We have had the most wonderful time on this trip traveling all over England, visiting friends, seeing ancient and sacred sites, experiencing history and many new perspectives. Still, the highlight of our trip begins as our beautiful daughters finally join us to celebrate Christmas together as a family. We have been blessed with children who grew up to be wonderful adults, full of love, peace and adventure. That they choose to spend the holidays with us is still one of my greatest joys. I know the times will come that it might not always be possible and I want to treasure each time that it comes together in this way. This morning we saw our daughter’s British Airways flight pass overhead, right on schedule headed for London. We are now in Carnsforth, right at the edge of the lush and endlessly picturesque Lake District. Flight Tracker dinged the final approach sound and we felt as giddy as if we were on the plane ourselves.
Our youngest daughter who is already in the UK at Bath Spa University will be traveling from Bath to join us. Later this afternoon, we will pick up both girls at the train station. I have a sneaky feeling they might end up on the same train since many of the trains originate in London I feel the daughter getting on in Bath may happen onto the one traveling from Heathrow. We’ll see. I would love to organize this but am letting Holy Spirit and what is prevail without any but my great desire and hopefulness to see the girls arrive together. In this great and glorious land we have been welcomed into it is still our deepest delight to be with our family together. I suppose this is the picture of our true unity in the heart of God, together, together.
I love how all the pubs are decorated for a traditional Christmas.
Peace on earth and goodwill toward men is a pretty good motto for the family. I have a lifetime habit of imagining all in perfect order. I would often get my knickers in a twist when the perfect order I envisaged unraveled in some sharp word or thoughtless gesture. I have come to feel these normal occurrences of life less as something wrong and more of a reminder to breath, notice and give thanks for whatever it is. Each person in our little family of four (soon to be five with the addition of our eldest daughter’s dear fiance) is full in the flow of the powerful energy of love and life. This can lead to spectacle and on occasion tribulation. All fine fare for the forgiveness quality of love, which we all practice with gusto (or at least aim to practice). In a matter of hours I will have my ducks in a row once again. Hallelujah and Happy Christmas to all families in the throws of gathering once again to celebrate the birth of Love in the form of a babe in a manger, Jesus Christ. Let the celebrating begin!
