RainRainGoAway.

THANKFUL THURSDAY! :) Next year I am living with some pretty great girls. 2 are former roommates from 135A {a.buck & r.gidd} that I lived with for 2 years and 1 is a babe from Brazil{r.meida}. I am so so thankful that I did not have to worry or stress at all about finding a place to live and that it's all taken care of! The girls found it and all I had to do was send an e-mail to our landlord and BOOM come August we'll have a beautiful house in the mountains!! God is so good!! Thank you ladies for working everything out and keeping me in the loop! I can not wait to live with each of you and can not tell you how great it was not having to deal with all that while here in Spain :) Can't wait!!

Today was super rainy. Thunderstorms and all. Kind of nice. I just packed for my big trip tomorrow! (which I should still be doing right now...hm.) I am so excited!! Erin, Selin and I will be in Madrid -the capital and heart of Spain- for 3 days. Then, Erin and I will be flying up to jolly ol' London for 4 days and on to Dublin, Ireland until the 1st of May when we return to Alicante!!!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!! :) :)  Please pray for safe travels and protection while we're gone. 

I won't be blogging until I get back, so I hope everyone has a good Easter! How great is our God that He died for our sins?! He sent His son to die in my place. So now everything is washed away and my slate is wiped clean. Praise the Lord!! So thankful. I hope this Easter You are reminded of how great His love for YOU really is! He loves you.

I have had the Donald Lawrence gospel song, Matthew 28, stuck in my head for the past week. Takes me back to ASU Gospel Choir days. Enjoy :)

HosannaInTheHighest!

Forewarning: This is long due to my lack of blogging. Lo siento. 

Since it has been a while (my b) I'm going to give y'all some highlights of my past week and a half...


- 2 Saturdays ago, a group of us took the tram out to San Juan Beach which was about a 10 minute ride. I really really liked this beach because it was a lot bigger than Alicante’s, the water was waaayy cleaner {you could actually go swimming in it}, and it was a lot less crowded. We were there for most of the day and it was so great! :)


-Then on Sunday, Devin, Shensheen (Devin, Selin & Adriana’s Korean roommate!) and I went to the English speaking church. It's actually a branch off of the church we had gone to the past 2 weeks! I really liked it! There were probably less that 25 people there, so it kind of made it feel more like a bible study. The pastor is 83 and the cutest.thing.ever. I think the thing that I liked most about it was how nice everyone was! After the service was over, they had coffee and coffee cake for everyone and we were able to talk to some of the people there! They were so hospitable and I can't wait to go back! Success!! After church, Devin and I knocked out papers, presentations and more! Oh my! Way to be on top of things and oh so productive.


-Pre Thursday (the day when I was officially done with exams {praisethelord}) I prepared presentations (in total from being in Spain I have done 6 presentations and still have 1 to go. unheard of.) and studied for my exams! That night, once classes were done, a group of us went to this nice little Chinese restraunt for dinner (which was really good) and then Adriana and I went and got coffee and talked in the park for a while! It was the perfect way to celebrate the end of classes!!


-This past Saturday, Adriana, Devin and I went to this little island called Tabarca, off the coast of Alicante. You have to take a boat to get there (takes about an hour), and I have never felt that seasick. {I imagine thats how Joe feels like on a surfboard? haha} I was so thankful to get off! The island is pretty small, but so beautiful!! I felt like I was in a movie! (storyofmylife)

We were there all day, just walking around and exploring. Perfect day. I love exploring. So peaceful and nice. And then the boat ride back (which I was dreading), was FINE!! Thank you Jesus!! :) The day was finished off with Tarintino's pizza, which is ah-may-zing!


-On Sunday, Devin and I were going to go back to the english church, but instead, stayed in the city to see what the hype was all about (there was indeed hype going on). We checked out mass in a beautiful cathedral in the historic district and then a little later followed the music to find the first of many processions. Palm Sunday marks the first day of Semana Santa, or Holy Week, ending with Easter. Processions are held in the street which are usually at night, but begin in the morning of Palm Sunday. People are carrying statues, people with palms, there are mourning women, children handing out candy, klu klux klan outfits, floats with sculptures and models of biblical scenes, and music. It is said that on Easter the processions are very colorful and the church bells are constantly ringing (If you want to know more, google - Semana Santa in Spain). These processions are amazing. I was watching some tonight too. I love watching them! I have some videos which I will put up soon because pictures just don't do it justice. Until then::

-I've also started training for the tri!! Yay! I am now a member of a local pool (kind of like the YMCA) and have begun swimming! I'm biking on campus at the gym when I go for my one class a week (yes, please!) and running the days in between! I'm getting super excited!! Once I swim a few more times (/when the sea gets a little warmer) I'll start practicing in the sea because this race is in the open water. No pool. (Gulp.)




I'm probably forgetting things to tell all of you lovely people, but it is time for me to go to bed. I'll write more soon. I promise. Plus, I have a big trip coming up (I LEAVE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING!! YAY!), so there will be a lot to fill you in on :) ¡Buenas noches!

Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its decent,

the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise

over all the mighty works they had witnessed:

"Blessed is he who comes, 

the king in God's name!

All's well in heaven!

Glory in the high places!"

Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, 

"Teacher, get your disciples under control!"

But he said, 

"If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise."

-Luke19:37-40

{TheMessage}

   

Cloud Nine.

I am FINISHED with my IBP classes!!!!!!! YESSS!!!! I conquered my first exam. 2 essays. nobigdeal. Then I faded fast. It is my absolute favorite time of the month (sarcasm.) and today my body decides to freak out. Not the best time! I still had to study for my other 2 exams (I had 3 today)! I was dizzy, light-headed semi-nauseous and had the biggest pain in my stomach/side. (& this has never happened before. soo glad it decided to start today. not.) So I curl up on the grass (which is still wet from the morning) under the palm trees in the sun, praying it would go away!! I'm singing 'Shout Unto God' by Hillsong in my head, trying to pump myself up. I finally got a sandwich, forced myself to study and went to the next exam. It went so well! 9 short answers.  And by the time I got done, I felt so much better!! Thank you Jesus! Headed over to the last exam and knocked it out! AND NOW I'M DONE WITH MY EXAMS AND I'M SO HAPPY :) :) :)


I'll probably post tomorrow and tell you all about my past week and my adventures :) But here is a ThankfulThursday post for you -- :) 
There is so much to be thankful for :)


This morning I was reading Matthew 6:25-30:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 

Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you

—you of little faith?

And as I was curled up in a ball in the grass I was listening to the birds. There were so many, just flying around & so happy. I was looking at these birds and thinking of how pretty their song was,  and I remembered this verse. I'm not really a worrier, but how reassuring that I know God will take care of me and there is no reason to worry!! God provides food for these birds to eat. And us?? We are so much more valuable to him than birds!!! And the lilies in the field?? The lilies in the field are dressed better than Solomon in all his glory! If that's how God dresses a flower, won't he take care us too? We have such little faith when we worry! We need to seek FIRST the kingdom of God! And everything else will be given to us! Praise God from who all blessings flow! I am so so so thankful for a God who loves me and has put my feet upon a rock!! Dios es Amor! 

This is by the beautiful Victoria Carlson. I met this pretty girl at Wildhorse Canyon back in 2007. 

She is a very talented photographer. For real. Legit. 

I love looking at her work.

Check her out here.

Thanks Tori! :)

Un buen día.

Today is a special day. I am officially 1/2 way through my study abroad!!!! AHHH!!! I can not believe that it has gone by so fast!! I have lived in a foreign country for 2 and a half months. Crazy. I love it. 
So to commemorate this day I want to take a look at my Goals for Spain (You can see it here, if you wish) that I made before I left the States and see where I currently stand. 


Goals For Spain:

• meet a guy named raúl and take his picture. -- [this has surprisingly not happened yet!! i have heard of a raúl lurking around, but have yet to meet him. still on the list.]

• pass this semester and make my dad proud. -- [in progress! classes end on thursday and i have a strong hunch i am going to pass. aren't you proud dad?!?!]

• travel as much as possible. -- [the only places i've traveled so far, are sevilla (awesome) and valencia (for las fallas). but i already told you about my exciting upcoming adventures to Madrid, London, Dublin, & Rome!!! i am also hoping to add Paris to that list for the beginning of June!!!]

• find a legit church. -- [again, in progress! i like the spanish speaking church. it's legit. but this weekend we're going to the english speaking one, and i'm very excited!!]

• watch some bulls run. -- [unfortunately i will not be here for the running of the bulls. it takes place in july from the 7-14 in Pamplona and by then i will be back in the good ol' USofA. maybe i'll try and make myself go to a bull fight instead...]

• hit up the beaches. -- [check! i did that today actually! and yesterday... annnd i'm going tomorrow... it's such a hard life here. man. (ilovebeingtan)]
• open some cool letters and packages from the USA (hint hint). -- [i really am so grateful and excited when i get mail. it makes me so so happy!! thank you if you've sent me a letter or package! or even a comment or message online! it really means a lot!!!]

• buy awesome clothes and become a local. -- [while i have bought a few new things (not a lot) i don't think i'll become a local. i mean, come on! i never bought that leather jacket! so now i'll never fit in! haha joke. but i know things that tourists don't necessarily know, but i kind of stand out in my nike shorts and tshirts. they don't wear stuff like that here. i get the weirdest looks. but i have accepted this sad fact. life goes on.]
• eat new things. -- [yup! something thats been really cool about meeting people from so many different countries, is the different cuisine everyone has! last night my roommate, Margaret, made me Russian pancakes (really really thin US pancakes with cheese in it). Selin made us a Turkish meal (LOVED it), & Adriana made us some for real good Venezuelan Arroz con Pollo. i try and get new things when i go out to restaurants. and i have a really big thing to tell you all at home. i hope you're sitting down... ready? i like chicken. it's true. sometimes sketches me out, but i like it! and i now know how to cook it which is even better. (this makes gray very very happy) for those of you here or who just don't know, i'm a vegetarian. i was raised a vegetarian. not one of those hippies that goes to college and decides to make a statement, but raised to not eat meat. i eat dairy and i like most fish. & in the past, i've always tried different meats, but i would never order it or cook it. i liked trying things in the kitchen of b&j :) BUT NOW I'M A CHANGED WOMAN. y'all aren't gonna know what to do with me when i get back!]

• never turn down an activity. no regrets. -- [i turn down activities. opps. i can't hang with my friends that go out late until it is indeed morning. so i turn those activities down. i'd rather sleep and wake up before 12 :) ]

SO, I am excited for the next half to come because it holds... the end of classes (praise jesus!!), our awesome adventure through Europe, my sissy coming to see me :), more beautiful days of summer, hopefully my dad and broha coming to see me, and finally getting to see my boyfriend that i miss so much!!! A lot to look forward to!!! Praying for a great remainder of my trip!! :) 

It's been a good day.

I was created

to make Your praise,

Glorious!

-Martha Munizzi

SouledOut

THANKFUL THURSDAY! whooo hoooo :) 
This Thursday I am SO SO SO thankful that next Thursday, I will be done with 4 out of the 5 classes. All of the english ones, done. Boom. Even though they were not that hard, they all required a lot of busy work and it was hard to be motivated for them. So I am so very thankful that they are ending! And thankful I will only have one class left. Which is Business Spanish. Which I don't like. But it's okay cause God is good and I'm in Spain :) I hope your Thursday is blessed beyond measure!!! 

I run in the path of your commands,

for you have set my heart free.

-Ps.119:32

LoveCameDown

Tonight a group of us went out to dinner to meet Kira's dad who is in town visiting for a few days. It was so nice to just sit and listen to his many stories. He was really nice and treated us to dinner!! SO GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! He was telling us to watch out for his baby and take care of her (which we will continue to do) and all things a dad says about his daughter and I almost started crying. No lie. It was the sweetest thing. Annnnddd, I miss my dad. {Dad, if you're reading this, I miss you. I will always be your apple eating buddy, roller coaster rider, running partner and (oldest) #1 daughter :) Thank you for supporting me while I've been here. I really really hope you and D can come visit me! I LOVE YOU!!}

Something really cool happened that I forgot to write about (I have no idea how I forgot). My friend Anna, from Minnesota (I LOVE her accent!!! Take me back to Castaway pleasseee!!!!!), told me about this church that she went to a few weeks back. If you recall from my list of goals for Spain (HERE) number 4 was to find a legit church. So since I had yet to find one, I recruited Devin to come along with me 2 Sundays ago, to check it out! It is called Iglesia Cristo Vive. It's pretty legit. Mind you, it's in spanish so I can only understand about 50-60% of what is going on, but I really enjoyed it! I even recognized a few of the songs! It really reminded me a lot of Cornerstone Mexico, which made me very happy! :) Devin and I went back this past weekend, & saw some familiar faces from the first time we went (such a nice thing). We also heard of an english speaking church in San Juan (basically like a suburb of Alicante) and we're trying to figure out where it is so we can try it out hopefully soon! Fact: this has been a blessing :) Thanks, Anna!!


A few weeks ago, my YL leader shared a song with me and I am now currently obsessed. Please watch this video. It is for real awesome.

I love listening to the lyrics of this song. Wether I am high on a mountain or low in a valley, I am forever a daughter of God! His love has set me free. I put my trust and hope in his unfailing love. Unfailing. Meaning always able to supply more; inexhaustible; constant; incapable of error. That is the type of love He has for us!!! And we are called to shine HIS unfailing love across the nations!! I hope this song tugs at your heart like it does mine! God is for real so good!!! 




Fun Fact:: In Mexico when people answer the phone they say 'Bueno' which literally means, good. I always thought it was really funny. But here in Spain when they answer the phones, they say 'Dime' (dee-meh) which literally means, tell me. Or 'Diga' which means, speak. I just smile whenever I hear people answer the phones, because it's so different! At home I wouldn't answer the phone and say, Speak! Hilarious. Just thought I'd share :)