Joel, Joy and I on a Saturday morning walk at the St. Andrews Cathedral Ruins.
Fear sometimes flutters in my heart as Clay puts me on a plane to go see my precious children in the UK. With all of our conference speaking, I can usually manage several free trips a year on airlines by using the points we have earned through speaking.
But each time I fly to see my precious children in the UK, (or Nathan), I always know I have been with my dearest friends and companions. We are all such kindred spirits and can never get enough of talking, celebrating life together, just sitting quietly in a room while all of us work away on projects. We are all ridiculously close and I am sooo thankful I took the across the sea trip.
My sweet friend, Jacqui, picked me up from the airport in London and she and her husband drove me to Oxford. Just catching up and hearing about her life and all that is going on in the Mum Heart ministry is so exciting. Even now we are planning and hoping for 3 spring conferences here as the small groups continue to grow.
Next, I met with another sweet friend, Leah Boden to further discuss conferences all over England. So many ways I see the Lord working through podcasts, conferences, small groups and ministry here. Finally, 3 glorious days with Sarah.
Sarah and I walked all over Oxford, sipped good coffee and ate some great French food and just caught up on great thoughts, books and life together. I soaked in all the ideas she is thinking, all that she and Thomas are discussing and doing and felt our time together was much too short.
Traveling to Scotland after being in Oxford with Sarah and Thomas all week has been an adventure. From eating the best fish and chips in Scotland, walking the university grounds where she and Joel are studying, walking our 10,000+ steps a day, the days have flown by.
Thousands and thousands of people worshipped in this place. The people of the town were riled up to tear down the old cathedral where pilgrimages had been made for hundreds of years. The enormity of the building is almost beyond my imagination.
A plus to visiting Scotland and Oxford are the amazing true to life stories of those who went before in these lands of great history. Learning the stories of those who have lived brave lives in these places has given me even more desire to live well and to leave a legacy of faith and faithfulness.
Celebrating Joel's birthday was a highlight of my time here. He is indeed a gift of God to Clay and me.
We invited around 20 of Joel's and Joy's friends to join us at a pub to celebrate him and chatted about all sorts of things with their chums from all over the world here to study theology. A night I will not soon forget.
I hope you will enjoy my podcast today with Joel and Joy as we tell of the history of St. Andrews, talk about the great food in the cafes here, and share the fun of our time together here.
Be sure to look for Joy's blog, Joyclarkson.com and weekly podcast, Speaking with Joy. You will hear of great books, music, artists that will fill your imagination.
Enjoy the Wexford Carol as Joel arranged it and find the music at Amazon (Midwinter Carols by Joel Clarkson) and other places where music is sold.
I am so very excited to be hosting a online Christmas tea for all of you who are members of the Cultivating Life with Sally membership. (We hope to host 3-4 such times this year for our members.) If you are not a member, you can register for the tea for $10 this time or you can join our course for the year to be sure not to miss any of our online events.
Be sure to save the date for our my Lifegiving Christmas Tea with Sally. I will be live, talking about recipes, traditions, favorite resources and life around our house through out the season. Registration opens soon.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!