Mysteries.  Adventures. 

Road trips.  Treasure hunts. 

 

It exciting to discover people’s stories. 

And so delightful to travel while being surprised by

one serendipitous event after another.  I had no

idea the journey to discover Lady Godiva's story 

would be so intriguing, meaningful and fun!

 

But it didn’t start out that way.

 

It was May 2010. My husband was minutes away from death. Three doctors and seven nurses labored over him in ICU at Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota. Though critical, he was now stable.  I was scared.  Each day doctors monitored him.  Each day I kept in touch with my daughters, and my church.  Thankfully, I have very encouraging friends. One knew getting busy would distract me from my worries. I’d recently written The First Christmas Stocking, a children's book and devotional about St. Nicholas.  

 

“Do the next one, make it a series,” he urged. We’d be at Mayo Clinic for many days. The hospital offered a library and computer; maybe I should start something new.   So, I prayed. “Who should I write about?” 

 

One name popped into my head: “Lady Godiva.”

 

“You are kidding me!?” All I knew was the woman naked on a horse, and the song from the 1960’s. I got on the computer and discovered there was so much more. Little did I know I’d be sent on an adventure that would take me all over England, into the mossy caves of Nottingham, dusty archives, jumping off trains, staying in homes, and meeting some very special women in Coventry, U.K.

 

It intrigued me that Godiva's granddaughter became Queen of England.  One day I typed “Dearest One” and Godiva simply started telling her story in the form of letters. That’s when Edy came into my life. 

 

I never had an “invisible friend” before. Edy was also discovering Godiva because her grandmother owned an estate outside Coventry that had been built over a stone cottage Godiva had built. 

 

Edy and I started writing emails all about how she had to go help her mom in Coventry, how she found a hidden passageway and the discovery of letters Godiva wrote to Queen Ealdgyth.  In the midst of learning her history, the story began to take on a life of its own.

 

I thought it was pretended, until I actually went to England, three years after Edy and I started writing. That’s when I realized I was truly on a mysterious adventure.  I had spontaneously disembarked the BritRail, after making an Airbnb reservation from my phone.  I liked that there were cows in the photo and the idea of staying in the English countryside.

 

Little did I know that everything I’d imagined would become very real. They say thoughts become things; they do. It felt like I was in a dream as I walked through the house, it was how Edy had described her Gram’s house, even down to red Wellies by the back door when I took a pot of tea into the backyard.

 

Next train stop was Coventry.  Rev. Pauline Warner, a British Methodist pastor, generously opened her home, knew more about Godiva, taking me from one side of the country to the other. I was welcomed Pru Poretta, the official Lady Godiva of Coventry and The Godiva Sisters who performed for and embraced me as the first American sister.  

 

The story continues.  Two trips now to England.  It's amazing what you find in dusty archives and how it twists the tale you thought you knew.  I can't wait to tell you more!