Land of the Scots

Who is a fan of peanut butter and banana sandwiches!? I certainly am. In fact, that is exactly what lays in my lap right now as I write to you. Anyone that really knows me knows that I have a special love for peanut butter. Back home, I eat peanut butter with almost everything (apples, wheat thins, or sometimes just a spoonful.) Upon arriving in London, peanut butter was naturally one of the first products I searched Sainsburys (grocery store) to buy. Unfortunately, no Jif was to be found. Only one brand of peanut before my eyes. So...I went with the creamy.

Two days ago I returned from the "Land of the Scots": Scotland. It was, by far, my favorite place we have traveled to as a group. Edinburgh is where we resided. What was the weather like, you ask?

First Day

Second Day

Like London, the weather was very sporadic. Even though the second day was beautiful to start with, we got a torrential downpour late afternoon.                  

First, we went on a tour of Scotland's Parliament building. A common theme we all caught on throughout the tour was that Scotland's Parliament has tried to set themselves a part from England's parliament. The the architecture of Scotland's Parliament building was fresh and modern and unity is highly encouraged among members of both political parties. One example would be that members of Scotland's Parliament can sit wherever they would like whilst in a meeting with the opposite party. On the other hand, England's Parliament requires the members of the House of Lords and House of Commons to sit on opposite sides whilst in a meeting. While walking through Scotland's Parliament building, I felt as though i was in a big and beautiful mansion. Enric Miralles designed this building to be completely open for the public to see the inside at almost every angle. Big windows, no curtains, and modern fixtures make up Scotland's Parliament building.                                     

Our first night wrapped up with a few of us going to a local pub to sing some karaoke! It was a Carrie Underwood night. With my friend Gina, we sang "Cowboy Casanova" and then I sang "Before He Cheats." 

I had never been inside a castle until this trip. On Saturday, we had beautiful weather to walk around the Edinburgh's famous castle. Check it out: 

Final activity: horseback riding. I was given a horse named Arnold and despite him trying to eat grass every time we stopped, he was a really good horse! A ten year old girl, Neve, held on to his bit the whole time. Neve kept Arnold in line as well as the other horses around. It blows my mind that this ten year old, tiny, ginger-haired girl was in complete control of those huge animals. Made me think that no matter how big something is in front of us, we can handle it with complete confidence.

Morning. Match. Mishap.

Waking up to a rainy day made me want to do nothing more than to curl up, eat my oatmeal, and watch "Emma", a movie based on one of Jane Austen's classic stories. So I did. Not knowing that this movie was over three hours long is besides the point. It was absolutely worth every minute. Now, I am even more inclined to dive right into my newly bought book, Pride and Prejudice. Gotta love Jane. 


Before too much time has slipped away, I want to tell y'all that I had the chance to go to Wimbledon! I went with a few others from my group this past Saturday to see the women's final match between Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova. Again, another great experience. We "queued up" (lined up) about 8:15am and received a queue card. I was 386th in line, I believe or close to it. Having that place in itself was quite the success! My roommate went to Wimbledon earlier in the week and was 7,000th in line! We paid fifteen pounds to receive a "grounds" ticket. Not bad! Although, I did pay my share at the gift shop! Whoops. Anyhoo, we staked out a lovely spot on Headman Hill and watched the big screen TV for most of the day. I'd say it was a pretty good match! I think Michelle Obama and Anne Hathaway would say so too. (They were there as well!)

playing cards while waiting in the queue

the queue continued to grow longer as the minutes passed! 

Amanda, Karl, Gina, ME, and Leslie on the hill 

On another matter, I MUST stay away from Mondays. If you can remember, last Monday is when I tripped up the stairs and slammed my face into the wall. (No serious damage done. Only memories and a couple marks on the wall remain.) Well, I figured I would continue with the manic Mondays and have the top of my foot be run over by a car. Yes...this happened. Here's how it happened: 

Our group had just seen a show and was headed to the tube. As I began to cross the road, I looked left (clear!), continued walking slowly, and then looked right. I then saw a car come whipping around the corner and soon felt the car's wheel run over the top of my foot as I slammed up against the side of the car. The car stopped. With my toe only in a little pain, I yelled, "I'm fine! I'm good! Keep going! It's okay! Keep going!" 

You may wonder why I told the car to keep going. After all, I had just had my foot run over. However, I really did feel fine. My toe felt as though I had just stubbed it upon the ground. I truly was protected. I thank God for protecting me in that moment. It was my mistake to not look right first and then left. It was my mistake to not "look both ways before crossing"- a child's lesson I learn when I'm twenty. I now cross each street with caution and also a bit of fear. I am quick to assume there will be a car whipping around the corner. I understand fear is natural thing to face after an incident like this, but I am determined to not let the fear take control. In fact, the fear must go. As with anything in life, if there is fear, there is no room for faith. The Lord was and is watching over me and I must put all my faith into him at all times. For although I live in this world where bad things, unfortunate mishaps, and cruel events happen, I am not of the world. 

Although we live by faith and not by sight (2 Corin. 5:7), make sure to look both ways before crossing :) 

Freedom

One of the many great things about being here in Europe is that there are many opportunities to see beautiful churches and experience heart felt worship to God. However, as i have walked through some churches on tours, I sometimes feel as though the historical importance holds a higher rank than the heart of worship and relationship with Jesus. Or perhaps I am just having my eyes opened to the many different ways people give glory to the same God. In any case, I feel blessed to have been exposed to all types of worship, services, and praise to our God in Heaven.

This past Friday, I attended Westminster Abbey's Evensong. It's a free service occurring every day that welcomes all. I must say, it was one of the most touching services I have ever been to. As I sat in my chair, not in view of the choir,  I was still able to hear the angelic voices echoing throughout the gothic styled architecture. A professor here told our group once that the purpose of churches like Westminster and Notre Dame is for the people to "wonder about the glory of God." While staring at the stained glass window before me, I was able to do just that. There I was: sitting in a huge & historical church that felt so formal. It made me completely wonder about the glory of God.

The God I am getting to know daily is so personal, knows my name, saves and forgives me, comforts me. As I sat with hundreds of others in Westminster, I began to see, once again, the magnitude of God's ability. His ability to have a personal relationship with every single person on the Earth is more than possible. It's what he intends. It's what he prays.

Happy Fourth of July, by the way! Being here in Britain on this day is interesting only because, obviously, no celebrations are happening! I said, "Happy Fourth!" to any fellow American I walked past. I actually went to a nearby park and painted for the second time since being here. My inspiration: Freedom. I deem the painting appropriate for this special day.

started

finished

Actually, a few days ago, the whole group went to a church to see and listen to a classical music performance. The image of the cross behind the pulpit was so unique and intriguing. They longer i'd stare at it, the cross seemed to be moving. This is what actually triggered the vision for my painting:

In my painting, the colorful ring at the center of the cross represents all whom Jesus died for: everyone. We are all very different and all representing a different 'color' per say. The fireworks in each corner represents the gift freedom we all have all been given from Jesus. It's just a matter of if you have unwrapped and accepted that gift or not...

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.- Romans 6:18 

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.-Revelation 1:5

Fellow believers, rejoice and celebrate today as we are citizens of heaven and have received freedom from Jesus, our savior! :)