Easter 2021

 These days, every one now, is unique and wonderful.  SK points out every day:  "We have never been here on an April 4th!"  It's all new and uncharted territory. Every day we notice more green in the trees and more flowers blossoming their little hearts out.

It is marvelously chilly again - in the 40's.  I don't think I can realistically expect that to hold - but I can hope.  In the meantime, it is spring, and it is lovely.

I made a big batch of big cookies to take to our young adults - along with the little chocolate nest kits that we delivered today and will deliver tomorrow as well.  That would be a fun thing to do here in the flat when we are all gathered, but it will have to be everyone in their own flat watching the how-to demonstration on their own screens.  It will be fun.

We were up late last night.  We watched the second session of Saturday's General Conference until eleven last night, and then watched the Millennial Choirs and Orchestra Concert.  It was a marvelous way to end the day.  We had heard some of the music before, but enjoyed the familiar ones as well as the others.

Bekah is front on the left - singing her heart out.  Down below, there she is again.  She is the only one of the many members of our family that we saw.

We ended up getting in bed pretty late.  I got up early to make the cookies and also to make a good-sized batch of pico de gallo.  We delivered Family Home Evening kits and a cookie to several young adults.  One of the young women we delivered to is at Oxford Brooks University.  It is not an official part of the Oxford University, but is a separate college altogether.  It is on the south side of town. It takes us 25 minutes one way to deliver anything to the students from that area....and we actually have several.  Erika seemed to appreciate it.  She is the one who always gives me a big bear hug.  She is cute.

We left here early in the afternoon to drive to London to Dave and Deb's flat.  It is about an hour and a half drive, and it is pleasant mostly, since SK is a lot more relaxed at the wheel and can find his way around with ease.  Something interesting about that is that he doesn't know his way around Oxford and the countryside....because he just drives and follows the GPS directions.  So he is unaware of directions or landmarks.  I wonder if that is typical of drivers all over the world.

We had a little while to visit with Dave and Deb before dinner.  It was just the four of us, yet it was a feast fit for royalty.  Roast beef and potatoes, asparagus, corn, salad, and cookies and ice cream for dessert.  Several hours later, I still feel stuffed.

We watched conference together.  It was wonderful.  We talked about it later, going over ones that struck each one of us..  Almost immediately when it was over, both Dave and Deb began fielding phone calls.  They took about a half hour with phones off to sit down for dessert (above-mentioned cookies and ice cream), while we talked about a wide range of subjects.

We talked to Derek and his daughter Brooke.  I was a wonderful phone call!...and warmed our hearts.  We didn't have enough time to catch up on all the news about the wedding etc, and we'll hope to catch up later this week, but we were so happy to talk to them.

Dave and Deb told us again how very much they loved "Lamb of God."  Dave said the music plays over and over in his mind.  Besides watching it at every zone conference last week, they listened to the CD.  Deb loves Jordan Bluth, and would have loved to see him in the role of Peter.  They hadn't heard from Andrew Teal, and hadn't had much feedback from missionaries.  So far.  

It may quietly slip into the past, like everything else in their mission has.  For now, they are barreling towards the finish line.  They have so much to do before they board a plane home for Connecticut.  They must be very conflicted.  They love the missionaries with all their hearts, and they regularly put in 12 to 14 hour days with them, but their thoughts are turning homeward to their children and grandchildren and their future.  They don't indulge those thoughts often, because they love it here, love the mission, love the spiritual highs, love the amazing things that happen in London England.

In the smallest of ways, I understand all that.  SK was so grateful to be home with the family and to have regular contact with them.  He said after Denmark, "No I don't want to leave again."  But once we made the decision to come, he was all in, and has been happy here - giving it his best.  

We have made so many new and dear friends, adopted a few young adults and even more young missionaries.  We have had some grand experiences, and we adore England, specifically Oxford.  But come July and August, we will let our hearts turn towards home.  Home.  Even the sound warms my heart.....kind of like the sound of bed right now.

Hope you had a beautiful Easter!