Abundance!

Spring finally came!  And if I loved London before, now I am totally smitten!  

“Mind the Gap” is a warning, a caution against the alternative, which is not noticing, and getting stuck!  However, I’ve discovered that in the context of living life, it can be dangerous to ‘mind the gap.’ The risk of pausing to notice the differences and paying more attention to one’s surroundings is that you just might find that you like what you find and see so much that you don’t want to get back on the train! (or in our case, plane).  Bear with me, as this is a bit of me processing my grief over preparing to leave...
 
We loved hosting Charles’ parents, our dear friends (aka cousins) the Kirwans, and my mom over the last month.  It gave us an excuse to brave the seemingly never-ending cold and rain and see some of London’s greatest landmarks that we’d been saving to share with family.  Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, Hampton Court, Buckingham Palace, among others.  The change of routine was a nice breather for the kids, and seeing friends from home buoyed their spirits, helping them to appreciate the joys of urban living in new ways (they also enjoyed an increased frequency of treats- ice cream, cookies, chocolate croissants, meals out on the town).  We redeemed our first car rental experience with two successful trips out of London to experience beautiful towns and long walks in the Cotswolds.  

Today was the kids last day of school in London.  It has been an amazing experience in so many ways.  They have learned so much and made real friends.  Charles and I have so enjoyed this time together, taking advantage of his flexible schedule to pass hours in various café’s sharing a pot of tea and a scone while he writes and I read, or as we did today, to drink more exciting beverages high above the skyline!  We’re soaking up the simple pleasures of hopping on a bus and finding the front seats upstairs available! Watching little children play in their unders in the V&A fountain! Grabbing a loaf of gourmet bread on the way home! Lingering in St. James Park in the sunshine, hearing the sounds of horse guards and troops changing at Buckingham Palace in the background! Walking to the park afterschool with half the class, sharing snacks and climbing trees!  Walking across the Serpentine Bridge at dusk, passing Kensington Palace on our way home! 
I’m somewhat desperately trying to sear images and “heart memories” of the delight I feel into my consciousness, lest I forget when we return to the states. 

​We fly back in about a month.  I’m hopeful that I can manage the trick of ‘minding the gap’ in the other direction, and return to North Carolina with fresh eyes and a renewed spirit. Overwhelmed by natural and man-made beautiful spaces, and having received such generosity and kindness during our time here, I can genuinely say that my cup is full.  I’ve realized that I’d fallen into living with a scarcity mentality, never quite satisfied, worrying about not having or being enough.  Being here has helped me to see life from a perspective of abundance and gratitude. I clearly haven’t mastered it, but I’m starting to understand what Paul meant when he wrote, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12, NIV)“.  I’ll share more on how I think life in Europe is more conducive to this another time, but there are some cultural differences that seem to contribute to people’s ability to be in the moment and enjoy life more.  With that said, our time in London is temporary, made possible only by Elon’s great Study Abroad program.  I choose to be so thankful for what we’ve experienced and the people we’ve met here. As every good trip should, our time here has changed us and become part of our story.   We’re looking forward making the most of our upcoming travel to Italy, soaking up and drinking richly of the culture there that lends itself so well to that.  We’ll revisit places and spaces and people that have been life-changing in the past, introduce Jack to proper Italian gelato, and toast life with friends coming to join us in Florence and Assisi.
 
Here are some recent highlights, and I imagine there will be a few more over the next few weeks in Italy!