8 more weeks.
Just thought I'd let anyone who visits here know that.
It's amazing how the half-way mark has come already.
And it's now, when I am starting to get more excited about coming home,
that I'm feeling closer to the people here.
But I guess that only makes sense, as I've spent 2 months with them.
God is so good.
His mercies never fail. They are new every morning!
How precious to know that wherever we are on earth, the Lord is with us,
and that no matter how far away we are from friends,
we can be united in our love for Christ.
God has given much grace to leave the ones at home,
and I know He will give just as much grace to leave the ones here,
when the time comes.

Grace, Grace, Grace.  Who is like you, Lord?

Ten Days. Hmm....

AH!

Okay, I have recovered from that shocking realization.
Any ideas on how to best pack 2 suitcases, when you know you're going to need warm clothes, but you know you want to bring back gifts for your family and friends, and you have a weight limit for each one of 50 lbs?
AND, do any of you have any suggestions on where to visit while I'm in England? I've only dreamed of visiting England for years :) but now that I'm actually going- all my ideas of where to go seem to have escaped me. So far, this is my list:
London
Leeds (to visit my Dad's cousin)
Bristol (to visit the Sovereign Grace Church there)
Bath (Jane Austen, and close to Bristol)
Wales (visit the Sov. Grace churches in Merthyr and in New Port)
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Edinburgh (to visit a girl from Campbell)
Oxford, C.S Lewis home

It can be a little overwhelming looking at all the guidebooks! So many places to see...
Yet, every time I begin to feel overwhelmed, I just have to stop and give that up to the Lord. I've realized that whenever I'm feeling anxious about something, it's because I'm not praying about it! How kind God is to hear my prayers and fill me with peace as I try to trust Him with all these unknowns. All is known to Him, so I have no need to fear.

Okay, I have set up my blog for next semester:

lynnewithane.wordpress.com

 It's not perfected yet...As I'm learning how wordpress works I'm sure I'll add more stuff and do some adjusting. But I thought I would let you all see it and ask what you think. Leave a comment or two! I'll probably email everybody the link to the blog when the time draws nearer to my departure, and also post to explain about the trip and how God worked everything out.
I'll still keep this xanga, but just wanted a blog specifically for my time in England, so I could keep up with everyone.

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Please keep praying for the Stolldorf family. How good to know that we have a sovereign, good, God.

So, the other day I had an epiphany...
I was thinking, okay, having xanga when I'm gone will be great, because then I can just email everyone a link to it- then no mass emails, they can just go to my xanga and see pictures and my posts and everything- what a great idea, Lynney.  Well, then came the epiphany. The whole reason why I ever got a xanga in the first place was so that I could post on my friend's xangas.... Oh....so, that means that if anyone wanted to comment on my xanga while I'm gone, they'd have to get a xanga too....Hmm.....

So, I'm thinking about my options. My friend Missy offered to help me set up a wordpress blog. Not only can anyone comment on your posts, but you can also do more individualistic stuff.... So,yep, I'm probably going to ask Missy to help me set one up, at least for my time in England. I'll still keep xanga, at least for a while...
I'll let you all known if/when I change over....

Some thoughts from an afternoon in a coffee shop:

When we're old,
Let's go to Borders to get coffee and meet with our knitting group
 -let's have a knitting group, or crocheting, or quilting or sewing...something
Let's grow our hair long
and put it up into delicate silvery buns
and wear our glasses at the tips of our noses.
Let's invite the young girls to join us,
because old people are so good for them.
Let's wear dresses and frumpy sweaters and stockings and granny shoes.
Let's tell all the old stories
  -of when we were young
  -when we went to the fair
  -when we were courtin'.
Let's gossip, but only the good kind- you know, about the family news,
and who married who, and how lovely that friend of ours looks in her new bifocals.
Let's talk about world affairs and politics and the best way to bake an apple pie, all in one breath.
Let's be dear old ladies, together. Let's.