thoughts

you know that feeling when you just realized how hungry you are because the food you're cooking is just about ready? that i'm going to be sick if i don't eat really, really soon and every minute feels like forever. I'm convinced that is how it feels when you're about to come home after a long trip. When it's three months away it's no big deal, you have three months to enjoy life in different countries, but then, all of the sudden you're only 15 days away.... it feels like you have been gone for forever and you just want to be somewhere familiar with people who know you well.
on another note... I picked up my Bible to read about David's life since I'm about to go see the huge statue in Florence, and i turned to Ruth. I started there because I have today and tomorrow free. I have always loved Ruth and it's been prophesied over me a few times that I will be like Ruth. Maybe I should start a little earlier with this story. I travelled to Sheffield all by myself, the only other time i have travelled by myself was home form Colorado after visiting Kayla. I had no way of getting a hold of autumn other than facebook. It ended up being fine but for almost an entire day I was all alone. I travelled from Sheffield to London to Poitiers to Paris all by myself as well, that was intense (see previous post). France speaks French, I don't know ANY french. Finally, tomorrow night I am travelling all by myself to Florence. There are a few things i have discovered in these lonely journeys.... they are just that, lonely, sometimes scary, often stressful. I almost had a panic attack in Paris the first night. I could not in any way do this without Jesus, He has been so good and so faithful, everything has turned out better than perfect. But there is something about being in a strange city, surrounded by people who speak a different language with no idea which way to go that gives you a whole new appreciation for community and God's gift of relationships. Man, is it a gift, a sweet, precious, and necessary gift. I definitely almost cried when I saw Ash at the airport gate, it was a huge rush of relief and I definitely cried when she left. Thanks so much for coming ashley, I can't tell you how much it meant. But there is something there, something deeply true about us as human beings. We are made for relationship, we are made to want to love and be loved, to shoulder one another's sorrow and rejoice with one another's joy. As I began to read Ruth this ancient truth jumped out at me again. Naomi was all alone, ready to go home. I can only imagine the determination and love it would've taken to send her only two friends away, but I have tasted the relief that she must have experienced as one promised to stay.
I know God is with me... believe me I know, He has come through time and time again, I know He will be my comfort and my companion these last two weeks, but I am so thankful He has provided people to travel with, people to walk through life with, and people waiting for me to come home.
I miss you guys.

My birthday was incredible.... I need to document this. So Ashley and Johanna were here. We woke up and went to the Louvre, it was pretty cool to get to see in real life the things you learn about in class. We went back to Johanna's friend Tytti's house to get ready to go to the ballet at the Opera Garnier (the opera house Phantom of the Opera is supposed to have taken place). Tytti is the best hostess, she made us feel so comfortable. So we get ready and go an hour early to get half-price tickets, only to find out the show is completely sold out. :( So we went to a really famous and beautiful department store before heading to the other really famous venue of arts and music. What we saw could definitely be described as an experience. It was quite possible the strangest post-modern ballet/noise/seamstress thing I have ever seen. Ash and I could't look at each other for fear we would bust out laughing... we were doing our best to hold it in as it was. Thankfully it was only an hour so we didn't have to not laugh for that long. The terrace of that theatre looks out on the eiffel tower. Ash and I walked down while Tytti and Johanna went to get coffee. We bought tea and hot cocoa at a vendor right beside the eiffel tower and watched it sparkle on the hour. We then went to meet Johanna and Tytti but it took awhile because we couldn't find a metro. We got back to Tytti's flat around 11:30. Tytti and Johanna had bought cake and ice cream and snacks and tea and wine to celebrate. We pretty much had a feast, it was the best chocolate cake I have ever had. Oh yeah, there was bread and cheeses and salami too with strawberries and cookies. French bread really is amazing. Finally, I called my family and got to talk to them for awhile. All in all it was pretty perfect. And I think I'll wrap this post up.
Last thing, I am leaving Paris tomorrow night on an overnight train to Florence and meeting up with the Baylor gang there. Then it's to Rome and Corfu and Athens. :)