Does the marathon slow down?

Dear family and friends,

Since I blogged about our trip through England we've had my amazing sister and darling nieces for eight days, I've been preparing for next years school year, we've been to Italy for a weekend of God sent refreshment, my in laws are coming for a fantastic stay tomorrow morning, and we are participating in International Night tomorrow evening with Cowboy Cocktails.

I am grateful for the marathon of life. I know at some point it will slow down, but until it does, I just want to know Him more and praise Him with each step! Well, I want to do that when it slows down too...

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

What was my favorite part of the trip?

Dear family and friends,

We are home from our trip and I'm on my third day of laundry. It may take a little longer, but I am so grateful to have a dryer here. Not only do I have a dryer, but it is not one of those combo jobs that most people have around here. This has truly made our time here easier. God is so good to provide!

Many times when we travel the wonderful experiences blend together and it would just be so hard to pick one moment that I loved the most. In Paris how could I choose whether I loved the Louvre or Victor Hugo's house, putting one over the other? It was awesome seeing one of the paintings we know inspired him and it was also amazing seeing where he wrote, thought, and loved.

Was dining in a fine French restaurant more of a memory than riding bicycles through the streets of Paris on a Friday evening? Both delighted our children. Wyatt blazing through the wind and rain soaked streets on his bike or the boys in their sports coats looking so much like their father, if I had to choose I just couldn't.

This last trip through England and Scotland...hands down I can choose...it's easy as pie. American pie to be precise.

This past Saturday we were making our way back from Scotland and I found a medieval hall that looked interesting. The guide read, "A little known gem...among the best preserved medieval manor houses in England." I love treasures and certainly love great secrets. From the little info we had this seemed to be both. We'd done several castles and we were looking for a enormous manor.

It was great. An enormous hall with a ceiling that looked like the bottom of an old pristine boat turned upside down. The kitchen was incredibly in tact; like several maids were going to come around the corner amidst their work at any moment. I'd never seen a kitchen this old as so many burn down at some point. The tower was bold and the view was beautiful. There was a great audio guide and I was in no way disappointed. I'm not sure I ever saw Wyatt as he loves to take off in large places. The girls and Jefferson were nearby and I was feeling quite pleased with our find.

Then the fantastic happened. Towards the end of the manor in a corner near the back were six wall hangings with text. We love to read whatever we can learn. I just had no idea where I was until that point.

When the children were little I'd seen a book in homeschooling catalog that peaked my interest. It was a story of Thanksgiving. When I was in school I remember learning about the pilgrims and the fact that they wanted religious freedom. I knew they had not been allowed the freedom that we so take for granted.

This book opened my eyes in so many new ways. The story is way more than quaintly dressed pilgrims that sailed over on the Mayflower.

Did you know that pilgrims lived in Holland for many years first? First they fled to Holland.

Did you know the first time the fled after days of traveling with woman, children, and a new born in the open elements of winter they were duped out of their money and turned over to the authorities?

Did you know the men went to prison and were very afraid of being hanged for treason? The women and children housed in a church and the people in the town begrudgingly provided some necessities.

Did you know they lived in Holland for a decade plus before they realized it was not a long term solution for safety?

I won't go on and on, but these were thing I did not know. This book, which I won't be able to tell you the title to until August as it's in storage in California, was mind boggling to me. It gave me a whole new perspective on those who had gone before us. It gave me a new understanding of the cost that was paid for my freedom.

The original congregation was divided into two house churches as it was not safe to worship in large numbers. It was not safe to worship at all for that matter.

So there we were enjoying this old manor to suddenly realize we where the pilgrims had met. That huge old hall is where our forefathers had once worshipped God. We were literally standing at the roots of our heritage. It blew my mind, made me giddy, and caused me to worship.

We've seen mountainous cathedrals that are decorated to the hilt. The moment I stand in a place such as this my mind always quickly wanders to this conversation I've had so many times with the Lord. "Jesus, have people really worshipped you here? It's incredible beyond belief, but over the centuries have people really called out your name in this place? Has this place brought you glory? Have men grown in your Word here? Has your Word been boldly proclaimed in this place?" Then I have that sweet intimate moment, usually with our children tugging at me with their words and hands, that moment where I tell Jesus how much I love Him and that I will worship Him in the particular place that I'm standing. Recently we were in a cathedral such as this and it made me horribly sad. This was not a place where my Lord had been worshipped and adored. The majestic beauty did not matter or impress me, it only burdened my heart. It had been so obviously about honoring men, not glorifying my Saviour.

Yet on this day, in this great hall, not only did I stand in awe that my Lord had been worshipped here, He was worshipped here by men such as Brewster, Smyth, and Bradford.

I was not surprised that my favorite part of our trip through Scotland and England had to do with Jesus. I was a little caught by surprise that my favorite part of our trip through Scotland and England had to do with America! It was an amazing moment that I will always treasure on this side of heaven...

Love in Christ,

Dinah for The Troops