktoberfest carnival in LaCrosse, WI where I  purchased a Mountain Dew and a bag of Cheetos.  Shortly thereafter I rode the tilt-a-whirl and got so sick that I vowed never to drink "pop" again (Yes, I'm a Yankee).  My cross-country coach also convinced me that drinking soda would slow me down, so I have not consumed much of anything carbonated for over a decade....that is, until recently. When Clint came in December, he bought a  2 Read More

Confessions of a Pregnant American Living in Iceland- Part 2

For the past few months all we've been hearing about is Hangikjot.  Hangikjot is smoked lamb that is always prepared during the Christmas season.  Because of how much it was talked about, I had pretty high expectations.  When we finally attended a Christmas party here, we were served the COLD meat that had a STRONG smoked flavor and I was a little thrown off.   Colby wouldn't let me ask to use a microwave, so I endured in silence.  Upon finishing my virgin hangikjot experience, Icelanders Read More

Confessions of a Pregnant American Living in Iceland- Part 1

Oh, yes...I think I forgot to mention...I'm pregnant. When I was in my first trimester with my second pregnancy, Colby took me out to the German restaurant on Route 1 in Stafford.  The moment the food was served, I knew I was in trouble.  The new smells, the different flavors...after just ONE bite, I was done with my meal.  The rest of the evening was spent with one hand covering my mouth and one hand covering my nose.   The last 2 months have been like LIVING in the German restaurant. In the Read More

Meet Annie

 

“Remember He is the artist and you are only the picture. You can’t see it. So quietly submit to be painted” -CS Lewis
Read More

Archives