The kids swim with their cousins. Joey (8), Manny (5) John Paul (3). My mom and sister look on along with Randy, my sister's husband. I'm home "resting"! -Jenny
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Wow, I woke up at 3:30 am this morning!!!
The title of this post says it all. Jason and I had a nice time chatting. Jackie and Judah played quietly and now I am feeling very, very tired!
I'm going to stay up as late as I can tonight.
-Jenny
I'm going to stay up as late as I can tonight.
-Jenny
Friday, June 25, 2010
Thursday, June 24th: From Jason's Diary
Today was our biggest travel day.
Philip and Jennifer dropped us off at Heathrow. From Heathrow we flew to Philadelphia. We circled around Philly for over an hour due to a bad storm.
From Philly we flew to Portland and arrived in Portland around 10pm. We picked up a rental car (the van I thought I had reserved, wasn't, so we have a new Monte Carlo).
We arrived in Salem around 11:30pm.
We had such a dream-trip, once-in-a-lifetime trip, to the UK. But it feels really good to be home in the states...
Philip and Jennifer dropped us off at Heathrow. From Heathrow we flew to Philadelphia. We circled around Philly for over an hour due to a bad storm.
From Philly we flew to Portland and arrived in Portland around 10pm. We picked up a rental car (the van I thought I had reserved, wasn't, so we have a new Monte Carlo).
We arrived in Salem around 11:30pm.
We had such a dream-trip, once-in-a-lifetime trip, to the UK. But it feels really good to be home in the states...
Wednesday, June 23: From Jason's Diary
...After breakfast we cleaned the house. (Philip and Jennifer, who are so graciously letting us stay in their home without even meeting us!, are coming back from their holiday).
Then we walked to the train station and caught the train to Hampton Court Palace. This is a Palace built by King Henry VIII; who is famous for his six wives (whose relationship to King Henry is summarized in this way: Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived).
It was, again, another impressive sight, rich in glory and history...
At 2:45 I left the Palace for a nearby Pub to catch the England vs. Slovenia soccer game. I was, of course, rooting for England. It turned out that the US was playing Algeria at the same time (but that game wasn't shown on the Pub tv). So there I was rooting for England, yelling with my mates there, but, also sad that the US hadn't scored against Algeria. England wins...we all shout in gladness, then the news that the US scored with just a minute left came through (which meant that the US won their section and that England, as #2, would have to play Germany next).
So there I was, yelling and shouting about America winning. My new mates in the pub weren't as excited about that as I was.
After the game, I met back up with Jenny and the kids and we grabbed dinner before catching the train back to Farnborough.
I admit I wasn't looking forward to the walk back to our home from the station in Farnborough so it was a very pleasant surprise to be met at the train station by Philip and Jennifer to be carpooled back to their home.
We spent a delightful evening having tea and visiting with our hosts. In an act of great hospitality they slept in their living room and let us stay in our beds for our last night.
I was able to pick Phil's organizational savvy regarding the ministry back in Indy...
Then we walked to the train station and caught the train to Hampton Court Palace. This is a Palace built by King Henry VIII; who is famous for his six wives (whose relationship to King Henry is summarized in this way: Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived).
It was, again, another impressive sight, rich in glory and history...
At 2:45 I left the Palace for a nearby Pub to catch the England vs. Slovenia soccer game. I was, of course, rooting for England. It turned out that the US was playing Algeria at the same time (but that game wasn't shown on the Pub tv). So there I was rooting for England, yelling with my mates there, but, also sad that the US hadn't scored against Algeria. England wins...we all shout in gladness, then the news that the US scored with just a minute left came through (which meant that the US won their section and that England, as #2, would have to play Germany next).
So there I was, yelling and shouting about America winning. My new mates in the pub weren't as excited about that as I was.
After the game, I met back up with Jenny and the kids and we grabbed dinner before catching the train back to Farnborough.
I admit I wasn't looking forward to the walk back to our home from the station in Farnborough so it was a very pleasant surprise to be met at the train station by Philip and Jennifer to be carpooled back to their home.
We spent a delightful evening having tea and visiting with our hosts. In an act of great hospitality they slept in their living room and let us stay in our beds for our last night.
I was able to pick Phil's organizational savvy regarding the ministry back in Indy...
The Longest Day Ever...
I thought about calling this post the longest day ever. But then I thought about calling it the longest plane ride ever. But what I think I finally settled on was, "How good it was to see my parents and how good my bed felt!"
We were supposed to leave London at 12:30pm. Our plane left about 45 min late as we were waiting for a family of 4 to arrive. They arrived but then a man de-boarded the plan because his sister had not shown up and he was worried about her. This meant that they had to unload his luggage and do a standard security check.
Funny thing was we were to arrive in Philiadelphia at 3:50pm. We were flying West and gaining time.
We had trouble landing in Philly due to a summer storm and so we circled for about an hour. What with our delay and the storm we actually deboarded the plane around 5:30pm. Then we had to go through customs and find our connecting flight which was scheduled to leave at 5:50pm. We made it in time as all the other planes that were supposed to take off during to storm had been grounded. We finally boarded at 6:30pm but must have sat on the teramack for 40 min as we waited our turn to take off.
We continued to fly West and the sun was begining to gain ground.
Our arrival in Portland was later than we had expected but it is finally night and the longest day ever was almost over. The sun had now set but we still had a 45 min drive to my parents house. I think I finally went to bed around 11:30pm Pacific Time - which was actually 7:30am England time!
--Jenny
We were supposed to leave London at 12:30pm. Our plane left about 45 min late as we were waiting for a family of 4 to arrive. They arrived but then a man de-boarded the plan because his sister had not shown up and he was worried about her. This meant that they had to unload his luggage and do a standard security check.
Funny thing was we were to arrive in Philiadelphia at 3:50pm. We were flying West and gaining time.
We had trouble landing in Philly due to a summer storm and so we circled for about an hour. What with our delay and the storm we actually deboarded the plane around 5:30pm. Then we had to go through customs and find our connecting flight which was scheduled to leave at 5:50pm. We made it in time as all the other planes that were supposed to take off during to storm had been grounded. We finally boarded at 6:30pm but must have sat on the teramack for 40 min as we waited our turn to take off.
We continued to fly West and the sun was begining to gain ground.
Our arrival in Portland was later than we had expected but it is finally night and the longest day ever was almost over. The sun had now set but we still had a 45 min drive to my parents house. I think I finally went to bed around 11:30pm Pacific Time - which was actually 7:30am England time!
--Jenny
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Graffiti and the City of God
On my train ride into the City (yesterday) I noticed Graffiti on many buildings in London. It reminded me of Indianapolis. I thought about how sin (the vandalism of God's shalom) is part of every city, every human life; and how we will not be able to create an urban utopia, "City of God", in Indianapolis. There was even minor graffiti on the overlook on St. Paul's basilica. As Christians we need to be realistic about the abiding presence of sin, but also hopeful that someday God's kingdom will finally and completely break in; that the eternal City of God, of which we are members, will descend into this world and that the shalom of God will make all things new.
Marketplace Ministry
I visited St. Helens, Bishopgate, in "The City" - the economic, legal, corporate center of London, to experience their dynamic marketplace ministry. I met with the rector, William Taylor, here is what I learned.
It was started by 25 businessmen who met to pray each week for God to establish a gospel platform in the Square Mile. They invited Dick Lucas to speak, brought their friends to hear the gospel, and then encouraged Dick to apply for the vacant post as St. Helens. The strenght of those early days was that these men saw themselves as co-workers in the gospel ministry.
From that time on, the core of the ministry has been faithful, relevant, expository preaching. Week by week, verse by verse.
God has blessed there efforts. Not only is the gospel publicly proclaimed in Bishopgate, bus similar meetings have begun in Canary Wharf, Fleet Street, Aldersgate, London Bridge, Covent Garden, and Westminster.
The ministry is built on "partnership" with Christians in the marketplace who attend, bring their friends to hear the preaching, and who pray for their web of relationships in the marketplace.
I wonder what God is doing, and what God would have us do, in the marketplace in Indianapolis?
It was started by 25 businessmen who met to pray each week for God to establish a gospel platform in the Square Mile. They invited Dick Lucas to speak, brought their friends to hear the gospel, and then encouraged Dick to apply for the vacant post as St. Helens. The strenght of those early days was that these men saw themselves as co-workers in the gospel ministry.
From that time on, the core of the ministry has been faithful, relevant, expository preaching. Week by week, verse by verse.
God has blessed there efforts. Not only is the gospel publicly proclaimed in Bishopgate, bus similar meetings have begun in Canary Wharf, Fleet Street, Aldersgate, London Bridge, Covent Garden, and Westminster.
The ministry is built on "partnership" with Christians in the marketplace who attend, bring their friends to hear the preaching, and who pray for their web of relationships in the marketplace.
I wonder what God is doing, and what God would have us do, in the marketplace in Indianapolis?
Tuesday, June 22nd: From Jason's Diary
I left before the rest of the team for "The City" - the district in London which is the financial, legal, corporate center of the city. My goal was just to "feel" the life of the City, and then to experience the marketplace teaching ministry of St. Helen's, Bishopgate.
On Fleet Street I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon a "Protestant Christian Bookshop". I browsed there for a while, and picked up two books that I had lent out and which were never returned: The Forgotten Spurgeon, by Ian Murray, and the first volume of Dr. Martyn-Lloyd Jones' biography, also by Murray. I also picked up a biography of Wilberforce by John Pollock and a used book called "Urban Harvest" which shares a biblical perspective on Christian mission in the inner cities.
I wound my way up the Strand to St. Helens. I resisted the impulse to stop at the many retail stores selling high end shoes and suits (I like shoes and could easily spend lots of money on them if I had it!).
St. Helens, Bishopgate is surrounded by high rise corporate buildings including Lloyds of London. Over 300,000 work within the Square Mile in which they are located. I attended the Tuesday lunchtime talk that has been going on at St. Helens for many years (originally started by Dick Lucas). Before the talk I had a brief chat with the Rector of St. Helens, William Taylor who shared the essence of what they are doing with their marketplace ministry.
After the talk, I walked back to St. Pauls (which was amazing!) to meet Jenny and the kids. We toured St. Pauls and walked up the stairs to the highest observation point.
After St. Pauls, we walked to Chesire Cheese Factory, a very old pub where Samuel "Dictionary" Johnson as well as Charles Dickens frequented, as well as many other famous individuals such as Voltair, visited...
On Fleet Street I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon a "Protestant Christian Bookshop". I browsed there for a while, and picked up two books that I had lent out and which were never returned: The Forgotten Spurgeon, by Ian Murray, and the first volume of Dr. Martyn-Lloyd Jones' biography, also by Murray. I also picked up a biography of Wilberforce by John Pollock and a used book called "Urban Harvest" which shares a biblical perspective on Christian mission in the inner cities.
I wound my way up the Strand to St. Helens. I resisted the impulse to stop at the many retail stores selling high end shoes and suits (I like shoes and could easily spend lots of money on them if I had it!).
St. Helens, Bishopgate is surrounded by high rise corporate buildings including Lloyds of London. Over 300,000 work within the Square Mile in which they are located. I attended the Tuesday lunchtime talk that has been going on at St. Helens for many years (originally started by Dick Lucas). Before the talk I had a brief chat with the Rector of St. Helens, William Taylor who shared the essence of what they are doing with their marketplace ministry.
After the talk, I walked back to St. Pauls (which was amazing!) to meet Jenny and the kids. We toured St. Pauls and walked up the stairs to the highest observation point.
After St. Pauls, we walked to Chesire Cheese Factory, a very old pub where Samuel "Dictionary" Johnson as well as Charles Dickens frequented, as well as many other famous individuals such as Voltair, visited...
Monday, June 21st: From Jason's Diary
Our big day in London
...We took the train in to Waterloo Station. We crossed the Westminster bridge...
First we visited Westminster Abbey. What a legacy of worship and Christian faith. One is struck by the history as you wander through the Cathedral, noticing the memorials and graves of great Kings and Queens. I was deeply moved in Poet's Corner. Geoffrey Chaucer was the first poet recognized in Westminster. Today in Poet's Corner are the graves and memorials to some of the greatest writers and poets ever to grace the English language: Shakespeare, Tennyson, Spenser, Austin, Longfellow, etc.
After Westminster, we walked past Westminster Chapel where my hero, Dr. Martyn-Lloyd Jones preached. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get into the church to see the sanctuary where we lifted high the glory of God, the grace of Christ, the sinfulness of man, our need for a Savior.
From Westminster Chapel we walked to Buckingham Palace; then along St. James Park to the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms. This was my favorite museum experience. They have done a fabulous job in the Churchill Museum. I was moved to tears as I heard the stirring oratory of Churchill as he "marshalled the English language" and used it as a great weapon of war in the battle against Nazi Tyranny.
We walked to Covent Garden, watched a Street Performer perform; he was very funny. Then bought some cookies for "energy", had dinner at Subway, and eventually wandered back to Waterloo Station.
We finished up our evening watching a World Cup Match at 7:30pm.
...We took the train in to Waterloo Station. We crossed the Westminster bridge...
First we visited Westminster Abbey. What a legacy of worship and Christian faith. One is struck by the history as you wander through the Cathedral, noticing the memorials and graves of great Kings and Queens. I was deeply moved in Poet's Corner. Geoffrey Chaucer was the first poet recognized in Westminster. Today in Poet's Corner are the graves and memorials to some of the greatest writers and poets ever to grace the English language: Shakespeare, Tennyson, Spenser, Austin, Longfellow, etc.
After Westminster, we walked past Westminster Chapel where my hero, Dr. Martyn-Lloyd Jones preached. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get into the church to see the sanctuary where we lifted high the glory of God, the grace of Christ, the sinfulness of man, our need for a Savior.
From Westminster Chapel we walked to Buckingham Palace; then along St. James Park to the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms. This was my favorite museum experience. They have done a fabulous job in the Churchill Museum. I was moved to tears as I heard the stirring oratory of Churchill as he "marshalled the English language" and used it as a great weapon of war in the battle against Nazi Tyranny.
We walked to Covent Garden, watched a Street Performer perform; he was very funny. Then bought some cookies for "energy", had dinner at Subway, and eventually wandered back to Waterloo Station.
We finished up our evening watching a World Cup Match at 7:30pm.
Jenny
On Sunday, June 20th, Jenny and I celebrated in a "wee" little way our 18th wedding anniversary: with tea in the cozy, pretty backyard, English Garden, of our hosts in Farnborough.
With all the good, but real, distractions of kids, parenting, conflict resolution, eating, watching the World Cup, etc. I didn't make time to reflect on my beloved wife and what she means to me but here goes...
When I met her...
She told me her name was "just Jenny", and not Jennifer.
The first day we met Jenny, I, and a friend, Travis had hot chocolate on the overlook at Western Baptist College. It was near that spot, on February 15th, 1988 that I first kissed her. And, on May 23rd (my birthday), 1991 I asked her to marry me.
Jenny has been my best friend and the biggest influence in my life.
I don't deserve her, but my Heavenly Father, in great kindness, gave me a massive gift of a ministering angel.
Jenny is a peacemaker. In her quiet, noble, elegant, funny, beautiful way she listens, investigates, interprets, glues, heals.
A godly wife is a gift from the Lord!
It has been amazing to me to watch God's grace and glory unveiled in her life and soul. She has shown me the beauty of God.
I care about Jenny more than I care about my ministry. If I had to choose one or the other, I would chose Jenny.
I love calling her "sister" as a term of affection. I was happy, in reading through the Song of Solomon a few days ago, to hear the beloved referred to as "my beloved, my sister."
A poem I used to quote to Jenny, and sometimes still do:
Jenny kissed me when we met,
Rising from the chair she sat in,
Time, you thief, who loves to get sweets into your list, put that in
Say I'm weary, say I'm sad, say that health and wealth have missed me
Say I'm growing old but add, Jenny kissed me.
These words from the Song of Solomon are true: true of those who have tasted the joy and dignity and hope and breaking and rebuilding and healing of Christian love! True of my love for Jenny...
"Place me like a seal over your hert,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
it's jealousy unyielding as the grace.
It burns like a mighty fire,
like a mighty flame.
Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away.
If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love,
it would be utterly scorned." (8:6-7)
With all the good, but real, distractions of kids, parenting, conflict resolution, eating, watching the World Cup, etc. I didn't make time to reflect on my beloved wife and what she means to me but here goes...
When I met her...
She told me her name was "just Jenny", and not Jennifer.
The first day we met Jenny, I, and a friend, Travis had hot chocolate on the overlook at Western Baptist College. It was near that spot, on February 15th, 1988 that I first kissed her. And, on May 23rd (my birthday), 1991 I asked her to marry me.
Jenny has been my best friend and the biggest influence in my life.
I don't deserve her, but my Heavenly Father, in great kindness, gave me a massive gift of a ministering angel.
Jenny is a peacemaker. In her quiet, noble, elegant, funny, beautiful way she listens, investigates, interprets, glues, heals.
A godly wife is a gift from the Lord!
It has been amazing to me to watch God's grace and glory unveiled in her life and soul. She has shown me the beauty of God.
I care about Jenny more than I care about my ministry. If I had to choose one or the other, I would chose Jenny.
I love calling her "sister" as a term of affection. I was happy, in reading through the Song of Solomon a few days ago, to hear the beloved referred to as "my beloved, my sister."
A poem I used to quote to Jenny, and sometimes still do:
Jenny kissed me when we met,
Rising from the chair she sat in,
Time, you thief, who loves to get sweets into your list, put that in
Say I'm weary, say I'm sad, say that health and wealth have missed me
Say I'm growing old but add, Jenny kissed me.
These words from the Song of Solomon are true: true of those who have tasted the joy and dignity and hope and breaking and rebuilding and healing of Christian love! True of my love for Jenny...
"Place me like a seal over your hert,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
it's jealousy unyielding as the grace.
It burns like a mighty fire,
like a mighty flame.
Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away.
If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love,
it would be utterly scorned." (8:6-7)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Hampton Court
Wednesday, tomorrow, we leave to visit Hampton Court. Jackie and I will attend King Henry the VIII's wedding. I'm not sure which wife it will be as I understand he "entertained all 6 wives here, some making a brief visit, en route for the scaffold."
We are all looking forward to the garden maze and eating in the kitchen, which in its time fed 600 people 2 meals a day! I can't even imagine...
I have over 400 photos of Hampton Court. The gardens were just beautiful!
---
The following day, Thursday, we head off to the airport for an 11 hour trip back to the States. We land in Portland, Oregon - pick up our mini van and drive 45 min to my parents house in Salem. We will be seeing my sister and her family - they live about 5 min from my parents house as well as my brother and his family - and they live in Dallas - you'll know where it is if your familiar with Oregon. : )
This will be my last post in England...we'll be home soon and I'll post our London pictures when I am able to get wirless for my netbook!
--Jenny
We are all looking forward to the garden maze and eating in the kitchen, which in its time fed 600 people 2 meals a day! I can't even imagine...
I have over 400 photos of Hampton Court. The gardens were just beautiful!
---
The following day, Thursday, we head off to the airport for an 11 hour trip back to the States. We land in Portland, Oregon - pick up our mini van and drive 45 min to my parents house in Salem. We will be seeing my sister and her family - they live about 5 min from my parents house as well as my brother and his family - and they live in Dallas - you'll know where it is if your familiar with Oregon. : )
This will be my last post in England...we'll be home soon and I'll post our London pictures when I am able to get wirless for my netbook!
--Jenny
St. Paul's Cathedral - London
I have to write out the description from the brochure at St. Paul's for you.
"There has been a Cathedral on this site for 1,400 years. It is named after Paul, one of the first Christians who brought the good news of Jesus to Europe. Jews, Christians and Muslims all share the stories of the Jewish scriptures that discovered there is one God. For Christians, the essential nature of God is seen in His son Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus' message of God's love for all so challenged the authorities that he was crucified on Good Friday, but three days later God raised him from the dead.
God's love is stronger than everything that destroys or dehumanises us - and the Cross is now the symbol of God's ceaseless and forgiving love. The Spirit of God awakens people to the fulfilling new life that Jesus delivers to those who trust in him and his way. This Spirit - the very same essence that so stirred the mind and imagination of St. Paul all those centuries ago - similarly inspired those who created this present Cathedral 300 years ago. And it continues to exhilarate and enthrall those who visit and worship in it today."
Paul was a great man but he was stirred by the same spirit that stirs me today. God is the same yesterday, today and for all eternity. The cathedral was simply beautiful - and pointed me by far to a more grand and great God.
----
And yes, I did climb the 257 steps to the Whispering Gallery, 119 steps more to the Stone Gallery and 152 steps to the Golden Gallery where you can get a panoramic view of London. My feet were so clammy I thought I was going to slip right out of my shoes...there was one spot where you could look down through a glass window in the floor. It was about 12 x 12 inches. I was very nervous!
I was also moved by the memorial from the British to the American's who died in WWII. John Donne was also buried here and I have enjoyed some of his poetry.
We ate dinner in another famouse pub - but I'll let Jason tell you that story. : )
--Jenny
"There has been a Cathedral on this site for 1,400 years. It is named after Paul, one of the first Christians who brought the good news of Jesus to Europe. Jews, Christians and Muslims all share the stories of the Jewish scriptures that discovered there is one God. For Christians, the essential nature of God is seen in His son Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus' message of God's love for all so challenged the authorities that he was crucified on Good Friday, but three days later God raised him from the dead.
God's love is stronger than everything that destroys or dehumanises us - and the Cross is now the symbol of God's ceaseless and forgiving love. The Spirit of God awakens people to the fulfilling new life that Jesus delivers to those who trust in him and his way. This Spirit - the very same essence that so stirred the mind and imagination of St. Paul all those centuries ago - similarly inspired those who created this present Cathedral 300 years ago. And it continues to exhilarate and enthrall those who visit and worship in it today."
Paul was a great man but he was stirred by the same spirit that stirs me today. God is the same yesterday, today and for all eternity. The cathedral was simply beautiful - and pointed me by far to a more grand and great God.
----
And yes, I did climb the 257 steps to the Whispering Gallery, 119 steps more to the Stone Gallery and 152 steps to the Golden Gallery where you can get a panoramic view of London. My feet were so clammy I thought I was going to slip right out of my shoes...there was one spot where you could look down through a glass window in the floor. It was about 12 x 12 inches. I was very nervous!
I was also moved by the memorial from the British to the American's who died in WWII. John Donne was also buried here and I have enjoyed some of his poetry.
We ate dinner in another famouse pub - but I'll let Jason tell you that story. : )
--Jenny
Farnborough...
We have been staying at Laura's parents house in Farnborough. It's about a 20 min walk from the train station and a 40 min train trip into London. Laura's parents have graciously allowed us to stay in their home while they were were in Italy.
We have been able to spread out for some much needed family space. The kids have enjoyed british tv and being able to grab a snack whenever they feel like it.
Laura's mom wrote us a welcome note and she begins with, "Welcome to our home, or as they say in Italy, 'La nostra casa, e la sua casa (Our home, is your home)." Of course I felt immediately at home for I often say in Spanish, "Mi casa es su casa" which also means "my house is your house".
Laura's mom closes the letter with a reference from Hebrews 13:2, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." It felt really nice to have someone think of our family as being angelic...which we are for most of the time...but I have had to chuckle as I think back over all the conflict we have had to navigate through over this past month in the UK when you get 6 people together in a small space and take away all their security and comforts! I think in this case we, the Dorsey family, are the ones who have been entertained by angels (Laura's parents)!!
Much thanks goes to Laura's family for the sabbatical rest we have received while in Farnborough.
--Jenny
We have been able to spread out for some much needed family space. The kids have enjoyed british tv and being able to grab a snack whenever they feel like it.
Laura's mom wrote us a welcome note and she begins with, "Welcome to our home, or as they say in Italy, 'La nostra casa, e la sua casa (Our home, is your home)." Of course I felt immediately at home for I often say in Spanish, "Mi casa es su casa" which also means "my house is your house".
Laura's mom closes the letter with a reference from Hebrews 13:2, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." It felt really nice to have someone think of our family as being angelic...which we are for most of the time...but I have had to chuckle as I think back over all the conflict we have had to navigate through over this past month in the UK when you get 6 people together in a small space and take away all their security and comforts! I think in this case we, the Dorsey family, are the ones who have been entertained by angels (Laura's parents)!!
Much thanks goes to Laura's family for the sabbatical rest we have received while in Farnborough.
--Jenny
I'm off to London today with the kids. Jason went in earlier to attend a meeting.
I think we are all beginning to get weary of traveling and the hustle and bustle all around us. We, or I should say Jason and I hate to miss out on our last opportunities! So, off to London to see the Tower it is!
"Mid all the traffic of the way, turmoil without, within,
Make in my heart a quiet place and come and dwell therein.
A little place of mystic grace, of self and sin swept bare,
Where I may look upon Thy face and talk to Thee in prayer."
I think we are all beginning to get weary of traveling and the hustle and bustle all around us. We, or I should say Jason and I hate to miss out on our last opportunities! So, off to London to see the Tower it is!
"Mid all the traffic of the way, turmoil without, within,
Make in my heart a quiet place and come and dwell therein.
A little place of mystic grace, of self and sin swept bare,
Where I may look upon Thy face and talk to Thee in prayer."
Monday, June 21, 2010
Sunday, June 20th: From Jason's Diary
We decided to lay low today. Good decision...
Slept in, leisurely morning. We had lunch, then worshipped together as a family...
I prayed for worship back home and through many of the names in our Parish Roster...
Slept in, leisurely morning. We had lunch, then worshipped together as a family...
I prayed for worship back home and through many of the names in our Parish Roster...
Saturday, June 19th: From Jason's Diary
We had cereal for breakfast, then walked to the Farnborough train station. We arrived at the Waterloo Station in London around 10:30. We walked across the Westminster Bridge, seeing the famous Parliament buildings, with Big Ben, to our left. We wound out way to Trafalgar Square and had lunch at McDonalds.
We spent the next couple of hours at the National Gallery viewing work by Rembrandt, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Turner, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Seurat, Pissaro and many others (there are over 2000 paintings in the Gallery).
We then walked to the Queen Theater in Covent Garden area and saw Les Miserables. It was a powerful performance full of primal human emotions of revenge, forgiveness, justice, mercy, and love...
After returning to our home in Farnborough I finished my PD James mystery, Death of an Expert Witness. To bed around 11pm.
We spent the next couple of hours at the National Gallery viewing work by Rembrandt, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Turner, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Seurat, Pissaro and many others (there are over 2000 paintings in the Gallery).
We then walked to the Queen Theater in Covent Garden area and saw Les Miserables. It was a powerful performance full of primal human emotions of revenge, forgiveness, justice, mercy, and love...
After returning to our home in Farnborough I finished my PD James mystery, Death of an Expert Witness. To bed around 11pm.
Friday, June 18th: From Jason's Diary
We had our last breakfast at Tregrenna, then walked down the hill to the train station. Jenny talked with a man with serious injuries: stitches over his right eye and a leg in a cast. It turned out that he had fallen from the Coast Path, just a few miles south of St. Ives (considered the most challenging climbing of the whole 500+ miles of Coast Path). He had fallen about 15 feet, torn his ACL, and had a huge gash over his right eye. He had managed to hoist himself back up the hill to the path, and a red-haired woman who happened to be a MD had come upon him (his 'angel'). He had been airlifted to a hospital...all very dramatic.
This confirmed my suspicion of how close to death we had been our our climb!
We arrived at the Farnborough train station. We had 30 minutes or so to wait. So we walked to a nearby pub just in time to see the US team tie Slovenia. Everyone in the pub agreed that the goal that was called back against the USA (for being offsides) should have been a goal and the US should have won, but we had to settle for a goal.
Laura Dare (friend who we knew from the States, and had met us in Bath) picked us up and, in two trips, ferried us to her parents house (who are on holiday in Italy). It is a beautiful little house. Very clean and tidy and well organized. Everyone has a bed; and it is exceptionally quiet and peaceful. A perfect place to stage our travels into London.
We had dinner with Laura, worshipped as a family, then watched England draw with Argentina (very disappointing for me, I want England to do well). Then to bed...
This confirmed my suspicion of how close to death we had been our our climb!
We arrived at the Farnborough train station. We had 30 minutes or so to wait. So we walked to a nearby pub just in time to see the US team tie Slovenia. Everyone in the pub agreed that the goal that was called back against the USA (for being offsides) should have been a goal and the US should have won, but we had to settle for a goal.
Laura Dare (friend who we knew from the States, and had met us in Bath) picked us up and, in two trips, ferried us to her parents house (who are on holiday in Italy). It is a beautiful little house. Very clean and tidy and well organized. Everyone has a bed; and it is exceptionally quiet and peaceful. A perfect place to stage our travels into London.
We had dinner with Laura, worshipped as a family, then watched England draw with Argentina (very disappointing for me, I want England to do well). Then to bed...
Thursday, June 21st:From Jason's Diary...
I woke early, had breakfast by myself, and walked south on the Coast Path to get some pictures (I had forgotten the camera on Tuesday)...
It was another clear, sunny day.
Jenny and the kids spent the morning on the beach. When they got cold and climbed the hill to the Tregrenna Castle (our hotel), Jacob stayed on the beach building a sand castle/canal.
Jenny and I walked into St. Ives and had tea and scones, by ourselves. A very special treat...
We ate dinner together at Tregrenna, watched \mexico beat France in their world cup match, and went to bed. A nice, low key day.
It was another clear, sunny day.
Jenny and the kids spent the morning on the beach. When they got cold and climbed the hill to the Tregrenna Castle (our hotel), Jacob stayed on the beach building a sand castle/canal.
Jenny and I walked into St. Ives and had tea and scones, by ourselves. A very special treat...
We ate dinner together at Tregrenna, watched \mexico beat France in their world cup match, and went to bed. A nice, low key day.
Our Tires are getting tired...
Today was another adventure in London. It all began with riding the London Eye. I think this will be a highlight for all of us! Next, off to see Westminster Cathedral and all the dead people buried there. There were many Queens and Kings, Jane Austen and to my surprise, Charles Darwin. I never expected to see him buried in a church! Jason can tell you more as he toured the cathedral with Julian while I rested with the troops outside.
From there we walked up to Buckingham Palace and decided to grab a quick bite for lunch. We stopped at Pizza Express, which sounds quite American and quite quick but is in fact quite Italian and quite comfortable cooking slow. We were all happy though eating somewhat familiar food.
The Queen was in residence but we did not see her, only the guards marching back and forth and three horses/soldiers riding down the mall.
I forgot to tell you that before the palace, we came upon Westminster Abbey where Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones preached. We tried to go inside but could not communicate through the intercom due to loud construction noise in the background. Jason may go back - but we were all still happy to find the church.
From there we went to Churchill's War Rooms. Jason spent a splendid time there while the rest of us opted to lay on the grass and nap. I think it was one of the most delightful moments I had chatting with Judah.
I wanted to see Sherlock Holmes' house but am not sure what I saw - it definitely said "Sherlock Holmes" but I think it was a pub.
By this time we are really getting tired so we decide to go to Convent Gardens and watch some open air street entertainment. Quite fun! We end up eating fresh baked cookies and then head for the train station.
We figure we should eat dinner so what do we find but Subway! I think we are really longing for home and the familiar...
Highlight of the day is arriving at Waterloo Station and Jacob, Julian and Judah reading the train tables and figuring out which platform we need to catch our train. It has taken us some time but we are now beginning to be expert train riders. The kids are able to get up and purchase snacks from the snack bar, use the loo, throw garbage away and share seats with strangers.
-Jenny
From there we walked up to Buckingham Palace and decided to grab a quick bite for lunch. We stopped at Pizza Express, which sounds quite American and quite quick but is in fact quite Italian and quite comfortable cooking slow. We were all happy though eating somewhat familiar food.
The Queen was in residence but we did not see her, only the guards marching back and forth and three horses/soldiers riding down the mall.
I forgot to tell you that before the palace, we came upon Westminster Abbey where Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones preached. We tried to go inside but could not communicate through the intercom due to loud construction noise in the background. Jason may go back - but we were all still happy to find the church.
From there we went to Churchill's War Rooms. Jason spent a splendid time there while the rest of us opted to lay on the grass and nap. I think it was one of the most delightful moments I had chatting with Judah.
I wanted to see Sherlock Holmes' house but am not sure what I saw - it definitely said "Sherlock Holmes" but I think it was a pub.
By this time we are really getting tired so we decide to go to Convent Gardens and watch some open air street entertainment. Quite fun! We end up eating fresh baked cookies and then head for the train station.
We figure we should eat dinner so what do we find but Subway! I think we are really longing for home and the familiar...
Highlight of the day is arriving at Waterloo Station and Jacob, Julian and Judah reading the train tables and figuring out which platform we need to catch our train. It has taken us some time but we are now beginning to be expert train riders. The kids are able to get up and purchase snacks from the snack bar, use the loo, throw garbage away and share seats with strangers.
-Jenny
We met the Man that did survived the Climb of Death...
As far as the climb of death - you'll get a good laugh out of this! As we were waiting for our train to London, a gentleman sat down next to me. I tried hard not to stare at his face and the jagged 3 inch scar that ran across his forehead and above his eye. His eye was all but swollen shut and he looked like something out of Frankenstein. He was using arm crutches to walk along and I must say his knee swung round in an unseemly manor. He was in obvious pain.
After we chatted a bit, I felt it was obvious I should ask what had happened to him -as he did say that he had stayed longer in St. Ives than he had intended...well, it turns out that he had slipped on some of the rocks which he speculates must have been wet due to the spray or tide coming in. Thus his saga of the "Climb of Death" began further up the path with his slipping on wet rocks, gashing his head and mangling his knee something dreadful. Some how he was able to drag himself up to the path and was found by a doctor who then called for help - he was air lifted to the hospital where he stayed for several days!
Turns out he is also an American and professor at a university in Ashford, NC. He is meeting up with a group of his students and they will study at Cambridge for 3 weeks.
Of course I called Jason and the boys over so they could see what could have happened to them! ha ha...I decided not to let my heart think about what could have happened but to dwell on the fact that we were all safe and sound and on our way to London. So, after meeting our new friend, Jason carried his bags and helped him transfer trains till we parted ways in London...
I would have liked to take a picture of our friend...but will have to settle for the memory instead.
-Jenny
After we chatted a bit, I felt it was obvious I should ask what had happened to him -as he did say that he had stayed longer in St. Ives than he had intended...well, it turns out that he had slipped on some of the rocks which he speculates must have been wet due to the spray or tide coming in. Thus his saga of the "Climb of Death" began further up the path with his slipping on wet rocks, gashing his head and mangling his knee something dreadful. Some how he was able to drag himself up to the path and was found by a doctor who then called for help - he was air lifted to the hospital where he stayed for several days!
Turns out he is also an American and professor at a university in Ashford, NC. He is meeting up with a group of his students and they will study at Cambridge for 3 weeks.
Of course I called Jason and the boys over so they could see what could have happened to them! ha ha...I decided not to let my heart think about what could have happened but to dwell on the fact that we were all safe and sound and on our way to London. So, after meeting our new friend, Jason carried his bags and helped him transfer trains till we parted ways in London...
I would have liked to take a picture of our friend...but will have to settle for the memory instead.
-Jenny
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sunday...
We had intended to travel into London again and attend Westminster. Instead, we had a quiet day at home experiencing sabbath rest. We gathered together, sang, read God's Word, and prayed. It was a sweet family time with leisure to discuss the passage we read about Moses.
I think one of the things we will take back from this sabbatical and particularly our time in England and Scotland will be the three families we stayed with and their modeling of family worship for us. I think my kids were all surprised to find other normal families worshiping together.
Family worship is something we have always done since Jacob was about 2yrs old. Now that we have entered Jr. High and High School, life seems to have gotten quite complicated and time for worship has been very challenging as our family is not always together.
I think as a family, we always felt strange or different that we practiced a time for family worship. Yet at the same time, family worship is what grounded us and knit our hearts to God and to each other. In times of stress, sorrow, or great joy we had a place we could turn to with each other in the worship of God.
So here we find our selves in the UK longing for family worship and now each of our children have been the ones encouraging us parents by asking "when will we have family worship today?".
So I asked each of my kids individually how important family worship was to them, what they were willing to sacrifice in order to have it and just plain old how would we do it or make it work with all of our different schedules? Jacob was quite sure that we should carry on without him if he had a late night at school. Some nights he doesn't come home till after dinner, 7, 8 , 9:30pm. I told him that we had a high value to worship all together and that it would be too sad to worship without him...but he insisted that worship was important (and with a tear in his eye) we we did need to carry on.
So, we plan to have worship at dinner time to the best of our ability with whoever is home. We also plan to read scripture in the morning before the kids go off to school. Jackie said she was willing to wake up a little earlier for this as the 3 boys will leave the house at 7:05am.
I was asking one of my friends from her perspective with our daily schedule how we could fit worship in. She told me that she just wouldn't feel right if she missed scripture in the morning and worship at night. It was just like brushing your teeth. I have thought about that quite a bit on this trip especially as we have toured sites of many great reformers and spiritual leaders. How dear they held the Word of God. I would like to take this back with me...
-Jenny
I think one of the things we will take back from this sabbatical and particularly our time in England and Scotland will be the three families we stayed with and their modeling of family worship for us. I think my kids were all surprised to find other normal families worshiping together.
Family worship is something we have always done since Jacob was about 2yrs old. Now that we have entered Jr. High and High School, life seems to have gotten quite complicated and time for worship has been very challenging as our family is not always together.
I think as a family, we always felt strange or different that we practiced a time for family worship. Yet at the same time, family worship is what grounded us and knit our hearts to God and to each other. In times of stress, sorrow, or great joy we had a place we could turn to with each other in the worship of God.
So here we find our selves in the UK longing for family worship and now each of our children have been the ones encouraging us parents by asking "when will we have family worship today?".
So I asked each of my kids individually how important family worship was to them, what they were willing to sacrifice in order to have it and just plain old how would we do it or make it work with all of our different schedules? Jacob was quite sure that we should carry on without him if he had a late night at school. Some nights he doesn't come home till after dinner, 7, 8 , 9:30pm. I told him that we had a high value to worship all together and that it would be too sad to worship without him...but he insisted that worship was important (and with a tear in his eye) we we did need to carry on.
So, we plan to have worship at dinner time to the best of our ability with whoever is home. We also plan to read scripture in the morning before the kids go off to school. Jackie said she was willing to wake up a little earlier for this as the 3 boys will leave the house at 7:05am.
I was asking one of my friends from her perspective with our daily schedule how we could fit worship in. She told me that she just wouldn't feel right if she missed scripture in the morning and worship at night. It was just like brushing your teeth. I have thought about that quite a bit on this trip especially as we have toured sites of many great reformers and spiritual leaders. How dear they held the Word of God. I would like to take this back with me...
-Jenny
London arrival...
It is hard to believe that we are now back to the beginning of where we started our trip - London!
most of our days have had a similar theme. walk to the train, ride the train, walk to what we are seeing, walk back to the train, ride the train, walk back to our b&b. i am starting to hit a wall with walking...it has been fun since it is something we really can't do in the usa. Catching the trains have also been quite a magical experience as a train is always leaving just as we arrive. Little did I realize that a train leaves every 15 minutes or so!
Yesterday we walked by Big Ben, Parliament, Winston Churchill's War Rooms, Scotland Yard, and the Eye of London. We saw the National Gallery (on Trafalgar Square) and I tried to impresson my children with the paintings done by Degas, Cezanne, Monet, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. At one point, the light went on for Jackie as she saw her first painting that she recognized!
Next we left the museum and wondered up the street to Queens Theater to see Les Mis. This was one of the things I wanted to particularly do in London. Jason and I saw the show in Portland, Oregon before kids...it was a great way to celebrate our 18th wedding aniversary!!
One of the most stressful parts of our trip has been eating out. It takes so much time to order, wait for the food to come and I forgot to say - trying to find a place to eat that we can all agree on in the first place! So as we left the theater, Jacob's personal preference was that we find a place to eat as soon as possible. We eneded up eating right across the street at a China Buffet. It was close, it was fast (it had a buffet line) but it didn't necessarily have chinese foods we would find at an American buffet...oh well, Jason and I really enjoyed the food and Jackie had several chicken skewers.
On our walk back to the train, Jason encouraged us all on by purchasing ice cream cones! We made it home safe and sound. I found a movie for Jackie to watch and I promptly fell asleep only to wake up in time to put Jackie to bed - were I joined her once again. I think I went to sleep at 8pm and didn't get up till 9:30am the next day!
--Jenny
most of our days have had a similar theme. walk to the train, ride the train, walk to what we are seeing, walk back to the train, ride the train, walk back to our b&b. i am starting to hit a wall with walking...it has been fun since it is something we really can't do in the usa. Catching the trains have also been quite a magical experience as a train is always leaving just as we arrive. Little did I realize that a train leaves every 15 minutes or so!
Yesterday we walked by Big Ben, Parliament, Winston Churchill's War Rooms, Scotland Yard, and the Eye of London. We saw the National Gallery (on Trafalgar Square) and I tried to impresson my children with the paintings done by Degas, Cezanne, Monet, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. At one point, the light went on for Jackie as she saw her first painting that she recognized!
Next we left the museum and wondered up the street to Queens Theater to see Les Mis. This was one of the things I wanted to particularly do in London. Jason and I saw the show in Portland, Oregon before kids...it was a great way to celebrate our 18th wedding aniversary!!
One of the most stressful parts of our trip has been eating out. It takes so much time to order, wait for the food to come and I forgot to say - trying to find a place to eat that we can all agree on in the first place! So as we left the theater, Jacob's personal preference was that we find a place to eat as soon as possible. We eneded up eating right across the street at a China Buffet. It was close, it was fast (it had a buffet line) but it didn't necessarily have chinese foods we would find at an American buffet...oh well, Jason and I really enjoyed the food and Jackie had several chicken skewers.
On our walk back to the train, Jason encouraged us all on by purchasing ice cream cones! We made it home safe and sound. I found a movie for Jackie to watch and I promptly fell asleep only to wake up in time to put Jackie to bed - were I joined her once again. I think I went to sleep at 8pm and didn't get up till 9:30am the next day!
--Jenny
Friday, June 18, 2010
Off to London...
Today we leave Tregenna Castle, the sandy beaches and beautiful weather. We will arrive in London sometime this evening and meet up with Laura. She will then help us get settled in her parents home.
Three weeks down, one to go. Can't wait to return to the USA!
Three weeks down, one to go. Can't wait to return to the USA!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
I was going to St. Ives...but I was the wife with 7 packs!
I've been trying to think of a limerick for how I arrived at St. Ives...
I was going to St. Ives,
I was the wife with 7 packs,
7 packs but only 3 backs...
Actually, I was going to Pendeen,
to the Inn sight unseen.
With me were my 7 packs,
on a bus with Judah and Jacks.
I'll have to work on this some more...
We left Bath in the morning in time to catch the train for Penzance. Ate lunch on the train to save time once we arrived in Penzance. Upon arriving in Penzance, Jason found a bus for Jackie, Judah and I to catch and it literally was leaving as we heaved all our stuff on board. I have the name of the town and the B&B we will be staying at but I have no sense beyond that as to where I will get off the bus and how I will find our B&B.
As I'm leafing through the bus timetable trying to make sense of the whirlwind I begin to laugh because I realize I really have no idea where I am! I ask the lady next to me and she says, "Not to worry," that's her stop too and she'll point the way to the Inn for me.
Judah, Jackie and I struggle off the bus for we now have our own packs plus Jason and Julian's - Jacob kept his which really ended up helping us. Lucky for us, the Inn was only 1 block from the bus stop. I walked in to the pub and couldn't tell where the registration desk was - so I walk back out and looked around...then walked back in and approached the men at the bar.
I asked where we could check in and the man at the bar looked at me very funny like. He asked my name and then he told me we had booked for the day before! So here I was with my 7 packs and two kids supposedly waiting for Jason to arrive after his 10 mile hike. We were going to drop our bags off and walk backward to meet him and the boys and show them the way to the Inn...
I tell the man at the bar my situation and ask for his suggestions. He calls around but no one answers. So I think, maybe Jason got our next hotel wrong and we are booked there for the night. I call but no, we are supposed to arrive the next night. Finally, I am able to make reservations for that night and I am so thankful that I have a place to sleep!
Next dilemma to tackle is how to get to St. Ives. The man at the bar asks me how I will go and I tell him all I have is my feet and my purse! Lucky for us, a bus would be coming by in 5 min. So out I run telling Judah and Jackie to follow me and I would explain it all later!!!
We caught the bus just in time and loaded all our stuff on. I barley had enough change to cover our 40 min trip. After catching my breath, I realized our bus was a double decker and motioned for Jackie and Judah to follow me up top. What a view. Finally our "tires" had wheels to them and I thought of Jason and the boys having to walk along leisurely while we sat in style seeing the same thing they were! Little did I know to worry about their adventures...
That's when I realized again that I had no idea where St. Ives was and how I would know to get off the bus. So I ask again to the crowd, "Does anyone know where St. Ives is?" The lady next to me says it is her stop and she will point me the way to Tregenna Castle where we will stay for 3 nights.
Where would you find a castle but up hill! So up, up, up the three of us walk. We check in, the kids watch tv while I try to figure out how to contact Jason and let him know where to catch up to us. My cell phone is dead and then when I plug it in I still have no coverage. So then I think I'll send him an email...how he will check I don't know but at least it is information. Next I try Skype but can only leave him a text message - by then I have no idea if he has cell coverage but I figure that Jason and the boys are all having adventures and that we may as well enjoy our own lovely castle!
We eat a late dinner and return to our room. I prepare the kids and tell them to expect dad the next night...when I hear footsteps coming down the hall...what a happy reuniting moment it was.
Well, all for now..
-Jenny
I was going to St. Ives,
I was the wife with 7 packs,
7 packs but only 3 backs...
Actually, I was going to Pendeen,
to the Inn sight unseen.
With me were my 7 packs,
on a bus with Judah and Jacks.
I'll have to work on this some more...
We left Bath in the morning in time to catch the train for Penzance. Ate lunch on the train to save time once we arrived in Penzance. Upon arriving in Penzance, Jason found a bus for Jackie, Judah and I to catch and it literally was leaving as we heaved all our stuff on board. I have the name of the town and the B&B we will be staying at but I have no sense beyond that as to where I will get off the bus and how I will find our B&B.
As I'm leafing through the bus timetable trying to make sense of the whirlwind I begin to laugh because I realize I really have no idea where I am! I ask the lady next to me and she says, "Not to worry," that's her stop too and she'll point the way to the Inn for me.
Judah, Jackie and I struggle off the bus for we now have our own packs plus Jason and Julian's - Jacob kept his which really ended up helping us. Lucky for us, the Inn was only 1 block from the bus stop. I walked in to the pub and couldn't tell where the registration desk was - so I walk back out and looked around...then walked back in and approached the men at the bar.
I asked where we could check in and the man at the bar looked at me very funny like. He asked my name and then he told me we had booked for the day before! So here I was with my 7 packs and two kids supposedly waiting for Jason to arrive after his 10 mile hike. We were going to drop our bags off and walk backward to meet him and the boys and show them the way to the Inn...
I tell the man at the bar my situation and ask for his suggestions. He calls around but no one answers. So I think, maybe Jason got our next hotel wrong and we are booked there for the night. I call but no, we are supposed to arrive the next night. Finally, I am able to make reservations for that night and I am so thankful that I have a place to sleep!
Next dilemma to tackle is how to get to St. Ives. The man at the bar asks me how I will go and I tell him all I have is my feet and my purse! Lucky for us, a bus would be coming by in 5 min. So out I run telling Judah and Jackie to follow me and I would explain it all later!!!
We caught the bus just in time and loaded all our stuff on. I barley had enough change to cover our 40 min trip. After catching my breath, I realized our bus was a double decker and motioned for Jackie and Judah to follow me up top. What a view. Finally our "tires" had wheels to them and I thought of Jason and the boys having to walk along leisurely while we sat in style seeing the same thing they were! Little did I know to worry about their adventures...
That's when I realized again that I had no idea where St. Ives was and how I would know to get off the bus. So I ask again to the crowd, "Does anyone know where St. Ives is?" The lady next to me says it is her stop and she will point me the way to Tregenna Castle where we will stay for 3 nights.
Where would you find a castle but up hill! So up, up, up the three of us walk. We check in, the kids watch tv while I try to figure out how to contact Jason and let him know where to catch up to us. My cell phone is dead and then when I plug it in I still have no coverage. So then I think I'll send him an email...how he will check I don't know but at least it is information. Next I try Skype but can only leave him a text message - by then I have no idea if he has cell coverage but I figure that Jason and the boys are all having adventures and that we may as well enjoy our own lovely castle!
We eat a late dinner and return to our room. I prepare the kids and tell them to expect dad the next night...when I hear footsteps coming down the hall...what a happy reuniting moment it was.
Well, all for now..
-Jenny
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The Climb of Death
One of my dreams has been to go for a walking trip along the Coastal Path in the south of England.
So yesterday, Jacob, Julian and I set out from Land's End. The Coastal Path is beautiful, but challenging as a path. It winds up and down, along the edges of cliffs; we climbed over, through, and up and down rock outcroppings.
In a couple of places it was unclear as to where the path was...One of those occasions we have named the "Climb of Death".
We had come to a small cove. Their was a place for cars to park and a few people wandering around. The path seemed go travel along the large (3-5 foot tall boulders). There was, in fact, a man made cement pathway on top of the rocks which we took to be the path.
There was an older couple that looked like they had been hiking the path (they had walking sticks) going the opposite direction we were. I asked them where the path was. They said something like... "Tide is coming in, can't go that way"...But it was unclear exactly what they meant so we pressed on.
By this time we were climbing over huge stones that had fallen over the path. To our left was the Atlantic Ocean. The tide was coming in. To our right was a high steep hill. At one point, we realized that there was no getting over the rock we were on; we backtracked, found another...
By this time we were at the foot of the hill/cliff. It looked like, if we could scale it, we would be able to meet with the coast path at the top of the hill.
Jacob said, "Let's do this."
Julian started up. Julian has a fear of heights so I was amazed at how fast he was moving up the hill. Later he said that the "fear of death" makes one perform at a "high level."
Halfway up the hill I looked back. It was a long way down. A slip and we were dead, smashed on the jagged rocks far below.
Finally, Julian scrambled over the top. The last 10 yards or so seemed like a 90% angle (even though I'm sure it wasn't). At that point I made a major mistake. I looked back and thought to myself.
"Oh my goodness. What have I done. One of us is going to die."
Jacob said, "Dad, stop for a minute." We rested. I was worried that the backpack he carried was making it hard for him to stay close to, grip the grass.
He said he was ok.
There was nothing to do but go forward. My legs were shaking. I grabbed the turf, sunk my fingers deep in the soil, and scrambled, up, and over, the top of the cliff. Soon Jacob followed.
The worst was over. But we found out that we still had a climb ahead of us. Our legs and hands got torn by the blackberries and gorse (?) prickly bushes. But, we didn't care, we were alive!
Finally, we came to the top of the hill. There was the path. Two hikers were walking past; they had a strange look on their face as they saw us coming towards them, sweating, bloody, chests heaving, etc.
I turned to Julian: "You passed the test, son; you faced the greatest fear of all, death. You looked it in the face and went on."
So yesterday, Jacob, Julian and I set out from Land's End. The Coastal Path is beautiful, but challenging as a path. It winds up and down, along the edges of cliffs; we climbed over, through, and up and down rock outcroppings.
In a couple of places it was unclear as to where the path was...One of those occasions we have named the "Climb of Death".
We had come to a small cove. Their was a place for cars to park and a few people wandering around. The path seemed go travel along the large (3-5 foot tall boulders). There was, in fact, a man made cement pathway on top of the rocks which we took to be the path.
There was an older couple that looked like they had been hiking the path (they had walking sticks) going the opposite direction we were. I asked them where the path was. They said something like... "Tide is coming in, can't go that way"...But it was unclear exactly what they meant so we pressed on.
By this time we were climbing over huge stones that had fallen over the path. To our left was the Atlantic Ocean. The tide was coming in. To our right was a high steep hill. At one point, we realized that there was no getting over the rock we were on; we backtracked, found another...
By this time we were at the foot of the hill/cliff. It looked like, if we could scale it, we would be able to meet with the coast path at the top of the hill.
Jacob said, "Let's do this."
Julian started up. Julian has a fear of heights so I was amazed at how fast he was moving up the hill. Later he said that the "fear of death" makes one perform at a "high level."
Halfway up the hill I looked back. It was a long way down. A slip and we were dead, smashed on the jagged rocks far below.
Finally, Julian scrambled over the top. The last 10 yards or so seemed like a 90% angle (even though I'm sure it wasn't). At that point I made a major mistake. I looked back and thought to myself.
"Oh my goodness. What have I done. One of us is going to die."
Jacob said, "Dad, stop for a minute." We rested. I was worried that the backpack he carried was making it hard for him to stay close to, grip the grass.
He said he was ok.
There was nothing to do but go forward. My legs were shaking. I grabbed the turf, sunk my fingers deep in the soil, and scrambled, up, and over, the top of the cliff. Soon Jacob followed.
The worst was over. But we found out that we still had a climb ahead of us. Our legs and hands got torn by the blackberries and gorse (?) prickly bushes. But, we didn't care, we were alive!
Finally, we came to the top of the hill. There was the path. Two hikers were walking past; they had a strange look on their face as they saw us coming towards them, sweating, bloody, chests heaving, etc.
I turned to Julian: "You passed the test, son; you faced the greatest fear of all, death. You looked it in the face and went on."
Tuesday, June 15th: From Jason's Diary...
Woke early. Breakfasted at 8:00am (Hilton had an amazing spread!) We walked to the train station and found the train bound for Penzance just about to pull out so we jumped on.
The train trip through Devon and then Cornwall was spectacular. At one point we were following the Coastline, with the red rock cliffs juxtaposed against the blue of the Atlantic, and the quaint seaside towns tucked in harbors. We took our lunch on the train.
It was an absolutely clear day. Not a cloud in the sky.
We arrived in Penzance. From the train station, to the north, we could see St. Michael's Mount, a castle built on a small island that can be walked to when the tide is out.
Jenny, Judah and Jackie took a bus to Pendeen. They also carried Julian and my backpacks. Jacob kept his backpack (which turned out a very good thing). I forgot to grab the camera (which turned out to be a very bad thing).
Jacob, Julian and I caught a double decker, open air bus, to Land's End. From Land's End the plan was to walk to Pendeen, about an 11 mile walk.
The scenery along the coastal path was breathtaking. It was great to push ourselves physically. There was a lot of climbing up and down steep incline, navigating over and through rocks, as well as straightforward open stretches. Down below us we saw beaches (with surfers) and then the rugged coastline dominated.
A couple of times we lost the path. One of those times was almost fatal (SEE MY NEXT BLOG ON THE CLIMB OF DEATH).
Finally we arrived at the Pendeen Lighthouse. We then wound our way into Pendeen and found the North Inn. We were looking forward to being reunited with Jenny, Judah and Jackie. But at the bar, when I asked what room they were in, the bartender informed me that I had booked for the night before, that there were no openings that night, and that Jenny and the kids had called the Tregrenna CAstle Hotel (where we were going to be spending the following two nights) and had gotten us a room for that night too!
So we had to catch a bus back to Penzance and then another bus to St. Ives.
We had about 45 minutes before the bus arrived. So we ordered burgers. I asked a kindly looking older couple sitting not far from us if they knew anyone that could take us to ST. Ives for 20 pounds (we were desperate :). They said they didn't (they were on holiday too), but that they could take us to Penzance. So we had a nice drive and chat with them. In Penzance we waited for the bus for about 1/2 an hour. We finally arrived in St. Ives and climbed the hill to Tregrenna castle about 9:15pm.
That night, before sleep, we all shared stories of our adventures. It was good to be reunited!...
The train trip through Devon and then Cornwall was spectacular. At one point we were following the Coastline, with the red rock cliffs juxtaposed against the blue of the Atlantic, and the quaint seaside towns tucked in harbors. We took our lunch on the train.
It was an absolutely clear day. Not a cloud in the sky.
We arrived in Penzance. From the train station, to the north, we could see St. Michael's Mount, a castle built on a small island that can be walked to when the tide is out.
Jenny, Judah and Jackie took a bus to Pendeen. They also carried Julian and my backpacks. Jacob kept his backpack (which turned out a very good thing). I forgot to grab the camera (which turned out to be a very bad thing).
Jacob, Julian and I caught a double decker, open air bus, to Land's End. From Land's End the plan was to walk to Pendeen, about an 11 mile walk.
The scenery along the coastal path was breathtaking. It was great to push ourselves physically. There was a lot of climbing up and down steep incline, navigating over and through rocks, as well as straightforward open stretches. Down below us we saw beaches (with surfers) and then the rugged coastline dominated.
A couple of times we lost the path. One of those times was almost fatal (SEE MY NEXT BLOG ON THE CLIMB OF DEATH).
Finally we arrived at the Pendeen Lighthouse. We then wound our way into Pendeen and found the North Inn. We were looking forward to being reunited with Jenny, Judah and Jackie. But at the bar, when I asked what room they were in, the bartender informed me that I had booked for the night before, that there were no openings that night, and that Jenny and the kids had called the Tregrenna CAstle Hotel (where we were going to be spending the following two nights) and had gotten us a room for that night too!
So we had to catch a bus back to Penzance and then another bus to St. Ives.
We had about 45 minutes before the bus arrived. So we ordered burgers. I asked a kindly looking older couple sitting not far from us if they knew anyone that could take us to ST. Ives for 20 pounds (we were desperate :). They said they didn't (they were on holiday too), but that they could take us to Penzance. So we had a nice drive and chat with them. In Penzance we waited for the bus for about 1/2 an hour. We finally arrived in St. Ives and climbed the hill to Tregrenna castle about 9:15pm.
That night, before sleep, we all shared stories of our adventures. It was good to be reunited!...
Monday, June 14th continued
Jenny and the kids met up with us at 10am. Peter walked with us to the train station.
We caught the train to Bath. Bath is, from an architecture and landscape perspective, a beautiful city.
We met up with Laura Dare. She had attended Redeemer for a year (internship with Rolls Royce). She has moved back to the Bristol area. She led us around Bath. Jenny stopped at a dollhouse store. We had a delicious dinner together. Walked back to our hotel and had a good night sleep.
We caught the train to Bath. Bath is, from an architecture and landscape perspective, a beautiful city.
We met up with Laura Dare. She had attended Redeemer for a year (internship with Rolls Royce). She has moved back to the Bristol area. She led us around Bath. Jenny stopped at a dollhouse store. We had a delicious dinner together. Walked back to our hotel and had a good night sleep.
Monday, June 14th
8:45am. I walked to St. Aldates to meet with Peter Tepper who is over college ministry at St. Aldates. We grabbed coffee. It turns out that Peter is an ordained minister in the EPC (Evangelical Presbyterian Church). He and his wife have been ministering in Oxford for about 7 years. We walked around the grounds of Christ Church (where Whitefield and Wesley would have 2 hour prayer walks).
I asked Peter about three aspects of St. Aldate's ministry. Here are some the things we discussed:
1. Prayer Ministry.
A. They have been working on building a culture of prayer for the last six years. It has been slow going, but people are beginning to catch the bug.
B. They have a room set aside (in another building) for prayer. It is called the Catacombs. They had an artist design the room. One wall used postcard sized images, put together on the wall they presented a view of the Oxford Skyline (this was for prayer for the city); another walll had an image/map of the world (prayer for world); another wall had scriptural quotes. This was the door you entered through to come into the catacombs.
C. To learn more about the details of their prayer ministry check out their web sight.
2. Ministry Internships
A. In England, they have a thing called the "gap year". During this year many students do internships.
B. They have 16 interns right now.
C. Each staff has 3/4 interns that they oversee.
D. The interns are required to serve in one worship service, and worship in another.
E. On Monday and Tuesday, the interns attend classes and seminars (many of these are put on by other organizations, Razi Zacharias ministries, etc) on evangelism, theology, apologetics, etc.
F. They work for the staff on Wed and Thursday, and have Friday off
G. The interns raise $, and pay for their own internship (something like 3,000 or 7,000 pounds). Most of this goes for room and board and a mission trip they go on. The church doesn't make any money, actually loses a little bit, on this program.
H. They have released a lot of people into marketplace and church ministry through it.
3. Regarding College Ministry
A. There are advantages to being church based vs. parachurch.
B. Get your college ministers when they are young, before they have kids :)
C. Either get a husband/wife team or hire both a guy and girl to lead the college ministry. A female leader is important in discipling college girls.
D. Use food. Once a week they serve a meal and fellowship.
E. Find creative ways to do evangelism, build bridges; 2X a year they have an evangelistic, black tie formal dinner. Afterwords they have a brief evangelistic message with next steps (like Alpha) for people who want to investigate Christianity more.
I asked Peter about three aspects of St. Aldate's ministry. Here are some the things we discussed:
1. Prayer Ministry.
A. They have been working on building a culture of prayer for the last six years. It has been slow going, but people are beginning to catch the bug.
B. They have a room set aside (in another building) for prayer. It is called the Catacombs. They had an artist design the room. One wall used postcard sized images, put together on the wall they presented a view of the Oxford Skyline (this was for prayer for the city); another walll had an image/map of the world (prayer for world); another wall had scriptural quotes. This was the door you entered through to come into the catacombs.
C. To learn more about the details of their prayer ministry check out their web sight.
2. Ministry Internships
A. In England, they have a thing called the "gap year". During this year many students do internships.
B. They have 16 interns right now.
C. Each staff has 3/4 interns that they oversee.
D. The interns are required to serve in one worship service, and worship in another.
E. On Monday and Tuesday, the interns attend classes and seminars (many of these are put on by other organizations, Razi Zacharias ministries, etc) on evangelism, theology, apologetics, etc.
F. They work for the staff on Wed and Thursday, and have Friday off
G. The interns raise $, and pay for their own internship (something like 3,000 or 7,000 pounds). Most of this goes for room and board and a mission trip they go on. The church doesn't make any money, actually loses a little bit, on this program.
H. They have released a lot of people into marketplace and church ministry through it.
3. Regarding College Ministry
A. There are advantages to being church based vs. parachurch.
B. Get your college ministers when they are young, before they have kids :)
C. Either get a husband/wife team or hire both a guy and girl to lead the college ministry. A female leader is important in discipling college girls.
D. Use food. Once a week they serve a meal and fellowship.
E. Find creative ways to do evangelism, build bridges; 2X a year they have an evangelistic, black tie formal dinner. Afterwords they have a brief evangelistic message with next steps (like Alpha) for people who want to investigate Christianity more.
Sunday, June 13th: From Jason's Diary
We worshipped at St. Adlates which is across the street from Christ Church. St. Adlates has been a worshipping Christian community for over 900 years. I was struck with its live and vitality, a thoughtful blend of tradition and contemporary mediusms.
The floor was carpeted (they had to pay historic specialists 200,000 pounds to have the original floor prepared for carpet. Around one pillar they found six graves, all facing east awaiting the resurrection. Rather than worshipping longways, facing east, they have turned the worship to make the seating wide, a semi-circle (which emphasizes immanence over transcedence) They use powerpoint on one large screen, and numerous tv screens that have been placed on the pillars.
The church was alive with children. There must have been 400+ in the service. The 10:30 service is made up of mainly families, the 6:15 of urban professionals (singles, married without kids), and the 8:15 service with more a focus on college students/grad students.
The minister preached from Romans 12: "Never be lacking in zeal, keep your spiritual ferfor, serving the Lord." He referred to the zeal and spiritual fervor of Whitefild and the Wesleys. I had forgotten, but Whitefield was a student at Pembroke College; he had been struggling with works/faith, and when the "penny dropped" (of justification by faith in Jesus) he ran into the sanctuary of St. Aldates church, threw himself on the floor and wept. He refers back to that day as the "day of his espousal to Christ."
He referred to the challenge of Wesley which I'll butcher but went something like this: "Do all he good you can, with all the means you have, at every moment, to all the people you can, for as long as you live."
Michael Green, a former rector, who has written elequently on evangelism was honored at the service. It is encouraging to see the life and work of God's Spirit, as we have, throughout the UK.
After services, we walked back to our B & B. Then Judah and I sat out for Blenheim Palace, one of the largest palaces in England, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. It was a grand adventure. First we grabbed lunch from McDonalds and ate it under the statues to the martyrs Cranmer, Ridley and Latimer. Then we rode a double decker bus to Blenheim.
All I can say is that it was amazing.
Judah and I were so moved by it all that we both made resolutions...
The floor was carpeted (they had to pay historic specialists 200,000 pounds to have the original floor prepared for carpet. Around one pillar they found six graves, all facing east awaiting the resurrection. Rather than worshipping longways, facing east, they have turned the worship to make the seating wide, a semi-circle (which emphasizes immanence over transcedence) They use powerpoint on one large screen, and numerous tv screens that have been placed on the pillars.
The church was alive with children. There must have been 400+ in the service. The 10:30 service is made up of mainly families, the 6:15 of urban professionals (singles, married without kids), and the 8:15 service with more a focus on college students/grad students.
The minister preached from Romans 12: "Never be lacking in zeal, keep your spiritual ferfor, serving the Lord." He referred to the zeal and spiritual fervor of Whitefild and the Wesleys. I had forgotten, but Whitefield was a student at Pembroke College; he had been struggling with works/faith, and when the "penny dropped" (of justification by faith in Jesus) he ran into the sanctuary of St. Aldates church, threw himself on the floor and wept. He refers back to that day as the "day of his espousal to Christ."
He referred to the challenge of Wesley which I'll butcher but went something like this: "Do all he good you can, with all the means you have, at every moment, to all the people you can, for as long as you live."
Michael Green, a former rector, who has written elequently on evangelism was honored at the service. It is encouraging to see the life and work of God's Spirit, as we have, throughout the UK.
After services, we walked back to our B & B. Then Judah and I sat out for Blenheim Palace, one of the largest palaces in England, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. It was a grand adventure. First we grabbed lunch from McDonalds and ate it under the statues to the martyrs Cranmer, Ridley and Latimer. Then we rode a double decker bus to Blenheim.
All I can say is that it was amazing.
Judah and I were so moved by it all that we both made resolutions...
Monday, June 14, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Saturday, June 12th: From Jason's Diary...
Caught the train to Oxford.
We walked to our bed and breakfast, Newton House. They didn't have our rooms reserved. It turned out that I had made a mistake and booked two nights earlier.
Fortunately, the host of the Newton house found a B & B a few houses down from the Newton House...
We walked through Oxford and found the Eagle and Child pub where Lewis, Tolkien and the Inklings famously met once a week...After lunch Jenny, Julian, Judah and Jackie walked back to rooms; Jacob and I set out to explore Oxford; Jacob soon got impatient with my meandering and went on ahead). I browsed Blackwell Bookshop, took photos of the Bodleian library, bought Jacob an Oxford hoody.
The highlight: meandering through the grounds of Magdelen University, where C.S. Lewis served as a tutor than professor for so many years. I took a ton of pictures. Very beautiful.
Bought Joachim Jeremias' "The Central Message of the New Testament"...
Got home in time to watch England vs. USA in the world cup.
We walked to our bed and breakfast, Newton House. They didn't have our rooms reserved. It turned out that I had made a mistake and booked two nights earlier.
Fortunately, the host of the Newton house found a B & B a few houses down from the Newton House...
We walked through Oxford and found the Eagle and Child pub where Lewis, Tolkien and the Inklings famously met once a week...After lunch Jenny, Julian, Judah and Jackie walked back to rooms; Jacob and I set out to explore Oxford; Jacob soon got impatient with my meandering and went on ahead). I browsed Blackwell Bookshop, took photos of the Bodleian library, bought Jacob an Oxford hoody.
The highlight: meandering through the grounds of Magdelen University, where C.S. Lewis served as a tutor than professor for so many years. I took a ton of pictures. Very beautiful.
Bought Joachim Jeremias' "The Central Message of the New Testament"...
Got home in time to watch England vs. USA in the world cup.
Friday, June 11th, From Jason's Diary
Judah was coughing this morning (5am). I put some oils on him and we both fell back to sleep...
Jacob and I walked around Stratford, both on our own. It is great having a kid you can send off on his own and know he'll be ok!
I walked to Trinity Church (where Shakespeare is buried). Visited the home where Shakespeare was born...
Returned in time to watch the opening of the world opening: Mexico vs. South Africa...
At 5:30pm went for dinner at an Italian restaurant. Quite a feast. Then walked to the Courtyard Theater, temporary home of the Royal Shakespeare Company while their 1000 seat theater is being built/renovated? We saw Thomas Mallory's Morte De Artur.
A highlight of the show: Artur was played by Sam Troughton who played "Much" (sp?) in the television series "Robin Hood" that Jenny was watching with the kids. The program began at 7:15. Halfway through the third and last part, the climax, "The Morte De Artur", the Director came out on stage and told the audience that one of the actors was sick (it turned out to be Troughton) and that the rest of the show, unfortunately, had to be canceled. It was about 10:50pm at that time.
We walked home and went to bed.
Jacob and I walked around Stratford, both on our own. It is great having a kid you can send off on his own and know he'll be ok!
I walked to Trinity Church (where Shakespeare is buried). Visited the home where Shakespeare was born...
Returned in time to watch the opening of the world opening: Mexico vs. South Africa...
At 5:30pm went for dinner at an Italian restaurant. Quite a feast. Then walked to the Courtyard Theater, temporary home of the Royal Shakespeare Company while their 1000 seat theater is being built/renovated? We saw Thomas Mallory's Morte De Artur.
A highlight of the show: Artur was played by Sam Troughton who played "Much" (sp?) in the television series "Robin Hood" that Jenny was watching with the kids. The program began at 7:15. Halfway through the third and last part, the climax, "The Morte De Artur", the Director came out on stage and told the audience that one of the actors was sick (it turned out to be Troughton) and that the rest of the show, unfortunately, had to be canceled. It was about 10:50pm at that time.
We walked home and went to bed.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Hi...
Hi Everyone, We miss you all! Between foraging for food, traveling on the train, walking several miles each day - there is not a lot of time to blog!
I am sorry the slide shows are so long but I can't bear to cut any pictures out. If I get some time, I'll try to figure out how to group the slides into smaller shows. Don't forget to go back to old posts because I have been adding slide shows.
It has been so beautiful but I for one, am ready to come home!
-Jenny
I am sorry the slide shows are so long but I can't bear to cut any pictures out. If I get some time, I'll try to figure out how to group the slides into smaller shows. Don't forget to go back to old posts because I have been adding slide shows.
It has been so beautiful but I for one, am ready to come home!
-Jenny
Thursday, June 10th, From Jason's Diary...
Had breakfast at the Holmlea House. I left early to post some gifts and books to family members...
Today was a travel day. Train to Oxenholme. Then Preston. Then a two more links. Finally we arrived at Stratford-Upon-Avon.
It was about 3pm. We were hungry (hadn't had lunch yet). We decided to grab lunch then find our hotel. We walked into Stratford.
Jacob said, "Let's go to the Hotel first to drop off our stuff, then go to lunch."
Thinking that he was messing with our plan I snapped: "No! We're going to lunch first! Then we'll find our Hotel!"
Jacob smiled and said, "Dad, look behind you."
I turned. We were standing right in front of the White Swan Hotel, where we had reservations. We all laughed. Unloaded our stuff and had a big lunch (we ended up not having dinner because we ate so late in the day).
The White Swan Hotel was operating 100 years before Shakespeare was born in Stratford!
Today was a travel day. Train to Oxenholme. Then Preston. Then a two more links. Finally we arrived at Stratford-Upon-Avon.
It was about 3pm. We were hungry (hadn't had lunch yet). We decided to grab lunch then find our hotel. We walked into Stratford.
Jacob said, "Let's go to the Hotel first to drop off our stuff, then go to lunch."
Thinking that he was messing with our plan I snapped: "No! We're going to lunch first! Then we'll find our Hotel!"
Jacob smiled and said, "Dad, look behind you."
I turned. We were standing right in front of the White Swan Hotel, where we had reservations. We all laughed. Unloaded our stuff and had a big lunch (we ended up not having dinner because we ate so late in the day).
The White Swan Hotel was operating 100 years before Shakespeare was born in Stratford!
Wednesday, June 9th, From Jason's Diary
Grabbed breakfast at Starbucks and caught the train from Central Station in Glasgow to Oxenholme. The took train to Windermere. We walked 1 1/2 miles to Holmlea Guest House.
After getting situated I got permission to set of on my own...
I had my heart set on walking to Grasmere to see the Heaton Cooper Studio, a studio that showcases a family of artists. But, it turned out, the walk was unrealistic so I caught an "open" bus (top floor of the double decker bus was open to the elements).
This was a beautiful way to wind one's way through the Lake District. It truly was beautiful. High, green hills laced with stone fences and sheep; the lakes sparkling. Grasmere was the haunt of the great poet Wordsworth.
Arrived in Grasmere and visited the Heaton Cooper Studio. It was very inspiring for me and I hope to help our family create a studio that shares the "beauty of Camano Island with the world"...
After the Studio, I visited a bookstore that has been in existence for 100 years. I bought books for everyone in our family, including, for me a collection of the poems and writings of Wordsworth. I spoiled myself with Tea, a scone, clotted cream, butter and jam as I read Wordsworth:
Surprised by Joy, impatient as the wind
I turned to share the transport but with who
You long buried in the silent tomb
Caught the bus back to Holmlea....
Around 9pm we all walked down to Lake Windermere. There was a sunset over the water, and the swams rested on the shore...
After getting situated I got permission to set of on my own...
I had my heart set on walking to Grasmere to see the Heaton Cooper Studio, a studio that showcases a family of artists. But, it turned out, the walk was unrealistic so I caught an "open" bus (top floor of the double decker bus was open to the elements).
This was a beautiful way to wind one's way through the Lake District. It truly was beautiful. High, green hills laced with stone fences and sheep; the lakes sparkling. Grasmere was the haunt of the great poet Wordsworth.
Arrived in Grasmere and visited the Heaton Cooper Studio. It was very inspiring for me and I hope to help our family create a studio that shares the "beauty of Camano Island with the world"...
After the Studio, I visited a bookstore that has been in existence for 100 years. I bought books for everyone in our family, including, for me a collection of the poems and writings of Wordsworth. I spoiled myself with Tea, a scone, clotted cream, butter and jam as I read Wordsworth:
Surprised by Joy, impatient as the wind
I turned to share the transport but with who
You long buried in the silent tomb
Caught the bus back to Holmlea....
Around 9pm we all walked down to Lake Windermere. There was a sunset over the water, and the swams rested on the shore...
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Tuesday, June 8th: From Jason's Diary
We had quite a few adventures at the Beach House. (Read about them in the previous post under Julian's coming of age)
We said goodbye to the van Eyks and caught the train to Inverness, then Stirling. We spent most of the afternoon at the William Wallace Memorial....
We couldn't make it in time to our Bed and Breakfast in Windermere (In the Lake District in England). I was able to find a reasonably priced hotel near the train station in Glasgow (next to the Tron church where Matt Round and I had visited on Sunday).
We said goodbye to the van Eyks and caught the train to Inverness, then Stirling. We spent most of the afternoon at the William Wallace Memorial....
We couldn't make it in time to our Bed and Breakfast in Windermere (In the Lake District in England). I was able to find a reasonably priced hotel near the train station in Glasgow (next to the Tron church where Matt Round and I had visited on Sunday).
Julian's Coming of Age Party - June 8th
On Tuesday, June 8th, Julian turned 13. We had a "coming of age" celebration for him.
Let me give some context for Julian's "coming of age" celebration.
A number of years ago I attended a "coming of age" party for Joshua Jackson hosted by his dad, Blake (members of our church in Indianapolis). A few of Joshua's friends as well as some adult men in his life went swimming, waterskiing, and racing around Jet skis at a lake near Bloomington. After this, we barbequed, then sat around the fire. Each person took some time to read a letter they had prepared for Joshua on what it meant for him to be "coming of age", stepping into the cares, calling and responsibility of manhood (he was turning 14 years of age, I believe). I was especially moved by Blake's letter to his son. He spoke to him in words of earnest, fatherly love, and challenged him, among other things to be a godly man who "rejects passivity and accepts responsibility."
So...
As we planned our sabbatical trip to Scotland, Jenny and I realized that this was a perfect opportunity to celebrate Julian's "coming of age."
First, it was a great big adventure.
Second, Jenny's maiden name is Wallace; she can trace her lineage back to a brother of William Wallace, the guardian of Scotland. What would be more cool than to celebrate Julian's "coming of age" than in his homeland, his ancestral seat :).
COMING OF AGE CELEBRATION: Part One
The first activity was the boys and I, as well as Joshua van Eyk, spending the night at the "Bathy" (beach house). After everyone left (see the previous blog), we sat around the campfire on the beach and talked about what it means for Julian to be a godly man and follow Christ.
Around 11pm we went into the beach house, lit candles and lanterns, and played "Bop It" and had a fun time hanging out. Close to midnight we climbed the stairs and lay down on the floor of the loft in our sleeping bags.
That's when things started to happen...
I thought I heard noises that sounded like people outside but I said to myself "there is no one on this deserted beach...go to sleep."
But, again, I head the noises of footsteps, maybe muffled talking. I said to myself, "this can't be happening...what's going on? Who could be out there?"
All of a sudden there was a loud commotion. Yelling, shouting. People ran up the stairs and jumped on us in our sleeping bags...It turned out to be Peter Mackenzie (Rachel Round's brother) and his friend Anthony. They had met our departing families and JENNY had encouraged them to go have some fun with us.
After the shock we sat up, gathered ourselves, sang "Happy Birthday" to Julian, and asked ourselves, "well, what do we do now."
I suggested that we make Julian run naked around the Bathy. But he didn't feel quit up to that. However, it suggested a crazy line of thought to Peter, who suggested we jump into the Ocean. At this point I realized that my night was not going to be over for quite some time. Rachel had told me that her brothers like to do wild and crazy things and I wasn't going to let some Scottish lad outdo me for courage...craziness...
"Well, are you in or is it just talk?" Peter asked. I said I was in. My boys pretended like they were asleep.
So Peter, Anthony and I walked out to the rocks. Stripped out of our clothes. Waded into the frigid Atlantic and went under.
I we stumbled back to the Beach House I told them that skinny dipping in the Ocean in the middle of the night somewhere in Scotland was NOT something I had planned to do. We warmed ourselves by the fire and with a wee bit of Whiskey that Peter had brought. We spent the next hour talking about life, calling, urban ministry. Around 1:30 Peter and Anthony climbed back up the hill and I went to sleep.
We woke at 7:00am, started the fire, had tea, cleaned up and hiked up the hill. John met us and drove us back to their house to shower and eat breakfast.
COMING OF AGE CELEBRATION: Part Two
The Second Part of our celebration was visiting the William Wallace Memorial in Stirling.
From Train we took the train to Inverness, then on to Stirling. We rode the Bus to the William Wallace Memorial. This was an awe-inspiring tribute to Wallace who is seen as a national hero, a Guardian of Scotland. I climbed up through the three floors of the Monument with Julian; and we bought some things from the gift store.
I also gave Julian a letter that communicates my heart to him.
I'm very thankful for my son Julian, and look forward to seeing what God has in store for him in the years ahead.
Let me give some context for Julian's "coming of age" celebration.
A number of years ago I attended a "coming of age" party for Joshua Jackson hosted by his dad, Blake (members of our church in Indianapolis). A few of Joshua's friends as well as some adult men in his life went swimming, waterskiing, and racing around Jet skis at a lake near Bloomington. After this, we barbequed, then sat around the fire. Each person took some time to read a letter they had prepared for Joshua on what it meant for him to be "coming of age", stepping into the cares, calling and responsibility of manhood (he was turning 14 years of age, I believe). I was especially moved by Blake's letter to his son. He spoke to him in words of earnest, fatherly love, and challenged him, among other things to be a godly man who "rejects passivity and accepts responsibility."
So...
As we planned our sabbatical trip to Scotland, Jenny and I realized that this was a perfect opportunity to celebrate Julian's "coming of age."
First, it was a great big adventure.
Second, Jenny's maiden name is Wallace; she can trace her lineage back to a brother of William Wallace, the guardian of Scotland. What would be more cool than to celebrate Julian's "coming of age" than in his homeland, his ancestral seat :).
COMING OF AGE CELEBRATION: Part One
The first activity was the boys and I, as well as Joshua van Eyk, spending the night at the "Bathy" (beach house). After everyone left (see the previous blog), we sat around the campfire on the beach and talked about what it means for Julian to be a godly man and follow Christ.
Around 11pm we went into the beach house, lit candles and lanterns, and played "Bop It" and had a fun time hanging out. Close to midnight we climbed the stairs and lay down on the floor of the loft in our sleeping bags.
That's when things started to happen...
I thought I heard noises that sounded like people outside but I said to myself "there is no one on this deserted beach...go to sleep."
But, again, I head the noises of footsteps, maybe muffled talking. I said to myself, "this can't be happening...what's going on? Who could be out there?"
All of a sudden there was a loud commotion. Yelling, shouting. People ran up the stairs and jumped on us in our sleeping bags...It turned out to be Peter Mackenzie (Rachel Round's brother) and his friend Anthony. They had met our departing families and JENNY had encouraged them to go have some fun with us.
After the shock we sat up, gathered ourselves, sang "Happy Birthday" to Julian, and asked ourselves, "well, what do we do now."
I suggested that we make Julian run naked around the Bathy. But he didn't feel quit up to that. However, it suggested a crazy line of thought to Peter, who suggested we jump into the Ocean. At this point I realized that my night was not going to be over for quite some time. Rachel had told me that her brothers like to do wild and crazy things and I wasn't going to let some Scottish lad outdo me for courage...craziness...
"Well, are you in or is it just talk?" Peter asked. I said I was in. My boys pretended like they were asleep.
So Peter, Anthony and I walked out to the rocks. Stripped out of our clothes. Waded into the frigid Atlantic and went under.
I we stumbled back to the Beach House I told them that skinny dipping in the Ocean in the middle of the night somewhere in Scotland was NOT something I had planned to do. We warmed ourselves by the fire and with a wee bit of Whiskey that Peter had brought. We spent the next hour talking about life, calling, urban ministry. Around 1:30 Peter and Anthony climbed back up the hill and I went to sleep.
We woke at 7:00am, started the fire, had tea, cleaned up and hiked up the hill. John met us and drove us back to their house to shower and eat breakfast.
COMING OF AGE CELEBRATION: Part Two
The Second Part of our celebration was visiting the William Wallace Memorial in Stirling.
From Train we took the train to Inverness, then on to Stirling. We rode the Bus to the William Wallace Memorial. This was an awe-inspiring tribute to Wallace who is seen as a national hero, a Guardian of Scotland. I climbed up through the three floors of the Monument with Julian; and we bought some things from the gift store.
I also gave Julian a letter that communicates my heart to him.
I'm very thankful for my son Julian, and look forward to seeing what God has in store for him in the years ahead.
Monday, June 7th, From Jason's Diary
We woke early, said goodbye to Matt and Rachel and their kids. They have been such wonderful hosts!
We caught the train from Linlithgow to Inverness. So we left the low country (South) of Scotland for the rugged, sparce, heather covered Highlands: "My heart is in the highlands..."
The train was packed so Jacob, Julian and I stood and, alternatively, sat on the floor. But it didn't matter. The view was spectacular. Green, rolling hills spotted with sheep gave way to a higher, more rugged hills clothed in the muted browns, greys, and, almost, silvers of the heather. We changed trains in Inverness heading for Tain.
John van Eyk picked us up at the Station in Tain and drove us to his house where we met his wife, Lucy, and their six children: Joshua (14 years old), Christiana, Micaiah, Stephen, ?, and the baby, Mark. John and Lucy are from Canada. For the last 2 years they have been serving Christ as the pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Tain. John graduated from Westminster Seminary. I had a hard time pulling myself out of his library/study and being social...
Jacob, Jenny and I went on a "wee driving tour" with John. I forget all the places we saw some of the highlights were: driving up into the highland hills, seeing shepherds (on ATVS) herding their sheep down the road, the drive alone the water and smelling the salt water. We drove by a famous golf course (Royal Droughan?) and I took some photos for my dad who loves to golf.
John shared some of the history of the Church in Scotland. We stopped at the birthplace of John Murray, and, up the road, the home that he retired to after his significant teaching career was over at Westminster seminary.
We returned home. Lucy had cooked a delicious dinner...After dinner John led us in a hearty family worship around the dinner table.
After dinner we drove to "Geinies" (They name every house, it seems, here); the country estate/manor owned by Rachel's (Round) uncle and aunt. Christian Focus publications is housed here. Christian Focus is well known for their excellent books for children as well as for producing a steady stream of new and re-printed books articulating the reformed perspective.
John took me on a tour of the wharehouse and gave me (and Julian) a couple of books:
To Julian: Monks and Mystics.
To me: Unity and Diversity by Sandy Finlayson (this book is about the founders of the Free Church of Scotland. It has a chapter on Thomas Chalmers), Charles Simeon, by Handley Moule, and Vital Christianity (the life and spirituality of William Wilberforce) by Murray Andrew Pura.
We lugged our gear from "Geinies" to the "Bathy", the name for a stone beach house far below (Jacob, Julian, Judah, Joshua van Eyk and me stayed overnight at the beachouse). We wound our way down the path and into this very secluded, ruggedly beautifuly beach.
The kids built a fire and played on the beach. The adults built a fire in the beach house. John, Lucy, Jenny and I had tea and talked about life and ministry. I tried to smoke one of John's pipes but was very rusty.
Around 10pm, they said goodbye to us and climbed up the hill leaving us for our adventure...
Hear more about those adventures in the next post.
It was a
We caught the train from Linlithgow to Inverness. So we left the low country (South) of Scotland for the rugged, sparce, heather covered Highlands: "My heart is in the highlands..."
The train was packed so Jacob, Julian and I stood and, alternatively, sat on the floor. But it didn't matter. The view was spectacular. Green, rolling hills spotted with sheep gave way to a higher, more rugged hills clothed in the muted browns, greys, and, almost, silvers of the heather. We changed trains in Inverness heading for Tain.
John van Eyk picked us up at the Station in Tain and drove us to his house where we met his wife, Lucy, and their six children: Joshua (14 years old), Christiana, Micaiah, Stephen, ?, and the baby, Mark. John and Lucy are from Canada. For the last 2 years they have been serving Christ as the pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Tain. John graduated from Westminster Seminary. I had a hard time pulling myself out of his library/study and being social...
Jacob, Jenny and I went on a "wee driving tour" with John. I forget all the places we saw some of the highlights were: driving up into the highland hills, seeing shepherds (on ATVS) herding their sheep down the road, the drive alone the water and smelling the salt water. We drove by a famous golf course (Royal Droughan?) and I took some photos for my dad who loves to golf.
John shared some of the history of the Church in Scotland. We stopped at the birthplace of John Murray, and, up the road, the home that he retired to after his significant teaching career was over at Westminster seminary.
We returned home. Lucy had cooked a delicious dinner...After dinner John led us in a hearty family worship around the dinner table.
After dinner we drove to "Geinies" (They name every house, it seems, here); the country estate/manor owned by Rachel's (Round) uncle and aunt. Christian Focus publications is housed here. Christian Focus is well known for their excellent books for children as well as for producing a steady stream of new and re-printed books articulating the reformed perspective.
John took me on a tour of the wharehouse and gave me (and Julian) a couple of books:
To Julian: Monks and Mystics.
To me: Unity and Diversity by Sandy Finlayson (this book is about the founders of the Free Church of Scotland. It has a chapter on Thomas Chalmers), Charles Simeon, by Handley Moule, and Vital Christianity (the life and spirituality of William Wilberforce) by Murray Andrew Pura.
We lugged our gear from "Geinies" to the "Bathy", the name for a stone beach house far below (Jacob, Julian, Judah, Joshua van Eyk and me stayed overnight at the beachouse). We wound our way down the path and into this very secluded, ruggedly beautifuly beach.
The kids built a fire and played on the beach. The adults built a fire in the beach house. John, Lucy, Jenny and I had tea and talked about life and ministry. I tried to smoke one of John's pipes but was very rusty.
Around 10pm, they said goodbye to us and climbed up the hill leaving us for our adventure...
Hear more about those adventures in the next post.
It was a
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The National William Wallace Monument, Stirling
Monday we will visit the Wallace Monument.
Sir William Wallace, Guardian of Scotland
Over 700 years ago……tyranny and terror were the tools being used by England to rule Scotland. Occupied and oppressed, the Scottish nation sought a hero to challenge the cruelty of King Edward I.
Someone to take the campaign for freedom into battle, and on to victory.
When the two countries faced each other at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, Scotland was led to victory by a figure destined to become a national hero - William Wallace.
Sir William Wallace
- a hero of Scotland and a true patriot, had a burning desire for peace and freedom which united the country’s clans, gained the loyalty of its people, struck fear into his enemies and defied the cruel hand of an evil, warring and invading King - Edward I of England.
All the drama of Wallace’s campaign for freedom is captured at the world-famous National Wallace Monument - proudly standing on the Abbey Craig, overlooking the city of Stirling.
Sir William Wallace, Guardian of Scotland
Over 700 years ago……tyranny and terror were the tools being used by England to rule Scotland. Occupied and oppressed, the Scottish nation sought a hero to challenge the cruelty of King Edward I.
Someone to take the campaign for freedom into battle, and on to victory.
When the two countries faced each other at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, Scotland was led to victory by a figure destined to become a national hero - William Wallace.
Sir William Wallace
- a hero of Scotland and a true patriot, had a burning desire for peace and freedom which united the country’s clans, gained the loyalty of its people, struck fear into his enemies and defied the cruel hand of an evil, warring and invading King - Edward I of England.
All the drama of Wallace’s campaign for freedom is captured at the world-famous National Wallace Monument - proudly standing on the Abbey Craig, overlooking the city of Stirling.
Sunday, June 6th, From Jason's Diary
We attended worship with Matt and Rachel at Crosspoint church, a church plant in Bathgate. They meet in Simpson Elementary School. It was so encouraging to experience the worship of God, and the movement of God's kingdom, in the worship of this small church.
I was deeply moved as we sang "Before the Throne of God we stand", a song we love to sing in our congregation in Indianapolis:
Before the throne of God above
I have one strong and perfect plea,
The Great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and breathes for me.
A lay leader, Mark, introduced communion by reminding us that our names are written in the hands of God. He will never forget us or forsake us. We stand perfect before God in the beauty of Jesus Christ. Mark preached a simple but strong sermon on the Sinner and the Publican. He urged us not to trust in our righteousness, which is, after all, just filthy rags in the sight of the holy God; but, rather, to trust in Christ alone who is the Only Righteous One. In him, we are made righteous before God.
We had lunch with Matt and Rachel, and Rachel's parents. Kenneth and Janet MacKenzie. Rachel fed us Roast Beef, gravy, baked potatoes, broccoli and beans. For dessert we had sticky toffee pudding and apple pie with ice cream. Our conversation ranged from marketplace ministry (lunchtime preaching through St. Helens Bishopgates) to family worship (the decline of family worship and its impact in Scotland), to Thomas Chalmers and his ministry in Glasgow.
After this, we walked to the cave near the Rounds house where William Wallace hid from Edward the first's army after the battle of Falkirk in 1298. Julian and I took a quick braveheart dip in the Avon River next to the cave, and everyone build a dam across 1/2 of the river that we named "Braveheart Dike".
Rich Sabbath.
W
I was deeply moved as we sang "Before the Throne of God we stand", a song we love to sing in our congregation in Indianapolis:
Before the throne of God above
I have one strong and perfect plea,
The Great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and breathes for me.
A lay leader, Mark, introduced communion by reminding us that our names are written in the hands of God. He will never forget us or forsake us. We stand perfect before God in the beauty of Jesus Christ. Mark preached a simple but strong sermon on the Sinner and the Publican. He urged us not to trust in our righteousness, which is, after all, just filthy rags in the sight of the holy God; but, rather, to trust in Christ alone who is the Only Righteous One. In him, we are made righteous before God.
We had lunch with Matt and Rachel, and Rachel's parents. Kenneth and Janet MacKenzie. Rachel fed us Roast Beef, gravy, baked potatoes, broccoli and beans. For dessert we had sticky toffee pudding and apple pie with ice cream. Our conversation ranged from marketplace ministry (lunchtime preaching through St. Helens Bishopgates) to family worship (the decline of family worship and its impact in Scotland), to Thomas Chalmers and his ministry in Glasgow.
After this, we walked to the cave near the Rounds house where William Wallace hid from Edward the first's army after the battle of Falkirk in 1298. Julian and I took a quick braveheart dip in the Avon River next to the cave, and everyone build a dam across 1/2 of the river that we named "Braveheart Dike".
Rich Sabbath.
W
Saturday, June 5th, From Jason's Diary
Our plan for the day was to spend the day at Loch Lomond, a lake about 45 minute drive from the Round's home.
It was another beautiful day. Matt and Rachel fixed breakfast: eggs, bacon, crouissants. We packed the cars up and headed to the Loch. We walked a ways down the beach to find a perfect, secluded little spot, with some sand and a small island to swim and paddle our raft to.
We all had wetsuits because the water is cold. The kids swam and boated and the day was filled with adventure. I took a nap on a blanket...true sabbatical rest. We barbecued lunch and spent the whole day just having fun. Packed up around 4:30 and had pizza dinner when we got back to the Rounds.
8:15, Family worship. Then Jenny and I had a nice time talking with Matt and Rachel after the kids were in bed.
It was another beautiful day. Matt and Rachel fixed breakfast: eggs, bacon, crouissants. We packed the cars up and headed to the Loch. We walked a ways down the beach to find a perfect, secluded little spot, with some sand and a small island to swim and paddle our raft to.
We all had wetsuits because the water is cold. The kids swam and boated and the day was filled with adventure. I took a nap on a blanket...true sabbatical rest. We barbecued lunch and spent the whole day just having fun. Packed up around 4:30 and had pizza dinner when we got back to the Rounds.
8:15, Family worship. Then Jenny and I had a nice time talking with Matt and Rachel after the kids were in bed.
Friday, June 4th, from Jason's Diary
Woke. Roused kids. Rachel fixed breakfast of warm Croussaints, Jelly, and fruit. After Matt dropped Heather and Cameron off at school, he came back at 9:20am and picked us up to bring us to the train station for our day in Edinburgh.
It was a beautiful day...
When we arrived in Edinburgh we first climbed Clayton Hill. The view from the hill gave us a great panorama of the city: from Arthur's Seat (high hill/mountain) next to the city to the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.
We followed the path down the hill and came out at Holyrod Palace, the residence of the Queen when she stays in Edinburgh. Unfortunately, the Palace was not receiving visitors. We soon found out why. It turned out that Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess, were staying at the Palace, and she was going to be driving out of the entrance where we were standing speaking to the guard. Then, all of a sudden her black car, which she was driving, pulled out. She waved.
From Holyrod Palace we headed up the Royal Mile. There are all kinds of shops selling authentic Scottish gear: Julian bought a sweatshirt. I bought a "clergy" tie and admired the Cashmere sweaters...
We saw the house where John Knox lived and St. Giles Church...
Jacob had walked on ahead of us...when we caught up we had lunch...
Finally we arrived at Edinburgh Castle. It is a large, imposing castle; lots of tourists. We were a wee bit tired by that time so didn't see all of the castle, but we did see the Honours: Royal Crown and Stone of Destiny of Scotland.
We caught the train back to Linlithgow. Rachel hosted us again for dinner. Rachel and Matt seem to have unbounded energy. The kids played and played. It was a fun day!
It was a beautiful day...
When we arrived in Edinburgh we first climbed Clayton Hill. The view from the hill gave us a great panorama of the city: from Arthur's Seat (high hill/mountain) next to the city to the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.
We followed the path down the hill and came out at Holyrod Palace, the residence of the Queen when she stays in Edinburgh. Unfortunately, the Palace was not receiving visitors. We soon found out why. It turned out that Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess, were staying at the Palace, and she was going to be driving out of the entrance where we were standing speaking to the guard. Then, all of a sudden her black car, which she was driving, pulled out. She waved.
From Holyrod Palace we headed up the Royal Mile. There are all kinds of shops selling authentic Scottish gear: Julian bought a sweatshirt. I bought a "clergy" tie and admired the Cashmere sweaters...
We saw the house where John Knox lived and St. Giles Church...
Jacob had walked on ahead of us...when we caught up we had lunch...
Finally we arrived at Edinburgh Castle. It is a large, imposing castle; lots of tourists. We were a wee bit tired by that time so didn't see all of the castle, but we did see the Honours: Royal Crown and Stone of Destiny of Scotland.
We caught the train back to Linlithgow. Rachel hosted us again for dinner. Rachel and Matt seem to have unbounded energy. The kids played and played. It was a fun day!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Scotland...
We have arrived in Scotland and I feel I've come home!
We've been having so much with our frineds, the Rounds, that we have not had time to blog...sorry. : )
Pictures to come soon...and here they are!
- Jenny
We've been having so much with our frineds, the Rounds, that we have not had time to blog...sorry. : )
Pictures to come soon...and here they are!
- Jenny
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Thursday, June 3rd, From Jason's Diary
...We arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland a little after 12:10pm. The trip from Newcastle to Edinburgh was impressive - so far the most glorious scenery in the UK thus far. It was an incredibly beautiful day. Warm. Blue sky, white puffy clouds. This part of England and into Scotland is full of rolling hills, farms, sheeps grazing in the fields. For a stretch the train followed the coastline with the red roofs of the sea-side villages against the blue of the Atlantic.
We took the train from Edinburgh to Linlithgow. Rachel picked us up at the train station in Linlithgow. It was so fun to see her again; hardly changed, she is so vibrant and full of energy and life. We decided to go immediately to Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Rachel dropped us off, and went to her kids race day at school. Jenny and Jacob toured the very impressive castle, while Julian, Judah, Jackie and I sat on the emerald green grass overlooking a Loch. We layed back in the grass, watched the clowds, rested. Then Judah and I, and eventually Julian, joined Jenny and Jacob in exploring the castle.
We walked to the school where we met Rachel and Matt, as well as their kids Cameron and Heather (both 8), Alistair (?), and Ian. After running a few races in the field with the kids, we drove out of Linlithgow to Matt and Rachel's home. It is a beautiful sprawling farmhouse that looks over fields and trees and is VERY kid friendly; there were all kinds of fun things for the kids to do: basketball, soccer, trampoline, sand pit, etc.
Matt barbequed. We had sausage and British Bacon (which is a different cut than US bacon) and baked potatoe and broccoli as well as a Scottish specialty, Haggis (sp?) which I quite liked. After dinner there was more time for play, then a dessert of Merangue, Strawberries, Blueberries and clotted cream.
Before bed our two families worshipped together. Than the kids went to bed. We spent the rest of the evening visiting with Matt and Rachel. Delightful...so interesting to learn of God's work in their life.
We took the train from Edinburgh to Linlithgow. Rachel picked us up at the train station in Linlithgow. It was so fun to see her again; hardly changed, she is so vibrant and full of energy and life. We decided to go immediately to Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Rachel dropped us off, and went to her kids race day at school. Jenny and Jacob toured the very impressive castle, while Julian, Judah, Jackie and I sat on the emerald green grass overlooking a Loch. We layed back in the grass, watched the clowds, rested. Then Judah and I, and eventually Julian, joined Jenny and Jacob in exploring the castle.
We walked to the school where we met Rachel and Matt, as well as their kids Cameron and Heather (both 8), Alistair (?), and Ian. After running a few races in the field with the kids, we drove out of Linlithgow to Matt and Rachel's home. It is a beautiful sprawling farmhouse that looks over fields and trees and is VERY kid friendly; there were all kinds of fun things for the kids to do: basketball, soccer, trampoline, sand pit, etc.
Matt barbequed. We had sausage and British Bacon (which is a different cut than US bacon) and baked potatoe and broccoli as well as a Scottish specialty, Haggis (sp?) which I quite liked. After dinner there was more time for play, then a dessert of Merangue, Strawberries, Blueberries and clotted cream.
Before bed our two families worshipped together. Than the kids went to bed. We spent the rest of the evening visiting with Matt and Rachel. Delightful...so interesting to learn of God's work in their life.
Wednesday, June 3rd, From Jason's Diary
...Judah, Julian and I had "Scottish Pancakes" in prep for our upcoming entry to Scotland...
Caught the train to Newcastle...Stayed at the Royal Station Hotel (read Jenny's latest blog for details).
My highlight in Newcastle: Jacob and I walked down to the Tyne River. Newcastle is famous for its bridges. We walked up and down the river admiring the bridges. We talked about cities - their origin, their systems, what makes them tick. We talked about Indianapolis. I asked Jacob what one thing he would do if he had power to help Indianapolis develop as a city. He said, first that he would encourage people to fill the vacant homes in the city so that the city would be full; second, he would encourage a culture of walking (make the circle accessible only by foot, etc.).
I told Jacob that the idea of cities being walkable was a leading feature of the new urbanism.
Jacob also caught me up on the lore surrounding the Holy Grail.
But what was so sweet was just to be with my son, walking in the sun, having a grown up conversation, and seeing his mind - so alive, so lithe and active and hopeful. It gives me great hope for the church in the future to see such gifted young people emerging as our next generation of leaders.
Caught the train to Newcastle...Stayed at the Royal Station Hotel (read Jenny's latest blog for details).
My highlight in Newcastle: Jacob and I walked down to the Tyne River. Newcastle is famous for its bridges. We walked up and down the river admiring the bridges. We talked about cities - their origin, their systems, what makes them tick. We talked about Indianapolis. I asked Jacob what one thing he would do if he had power to help Indianapolis develop as a city. He said, first that he would encourage people to fill the vacant homes in the city so that the city would be full; second, he would encourage a culture of walking (make the circle accessible only by foot, etc.).
I told Jacob that the idea of cities being walkable was a leading feature of the new urbanism.
Jacob also caught me up on the lore surrounding the Holy Grail.
But what was so sweet was just to be with my son, walking in the sun, having a grown up conversation, and seeing his mind - so alive, so lithe and active and hopeful. It gives me great hope for the church in the future to see such gifted young people emerging as our next generation of leaders.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
York to Newcastle upon Tyne
We left the York Priory B&B this morning and traveled to Newcastle. We arrived at the Royal Station Hotel which is exactly adjasent to the rail station. I might even say close enough to be on top of it!
We still can't keep chuckling about our grand entrance! This hotel had first been opened by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1858. The carpet felt like it was two inches thick. We walked in like Kings and Queens under the massive crystal chandeliers.
We took the elevator up 2 flights which opened onto the landing. (Each of the following sections were divided by glass fire doors.) Then down the hallway, down 10 steps, through another hallway, up 10 steps, up a rectagular stair case with a sunroof, along a side walkway (we basically have our own staircase) overlooking several landings till we arrived at the last hallway - which was ours, with only our two rooms! We felt like Cinderella as she made her way to the top of the attic.
The kids were so excited and kept telling Jason what a good job he had done in getting such a fine hotel for us with a pool! As we walked in, our awe of the grandeur began to turn to questioning wonder...as it became evident that each level we reached needed some form of repair...Our final hallway has cracked plaster and peeling paint and our carpet is covered with a black rubber tarp. There is construction dust everywhere...BUT our rooms (which are across from each other) are great and only a minor bit of shaking/more like tapping as the trains go by. : ) What an adventure!
Yes, Jacob stubbed his toe climbing the tower and Jackie cut her heal swimming. I discovered the start of callouses on my shoulders from were my pack rubs. So far so good...
- Jenny
We still can't keep chuckling about our grand entrance! This hotel had first been opened by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1858. The carpet felt like it was two inches thick. We walked in like Kings and Queens under the massive crystal chandeliers.
We took the elevator up 2 flights which opened onto the landing. (Each of the following sections were divided by glass fire doors.) Then down the hallway, down 10 steps, through another hallway, up 10 steps, up a rectagular stair case with a sunroof, along a side walkway (we basically have our own staircase) overlooking several landings till we arrived at the last hallway - which was ours, with only our two rooms! We felt like Cinderella as she made her way to the top of the attic.
The kids were so excited and kept telling Jason what a good job he had done in getting such a fine hotel for us with a pool! As we walked in, our awe of the grandeur began to turn to questioning wonder...as it became evident that each level we reached needed some form of repair...Our final hallway has cracked plaster and peeling paint and our carpet is covered with a black rubber tarp. There is construction dust everywhere...BUT our rooms (which are across from each other) are great and only a minor bit of shaking/more like tapping as the trains go by. : ) What an adventure!
Yes, Jacob stubbed his toe climbing the tower and Jackie cut her heal swimming. I discovered the start of callouses on my shoulders from were my pack rubs. So far so good...
- Jenny
Tuesday, June 2, from Jason's Diary
...Said our goodbyes to the Hardymans. Walked to the train station and caught the train (it was very crowded so we had to stand) to York. Drizzling in York. We walked to the Priory Hotel (definately a step up from the Grey Friars in Canterbury). Rested till 4:00pm then walked to the York city center.
...Yorkminster was incredible: Huge, Defined by massive gothic arches; it is famous for its stained glass and one can see why...
At 5:15 we attended an Evensong service. The choir was excellent and the liturgy orthodox and prayers meaningful. However, my heart wasn't moved, challenged, wrestled with, lifted up in worship. I couldn't help reflecting that it is an easy, but dangerous, shift to drift into rich music, ceremonies, liturgy, tradition, history and lose the very life and dynamic of the gospel as it creates a worshipping community and worship flows out of the very life-blood of that community. This is a danger for every one of our churches, not only those that use liturgy.
We eat at Pizza Hut and celebrate, again, Judah's birthday...
...Yorkminster was incredible: Huge, Defined by massive gothic arches; it is famous for its stained glass and one can see why...
At 5:15 we attended an Evensong service. The choir was excellent and the liturgy orthodox and prayers meaningful. However, my heart wasn't moved, challenged, wrestled with, lifted up in worship. I couldn't help reflecting that it is an easy, but dangerous, shift to drift into rich music, ceremonies, liturgy, tradition, history and lose the very life and dynamic of the gospel as it creates a worshipping community and worship flows out of the very life-blood of that community. This is a danger for every one of our churches, not only those that use liturgy.
We eat at Pizza Hut and celebrate, again, Judah's birthday...
Monday, June 1, From Jason's Diary
Woke with a bit of a headache. Had tea which brightened things up. It was cold and damp, so we decided not to Punt on the Cam. We lounged around in the morning with the Hardymans.
We decided to walk to "The Orchard" (a tea house/orchard) in Granchester Village.
"The Orchard, first planted in 1868, became a Tea Garden purely by chance. A group of Cambridge students asked Mrs. Stevenso of Orchard House if she would serve them tea beneath the blossoming fruit trees rather than, as usual, on the front lawn of the House. They were unaware that, on the spring morning n 1897 they had started a great Cambridge tradition. The students enjoyed their rural tea, and word spread around the colleges...."
The Orchard became famous as the hang out of a group of young bohemian writers, poets and intellectuals that Virginia Woolf dubbed the "Neo Pagans": Rupert Brooke, Virginia Woolf, Bertrand Russel, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Meynard Keynes, among others.
Anyway...
It was a gorgeous afternoon. Cool. Green. Wet. Their were cattle in the fields and picnics along the way (people punt down the river and picnic).
The Orchard lived up to any expectation I might have had. It was so peaceful and relaxing to take our tea outside. The climate reminds me a lot of Camano Island, WA. The scones piled with clotted cream and jam were delicious, as was the brown tea. But, best of all, was to be with old friends, to talk and laugh and remember. Is their any better gift from our heavenly father than friendship?
We relaxed in late afternoon. Jenny and I went out with Julian and Debbie for dinner (Indian). We talked about the joys, sadness of gospel ministry; and got caught up a bit on our histories.
We decided to walk to "The Orchard" (a tea house/orchard) in Granchester Village.
"The Orchard, first planted in 1868, became a Tea Garden purely by chance. A group of Cambridge students asked Mrs. Stevenso of Orchard House if she would serve them tea beneath the blossoming fruit trees rather than, as usual, on the front lawn of the House. They were unaware that, on the spring morning n 1897 they had started a great Cambridge tradition. The students enjoyed their rural tea, and word spread around the colleges...."
The Orchard became famous as the hang out of a group of young bohemian writers, poets and intellectuals that Virginia Woolf dubbed the "Neo Pagans": Rupert Brooke, Virginia Woolf, Bertrand Russel, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Meynard Keynes, among others.
Anyway...
It was a gorgeous afternoon. Cool. Green. Wet. Their were cattle in the fields and picnics along the way (people punt down the river and picnic).
The Orchard lived up to any expectation I might have had. It was so peaceful and relaxing to take our tea outside. The climate reminds me a lot of Camano Island, WA. The scones piled with clotted cream and jam were delicious, as was the brown tea. But, best of all, was to be with old friends, to talk and laugh and remember. Is their any better gift from our heavenly father than friendship?
We relaxed in late afternoon. Jenny and I went out with Julian and Debbie for dinner (Indian). We talked about the joys, sadness of gospel ministry; and got caught up a bit on our histories.
Sunday, May 30th, from Jason's Diary
...Had breakfast (Jacob and I have discovered Wheat A Bix cereal)...
Attend services at Eden Baptist Church. I notice how, unlike most churches in the US, there are very few parking spaces for churchgoers. So they are creative (walk, bike, park and walk, etc.)...
Worship at Edens was powerful and wonderful. Julian welcomed the congregation to worship, we say the hymn "When morning gilds the skies", Julian led in a prayer, a young man named Rob gave a stimulating talk to the the young people on "bearing each others burdens", the Scriptures were read (I Peter 4:7-11), and we sangs songs of praise to Christ.
Tears filled my eyes - I looked over at Jen and she was crying too! - as we sang:
Lord I come to you/Let my heart be changed, renewed
Flowing from they grace/that I've found in you
And Lord, I've come to know/the weakness I see in me
Will be overcome/by the power of your love
Hold me close, let your love surround me
Bring me near, draw me to your side.
And as I wait, I'll rise up like the eagle,
And I will soar with you
Your Spirit leads me on
In the power of your love.
We prayed the Lord's prayer, and sang "Brother let me be your servant":
"We are pilgrims on a journey
We are family on the road
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load"
Julian preached a strong sermon - biblical, expository, moving - on Galatians 5:26-6:5 on Burden Bearing. He stressed how, as the community of Christ led by the Holy Spirit, we are responsible to bear one another's burdens; this implies that we must be willing to share our own burdens (so others can carry them). Julian did an excellent job in teasing out all the implications and nuances of this command. At one point I began to cry again as I watched my friend and brother preach this gospel that we both have given our lives to proclaiming and which is, to us, dearer than life itself.
After services we stayed around a bit for tea, chatted with a few people. Then back to the Hardyman's for a delicious lunch: roast beef, horseradish sauce (I think I ate the whole jar), potatoes, carrots, peas, bread and an absolutely delicious rasberry crisp with a warm custard sauce poured over it.
Jenny and I are realizing how little we have had time and space to slow down, cook meals, eat together.
At 2:30 Jenny, Jacob and I went on a tour of Cambridge put on by the Christian Heritage Trust. We started at the Round Church which is owned now by the Trust. Raunald Macaulay (sp?), the son-in-law of Francis Schaeffer leads this ministry.
Peter was our guide. It turns out that he is a member of a PCA church in Atlanta, Perimeter. He and his wife have lived in Cambridge for the last two years to support the work of the trust.
It was a truly amazing tour. Unfortunately, I'm not able to remember many of the details but here goes...
First we visited St. John's College, then Trinity College (I believe it was in the hall to the chapel at Trinity that we saw the statues of Wilberforce, Newton, and others. We also saw the famed apple tree that led to Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity. We visited Gonville & Cauis College (I can't remember for sure, but the path around one of these colleges is famous for being the path run in the Chariots of Fire). We saw the fountain/pool where Byron would sneak out at night and swim naked in. We visited Kings college, chapel (stupendous).
We also visited a number of churches: St. Benets, St. Edwards, Great St. Mary's church (in one of these churches we were shown Latimer's pulpit where the English reformation was launched from!), and Holy Trinity Church (where Charles Simeon preached).
We also saw a number of important sites like the Old Cavandish labratory (where the atom was first split)...
One can't help reflecting on the juxtaposition of this rich Christian history with the growing secular culture in England...
Jacob and I attended the Sunday evening service at Eden. Jonathan Berry, who is with True Freedom Trust spoke on "Homosexuality: Clarity and compassion": it was an excellent talk; very biblical, thoughtful, articulate...
Closed the evening visiting with Julian and Debbie, while the kids played risk on the floor.
Attend services at Eden Baptist Church. I notice how, unlike most churches in the US, there are very few parking spaces for churchgoers. So they are creative (walk, bike, park and walk, etc.)...
Worship at Edens was powerful and wonderful. Julian welcomed the congregation to worship, we say the hymn "When morning gilds the skies", Julian led in a prayer, a young man named Rob gave a stimulating talk to the the young people on "bearing each others burdens", the Scriptures were read (I Peter 4:7-11), and we sangs songs of praise to Christ.
Tears filled my eyes - I looked over at Jen and she was crying too! - as we sang:
Lord I come to you/Let my heart be changed, renewed
Flowing from they grace/that I've found in you
And Lord, I've come to know/the weakness I see in me
Will be overcome/by the power of your love
Hold me close, let your love surround me
Bring me near, draw me to your side.
And as I wait, I'll rise up like the eagle,
And I will soar with you
Your Spirit leads me on
In the power of your love.
We prayed the Lord's prayer, and sang "Brother let me be your servant":
"We are pilgrims on a journey
We are family on the road
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load"
Julian preached a strong sermon - biblical, expository, moving - on Galatians 5:26-6:5 on Burden Bearing. He stressed how, as the community of Christ led by the Holy Spirit, we are responsible to bear one another's burdens; this implies that we must be willing to share our own burdens (so others can carry them). Julian did an excellent job in teasing out all the implications and nuances of this command. At one point I began to cry again as I watched my friend and brother preach this gospel that we both have given our lives to proclaiming and which is, to us, dearer than life itself.
After services we stayed around a bit for tea, chatted with a few people. Then back to the Hardyman's for a delicious lunch: roast beef, horseradish sauce (I think I ate the whole jar), potatoes, carrots, peas, bread and an absolutely delicious rasberry crisp with a warm custard sauce poured over it.
Jenny and I are realizing how little we have had time and space to slow down, cook meals, eat together.
At 2:30 Jenny, Jacob and I went on a tour of Cambridge put on by the Christian Heritage Trust. We started at the Round Church which is owned now by the Trust. Raunald Macaulay (sp?), the son-in-law of Francis Schaeffer leads this ministry.
Peter was our guide. It turns out that he is a member of a PCA church in Atlanta, Perimeter. He and his wife have lived in Cambridge for the last two years to support the work of the trust.
It was a truly amazing tour. Unfortunately, I'm not able to remember many of the details but here goes...
First we visited St. John's College, then Trinity College (I believe it was in the hall to the chapel at Trinity that we saw the statues of Wilberforce, Newton, and others. We also saw the famed apple tree that led to Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity. We visited Gonville & Cauis College (I can't remember for sure, but the path around one of these colleges is famous for being the path run in the Chariots of Fire). We saw the fountain/pool where Byron would sneak out at night and swim naked in. We visited Kings college, chapel (stupendous).
We also visited a number of churches: St. Benets, St. Edwards, Great St. Mary's church (in one of these churches we were shown Latimer's pulpit where the English reformation was launched from!), and Holy Trinity Church (where Charles Simeon preached).
We also saw a number of important sites like the Old Cavandish labratory (where the atom was first split)...
One can't help reflecting on the juxtaposition of this rich Christian history with the growing secular culture in England...
Jacob and I attended the Sunday evening service at Eden. Jonathan Berry, who is with True Freedom Trust spoke on "Homosexuality: Clarity and compassion": it was an excellent talk; very biblical, thoughtful, articulate...
Closed the evening visiting with Julian and Debbie, while the kids played risk on the floor.
Saturday, May 29th, From Jason's Diary
I woke early.Pulled back curtains and watched sunrise...
We walked to Canterbury East Station. Jenny and I have discovered that Jacob has a great sense of direction and so we let him lead the way.
The ride to London (Victoria Station) took about 1 1/2 hours. Upon arriving we are overwhelmed by a sea of people...made our way to the blue tube line and, eventually to Kings Cross station. The excitement was hundreds of fans chanting on the Underground for their rugby team. It turns out that their was a championship, "Premiership" rugby match between Saracens vs. Leicester Tigers.
It was raining in Cambridge...had some kid + lack of food = meltdowns but everyone managed to recover gracefully...
We walked through Cambridge, past the colleges, through the narrow streets (the heart of Cambridge is full of little shops, everyone walking and riding their bikes, little car traffic. Near the home of our friends, Julian and Deborah Hardyman, we walk by an Aldi. Jenny is, of course, thrilled and gets her picture taken under (sadly, I must say, more thrilled than when she walked by Kings College :)...
It is wonderful to reconnect with Julian and Debbie and their kids. Robin was just a toddler, and Fiona was in her mother's tummy when we were students and friends at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Now they are attractive, bright, friendly young people. Robin is interested in history; Fiona in languages (Latin, French and German). Their youngest daughter, Kitty (10 years of age) and Jackie hit it off and ran off to play.
Visited...had dinner...went off to bed.
We walked to Canterbury East Station. Jenny and I have discovered that Jacob has a great sense of direction and so we let him lead the way.
The ride to London (Victoria Station) took about 1 1/2 hours. Upon arriving we are overwhelmed by a sea of people...made our way to the blue tube line and, eventually to Kings Cross station. The excitement was hundreds of fans chanting on the Underground for their rugby team. It turns out that their was a championship, "Premiership" rugby match between Saracens vs. Leicester Tigers.
It was raining in Cambridge...had some kid + lack of food = meltdowns but everyone managed to recover gracefully...
We walked through Cambridge, past the colleges, through the narrow streets (the heart of Cambridge is full of little shops, everyone walking and riding their bikes, little car traffic. Near the home of our friends, Julian and Deborah Hardyman, we walk by an Aldi. Jenny is, of course, thrilled and gets her picture taken under (sadly, I must say, more thrilled than when she walked by Kings College :)...
It is wonderful to reconnect with Julian and Debbie and their kids. Robin was just a toddler, and Fiona was in her mother's tummy when we were students and friends at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Now they are attractive, bright, friendly young people. Robin is interested in history; Fiona in languages (Latin, French and German). Their youngest daughter, Kitty (10 years of age) and Jackie hit it off and ran off to play.
Visited...had dinner...went off to bed.
On Books ...I need to remember to buy when I get Home
Wilberforce, by John Pollock
Watching the English, by Kate Fox (The hidden rules of English behavior)
Genius, Grief and Grace by Dr. Gaius Davies
Calvin (biography), by Bruce Gordon
I've enjoyed reading my friend Julian Hardyman's new book (he gave me an autographed copy so I don't have to buy one :) ), Idols: God's Battle for our Hearts.
Another book highlight: The daughter of Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones attends Julian's church, Eden; years ago she was downsizing her library and gave Julian her father's copy of C.H. Spurgeon's autobiography.
Spurgeon is one of the spiritual father's I'm "visiting" here in England. His autobiography was where I first read of the great and glorious doctrines of grace.
Lloyd-Jones is also a spiritual hero-father whose steps I'm tracing a bit here in England; so to be able to read over his personal copy of Spurgeon's autobiography was special.
Watching the English, by Kate Fox (The hidden rules of English behavior)
Genius, Grief and Grace by Dr. Gaius Davies
Calvin (biography), by Bruce Gordon
I've enjoyed reading my friend Julian Hardyman's new book (he gave me an autographed copy so I don't have to buy one :) ), Idols: God's Battle for our Hearts.
Another book highlight: The daughter of Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones attends Julian's church, Eden; years ago she was downsizing her library and gave Julian her father's copy of C.H. Spurgeon's autobiography.
Spurgeon is one of the spiritual father's I'm "visiting" here in England. His autobiography was where I first read of the great and glorious doctrines of grace.
Lloyd-Jones is also a spiritual hero-father whose steps I'm tracing a bit here in England; so to be able to read over his personal copy of Spurgeon's autobiography was special.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Cambridge - Grantchester Meadows
Here is a lovely walk we took with our friends along the river through Grantchester Medows. Tea and Scones where waiting at the end of the path.
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