Trip to Europe

I arrived a week and a half ago from an amazing trip. We flew to Rome, Italy and traveled to 12 different cities throughout Italy, Spain and France. Those knowing me full well know that this is bliss for me. I love nothing more than to travel...especially Europe.

We visited the following cities:

• Italy = Civitavecchia, Rome, Vatican City, Genoa, Florence, Pisa, Cagliari (Sardinia)
• France = Eze, Villafranche, Monaco
• Spain = Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca

Instead of writing a long blog to cover why I took over 1,200 pictures over there, I just want to do a top 11 list =)

Top 11 things you need to see or do if you travel to any of these places:

1. The Sistine Chapel (Pictures simply do not do it justice)
2. The Colosseum and Pantheon (I'll double it since they're relatively close to each other)
3. Eat their gelato...in Italy of course...
4. Sit down at a cafe and people watch. This is facinating.
5. La Sagrada Familia Cathedral designed by Gaudi in Barcelona (Still not completed)
6. Eat a raw ham and fresh cheese sandwich on a fresh loaf of bread...it's amazing!
7. Watch a Tuscan sunset from a mountain at 9:00pm (Latest sunset ever!)
8. Leaning Tower of Pisa...of course this had to be in there
9. Climb the 414 steps of the Duomo in Florence and get the most spectacular view!
10. Buy a good bottle of Chianti from Florence
11. Send a postcard to yourself or a loved one =)

Now here's a small list of things I DO NOT miss from the trip:

1. Exposure to second hand smoke almost the entire time...lol...need to have good lungs here b/c everyone smokes...and everywhere
2. Trading our dollar to the euro...ouch!!!
3. No free water at restaurants

Europe is beautiful and I've said several times I would like to live there. But after this trip, there were several things I missed about the States, including family. Although my entire family lineage comes from Spain, it's a very different way of life over there.

We are very spoiled here in the U.S. and there were several things we take for granted. It helped me realize how truly blessed we are as a nation, despite this economic downturn.

I love the beauty and history of Europe and will continue to visit for the rest of my life, but as Dorothy once said "There's no place like home".

A View I Miss

This is the week my family spends at our beach timeshare. I didn't even notice how perfect our timing of our move was, that we would even be able to enjoy it with them. Spending this time on the beach, playing volleyball and simply reflecting on the majesty of God's creation has definitely been rejuvinating and refreshing.

The ocean is so beautiful and such a great reflection of the Lord's power and beauty. I caught myself sitting on our balcony and just watching the ocean. I even saw a manatee =). I happened to have lived on the beach for six years of my life...this beach in fact, and NEVER did I fully appreciate what I had until now (when I don't live on it- isn't that always how it happens?).

This beach held several great memories of my youth and most importantly, a proposal by my [now] husband on December 17, 2005. Everytime I glance at the volleyball court at this hotel, I remember the fire that lit up reading "Marry Me". It was the most romantic proposal ever.

I love coming back to this particular location, but the beach in general is a view I truly missed.

The Move

As many of you know, we just moved back to Miami, Florida. We had one week scheduled with the truck to move everything into an apartment we had to find. Fun, huh? Not so much. We left Monday at noon after packing up the truck with the help of some wonderful friends (Thank you guys again!!!). Then lost an hour b/c of the time difference. After enduring 60 mph winds, a hail storm, along with severe thunder and lightning in Georgia, we arrived safely in West Palm Beach at 3am. Those last 30 min. felt like 4 hours.

We spent the night at my mommy-in-law's house. We awoke to amazing omelette's and fresh fruit salad. Then, set off to Miami to see my family and find a place to live.

By Wednesday, I was frustrated because we didn't have a place to move into. Meanwhile, God was being the amazing God He is...I had three job offers (still don't know which one to pick). Then, when I was at the point of frustration ready to throw in the towel (mind you, this was only 3 days after we moved), we find the perfect condo. We saw it, loved it and placed the offer to the landlady for it. She accepted it and we moved in the next day. Then on Friday we returned the truck (a day before it was due).

We still have boxes everywhere in the condo, but for the most part have it set up the way we want it. I still have to pick a job by Monday and we need to find a church. But overall, the Lord is amazing and has led us and provided for us every step of the way, despite my impatience and frustration.

Truth Seeker

I am a truth seeker. I strive to know the fullness of the Lord, his grace and his love. I want to understand his Word with all that is in me. However, the Bible is a HARD book!!!

There are several times where I have read a verse and even memorized it, but it wasn't until years later that I read that verse again and it meant something to me. It's as if the Holy Spirit reveals something new everytime I read His Word. It's facinating really, but at the same time...so frustrating when I can't quite grasp the hard stuff.

It's not that I don't understand the verse, it's that I don't understand how it reflects Jesus or His purpose for the Church. I just want to interpret the Word of God the way it was intended to be understood and not changed or interpreted to make it more comfortable for my lifestyle. Being a Christ follower is not about comfort or tolerance. It IS about love. It's about going agaist the grain...about not conforming to the world, but being light and salt.

Through several conversations with different individuals over the past few weeks, I've discovered that the more I strive to know God, the more I realize I know nothing! I come to him with an open heart and desiring to know Him more, hoping He continues to reveal His truth to me at the right time in my life.

I know there's only so much our minds can comprehend about God, but I have so many questions. Some I know he'll answer, and others I think I won't know until I'm face-to-face with Him on that future date.

This blog is a very loaded one with a ton of underlying questions. This is simply me right now in my continuing spiritual journey with the Lord.

Friendship that lasts

This weekend I visited one of my best friends from college in Columbus, Ohio. Only for a friend would I drive 5 1/2 hours each way =p. Even though it was only a 2 1/2-day trip, it was enough of a refill on our friendship.

We're not high maintenance friends. We email each other about once a week on the current happenings in each other's life and text when it's something a little more urgent (like prayer for something). Because neither of us are phone people, it works for us. But when we're together, all we have to do is talk and we're enjoying ourselves. No need to find something to do to entertain ourselves, or places to go so we don't get bored with each other. In fact, everywhere we went, we would sit down and just talk for hours.

For me, that's friendship. We are loyal to each other and most importantly, we edify each other and challenge one another to grow spiritually or think beyond what we normally would. This weekend was a spiritual renewal in a way. Both of us are at that point in our lives that we're sick of "playing church". Because we both relate to one another, we feed off of the spiritual growth and knowledge of the other.

I love hearing her point of view and realize how alike we are and how different at the same time. I love to learn from her and see how her life has led her to where she is and how the Lord continues shaping her views and life. It's a beautiful thing to see friendship grow and see how the Lord is working in a friend's life and walk with Him.

It only hit me this weekend that we've been close friends for almost 5 years. During that time, she's been an inspiration to me and helped me in more ways that I can thank her. She's an amazing friend that not only makes me laugh more than anyone else, but helps me grow spiritually and really think outside of my comfort zone.

I thank the Lord for friendship and for friends like her. Wish I could have her closer by, but this is how it is...for now =)Love you Heath!!!

Hired!

WOW!!! All I can begin saying is wow! God is amazing. In the midst of this economy and downsizing and hiring freezes, I get hired! It simply captivates me how God's love and provision are so real and at times tangible.

As I recently blogged, we felt the Lord leading us back to South Florida. We're moving the first week of July back (possible end of June) and we had been looking for employment for about a month. But as many of you can testify, finding employment in one place when you're living in an entirely different state is incredibly difficult.

Nonetheless, we knew that if the Lord was calling us back there, he would open the doors and provide our for our needs. I had been looking for a teaching position, but due to the fact that I do not have certification, it became increasingly frustrating and difficult to find the right school. Then, out of curiosity, I went to my old school's website and noticed they were hiring an English teacher for the 2009-2010 school year. I couldn't believe God's sense of humor and I just laughed when I saw that because I said I'd never go back (once again...never say never).

So, I told my husband and mom that I was NOT going to apply. They both told me I should and see what the Lord would do with that. Long story short, I applied, interviewed by phone, and accepted the position this morning. I can't begin to explain how excited I am. I am anticipating what the Lord is going to do and how He is going to use me to minister to these students.

The Lord never ceases to amaze me when I ask him for anything and he supplies beyond what I can imagine. I was originally going to blog about something completely different, but I felt the need to testify about God's amazing provision!

Now we're just waiting for Lucas' job, but we know the Lord well enough to wait on Him, because he's got it all under control.

Moving back home

When I moved to Tennessee, I didn't know what to expect. I definitely didn't think I'd fall in love with it so soon. After only a month, I knew I wanted to live here forever; however, my husband did not agree. He liked it, but did not love it.

I tried to convince him week after week to see all the advantages of living here...the beauty, the trees, the seasons, our church, the people, the traffic (or lack of), the laid back lifestyle...etc. I figured with what he loves, this would be a perfect fit, but it wasn't until March that I realized it was never going to happen.

In March, we went down to Miami/West Palm Beach to visit all of our family. The second we landed he said "we're home". Mind you, his least favorite place of all was Miami, and all of a sudden he missed it. Odd how things play out.

I then realized I married a fish. All he was talking about was how much he missed the ocean, the lakes in every corner and boating. I didn't want to admit it to him at the time, but I too felt like I was home. I was so torn because I never wanted to move back and I really loved Tennessee, especially living in Franklin, but there's just something about South Florida.

It didn't take me long during our vacation to realize what I dreaded - we were moving back. I told him under NO circumstance would we move to the crowded, over populated city of Miami or even Ft. Lauderdale or West Palm for that matter. We would go to Central Florida.

But of course, never say never...Miami here we come. It's bittersweet really. I'm going to miss our friends and church family and of course my family, but I'm really happy to go home. It's the first time in awhile I've said that.

I know the Lord's hand is in this. We prayed for a long time before making this decision and we're pretty confident we're on the right track. Everytime we've asked for confirmation making sure we're heading in the right direction, we've received it. So...I'm happy, excited even, to see what the Lord has for us in Miami.

Change of temperature, one season year round, completely different cultures, lots of traffic, fast-paced lifestyle...polar opposites, but I still love it here! And looking forward to being close to family again =)