Day 44: I Love to See the Temple

I have placed myself in a "corner of responsibility" where I can't talk to anyone because I must start and finish a paper tonight!  Although, I haven't gotten around to banning myself from the Internet yet.  I will have to do that after I tell you all about my day today...


Earlier this week, McKenna (a girl in my study abroad group) had asked if anyone wanted to go to the temple.  There was a group planning to go Saturday but since I already have BIG plans that day, I wanted to go another day of the week.  Luckily so did she!  I haven't spent much time with her and so I thought it would be a good chance to get to know her as well.  We attempted to go yesterday but weren't able to make an appointment until today.  The following is a story of how I got there:


After class we tried to find directions to the temple.  It's the London England temple but that's deceiving because it is NOT actually in London.  Matt, who has been there before, was gone.  Nick let us use his phone and we only got the answering machine each time.  Alvaro, the Centre manager, wasn't home to ask.  There were no directions on the traffic website online.  FINALLY a tender mercy- I found the YSA Ward website that had directions to the temple.


We traveled by tube and then had to buy tickets for a train.  We stood in a long line which ended up being the wrong one and then found the right line to buy tickets.  We JUST missed the train by like two minutes and had to wait 30 minutes for the next one.  We rode the train for almost an hour and then hired a taxi to take us to the temple.  A car pulled up that we assumed was our taxi, we got in and the driver asked "To the racetrack?"  We said, "We're actually going to the London temple.  Do you need the address?"  He then said, "Are either of you Sam?"  Uh oh.  Embarrassing.  That wasn't our taxi... ours came up right after though and with slightly pink cheeks we got out of the other car and into the right one.


Finally, after all the transportation difficulties, we saw a steeple ahead of us in the distance.  We had arrived!  It was raining (as always, but I really love it) and so there were fogs and clouds in the sky that the steeple rose above.  When I am traveling (like in New York, Nauvoo, Tonga, and Washington D.C.), there is no happier sight to me than the shining angel Moroni that rises above everything else.  We arrived at the baptistry only a half hour later than we expected and were able to get in with the youth group that was there.

(picture of the London England temple taken after the rain and fog had cleared)

I have never met nicer temple workers!  They were all genuinely interested in why we were there and how we were enjoying our trip in London.  I don't think they knew that we've done baptisms for the dead many times before because they explained everything we needed to do and where we needed to go in great detail and with a lot of kindness.  Even though I already knew, I was very grateful for their concern.  I spoke with a woman who has a daughter who lives in Utah and hasn't seen her since she got married.  She has three granddaughters there that she's never seen in real life.  She isn't able to travel to Utah to see them because her husband is handicapped and can't be left and her daughter can't fly out to see her because none of them have the money to travel here.  She told me all of this with a very cheery attitude and was very positive by saying things like, "Thank goodness for Skype!"  It made me much more grateful for the access I have to my family and for my wonderful opportunity to travel.


When we got out of the temple, the sun was shining and so we walked around the grounds.  They are so BEAUTIFUL!  That probably doesn't mean much to anyone reading this because temple grounds are always beautiful and I use that word to describe many things.  But the grounds truly fit the area they were in.  They were very green with giant ponds all around.  

It was wonderful to feel that spiritual boost and have that experience!  Most of the time I don't even realize I need that extra strength from the Spirit until I get it and then I think, "How was I functioning without this before?!"  It makes me want to go to the temple when I get home just so I can appreciate the ease and accessibility I am blessed with by living so close to so many.  


It took a lot of confusion, £19.30, and 7 hours but it was absolutely worth spending my day going to the temple. 

Day 43: One More Week

One week from today I will be on American soil!  Is that surprising to anyone besides myself?  I literally feel like I just got here.  In some ways the days have been long here but the whole time has gone very quickly.  I think I am winding down and getting ready to come home.  These are just some of the things I have grown more grateful for/ am excited about at home:

- Family and friends (always first)

- Cafe Rio (always second... there is now one in the airport that I am tempted to stop and eat at before I see my family)

- Mountains

- Target

- Fast Internet and Spotify

- My own room and queen sized bed

- A bathroom that I only share with one girl 

- Easy travel to church

- Movie theaters

- Independence Day

- Warm weather

- Ability to cook and bake my own food (even though the food here has been great!  There's just something about simple, healthy meals that I don't have to buy that I miss)

- My iPhone (I'm conflicted about this but mostly excited to turn it on again)

I'm sure that list will continue to grow the closer that I get to coming home.  The list of things I will miss about London is much longer and I'll post that at a later time.  For now, it's nice to think about the things I will be coming home to.

Here's a bulleted list of things that happened today:

- Last British Literature class: I almost shed a tear.  It has been one of my favorite classes I have ever taken.

- Mrs. Dalloway walk through London: I went through St. James Park, past Buckingham Palace, and down New Bond Street.

(Poppies in St. James Park)

(St. James Park)

(Outside of Buckingham Palace- not the best view as they are trying to clean up from the Jubilee events)

Found our friends FDR and Churchill at the corner of Old Bond street and New Bond street.

- Imperial War Museum: Hayden would really enjoy this museum.  It had lots of artifacts and information on the World Wars and Holocaust.  It was very informative and presented well.  I was expecting something like the Holocaust Museum in D.C. that made me absolutely sick but this museum had a different approach.  They even had a simulation of what a World War I trench would be like, as well as an exhibit on how World War II effected the families in Great Britain.  

- Attempted to see Matilda again but it was sold out and no student tickets are available for this play!  Then I tried to see Shrek the musical but arrived four minutes after the show started.  I then felt like I deserved hazelnut gelato because nothing went right and I ate it while watching street performers in Covent Gardens (I feel like I hang out there all the time now) and came home to write my history paper blog and write postcards instead.

- Ended the night by gagging with the girls over the fact that Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth are engaged!  Here's just some highlights from our conversation....

Lauren:  They CAN'T be engaged!  Reason #1- She's a skank.  #2- He deserves someone better.  #3- He's MY celebrity crush.  #4- She's younger than I am.

Amanda:  Yep.  Skank.

Tiffany: Wait!  They're engaged?! (types into google) I found their Timeline of Love.  Barf.

Comments evoked from the Timeline of Love

Miley:  Well we're best friends first so that's what I always tell people.

Tiffany:  You're dumb.

Miley:  I'd say we're both deeper than normal people.

Tiffany:  What does that even mean?!  What right do you have to say that you're deeper than anybody else?

Lauren:  That's so weird.  She's younger than I am!  How can she be engaged to him?!

Tiffany:  You don't want to be like her.

Liam:  What happened happened and we've been together ever since.

Tiffany:  He's deep.

Miley:  (about engagement rumors before) I've been wearing this ring on this finger since November.  It's topaz people!

Tiffany:  This finger is called the wedding ring finger.  If you don't want people to talk don't wear a stupid ring on that finger.


Tiffany:  Do you know what's going to happen to them?  They're going to get a divorce!
Jaden:  NO!  Don't say that.  I want Liam to have a happy marriage.
Tiffany:  Dont be selfless.

Day 42: God Save the Queen!

I'm not even going to go in chronological order for today... I'm just going to tell you upfront....

I SAW THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND!  I SAW WILL AND KATE!  I SAW PRINCE HARRY!  I SAW CHARLES AND CAMILLA!  

My dreams have come true.  Ahhhhhh! I hope this movie works... try to hear the bells ringing and just look at the pure happiness on my face. :) 

Now that I've got that off my chest... I'll start from the beginning of my day.  We had history- boring.  We went to Churchill's War Rooms- interesting.  They left a majority of the rooms exactly the same as when the war ended.  There's also a museum dedicated to Churchill.  I didn't fully appreciate all that he did until going to that museum!  My opinion of him as a person is still conflicted because of what we have been studying in class but I have gained more respect for him after seeing the rooms and the museum.

(entrance to the museum)

(The main Cabinet war room- left exactly as it was)

(Churchill's personal office and bedroom)

After going through the war rooms, Kayley and I REALLY wanted to see the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Parade.  We were fairly close to Parliament Square where the parade would be starting and so we ran there to get a standing spot.  Just 15 minutes after we got to the square, the royal procession came out with all the guards on horseback.  The bells of Westminster were tolling beautiful sounds.  The horses started moving and then... that wonderful moment happened... we saw the two open top carriages pass with the royal family inside of them!  My view was very obstructed and so I jumped up and down and freaked out but I got to see them!  They were all smiling and waved at the crowd.  Kate looked particularly lovely, I liked William and Harry's top hats, Camilla's hat was much too big, and the Queen sparkled like a diamond!  I have seen in person, with my own two eyes, the Queen of England! AHHHHH! I couldn't be happier! :)  Have I mentioned my love for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge?  A.k.a. Will and Kate?  I saw them too... AMAZING! :)  I'm sorry but I didn't try to take any pictures of the parade because I was too busy just trying to see the royals with my own eyes and it all happened so fast.

(Kayley, Lauren Fine, and myself in Parliament Square waiting for the parade to start)

(My face and feelings shortly after having the experience of a lifetime!)

We went back to the Centre to watch the entire parade.  Matt and Stacey put together a tea party for us to watch the proceedings to.  We had scones with jam and clotted cream (which is like sweet butter- yummy) and juice instead of tea.  A few of us girls dressed up for our tea party and squealed while watching the parade.  It truly felt like a "British moment."  I didn't want the British-ness to stop and so the professors oldest daughters, Anna and Emily, and I watched a BBC special episode of "Will and Kate: 1 Year Down."  I love them, both the girls and the royalty.  :)

(wishing we had a big screen TV to watch the proceedings on)

(Natalie, Katie, Alissa, Whitney, myself, Kayley, and Lauren Fine in our tea party attire.  We like to dress up!)

(I can't get enough of this beautiful couple!)

To end the night, I went to see War Horse the play.  

I loved the movie when it came out and I would still have to say that I liked the movie more.  The play was wonderful in the way that they did the horses.  I was amazed at how lifelike the puppets were.  A few minutes into the play I forgot that the animals weren't real!  Just like in the movie, I cried during the play.  It was interesting to study World War I in class and then see and hear all the references in the play.  The play wasn't the best I've seen but I've been pretty spoiled here and would still say it was great!

P.S. On another positive note, I am feeling much better today! :)

Day 41: Happy Jubilee!

I was not feeling 100% today health wise, unfortunately, but I still got to do a lot of fun things!  I had British Literature in the morning where we discussed the book we're reading, Mrs. Dalloway.  I didn't really love it until we discussed it and I learned more about it.  Now I really appreciate the book and the perspective I gain from it!  I have been that way with a lot of things here.  I don't really like something until I learn about it and then I grow to appreciate it.  Knowledge leads to understanding!


I slept through most of the afternoon to try and get feeling better but woke up to recite a memorized sonnet for an assignment.  I chose to memorize William Wordworth's "The world is too much with us."  I really identified with this sonnet when we were in the Lake District and chose to memorize it for this reason.  It goes like this:


The world is too much with us, late and soon.
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.
Little we see in nature that is ours.  
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon.
This sea that bares her bosom to the moon.
The wind that will be howling at all hours,
And are upgathered now like sleeping flowers.
For this, for everything, we are out of tune.
It moves us not.-- Great God!  I'd rather be
A paegan suckled in a creed outworn,
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn,
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea,
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.


I think this is a sonnet that will stay with me for a long time.


At night, a group of students went to the Coldplay concert.  For those of us who didn't buy tickets, we went to watch the Queen's Jubilee concert instead!  A giant stage was built in front of Buckingham Palace and 10,000 British residents were given tickets.  Everyone else lined the street leading up to the palace and filled both St. James and Hyde Park to watch it on big TV screens.  I went to Hyde Park with some friends from the group to watch it.  It was a fun environment!  It was about 50 degrees so we were bundled up really well.  It will probably be a shock for me to come back to Utah and warm weather.

(the screens we watched the concert on)

(The group!  Chris, Alissa, Lauren fine, Kennedy, Cree, myself, Amanda, Whitney, and Kaylie)

(Jared, myself, and Whitney excited for the concert)

There were performances by Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Madness, Ed Sheeran (a new favorite of mine) and Will.i.am.  It was interesting to see the very popular American songs that the Brits didn't know and to feel out of place with the very popular British songs that we didn't know.  My favorite part was when the song "Sing" was performed by people from all over the British Commonwealth.  "Sing" is a song written by Lord Lloyd-Weber specifically for the Jubilee.  We watched a documentary about it on BBC and all almost cried when we watched it.  The show ended with a gigantic fireworks show and a beacon lighted by the Queen!  There couldn't have been a better way to end the day than celebrating.  Prince Phillip (The Queen's 90 year old husband) is in the hospital unfortunately and so he was missed at the concert.  Prince Charles (her son) gave a speech about his mum.  At the end of the speech they did three cheers for the Queen.  After each "hip, hip" I wanted to shout "HORRAH" at the top of my lungs!  I felt British pride and I'm American!  I can see why they love the Queen so much.  If anything, all of these Jubilee events have made me VERY excited for Independence Day.  I truly love America and I can't wait to get home and celebrate that love that I feel!


P.S. News to me- Justin Bieber has two new singles out!  Ashley- you are supposed to tell me these things!  In case you want to listen to them they're Die in your Arms and All Around the World.

Day 40: The Gospel is More Important than the Queen

Today is the beginning of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee!  She has now been on the throne for 60 years and there is a huge celebration just for her that will last the next few days.  The big events for today were the Big Lunch, where everyone was supposed to have picnics and share food with their neighbors, and the boat parade.  Essentially a thousand barges floated down the main stretch of the Thames river today, one of them containing the royal family (including the Queen and Will and Kate).  Unfortunately, it was raining which I think ruined everyone's picnic plans.  It's also Fast Sunday, which was bad timing for us.  I thought maybe I'd get to see the boat parade but the huge event lasted from three to six in the afternoon, while I was at church.  Three people from our group of six decided to skip church to go to the parade.  We only have one more Sunday in our ward and I didn't want to miss being there so I went instead.  


It was miraculous.  Today we got to church with NO transportation problems.  NONE!  That's the first time that has happened.  The three of us arrived early and were able to talk to the missionaries and some members.  The two other students traveling with me went to help in primary and I went to Relief Society.  After the first hour, the regular youth Sunday School teacher had prepared a lesson so I decided to help out in primary.  I got up there and it was MADNESS!  The two BYU students were the only adults in primary!  There were maybe only 15-20 kids but 75% of those children were fidgety and crazy.  They said that even the students who normally sit quietly were so disruptive today.  On top of that, there is an 11 year old who is bigger than I am and has some mental issues.  When I got there to the class, I was holding a four year old and broke up three fist fights between the 11 year old and two other boys.  During class he purposefully disrupted by getting up and trying to choke the other children, flipping each student off, and swearing profoundly.  At one point, we just stopped the lesson that was planned and tried to teach a lesson on reverence because the crazy was CRAZY!  We really could have used the help of the students who didn't come.  I got out of there and seriously questioned if I could go into elementary education.  I remembered that YES I am in the right major and YES I love teaching but I had to remind myself that classes won't always be like that.  I was especially grateful when the Relief Society president stood up to bare her testimony and said that her children love the BYU students and always are excited to tell you about what they did in class.  The bishop also told us how grateful he is for our help every Sunday that we come with cheerful attitudes and a willingness to help.  


Sacrament meeting was inspiring from all the testimonies I heard.  I realized how lucky I am to have the gospel in my life and to have always had it, I remembered that miracles follow faith, and that the gospel changes lives.  I know the church is true.  It was plain to me that we had no trouble getting to church because we really needed to be there in primary today.  I don't know what would have happened if the three of us had decided to miss church as well.  It was also clear that I needed to be there to bare my testimony and hear the testimonies of others.  


Coming home, we ran into the crowd of thousands who were trying to get home from the boat parade.  It was pouring rain and several tube stations were closed.  Luckily we know our way around London by now so we walked through the rain and people for quite a while until we found a station that wasn't crowded and would take us straight home.  Even though I could have been frustrated that I missed the parade, frustrated that I was walking in the rain, and frustrated that it took a while to get home... I wasn't.  I just so happy that we went to church and were able to have that experience.


In a way, I'm glad it takes us a long time to get to church because I feel like my whole Sunday revolves around it.  In the morning, I get ready for church and then travel to it.  In the afternoon, I'm at church and have to travel home. It really is an all day event, not just a three hour event.  I have come to appreciate the time and effort it takes to get there because I am more focused on where I'm going and it's importance and I am also so much more grateful for the easiness and accessibility to church at home.


I was able to talk to my mom, dad, and Griffin on Skype tonight, which is always a great thing.  I love my family so much and I can't wait to get home and just spend time with them watching tv or going to out to eat or just talking at home and I hold my puppy, Lexi, again.  I missed J-Dawgs for fast sunday dinner at my grandmas house but I am SO EXCITED for fast sunday dinner in July when I can finally be back with all of my family.


I also got to Skype with this awesome girl and get caught up on her life.  I went from talking to her/playing apps with her/working with her/having classes with her every single day to not talking to her at all.  It's been a hard separation for the both of us.  Her name is Ashley Noel Barnes Marx and she is one of my very best friends/very favorite co-worker.  She comments on my blog (she has a really cute blog here if you want to follow it- and I mean it's REALLY cute) and writes on my Facebook wall but talking "face to face" is always better!

There's a lot of people that I can't wait to catch up with when I get home like my Nana and Papa and FFE/roommate Michal and others.  I can't believe I will be home next week but I think I'm getting ready to come back to America.  I'm still loving every minute here but there truly is "no place like home."