The Gifts Along the Way
Finding gratitude in London while recording with the London Symphony
by Kirstin Myers
Sometimes, the most memorable souvenirs aren't the ones you pack in your suitcase. They're the moments you almost miss.
As Frances and I look back on our time in London while the London Symphony Orchestra recorded for our upcoming Christmas album, I keep thinking about the little gifts we found along the way, or perhaps, the little gifts that found us.
That word - gift - feels especially meaningful.
Our very first Christmas album was called Midwinter's Gift. At the time, we were thinking about the gift of music, the gift of the season, and ultimately, the greatest Gift of Christmas itself. In fact, If you scroll back far enough, you will see that I wrote about all of these in previous blogs (the first 7 posted on our website) that were originally social media posts way back in 2022.
Looking back on our week in London, I'm realizing that this journey was filled with gifts, too. Not the kind that fit inside a box, but the quiet, unexpected moments that remind us to slow down, look around, and simply be grateful.
If you've ever traveled with Frances, you'll quickly discover that she notices everything. A flower tucked into a windowsill. The sound of birds in the morning. She has a way of seeing and listening to the world that invites everyone around her to slow down a little.
I try. Sometimes I succeed. But more often than I'd like to admit, I get caught up in the busyness - the doing.
I'm not someone who necessarily spends much time searching for signs. But when you're living through something you've dreamed about for years, your heart pays attention differently. Ordinary moments suddenly seem extraordinary.
One by one, those little moments appeared throughout our week.
Swans on the Serpentine at Kensington Gardens
Our first came while wandering through Kensington Gardens the day after the recording sessions. We'd been walking around the city for quite a while...and knew that Kensington Palace was a place we wanted to visit, so it was our first destination that day. We stopped beside the Serpentine, where several beautiful swans glided effortlessly across the water.
Swans have long been symbols of grace, beauty, and faithfulness. Whether they were meant to symbolize anything for us or not, they certainly reminded us to slow down for a moment and simply appreciate where we were. Fifteen years ago, my husband and I were fortunate to spend some time with a pair of swans on our wedding day. In a way, this was reminiscent of that beautiful and momentous day! Much like the wedding day with my husband, Frances and I had spent months preparing for something huge, and now we were finally there.
A Kensington Garden Ladybug
A little later, a tiny ladybug caught my attention.
Growing up, I always heard that ladybugs were good luck. Maybe that's just folklore, but in that moment it made me smile. I picked up the poor thing to say hello and placed him back on its original leaf. It felt like one more gentle reminder to enjoy every second of this incredible journey.
Feather
Then there was the feather.
People often associate feathers with hope, encouragement, or simply the reminder to keep going. Whether that's true or not, I tucked the moment away alongside the others. I then literally tucked the feather in my coat pocket - hence why the picture here is with my Boston fern in the background 😅 And I suppose it’s not a great coincidence that we found a feather when we were in a park with swans, but…
…by then, I had begun noticing something.
Perhaps these weren't signs at all.
Perhaps they were simply…gifts.
Maybe these were little reminders to stop thinking about the next rehearsal, the next recording session, the next flight, the next fundraiser - and simply be present for the one unfolding right in front of me.
And then there was the weather.
London has a reputation for rain, and we packed accordingly. Yet somehow, day after day, we were greeted with beautiful skies. It seems unheard of, but we enjoyed nearly an entire week of sunshine. In fact I was a little disappointed because I really wanted to use the umbrella rental service our hotel provided! It was so delightfully quirky - right up my alley! Bummer.
It wasn't until our final day - our trip to Heathrow - that the rain finally arrived.
For a brief moment, I thought, Well...there's the London everyone talks about.
But when we were inside the airport and literally about to board our plane, I heard Frances gasp. Now, I’ve heard that gasp a LOT and if you know Frances, you know what I’m talking about! To be honest, I thought she must have spotted a kitten 😂 But I followed her gaze, and…
Rainbow at Heathrow Airport
There it was.
A rainbow stretching across the sky.
It was one of those moments no one could have planned. The rain we'd managed to avoid all week ended up bringing one last unexpected gift before we boarded our flight home.
As I watched it slowly fade, I couldn't help but think of Somewhere Over the Rainbow - a song that has long represented hope and the beautiful possibilities that lie just beyond our reach. In fact, Frances has been referencing it throughout this journey, and when I saw this…it really made me stop.
Several days later, while scrolling through my phone, I stumbled across a YouTube Short featuring members of the London Symphony Orchestra's flute section performing that very piece.
Somehow, it felt like the perfect closing note to our London chapter.
Flautists of the London Symphony Orchestra performing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
In fact, Gareth Davies (far left) and Patricia Moynihan (far right) are featured on our upcoming album. They are joined by Amy Yule & Imogen Royce on this video.
The moment I saw the video pop up, I couldn’t believe it. I likely let out that Frances gasp I wrote about earlier LOL!
Looking back, I don't think London gave us signs of good luck.
I think it gave us perspective.
The swans.
The ladybug.
The feather.
The rainbow.
None of them brought us here.
That honor belongs to so many people who have prayed for us, supported us, encouraged us, contributed financially, and believed in this dream long before we ever stepped inside Abbey Road.
But those little moments reminded me to notice what was already there…to receive each day as a gift. In many ways, that's exactly what this project has been from the beginning.
Our first Christmas album was Midwinter's Gift.
This one has been a journey of gifts.
Gifts of friendship.
Gifts of extraordinary collaborators.
Gifts of generosity.
Gifts of beautiful music.
Gifts of unforgettable moments.
And above all, the gift of watching a dream become reality one faithful step at a time.
As I write this, we're just days away from our own recording sessions in Nashville. The London Symphony Orchestra has already woven their artistry into these arrangements, and now it's our turn to add our voices.
Yes...it feels a little funny to spend July making Christmas music...but maybe that's the beauty of Christmas.
It teaches us that the greatest gifts often arrive when we least expect them.
So here's to Christmas in July.
Here's to grateful hearts.
And if another swan, ladybug, feather, or rainbow happens to cross our path next week...
I'll smile...
....and perhaps I'll remember the words Johann Sebastian Bach famously wrote at the end of his manuscripts
Soli Deo Gloria
“Glory to God Alone”
How You Can Join Our Community
We only have $13,000* to raise! To join our community and support our album which, in turn, also supports our charitable partner, MS FitEffect (MSFE), click here!
*any overages will be donated to MSFE
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