This New Year...........

Here we are well into a New Year.

Which seems a bit odd to me because,

I don't really remember "exiting" the old one.

Things became very busy and "foggy" at the end

of 2011 for us.

But here we are...and it's now 2012.

I'm sure you have many things to look forward to....as do I.

This year I have already enjoyed a brilliant new resource book.

 Last week I received a "Belated" Christmas gift from a friend.

She knows I am a huge "fan" of Jane Austen.

Upon opening this gift I nearly,

 "screamed like a GIRL!"

What a fabulous gift to give someone who adores Jane Austen.

Which would be me!

This past October my husband and I went to England and while there we traveled one day to the city of "Winchester."

Winchester is very much the imaginable English stereotype city that one might

dream of.

Quaint, beautiful, old and with a sweet, little river flowing through it.

We loved Winchester.

Such a serene little town.

However, someone I really admire lived in Winchester.

This was her last known home.

Initially, I didn't know this.

Once informed by our soon to be "hostess" and dear friend. that we were going to be visiting Winchester along with a host of other little nearby villages 

She told me of this huge "Cathedral" we were going to visit while there

 so, me being me, I researched the city.

And then I nearly passed out.

Because this is the Cathedral where Jane Austen is buried,

along with a host of hundreds of other people, including her Father.

It was so surreal inside.

You think you will just look around a bit and read the signs and look over things, and be about your merry way.

But the enormity of the building, the all the facets, and details inside of it overtakes you and holds you captive.

I can't imagine worshipping in such a place.

Yet, at one point I felt a very STRONG,

 overwhelming sense of worship wave over me while inside of this church.

I think part of it was the thankfulness that I felt for being there.

 I also think part of it was just the Majesty of the building, and hoping that men had done this work truly to the "Glory of God" and not some man or men. And regardless of wither they had or hadn't....

I was going to give Him honor and glory in that place.

What I did know in those moments was that I was giving God total praise for giving me the opportunity to feel good in my body that day, while being with my dear husband to view the wonderful city of Winchester, and all it's delights.

More on Winchester next time.

Blogger willing.

A Time And A Season

Wishing you all,

A VERY Merry Christmas!

This year has gone by so fast.....in fact,

to my husband and I, it seems as if the

past 2-3 months have been crazy.

However this past month has nearly a

blur.

We have had a death in our family recently.

My Step Father has passed away.

So my husband and I will be flying to the Midwest

in the next few days.

Please pray for my Mother and for my family, during this

time if you will.

I must say, I am usually READY to start

the New Year by this time.

And this year seems no different......

Wishing you and yours,

 a very wonderful,

prosperous, healthy,

and

Happy New Year

to come.

Be blessed,

Joyce

Goodnight London

The time had finally come.

This was  to be our very
"last night"
in London.

Although we were excited about moving onto the

"next"

adventure during our trip and very much wanting

 to see two sets of "friends" of ours.

We were dreading the thought of packing up 

and leaving this town we had been calling

"home"

 for some 5 days now.

We lingered over

 a lovely dinner at a

restaurant we found while out walking

around once getting off "The Tubes," after spending our entire day in

the "Notting Hill" area.

It was dark by then, and we were very much

 "taking in"

 all that we could

on this our last evening in

London.

(Roast Beef, Roasted Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes,

Green Beans and Carrots,

 and Yorkshire Pudding)

We feasted on this dinner.

Sharing this lovely meal at a restaurant that 

we had found while out walking in the dark, while trying to

"stretch" out the remaining hours we had.

It tasted fabulous!

And to our delight...

The restaurant was "decorated"

for Christmas!

I was one "tired"

but very "happy"

American.

Once we were finished.

We walked back to our hotel.

Looking one last time at the lights

of Victoria Station at night.

And once in our bed.

We dreamed, sweet dreams.

Our stomachs full, 

our hearts were warm.



Portobello Road

If you ever go to London.

You must go to the "Notting Hill" area.

Portobello Road Market

And this is all I can say today about this.


I have worked on this posting for over 2 days.
Blogger gave me so many problems with my photos.
I finally had this all perfected and edited when AGAINST me better judgement, I decided to add "one more photo."


Which must have ticked blogger off......
for as it was loading my last photo,
it locked up.


I was shocked when I went back to do a recheck on how the photo was positioned and my entire article was gone.


Blogger did not save my changes.

Except for what you see above....

Once the smoke settles.
I may try again.

Mercy and Grace to me!

Because
I've considered the
"bigger picture"
and I realize that this isn't
Cancer,
it isn't a Car Wreck,
it's not a Divorce, or Death.

It's life and
one
of it's tiny frustrations.

"This too shall pass."

However........For now.

 I'm drinking tea.

Trip of a Lifetime.....

All I can tell you is this:

"Trip of a Lifetime!"

I have dreamed ALL of my life of going on a long trip to England.

I had gone to London once.

 But it was only for one day.

Not nearly enough time to fulfill my "dream."

Finally, that day came.

And it was exactly "like falling into a fairytale."

I can tell you this.

At least two times, well maybe three.

 I cried right on the spot.

Not because I was sad really, but......

because I was so overwhelmed by being where I was.

Which was basically happiness.

One day it was sadness though.

(I will expound on that later)
But for the most part...

This was a fabulous trip with no problems at all.

(Heading to Portobello Road to the huge and famous Antique Market)

Portobello Road

Victoria Station

My husband at Kensington Palace

Many times while in London,
 I just wanted to "pinch myself and see if I were dreaming."

At some point you realize...
"It's real."

Then it hit me one day....and hard.

This is when I first cried.

While having lunch

 at

 Kensington Palace.

I had been fine all week....

but something about this place overwhelmed me.

Then 4 American girls came in

and sat down and ordered

"Afternoon Tea."

And then I started to cry.....HA!

I can't explain why...except to say I was glad I was there, and I was glad they were too.

Surreal moment I guess.

Kensington Palace

Yes, we did tour the Palace...

As much as you are allowed to tour of course.

No,

Sadly we did not see these people....

However, we did see this person.

I think he was a

"Royal Gardener."

More later......