Blessings

          We boarded a plane at London's Heathrow airport and chased the sun across the sky westward to California in an arc near the top of the world.  We never saw darkness on our 11hr. journey home. 
          Weary, but awash in wonderous memories of a week of playing together as tourists, my granddaughter, Emma (15) and I were torn between hating to leave and longing for home.  Beauty and history combine in England to make it a tourist's paradise.
          I am living beyond my dreams.  It seems that almost daily I'm aware--and in awe of--blessings lavished on me that I would never have thought nor dared to request of God.  I surely do not feel entitled to such joy.  Most of this joy comes from loving and being loved by an incredible family: my husband, my children, their spouses and their children.  Their lives are a constant fascination and delight to me.  I am fully aware that these are unmerited gifts from God.  I am currently a bit stunned that I got to take a trip like this with one of my wonderful grandchildren--I just never dreamed and then it happened!
        Amid the wonders of this adventure, we read the Bible together everyday.  I shared a hundred memories from my own life.  We worshipped on Easter Sunday with the church in Holborn, where we hooked up with another of my granddaughters, Sara (21),who is studying abroad for a bit.  We bought food in a grocery to carry to some homeless beggers at the entrance of our tube station.  We shared a tiny hotel room that we left each day to brave temperatures in the 30's F in order not to miss a thing while walking miles together.  We saw Buckingham Palace, Big Ben at night, rode the London Eye (although I am averse to heights--anything for love of a grandchild), had high tea overlooking the Thames where we later took a river cruise, rode the train to Bath, saw "Chorus Line" at the Paladium--did I say I am living beyond my dreams?  I still can't believe I got to do this!
          I've never asked, "Why me?" in adversity, but I sure ask it a lot now as I enjoy the wonderful surprises of this stage of life.  It is part of the American culture to dread aging, but only living awhile that can give you these kind of blessings.