Manaña.

Can't believe it's finally here. I leave Spain tomorrow. WHAT!?! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!! Actually feels real. It hasn't really up until now. I'm actually going to be able to see Gray and my family in 2 days!! And then my homegirl Allie in 3 days (along with lots of other pretty faces I can't wait to see!)!!! Y'all just don't understand. 5 months is a long time. I'm so so ready to be home! 
But I made some lists. So enjoy :)


So Ready For...

• Not having to walk a bizillion miles a day and be able to drive again
• Two words: Air Conditioning. 
• Milk and eggs that are refrigerated in the grocery store. It still sketches me out.
• A Moe's burrito (plus lots of others. like an actual breakfast from ihop. or a jersey mikes sub. it's pretty much what kira and i talk about all the time)
• A North Carolina summer. 
• Some Cornerstone Summit!!! So excited.

But I will miss...

• Living at the sea
• The pretty fountains all over
• Tortilla de patatas (determined to learn how to make it though)
• El castillo. (cool that i've lived by a castle for 5 months)
• All my cool new international friends
• Prime time European people watching (it's seriously the best)

Also there are things I won't miss...

• Cockroaches (since it has gotten warmer here they seem to think it is okay to come hang out. false. and they're massive. Erin said it looks like they're on steroids. true statement)
• Living in a city (over it. take me back to boone)
• This small, dark apartment. 
• Jellyfish in the water (aka medusas in espanol)
• Techno

Hogueras started a few days ago. If you read when I went to Valencia to see Las Fallas (you can read it HERE ), it is very similar. The cool artsy statues that they burn down at the end of the week. If you want to read in detail about it you can do so HERE or just google it. They also have firework shows daily. And let me tell you something - the Spaniards know how to put on a firework show. I don't know how to describe it. Not only are there fireworks, but there are these firecracker things that vibrate the ground. I'm not doing it any justice, but believe me it's awesome. I won't be able to see when they burn everything, but I am okay with that because I saw Las Fallas and plus I'll be home by then :)

Okay, I need to go pack so I can so say bye to everyone tonight! 

Spain (/Europe), thanks for having me. It's been great!

America,  I'M COMING HOME! SEE YOU SOON!!!

MyBooneFriend.

First things first. Update: I have EIGHT days until I leave Spain! AHHHHH!!! What?!?! I know. I'm excited. It will definitely be a culture shock when I get back. Europe is way different than the States. But I think I'll do just fine :) Can't wait to give everyone the biggest hug EVER! :)


As you may know, my sweet friend Jaime came to visit me this past weekend! And what a great weekend it was! She arrived on Thursday night and we spent the evening eating yummy Italian food, sitting by the Mediterranean , walking halfway up the castle to see the city lit up, having good conversations, eating gelato (praisejesus), and passing out. The whole weekend we were on the same sleep schedule, which was so great! 
On Saturday we went with some girls to San Juan Beach and had our own DIY spa day! Alicia (from New York) prepared the whole thing and it was really fun! We did facials out of oatmeal, honey and yogurt. Cucumbers and all. Some type of hair treatment with yogurt, olive oil, and an egg (ew). And an exfoliation scrub with strawberries, olive oil and sand. Each of these was a first for me. My favorite was the scrub cause it worked and felt so good!! Might just have to do that one again. Afterwards we showered, then got kebabs and ate at the harbor! Margaret was having a going away party since she was leaving the next morning. Hilarious. No words. Funny funny night. She has a 'ritual' where she burns her notes and books from the past semester of the classes she didn't like. So a little into the night we all hiked up to this place kind of overlooking the city and indeed burned her papers. 
The next morning we rode with Margaret to the airport and said our goodbyes! She is now safely back in her favorite place in the world, Latvia. The apartment is a lot quieter and she is greatly missed! :) We spent most of the day at the beach. It was a solid beach day. Then we got gelato again (perfect excuse to eat it when a guest is in town! no more though. tri coming up) and hiked up to the castle! It was a beautiful day and did not disappoint. 

We sat for a while waiting for the sun to set, but gave up because it sets around 9:30. Impatient and hungry. We showered and then went to a chinese restraunt at the harbor with my Texas roommate Elissa and her boyfriend Austin. Sooo good. Like I said earlier, Jaime and I were on the same sleep schedule so after dinner we were exhausted so headed home and went to bed. 
On Sunday we had breakfast then headed out of town to San Paz to a market/flea market type deal. It was so cool! I really liked it. We liked looking through the old things and finding gems amidst all the stuff. Once we got back into town we had pizza, then walked around for a while until we had to bid adieu at the train station. 
I'm so so happy that Jaime was able to come and visit and check a goal off her list! I really enjoyed our time together! Sweet friend, sweet conversations, and such sweet time together! So thankful for you Jaime!! :) 

Moris is pokin out there (jaime's hair extension).

Off to the beach! Which is probably what I'll be doing for the next week! That and tri training. Ugh. Still can't believe I'm doing that. I might be crawling across the finish line. Hopefully not. 

Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.

-Job37:14

Sky'sTheLimit.

20 days. Passed the 3 week mark yesterday. Feelin good about it. These are a few of the things I'm missing right now:

The beauty of Boone, NC.

R.Giddings :)

Sheepie.

My Allisons

The Sibs & Los Tres.

Graybill :)

I've been playing this song a lot lately... 

This Thankful Thursday I am very very thankful for Cornerstone Toledo livestream every Sunday. It is always so encouraging to be able to worship and be fed the relevant word of God! This past Sunday Bishop Pitts talked about the love of God. About how God is love. God's love is without qualification or conditions! You don't have to qualify for God's love! It's so much more than any type of love we can fathom. He has NO limits!!! The revelation of His love compels us to do more. Aspiring to reach more. To know more. 

How deep the Father's love for us,

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure.

Oh how He loves us!!! God is love. This chica is thankful.

This is how God showed his love among us:

He sent his one and only Son into the world

that we might live through him. 

This is love:

not that we loved God, 

but that he loved us. 

-1John4:9-10