When in Roma... ;)

I'm back!

Oh my goodness! I cannot believe it's seriously been close to two months since I've updated my blog! I will slowly try to make a post of the highlights. So much has been happening :). Despite missing my family, I'm loving being here. I'm definitely more in a routine now. I'm loving seeing God work :)

I'll start with a post about my trip to Rome, Italy. I loved Rome so much. There's no way I could express that in a blog. It has seriously been the highlight of my trip. I stayed in Rome for 3 nights and 4 days. I roomed with my lovely roommate, Courtney. Literally, I would be sleeping, some car would wake me up in the middle of the night, I'd wake up, smile, and say, "I'm in Rome.", and go back to sleep lol. Here's a little snap shot of our room.

It felt surreal being in Rome. I've read the book of Romans so many times. To think that that Paul was referring to the city I was standing in was so amazing. I'm always been fascinated with Roman history. I still can't believe I was able to see the things I saw. The most exciting part of the trip was the Colosseum for me. I've always been fascinated with gladiators. I got to walk inside and just see the ruins. I'm still dumbfounded at how awesome it was.

The Trevi Fountain was another huge sight for me,

along with other ruins scattered around Rome and beautiful buildings...

Palace

 On the Roman bridge

 Pantheon

 Roman Pyramid

 "Wedding Cake" haha

 Random Ruins

More Ruins













One place that was surprisingly wonderful was Vatican City. I was able to hear the Pope give his Sunday address. I also went in to St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museum. Favorite part? Sistine Chapel... No pictures were allowed, but will forever be an experience I hold dear.

What's the first thing people ask when you mention Italy...."How was the food?????" haha... So... some snapshots of food. The food was so amazing. Pasta and bread was soooo light yet filling. Makes me wonder how exactly we get it so wrong in America lol.

Sweets! Tons of Gelato and Cannoli

Dinner with Friends :) Found some cute hole-in-the-wall restaraunts (the best kind!)

Bruschetta (left)










(Bottom) Tortellini, Shrimp Risotto, and Smoked Salmon Pizza

The rest of the trip was pure perfection (except for my feet feeling like they were literally going to fall off...). I would love to post some final pictures, but I'm at an internet cafe and they're computer isn't letting me lol... BUT I have tons on facebook :) Look for some more posts very soon.

Settling in...

Port in Malaga, Spain
    

     I have officially been in Spain for 17 days :). I finally have some pictures of my host family for you guys! I feel like so much has happened in the past couple weeks that words cannot describe. I can say one thing for sure. God is seriously doing something in me.

      If I may open my heart up to all of you, I have been an emotional rollercoaster since I´ve been here. Some days I´m in such awe of His faithfulness and beauty while other days I just want to lay in bed and cry. I´ve tried asking God what He has in store for me here. I keep asking Him what He wants to do through me. I keep asking for answers to questions I´ve had for years. God has made it clear to me that this semester is about me and Him. He may and most likely will use me here for His glory, but I´ve never been so reliant on God before. I am excited and have to remind myself to be patient while I´m here. Everyone tells you that when living in another country for so long you will experience a honeymoon phase and then maybe half-way through it all sinks in and you miss home, then you level out just before you leave. I can honestly say I never had a honeymoon phase. Many of my friends still can´t believe they´re in Spain, and most days I just want to be on the next flight home. Last night I read a verse that really spoke to me. Maybe it will encourage some of you. I know for me it was very direct, and I´m excited for how God will use it. It´s Proverbs 24:27:

"Prepare your outside work, 
Make it fit for yourself in the field;
And afterward build your house."

    I´m standing on the edge of the rest of my life. I beg God to let me just know my future and the plan He has set in stone for me. After reading this verse, it is clear to me that maybe it´s not time for me to build my house :).

    I´m starting to have my little schedule and plan for trips around Europe which is really exciting. I appreciate and feel all of your prayers. Here are some pictures of my family! Everyone was gathered for Puri´s (my host mom´s) dia de Santa.

(Above) This is Puri, my host mom.
(Left) This is Jesus, my host dad. Here is preparing homemade Paella for Puri´s special day.

 This is one of Puri and Jesus´ son in law

 mmmmm....Paella

 The sisters. Puri and Jesus´ daughters. Sandra y Rosa. Sandra is expecting a baby girl, Martina, in March!

 Las niñetas. The granddaughtes of Puri y Jesus.

Such a sweet, sweet family.

Week one in Spain!!!

Sooooo.... I´ve been in Spain for a little over a week and seriously feel like I´ve been here FOREVER. Lol...some days that´s a good things and somedays that not such a good thing. However, I´m extremely glad I am here and experience this time in my life. I´m so excited for whatever God has for me while I¨m here. Since my last post I have left Madrid, visited El Escorial and Toledo, and moved in with my Granada host family. So I will do my best to fill everyone in haha.

First...El Escorial. It was a monostary back in the day and still holds the tombs of dozens of kings, queens, and their families. It is quite an experience to be standing two feet away from a kings corpse lol. We weren´t allowed to take pictures inside the building, but I got a few of the small town surrrounding and the building.

Next...Toledo. Toledo is seriously my favoite place so far. Granada is a close second, but I love the medeival times and history Toledo has. We were able to visit a couple churches and other exciting places. For those of you who don´t know, Toledo is known for their swords and actually provided all the swords for the Lord of the Rings series. This is quite ironic because Toledo itself could have very well been in a few Lord of the Rings scenes. It´s beautiful!

 (Top) Me and Toledo!










(Below) Toledo from afar

 (Top) More of Toledo...seriously...it´s out of a movie.

 (Right) One of my favorite shots! One of the oldest bridges in Spain...










(Below) Some medeival ruins in Toledo

(right) A little baby Gargoyal in one of the churches

 Courtyard/garden in a church

One of the hundreds of beautiful ceilings...












Last... GRANADA... haha this is my home for the next few months. It is a beautiful city. Thirty minutes from the mountains and forty-five from the Mediterranean Sea. I´m living with a host family. I don´t have any pictures of them, but I have several of the city.

This is Plaza Nueve. There are several beautiful plazas
around Granada

 Just a few little snap shots of the city. This is just a normal pizzeria.

 This is the Cathedral. I have yet to be inside, but I will make it there one day. I get to pass it everyday to school

 Another Plaza in town

 This is my school! It´s only part of it, but where my main classes are.

 My Spain roommie, Courtney! She makes the hard days a whole lot easier :)











La Alhambra is a huge part of Granada. It is an absolutely beautiful place. One of my fellow APIers referred to it as a neighborhood of palaces. That´s basically what it was. Back in the day, it was very secluded and only the most important people were even allowed through the gates. It housed Sultins. Several beautiful, beautiful palaces. Queen Isabel made sure it stayed in tact and it´s wonderful. Here are just a few pictures even though it´s so difficult to cut it down to just a few.

  La Alhambra (from a distance)

One king made this for his wife. It was modeled after the Collesium. The detail is amazing.

 Stairs in the palace above

 I zoomed in on one of the walls in one of the palaces.

 Probably one of my favorite pictures. So so beautiful...

 A garden/patio in one of the palaces

 View of Granada from the Palace

 Just passing along to one of the palaces.

That shall be all for tonight. I´m looking over this right now and feel like there´s so much else I want to put on here. The rest of my pictures are on my facebook :). All this and classes haven´t even started yet haha. Phew....