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

I know that you can do all things; no plans of yours can be thwarted...Job 42:2

How blessed am I?

Dear family and friends,

I was loved by my grandfather, I am loved by my father, I am loved by my man, and I have two sons who also love me. How blessed am I?

Lord, thank you for four generations of men in my life who love you!

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

Jefferson and Mommy off to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang...what a great date night with a fantastic young man!

Are friends like children?

Dear family and friends,

I would love to blog daily, wouldn't that be fun! My blog runs twofold; to share what is going on with friends and family and to have a great record for our own family someday.

Since I've last blogged...let me get my calendar. We've had two different sets of company for dinner, the children went away for a weekend on a retreat with All Soul's Langham place, we've been out to dinner with two other families, spent six days in Paris, had lunch at another friends house, celebrated our oldest daughter's 16th birthday, visited the Duke of Wellington's house, and spent the evening on St. Patrick's day with my very favorite Irish woman. Okay, she is the only Irish woman I know, but I have no doubt that if I knew thousands of Irish women, she'd still be my favorite.

Yesterday I had such a delightful surprise in the late afternoon. Have you ever had a friend that you haven't physically met? It's a little crazy having a friend that you've never even seen their face. It's a special thing, I think, as you have a different opportunity to see their heart.

My new friend is the wife of one of the gentleman that we're having the honor of getting to know at Ed's school here in London. I have great respect for this woman for many reasons. One of which is the sacrifice their family is making for the future of their country. They remind us of a modern day John and Abigail Adam's; putting aside their own needs and desires for something much bigger than themselves.

So yesterday a husband was sent, with great love, to share something with a new friend.

He was so charming saying, "First I must attend to my responsibilities." He represented her so very well.

Aren't they delicately beautiful. I hope you can someday see them in person in my home as pictures don't do them justice. She bought them in Iran five or six years ago, and she choose me. She gave them to me!

Farzana, thank you for blessing me in this special way. I can hardly wait to put my arms around your neck in the near future. Until then, I think of you everyday and have such amazing reminders in my living room. Don't you think that friends are like children? Your heart always has room for more. God created our hearts to love and I'm so grateful.

Love in Christ,
Dinah

Off to take a quick nap as Jefferson and I have a date tonight to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on stage. Tomorrow night we're having a 16th birthday party for Caroline and Saturday night I'm making Mexican food for the kind family from Saudi Arabia. Their children like to go to Chili's in Saudi so my Tex Mex will have to suffice for all of us until we return to our respective countries. Paris pictures will have to wait until Sunday.

What does this day entail?

Dear family and friends,

I feel in many ways that I've slayed a giant!

We have been in the throws of trip planning which takes an enormous amount of time. A great opportunity to trust God. You would think we have an army rather than four children. Making reservations for four is an enourmous struggle while remaining in our budget. God has been very gracious.

I now have train tickets/secured apartment for Paris next week. A motorcoach reserved for Ed's two weeks off in April so we can drive to our hearts content in Great Britain and see all the history we want. I promise you a picture of our children on Hadrian's wall!

New friends are including the children and I in a trip to Morocco in June and all I have to do for that one is write a check and show up with bags that aren't overweight and with children that are cheerful. I have a fantastic luggage scale thanks to mother and a faithful Saviour who's doing exciting things in all of our lives. So hopefully the second will also be possible! Stress always reveals the sin in our hearts and traveling always has a certain amount of stress until we really get rolling.

So today...cooking, running to Sainsbury (my local grocery), math, Bible time (next), conferencing papers for our books (middle children), inviting Italian boy over to play with Jefferson on Saturday, parenting, preparing for our guest who's coming for dinner, and I need to get make my bed and get dressed. Pray I can honor God every step today. I want to honor Him in the enourmous, the miniscule, and all the life inbetween!

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

New computer on the way. Our old one overheated last week so I'm limited on sharing pictures until it shows up. My sweet man ordered me a RED one! I'm not sure that should be as exciting as it is...a RED one...

Remember my new "short" goal?

Dear family and friends,

I'm about to go and fall into bed.

Dear friends took the children out to dinner and home for games on Sunday night so Ed and I could have a little prebirthday celebration. It was the first time since October that we were alone in our own home. What a treat!

The children had a blast. Maggie and Rick Coleman are amazing friends that we look forward to knowing for a long time.

Tonight we were invited to the home of a Saudi Arabian Naval officer. His wife and seven children were delightful. The feast was amazing, the conversation stimulating, and the hospitality was unwavering.

Can I just tell you how grateful we are to have a telephone? Just want to keep thanking God publically for that one!

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops