august highlights.

I officially said goodbye to summer on August 25th. It was a very sad day. I've never experienced such a bad case of the "Mondays!" I don't remember it being hard to go back to work last August, but this year was a different story. My first week of school couldn't have gone any better - I am extremely grateful!

Here are a few highlights from August:

• Stephen helped me get my classroom ready for the first day of school! He put together my lovely, new desk chair. I despearately needed his engineering skillz.
• My parents and I got to visit Katelyn for a weekend which never happens! It was so great to all be together as a family. Mom, Katelyn and I spend Saturday afternoon downtown for some coffee and shopping. Saturday night we did things real classy and had dinner at Whataburger!
• Stephen, L Rut and I went to a concert at a winery in McKinney. When we first pulled up, we thought it was going to be pretty redneck (and it was a little), but the jazz singer & wine were on point. It was a lot of fun!
• This Friday, Ashleyanne, Jenny & I had dinner at Zorba's. It was Ashleyanne's first week as a HS math teacher & she rocked it!! Back in February 2013 I visited her while she was still at Baylor and apparently I knew we would teach in the same school district one day. 
• Friday was National College Shirt Day and our math department had 100% participation! 

Not pictured:

• At the end of our last teacher work day, my co-workers convinced me to teach a yoga class. So Brittany and Kelli got to experience my practice first-hand. I loved every minute of it! (teaching yoga may officially be in my future :))

home sweet louisiana.

Oh, how lovely it was to be home longer than a weekend! I planned my trip around three events, a friend's bridal luncheon, a friend's graduation from PA school & an anniversary. There's always something to celebrate!

The first few days I was home was nonstop appointments and catching up with my favorite people. I got to spend time with Mrs. Susie, Alex, Brother Truett, Mrs. Sherry, & Courtney & Ella. I can't believe it was this time last year we were anxiously awaiting Ella's arrival and now she will be a year old soon! Courtney, you and Nehemiah are doing an awesome job - Ella really is a piece of sunshine.

Ella loves blueberries.

In the evenings, my parents have a routine of driving the Ranger out to the airport to watch the sunset, walk & let Pecos (their new pup) run all of her energy out. My favorite part about this routine is the quiet - one thing I miss most about home. It was great to be able to spend some quality time with my parents! Mom & I got to cook together, we visited my Mawmaw, & I got to hangout with my dad & eat lunch with him almost everyday. Also while I was home, my parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary - what a testimony to a Christ-centered marriage! For my mom, the most meaningful way to celebrate was to renew their wedding vows in the chapel they were married in. I love you, momma & daddy!

FBC Shreveport

Well you know it's not a trip home unless I get at least 3 good workouts and prayer time with my girl, Hannah. There is never a dull moment with this faithful friend of mine. We got to do some much needed yoga, pray together & had a movie night, watched Notting Hill & made pumpkin pancakes. It was so great to get to spend a week with her. Then on Saturday, I celebrated my friend, Chelsea, at her bridal luncheon. We've been friends since 4th grade and soon I'll watch her say, "I do." So excited for her and David as they prepare for marriage!

yogis4life.

celebrating Miss Chelsea Clay.

Stephen came home too for a few days. I'd been dying to meet his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Reed. So I was real happy when he agreed to go to Oberlin for a day. I didn't snap any pictures as I had intended :(. We spent the afternoon visiting with them and they prepared an amazing meal for us - basically, it was like Louisiana Thanksgiving. I have a much clearer understanding now of why Stephen has such high expectations for my cooking...he's grown up with Louisiana chefs!

While I was home I made the sad decision to let my pet turtle, Rafael, be free. I really didn't want to see him go, but I know he was real tired of his little box I forced him to live in. So we let him go in a pond on the golf course & I know he's much happier with his life now.

last few moments with my turtle-friend.

The last few days of my trip were spent with my lifelong friend, Eleni. We celebrated her graduating from PA school! I am always terrible about taking pictures when her and I get together because it's just nonstop talking. I did manage to snap two photos while we were at a coffee shop though! We got to have dinner, shop & walk in the park when we weren't doing grad. festivities. Eleni, you're going to be an awesome PA & congrats on your new big girl job!

proud of this girl!

As a child, I definitely overlooked the beauty in my small hometown. The beauty of everyone knowing everybody. The beauty of everything being within a 5 mile radius of your house. The beauty of quiet. The beauty of being able to hear dozens of birds singing out of your window.  The beauty of a slower pace of life. The beauty of simple living.

I'm thankful for every moment I spent with my family & my friends these past two weeks. I feel refueled & refreshed as I prepare for year three of teaching!

july highlights.

Summer, can you please stop and stay awhile? I cannot believe July is already here and gone. Not only has it gone by fast, but we haven't had enough hot days to make it feel like a legitimate July. I mean only two days in Texas over 100 degrees is....nuts.

Here are a few highlights from the luckiest (seventh) month of the year:

• Stephen & I got to spend part of our 4th of July at Lake Corsicana & part of it at my Uncle Jeff's house. It was a real treat. I am so happy Stephen got to meet my uncle who is basically my pawpaw. We had a yummy lunch with him and then a lake day & firework filled evening in Corsicana. It was so much fun! 
• My sister got to come visit me on her day off! We started off the day doing some hot vinyasa then a mani/pedi and then bought her some much needed new make-up. I wish she could come visit every Wednesday!
• Back in March, Stephen got me a little birthday surprise... a trip to San Francisco! We finally got to go a few weeks ago. I had so much fun exploring! We saw San Fran, Napa Valley, Sausalito, & Muir Woods. Almost the entire trip the weather didn't get over 70 degrees -- A-mazing. It was a real adventure & I can't wait until I get to see more of the west coast.. or as Stephen says "West coast wheelin.'"  Thank you, Stephen, for such a sweet surprise. You're so thoughtful & I love you so much.
• In east Texas this past weekend I got to meet Stephen's dad, stepmom, & two of his siblings, Brandon & Jordyn. We went to dinner, drank coffee, cooked out, & ate yummy cupcakes. It was so great to meet more of his family - they were all so sweet & precious! That's Jordyn pictured above with her cat, Ella. 

I'm going home to LA in a few days. I haven't spent more than a weekend at home since Christmas. Looking forward to the quiet, home cooked meals, catching up with old friends, & rocking on the back porch. :)

ti amo. cinque terre, italia.

"Love came down and rescued me. Love came down and set me free."

There really aren't words, other than Jesus Christ, to describe what I felt hiking through the hills of the Cinque Terre. When I stopped to look at my surroundings... to think that I live for the King who created all land, water & mankind by His Breath. He called it all into being by His Breath. One of our new friends we met in Florence from South Africa said that she believes in all religions because they all teach discipline. That may be quite true, but there is only one religion that worships the God that created it all by His Breath. When I allow myself to stop. To stop and be still... I am speechless before my Savior. Speechless at what He did for us. Speechless at what He does for us every single day.  

Day 4: We arrived in Vernazza, Italia.

But first...let me tell you about the "breaking the law" that I mentioned earlier...

Well you see it is an Italian law that after one buys a train ticket, before boarding the train one must have the ticket validated. To validate a ticket one must put it in this little green machine and little green machine stamps it with the time and date. I suppose this is to prevent passengers from using an expired ticket. My theory is when you buy a ticket it should already have the time and date on it! Just an idea!

Well when we were leaving from Pisa to the Cinque Terre (we had to change trains in Pisa from Florence) we were in a hurry! Because we couldn't buy our ticket until we got to Pisa and the machines were being difficult with our cards etc. So we had to run to make our train --- having no time to have the darn thing validated. Welp, the one time we didn't validate our ticket the ol' train conductor starts coming by to check them. And of course he didn't pass us up. So after looking at our ticket, he looked at us, stuck his hand out and said "50 euros." I tried to explain our situation, but he could've cared less so I handed him the money and he wrote us a ticket. It was a sad, sad moment. The only reason the law is in place is because they know they can get money from dumb tourists -- like us, apparently.

So after that lovely experience....Katelyn and I were very excited about our stay in the Cinque Terre. After three hectic days of touring nonstop, we were ready for some trees & a more laid back atmosphere. We decided to hike from Vernazza to Corniglia to Manarola via the high road. There were so many beautiful vineyards on the way up the hill full of grapes and olives! Later that night we had dinner at the finest restaurant in Vernazza, Gambero Rosso (Red Prawn), ate anchovies for the first time (ever) & drank a bit too much wine. 

"I am the vine. You are the branches."

As seen in Rick Steve's: Italy 2014.

Day 5: We were pretty exhausted after an intense day of hiking so we slept in late (oh, it was so great), then headed to the edge of the cliffs for some sunbathing in Vernazza on the Mediterranean Sea, took the train to Manarola to see the prettiest town view, & ate yummy pizzeria. P.S. It is way better to be at the ocean on a large rock instead of the sand. Hassle free!

         < Locals sun bathing >

Manarola, Italia.

Day 6: We had breakfast at il Pirata Delle Cinque Terre (as seen in Rick Steve's), hiked from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare, spent the afternoon in Monterosso, had dinner at Ristorante Incadase da Piva (as seen in Rick Steve's: Italy 2014), bought a bottle of Italian Moscoto, went to the top of Vernazza & watched the sunset. It was the perfect ending to our spiritual adventure.

                       

Monterosso al Mare, Italia.

Vernazza, Italia.

Our trip truly was a trip of a lifetime, even though there were a few hiccups along the way - it was all worth it. I had a blast with you sister!!! Ti amo! I love you!                                                                                                        

Here's a helpful list if you're heading to the Cinque Terre:
Traveling Bible: same as previously mentioned
Hotel (in Vernazza): Manuela Apartments
Food: il Pirata delle Cinque Terre, Gambero Rosso, Baia Saracena, Ristorante Incadase da Piva

ciao. firenze, italia.

firenze. 

Day 3: Goodbye Roma, hello Firenze!

But first...let me get to that pickpocketing story I mentioned earlier. One thing is for sure, there was never a dull moment for Katelyn and I on this trip.

So there we are trying to board our train to Florence when this little boy about 12 years old starts hassling us. Like taking my ticket out of my hand to validate it..and then trying to help us with our luggage and then trying to force us to pay him for it all. We ended up just ignoring him and he finally left us alone. We found our seats and were minding our own business when we see the same kid on our train again. We watch him offer to help a grown man with his luggage - then we watch him so confidently & smoothly take the man's wallet out of his pocket and then put it in his own pocket! We freaked out. The man had no clue what had just happened and the boy starts to casually walk down the train past us. I tell Katelyn "Take it from him!" It was the only thing I could think to say. Welp, that's exactly what she did!!! She reversed pickpocketed the little brat and he had no idea he'd been pickpocketed! It was seriously the scariest thing ever. I know it doesn't sound scary, but that little boy isn't working solo. There are probably multiple grown men who order him around because in Italy if you're under 18 and commit a crime there isn't a thing the Italian police can do to punish you so kids do the dirty work. We were so shaken up the entire train ride to Florence. I had to pep talk us for a good while so we could enjoy the rest of our trip!

Once we arrived to Florence, we immediately checked in to our hotel, dropped our luggage off and headed for the city. Since we only had one full day in Florence, we needed to make the most of it. We started at a huge food market with tons of fresh vegetables, cheeses, meat, and fish. It was really cool.

fresh italian gelato. nothin' else like it.

Then we headed to the Accademia to see the Statue of David. We knew it would be another long wait in line...but once again we were surrounded by people who spoke english! We made four more new friends. Two from Hong Kong, Kevin and Caroline, one from South Africa, Estelle, and Juan from Mexico City. It was so interesting to hear the differences between all our countries. For a few hours, we had an awesome time getting to know these cool people. Then we finally made it inside and saw the incredible, David. It is crazy to think that it just started out as one big rock and then Michelangelo formed and carved such a beautiful man (I'm not going to add pics since he is naked.....).

we bought matching bracelets.

After the Accademia, we toured the Duomo and each lit a candle inside and then continued walking around the city. I liked Florence because it was smaller than Rome, but Florence apparently has more of a sewage issue. Some streets it smelled terrible! As we were walking along the river, we ran into Juan! One of the people we met in line at the Accademia. It turned out Juan had been traveling for 15 days all by himself (he did a semester abroad in Spain and his friends wanted to travel other places - no he wasn't a creep) so of course I invited him to have dinner with us. I'm so glad I did - we had a great time. 

After dinner, we tried to go to Piazzale Michelangelo for the best view of Florence, but since Italy was playing in the World Cup that day it was shut down for a firework show so we couldn't. But to our great luck the Campanile di Giotto bell tower was open for the first time this year! We were able to climb the 414 stairs and see the second best view of Florence. 

kk in front of the Duoma Cathedral.

Ponte Vecchio

us with Juan.

As seen in Rick Steve's

real spaghetti!

view from the tower.

Firenze is beautiful.

We learned how to spell the word we'd been using for 3 days for hello & goodbye, "ciao" pronounced "chow." Katelyn assured me that "ciao" was not spelled like chow haha I totally thought it would be.

Here's a helpful list if you're heading to Florence:
Traveling Bible: same as mentioned previously
Hotel: Hotel Lorena (perfect location, very cheap & breakfast included) (community bathrooms but very very clean!)
Food: Ristorante Boccadama
Transporation: Florence is way smaller than what it appears to be on the map. We didn't use public transportation once -- of course, we were only there a day, but we were still able to see everything.
Museums: There was a "fast line" at the Accademia that you could get in if you paid like 25 more Euros, but it did not move any faster. And those people were in the sun while we relaxed in the shade. Keep your Euros and skip the fast line!