My ideas of home and homemaking used to be small. In years past, I associated such words with a comfortable house in suburban America, complete with a husband and a few children. My current self, living in a house shared with three other women in the middle of a big city, would have likely looked like an alien being to my 18-year-old self. While I’ve certainly grieved that some aspects of that youthful dream of home have not yet come to pass, at the same time, I understand more clearly now that making a home is more. I’ve seen that a home is made by loving well and pouring out. Homemaking is the opening of hands and committing to what the Lord gives in each season. It’s cultivating joyful, loving community wherever you are by bringing others in.

Unsurprisingly, stories have deepened my vision of home and taught me much about what it looks like. I hope to take a few posts to reflect on a few such stories. First up is Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry, which, for all its quiet prose and gentle introspection, truly axed me (as a friend and I once said of Wendell Berry).

I read Hannah Coulter in the spring of 2021, just over a year into COVID-19, which forced many questions of embodied community, loss, and home into sharper focus. I live in Washington, D.C., a city known for transience, politicians on the move, and basement apartments. I’ve said many tearful goodbyes in my years here and wondered if this city truly allows one to build a lasting home. In short, Hannah Coulter convinced me that it’s possible, even here.

That may sound odd, since D.C. is fairly opposite of everything Wendell Berry vocally advocates for – rootedness, enduring community, and commitment to a particular bit of earth. But Hannah Coulter moved me deeply because its characters’ fight for those things amidst shadows of grief and impermanence. The setting of Port William, Kentucky, a fictional stand-in for Berry’s own hometown, certainly sees less turnover than D.C., but even this little agrarian town, emblematic of longevity, can’t resist the march of time or the sting of loss.

Hannah of the title narrates the book as an elderly woman reflecting back on her life, now almost a complete tapestry of interconnected joyful and sorrowful threads. Her marriage to Nathan Coulter and the home she has built with him are things of beauty and endurance, but they have grown out of loss. Decades before, World War II took Hannah’s first husband, Nathan’s brother, and years of Nathan’s own youth. “He saw a lot of places, and he came home,” Hannah muses of Nathan, “I think he gave up the idea that there is a better place somewhere else.” So, they look right in front of them for their “place” and resurrect an abandoned homestead, making their own. Out of another’s loss, they make and commit to a home to love and cultivate and share.

Feelings of unmooring and uncertainty loomed large when I first read Hannah Coulter, and they still sometimes do – D.C. culture does not naturally encourage commitment to anything, and more people than usual left the city between 2020 and 2021. But in that season when uncertainty felt so much sharper, reading about Hannah and Nathan’s intentionality in loving each other, their land, their people, and their house grounded and challenged me. They still remind me that rootedness is often found in pouring oneself out for the place and people right in front of you. I don’t have a plot of land to work and keep, but I do have a house and backyard that I can make beautiful, both by caring for it and by welcoming in others with their joys, memories, and pains. D.C. may be a far cry from Port William’s tight-knit farming community, but I do have a church in the middle of the city that not only encourages, but expects and requires commitment. Deep love amongst members has manifestly followed. I expect to keep saying goodbyes for as long as I stay in D.C., but I can still intentionally love the people around me for as long as we’re all here, even though the leavings hurt.

Hannah Coulter showed me that homemaking is pouring out those very gifts of place and presence. It showed me a tangible example of how loving a place and its people go hand in hand. And that pouring out is perhaps especially important in a place like D.C., where things like deep community and commitment are so much scarcer. Hannah reflects, “There is no ‘better place’ than this, not in this world. And it is by the place we’ve got, and our love for it and keeping of it, that this world is joined to Heaven.” Her story has certainly strengthened me to “love and keep” the place and home I’ve got, city or otherwise.

Hello, friends! I’ve mentioned loosely here and there about my recent experimentation with writing poetry. Reading it has proved so valuable to me over the last two years that I’ve been compelled to try it for myself. Below are my latest attempts, wrought from miscellaneous prompts and desire to capture moments of beauty from life. I hope you enjoy them in all their amateurish eagerness.

“Sunrise in Maine”

Sheltered in a rock face,
Braced against the clifftop wind,
Looking east to promised warmth,
I’m watching, waiting.

Above, a velvet blue canopy,
Flecked in a thousand diamond lights,
Bids frosty welcome to those below.
They’ve traveled far to wait and watch.

Hemmed in by loyal company,
I hold my breath as dark recedes,
And ruby gold outshines night’s crown.
In wordless awe, we stand and watch.

Blazing autumn paints the mountains,
The sea awakens in shimmering dawn.
Watching souls sit soaked in glory,
Enthralled by new mercies
Numerous as the hues of morning.

“Transfixed”

Cabin lights dimmed,
Air sucked dry,
Time suspends
With the wings’ slow dip.

Rolling sore joints,
I peer at the glass,
Smallest of portals
To new country below.

Sloping emerald
Arrests my gaze –  
Stories abound,
Both written and waiting.

Dawn’s blue mist
Recedes in welcome
As England’s wild hills
Transfix me quite.

Gliding still lower,
My spirits rise,
Thrilled with hope
Of the tales I’ll find.

“Sacred Wednesdays”

It’s usually the same
When Wednesdays come around.
We’re taught the sacred Word,
We eat and hug and laugh.
And all the while I sit and marvel
At the gift of so much good.
The same good and sacred
Gifts keep giving
When Wednesdays come around.

“Forget”

I often forget the small things,
Like my charger or umbrella,
But, blessing or curse, I never forget
The bigger ones.

Where I met you, whether
You welcomed or shunned,
Throwaway words, if you
Remember my likes,
Your humor and quirks,
My own deep secrets –
For better or worse,
I won’t forget.

“Taste”

Savory soup and tranquil tea,
A fragrant candle or opening bloom,
Stirring tales and tantalizing song,
Ever beckon, softly call:
Taste and see.

As it may be clear from the fewer posts this year, I've struggled with writing lately. But, more recently, I've been reflecting on advice from Andrew Peterson that he so wisely dispensed in his new book, Adorning the Dark (it's amazing). He says to write what you know, write often, and write discerningly (i.e., about not too many things at once). He says many other things too, but those are a few that have stayed with me the past few weeks. In the everyday routine of things, what I probably write most often are prayers. So, thanks to Andrew's advice and a bit of inspiration from the wonderful book Every Moment Holy, and after plucking up some courage, I started writing some slightly more formal prayers that I hope to share here semi-regularly among other posts. This is what's been on my heart lately, and I'm compelled to write it. I hope you'll stay for it :)

A Prayer for Painful Partings from Friends 

Lord Jesus, eternal and faithful Friend, 
The sadness of parting from these I hold dear
Causes me today to reflect on the inherent wrongness
Of leavings, of separation, of severed ties.

As a triune God of constant fellowship within yourself,
You wisely made us human creatures to bear your image
In our need and desire for 
Love,
Friendship, 
Connection,
Understanding,
Affection,
Care,
And lasting fellowship. 

So, it is natural and right that my heart
Feels pain at parting from these I love.
It is expected that my soul would grieve
The physical separation from these dear friends.

You, O Lord, have made us for eternity,
And so this parting feels
Unnatural,
Unsatisfying,
Agonizing,
Disordered,
And viscerally wrong. 

And yet, since you have made us for eternity,
I can also still hope.

I praise you, Lord, for divinely allowing
Our stories here on earth to cross for a time,
I thank you for being glorified to bring me
Into friendship with these dear saints,
And I give you glory for how you will continue
To use them for your purposes as we part from one another.

In this new season, cause them to
Grow in knowledge of your will,
Serve others with gladness, and
Become ever more aware of the better country
For which you are preparing them.

And even as I grieve this parting, good Father,
Help me say goodbye
With the hope of that better country as my anchor,
Entrusting these friends to your care
And clinging to your promises of comfort. 

May I wait with hope for that better country,
Where goodbyes will be no more,
Fellowship will be ever constant and sweet,
And restlessness for home and family
Will at long last be quieted and perfectly fulfilled. 

Amen.

James P. Blaylock wrote, “A writer’s library is more than just a collection of books. It is also a piecemeal biography of that writer’s life.” This quote appeared in his essay “My Life in Books: A Meditation on the Writer’s Library.” If you know me, you know that books have always been important in my life. Reading has long been one of my favorite hobbies, pastimes, escapes, and leisure activities. So, recently, I’ve tried to step back and evaluate the books that influenced the different periods of my life and what they taught me. It was moving and enjoyable to look back and reflect on the books that felt most tied to various life stages, and thusly to what I was learning at the time, even subconsciously.

Age 7-8: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe—Faith and Magic
This was one of the first books that captured my imagination. My second-grade teacher read it aloud to our class and the magic of Narnia thrilled me instantly. I was in that snowy wood with Lucy, I trembled before Aslan along with her and Susan and Peter, and I personally experienced the girls’ anguish and then joy as Aslan was sacrificed and miraculously resurrected. It’s the first book in my memory that made me feel a serious emotional connection to its characters, setting, and outcome. And even though I wouldn’t have been able to articulate it at the time, this story instructed my young mind in the gospel and the character of Christ in an accessible way. It was an early building block for my childlike faith and is still a reminder to me of how all good stories point us to the greatest story of all, Christ’s story of redemption.

Age 9-10: The Secret Garden—Suspense and Growing Up
I think my mom read this aloud to my sister and me when I was in third grade. The setting of the windswept Yorkshire moors with a secluded garden hidden somewhere on them captivated me instantly, and I rooted for Mary hard as she matured and became determined to solve the mysteries of Misselthwaite Manor. I think this was the first book that showed me the power of suspense in a story. I remember begging my mom to just read one more chapter, and even after she finished it, I reread it on my own and would sneak chapters under the covers after bedtime. It was also one of those early books that made me feel emotionally connected to characters. Mary and Colin are spoiled brats when the reader first meets them, but they grow up and learn to look outside themselves and to love others as the story progresses. And that growth occurs slowly as they work to make the garden bloom again. I loved it, even though I couldn’t have explained that parallel as a child. I just knew that these children could be better people, that they had to solve the mysteries around them, and that both of those things would benefit them and others in the story. And I was all there for it.

Preteen/Young Teenager: Anne of Green Gables—Imagination, Beauty, and Joy
Anne Shirley was perhaps my first legitimate fictional role model. From the moment I met her in the pages of L.M. Montgomery’s first book of the Anne series, I wanted to be more like Anne and to be frolicking across Prince Edward Island with her. I loved how wholeheartedly Anne loved people and poetry and beautiful things, regardless of how others often thought she was odd for her effusiveness. She was so full of joy and shared it constantly with the people around her. She also valued truly valuable things like family, friends, home, and beauty. Unbeknownst to me, Anne was teaching me to notice beautiful things, however small they might be, and to cherish the right things as she was learning to do the same throughout her story. I learned from Anne to look beyond the boundaries of my limited place in the world—to dream, to cultivate imagination, and to step into other worlds and perspectives often. These things were key to Anne’s growth and her development taught me the value of them.

Teenager: Pride and Prejudice—Love of Literature
Jane Austen took me by storm as a teenager and it all began with Pride and Prejudice. The movie, that is. I know, I know. I’m a book-is-always-better and book-first person too. But for whatever reason, I didn’t know much about Jane Austen when the movie was coming out, so I went to see it without realizing there was a famed novel behind it. And I was spellbound as I sat in the theater watching the drama of Elizabeth and Darcy unfold. The love story melted my tender 13-year-old heart, and those sweeping shots of the English countryside had me undone. I was entirely caught up in my own inner world for hours after that first viewing, and for many weeks following, all I wanted to do was watch the movie again and again. Months later, I read the book and devoured it, and I would go on to read it many more times throughout my teen and college years. Now, I’ve read all of Austen’s novels, have visited her house in England, and still name Pride and Prejudice as a favorite book. I look back on that period of getting to know Austen and Pride and Prejudice with gratitude and usually many smiles. Before, I had always loved reading, but I credit Austen with further honing my love for quality literature. I saw fairly quickly that both Elizabeth and Darcy had to grow and learn hard lessons before their happy ending, and even as a teenager, I appreciated that and understood that the audience could very well be learning similar truths alongside them. Now, I also receive great enjoyment from Austen’s wry humor and wit and love how groundbreaking her work was for her time period. I’m fairly certain that everything I’ve learned from her now plays a role in how I analyze everything I read. Thanks, Jane.

Young Adult: Poldark Series—Beautiful Prose and Complicated Narrative
I found Winston Graham’s Poldark novels through the recent BBC TV series. I was instantly intrigued by the story and quickly picked up the books after the first season aired. Once I started reading, I was amazed that I’d never heard of them before adulthood and have since savored every page. For me, the Poldark books strike a balance between highly emotional suspense and thoughtful beauty that makes me want to linger over every word. There are phenomenal action plots in them, but at their core, the stories are about relationships of every sort, the complexity of relationships, and how relationships change over many years. And Winston Graham’s narrative voice tells it all in truly stunning prose. There have been numerous times in my reading of these books that I’ve had to stop after reading a particular sentence or paragraph just to soak in the meaning and to marvel at how beautifully it was written. The first several books in the 12-volume series were some of the first books I read after college, and they reminded me of what I love about reading—well-written stories, emotionally resonant characters who change and grow, and engaging narrative—while also stretching me and challenging me in how I notice and appreciate word usage, descriptive narration, and even authorial plot choices. I’ve rarely encountered a book series that inspires such lively debate among readers as the Poldark series, and I’ve been challenged to analyze my opinions closely. I also came to this series when my love of British history and culture was firmly ingrained, and the 1780s setting on the wild Cornwall coast in Poldark has provided a truly delightful outlet for that to develop further.

Twenty-Something: Harry Potter Series; Surprised by Oxford—Comfort in Trial and Transition
I can imagine two possible reactions to this heading. One, did I really not read Harry Potter until I was in my twenties?! And two, what could Harry Potter and Surprised by Oxford possibly have in common? Both thoughts are valid :) But yes, I really did read Harry Potter for the first time at 24, and I’m actually glad of that. And to the other possible reaction, Harry Potter and Surprised by Oxford really don’t have much in common, except that both are set in the U.K., and both were used by God to be great comforts and reminders of His goodness and beauty during a difficult period of my life. I read both during a season of many frustrations, low-grade depression, uncertainty about the future, unemployment, and reorienting after one of my best friends had undergone cancer treatments.

All of this was during a period after college. For a while, I felt directionless and sad and stuck. Later, my move to DC was decided for several months out, so that promised a change, but in the interim, I was unemployed and still nervous about what the future held. Meanwhile, my close friend was trying to recover from chemo treatments, and even though she was mercifully cancer-free, I still felt on edge after having watched her battle the disease. It was during all of this that I read Surprised by Oxford and the Harry Potter series. The former is a quietly lyrical and poignant memoir of an English professor who slowly converted to Christianity during her post-graduate studies in Romantic Literature at Oxford. The latter is, of course, J.K. Rowling’s famed fantasy series about a boy wizard with a heavy responsibility.

These books hold deep meaning for me because of how they comforted and strengthened me during a difficult time. I relate strongly to Carolyn Weber, the author of Surprised by Oxford, because she loves literature and England. And what a beautiful story of redemption she tells as she recounts her journey to saving faith. I was reminded through her testimony that the Lord pursues his children persistently and intentionally. Carolyn was hard, cynical, distrusting, and self-reliant when she arrived at Oxford. But God met her where she was, and he came for her through the seemingly ordinary events of her studies and through the intellect that she came to Oxford in hopes of sharpening. He showed up in her conversations, friends, studies, and beloved books time and again, slowly softening her heart and drawing her to himself. I was moved, amused, wrung, challenged, and encouraged as I read of her gradual transformation.

Meanwhile, Rowling’s Harry Potter series struck chords of hope, childlike wonder, curiosity, joy, and love deep inside me. This series is marketed as children’s literature, and I can understand that to an extent, but I think it ultimately does somewhat of a disservice to these books that have just as much for adults as for children. Harry and his friends are children in the beginning, but they are forced to grow up quickly because of the evil that hunts them, and they wrestle with profound questions pertinent to all ages. The pages of this series are soaked in themes of good and evil, life and death, sacrificial love, unwavering friendship, and courage in deep darkness. Despite the fantastical setting, the characters feel as real and normal as your everyday friends, and, just like us, they, too, are trying to finish schoolwork, figure out friendships and romances, and face the bigger issues of their world bravely. This series became an escape and comfort for me during a trying time, but even since that period, the Harry Potter books have continued to affirm to me the power of imagination and good storytelling, and they have become solid, comforting reminders for me of how good ultimately triumphs over evil, of how love conquers death, and of the value of courage amidst great trial.

Books are not only a hobby or a pastime to me, but also memorials to lessons learned and periods of growth throughout different life stages. What have been the most impactful books for you as a child, teenager, or adult? I’d love to hear!

Happy spring, readers! At least, it’s spring where I am and I’m loving it for as long as it’ll stay. Spring is one of those seasons that reawakens me to the beauty of the world and encourages me to find joy in things that may seem small, but when I take time for them, they add a little more beauty, calm, and happiness to my days.

I’ve also been thinking more about the general concept of beauty in the wake of the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral. I’ve never been to Paris and I’m not Catholic, but I still felt weighty sadness as I watched the videos of the cathedral’s spire collapsing. The images of the damage are a bit haunting to me. I feel sad to think of the beauty and art that’s been lost in that fire. And I think that’s a good thing. Notre Dame has stood for more than 850 years and represents faith and resilience to many people. Its walls have witnessed the prayers, baptisms, marriages, and celebrations of millions through the years. Its bells have called people to worship for centuries and have signaled the end of world wars. I believe it is right to recognize that much has been lost in the fire and to grieve for it. In fact, the outpouring of solidarity and sadness has given me some hope – hope that we are still awake and sensitive to truly valuable and beautiful things. My prayer is that more people will realize that beauty in this world is meant to point us to the most beautiful One of all, the Giver of all true beauty. 

Photo Credit: www.historicalwallpapers.blogspot.com

In light of that, I’ve been trying to recognize the beauty around me, big and small. I’m fortunate to live in a city full of historic monuments, and this past week was a reminder not to take them for granted. I also believe in finding beauty in the small things, so I wanted to share a few of them with you.

Walking
Walking clears my head, gets me away from the neverending distractions of working on a computer all day, and gives me time with my current audiobook! I’ll take more reading time in any form. And in spring weather, a walk outside is truly good for the soul. Where I am, flowers are everywhere, and the sun is bright and warming without being oppressive yet. Can it stay?

Candles
I’ve always liked candles, but it’s only recently that I’ve realized how happy they make me when I really use them. Sure, they look pretty when they sit on a shelf, but the glow and scent when they’re burning have become some of my favorite things. I now try to light one every morning as I’m eating breakfast and reading. It’s now a part of my routine that’s truly soothing and helps me relax when I’m tempted to rush or stress. And since I can’t ever have enough literary references, I’ve gone literary even with my candles – thanks to Scent Pop Candles, my house smells amazing and I now have the occasional daydream of quitting everything and inventing scents for every fictional character and quote I’ve ever liked. Anyone with me?

Piano Music
Simple piano tunes have been doing wonders for my peace of mind lately. Whether I’m working, doing my makeup in the morning, or eating breakfast, a calming bit of piano in the background helps me slow down, focus, and be present. It also sets a great mood for leisure activities, like reading or a cup of afternoon tea. Speaking of which…

Tea
“what she says: would you like to have tea?
“what she means: would you like to share a moment of peace and quietude with me? Participate together in a ritual of sanity in a world of disorder? Defy the indignity of the modern world? Also, I have biscuits.”

This was recently tweeted by my favorite online presence at the moment, the inimitable Joy Clarkson. As it turns out, she also did a whole podcast on tea, which I highly encourage you to enjoy here. I agree with every sentiment Joy expresses about a good cup of tea – it’s more than just a nice drink that posh people made popular a few centuries ago. Slowly and surely, tea has become pretty meaningful to me over the years.

Shoutout to my dear friend Jolie for knowing how to lay a tea. I'm catching up slowly.

Unlike many from the deep south, I did not grow up with sweet tea, so my first real exposure to tea was during a trip to Ireland in high school. Thanks to Joy’s podcast, I now know that Ireland outranks every other country for most cups of tea per person in a day. I can easily believe that, because during my trip, it quickly became apparent that I wouldn’t be drinking much of anything while in Ireland if I didn’t drink tea. Soon, I loved the ritual and communal aspect of it. Lingering after an evening meal over a cup of tea and stopping at various times throughout the day to enjoy tea and biscuits (or cookies if you’re American ;)) encourages you to slow down and breathe and take pleasure in your surroundings and current company. I’ve learned to appreciate these aspects of tea even more as an adult and think most people would do well to learn from it. I honestly believe that cultures that value tea are far more patient than others because tea is a ritual that requires time – you have to wait for the water to boil, wait for the tea to steep, take time to add your milk and sugar, and sip slowly so it doesn’t scald your mouth. Enjoy it all, friends!

That said, I’ve learned to enjoy the process of tea preparation and the time it takes to drink tea. My recent travels to England have endeared it to me all the more since the British obviously take it so seriously. I had several pretty grand teatimes between my two trips, and I’ve also been inspired to try more flavors and experiment with loose leaf. All that to say, anyone for tea? I’ve got peach, Royal Blend, Earl Grey, Wedding Breakfast, English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, and there can only ever be more to try.

Have a beauty-filled week, friends. I'd love to hear about what helps you notice the beauty in your days too.

If you’ve followed me on Instagram over the last month, you know I recently went to England for the second time in my life. If you know me personally, you also probably know that I was terribly torn about returning. True life: I cried on and off during the trek back. It started as I was saying goodbyes and continued throughout the long flight over the Atlantic (Official apologies to the girl who was my seat partner. You’re a trooper). I was a mess, but it was because this trip was one of the sweetest and most refreshing weeks I’ve experienced in recent memory. I shared on Facebook about how I wished that I could freeze time on a particular day of the trip, and that got me thinking about the whole week. I had many moments like that – just wanting to stop, take everything in, fix it in my memory, and stay there for a while. More than once, I felt close in mind to one of my favorite fictional heroes, Ross Poldark, when he reflected thusly: 

“And Ross again knew himself to be happy – in a new and less ephemeral way than before. He was filled with a queer sense of enlightenment. It seemed to him that all his life had moved to this pinpoint of time down the scattered threads of twenty years…… Someone – a Latin poet – had defined eternity as no more than this: to hold and possess the whole fullness of life in one moment, here and now, past and present and to come. He thought: if we could only stop here.” (Winston Graham; Ross Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall, 1783-1787) 

Me too, Ross. I feel you (And yeah, sorry not sorry for bringing up Poldark like I often do here). So, on that note, I thought I’d share my very top “if only we could stop here” moments from this recent jaunt through England. Pardon me if I get slightly emotional and mushy. 

On a rooftop in Cambridge 
Cambridge was my first stop this time, and after two plane rides, a long ride on the London tube, and a train ride, I was exhausted and relieved to arrive there. Kind friends met me at the station and then guided me through a weekend of sightseeing. After an initial walking tour, my friend Simeon took me to a nice overlook on top of a restaurant where we could sit and wait for our next activity. It was only a few minutes, but the view of the city was stunning. This was definitely the first moment of the whole week when I started thinking: How did I get here? This is unreal! This is what I was seeing, so hopefully you can imagine why.

Formal dinner in Cambridge 
Talk about a full experience. This dinner was a unique glimpse into Cambridge and British education in general like few other things could be. I felt like I’d stepped into the Great Hall at Hogwarts in Harry Potter – long tables, candlelight, formal black robes, a high table for the teachers, a multi-course meal…it had everything. And the student next to me soon began talking about how he was studying behavioral science in cows within the veterinary medicine program. That’s a thing? I thought. And the next day, my lovely host told me she had written her grad school thesis on hymnody, specifically examining the hymns of John Newton and Keith and Kristyn Getty. By then, I felt very surrounded by geniuses and waaaay out of my league, but so pleased that these unique interests could be studied. You go, Cambridge.

First sighting of the colorful Notting Hill houses 
Does it get much more delightful than a day in London with two of your favorite friends who you grew up with, but had to go all the way to England to see again? This day was full of activity and walking, but my heart was even fuller by the end of it. I now strongly recommend high tea at the famous Fortnum & Mason (we spent 3 hours there to fill our stomachs with tea and to empty our wallets for more tea to go), as well as an autumnal stroll through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. I happily pictured how Queen Victoria and Prince Albert would ride their horses every day through Hyde Park before all the pavement was added. But I definitely grinned a bit silly to myself when I first caught sight of the famous colorful rows of houses in the Notting Hill and Portobello Road Market areas. It was just so British. Does it get any more so than those bright houses and a Union Jack umbrella sticking out of one of the shops? Not much.

Outing to Box Hill 
I think back on this day with such affection. I was well and truly in awe from the moment we came around the bend and saw the view from our chosen vantage point on Box Hill. If you’re a Jane Austen fanatic like me, you might recall that Box Hill provides the setting for an important scene in her novel Emma, and the view definitely lived up to Austen’s description: 

“It was a sweet view — sweet to the eye and to the mind. English verdure, English culture, English comfort, seen under a sun bright, without being oppressive.” (Jane Austen, Emma) 

Sweet indeed. My dear friend Gracie and her four children and I took a picnic there and just sat, admired the view, basked in the sunshine, took pictures, rolled down the slope (well, the kids did), laughed, spotted various birds, enjoyed the gentle breeze, and admired the view some more. I couldn’t stop staring. It was the most quintessentially English scene imaginable – rolling green countryside, an occasional train winding through the hills, little towns spread out below us, wood smoke rising from between the trees here and there, and such a glorious expanse of blue sky and huge clouds. I felt like I could have stayed there in that afternoon forever. And I was keenly reminded of the love of my heavenly Father, who, amazingly, is also the Master and Creator behind all of that day’s beauty. He formed those hills, painted that sky, laid out every tree, and gave flight to every bird I saw that day, and it all made me very aware of His grandeur. Yet, I was also awed by the reminder that He calls me His own. He designs and orchestrates the beauty of this earth, but He also has set His affection on me and made me His child. Thanks be to God. Psalm 8 and Psalm 23 definitely came to life in new ways on that slope at Box Hill.

Tea and cake at Wisley 
Another outing with Gracie and the kids took us to the exquisite Wisley Gardens, a widespread ground of flora and fauna belonging to the Royal Horticultural Society. My camera was going crazy with so many flowers and landscapes at every turn, but perhaps my favorite part of this day was the “Taste of Autumn” event that we discovered was already underway when we arrived. The kids got to help squeeze fresh apple juice, tea and coffee were everywhere, and vendors lined their designated sidewalks to sell everything from homemade fudge, to specialty jams, to cakes, to cider. Gracie and I bought cake to go with our tea, and I’ve rarely felt so content as I did that afternoon as I sipped my Earl Grey and ate a very British bit of cake in the beautiful autumn weather. Can I go back already?

Breakfast on my final morning 
Sometimes it’s the little things that get you, right? This was definitely one of those. I don’t have pictures to prove it because it actually felt a little too sacred for that. First, let me give context by saying that I truly believe the British obsession with tea has made them a more patient culture than America. Tea breaks are a real thing all over the country, and making tea involves a decent amount of waiting – waiting for the kettle to boil, waiting for the tea to brew properly, and waiting for it to be cool enough to drink. Overall, I think this is a very good thing. And the precious family I was staying with exemplified this general patience well on my last morning with them. 

It was a Sunday morning, and they knew they had to get ready for church and leave the house soon. Yet, they still took time to sit down together at the breakfast table, eat without too much hurry, and just enjoy being together. They also used this time to make cards and small gifts to send back with me for their American friends. I sat at the table with them and wanted to memorize everything about the scene – the warm cup of tea in my hands, the sunlight streaming through their bright kitchen windows, the children’s heads bent in concentration as they worked over their cards, the sounds of the kettle and the stove, the taste of their very English jam, and the sweet sense of togetherness and peace around the table. Then, Jamie, faithful husband and dad that he is, read a short devotional aloud and prayed. In his prayer, he included requests for me and my travels, and that was my predictable cue to start crying. I should have known that I would, but I was still taken by surprise for some reason. You’d think I would learn. Thanks for the hugs afterwards, Gracie!

I'm so grateful for this trip. Grateful for the friends and opportunities and resources that made it possible, for how the Lord has grown my affection for this part of the world so greatly over the years, and for how He has allowed me to explore that love with travels there. Here's to planning the next.

Happy New Year, dear readers! Today I want to share an exercise that I tried last week on a whim, but that also turned out to be encouraging and calming for me. I’ve joined the bullet journaling bandwagon in the last year, and in an effort to find something to fill up an extra page in my said bullet journal, I made it into a reflection page for 2017. I simply titled it “2017: A Look Back,” as I’ve titled this post, and wrote down a number of things that happened in my life throughout 2017. As I scribbled away, the events and happenings that spilled onto the page began to remind me not only of the many good things that came my way in 2017, but also became markers of God’s continued faithfulness and provision in my life. Here’s my list below, and I hope it helps you reflect in similar ways. Happy 2018! 

2017: A Look Back 

• Joined Capitol Hill Baptist Church 
• Started working full-time in DC 
• Worked with people I love 
• Moved twice 
• Got to be a bridesmaid twice 
• Read 36 books (plus rereading the Harry Potter series, Anne of Green Gables, Pride and Prejudice, and The Black Moon via audiobook) 
• Visited Oklahoma for the first time 
• Visited the White House at Christmas time 
• Got to go to the top of the Capitol dome 
• Saw John Crist live 
• Saw Keith and Kristyn Getty in concert for the third time 
• Met Ben Shapiro 
• Won an Aidan Turner-signed coloring book 
• Saw The Lion King Broadway show 
• Participated in a Christmas book exchange 
• Sang in the church’s Christmas choir 
• Saw more snow in a year than I’d seen in all previous years combined (that I recall) 
• Started collecting literary prints and décor in earnest 
• Fell in love with The Crown and Victoria 
• Went on my own health insurance (!) 
• Got two people interested in Poldark 
• Finally saw the live action Beauty and the Beast come to fruition (seriously, I'd been following the process for over two years so that was a DEAL! #fangirl)

While we're at it, here are the best nine pictures I took in 2017 according to the internet masses. Follow me on Instagram @elizabeth_8212.

Hello friends and readers and hello October! I feel like I’m constantly apologizing for long breaks between posts, so can we all just agree to understand the delays? Life, guys. Just life. I need to start scheduling them more ahead of time. It’s just hard when blogging isn’t your full-time job, though I’d love that. But I promise I’m still reading away, constantly planning the next trip to England, and always looking for stories to share here. I have post ideas that I’m excited about and hope to get published here soon. But today I want to share some reflections on my first year in DC that I’ve been turning over in my head for a while now.

A little over a year ago now, my mom and I rolled into Washington, DC in a car stuffed to the brim and only a vague idea of where we needed to go first. I remember feeling pretty in over my head once I spied the Washington Monument from the beltway. Upon arrival in the city and getting our bearings, we hastily arranged my things in the glamorous intern dorm, a task that was naturally not complete without an emergency trip to Bed Bath & Beyond, and then spent the night with friends in Annapolis before flying out to England the next day. That vacation was very good for me in many ways – I needed to get away from normalcy for a while and I was also excited for an adventure that I’d planned and wanted for a long time before facing the unknown adventure of DC. But when I returned and began to fall into a routine in DC, I was a little surprised to realize how much I was enjoying myself and that I maybe wanted stay longer than the mandatory semester. A year later, I couldn’t be more pleased that I did. 

Why I moved to DC 
To be clear, I will always have a special love for my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. But I hadn’t ever been far from it for an extended period. I went to college only two hours away and went back there as soon as I graduated. I had worked there a good while and was feeling stuck. I couldn’t see my frustrating job situation (unfulfilling work, dead ends, etc) changing anytime soon. So even though it scared me, I figured it was right to take a leap into something new where I knew no one and could start fresh in a lot of ways. 

What I immediately liked about DC 
Ah, where to begin?! For those who can’t handle long chunks of text, I shall now trick you with bullet points.

• All the history and memorials and stuff: History nerd that I am, I do think it’s pretty neat to be so near the heart of our country’s history. DC can get a bad rap for all the snooty politics and elites, but at its core, it’s still a beautiful city with a rich heritage worth seeing. I feel fortunate that I not only see it, but live in the midst of it. I still stare in awe at the Capitol at least twice a week even though I walk by it literally every day.
• It does each season well: I arrived in DC on the cusp of autumn and was delighted to see that it’s a REAL autumn, unlike the measly 4-5 days of fall Alabama gets. The leaves actually change colors and the temperatures stay between 50 and 70 for a good two months. Later on, winter, spring, and summer followed the same pattern. A good sampling of all four seasons comes to DC in full force, which has been a welcome change from Alabama’s summer-winter-summer pattern.
• The variety of people to be met with: Since moving here, I’ve met people from all corners of the country and the world – the people in my everyday circles hail from states as different as California, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Vermont, New York, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Others came here from even farther away places like South Africa, Australia, England, Kenya, and Korea. I’ve never lived in a place of such varied backgrounds and it’s been a joy to get to know them. 
  
  

  
  Capitol Hill in the fall... I couldn't get enough

Cool and unlikely moments that wouldn't have happened if I'd lived anywhere else

• Talking with a TV reporter from Norway about American politics
• Listening to an abortion survivor testify at a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill
• Meeting THE Ben Shapiro in my work building
• Getting to go for a bike ride down to the Lincoln Memorial after work one night

Probably the biggest reason I stayed in DC
There have been many things I’ve loved about DC – the internship that brought me here, my fellow interns that semester, the city quirks, and the snug coffee shops and bookstores. But my first real Sunday here, I walked the four short blocks to Capitol Hill Baptist Church and sat in a back pew a little nervously as I watched a sea of unfamiliar faces file in around me. About five minutes into the service, as we were singing “He Will Hold Me Fast” in the loudest, most beautiful harmony I’d ever heard from a church congregation, I knew I’d be coming back for the rest of the semester. This conviction to stay at that church only grew stronger as the weeks wore on, and a year later, Capitol Hill Baptist is unquestionably what has made this city home to me more than anything else. Here are just two things that I think make it such a special place: 

• Good ecclesiology in action: Admittedly, I probably couldn’t have explained ecclesiology before I came to CHBC, and I’m sure other members would say the same. That’s not to say that previous churches of which I was a member were unhealthy or unbiblical, but CHBC emphasizes and makes transparent what is often behind the scenes in many churches. The pastors and elders talk regularly about how their responsibilities of shepherding and teaching are serious callings and sacrifices – I’ve been told that elder meetings can go till late hours of the night, and preparing for members’ meetings has to be one heck of a job from their end. But they do it because they love the congregation and they expect much of the congregation. If I were to disappear from services for a month, they’d notice and take steps to find out where I am. When they know they’ll be praying for me in an elder meeting, they’ll email me and ask if there are specific ways they can pray. I’m so thankful for their commitment. 
• Jesus is truly our unifying foundation: All those states and countries I mentioned above? They’re represented at CHBC. People of every background, custom, age, upbringing, and nationality imaginable come together there every Sunday. It’s been more valuable than I can express to tangibly see how Jesus unifies people who might experience division by human standards. 

And otherwise, this church just loves well. I feel richly blessed to be part of this family called Capitol Hill Baptist Church – my brothers and sisters there have encouraged and challenged me well and speak truth to me consistently. One of the most precious things in the world to me now is the sight and sound of all one thousand and twenty (?) of us singing a hymn in thunderously loud harmony together. I can’t wait to sing with them in eternity!

Hello! I didn’t plan to take a blogging hiatus. But it’s turned out that working full-time and even just living in a city like Washington DC are incredibly time consuming endeavors. That said, I still certainly have not forgotten about my little corner of the internet here and want to pick back up as much as I can! For now, here are some brand new “eloquent finds” to kick things off again. These finds consist of the usual recent internet gems I’ve discovered, quotes I’ve been enjoying, fun finds around my new city, and more. Enjoy and leave a comment to let me know what you think! Good to be back! :) 

Recent Reading 

Poldark series: The Black Moon (5) and The Four Swans (6) by Winston Graham 
The Poldark books are still here, folks. And they are just as spellbinding as ever. The Black Moon is a new favorite for sure (I heart Drake and Morwenna, guys...really heart them). I can’t wait to continue reading the series and am SO excited to see all of this on the big screen when Season 3 of the show airs later this year! 

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi 
Pretty sure this will remain one of my favorites of 2017. It’s a challenging and thoughtful memoir about the people’s search for meaning, life and death, and facing death with grace. Paul Kalanithi was Stanford’s chief neurosurgery resident when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. This book is the gift he left and I’m one of the glad beneficiaries of it, though even now I’m saddened to think of his cruelly shortened life. 

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan 
Books, quirky people, computers, a puzzle…this book is quite a character in itself. Clay is our protagonist and he takes the night shift at a 24-hour bookstore out of desperation, but he soon realizes that there’s much more to this bookstore and its owner than meets the eye. 

The Secret Wife by Gill Paul 
This is one of those books that messes with history in the best way. A young cavalry officer named Dmitri falls in love with a daughter of the Russian imperial family during World War I. Simultaneously, we're also following the great-granddaughter of Dmitri as she faces her own dilemmas in 2016. She soon determines to uncover family secrets when she unexpectedly inherits long-lost land from Dmitri. 

The Pleasures of God by John Piper 
This is my take-it-slow read of the year so far. John Piper argues that since we get to know other people well by discovering what they delight in, we ought to pursue the same thing with God. So far, it’s a very compelling argument. And I’m finding that the depths and richness of our Lord’s delights are inexhaustible and beautiful. 

Links

Beauty and the Beast’s Enchanting Table Read 
A charming peek behind the scenes at all the work that went into making this magical new rendition of Beauty and the Beast. Can we talk about Dan Stevens’s Beast face in this? And if any of you still haven’t seen the film, I’m more than happy to accompany you. 

Tim Hawkins on Air Travel 
I’ve been on airplanes quite a bit recently so this speaks to my soul. 

Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Deluxe Reading Journal Kit  
This is basically my wish list at the moment. 

Anne of Green Gables: Netflix’s Bleak Adaptation Gets it All so Terribly Wrong  
While I’m disappointed in Netflix’s new remake about my favorite literary redhead, I enjoyed this article and appreciated its explanation as to why this version is so off the mark. If you’re unfamiliar with the delightful Anne Shirley, for your own sake, heed this article and stay away from the new adaptation! Stick to the books. I know people say the book is always better, but this is one of those cases where it really is true. 

Why the 1980s Anne of Green Gables is Such a Tough Act to Follow 
And on that note, I also enjoyed this take on the most popular screen version of good old Anne. The 1980s miniseries starring Megan Follows remains a favorite among purist Green Gables fans and I certainly recommend the first installment. I don’t gush over it like some do, but it does do Anne good justice and I loved reading so many people’s stories in this article about how she stole their hearts like she did mine when I was young. 

Life Finds

Friends. And this picture is just one representation of the beautiful community that has welcomed me in this city. I haven't just found friends here, but a dependable, loving family. I'm grateful and have loved sharing meals and life with them. 

SNOW! This unfamiliar substance has made multiple appearances for my southern self and I've thoroughly enjoyed it since it only stayed around for a few days :)

Seriously, go see this movie.  

A new house! I love the blue of it, the antique row house look, the way I'm decorating my room with literary quotes...but most of all, I love the voices of the dear housemates that fill it.

Washington is famous for its cherry trees, but what a treat it was to find that many of them bloom right outside my work building! They are truly stunning.

And I've found that bridesmaid duty is busy but oh so much fun. Standing beside these two dear friends as they got married was maybe the sweetest experience I've had lately. 

Thank you, Trishia Ralston! Truly treasuring this photo.


Quotes 

Books were safer than other people anyway. – The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 

The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love. – Henry Scougal 

Happiness can be found even in the darkest times if one only remembers to turn on the light. – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 

Beholding glory begs for lingering. – John Piper 

I found it is the small, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay…small acts of kindness and love. – Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 

On paper, things can live forever. – Jacqueline Woodson, Brown Girl Dreaming 

A library is infinity under a roof. – Gail Carson Levine 

When domesticity, for instance, is called drudgery, the difficulty arises from a double meaning in the word. If drudgery only means dreadfully hard work, I admit the woman drudges in the home, as a man might drudge at the Cathedral of Amiens or drudge behind a gun at Trafalgar. But if it means that the hard work is more heavy because it is trifling, colorless, and of small import to the soul, then as I say, I give it up; I do not know what the words mean. To be Queen Elizabeth within a definite area, deciding sales, banquets, labors and holidays; to be Whiteley within a certain area, providing toys, boots, sheets, cakes, and books; to be Aristotle within a certain area, teaching morals, manners, theology, and hygiene; I can understand how this might exhaust the mind, but I cannot imagine how it could narrow it. How can it be a large career to tell other people’s children about the Rule of Three, and a small career to tell one’s own children about the universe? How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone, and narrow to be everything to someone? No; a woman’s function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute. I will pity Mrs. Jones for the hugeness of her task; I will never pity her for its smallness. – G.K. Chesterton 

Have a great weekend!

Well, here I am, still living in Washington DC and almost exactly one month into my new job here. Life has been full, to say the least! Work is always busy and as with any new stage, it’s a process to figure out a balance between all the things you need to do and want to do. But I’m still loving it here and am truly thankful for this city, great coworkers, new friends, a wonderful church, and satisfying work. 

So, since I’m obviously now an expert after having lived here five months, I thought I’d impart my treasure trove of knowledge. Just kidding. But there are a few things I’ve picked up on since moving here that I know I’d share with a person in their first week of living here. And some of these could be useful for someone who’s just visiting as well. Take them for what they’re worth and let me know what you think! 

1. Get the metro app 
While the metro system isn’t overly difficult, it can be overwhelming at first for someone who hasn’t lived with public transportation before. Luckily, I’d had practice with the Boston and London underground systems before moving to DC back in the fall, so it was an overall seamless transition. But even so, that metro app is a great safety net. Just type in the station you’re starting at and where you want to go, and voila! It’ll tell you exactly which lines to take and where to change and get off!

2. Have a range of coats that vary in thickness 
This is something I’m still working on. There are several degrees of cold here and I’m pretty sure there has to be the perfect coat for each one, so I remain on the lookout. It was during the first major cold snap in December that I realized what I had thought sufficed as a winter coat was actually not at all sufficient. Let’s just say it’s a pretty rude awakening to that fact for an Alabama native when it feels like nine degrees and the wind is cutting into your face.

I have gotten to see sights like this a few times though, which has been pretty neat.

3. Have multiple pairs of comfortable walking shoes 
If you feel called to live in DC, you’re probably also called to lots of walking. I’ve loved having so much built-in exercise every day, and several pairs of sturdy shoes for many kinds of weather have definitely made that transition easier. They’re essentials to living here without a doubt. 

4. Be prepared for grocery trips to be an ordeal 
Related to the subject of frequent walking is grocery shopping. I went to the store last week and was sort of laughing at myself as I got ready to go. It kind of felt like I was preparing to go into a war zone – pile on the layers, cinch up the tennis shoes, grab the list and the bags…it was a process. I say often that the main times I wish I had a car here are when I go to the store. A 10-minute walk isn’t much, but it gets much longer when you’re lugging groceries on the return trip. I think I’ve about mastered the system by now, but it’s still a process every time. 

5. Queue up those audiobooks and podcasts 
Also on the subject of frequent walking – podcasts and audiobooks are your friends in DC! One of the greatest things about walking to and from work every day and pretty much anywhere else is that those walks are some of the best times to get lost in a great story on audio or to catch up on a favorite podcast. So pick your favorites and get listening. 

6. Remember where you are 
I’m doing my best to remember this these days. Familiarity naturally makes wonder fade, so I’ve been trying to do a lot of mental “stepping back” to take in my surroundings. Since I walk by the Capitol every single day, it’d be easy to pass it by without a second glance now. But I’ve been staring at it purposely a lot lately. Not many people get to be up close to this much history for long, so remember it when you come. And aside from that, DC is brimming with culture and fun things to do. I’m doing my best to not let it all pass me by!