Heart of the Matter

So I went to the doctor today to find the results of my tests. My heart is fine, just has a few extra beats every once in awhile. I laughed and told him I felt as if I had made up the whole episode. It's funny because I was actually a little worried when all of the weird symptoms were happening. It was stress I think, even though they happened during summer vacation while I was traveling.

There was something about being in Scotland that made me forget what was going on. On the day I returned home I realized that for 10 days there had been no episodes whatsoever and there hasn't been one since.

I sat in Glasgow Cathedral's cemetary for quite awhile one overcast day, next to a stone that spoke of the joy of meeting again in heaven one day. As I sat there, the feelings of brokeness and sadness over lost love and altered trust seemed to wash over me. The words on the stone reminded me of the hope that Christ was in the midst of the situation, that He would work to bring both of us where we needed to be. And then a song rose up in me that I had never heard before and I began to sing. Looking back, I do believe a transfer occurred. I left my brokeness in the cemetary. I left my sadness and burden behind.

God so ordained that trip for me. I've had such an energy to keep going since I've returned. The stress and burden I felt about school and work and all of those things has disappeared. The sadness is gone. I have started writing music again. I'm playing almost every day and almost every time I have started writing a new song. I've come home with my burdens lifted and such a sense of urgency to carry on.

God heals our hearts by surprise and in His own way I think. I had no idea He would send me to Scotland. I had no idea that He would expand my borders in songwriting, though I have longed for Him to do so. And I still have no idea what the rest of the story is, who I will meet, where I will go, what ministry I will fulfill. But my heart is better, at peace. I am enjoying getting to know Him, getting to trust Him, and walking by faith in a greater way.

God give me grace to continue to walk in your peace and in your path for my life.

Btw

I love blogging at Panera...they bring free samples of great food at just the right time. I just got passed up by the sample guy though. It's really disappointing...he had a chocolate chip cookie on his tray. Oh...good...he's coming back...I am now enjoying a strawberries and cream croissant.

Chicken Sunday

We read Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco today, where Grandma Eula takes her children to church and teaches them to show others kindness in spite of misunderstandings. Her voice is like slow thunder and sweet rain and she laughs from a deep, holy place inside. "Miss T., what is a deep, holy place inside?" That is the question that brought tears to my eyes, the one that makes me so thankful for where God has placed me in this season.

School Days

Ah, the south...where school days start in August. I am in the middle of week 2. My class is a breath of fresh air. Wow, what a difference. I feel so much more confident, so much more at peace. I'm not exhausted at the end of my day. It's actually good to be back.

This one's for you, Beth....I had two third graders discussing something very important in the lunch line. One of them turned to me and said, "Miss T., tell him that we did NOT come from an egg." I thought to myself that either this little one was either very informed or had no clue at all as to how he came into the world. He continued to argue with his friend that he had most definitely come from an egg. "Well, then WHERE do babies come from, Miss T.?" Lol...

Get Ready

I just spent over an hour posting pics....it's really hard to choose between 450...I haven't counted by there's quite a few below. Enjoy...comment...hopefully you'll enjoy them. I know I do.

Castles

Stirling Castle's great hall. It had been painted this color (gold) to signify wealth.
Tapestries also spoke of wealth. This particular king had 14. They are currently being reconstructed by hand.

Seriously, you could fit at least 6 people in this hearth. I'm sure Santa had no problem way back then.

Castles

Imagine, if you will, the throne room.
Original wood beams inside the castle.
Walls around the Stirling Castle. Reminds me a bit of a scene in ever after...just need a glass slipper and some rain.
The walls around the wall of the castle at Stirling.

Castles

This is the castle we saw on the way to Mull via the ferry. Not sure of it's name.
This tall monument is dedicated to William Wallace. His sword is here. We didn't have time to go. Btw....according the Scots...Hollywood did not stay even close to the true facts.
The garden area at Stirling's Castle. This was the best castle by far that we got to see.
They still hold military balls and weddings in this great hall. They were setting up for one that night. 

Around Scotland, cont.

Looks a bit like upstate NY.
Cameras do not do justice to island beauty. These "hills" as they call mountains here were very high and very beautiful.
Another favorite. This is at the ruins of the nunnery at Iona.
Two bridges. 

Around Scotland

My favorite picture out of the lot.
Paisley. Where, yes, the pattern was first designed.
Loch Lomond.
Tree with a twist. 

Reflections

I was sitting towards the back of the bus as drove through Mull. (One lane road for over an hour by the way.) Can you see the bus driver though?

Starbucks...where Leah could not use her employee discount.
Oban. 

Prayers

There were prayers posted at every door where we stayed in Paisley. Here are a couple of them. The first was posted inside our bedroom door.

 

Where we stayed.

This is all a little out of order, but here goes.
The view from our window in Oban. Where we stayed for 9 pounds a night in our own room and received a free breakfast.
Hmm...looks like a great place. We stayed here for 15 pounds our last night in Edinburgh. There were 8 beds per room and there was no air ventilation. Therefore, I could feel the germs crawling. 

Where we stayed, cont.

The staircase in the home where we stayed.

We also stayed in Oban.
Beautiful little town on the water. 

Where we stayed, cont.

The view from our room in Paisley. It overlooks the ruins of the Stanley Castle in the middle of this reservoir.
This is the Asia Room. Philippians 4:13 is the border. The people in this home were so hospitable. We didn't lack anything, including the Americanized electrical outlets I needed for dyring my hair.
This is the room I blogged in while in Scotland.
Go to the store. Look at the thread in the craft section. Does it say Coats? If so, that same Coats family began here. This is the house they built. It's where we stayed for a good portion of our trip. 

Churches, Cathedrals, Abbeys

The Abbey at Iona.
Desperation.
This is called the quiet corner. It is the most sacred place that I found in this Iona abbey.