Ash Wednesday

I went in to London to attend an Ash Wednesday service at St. Paul's Cathedral. St. Paul's is mother church of the Anglican Diocese of London and people have been worshipping on the site since 604. No, I did not leave out a "1". The church today is one that was designed by famous architect Christopher Wren. It's a big tourist attraction, but today the church was only open to those attending services. It was kind of funny that while there were no tours and none of the extra rooms (or galleries) were open for this holy day, the gift shop downstairs was in full operation!

It was a very high church service with all the smell and bells one expects from the Anglicans. I was there about 30 minutes early, so I observed some of the setup. It did my heart good to see that even if you are a clergy person in one of the most famous churches in the world, you are still sometimes engaged in the ministry of rearranging the furniture. There should be a seminary class on effective chair set-up and arrangement.

I would guess that there were somewhere between 300-400 people there for this particular service. It was a very diverse crowd. There were people who were clearly tourists. Others who obviously attend church at St. Paul's regularly and who greeted friends as they came in to the service. There was a surprising number of college-age type people as well as business people who seemed to have left the office to attend the service. A bonus for me was that the young man in torn jeans and a ratty scarf who sat behind me had the most beautiful singing voice. We sang three hymns during the course of the service, and I was glad of my seat choice.

There will be services all day long, but I chose this one because it was the sung Eucharist with the imposition of ashes. Whereas a Presbyterian service revolves around the reading and hearing of the Word, an Anglican service is designed to move you toward the Eucharist. However, there was a brief and very meaningful sermon given today by a young female priest. And the music was something. For the noon service, there was just a quartet, rather than the full choir. But the sound was other-worldly.

If you've already seen the news today, you may know about the Turkish plane that crashed in Amsterdam. Skip was NOT on that plane, although he is supposed to fly from Frankfurt to Amsterdam tonight. That may get delayed. He has a co-worker who is currently in Amsterdam and is trying to get back to London today. I'm just glad neither of them was on that plane, and I will be grateful when Skip is not getting on one every week.

Here is part of one of the prayers from the service today:

In your mercy
forgive what we have been
help us to amend what we are
and direct what we shall be
that we may do justly
love mercy
and walk humbly with you, our God
Amen.

May we all use these next forty days wisely as we prepare for Easter.

Museums with the Robinsons

We hit it hard on Monday for a day at the Museums--the Natural History and Science. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. we didn't even scratch the surface of all there was to see. It was an exhausting and really fun day. It is so nice to stay connected with people you enjoy.

The Robinsons are off to other parts of England to visit with relatives for the rest of their break. One interesting note: they'll be back in England (not to London) in April because Karens mother is receiving an MBE (Member of the British Empire) award. This is awarded and given by the Queen to citizens whose service to the community deserves public recognition. Karen's mother has volunteered in her community's library for 30 years and helped save it from closure. So she and her family are invited to a garden party at Windsor Castle for the awards ceremony. Next time you have trouble finding a dress for a wedding, think about trying to find one in which to meet the Queen!

Check out our fun day in pictures and then take a look at my efforts as a budding videographer!

Fun with Friends

We met our friends the Robinsons (English family living in Duesseldorf) out for dinner in London last night. Once again, Saturday night in London is always a challenge. Our bus ride took about 30 minutes longer than it usually does because of the HUGE volume of traffic--both car and people. While they were waiting for us, the Robinsons found a restaurant that would seat 8 of us on a Saturday night. But the table was ready about 45 minutes after the restaurant said it would be. By this time all the girls were toast and we let them all have Coke with dinner just so they wouldn't fall asleep. Everyone rallied and we had a really good time at dinner.

Today, Maddie and I met up with the Robinsons late afternoon at Oxford Circus and we brought the three girls home to spend the night with us. After a gourmet meal of chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes and green beans and some quality bunny petting time, they have settled in for a movie. We'll see what getting them all to sleep tonight is like.


This is the big news in London today.

Jade Goody Weds

Ouch!

Maddie and I are baking tonight. We haven't done that in awhile. We're baking a chocolate cake and Maddie wants chocolate icing and chocolate sprinkles because then it is a triple chocolate cake. I suggested that we do white icing with chocolate sprinkles, and she said she wanted to save making that one for mine and Skip's anniversary since "when you got married so many things were in black and white."

How old does she think we are?

I was very proud of Maddie today. We (I) made a mistake on the calendar. I thought a big Girl Scout event was next Saturday and it turns out it is this Saturday. She wouldn't be back until past the time we are supposed to meet our friends the Robinsons for dinner. I gave her the choice, reminding her that she would get to see her friends Annie and Lizzie on Sunday and Monday. She took about 30 minutes and decided that she would skip the event. She said she would rather not wait to see her friends. Friends over activities. Good move, Maddie Lentz.

And then I got so cracked up at her honesty. A girl who was in the other second grade class, but moved away over fall break was back to visit. When I asked Maddie if she was excited to see her, she said "I never really cared much for her, but I was nice to her." Ahhh. We're doing something right.

Haters Not Welcome

Good news out of England. Haters are not welcome. "The Home Secretary has banned two extremist anti-gay preachers from entering Britain, a move that follows a decision to refuse entry to Geert Wilders, the Dutch anti-Muslim MP." Whole Story. I understand that one of the reasons we fought for freedom from England was to have the right to freedom of speech (okay, so it may have been more about the money), but I like the idea that this country tries to keep people whose words incite hate and violence out. I understand it's a slippery slope, but I am very pleased the the Rev. Phelps will not be given a forum here in England.

On a lighter note, the Brit Awards were on last night--the awards for British pop music. I had a good time watching them. Duffy led in the awards. A newcomer out of Wales, she has been all the rage here this year. I felt a little foolish. Back when I was home at Christmas, I gave my friend Olivia (big music fan) a Kings of Leon CD for her birthday, thinking I could introduce her to a little British pop/rock music. I thought they were Scottish. Don't know why. Imagine my surprise when they were up for Best International Group. So I googled them and found out they are actually from Nashville, TN. In my defense, their big success has been here in the UK.

Just one note on Maddie. I may have mentioned this before, but it came up again this week. Maddie never refers to people as being "white" or "black". When she describes someone, she talks in terms of shades. Light skinned people. Dark skinned people. Sort of dark skin. Really dark skin. Lighter than Kei but darker than Ruhann. Of course no one is lighter than she is right now! I hope she never sees anything--people, ideas, life--in black and white.

Maddie's Class

Here is a picture of Maddie's class on her friend Kei's last day. Kei moved to Perth, Australia in January. She's the one Maddie is hugging. Maddie's teacher, Ms. Babb, is the tall one. She is fantastic.

I'm heading up to the school today to drop off books for a big fundraising book sale tomorrow, so I'll pick Maddie up and bring her home. Last year, she couldn't wait to ride a school bus and now it's a big treat to get picked up by Mom!

Am alternating between physical and mental activity these days. Trying to hit the gym each day and get some work done in the house and am also working on curriculum for Ferncliff this summer, a sermon for March 8 at the church we attend and some other bits and pieces of writing.

London is a bit of a ghost town as both the public and private sector schools are off this week for winter break. There are just less people everywhere as many have headed out for either the snow or the sun.

Have finally caught up with the laundry from our vacation. If you saw the size of our washer and dryer (and the length of the cycles), you'd know why it was a three-day task! I am SUCH a spoiled American. I can own it.

Austrian Endings

Thursday, Maddie and Skip hit the slopes together--braving snow and winds once again. Then we all hit the pool and sauna area for the afternoon. It may be the most relaxing place on earth.



Here are Skip and Maddie at our rental car right before we realize the car won't run--even though Skip has faithfully started the engine each day we've been there. The engine would start, but cut out as soon as you tried to go anywhere. With the help of a hotel employee, we learn that the diesel fuel in the car has frozen solid. He helped Skip tow the car into a tiny garage and placed heaters on the car to warm up the fuel--delaying our trip into Salzburg by two hours. We were just grateful we had decided to head into Salzburg that day and didn't wait until we needed to get to the airport on Saturday to learn about this problem.



Maddie at a Salzburg prezel stand



Salzburg was nice, but COLD!



The interior of one of the many churches in Salzburg



this is the weather on the day of our departure. A 2 1/2 hour trip to the airport took almost 6. Fortunately, our plane was delayed, so we made it!



Winter Wonderland



A view of the traffic coming down the mountain. Little did we know this was merely a preview of what was to come traffic and weather-wise as we made our way to the airport in Munich


Though the weather was far from perfect, Skip had that bout with a 24-hour bug and I had a perpetually stopped-up nose, we had a great vacation. The Hotel Kesselspitze in Obertauern may be our favorite place ever. The facilities, the staff and the food could not have been any better. Since everything was right where we were, there was no running around, no real time schedule to keep. There were plenty of things to do and plenty of time to just hang out together.

We hope to make it back there some day.

Getting in the Groove

Skip was feeling much better yesterday and decided to hit the mountain despite the windy, snowy conditions. I got Maddie ready for her lesson and in the walk from the skistalle room where you put on all your gear to the bunny slope ski lift, I nearly turned back because the weather was so harsh. I dropped Maddie off for her lesson, wondering what kind of mother leaves her child out in weather like this. But then I saw all these itty-bitty kids all bundled up and heading down the hill and I figured...when in Rome. She was wrapped up from head to toe. Even her nose was covered.

Skip met me there because at the top of the mountain the wind was even more fierce and visibility was so low it was difficult to see the other skiiers and snowboarders until you were almost on top of them. We went inside to have some coffee and then showed up to Maddie's lesson before it was over to make sure that she was okay. I half expected to find her crying in the little lift operators cabin waiting for us to get her. But she was flying down the mountain. Weaving in and out of cones and even doing some jumps. She and her instructor were the only ones on the hill. I am thrilled. Being able to ski is a nice skill to have (one of those "lifetime sports") and learning at 7 is so much easier than trying to learn at 27 or 37!

Today Skip is up on the mountain for a couple of hours and then he and Maddie are going to ski together. She still doesn't want to go on any of the big lifts, so they are going to stay on the small slope. Next time we go skiing, we'll put her in lessons again and have the instructor take her up a big lift. She is much more brave when Mom and Dad aren't around.

We got to swim and play games in the late afternoon and evening.

It is still snowing today, but the wind is not nearly as fierce. The low visibility is interfering with my picture taking. Am hoping tomorrow to get some good mountain shots in.

Tonight, there is a clown magician coming to entertain the kids at the hotel. We have one more day and are thinking about turning in Maddie's ski equipment and heading into Salzburg tomorrow. We'll see what the weather brings.



Maddie and instructor Michael have the mountain to themselves



Skip's expression after coming down from the top.



Maddie and Michael on the lift






Maddie models her ski wear. Not one bit of skin exposed!

We're working on it

This may be the most beautiful place in the world. This afternoon, Maddie was swimming in the indoor pool which has huge panoramic windows. So I spent an hour-and-a-half alternating between watching my daughter play in the pool (she makes up all these games) and gazing at the snow covered Alps. Awesome. I decided to skip my commune with the naked people today, but may be up for it again tomorrow.

I took my last ski lesson today. Maddie feels good enough about her own skiing and comfortable enough with the instructor to go it alone. Yay! I really want to WANT to be a skier or snowboarder. In theory, it would be awesome to be one of the people swooshing down the mountain, but in reality, I find it pretty miserable. It makes my feet and ankles hurt. It's cold and if I zig when I should have zagged, I could really hurt myself. I want to the person taking the pictures and relaxing in the lodge.

So far my pictures haven't really captured the place, but now that I'm freed from skiing, I can work on that.

Skip did not have such a good day. He didn't feel well this morning and looked even worse. When Maddie and I headed out for our lesson, he decided to just rest. It was a good decision since he spent the morning heaving his guts up in the bathroom before collapsing in the bed. We're all just thankful he didn't get on a ski lift! He feels a little (and looks a lot) better than he did this morning. He generally bounce back pretty quickly when he is sick. We're hoping after a good nights sleep, he can hit the slopes again tomorrow.

You might say we're having a little trouble getting our groove on, but we'll get there. The scenery is beautiful, the snow is plentiful and soft, the hotel is great and the staff is beyond fantastic. I don't think we've ever had better service anywhere we've stayed. Tomorrow in another (hopefully healthy) day.




Skip helping Maddie before that first ill-fated group lesson



The view from our hotel window



"In town" in Obertauren



A view from the top Skip took with his phone

I love it when a plan comes together

This week is not one of those times.

We had Maddie all signed up for ski school. She would learn with other kids and Skip would go snowboard and I would enjoy all the relaxing ammenities our hotel had to offer. It was a great plan. Unfortunately, ski school caused Maddie to have a massive meltdown. Even after we left her in the hands of really great English-speaking instructors, when we came back to check on her, she was sitting by herself refusing to participate. Never really got to the root of the problem except for the fact that there were no other English-speaking kids there. Maddie could have easily hung with the German, but for some reason it made her uncomfortable to be the different one.

So there we were on the first day of week long ski vacation with a seven-year-old who didn't want to ski. Ugggg. In a desperate move, I offered to take the lessons with her and she liked that idea. (For those of you thinking that we spoil this child terribly, you are right. But we've paid too much for this vacation to take the hard line on this particular week) So yesterday, I rented the skis, too and we met for two hours with Michael, our very patient English-speaking, college student ski instructor. We both did very well. I have never skied before--only snowboarded. We will meet with Michael again today. And while Maddie really is doing well, I have doubts that we will be able to convince her to go beyond the bunny slope. When you progress to the next lift, it goes so high you can't see where it lets off, and she's not terribly thrilled about that.

After our lesson and Skip's time on the slopes on his snowboard, we hit the pool/solarium area. The pool is for all ages, but the solarium is for adults only. There are two saunas, a steam room, a Kneipp pool (which is this icy cold water wading pool developed by Dr. Kneipp) and a salt-rock grotto. While Maddie and Skip played in the swimming pool, I hit the solarium. It might have been a little more relaxing had I not been the only one wearing a swim suit or a towel. It was a very co-ed, very naked place. By the time the sauna was filled with me and three naked men, I was ready to get out. It was even more fun to see those same men at dinner later. I thought that maybe next time I would be more comfortable if I was naked too, but it was a fleeting thought. Just can't do it.

We pay by the hour for internet usage in the room and I only have one hour this morning and have promised Maddie a little play time on-line before we meet Michael for our second lesson.

We Made It

Somehow our travels always take a little more out of us than we think they're going to. We had a simply flight from London to Munich then a two-and-a-half hour drive from Munich to Obertaurn, Austria. Only the lines at Heathrow were amazingly long, the terminal where we landed in the Munich airport was as far from the rental car pick-up as it could be and the last hour of our drive was on a little mountain road in heavy snow. So we arrived here more tired than we thought we would be.

That all being said, it was cool that our plane was full of college students headed to Salzburg with the exact same program that Skip was with when he studied there some 20 years ago. They were all so excited. It was fun to watch them. Then at the rental car place, we ran into four men from Little Rock who were getting ready to see southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France. It's a small, small world.And then I got the good end of the deal. Skip was driving, and as we were coming up that little road with snow coming down it looked like we were in the middle of some grand movie set. I wasn't the one worrying about keeping the car on the road, so I could just soak up the scenery. Well, in the midst of the ear pain. I'm getting over a cold and I'm not that stopped up, but somehow the combination of the plane descent and the high altitude (we're actually higher than Denver) has caused some terrible ear pain. I've been drinking tons of water and I think it will clear up by tomorrow.

We've got Maddie all signed up for ski school. She's excited now, but we're waiting until she's spent a day in the cold on the slopes to commit for the week. She's a little annoyed with me and Skip because we're going to ride with her on the bus to the ski school tomorrow. She wants to go by herself.

The hotel is really nice, although I have to admire their photographer. The hotel has everything the web site/brochure promises, but the photos make it all look bigger than it actually is.

I hope to take lots of good pictures. It's quite breathtaking, and I'm not sure photography (at least not my photography) can quite capture the majesty of Alps.

It is hard to imagine here in this snowy paradise the horror of what is happening in Australia. We were fortunate to be sitting behind the television at the airport so that Maddie didn't see it. That is the stuff nightmares are made of--even just seeing it on television. We hope they can get it under control soon.

Holding Our Breath

Waiting to see what the weather is going to do tomorrow. Maddie will be so bummed if school is cancelled because tomorrow is the Valentine's Day Party. Next week is winter break, so it's early. And here, you can still have a cupcake in an elementary school and there doesn't seem to be an obesity problem. I don't think there's an even slightly chubby child in the second grade. Hmmmm.

And Skip needs to get back to London from Amsterdam so that we can leave on Sunday for our vacation. Today when his cab didn't show up to take him to his office, the owner/manager of the hotel where he always stays just drove him in his own car. The man does know how to make friends and influence people.

Here's hoping the streets and runways stay clear.

Learning the Lingo--and what not to say

After reading this headline and accompanying article, I had to go to Wikipedia to find out why the offending word was so offensive. Carol Thatcher is Margaret's daughter. You'd think she would have been raised better!

BBC Drops Carol Thatcher after "golliwog" remark

Wikipedia for Golliwog

Random Things

Sad quote from a mom about the closing of schools in England because of the snow:

From BBC news: Margaret Morrissey, of the Parents Outloud campaign group, said the closures sent the wrong signals to children "that when things get difficult, you should just stay at home and have fun".

What do you think happened to poor Margaret as a child that made her so cranky? My friend Katie thinks it's because she got stuck at home with too many children, but I believe there are deeper issues at play.

We are dealing with plumbing issues and a really difficult rental management company once again. Am hoping we can depart from here without a third incident.

In my grocery store, I can buy a package of cut up butternut squash and sweet potatoes. Boiled 'em, mashed 'em with butter and made Maddie eat several spoonfuls. I guess I can't complain too much about her eating habits when I had to cut her off of the cherry tomatoes before she ate the whole pint. She's getting plenty of lycopene.

When Maddie sings the "Do, a Dear" song from the Sound of Music and she gets to "ti", she sings, "Ti, a piece of German bread".

Skip has now been to the family-owned hotel he stays at in Amsterdam enough that when he walks in, they just hand him his key. No forms. No credit card imprint. They just send him on up to his room--and then he goes across the street for Dutch-Chinese food.

I like to browse in the I-Tunes UK sitel. In the music section, there is not an inspirational/Christian category like there is on the US site. Which is interesting since Matt Redman, who is one of the best contemporary Christian songwriters, is a Brit and was a worship leader at a huge church just south of London in Brixton. I think he and Chris Tomlin have started a new church in Atlanta now.

We are waiting to see if the incoming snow hits London again or settles for "crippling" Wales and Cornwell.

Feeling better, but not 100 percent.

I love it that we have a president who admits when he screws something up and takes responsibility for his choices. Kind of some of the basic vaules we try to teach our children. It's good to have a leader who emulates them.

Any Excuse to be Mean

Here's an article from the Times on what the rest of the world is saying about London/England being crippled by yesterday's snowfall.

Jibes from Around the World


The weather is much better today (Skip caught his flight), although Maddie is still out of school. It's too bad I am still sick and have added a fever to my symptoms. We could have had a really fun day. As it stands, Maddie gets to watch too much TV and eat too much junk. Her own little walk on the wild side. Looking at friend's comments on Facebook I see that 'tis the season for such ailments, but that brings small comfort. Just hope Maddie stays well for our vacation next week and that I am back in fighting form.

Snow Day--Big Time

Snow Halts Bus Service


Not much moving around London this morning. Buses are not running and may of the tube lines are closed or offering limited service as well. Skip's evening flight to Amsterdam is cancelled and he's going to try to get out tomorrow. It's the most snow London has seen in 18 or 19 years--depending on what news source you turn to.

I'm still battling a cold--not a bad one, just a kind of icky one. Maddie is having a blast in the snow. Here are some pictures and a helpful how-to video from Maddie.

Food Fight and Matching Hiking Boots

Having kind of a run-of-the-mill weekend--which is kind of nice. We're about to embark on string of vacation and hosting weeks and weekends, so we could probably use the down time. I have a bit of what seems to be just a regular sort of cold and Skip and Maddie let me lay around most of the day today. They are at the movies right now and I am loading up on Tylenol and vitamin C so that I can meet them for dinner at an Indian restaurant in bit.

The food fights with our adorable daughter have escalated. The fights are over the increasingly limited foods she will eat. Friday night, it got serious when over at a friend's house, she wouldn't even eat cheese pizza anymore because it is too "saucy". It's getting to where she can't go on outings or sleepovers because there's nothing she will eat and when she doesn't eat, she goes all Jeckyll and Hyde or whichever one of those was the crazy one. So last night at dinner, we said that she could default to her apple and cheese stick, but if she didn't eat what I had cooked there would be no dessert. That was not fun. But she ate it. I remembered that we had the rule at the Episcopal kindergarten I went to and one day I caused quite a ruckus when I decided I would rather skip dessert than eat what they served. Apparently, that was not a decision they had had to deal with and a couple of the teachers were kind of distressed. The Indian restaurant should be interesting tonight.

We're expecting snow here tonight--which is pretty unusual from what I understand. So I have on my new waterproof hiking boots. Both Skip and I had boots that I'm pretty sure we bought when we moved to Boston some years ago, and both pairs have lost their waterproofedness. I saw a sale at a local outdoors store and got a great deal on a pair. I just got the pair that was on sale and in my size. Last weekend, I sent Skip there and he came home with a sale pair was well--the exact same style. Twinkie hiking boots are just a little too cute for him, but he got the one sale pair that was in his size as well, so we're sticking with them. We should look just adorable on our ski vacation in our matching boots.

This week I have to get the house in order . In the month after we return from our ski vacation we have friends visiting from Germany, Istanbul and then Vern and Beth come from the States. We are fortunate in that everyone who is coming are some of our favorite people (poorly constructed sentence) and we are so looking forward to time with good friends and family. I see and hear of so many lonely people in this world, and I feel like we have more than our share of people who love us. We are so blessed.