{"id":24224,"date":"2026-04-28T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/?p=24224"},"modified":"2026-04-28T01:41:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T06:41:51","slug":"a-heart-full-of-gratitude-to-be-in-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/?p=24224","title":{"rendered":"A Heart Full of Gratitude &#8212; to be in London"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>We are so happy to be here &#8212; what a beginning it has been!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After arriving yesterday morning, we made our way to the historic The Royal Horseguards Hotel, overlooking the River Thames.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carl-Donna-Eye.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24226\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7500120813801768;width:343px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carl-Donna-Eye.jpg 720w, https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carl-Donna-Eye-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>From the moment we stepped inside, we were met with such gracious hospitality &#8212; true English gentlemen welcoming us with warmth that made us feel right at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This grand 19th-century building sits in the very heartbeat of London, within sight of Parliament, where so much history has unfolded.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"925\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carl-Telephone-Booth.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24227\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.963561737135483;width:380px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carl-Telephone-Booth.jpg 925w, https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carl-Telephone-Booth-289x300.jpg 289w, https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carl-Telephone-Booth-768x797.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 925px) 100vw, 925px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We spent the entire day soaking it all in &#8212; walking streets where monarchs once ruled and history was shaped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We listened closely to those delightful British accents and carefully remembered to walk on the left side of the street (a small victory in itself!). Renting a car? Not a chance &#8212; we\u2019re quite content navigating on foot!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carl-Donna-Eye-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24231\" style=\"width:329px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carl-Donna-Eye-2.jpg 720w, https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carl-Donna-Eye-2-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><br>And walk we did &#8212; a lot! Thankfully, we had fish and chips at the Sherlock Holmes diner and pub! Yum! It kept us going &#8212; delicious, comforting, and absolutely worth every step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The highlight of our day was stepping into one of the glass capsules of the London Eye. Slowly rising above the city, we were treated to breathtaking, 360-degree views &#8212; seeing landmarks like Big Ben in a way that felt almost surreal. Thirty minutes suspended above London\u2026 and yet it felt like time stood still.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/London-Eye-Cute-Baby-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24232\" style=\"width:311px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/London-Eye-Cute-Baby-1.jpg 720w, https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/London-Eye-Cute-Baby-1-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>From the views atop the London Eye to quiet moments watching families laugh and love in the many park areas &#8212; our hearts are full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But as beautiful as the landmarks are, what touched my heart most was something simpler. Families. Children laughing, parents holding hands, loved ones sitting together on the grass &#8212; sharing life, love, and connection.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"944\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Children-Red.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24233\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.9833546734955185;width:429px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Children-Red.jpg 944w, https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Children-Red-295x300.jpg 295w, https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Children-Red-768x781.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 944px) 100vw, 944px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It reminded me of Psalm 127:3, \u201cChildren are a heritage from the Lord.\u201d And Joshua 24:15, \u201cAs for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.\u201d No matter the country, language, or history, the thread of family &#8212; held together by love and faith &#8212; remains the same.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"726\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Man-Child.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24234\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.756246032650271;width:373px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Man-Child.jpg 726w, https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Man-Child-227x300.jpg 227w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 726px) 100vw, 726px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Standing in a place once tied to the early history of our own nation, I couldn\u2019t help but feel grateful. Grateful for where we\u2019ve been &#8212; and for the freedom, faith, and family we carry forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What a gift this journey is. And through it all, we are reminded of our Texas roots back home AND England&#8217;s brothers and sisters (oh, how we love their accents). &#8220;The earth is the Lord\u2019s, and everything (and everyone) in it.\u201d (Psalm 24:1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And oh, what a beautiful world He has made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Different country, familiar truth &#8212; faith, family, and love look beautiful in every language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grateful for this journey &#8212; and the One who walks every step with us. \u2764\ufe0f<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We are so happy to be here &#8212; what a beginning it has been! After arriving yesterday morning, we made our way to the historic The Royal Horseguards Hotel, overlooking the River Thames. From the moment we stepped inside, we were met with such gracious hospitality &#8212; true English gentlemen welcoming us with warmth that&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24225,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[33672,267,2529,33671,6913,20154,29492,33669,1044,33673,33670],"class_list":["post-24224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-children-laughing","tag-faith","tag-families","tag-fish-chips","tag-history","tag-language","tag-london","tag-london-eye","tag-park","tag-serve-the-lord","tag-sherlock-holmes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24224"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24224\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24235,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24224\/revisions\/24235"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24225"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}