Started out cold - Turned out "O Happy Day"

Okay. Today was cold. The wind was howling (we thought it was the train pulling in), the cold rain came showering down, and our umbrellas went up. We toughed it on our walk to the train and on our walk from the train to church.

We warmed up the second we entered the door of CCW. After we took C and Q to their class, we made it into the sanctuary just in time for "O Happy Day". Any flower children out there? Remember that one? Just imagine, our church is mostly packed with God's black skin - Shout Hallelujah! We were surrounded by black, soul-filled, Holy Spirit moved, Bible huggin', arms stretched high, bodies movin', praising God, shoutin' out voices, glorifying Jesus! I wish everyone could have been there!!! (When we got home, I searched the internet for even one version of "O Happy Day" that came close - nadda, but Edwin Hawkins comes pretty close: /Users/kjohnson/Desktop/Oh_Happy_Day-(Edwin Hawkins).mov )


Pastor Alwyn's teachings are always packed with inspiration, encouragement, and challenge; leaving me thirsting for more. Each one of us looks forward to the next Sunday when we can worship together again. Check out their website and please keep them in your prayers: http://www.calvarylondon.co.uk/CCW/Home.CCW and: http://www3.calvarychapel.com/london/about.htm Above is a picture of Gloria and Alywn Wall (FYI: Their kids are all brunette.)

In search of lunch, we walked to the Underground to catch a ride to a pizza place Dave knows of that's comparatively inexpensive. We decided to try something new and use the pedestrian subway to get closer to the station and stay dryer. We picked up the strollers and headed down. We twisted and turned, then walked up a long set of stairs. Weee! We made it across the street. Oh, brother. It would have been four times quicker to just cross the street.

The Underground was closed for the day, so we caught a bus. I love riding the bus 'cuz you can see so much on the way to wherever you're going. It was time to disembark, so Dave grabbed one of the strollers and headed towards the front of the bus to get off. The bus was so jam-packed that the rest of us couldn't get off out the back! I waved good-bye to Dave, as he ran after us.

With the help of a very nice man, we started making our way to the back exit. He was the only one willing to help us. Everyone else looked at us like we were interrupting their tour of the city or something. What an imposition we were! When the bus came to a stop, we hadn't even made it to the exit door ("way out") in the three blocks we'd traveled. I told you! We weren't getting any help from anyone but the man who was now behind us. I began my disembark politely, then I went for it and just said, "Excuse me!" to those I ran over with the stroller or bumped my children into. : ) Hey! We had to get off and they all knew it. Ello?!?

We all got off the bus, and headed back the way we came. We made it to the pizza place and ordered our pizzas. The pizza was good, but the anchovies were saltier than any I'd ever had before - more water please. The rain was pouring down by the time we finished lunch, so we walked to Dave's office to check the internet for a place to find inexpensive rain coats or warm jackets.

M was moving a bit too fast and not looking ahead, when he ran into a curb and Q flew out of the stroller! We buckled Q in after that. : ) You'd think we'd learn. Earlier that morning, M was hurrying across the street pushing C in the stroller when he ran into the curb and sent her flying! She's been buckled in every since too. I guess, like the Israelites, it takes more than once to get a point across.

After a potty break and an internet check, we headed for Primark (similar to K-Mart and Target, but they only carry clothing) to find a coat - I didn't bring one to London. A thirty minute walk there (yes, it's still raining - and now it's dark) and we found nothing. That was "fun". (Note to self: To avoid crowds, never shop on a weekend. Shop during school hours.)

C and Q were fast asleep as we walked to the Underground where we caught the Tube, then a second Tube, then the Train. It was a wet walk/run home, but we were all thrilled with Dave's surprise: Cadbury drinking chocolate (just add hot soy milk) and cookies! We quickly consumed the chicken soup I made and moved right into dessert. : )