Monthly Archives: September 2015

The Rest of the Day in London! (May 27th writing–never published)

I wrote this on May 27th while we were in London, but never published it.

So much happened today! We were supposed to start a day tour of London today at 8:15. Well! Because Parliament was opening today and the Queen was speaking there (this is the normal and usual way they do it), traffic was insane! Our tour bus had to take the most circuitous route in the world to the Tower of London. It took us two hours to make about a 20 minute drive! The worst part was that we saw a really bad wreck between two other buses. One of those red double-decker buses slammed into a yellow tour bus. All the passengers seemed ok as they were off the buses, but they were having to work on the driver of the red bus. I don’t think he was doing well.

We finally made it to the Tower of London and it was great! There is so much to see and we didn’t get to see nearly all of it, but it was incredible. Some of it was obviously very sad and gruesome (where they beheaded people, especially King Henry VIII’s wives). The crown jewels, on the other hand, were beautiful and amazing. The Queen’s crown was missing because she was going to be in full regalia this morning. We saw the largest diamond in the world and you know what? It was so big, it didn’t even look real! I thought it was a paste stand-in, but it was the real deal. It just goes to show that bigger is not always better!

   
 
We were then supposed to go on a boat tour of the Thames, but it was postponed due to the 21 gun salute being done off of the front of the Tower of London over the Thames. This is done whenever Parliament opens. It was really amazing to watch and everyone was so excited.

We did eventually take the boat tour of the Thames and then went on the London Eye where we met so many lovely people. We met a couple from Georgia. She was originally from Germany, but had lived in Georgia for over 30 years so had the most fascinating accent. She was afraid of heights so was sitting on the bench in the middle of the car and having a panic attack. I sat down by her, we got acquainted and then she let me take her and her husband’s photo with their camera. She even stood up to have it taken! Her husband was shocked.

   
 
   
 
Oh!  And between the Thames and the London Eye, we went to St. Paul’s Cathedral!  It was one of the most beautiful churches I’ve ever been to and so old it made me feel a bit insignificant.  Close by was a church that had been bombed during the Blitz and still bore the shell marks.  

   
 
By the time we got “home” to our flat on the fourth floor of our place in the middle of London, I was worn out. I hate to admit it, but I let Alan go foraging for food. I couldn’t face going down four flights and, more importantly, UP four flights again! He did well! He went back to the little grocery store down the street again and brought back good food. It was called Pret A Manger and has organic coffee and fresh food. Their sandwiches and soups are particularly good. For the rest of the evening, we had the windows open so we could see through the pretty trees and feel the cool evening breeze. I watched BBC television (hilarious stuff) and Alan read the news. We are going to bed early because tomorrow we go to Paris!!

Peace and love,
Elaine

Dawn at the House

   
 
Dawn at the Lane House,

in the early morning light,

the flowers glow like sunshine,

and are such a pretty sight.
In the background are

the mountains,

where leaves will

start to turn,

the season is changing,

as the sunshine slowly burns.
These flowers were

just a wilderness,

two or three weeks ago,

and now they’ve bloomed to beauty,

and are worth more than

silver or gold.
© Elaine Wood-Lane

9/16/15
Sometimes the greatest beauty comes from the wildest, most unmanageable things in our lives. These sunflowers were a total mess about a month ago, taking over everything in the front flower beds and yard. We couldn’t even open our back gate on the south side of the yard because these plants had grown so wild, tall, and heavy. So I cleaned up the yard, chopped down some of the sunflower, mint, and purple thistle as well as some wild ash seedlings. Now, just a few weeks later, I don’t care if the entire yard is covered up with these sunflowers because they are beautiful, glowing, and cheerful. They seem like a message from God telling us that if He can turn a wild jungle mess into a beautiful sunflower garden, just imagine what He can do with us.

Isaiah 61:3

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

I hope you have a wonderful day and, if God chooses to make you into a beautiful sunflower garden, don’t resist Him too much. He knows what He’s doing, all the time!
Peace and love,  Elaine

Dawn at the House

Dawn at the Lane House,
in the early morning light,
the flowers glow like sunshine,
and are such a pretty sight.

In the background are
the mountains,
where leaves will
start to turn,
the season is changing,
as the sunshine slowly burns.

These flowers were
just a wilderness,
two or three weeks ago,
and now they’ve bloomed to beauty,
and are worth more than
silver or gold.

© Elaine Wood-Lane
9/16/15

Sometimes the greatest beauty comes from the wildest, most unmanageable things in our lives. These sunflowers were a total mess about a month ago, taking over everything in the front flower beds and yard. We couldn’t even open our back gate on the south side of the yard because these plants had grown so wild, tall, and heavy. So I cleaned up the yard, chopped down some of the sunflower, mint, and purple thistle as well as some wild ash seedlings. Now, just a few weeks later, I don’t care if the entire yard is covered up with these sunflowers because they are beautiful, glowing, and cheerful. They seem like a message from God telling us that if He can turn a wild jungle mess into a beautiful sunflower garden, just imagine what He can do with us.

I hope you have a wonderful day and, if God chooses to make you into a beautiful sunflower garden, don’t resist Him too much. He knows what He’s doing, all the time!

Peace and love,

Elaine

De Ja Vu’ All Over Again

I feel very de ja vu’ this morning. I woke up briefly before Alan went to work and I guess I had coffee and let Missy (our cat) outside, then went back to bed and didn’t wake up until 9:30! As I was making coffee I was trying to remember why it felt like I’d already done this before today. I’ll tell you a secret about having fibromyalgia. Most people with fibromyalgia have terrible problems with insomnia. Eventually you can’t handle it so you get medications to help you sleep. I don’t take mine every single night because it makes me feel so sluggish and stupid in the mornings. However, when I do take it, man! It does a number on me. I feel like I’ve lost half the day already because of usually waking up so early.

I’ve got a LOT to do because….my kids are coming on Thursday!!! I can hardly wait and am so excited it’s unreal. I’ve been deep-cleaning the house before they come because, well, because I’m neurotic I guess. I want everything to be perfect for all of them, but especially clean for Milo, my grandbaby! He’s my sweetie pie.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Elaine

Joy Comes in the Morning

A poem I wrote this morning. We will all have weeping at times in our lives, but we must always remember that God has promised joy in the morning.

Sunshine Lane

There is a different quality
In the atmosphere of this morning.
The details of each tree leaf
And grass blade are sharper,
In sunshine that is softer
Than it was even a week ago.

The air smells fresh, sweet,
With a tinge of nip and moisture.
Almost fall, but not quite.

Darkness fell earlier yesterday,
As I prayed fervently and feverishly.

I know all will be well though.
For rejoicing comes in the morning
And shines with love and hope.
This beautiful morning, seen
From my back stoop,
Reminds me that God is faithful
And good and with us all….
Forever and always, amen!

© Elaine Wood-Lane
9/6/15

For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalms 30:5

View original post

Joy Comes in the Morning

There is a different quality
In the atmosphere of this morning.
The details of each tree leaf
And grass blade are sharper,
In sunshine that is softer
Than it was even a week ago.

The air smells fresh, sweet,
With a tinge of nip and moisture.
Almost fall, but not quite.

Darkness fell earlier yesterday,
As I prayed fervently and feverishly.

I know all will be well though.
For rejoicing comes in the morning
And shines with love and hope.
This beautiful morning, seen
From my back stoop,
Reminds me that God is faithful
And good and with us all….
Forever and always, amen!

© Elaine Wood-Lane
9/7/15

For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalms 30:5