Pemberly, Afternoon Tea, and ... Haggis, OH MY!
The Adventure Never Stops:
We just had the pleasure of a three week visit from our dear friend Christine! So the adventures were numerous while she was here and we will try to share the highlights with you all =D
In other news, Sarah is 28 weeks pregnant and just entered her third and final trimester, that's right just a short three months before Baby Ward #1 is expected to come into the world!
One of the first adventures with Christine was a trip into London! It was a long day which started with a 5:30am wake up call and then a full day of exploring Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, Harrods Dept. Store, dinner at the Sherlock Holmes Pub and a late night view of the houses of Parliament (with the famous Big Ben)! Then we made our way back home and got in at 1am!
The next big adventure was a trip to Scotland!
Our first stop was Loch Lomond, where Edmund and Sarah were both perplexed and had to do some figuring out of things!
But we eventually found the tourist information center and they sent us on our merry way to this lovely view of the loch!
Christine's first ride on a double decker bus!!!!
While on the bus our camera decided it really liked riding on a double decker and stayed on while we got off... well, needless to say, we are very thankful for our camera's nameless returners who snapped a photo of themselves on the camera before turning it in to the bus driver. Edmund did some chasing before he eventually caught up with the wayward camera but we had much to be thankful for on that day =D God is so gracious with us even when we are forgetful, He is faithful!
While Edmund chased after that wayward camera Christine and Sarah got to worship the Lord in St. Giles Cathedral (where the famous John Knox preached!) on Pentacost Sunday, it was a blessing to hear the Scottish "tongue" spoken!
Haggis! The Scottish delicacy...
We all agreed... it's pretty good!
After lunch we took a walking tour of the Royal Mile and the Edinburgh Castle!
On our way back from Scotland we stopped in at the Housesteads Roman Fort that sits on Hadrian's Wall! It was neat to see the ruins of a Roman outpost that was at the edge of their vast empire!
After a few days of resting we took off for Kenilworth Castle, an impressive castle... and it's in ruins today, I can only imagine how grand it must have been during it's heyday!
Robert Dudley who was the close friend and confidant of Queen Elizabeth 1, added a whole new portion to the castle in the 1500's during Elizabeth's reign. It is speculated that the grand addition was an attempt to persuade the Queen to marry him, though she would not have him and remained the virgin Queen throughout her reign.
Well, a trip to England isn't complete without a visit to the house we know as Pemberly! The grand estate that Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, character, Mr. Darcy lives at and where Miss Elizabeth Bennet finally fancies herself fond of the man she once disdained! Christine and Sarah had a grand time walking around this beautiful English countryside home, whose real name is Lyme Park.
There is a deer nature reserve on the grounds and we got quite close to many deer!
The adventures are too numerous to recount but needless to say Christine's visit was a blessing to all! We praise the Lord for his safety in our travels, his provision for not just the necessary things but also for the sweet things He sent our way, we praise Him especially for friends, our daily bread and the salvation that He gives so freely through faith in Jesus Christ!
P.S. For those of you who have been wanting to see the baby bump.... Christine caught Sarah in a moment of silliness =D
My favorite baby bump picture is the one near the top of the page in which you and Edmund are looking over a map. LOVE LOVE!!! And the ones at the end, too. : ) :)
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful countryside! I am glad that you are both getting out there to see it! Crazy to think that people have lived and built there for thousands of years! I wonder why there aren't more trees in Scotland? You can keep your haggis. : P