I haven’t forgotten

It’s the start of a New Year, and you know what that means. It’s time to set goals – renew that commitment to step away from the donuts and hit the gym. To actually wake up the first time the alarm goes off. To finally make a dent in that looming student loan (ha ha, right). 

It’s also a time to look back and see where I've come since the last year.

I love the chance to reflect on the sweet memories, the hard times that knocked me down, the regrets, and the second chances.

But this year, instead of thinking of just the past 12 months, I’ve been looking much further back. I’m only just beginning to see the lasting impact of all those who have been part of my life, no matter how briefly.

I’ve had so many wonderful people in my life, but I’m not great at staying in contact, and I'm worried they might think I’ve forgotten about them.

I haven’t. 

Every moment is stuck to me forever, and shapes who I’m becoming.

So here’s a rather lengthy trip down memory lane – a note of thanks for everyone who’s helped me get to this point.

Starting with the most recent, I have to give thanks to my Hayes Ward girls: Atonte, Alyssa, and Deli. I am so blessed to have you and I’m sad I don’t see you more often.

Thanks to my Britannia mates: Richard, Nicole, Becca Burns, Caroline, Dee, Kiri, Andrew, Nicki Wilkes, and the rest of my YSA family.

Thanks to the whole Westminster crew: Jordan for our late night Nutella binges and Disney chats, Kristen for cheering on Amurricuh with me, Greg for showing me around Scotland and for being so supportive when I broke down, Tommaso and Paddy for teaching us about little known Olympic sports like curling, Preethi for just being wonderful, Bibek for talking college football with me, and the rest of the crew. MA International Journalism forever! And to Genevieve for our late night chats over samosas.

Special thanks to Terri Lou Lou and Char for being my rocks at the Y, Brandalyn for welcoming me as a roommate, Amanda for teaching me Spanish, and Kabria for teaching me about the joy of woodworking. Plus Kathryn and Giselle for their mad ‘N Sync moves, and Ashley Hoopes for her wise words and delicious baking.

Thanks to Downtown Shana Brown for her wonderful support, plus Steph & Megan Holt for being such a fun presidency. Thanks to the Promenade 1 girls: Emily Zippi, Erin, Melissa, and Becky who treated me like a fifth roommate. And Holly Slabbert for bring the cool to the Single Tree.

Then there’s the SUU kids.

A special thanks to the Stadium Way gang. Such wonderful people, even if the management was terrible and the hot tub never worked. I’ve rarely witnessed such kindness as I did from the likes of Ashleigh Dudley, Jessica, Lauren Johnson, and Abish, who still let me come over after I dumped a whole bowl of Doritos on their couch the first time we met. Plus Tami, Lauren and Kestri who put up with me on a regular basis.

Then there’s my wonderful roomies- Whit squared, Sha-Ray, Libs, Ti, and Westenskow. So many good times, it’s hard to keep track. From Vegas to burnt brownies, we experienced it all.

They also formed part of the original JC3 sisterhood (may Juniper rest in peace…). Thanks to Jamie Hanson for her unfailing cheerfulness and spring in her step, Kinsey K for her patience with my crazy antics, Laura for helping me dress in goth for Halloween among other things, Rachel for her kindness, Kaycee for making us smile, Charlie for her level of intellect that we all aspired to, Hilary for keeping us together, and the rest of the lovely girls who made my freshman year so great.

Then there’s high school, which wouldn’t have been half as interesting without the “ding dongs” – Bri, Alyssa, Cori, and Mel. We’ve been through it all, and lived to tell the tale. Plus a shout out to the guys from the posse – Ryan, Cory, Dan, Curtis, and Scotty. I’ll never forget when they brought us each a rose during choir class. Such thoughtful friends. Then there’s Kitchen, Mike, and Alex. Who could forget Jordan’s shimmying?!

I’m also grateful for Sarah Huggard, Kellie Wentz, and Lyndsi Bromley (yes, I know you all have married names now!) You were such amazing examples to me in high school, and I miss you.

I also miss Loran Ross and our epic failures while responding to dance date invitations. And Ashley Holliman- to softball and beyond. Plus there’s the Manila 7^th laurels – Lindsay, Kylie (quit your teasin’!), Marsha, Ambre, Kymber, and the rest who made me feel so welcome when we moved into the neighborhood. Thank you for giving me such confidence.

Then there’s my long-time pals. Miss Nonia B who’s seen me through it all, and still sticks by me after 15 years! Such a beautiful person inside and out. I still remember your mom warning us that ‘A Walk to Remember’ would make us cry. We didn’t believe her. Silly us.

Whitney Brielle - I could write a thousand blog posts of memories and it still wouldn’t be enough. So much love to you.

I know there are important people that I didn’t mention. It doesn’t mean that they matter any less than those I did mention. I still love you all! Please don’t hate me.

Thanks for your willingness to be a part of my story. I will honestly never forget it, even though we all have to keep moving forward in life - new relationships, locations, jobs, additions to the family, etc. No matter what 2015 holds for you, I hope you find happiness and peace!

When is the right time to start playing Christmas music?

This week there’s been a heated debate at the office. When is the right time to start playing Christmas music? 

Photo by Roger Lynn

Some say December 1st, other say the week before Christmas. One even said they wait until Christmas Eve. 

That would never fly in my house. Nope. I’m a day after Thanksgiving kind of girl – even though I live in London and no one really understands the Thanksgiving concept over here. 

That’s why it’s no surprise that our tree is already up and decorated. And that I’ve already listened to five different versions of ‘O Holy Night’ today. (‘N Sync’s version is still a classic). 

But that’s not even the best part of Christmas. I love to get presents for people, especially when it’s something that I know they’ll love. I really wish I could send all of you a present, but I can’t – mainly because postage is outrageously expensive. 

But thankfully, the best thing I could ever give you is contained in one video:

He is the reason I’m so happy. Knowing that God cares about me doesn’t mean that bad things never happen. But it does mean that I never have to face those things alone. He has blessed me with such amazing friends and family who make life so beautiful. Thanks for all of the kind things you’ve done for us this year.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season, and never forget to find moments of peace and calm during such a busy time of year.

Happy (Merry) Christmas!

Why you should visit Slovenia (and where to find it on a map!)

Slovenia.

Probably not the first place you think of for a holiday. To be honest, I hadn't even heard of it until a few months ago. But that’s exactly where Tom and I went to celebrate his birthday. (Happy birthday, love!)

Slovenia is sandwiched between Austria and Croatia in the shadows of the alps. And oh wow, this tiny country is gorgeous.

The first place we went was Bled Island. 

Tom got to row us out there, which was an adventure in itself.

Just a castle up on the hill, as you do.

Once you get out to the island, there are several steps leading up to the church on top.

They have a legend that if a groom can carry his bride up the 99 stairs, their marriage will last forever. We already believe that ours will last, but Tom decided to throw me over his shoulder and walk me up there anyway. Forever, baby!

Once you get up to the church, you get to ring the bell and make a wish.

Bled is also famous for its cream cake. I already miss it. Yum!

A few miles away from Bled is Vintgar Gorge. Seriously, I’ve never been anywhere so beautiful in my life. The water was emerald and perfectly clear. I couldn’t believe it.

Feast your eyes:

Next we went to Predjama Castle, because if you're going to build a castle, it might as well be inside a cave entrance.

Not a bad view from the castle...

And just down the road is Postojna Cave. Good, but they got nothing on Timp Cave! Thanks to Shel, I recognized the giant cave bacon!

The final day, we went to the coast. Piran is a tiny, beautiful town set against the Mediterranean backdrop. It used to be owned by Italy, so it has a very Venetian feel to it.

The stairwell leading up to the lighthouse.

Looking out from the lighthouse

Then it was time to explore Slovenia’s capital: Ljubljana (pronounced Loo blee ah na). This pint-sized city was mostly destroyed in an earthquake in the 1800’s, and they decided to rebuild it in the style of Vienna. The result? Adorable outdoor cafes along the river. 

The gazebo - a la Sound of Music

We had an amazing time in Slovenia. Now that you've actually heard of the country, it might be a good one to add to your bucket list :)

Also, today is our 2nd wedding anniversary! Two years ago, I was lucky enough to marry the most wonderful man in the world. Love you, Tom! xoxo

Ducks, waffles, and a wedding

Well, a lot has happened in five months since the last post. The biggest being:

Shel got married! My baby sister is all grown up and a MRS!

The bride looked so beautiful, and I loved being her "maid of horror".

Here's the obligatory wedding morning getting ready photo.

We had a really fun couple of weeks back home.


















Now for the other things we did this summer!

Tom and I went on an adventure to Belgium. Talk about gorgeous!

We went to Bruges, also known as the Venice of the North. It's basically a Disneyland fairy tale city.

It's a beautifully preserved medieval town which used to be the powerhouse of Europe.

We fell in love with it.

I think Tom got tired of me shrieking, "I can't even look anymore! It's all too cute!"

After Bruges we made our way to Ghent, and it was amazing too.

The Gravensteen Castle was a particular highlight. 
















Royalty!

The sights were amazing, but the best bit of any trip is the food! We discovered Oyya, the best Belgian waffles ever! Seriously, caramel and white chocolate. Yum doesn't begin to describe....

Before we left to go home, Tom and I made friends with a duck. Alberta the duck. We found out she was only using us to get bread, but we didn't mind. We love Belgium regardless.

How to quit your job and live on the beach

This week was rough. I just couldn’t seem to get on top of everything at work, and I felt like an epic failure (that’s one step beyond failure, for those unfamiliar with my failure scale).

I even forgot to eat lunch on one of those days. You know how some people can go a whole day and say, “Oh dear, I haven’t eaten anything today. How forgetful!” I’m not one of them. So if I miss a meal, you know it’s a bad day.

It forced me to rethink my career choice, which threw all of my other decisions into question. Should I really have had Cheerios for breakfast? Should we have painted the walls that shade of cream? Seriously deep stuff.

I decided that I just wasn’t cut out to work. I was actually meant to inherit a large sum of money and spend my life on a beach with sea turtles and pick pineapples while convincing my skin to tan, not burn. Clearly I was in the wrong job.

As amazing as that would be, I realised how farfetched it was if I thought my pasty-white complexion could ever tan.

After stressing about the next day of work, I asked myself what it really was that made me so upset. It wasn’t my job; it was the feeling of inadequacy. I hated feeling like I was unqualified to work in a field that I had trained so hard to qualify for. No matter how hard I worked, no matter how early I came in or how late I stayed, I could never get everything done. I couldn’t do it by myself.

That when I realized I don't have to do it alone

Someone already volunteered to help me. My Savior Jesus Christ died for me so I don’t have to go through life alone. I just need to learn how to rely on Him.

Life can be hard, but it’s so much better knowing that I have help. Sometimes it’s beautifully messy and tragically stunning. It’s high and low, bliss and pain, but He’s my constant.

It gives me so much comfort, especially in times when I just can’t understand why bad things happen.

I lost someone a year ago who was very dear to me. I’ve also seen many friends and family members encounter huge losses that turn life upside-down.

The pain is real and consuming at times. How can anyone cope with tragedies? The answer is in the Savior. I don’t know why certain things happen, but I do know that we don’t have to face anything alone.

Tomorrow is Easter, which is a big celebration in Christianity. It’s marks when Jesus Christ rose again after being crucified for all of mankind. He broke the bonds of death, which means we can all be with the ones we love forever.

My feelings about it are summed up by Dieter F Uchtdorf: “Is it any wonder that whenever we face the bitter endings of life, they seem unacceptable to us? There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings. Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless and who promises eternal blessings without number. Endings are not our destiny.”

He goes on to say: “The more we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we realize that endings here in mortality are not endings at all. They are merely interruptions—temporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the eternal joy awaiting the faithful.”

A lot of things don’t make sense to me in life, but this does.

We are eternal because God is eternal. He has the power to help us cope with the pain and make a fresh start – putting our past behind us.

My alarming inadequacies are small compared to his abilities.

While I haven’t completely put aside the idea of sunburning on a beach for a living, I know God can make far more out of me than I ever imagined.

It’s all because of Him.

Happy Easter!

Click here to learn more about Easter. 

Budapest!

Ah, Budapest. An amazing land of sights, food and history.

Tom and I recently took a trip there and loved every moment, but before we get much further, here are some FAQ's:

Why Budapest?
I asked my colleagues, many of whom have travelled extensively throughout the world, where the most beautiful place in Europe was. I was surprised that so many of them said Budapest, especially because it wasn't a place I would have thought of. I decided then that we had to go.

Where is it?
In Hungary, which borders Slovakia and Austria among other countries. Not to be confused with Bucharest, which is in nearby Romania.

What currency do they even use?
It's called the Forint, and one dollar is equal to about 225 of them.

Was it as amazing as you hoped?
YES!

There is really something that everyone will love in Budapest. 

Let's start with the beautiful architecture:

Fisherman's Bastion

I'd heard it was like a Disney castle, but I was still blown away. And because it's up on a hill, it offers amazing views of the city.

So lovely! It's also right next to Mathias Church, which basically has the best roof I've ever seen.

There's also a great door that's a part of the Fisherman's Bastion nearby.

This place was loaded with charm. Even the stairwell was magical.

And Tom got to catch up with an old friend.

But alas, you can't stay up on Castle Hill forever. We discovered the best way down is the Funicular! It's an old tram that takes you straight down. I loved it so much.

After that fun, it was time for Cave Church. As the name would suggest, it's a church that's in a cave!

I thought it would be really cold in there, but because of the natural hot springs that run through the rocks, it's actually around 70F / 20C year round. Really beautiful and different.

Then we hiked up Gellert Hill to take in even more views.

Fun fact time! Budapest was actually two different cities that are combined: Buda and Pest. If you look in the picture above, you'll see that bridge which connects the two. Buda is the side we're standing on, which has lots of hills. Pest, which you can see in the picture, is completely flat.

Now you can impress your friends with your Eastern European facts!

St Stephen's Basilica

Tom had a seat to take it all in, and this random tourist came and sat right next to him. Keep in mind this place is absolutely massive with so many empty chairs around, and he planted himself right next to him. That's Tom's not impressed face.

We'd had all the awkward human encounters we could handle, and decided to climb up to the top of the dome for some views.

Here's a really pretty staircase.

We loved the pretty view of the city, but eventually you have to come back down.

How handsome! Love my travel buddy.

Next, brace yourself for the amazing gelato. It's called Gellarto Rosa, and as the name would suggest, they sculpt your ice cream like a rose! 

They had amazing kinds like strawberry with elderflower and lemon with basil. Because really, why shouldn't gelato be an artform? Amazing.

After that, we went to Vajdahunyad Castle.

Again, very Disney princess-esque. I could just picture myself throwing open the doors and running out on the balcony to see the floating lanterns!

Now let's talk about food. Oh dear, it was so good.

We went to the Central Market, which had delicious-looking food on every corner!

This is where we found Lángos. It's deep fried bread topped with sour cream and cheese. And it's bigger than your face!

Oh so good! Then there were the Hungarian pastries. The one of the left is called túrós rétes, which is flaky strudel with creamy sweet cheese curd. I'm seriously already missing it. 

It was then time for a bit of classy milkshakes at the famous New York Cafe. 

It's so ornate! Apparently it was the place to see and be seen in the early 1900's, and it was especially popular with writers and artsy types.

After that, it was time to say goodbye to Budapest, but not before we took in the sites when they are the most magical; at night.

Parliament 

Buda Castle 

Budapest was absolutely stunning. I couldn't believe how resilient the country is, especially after being infiltrated by the Nazis and controlled by communists for so long. The overall vibe you get is that Hungarians haven't forgotten their history, but are very much in a new age. They are proud of their culture and are eager to share it with visitors, especially the delicious gulyás (goulash). It was such a great experience!