A Message of Strength in Christ From Naghmeh Abedini

Naghmeh  Abedini's husband, Pastor Saeed Abedini, has been imprisoned in Iran for about 2 years for refusing to deny Christ & for preaching the Gospel even while in prison.  Suffering unknown torture, beatings, & mistreatment, he continues to stand strong through Christ Jesus, as does his wife, who you will hear from in the video.  I hope it blesses you deeply, too, & helps you to seek abiding in Christ whatever struggle & pain you are facing today.  

Love in Christ,
-Bess-

P.S.: To hear a little more from this message click here.

Bess' Travel Diaries: England + Wales, Part 3

Dear Diary,

I’ve arrived in Didcot, England at long last.  I’m staying in a cozy little B&B that, alas, doesn’t believe in the necessity of locks on a guest’s room door.  Hey, I can improvise: I prop a chair in front of my door each night…a girl traveling alone can’t be too careful...

B&B {above & below}

East Hagbourne - a sort of medieval hamlet a stroll down the road from my B&B 

quaint thatched roof

a very British scarecrow indeed

hollyhocks in bloom

a path I took

an old church

it may seem odd, but I love exploring a graveyard...

so much history + they make you think

ivy & stone

a shadowy path that I traversed, but quickly ran back from...very muddy & slightly creepy

a lush golden field in Didcot

sea of grass =)

More images of East Hagbourne...

It was from Didcot that I traveled to London {about a 45 minute train ride depending on the number of stops}.  Here's a vid of the train journey I took more than once leaving London's Paddington Station back to my B&B in Didcot.  Ah, I remember it well...

P.S.: It's a long video, so just take a mere peek!

Love & Adventure,

-Bess-

Bess' Travel Diaries: England + Wales, Part 2

Dear Diary,

Today I traveled to Windermere - nestled in the heart of the English Lake District.  Quite a trek from my little town in Wales!  I had to catch a train at 6:25 in the morning just to get there by 11 something in the afternoon...but I couldn't visit Britain & miss out on the chance to see Beatrix Potter's Hill Top Farm home!

P.S.: I met a lovely Japanese girl named Shiho on the boat {I took a boat ride then bus (& back again) to visit Hill Top} who loved children's literature as I do!  Shiho is an artist who wishes to create children's books.  I'm so glad to meet a friend so far from home.

P.P.S.: I chatted with a Scottish man, too, who kindly gave me a pound for the bus when I couldn't find one.  Oh, how I do love Scotland & am sorry I couldn't make it there on this journey!     

Lake Windermere

a beautiful swan {+ a mallard duck in the right corner}

so picturesque

the view from Hill Top's garden

old British rose found in the beautiful garden out in front of Beatrix's farm home

foxglove {also known as Digitalis}

the perfect sight outside the garden {these rabbits were actually fenced in, but I saw droves of wild bunnies all over the English & Welsh countryside}

part of The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction {sadly I didn't have enough time to tour the exhibit, but I visited the gift shop where I took this photo (click here to learn more)} 

click here for more on Hill Top Farm

Love,

-Bess-

Bess' Travel Diaries: England + Wales, Part 1

The journey beckons {& begins}...

• {overnight flight} U.S.A. to Heathrow Airport, London {I sat next to a lovely young American woman who lived in England with her husband & children.  She even gave me her phone number in case I had any problems on my solo adventure!}
• Heathrow Express train to London's Paddington Station {It was here that I nearly sat down in the middle of the mass of moving humanity & cried.  I was exhausted, lugging my luggage behind me {that must be why it's called luggage}, & being told something different each time I'd ask how to get to the little town in Wales where I was to stay for the 1st 3 nights.  But, I managed to hold it together.  Thank You, Lord.}
• London, England to Wales {by trains}   

Dear Diary,

Wales is pretty darn cold!  The natives were out in short sleeves & shorts, while I was bundled in layers & still shivering!  Not to mention, the B&B is quite a long walk from the train station.  What have I got myself into?

P.S.: "Awryt butt" (which sounds like "all right but") apparently means "hello friend" in Wales-speak {something to do with bud, as in buddy, only they call it butt}.  Not where I come from buddy...or should I say butty.

Here's the room where I spent my 1st 3 nights {& killed 2 of the 3 sinister-looking spiders of the trip.  Ugh!}  It was a room for 2, but I stayed in it solo {of course}. 

This old silver skeleton-style key fascinated me.  They still use these antiquities over there!  In fact, it was the key for the front door of the B&B, which was formerly a vicarage {thought to be built in the 1600s}.  The floors were awfully creaky!

 

I spent so much of my time on trains or at train stations.

On day 2 I traveled to Cardiff, the capital of Wales.

Dear Diary,

Today on my way to Cardiff, I chatted with an elderly lady originally from Northern Ireland.  As we neared a rail station, I took the chance to ask her what station it would be {asking questions is all I ever do, it seems}.  She told me Welshpool, so I sat back & listened to her describe how her old aunt fell & broke her hip & went down hill from there {as I was waiting for the Shrewsbury station, not Welshpool}.  As the train began to pull away again from its stop, the lady {Margaret was her name} finally took a breath & looked out the window.  These are the words that next came out of her mouth: "Oh, no!  This was your stop!  I'm so sorry, I didn't think we were there yet!"  To make a long story short, I had to get off at the next station, get a train going back the other way, & wait for the next earliest connection.  Oh hum well, that's travel for ya!

Coming back from Cardiff proved even less appealing, as I missed the train by mere minutes that I should have taken {note to self: 24 hour clocks are a terrible confusing invention}.  I had to wait about knowing that I wouldn't be coming into my little B&B town until after 10:00, which meant a long dark walk.  So I did what any normal girl would do alone in a foreign land, I begged someone to use their cell phone & alerted my B&B hosts that I would be getting in rather late {hoping beyond hope they'd read between the lines & offer to pick me up from the station}.  Sadly, they said they'd be out themselves...  So, I did next what any solitary, worn out girl would do on a strange foreign mass, I went into the restroom & cried.  On the long dark stroll home {note: when I say stroll I really mean speed walk}, I sang almost silently the old hymn from long ago... "What a friend we have in Jesus..." & prayed.  He was with me all the winding way.  Day 2 was quite something.  What next?  All I know for sure is, "what a friend we have in Jesus!"

P.S.: So glad I brought along that mini flashlight {a torch, to the Brits}.     

bustling streets of the capital {note the Welsh flags flying}

these pom-pom-like flowers were so tall & large {sorta like something you expect in Alice in Wonderland}

clock tower {part of Cardiff Castle, which I toured}

click here to learn more about the castle

fancy angelic decoration above a fireplace {inside the castle}

one of the many stained glass windows

dining room for wee royals

study area {love the window seats}

this is one of my favorite pics {yep, I'm a bibliophile}

Norman Keep {located inside the castle walls}



bright ivy creeping up the ancient stones

Well, this closes part 1 of my Travel Diary.  Stop back by soon for the rest of the adventure!

Love from Wales & Back Again,

-Bess-

Remember Me?

Hello!  I'm back... & it's sooo good to be home!  Oh, I've so much to share - pics & stories & all that, but I'm way too exhausted at the moment.  Don't worry, I'll be back in a day or two {when jet lag has subsided & I've stopped feeling the sway of the train}.

Loads of Love,
-Bess-

Tips for the Traveling Girl

It's summer & road trips, sandy beaches, & camping outings {mmm smores}are calling our name.  Whether you're traveling by plane, train, or automobile {or by foot} - it's smart to have good pre-journey prep.   

• Create a list of all the items you're taking & use it as a check list when you pack for home {no more leaving strays behind}. 
• Never leave your bag(s) unattended, especially at an airport. 
• Cross body purses are usually roomy enough for a camera & small umbrella + perfect for hands free sightseeing {not to mention more difficult for any sneaky purse snatchers}. 
• Beware pick-pocketers!  Choose bags with zippers or a flap with clasps, & don't place things in your pockets {unless it's a gum wrapper or something} =)
• Make sure your travel {& pretravel} is filled with prayer.  Having a tough day & your feet hurt?  Pray!  Excited & grateful over the natural beauty around you?  Pray!  No strange area code or little red phone booth necessary!  God's always there with you...pretty awesome, amazing news for the traveler & pilgrim of this life.      

• Pack with your journey & destination in mind.  What do you truly need & what's practical? 
• Pack one fancy outfit or dress {+ shoes to go with it}; if there's a chance for a night on the town {NOTE: a clutch bag takes up little suitcase space & will make your ensemble look more finished}.  
• Going abroad?  Research local street style & plan your outfits beforehand to avoid looking touristy.   

Don't forget the essentials:

• hair brush/hair accessories
• toothbrush/toothpaste
• deodorant
• toiletries
• sunscreen
• shampoo/conditioner {or a 2-in-1}
• body wash &/or bar of soap
• face wash
• band aides
• cosmetics
• Tylenol/vitamins &/or other medications
• pajamas {sometimes these nightly necessities are forgotten - & believe me it's no fun to sleep in your clothes}
• camera/batteries

Traveling solo, like me?  Here's what us smart girls pack for the solitary wander:

• Bible {This is my most important travel item.  God can use it in amazing ways as you head out alone {with just Him} & open it up on a new path.}
• journal/pen
• whistle {for safety}
• mini flashlight
• umbrella
• hat {of some sort}
• personal music player {It's comforting to hear familiar tunes that encourage your spirit to rely on & praise your heavenly Daddy.}
• snacks
• street smarts {You can't pack this in your bag, but you better stash it somewhere.  Don't: trust every friendly face; go out alone after dark; take a ride with someone you don't know; etc.  It's hard to say what to & to not to do in every situation, but go with your gut, pray lots, be smart, & live the adventure.} 

Love on this Journey called Life,
-Bess-