Good Morning to Heaven on Earth

I have a secret for you: I have discovered that all-elusive Utopia--that Heaven on Earth that is forever longed for: it is the peaceful land of England's Lake District. Paris was definitely fun, but this beats Paris tenfold, easily. If I had the choice, I would come here and never ever leave. BEAUTIFUL. No wonder all the Romantics came here to live out their lives, writing poetry and painting what God had set before them.

Tell me that's not the most stunning thing you've ever seen, and I will tell you that you have not a soul to claim your own! And even a poor photograph cannot do the experience justice. Sigh. This must be what Heaven truly is like.

However, while day 1 in heaven was wonderful, night 1 was absolutely horrendous. I didn't sleep a wink--it didn't help that as I was kneeling down to pray a giant, furry spider crawled out of my pillowcase. Of course, that is another tender mercy, strangely enough; bugs don't bother me quite like they used to, or at least, I can handle taking care of them. When the other thirty something girls are all screaming over a little spider, you start to wonder why it's all that terrifying. It's a bug, nothing more--gross, creepy, and just not cool, but quite easily squish-able. Anyhow, between the screeching girls, the bugs, but most of all the sauna air of our room, I just never fell asleep. I gave up around 4-5am and went out to the dock with some of the girls to watch the sunrise. It was pretty overcast, so it wasn't the grand display that you might expect, but simple and absolutely beautiful nonetheless. Then I enjoyed a morning misting rain and read my scriptures for a few hours. It was by far the best morning of my entire life. Like I said, I would stay here forever if given the opportunity. HEAVEN.

I sat on the dock and watched the Canadian Geese slowly wake up and hunt for their breakfast, all gathered together on the lawn in front of our hostel.

Their awkward yet contradictorily graceful movements even inspired us to try a little yoga, which, if I could have every morning feel just like this, I would gladly wake up at 4am to do every day of for the rest of my life.

"Sit in reverie, and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright."

~Henry David Thoreau

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

~ Albert Einstein

My favorite was this swan--I named him Bruce--why Bruce? Because I think he wanted to eat me! He circled the dock, round and round and round, and I could have sworn that I could hear the theme music from Jaws crescendoing somewhere in the distance. Several times he tried to attack the dock--maybe he was jumping up to see if I had some breakfast to share, I'm not sure, but he was rather intimidating, even for a swan.

Even with their strong attitudes--or maybe even because of them--I loved the creatures there. Everything just seemed so right and beautiful.

"Breathless, we flung us on a windy hill,

Laughed in the sun, and kissed the lovely grass."

~Rupert Brooke