True Love Still Exists...My Grandparents have been Married for over 71 Years!

Honeymoon Part 1: Foggy London Town

After crossing the Pond, Aaron and I decided to visit London, Paris, Zurich, Florence, and Rome by train. We really had no plans and therefore, enjoyed seeing the sights, getting lost, and discovering where the locals enjoy life. Our plan was to visit some of the major European cities and also make a stop where I studied abroad in Florence. Below, you'll find some of the highlights of our time in London. Enjoy! 

 London is a city steeped in history from every angle that you look. It's filled with beautiful gardens owned and maintained by the Queen, and the cultural diversity of the people who live there is evident throughout the city. After buying the London Pass, we had tickets for the most popular attractions and also a way to avoid long lines during tourist season. After taking the train from the airport to Trafalgar Square, we decided to check into our hotel, ditch our suitcases and wander around Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, in the area where our apartment/hotel was located. Aaron and I loved Piccadilly Circus because the theater district with its bright lights reminded us of a mini Times Square with street entertainers. Also, at night, the cafes in Piccadilly Circus are a great place to stop and enjoy "high tea" for dinner/dessert. We really enjoyed having high tea and people watching in the theater district. 

 In Trafalgar Square, I discovered Dan Brown's latest novel, "Inferno," had just been released. Having chosen a honeymoon where we were going to visit many of the places mentioned in "Inferno" and being mildly obsessed with Dan Brown's novels, I immediately downloaded the book and secretly hoped we'd find a book signing with Dan Brown. However, not seeing Dan Brown anywhere at the bookstore, we caught the bus and visited Harrods, the incredible department store. Every room looked like we had just walked into a shiek's palace. "Amazing" doesn't even begin to describe Harrods and like most tourists, we enjoyed the sights and then walked back outside into the real world just as content. 

 When my parents took me to London when I was 15 years old, we discovered a great restaurant for fish and chips called, the Sea Shell, near the Marylebone tube station. It was my mission to go back to this same restaurant, which is now famous for their fish and chips, and take Aaron there. After searching for a few hours, we finally located it and enjoyed the best fish and chips that we experienced in London. It's no wonder that the small restaurant I once visited is now well-known in the city and now double its original size. Visiting the Sea Shell was well worth the time it took to find it. 

 On our first official day of touring London, we visited the Tower of London, London Bridge, Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul's Cathedral. We began the day at the famous London jail and ended it at the most famous church! One of the highlights of our trip was taking the guided tour of St. Paul's Cathedral because of the incredible amount of history surrounding this cathedral, which was built in 1675. The guided tour was done by a British gentleman in his late 80's who would use his cane to poke and prod tourists not associated with our group, in order to move them out of our way. He was absolutely hilarious. Our guide was also a wealth of knowledge and being a part of his tour was like being in a Dan Brown novel. He knew every historical detail and he never resisted telling us about it! Following our tour, Aaron and I immediately visited Pret A Manger, which is conveniently located on every corner of London, for a strong espresso after our 2-hour tour!

Speaking of Pret A Manger, every morning, Aaron and I would walk a block to this incredible shop for breakfast. These are located throughout the city and they put Starbucks to shame. I never thought I'd say that, but after visiting Pret A Manger, I wish I owned one, they are that good. The coffee is fresh and if you can understand the thick accented words of the bakers saying, "take away or for here," you can enjoy a delicious breakfast for a reasonable price. Each morning, we would poke our heads into Nero or Costa, other local coffee shops, and walk out after seeing the boring baked goods. No one could beat Pret A Manger's "toastie," which comes in a variety of forms, but the one we chose was fresh baked bread pressed with stone ground mustard, gruyere cheese, and "bacon" (thick ham). Couple that with an espresso and we couldn't be happier. Aaron, not a coffee drinker, bought a lemonade with his morning toastie and we particularly enjoyed the British humor found on the outside of the cup, which stated: "Served best chilled, just like all Britons!" 

The following day, we visited the British Museum, the London Eye, St. James Park, and Buckingham Palace. The British Museum was incredible and we really enjoyed the room of antiquities, which showcased the wealthy's collection of oddities, such as a miniature "real" mermaid, which I immediately took a picture of after watching the recent Discovery channel's documentary with Aaron. However, one of our favorite areas of the British Museum was the Egyptian exhibit and the walls of Babylon from Assyria. Who doesn't love singing and dancing to "Walk Like an Egyptian" next to real sphinxes? After the museum, we took a slow, but wonderful, spin around the London Eye, which allowed us to see the entirety of London from the enclosed Ferris wheel. We did this at dusk, so our pictures captured the sun setting over the city and the green glow of the lights of Big Ben and Parliament. After having enjoyed fish and chips already 3 times in local pubs, we opted for Indian food, which was delicious and a great way to wrap up our time in Foggy London Town. 

The next morning, we packed our bags and headed to the Charing Cross station to catch the Eurostar to Paris. On our walk to the station, we were a comedy of errors...we caught the wrong city bus, could not find a taxi, and I broke Aaron's suitcase rolley-bag handle, and so we were rushing through the streets of London with Aaron carrying his suitcase on his shoulder like a traveling gypsy. Oh good times...but most importantly, we made it on the Eurostar with time to spare and at least we can laugh about it now!

Just for Laughs!

Break the Tape by Darren Hardy of Success Magazine

Here we are in the final 40-plus days of 2013. You have gone the distance this year. You have invested a massive amount of time, energy, effort, sacrifice and dedication to put yourself in position. But it will be this last leg that will determine if your entire year ends as a success or as you hobble across the finish line at the back of the pack. That difference will be determined NOW, right now in this moment. Lose another week or two and you will be too far behind to recover. Will you dig deep, double down and put in that last kick to overtake your competitors and summit your goals? To do so here is what you want to fixate on: “Breaking the tape.” 

That is the advice a visiting Olympic coach gave a promising young runner while running track in college. He was an extremely talented sprinter, but regardless of his talent, effort or hard work ethic he was still losing his competitions, consistently placing second. He would lead the entire race yet still get overtaken in the final stretch. He tried various approaches but nothing seemed to work. He grew extremely frustrated. By the way, this might be the way you feel about achieving some of your big goals. You work really hard. You are really dedicated. You put in tons of effort, but still fall short once you cross the finish line on December 31. 

During one meet there was a well-known Olympic track coach in the stands. Once again this young runner placed second. The coach approached the runner and said, “You have first place ability and you put in first place effort and commitment, but you finish second, do you know why? “No!” he exclaimed in frustration. The coach continued, “I’ve watched several of your races. In everyone you are ahead for 80–90 percent of the race, then just as you are about to win you make the fatal mistake… you look over your shoulder… and that’s when someone overtakes you.” He said, “The next time you run, focus only on the end; just fixate on breaking the tape. Forget what’s happening behind you. Winners can’t be afraid that they are alone.” You see what happens is, when you look over your shoulder you switch your attention from the positive goal of winning to the possibility of someone overtaking you. When your brain circuits swing toward this fear it affects your motor circuits and slows you down. When you focus your brain only on breaking the tape rather than outrunning the challengers, you are telling your brain circuits to maintain your pace and finish strong. You no longer register information of what is behind you but you gain the possibility of victory by staying focused on the goal. The very next race the young runner won… and he kept winning. He even ended up becoming an Olympian and competed in the 1996 Olympic Games. 

The lesson that coach gave him not only helped that young runner but it has helped me ever since my friend told me this story many years ago. The lessons I’ve learned are: 1) The race is won or lost in the final push. All your hard work all year can get flushed down the drain in the last two months and two weeks. 2) During that final push focus only one thing, breaking the tape. Don’t let the crowd or even the competitors at your back fracture your focus. Your body will follow your eyes. 

Keep a maniacal focus on breaking the tape. What are you doing to keep a maniacal focus on breaking the tape of 2013?

The Power of Persistent Prayer

My pastor at Northside Baptist Church mentioned Luke 18:1-8, "The Story of the Persistent Widow," in passing this past Sunday when we were talking about the power of persistent prayer. I was intrigued because I didn't remember that story, but it sounded really interesting. 

Here's the story in the modern version: 

"Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, 'There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’ He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.’ Then Jesus said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?” 

Wow. After reading that short story, I was speechless. There is so much wisdom in just a few verses. First of all, Jesus is telling not only his disciples this story, as an illustration, but also anyone who would listen. And at that time in history, He was never alone. Jesus was surrounded by thousands of people in need of help, in need of encouragement, in need of hope. Here, Jesus begins the short story by saying...Pray consistently and never quit! Tell God what you need and tell Him every day because it will make you feel better, as you don't hold onto your prayer request alone, but instead surrender it to God. And God wants to hear from us every day. How can He have a relationship with us if we don't talk to Him and we don't tell him what's on our mind? 

Next, Jesus dives into the story and specifically highlights that the judge who was being "badgered" by this widow did not have a relationship with God. The judge didn't care about God or other people, but he selfishly gave this woman what she was asking, so that he would not be bothered by her persistence anymore. Then Jesus states the Moral of the Story...Here's a judge who has no connection with God, but he gave a persistent woman what she asked. How much more will God who we have a connection with give us what we ask if we are persistent in prayer? I love how the words say, "He will not drag his feet," meaning that God will not delay in giving you what you persistently pray about with Him. This woman was seeking justice, which she deserved. You may be seeking a new job or provision, which you deserve. These are all good requests that if we go to God daily and surrender this request to Him, He will not drag His feet, but get to work on our behalf to help us. 

Finally, Jesus asks a very compelling question to all of His listeners, past, present, and future: "But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?" Jesus is asking the crowd around him, "Who among you would persistently pray like that?" That question is a charge for us to have this type of persistent faith, the faith of the persistent widow, and pray with perseverance because God will answer us and not delay in helping us. So, pray with persistence for your need and watch God work on your behalf without delay.

Provision List-Updated Daily :)

Here's how the Lord has recently provided, and He will do the same for you. I love keeping this list, so that I can see how the Lord provides in so many ways for my basic needs.

1. $100 check in the mail that was out of the blue and answered prayer.

2. Free lunch bought by a very kind person from church that I didn't even know.

3. Extra Starbucks stickers from the kindest Barista I know. Extra stickers = closer to a free holiday drink.

4. Free Starbucks drink from the same kind Barista just because.

5. Free lunch at school.

6. New friends and a Christian ministry where I can volunteer my time.

7. My Barista friend at Starbucks giving all the extra pastries at the end of the day to me to distribute to the families we ministered to in the apartment community last night through the Good News Club.

8. Late night coffee with our new friends to dream and put into action ways to reach people in our community who do not know the hope found in Jesus Christ.

9. Allowing me to graduate early from law school...6 months early!

10. The sweet Registrar at my school registering for me! If you know the stress of registration, this act was VERY appreciated!

A Simple Change Is All It Took

It's hard to believe that the last time I blogged was in July. That in a nutshell is what law school is like. Haha But here I am today, finding a peaceful break at the end of my day where I can sip a Chestnut Praline Latte and enjoy a few minutes to hopefully bless someone. 

I have been in what I call a "funk" for months now. Blame it on law school or whatever reason I could find, I was just downright not very happy. I couldn't shake the sadness or anxiety (they came in waves) no matter what I tried. However, the Lord had a plan. I would like to say it was an attack on the sad/anxious "funk" that was plaguing me. And boy am I grateful for his attack plan. Sometimes when we seem to have security in our life, maybe through having a steady paycheck, we are more unhappy than grateful and at peace. Why is that? It seems counterintuitive, but it's the reality for many, many people. 

But the Lord has ways of working on me and by removing the security that wasn't giving me peace anyway, I am more content and at peace now than ever before. One life-changing quote that the Lord used to open my eyes talked about living in the present. It says, "I choose not to live in the past because that causes me anxiety from what I could have done. I choose not to live in the future because that causes me anxiety about what could happen next. I choose to live in the present, in today, and focus all my efforts on what I can control." 

I love that quote because it has given me the sense of contentment and peace that was nonexistent in my life for so long. The Lord knows what He's doing in your life and in your future. I have found that if I begin my day with a heartfelt prayer conversation with the Lord, I am filled with peace, and I just spend the rest of my day with confidence knowing that the Lord will work everything out and I just need to focus my efforts on what I can control today. For me, what I can control is choosing to focus on my upcoming exams, volunteering for a Christian ministry I believe in, and being grateful for every single day that I can enjoy in peace and contentment with my sweet husband. 

I wish you the same.