London… and Paris!

We’ve been busy!

Halloween came and went with several parties (people here love Halloween… who knew?). Hult rented out a bar near the Gherkin for a full-on costume party.

{Grant was a 1970s soccer star. He was a big hit!}

We went to a Swedish birthday party from my classmate Elin–so fun!

I attended a Hillsong London Sisterhood event and met Mrs. Anna Smith, got a signed copy of her book(!) and explored Surrey (perfectly English!).

Wednesday we had dinner first at Wahaca (the only decent Mexican food in London) with Grant’s Peruvian classmates, Alejandro and Fiorella. Then we made our way to the dazzling Lyceum in West End/ Covent Garden.

Grant and I have had a packed week with school, but managed  to see The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre (beautiful, moving, powerful, and awesome).

             

Tomorrow night Grant has tickets to see Incubus at the Alexander Palace (aka, “The People’s Palace,” aka, “The Ally Pally”) with a fun group of guys from church.

I am attending Hillsong’s VELOCITY Masquerade Boat Party!! The tickets sold out earlier this week!! {There should be 300+ people at this kick-off event!!} I have several classmates coming! And the usual fun crowd from church. It should be amazing, with drinks, nibbles, a DJ, masks, and fireworks on the Thames as we cruise from Embankment to Putney Bridge!!!!

And now for the best bit: WE’RE SPENDING THE WEEKEND IN PARIS! Yep. Can’t wait. We’ve booked our eurostar tickets from King’s Cross/ St. Pancras to Gare du Nord, Paris {from the center of London to the heart of Paris!} Oui oui!

We’re staying in the Eiffel Tower District and plan to see as much as we can before returning Sunday night. I can’t wait! I’ve written too much already. I’ll give you the details of Paris when we get back!

I’m on the mend!

The nurse said she wouldn’t have to see me again for 6 weeks! That was just news too good to not pass along!!

We–Mama, Grant, and I (with the doctor’s permission)–have been able to do some really fun stuff:
The Mousetrap at St. Martin’s Theatre–amazing!
Driving Miss Daisy at Wyndham’s Theatre–who knew a touching story of a jewish lady and a black man would make us miss Atlanta so? Beautifully done–it was Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones’s finest hour High Tea with friends; drinks at the Holly Bush with more friends (I had a Coke… I was still very much on meds but loved the company and setting)
Dinner with Londoner Katie (from Church)
Lunch with Aussie Gimyana (also from Church)
Tea with family-friend Katia and her new baby!!
Mama squeezed in the British Museum and a few other “touristy” things without me {and Grant went to class}

I have learned much about myself and about where I put my trust and my hope. There was much newness and little/ no comforts of the familiar: new place, new school, new flat, new healthcare system, no family except my exceptionally patient and kind husband who attended to me with limitless care. It showed me how much I value comfort and ease over the new and unfamiliar and difficult–how blessed and lucky we are to have to much support even in a new place and strange circumstances. It also taught me that you can create friendship and family with people all around you. The body of Christ is a beautiful thing in action.

We are grateful. We are healing. We are going to be ok.

Just in case you’re one of the few who have not seen this {64 million others beat you to it} this is treat from me to you:

Something about the eyes and the nose and mouth… remind me of Georgia. Happy Friday!