The Week in Quotes, Day Four

"What shall I say? there is no end of His excellencies and desirableness;–'He is altogether lovely. This is our beloved, and this is our friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.'" ~John Owen

The Week in Quotes, Day Three

The bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear bridegroom's face;
I will not gaze at glory,
But on my King of grace;
Not at the crown he gifteth,
But on his pierced hand:
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Emmanuel's land.

~Samuel Rutherford from The Sands of Time Are Sinking

The Week in Quotes, Day Two

Perhaps I've posted this one before? It's one of my most favorite quotes. What a sweet foretaste of heaven the Lord gives us in wedding days and marriages. I'm so glad He lets a taste a little to keep us longing for the glory! "Oh Well-beloved, run, run fast!"

"O for the coming of the Bridegroom! Oh, when shall I see the Bridegroom and the Bride meet in the clouds, and kiss each other! Oh, when will we get our day, and our heart’s fill of that love! Oh, if it were lawful to complain of the famine of that love, and want of the immediate vision of God! O time, time! how dost thou torment the souls of those that would be swallowed up of Christ’s love, because thou movest so slowly!...What would I not give to have time, that lieth betwixt Christ and me, taken out of the way, that we might once meet! I cannot think but that, at the first sight I shall see of that most lovely and fairest face, love will come out of His two eyes, and fill me with astonishment. I would but desire to stand at the outer side of the gates of the New Jerusalem, and look through a hole of the door, and see Christ’s face." ~Samuel Rutherford

The Week in Quotes, Day One

I have a very, very dear friend who is getting married on Saturday and so every day this week I'm sending her a quote. I thought I would also post them here. Enjoy the week in quotes!

"How heart-cheering to the believer is the delight which God has in His saints! We cannot see any reason in ourselves why the Lord should take pleasure in us....But we love to dwell upon this transcendent truth, this glorious mystery: that as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so does the Lord rejoice over us." ~C.H. Spurgeon

England

As you know, I recently went on a trip to England with my friend Brianna (and my Dad who was on business). Pictures will come! But first, I thought I'd write a brief synopsis of our time there.

Monday, June 6

Finish packing, piano lessons, etc.

Leave for UK!

Tuesday

Arrive in Heathrow at 10am

Hotel check-in

Orientation to the city, tube, etc.

Walk to Westminster square

Evensong at Westminster Abbey

Dinner at Sofra (Turkish)

Wednesday

Check into Hilton Park Lane (Hyde Park Corner)

St. Paul's Cathedral

National Gallery of Art

After dinner coffee in Hyde Park

Daddy leaves

Part 1-2 of Cranford

Thursday

Breakfast at Costa

Walk to Buckingham Palace - accidentally in time for the changing of the guard!

Tower of London (exterior) and Tower Bridge

Jubilee Walkway along the Thames

Lunch at Borough Market (Pasties and Pies)

Millennium Bridge

Shopping (I bought a pale pink trench coat on sale for 28quid)

Les Miserables at Queen's Theatre

Part 3-5 of Cranford

Friday

Rain...

Breakfast in Hyde Park

Gun salute (the Queen's horses gallop across the Park, and cannons are fired)

British Library

Lunch at Pret a Manger - Hot soup and hot chocolate!

London Eye

Victoria Tower Gardens (behind Parliament)

Daddy back

Check into Kensington hotel

Dinner in Covent Garden at Jamie's Italian

Saturday

Walk through Kensington

British Museum

Cycling in Hyde Park

Dinner at Moroccan restaurant (spectacular!)

Sunday

Cambridge Presbyterian Church (Rev. Ian Hamilton)

Lunch at Hamilton's

Blessed by the evening sermon

Monday

Daddy gone

King's College Chapel

Round Church

Wren Library

Lovely stroll through the town!

Marketplace (we bought Turkish delight and Jelly Babies)

Grantchester Orchard (Tea and scones with clotted creme in the apple orchard)

Drive to Lincoln

Dinner at Brown's Pie

Tuesday

Lincoln Castle (built by William the Conqueror)

Cathedral

Drive to Oxford

The Eagle and Child - (the Inklings met here: C.S. Lewis, Tolkein, etc.)

Fish and Chips/Bangers and Mash - typical pub grub

Drive to Heathrow

Wednesday

First class seats!!!

Home

Highlights in London were St. Paul's and Les Miserables. It took us four hours to explore the cathedral. Climbing the dome was fun! The whispering gallery was amazing! We had a great view of the city from the top. The engineering/architecture was fascinating. Les Miserables was absolutely spectacular! We wore formal dresses :-) The play was so moving and well done. The theatre was small and intimate - we had a great view (even from the very back row!)

Cambridge was also a highlight of the trip. It was such a nice change of pace after so many days in London! We enjoyed just walking around and taking in the small, college town atmosphere. The river Cam was beautiful, lined with willows and lush greenery. The best part was tea in the orchard. It was warm and breezy and relaxing!

The Lord blessed us with so many surprises and delights beyond what we could have hoped for! Even the opportunity and ability to go was due to His providence. And I was so thankful to share the trip with such a compatible friend! We had a marvelous time!

More to come...

Cheers!

Lily