London Life: Day 20

On this lovely Sunday, I got another visit from my Dad! It was very exciting. I had just seen him Thursday, but it was so great to see him again on Sunday. I woke up at around 8am even though my church was at 1pm. It was nice to take my time making breakfast and getting ready. I also was able to write both my papers that were due Monday so I could have the day with Dad. I met Dad at the Gloucester Tube stop at 11:45 so we could make sure to be on time to church. It was about an hour tube ride trip to the Whitechapel ward. We transferred once, but we had to go all the way to Zone 3. It was so nice to have my Dad to talk to and be with on this long tube ride. We got off the tube and walked the rest of the way to the church building. 

We got there like 30 minutes early, but I was happy to be early rather than late. On this wonderful Sabbath, the BYU Study Abroad students that are in this ward did the entire sacrament meeting. Five of us spoke and there were two musical numbers. I was the first speaker up. I was so nervous. I was talking on prayer and was so nervous to be talking to a ward of people that I really did not know that well. I only had five minutes so it was not that bad. All the talks went really well and the musical numbers were gorgeous. While giving my talk, it was so comforting to know that my dad was out there and that if no one else liked my talk, at least my dad would be there to say he liked it. I also loved getting to introduce my dad to all the wonderful people in my ward. I'm such a lucky girl to have my dad be able to visit even if it is only for a day. 

After Sacrament Meeting, I headed to primary where I was put in the nursery again. I love the nursery. It is so easy, but so much fun to play with the adorable little kids. While I was out throwing something away, I ran into a family that was in the Peachtree City Ward back in Georgia. Such a small world! After talking to them for a little, I headed back into the nursery where we were organizing the closet. We then took the little ones into sharing and singing time. I love seeing all the kids learning and singing. They are so amazing. We talked about Fathers and Bishops. It made me really appreciate my father and miss my amazing Bishop from my Freshmen ward. I've been so blessed. 

After church, I found my Dad and we headed to the tube station with a couple from the ward that my dad had gotten to know. She told us about a boy that is playing Billy Elliot that is Mormon and stays with them sometimes. I'm really hoping I get to see him in it! We did the hour long tube ride back, stopped at Dad's hotel to pick up some things, and then headed back to my flat. 

When we got to my flat, I cooked my dad my famous tortellini dinner. It consists of tortellini, peas, cheese, and spaghetti sauce. My dad is so easy to please and I love it. He was just happy to be eating something that I loved. We also had some fruit. Before we ate the tortellini, though, I had my Dad try my favorite snack, banana and peanut butter! He loved it, of course. After dinner, we headed down to Flat 3 for a fireside. It was a fireside by a man in the stake that lived through WWII. He spoke on his experiences and all that happened in London during WWII. It was so interesting. I loved everything about this fireside. I also found out that he will be taking us on a long countryside hike. I am so freaking excited for that. I love hiking! 

Dad and I headed back up to my flat after the fireside and he looked at my paper that I had due Monday. It felt like I was back in high school, sitting at the table and reading through my paper with him. My Dad is seriously the most intelligent man in the world and I am so grateful for that. When we finished going through the paper, it was pretty late, so Dad had to head back to his hotel because he had to be up early to fly home. I missed him the second he walked down the stairs. You don't realize how much you need your parents till you spend a good amount of time in another country. I am grateful to have gotten these few days with him, though. I have the most amazing dad EVER and would spend every second with him if I could, but we must all grow up and be independent adults (dang it.). This next week is travel week and I am so excited for our adventures that are to come!