End of Term

Wow, how time has passed!!

Oxford is divided into three terms during the year. Friday marked the end of the second term, called Hilary. It also marked the last day of classes for my Masters program. In Oxford, the Masters are only a year long. As a result, I have had two terms of intensive courses and the rest of my time will be spent writing my thesis.

This past term has been a whirlwind. We tried to find several times to post but just couldn’t find the time. As a result, we have put the last eight weeks into one post. Enjoy the pictures and captions below!

Emily has been babysitting for a couple in our ward on Tuesdays. They live on the manor that use to belong to Princess Diana's family. Isn't she a doll!

Our Bishop, Dani Edgar, Emily, and Megan Armknecht all sitting in Christ Church library. They are sitting on original Chippendale furniture.

Emily and I have had the opportunity to attend some meetings in Parliament. This was the other night after leaving a session of the House of Lords and a session on Religious Freedom.

I was in charge of organizing a conference on International Development. One of our speakers included Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne from the House of Lords. Her work has taken her through the Middle East and Europe working on freedom and equality. 

Inside Parliament are paintings from British history. This is Sir Walter Reign. 

This is one of our best friends in the ward. Her name is Lucy.

Taken in the Great Hall at Parliament. This is the same room where many famous speakers have spoken, Also, William Wallace was tried here. FREEEDOOOMM! 

With a great mentor, Dr. Paul Kerry.

View of Oxford from the highest tower in the center of town. This is looking into All Souls College. More pictures to come.

We try to get to the temple once a month. We usually will go with members of the ward and baby sit their children while they are in the temple. 

Emily is a pro at Squash now. She is playing our French friend, Emeric.

Growing up, the Valentine's man was a key part of my childhood. He was a man who would leave candy for children on their door steps on Valentines night. Well somehow he even found me in England! 

Kings Cross Station

Several scholars come through Oxford on a regular basis. This is soon to be Dr. Jones, a young man I met in Dr. Richard Holzapfel's office over the summer. He gave a great paper on Methodism in early America.

There is a Chipotle in London. I have had to go into London several times to fix my computer and so I took advantage of the trips to get a little taste of America. 

During the WWII, Churchill had a secret bunker in the center of London. These War Rooms are a hidden gem in London. You have to go visit them. A few weeks after the war the rooms were sealed and the bunkers were locked. They were not opened until they made it a museum. You can still see the original maps and phones as they stood on the last days of war. It was amazing!

They also have a museum dedicated to Churchill in the bunkers.

We visited the home of C.S. Lewis outside of Oxford. This is a pond where C.S. Lewis would go swim in every morning.

The British Museum has a great exhibit on Alice in Wonderland.

So, despite the fact that Baker Street exists in London, there is no 221b, so they put in a fake plaque. Enjoy.

Emily loves musicals...I try to act like I do...

There is nothing better than Burns Night. It is akin to Scottish Independence Day which celebrates a great poet from Scotland. We attended a special dance that night called a Ceilidh. You will notice Emily proudly wearing her Scottish colors!

Our friend from the Netherlands, Lieke came for a visit. Sunsets in London during the winter can be rare!

Having a formal dinner. Look at that beautiful tie! And that beautiful wife!

This is my cohort for school. We have loved spending the past months together. They are an amazing, brilliant group of individuals. 

Winter is almost over in England. However, there are still beautiful, frosty mornings. This is Port Meadow on my morning run in February. 

Emily and our favorite child!

Well, Emily and I got a special assignment in the ward. In addition to being Sunday School teachers, we were asked to write and produce the ward roadshow. Yes, they still do those...somehow. It was quite the production. Six weeks of practice, hours spent making sets, and a wonderful ward. Our title was, "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Missing Bishop."

More case of the missing Bishop. This include our Bishop singing "Hello" by Adele. 

Outside of C.S. Lewis' home. 

Emily and I were invited by our dear friend Mary to attend a dinner in All Souls College. This was a tour of the Library. All Souls is a very exclusive college. Only professors are able to enter unless you are an invited guest. 

All of us together in the beautiful library.

We had a few visitors. Emily and Brother Savage and myself from our old ward in Provo. This is shameless promotion to come and visit us. We will take you to beautiful places like this. Christ Church College, where Harry Potter was filmed. 

C.S. Lewis' home with the ward.

At this desk, much of the Chronicles of Narnia, and many other works of C.S. Lewis were written.