traveling tales of lylah - part 5

Today, I'm continuing with my traveling tales or woes depending upon how you frame life's situations.

After my very good, super good, amazing - fish and chips at the 500 year old The White Horse Pub. Fabulous experience! Indeed! Cheery-o!

In spite of jet lag weariness beginning to set in, I did enjoy my leisure stroll back to my Heathrow Lodge. I wanted to take it all in. The houses - the front yard gardens, the architectual style of the homes. I tried to imagine who might live there and what their life might be like.

I also evaluated my plan for a good nights sleep: shift things around in my 1 alloted suitcase (besides carry on), take my vitamins, make a nice hot cup of Genmaicha tea, take a hot shower, read Isaiah 57 (I'd been working through, reading and re-reading Isaiah 56, 57 & 58 lately) and then cozy down for such desired sleep. Oh, sleep is so sweet isn't it?

Now, mind you many of the reviews for the Heathrow Lodge tout it as England's worst, an embarrassment to London, etc. For a good chuckle you might read them. If you ask some of my friends, I had a bit of angst with this hotel. OK, I'll be honest, I had a LOT of angst and I complained and I battled fear.

We'd booked the Heathrow Lodge because it was the cheapest. Our budget is very meagher and we want to be frugal and be good stewards and we BOTH believed this would be just fine. Of course the "just fine" was BEFORE either of us had read any of these reviews.

Fear - because of what people said about their the reviews, traveling alone and sensing the need to be vigilant began to arise in my soul. I actually had a hard time battling this fear. Perhaps it was because I needed to be vigilant and believed that I could not "rest in following" the lead of my husband. Hmmm. . .

I worked HARD at not FEELING afraid, but because of what I was THINKING - I succumbed to the FEAR. I confess, it didn't take long before my thoughts that led to fear started becoming expressions - OK, let's just call it nagging. Every been in that place?

Do you ever stop to think that nagging or the words you use (that aren't gentle and aren't gracious and aren't ones of acceptance) are often simply rooted in FEAR? See what you and I think - becomes a feeling and if feelings lead us - rather than right thinking - we'll react to life and to our husbands rather than respond to their authority and leadership. Sin all over the place.
Darn, I wanted to do this DON'T GIVE WAY TO FEAR lesson # 1,248 well. Stink. I didn't. Ask my husband and our daughter Candace (who is still probably laughing about the whole situation - OK, it's funny now).

Michael's a good man - he doesn't bow to my demands or sucumb to my feminine wiles - also known as manipulation. It's not often that I act out of that grid (I want reward in The End).

But, as Michael began to see the sweat pour off my forehead (or was that a hot flash?), he began to seriously scout the net to find his darling a different princess accomodation. There was NOTHING! Nada. Zippo. What I thought I needed, God had OTHER ideas. I am in the process of writing a post: Demands, Desires and Needs - stay tuned.

So, here I go - to my little lodge in the hamlet - looking forward to accomplishing my "settling in" list. I knew I needed to get some good sleep, as I needed to be up by 5 am and get to the airport by 6 am for my 8:20 am flight from Heathrow to Madrid.

I accomplish all my "settling in list" and lay my head on my own pillow (I can't sleep without this pillow) and thank God for His mercy, protection and for the good nights sleep I'm about to get. I add some of those little wax ear plugs too because according to the reviews, these walls are a tad thin. But, I'm fortunate - it's ALL quiet around me. Even the jets cease going directly overhead around 10 pm. Cool.

Falling asleep was easy for me. I felt safe. I repented - again - for all my foolish fears.

Midnight - 12:11 am to be exact - life changed for me. The English speaking folks in room 102 arrivewd. I heard them through my earplugs. Surely, I thought, they'll settle down quickly, after all it IS night time and people are tired and surely they'll think about others around them. Surely.

Needless to say, TIS WASN'T the case. These blokes had their own little private party, completely oblivious to anyone around them. I thought of doing all sorts of things: going to the front desk to see if someone was there to have them be quiet. But, I canceled that out - I'd have to change out of my pink cotton night clothes and get dressed and to be honest, didn't think I'd have the energy for that. I also thought about banging on the door. That got canceled out too, because I didn't know if they were drunk, drugged or what and then I'd have that to deal with as well.

Ah...I decided to turn my TV on and raise the volume. So, I found a good BBC chanel all about the present situation in Somalia. Louder and lounder and louder - to no avail. Bummer. But I learned about little bit more about Somalia's state. It's a bummer.

Litterally, from 12:11 am until 4:30 am the party rang on. I heard things that I really didn't want to believe I was hearing. Then this "party woman" got up, started banging around, began to zip up her suitcase (I heard specifics - through my super duper waxed ear plugs) and then said a few things to her partner and then slammed the door.

My wake up call was for 5 am. I say 5 am because it never came. They forgot. No worries, I'm up. I do, however, thank God for the four hours of sleep He graced me with.

I'm up, moving slowly. Very slowly. Get dressed and packed. Very slowly. Eat some of the health bars I brought and make some green tea. That seems to refresh me a bit. I head out the door as I want to be the first one on the shuttle ride back to Heathrow - Terminal 1.

I'm greeted by a delightful young man (his family from India) and pass on to him about my night's tales and woes. He said that IF I'd come out - he was on duty and would have taken care of the situation in room 102. Hmmmm....

In spite of the experience of the folks in room 102, I'd go back to Heathrow Lodge. It was all too quaint and of course, I'd go back to White Horse Pub.

The ride back to Heathrow is delightful and I'm the first drop off. Heathrow Terminal 1 doesn't seem as overwelming as Terminal 4. I'm excited - the last leg of my journey to San Sebastian and to Basque Country. I get to see some of the faces I love dearly.
I find with ease the check in place for my BA Flight 0456 from Heathrow Terminal 1 to Madrid Terminal4s. I'm jazzed. I check in my BIG black suitcase - the only allotted one and find my way to some breakfast and I'm not really tired. I'm jazzed. I think God sustains us, don't you?

This place - Giraffe - had THE BEST eggs and ham breakfast. The coffee was perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed the morning atmosphere and the service was delightful.
Here's the starts of my flight over Heathrow London. Incredible. I so wish these pics could express the true beauty that I saw.
Until later. . . and stories from Madrid airport!

traveling tales of lylah - part 5

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/07/traveling-tales-of-lylah-part-5.html

traveling tales of lylah - part 4

I last left you off in Longsford Village - a little hamlet outside Terminal 4 of London's Heathrow Airport.

After my 15 minute or so walk down the lane to the bigger hotel with wi-fi, I came - a tad hungry. Lo and behold, right in front of my eyes my stomach saw (huh?) what seemed like THE place to nosh.

When you see a bunch of locals at a restaurant/pub you have to believe that there's a good reason. The fact that I couldn't get a seat outside and had to stand around inside, told me, "Lylah, ya scored!" The White Horse Pub - had my name written all over it. YES!
Being the "people person" that I am - I like to ask and I did, "So, what do people say is a must eat in your pub?"
Inside the White Horse local yocals - just hanging around, shooting the breeze (I guess that's what they could call it in England) and drinking some brew. This place was tiny. I mean really tiny. Maybe 10 square feet or a tad more. And, the ceiling couldn't have been any more than 6.5 feet high. It was buzzing with brogue.

Oh, yes, "flat Lylah" pays a visit. I wonder if these guys thought?


OK, this is what is THE MUST EAT at the White Horse Pub . . . fish and chips. And, guess what? I ate the whole thing. This was truly THE BEST fish and chips I've ever eaten. The fish was haddock.

And, you'll want to stay tuned - I've got some more traveling tales tommorrow!

traveling tales of lylah - part 4

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/07/traveling-tales-of-lylah-part-4.html

traveling tales of lylah - part 3

After I checked into my London "lodge" room, the first thing I wanted to do was to head to the nearest wi-fi and let my darling know that I'd arrived and hey, it wasn't so bad after all. As a matter of fact, I truly was delighting in this experience - at least so far.



It is strange for me, as an American to see cars on the "wrong" side of the road. Such a charming walk through such a charming English hamlet. And this . . . was such a treat.

I felt funny snapping some photos of this woman's cottage - but I just couldn't help it. The sweet little thing took my breath away . . . and then this . . . .
really took my breath away. . . a Princess Pathway . . . right here in this little tiny London hamlet. Now, how good is God. Grin. Grin. I asked this kind woman - Asian - if Icould take some pictures. She obliged and even told me that her little thatched roof cottage was 200 years old. Get outa here! Really? No joke. Check out the backside of this cottage . . .

. . . this woman said they were re-thatching the roof - by hand!

. . . .just another lovely manor on Bath Road in Longford Village just outside Terminal 4 in London Heathrow.

traveling tales of lylah - part 3

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/07/traveling-tales-of-lylah-part-3.html

tales of traveling lylah - part 2

Arriving in a big airport is always interesting - especially without my husband. I wrote on an earlier post that I realize how -with Michael - I'm able to rest in following his lead. I really like that! And, since flying 'solo', I've been reminded how vigilant I've had to be in order to make the connections that I needed to make.
This is the "purple" tunnel in Heathrow Airpot Terminal Four. It was a good 15 minute walk to get the "other side."
It took me 2.5 hours to figure out the taxi situation. There are black cabs (very expensive) and there Hopper buses (minimal cost) and then there is what's called theHLR. That's what my husband wrote down for me to call and take to my little motel. For some reason I struggled through trying to figure out what to do, when - all along he'd taken care of me and had it written down. So much for my "vigilance." Gosh, girls...just listen to your husbands a bit more.
This is the Heathow Lodge. It's in a little hamlet - literally on the back side of the London Heathrow Airport. It's the cheapest and it has the worst reviews. With my "budget" it's what we had to go with. On a personal note, I'd struggled for weeks with booking this hotel. I'd had this sense of not feeling safe. Looking at the "warning sign" on the building - perhaps was a clue? More on this later. . . .

In spite of what I anticipated - I actually found the place delightful. Yes, it was small. But what more does one need for an overnight stay. As I went in search of wi-fi down the road to the next big hotel, I found the search through the little hamlet just as wonderful. I've got great pics to come. See part 3.
This is one of the local pubs - right across the street from the Heathrow Lodge.

tales of traveling lylah - part 2

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/06/tales-of-traveling-lylah-part-2.html

Baby Steps - Day 11

Today is another Baby Step toward Becoming a Purposeful Home Keeper - one who builds her home, keeps it, creates sanctuary in her home and then one who learns and applies skill to (daily) steward or manage the Simple Home.

If you and I are going to be building, keeping, creating and managing (stewarding) our homes on a daily basis, we need to first think through the WHAT then look at the HOW then the WHEN.

Think about WHAT you want your home to "look" like - orderly, clean, peaceful, good (and nutritious) smells from the kitchen, restful in the (master) bedroom, comfortable? Think about all the things that are important to you and important to your husband. What has he said or perhaps made little comments about (the home) that you know are important to him?

My husband isn't particularly inclined to notice the aesthetics of our home first (he's an auditory learner) but what he has expressed is his love for Italian food. He could eat my Italian cooking almost every day. Another thing that I know Michael enjoys is eating together. We have developed the good habit with consistantly eating and enjoying and fellowshipping over food at the table.

By the way - for moms of little ones, the table is the place where they learn good table manners (like chewing with mouths closed, saying please and thank you and asking to be excused) and it's the place where they watch parental interraction of love and respect.

There are other things that I know (because I am a student of my husband) that he needs to be able to think and have forward movement with the vision he has for his family. Those things are a home that has a sense of peace. Because he is a musician, I've learned that certain kinds of music are pleasant and others are not. The noise level or the distraction level can also be a factor.

What I do or say "yes" to within or without of my home will inevitably affect my husband. It's the same with you. I have learned to guard my time - because that guards my energy and emotion and thus - that affects my husband. I have learned to say "no" - can't do to a lot of things - just so I can be the keeper of the home. What do you say "yes" to that perhaps you need to reconsider? What takes depletes your emotional cup?

Some Gentle Reminders
Re-reading Day 7 might be helpful as we move on and if you didn't complete Day 6's assignment go back there and consider: do the choices I make bless my husband or are they a burden to him?

In Day 4, I wrote: God gave us the job of being the home keeper. That word originally (in the Greek) meant to be a home worker. I recently read that the home was once described as a ….place apart….a walled garden….in which certain virtues too easily crushed by modern life could be preserved.

Two Assignments
So, for today, take time to make a list of the WHAT - what do you want your home to look like. Write down everything you can think about.

Then ask your husband what it is he needs or would like to see different in the home - those things you could do that would show him you care about his needs and show him respect. (Those things might be: having a meal ready when he arrives home at night, not have a messy, dirty house, having the bed made, not greeting him at the door while being on the phone or the computer, no "funky" house smells (spoiled food, dirty diapers, sour stuff in sinks), a pleasant - joyful and thankful wife - not one who is contentious or nagging or complaining or who 'dumps' the kids on him as he walks in the door, etc.)

I do recognize that there are some wives who have difficult marriages and to ask a husband a question like that will only add to some pain. So, if that's you - instead - evalute what you think he might say - become a student of your husband and think about the things he needs.

See you tommorrow - from Basque Country - San Sebastian, Spain.

Baby Steps - Day 11

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/06/baby-steps-day-11.html

it's all about respect - part 4

I've freely shared how I didn't have a clue that my role in my marriage was to show respect to my husband. I just about tore my house down with my own hands because I disrespected Michael with words, with that "tone" and with emotional manipulation. Great job for a pastor's wife, eh?

The problem is - is that I really didn't GET that that's what I was doing. I was simply acting out of fear, selfishness and what I thought I needed. It wasn't until I read Ephesians 5: 22 - 33 that I GOT it. Wives - see to IT that you show (unconditional) respect to your husband.

What love is to me - respect is to him. The need for women to understand this is huge. Your man doesn't earn respect (there are, however, those relationships where respect is NOT given, but earned) - God says he's to be given it. It's when a wife operates from that premise that God can work a work that can't be unworked - and actually heal a broken marriage.

So, in light of all that, I'm going to continue posting my husband's study on - It's all about respect - which began here. Today is the last part of this study.

TOWARD PARENTS: 1 Tim 3:4-5 "He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)"

TOWARD HUSBANDS (in this passage, respect is not earned – because the husband is not believing the word) 1 Peter 3:1-3 "Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives." (unanswered prayers is the judgment for the husband who doesn’t honor his wife)

1 Pet 3:7 "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered." (In this passage, the husband is commanded to love – the wife is commanded to respect) Eph 5:33 "However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."

B. EARNED RESPECT

BY BEING SELF-CONTROLLED, BY BEING FULL OF FAITH, LOVE & ENDURANCE: Titus 2:1-2 "You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance."

BY BEING SELF-CONTROLLED: 1 Tim 3:8 "Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain."

BY CARRYING OUR LOAD DAY BY DAY: 1 Thess 4:11-12 "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

BY SPIRITUAL LEADERS WHO WORK HARD: 1 Thess 5:12-13 "Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other."

BY BEING KINDHEARTED
Prov 11:16 "A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth."

APPLICATION:
Repent of disrespect – in any area where respect is lacking (w/God, delegated authorities, toward His Image Bearers, His Word)

Resurrect respect – in every area of my life – in the fear of the Lord; so that we may bring glory (rather than shame) to our Lord, to His Word, to His Story.

Re-establish respect – in those areas in which I am in authority. In a relaxed way (firmly, yet gently) teach respect. Build this foundation for relationships, for life. Establish it in your home with your children (modeling it and teaching it). Take the opportunities to teach it (here at DSC with the children and each other, in the market place, in the work place), for the sake of the glory of His story -- of order, of beauty and of love.

it's all about respect - part 4

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/06/its-all-about-respect-part-4.html

tales of traveling lylah - part 1

Months ago I found this super cool idea from Flat Betty's blog and with her permission have "borrowed" it for my current trip to Basque Country.

Here's my version of "flat betty"...hoping you'll follow along with her travels to Spain and beyond!

Check out my last trip's pics here.

Thought I'd read Shack on the BA Flight 288, but "Flat Lylah" just found the book to be a good sleeping place as there was the sweetest older couple from England to talk to. One thing I found so sad was how Heathrow Airport - Terminal 5 had been loosing thousands of pieces of luggage. Phew, so glad I wasn't going through that terminal. They even told me that Kate Moss was written a check for 20,000 pounds for her lost luggage. I also learned that the "missing" pieces end up in an auction in Milan. Can ya believe it!?! Phew.

I felt so joyful that I was flying into Heathrow Terminal 4 and then out of Heathrow Terminal 1. (Smug. Smug.)

Here's Flat "lylah" waiting at Phoenix International Airport for her BA Flight 288 to Heathrow. Yes! My hubs got me the BEST...I tell you, the BEST (oh I shouldn't let the secret out) seat on the plane (well, except for the sleeping cubbies). Maybe I won't tell you what seat I got, except I had leg room and a window and I didn't feel clusterphobic and there was NO one...I tell you....NO ONE in front of me. My little Brit couple asked, "Tell, us HOW did YOU get THAT seat?"

My response: God gave it to me and my husband got if for me.

tales of traveling lylah - part 1

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/06/tales-of-traveling-lylah-part-1.html