A birthday weekend for the books

Friday, January 18th, marked my 20th year of life. I could not have asked for a more beautiful day. I welcomed in the new decade with skype conversations minutes before midnight with my mother and my sweet boyfriend. But the morning welcomed even more joys as my roommate surprised me with chocolates and a birthday tiara to wear later that evening (pictures to follow). That afternoon at lunch another friend decided that the entire campus should wish me well, and she led the refectory in singing happy birthday. It was horribly embarrassing, but so wonderfully special all at once. I returned to my room to see that other dear friends had decorated my door and left behind small presents of chocolate and snacks.

One of the best surprises of all came that afternoon as a new front of snow came in and further blanketed the manor grounds in white. I went for a walk by myself and soaked up the glories of creation and the goodness of the Lord. The snow froze my toes, fell gently on my eyelashes, and soaked my curls. It was glorious.

The evening concluded with a fun night out at a popular local pub in Grantham named The Goose with a group of my girl friends. I could not be more thankful or overwhelmed by the love I have received by these people that I have only known for two weeks. It was the perfect way to celebrate twenty. 

Dear friends! (and that crazy birthday tiara!)

My darling roommate, Abby!

Saturday morning came early with a morning train to Nottingham. The bitter cold and snow put several of our plans on hold, but my friends and I made the best of the weather! We spent the morning exploring the museum and gallery at Nottingham Castle. This proved to be a most eventful morning spent dressing up like Maid Marian and enjoying an interactive Robin Hood exhibit. We hope to make our way to the real Sherwood Forest as soon as spring comes.

Nottingham is famous for its history in lace making and design. In honor of this rich history, the gallery featured a beautiful exhibition titled Lace Works. It was a lovely collision of contemporary art and the famous Nottingham lace. The artwork was breathtakingly lovely, and one of my favorite moments of the morning. In fact, I think it later sparked my interest in purchasing a darling top adorned in lace design at a local shopping district that afternoon near Nottingham's historic and bustling Old Market Square.

The wicked weather kept us indoors and shopping the rest of the afternoon, but one of the best parts of the evening was a trip to Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem on Castle Road, England's first inn/pub. It has been serving the locals since 1189 AD. The bad weather kept the famous pub fairly quiet for a Saturday, but we still struggled to find a table to eat. We finally found a spot in the top of the inn, inside a room that looked like it had been carved out of a cave. I was able to sit next to a medieval sword.. simply the best. The food, however, was not medieval in the slightest. Ye Old Trip made this girl one happy vegetarian with a delightful butternut squash burger and chips, coupled with the pub's famous dark ale. It was a perfect way to wind down and relax with dear friends after a long day of walking about the city. 

Sunday came sweetly with a morning spent in worship and the partaking of the Eucharist at the Harlaxton Village Church. The church was built in 1170 and has had multiple additions built since then, giving it a rich history that is cherished by all of the local congregation members. Afterwards, I was invited to enjoy lunch with my roommates meet-a-family. It was the most wonderful part of the entire weekend. I was so humbled by their kindness and willingness to make me feel welcome. They whipped up the most delicious vegetarian meals I have ever tasted to accomodate to my eating habits. I left full of spicy chickpeas with red pepper, oriental cabbage with leeks, and cooked onions and spinach. Not to mention the lovely dessert of apple crumble and custard. We spent hours there conversing, drinking tea, and listening to their stories. 

This evening as I look back on the busyness of the weekend I am overwhelmed by a sense gratitude. While I am so thankful for historic sites, beautiful landscapes, and rich history, I am most thankful for the beautiful people I have met here. I am thankful for the ways in which they are inviting me to live a better story, for the ways in which they are inviting me to be a part of their own. I can only worship my Creator for writing a story such as this!