The Flyover!

To the Palace to see the Queen

Trooping the Colour!

Trooping the Colour is the official celebration of the Queen's birthday, but the tradition actually dates back over two hundred years (I think to Charles II). I found out about it and thought it sounded like fun, so I convinced a friend to go along....and it was a great day! Tons of people, even more pictures, and I got to see the Queen three times!

Gordie (an American/Canadian visiting for the summer) expressing his excitement at seeing the Queen!

Twists and Turns of Life

I normally leave this blog for pictures with little commentary about life, but today will be different.  

Life has been challenging lately and I've been struggling a bit here in London.  I've been so tired from a crazy schedule, missing family, and worrying about my grandmother (who has not been feeling so great lately).  But God is so good, and I'm so thankful that I have a God who loves me and gives me strength.

This morning, my pastor at church was reminding us that God meets us where we are, with as much or as little energy we have, God just wants us to keep turning to Him.  The pastor made the valid point that we often turn to God when we feel weak or overwhelmed, but he really reminded the church that we need to continue to turn to God when we feel strong also.  He commented, "Even if you feel like you only have 5% to give, God will the other 95% for you."  Well, honestly, when I woke up, I felt like I was at about 5%!  But God is so good.  Church was really encouraging to me.  The sermon was a great reminder to worship God, regardless of how I feel.  God is faithful.

Then this afternoon, I went down to London's famous Corner and I got into some really good conversations.  Perhaps the best one was with a man who does not believe in a higher authority (other than human morality) but yet seems hesitant to claim to be an atheist.  A friend of mine and another girl were speaking to this man and I went over to listen but joined in and ended up carrying on the conversation after they left.  We had a great conversation and as he is in London for five weeks for business, I'm hoping I'll see him another week.  After we said our goodbyes, one of my friend's, who had been talking to this man earlier, came over and said, "What did you say to him?  After you started talking him, he seemed to soften..."  Thanks be to God, because I was praying the entire time we were talking!

And as I sat on the tube on the way home, I had time to reflect on how good God is to me.  I started my day, tired and not really interested in engaging with anyone, and instead, God encouraged me through a conversation with an atheist.  Did I expect that this morning?  Not in my wildest dreams.

The big move :-)

Sigh.  It's June, and I'm not sure what happened to May.  Part of the busyness was because I was looking for a new house!  Through God's grace and the connections of friends, I found a good place in the house pictured below.  I moved in on June 1.  I'm on the second floor, and I think I'll enjoy living here.  My two housemates are both older, which contributes to our house being quiet.  Everyone keeps to themselves other than some chats in the kitchen.  By the way, "our" house is only the left side of the house (when facing the house from the street).  

above: my house from the street

below: the view when you first enter the house.  To the right is a sitting room/dining room and the stairs go up to the three bedrooms and bathroom.

The kitchen

The back yard: It's quite a treat to have both a front yard and back yard!  It seems rare here in London.

So, there's a little view of my new home.  As you may have guessed, its a bit further out from the centre of London, but I really appreciate that.  This bush baby needs some space!  There is a huge, beautiful park about ten minutes walk away, and in the opposite direction, its about 10 minutes to the tube station and grocery stores, pharmacy, restaurants, etc.  It lets me have my space and yet I can to the centre of London without too much effort!