Wells Cathedral

England is abundant with  history.  This cathedral holds many tales of bygone times.  A peaceful place, it is found in the County of Somerset, and in the City of Wells.    I remember stepping  in, and weeping.  The architecture is simply magnificent.  I had not seen anything like it.  What a gift to be a local, and be able to go there and be still with God.  Many sat in the pews in silent meditation.  Every place we wandered, I would  gaze up and down and left and right and still not see everything.  The details were high and low.  Arches and spires, a very famous clock that rings every hour, candles and carvings, stain glass and tombs.  Stories burst from every corner.  And the doors...opening one could lead down a secret passageway.  Kind of like walking through a wardrobe.      

   

Toothaches must have happened often while the cathedral was under construction.  Maybe inspiring this carving?  It is famously known as “toothache man.”  There are eleven like him throughout the cathedral.  Being in the dental field, I just had to take his picture!  Begs the question...what did they do  back then for an abscessed tooth?  What a great conversation piece!

This is a 40 second video.  You can hear my husband asking me what I think.  Hmmm…that is a loaded question.  I think England is a place full of legacy and much history, and I want to know it all!  We are in what is called the Chapter House.  One of many stately rooms in the cathedral. 

The sign intrigued me.  The thought of who ascended those steps made me ask all sorts of questions.  How did they get so worn?  Who walked those steps?  Did anyone fall?  Were they silent? 

Meet John and Yvonne.  They are full of life and graciousness.   We are fortunate to have them in our world.  While in England, we stayed in quaint bed and breakfasts, ate at some of the most unique pubs, and got to see what it is like to drive on the wrong side of the road from the safety of the backseat, all because of them.  Thanks for the memories.      

 

Operation Christmas Child

                                                                                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKLz5u-ErW8

Click on the video!

This is an excellent way to bring joy to a child.  Each year, our family makes  2 boxes.   We have had the privilege of going to the warehouse, preparing  the boxes for shipping.  If you ever get the chance...go!  Picture if you will, thousands of boxes piled to the ceiling, wrapped in every color of paper conceivable.  It looks a bit like the North Pole.  Lots of little elves busy wrapping, stuffing, making sure each box is "just right" for the little hands that will receive it.    I have often thought of what it must be like to be the ones delivering the boxes to remote villages in far off places, watching the children running to receive their gifts.  Wouldn't that be great?  That would be the most fun "job."

Ideas to put in the boxes include:  dolls, toy trucks, stuffed animals, balls, pens, pencils, washcloths, toothbrushes...the ideas are endless. 

A few things Samaritan's Purse asks not to go in the boxes:  war related items...toy guns, liquids, breakable items, chocolate.

Questions?  Go to www.samaritanspurse.org. 
Have fun shopping. 
 
 

Monday blogging--England

 I have decided that I need to keep myself disciplined in writing, and so I am doing Monday and Thursday blogs. 
Mondays are going to be about England...Thursdays are whatever my heart desires! 
England is my happy place.  I was so blessed to have been able to travel there with my husband and our very dear close friends,  John and Yvonne. 
We had the most wonderful time.  We would not have done, nor seen,  all that we did without having them as our traveling companions.  It remains some of the most wonderful memories of my life. 
Monday blogs about England are endless.  There are authors and bed and breakfasts, churches, gardens, oh I can't wait to relive it!
 
I thought it obvious to start with my favorite author...CS Lewis.  I love this quote (in the picture).    We all have dreams.  Do we dare to run after them?   I may fall on my face with this writing dream, but I am having fun so far!  Had I not tried, I would not have met the most wonderful people that God has put in my path.  They are incredible writers.  I am learning so much from them.   These pictures are from a pub in Oxford, England called the Eagle and Child.  This is where CS Lewis met with his friends known as "The Inklings."  As the plaque describes...this group met and discussed the books they were writing.  I am blessed to have my own "Inkling" group.  They are called MN NICE.  A group of amazing and extremely talented people who are taking me under their wing, of which I am so grateful. 
The link if you care to take a look http://acfwminnesotanice.weebly.com/ 
10 facts about  CS Lewis:

Born Clive Staples Lewis on November 29, 1898
Brother : Warren Hamilton Lewis, his best friend
Mother died of cancer when he was 9 years old
Wrote many books, including the Screwtape Letters and the Chronicles of Narnia
Attended Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry, England
Married Joy Davidman in 1956
Joy died 4 years later from cancer
The movie "Shadowlands" is about their life
CS Lewis died the same day as President JFK...Nov. 22, 1963
On Nov. 22 of this year, CS Lewis will be honored in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey.  It will mark the 50 year anniversary of his death. 






 

A different kind of "mouse"

That small little rodent.  You know the one.  BB looking eyes, disgusting tail, taunting us by leaving its "gifts" letting us know there is still a menace  in the area.  It all is enough to send me  screaming for the exits, never to return until all the cracks and holes are completely filled in, leaving absolutely no possibility of vulnerability whatsoever. 

Mouse, computers, blogs, viruses, face book, twitter, screens, UGH.  All these words petrify me.  Make a chill go up and down my spine.  I much prefer to handwrite a letter or talk on the phone to communicate with friends and family.  Many have asked, "when are you going to get on face book?"
Recently, I was reading a blog post (yep, I do go on the computer.  I know how to even turn one on!)  After all, I do have this blog site...Anyway....this person basically was saying that "like it or not, social media is here to stay.  If you are not on board, you will go away like the VHS tape."  OUCH!  Reality bites hard sometimes! 
What I am trying to communicate is that yes, I get it! 
I love to write and realize I need to be on social media!  It will happen....soon. 
I now have a domain site.  I even know what that means! 
I have someone helping me put a more desirable blog site together,  and will soon open up a face book page.

It is not up yet, but my site will be www.gailhelgeson.com

I am a little...ok a lot....nervous about plugging in.  There is so much to learn.  BUT I am getting excited.  Just like going somewhere you have never been before,  and wonder what it will be like.  Will it be safe?, will I get lost?,  will I get burned?...the risks are, and will always be there. 
There will always be a "mouse" to make me scream and want to head for the hills.   

I love this quote by St Augustine---"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page."
I don't want to read just one page.  I want the whole book.

Enjoying the fall colors has inspired me.  Each bend in the road brings more brilliance.  The bushes  are ablaze with reds and oranges.  The trees are glowing with glorious bursts of  intense color.  There is a season for everything. 
It is time for me to get out there and enjoy what nature, and life, has to offer...even if a mouse gets in the way once in awhile.   
  

eeek!

What a creepy feeling. 
Here I am minding my own business when out of the corner of my eye, there it is. 
Its little bb looking eyes staring at me, daring me to catch it. 
"Oh, don't worry you little rodent, I wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole."
I don't know what is more creepy...the eyes or that long disgusting tail. 

It ran around my den, turning at each corner of the room.  It hid behind my bookshelf.  Ugh...the thought of that thing behind there is making my skin crawl. 
I YELL for my husband.  You would think something earth shattering happened.  To me, it did. 
This menacing little creature just wrecked my evening. 
I wasn't planning on playing mouse trap for the evening.  Right now, I would definitely settle for the children's game...hands down. 
Nor do I like the fact that now I have to disinfect  my den!
My husband shut the door and somehow (don't want to know) got the mouse.  He opened the door with a piece of paper between his finger and the tail of that nasty varmint.  Ick. 

He said to me, "you know that if there is one, there is more."
Great.  There goes sleep tonight. 

Bring on the mouse traps.  Tis the time of year. 


 
  

Order

Anticipation was getting the best of me so I had to make a phone call.
My order was taking too long. 

They normally send  my labels and other things I simply can't live without, in an efficient manner.    
It had been over a month. 

Making the phone call, I kindly stated that my order had not been received.   
"Kind" is not the word I would describe of the person on the other end of the line. 
I told of the fact that my bank statement told of my check being cashed, as she told me that simply could not be the case because I hadn't placed an order in months...hmmmm.

"I need to put you on hold," was quickly barked at me and before I knew it,  I was listening to elevator music interrupted every minute with the recorded message:  "we are experiencing more than normal traffic on our lines.  Someone will be with you momentarily."

After several moments and drifting somewhat into a haze due to the music being funneled into my ear, another voice appeared. 
No, "how are you? how can I help you?"  Just right to the facts maam. 
"I will need the date you say your bank cashed this check, your check number, and the amount."

Thank goodness for a fast wifi at my home!  I clicked it right away and gave the information.  I also stated that "there was a number on my check and would you like that."
As soon as I gave her that number, the voice changed.  Just like magic.  And instantaneously!  Wow.
She had to tell me that my order was in someone else's hands in Colorado.  Labels (pretty cute ones at that), and also some cards. 
Cards that the poor lady had to tell me were no longer available.

My dilemma. 
I could get nasty.

After all, they were late with my order, basically accused me that I could not have possibly even sent them an order, and now I am told that someone in Colorado has my cute labels with MY address on them...who would want that?...AND this person also got those cute cards that are no longer in stock!
I could ask for it all free for all the inconvenience.
 
Who knows what kind of day this person was having.  By the volume of phone calls, it was probably not a stellar day.  I could hear it in her voice that she was just waiting for me to start spewing obscenities her way,  and vomiting out ways that the company had failed. 

So, BETTER idea. 
Be nicer than I had to be. 
I chose a different set of cards...not near as good as the ones I had ordered...sigh...but they would do. 
I was told that this order would be rushed. 

I received this order yesterday. 
It was what I had ordered.  Nothing less, nothing more. 
But, I was reminded again of that person I had spoken to and hoped and prayed she was having a good day. 
I had a great memory too.  I could go about my day knowing that I did not contribute to that woman having a bad day.  Actually I hope I made it better by affirming to her that yes, the order was wrong, but it was indeed that..."just an order."  Labels and cards.  Is it worth getting bent out of shape for?

I think not.   

 

 

 

eyes

Had my eyes checked today.
It was my first time.
No good excuse.  Just never have gone in.

We walked into the building and to the nearest elevator.  A gentleman waited with Dale and I.  Funny how we are creatures of habit and walk into the elevator, turn, and face the doors. No talking, just looking at the doors in front of us, as if staring at them is going to make them open faster.  Kind of like waiting for water to boil.
Relieved, the doors open.  The gentleman states, "After you," to me.  Chivalry is still alive!

Entering the office, we are greeted by the front desk lady..."patient administrator."  I guess that sounds more professional than my label.
After giving insurance info and filling out forms, it was time for the visit.
Following the nurse into the exam room, questions were answered and the room went dim.
I was asked to read the line that i could most identify.  My perfection ways went into high gear and i was determined to read the most teensy line.
"Did i get it?"
"You did good," was her reply.
She proceeds to tell me that my eyes are going to be dilated for a few hours.
"What does that mean," was my query.

"The lights will be extra bright and going outside will be a challenge for your eyes," she stated.

"So, why is it that i am doing this?" i curiously asked.
"The dr needs to look in your eyes."
"Oh"
She then tells me, "I have to put these drops in your eyes now."
"What drops?" "and will it hurt my eyes?" I was getting panicked.

Made me think of patients in our office and their look of terror  when told they have decay on their tooth.
Teeth are one thing, but wow, these are my eyes.  I only have 2.  We have 32 teeth...28 if wisdom teeth are gone.
2 eyes.  These wonderfully made organs help me see. SEE.  That wonderful sense to gaze into my husband's eyes, and behold my children's faces, and spot eagles soaring in the skies, and be a leaf peeper in this brilliant, autumn season with the colors ablaze.

Whether i liked it or not, the drops were going in.    "Keep blinking, the sting will go away faster." I blinked as fast as a bird flaps its wings.
Soon the brightness intensified.  I had to wear sunglasses inside.  The dr soon entered.  I could barely see his face.
He ran some tests, and told me my vision was excellent...Really?  Not by side of things!
He did tell me that readers were in my future...the future is now buddy!  "I already have them."  I told him.

The miracle of sight.  I get to read and behold this great creation.  May i never again take that for granted.