Me and my lead dogs over Christmas

Harrison, my parents, Ian and me at a Christmas Ball

At our friends' the Minnemas house

Me and Zoe in London

Richard the Lionheart

Good 'ole Big Ben!

Rain! Good sermons and a restful refreshing afternoon yesterday. I went running this morning and met a friend halfway through, which was pretty fun. It's more motivating to know someone is waiting for you at the other end.
Ashley and I had a tea party and read Beatrix Potter books this morning, as Emily V. was out. Ashley's tea consists of half a cup of milk and a splash of tea, which guarantees that it's "cold". Peter has started sitting at the table with the rest of the family in an Ikea high chair which is pretty much a real chair with a guard thing to keep him from falling out. He scares me half to death at random moments throughout the day when I turn around to see that he has climbed up into his chair and is standing up swaying back and forth (needless to say, the bar thing on the chair doesn't really work). He hasn't fallen down yet...he must have a finely honed sense of balance. Good thing.

We had a great day yesterday. We went for lunch to a friend's house, and older lady from the church. Her house is very cute: it's on a tiny little lane right next to an old church and Peterhouse (the oldest college in Cambridge). She ushered us up to her little sitting room where Luci, a friend of mine who boards with her, entertained us for a few minutes while she finished up the lunch preparations. She is the most proper little lady and had lived a fascinating life. Just to hear her stories!
After lunch she took us to see Peterhouse, which was charming. We met one of her friends there who turned out to be an excellent tour guide. There are so many unique, fascinating people here in this town--"a disproportionate number," as my mom would say.

I never thought I'd hear a three year old say "that's a good point", but I did this morning. Ashley was agreeing with a point I had unconsciously made while I was baking with her, something about stirring or something... I thought it was pretty funny, even though it doesn't sound as funny when I write it. Hmmm.

Les Miz was amazing! I'm not a good judge as musicals go, I guess, as this was the first one I've ever been to, but I thought it was just wonderful. The acting was cool, the music, the story (of course)...
I've been having a great time with my mom here. We had a good time in London. We walked all over the city seeing all of the sights. It was a gloriously beautiful day, with clear blue sky that is uncommon for this area. I wore heavy boots that looked good with my outfit and were perfectly sensible for riding to work and back last summer, but were not a good choice for walking the width and breadth of London... My feet still hurt. I had fun anyway!
It was so nice to get to introduce Mom to all the lovely people that have befriended me in the church here. I feel like I belong here more now that she has been here, it's like benediction a for her to like the same places and people that I love.

Dude! I haven't written for a very long time! I have just gotten back to Cambridge this week after being home for three weeks. I had a lovely time being home and in Alaska with my family and friends as well as seeing my dogs and horses again! We went sledding, skiing, skijoring, riding, dogmushing, stayed up all night watching movies and playing board games...just loads of fun.
My mom came back with me and will be here for another week. We are going to London today to see Les Miserables (I'm pretty sure I misspelled that but you know what I'm talking about). I'm looking forward to it! We have been having a great time together, I am so happy she could come!

This weekend I got to do something I'd been wanting to do for a while--go hacking. Hacking, for those of you who aren't British, is the English equivalent of trail riding. It was really fun! I went with the whole family here, they went on a different ride that was slower and through the village. Caroline's one request had been that she could ride a white horse. Lo and behold, the stable girl produced a white pony for her. I was happy for her.
The lady in charge then asked me if I was an experienced rider; I said yes with some secret trepidation. (I have never had proper riding lessons, despite the fact that I ride alot. I don't know all the intricacies of English riding form, but I don't fall off very often). She then cheerfully led me over to an ENOURMOUS 17.2 hand gelding (his back was level with the top of an average doorframe) and indicated towards mounting block a few feet away. The horse was lovely and very well trained, and I didn't fall off or get too many funny looks from the guide. We rode through the village and the fields for about an hour, trotting and cantering every once in a while. I have been missing my horse, and it was nice to get to be around horses again. The girls are talking about wanting riding lessons now.
Today marks the one month point till I fly home! I am really looking forward to it, despite the fact that I love the people here. The one thing about travelling around and making friends all over the world is that no matter where you go you miss someone. Heaven will be wonderful.

Last night I went with the Hamiltons to the Guy Fawkes (hope I spelled that unfortunate individual's name right) celebrations. Guy was a guy who tried to blow up the houses of Parliament in 1604 (around then, anyway): he was caught, hung, drawn and quartered and dragged though the streets. The British have celebrated the day for over 400 years now. Huh. Kind of bloodthirsty.
We had a very fun time. We went for pizza and then walked to Midsummer common. The fireworks were lovely, and Mr. Hamilton bought Sarah and I ice cream cones while we watched. Later I had a good talk with Ian and Joan about how God guides us, the Sovereignty of God, and obedience. A good quote from Augustine via Ian: "Love God and do what you like." If we love God, our chief goal is to please Him. Our likes will reflect our goal.
Tonight I am going to a formal hall at Sydney College with someone from church. I am really looking forward to it!

I found this in The Letters of Samuel Rutherford this afternoon. It's a pretty long quote, but I liked it.

"Twenty times a-day I ravel (twist the threads disorderly) heaven, and then I must come with my ill-raveled work to Christ, to cumber him (as it were) to right it; and to seek again the right end of the thread, and to fold up again my eternal glory with his own hand, and to give a right cast of his holy and gracious hand to my marred and spoiled salvation. Certainly, it is a cumbersome thing to keep a foolish child from falls and broken brows, and weeping for this and that toy, and rash running and sickness, and bairn's diseases; ere he get through them all, he costeth no little care and fashery (trouble about a multitude of things) his keepers. And so is a believer a cumbersome piece of work, and an ill-ravelled hesp (hank of yarn) (as we say) to Christ. But God be thanked; for many spoiled salivations, and many ill-ravelled hesps hath Christ mended, since first he entered tutor to lost mankind. O what could we bairns do without him! how soon should we mar all! But the less out weight be upon our own feeble legs, and the more on Christ, the strong Rock, the better for us. It is good for us that ever Christ took the cumber of us; it is our heaven to lay many weights and burdens upon Christ, and to make him all we have, root and top, beginning and end of our salvation. Lord, hold us there."
~The Letters of Samuel Rutherford, page 100