Changed

 It's crazy to say that I've been to five countries in the past 4 months. It was such an incredible experience. Before I left for Spain, God whispered to me that I was in for change. I wasn't sure what it meant, but I was all in. Now, I can look back and see that God taught me so much while I studied abroad in Europe. These are the important things I have learned this semester. I hope to take them with me to apply them to whatever God brings in 2020.

 1. My God is so faithful.

 2. If my roommates are bothering me, I should talk to them about it. It's worth a try for compromising. 

 3. "Making a present is sharing a part of us that really fills and gives us joy." -Álvaro

 4. God wants all of me, with all of my attention on him. 

 5. Paris has amazing, creamy hot chocolate, especially on a cold and rainy day. 

 6. The people in Barcelona really did not like the Milá family's house when it was built. They called it La Pedrera because it looked like stone because of the color and features. Today, it is recognized as a work of art by Gaudí. 

 7. When I am anchored in the moment, I can better see God's glory and see my worries less. 

 8. Spaniards love spending time together, especially when it involves something good to eat. 

 9. Churros and porras are two different things. Churros are smaller than porras, but they are both dipped in dark chocolate. Also, they are both so delicious. 

 10. God brings friends in my life just when I need them. 

 11. Crying with others by your side is so important, even if they're a guest for the weekend. 

 12. I'm gonna get homesick while abroad. It happens. 

 13. Sometimes, practicing languages and meeting new people means being brave. 

 14. Right now, this stage of life that I am in is the development of my life. 

 15. It is so important to be kind, because that could be the only bit of kindness that they have encountered in a while. 

 16. "Your side quest may lead to your main quest."-Wade Langer

 17. "You can only obey God and be complete." -Shelley Giglio

 18. Vulnerability is a beautiful and scary thing.

 19. There is so much to explore in one city, even when you think you've seen it all.

 20. Going for tapas is just a fun thing to do during dinner time. It's not at a separate time.

 21. Playing music is so important to me but I don't lose everything when I can't do it for a while.

 22. The details of the effort someone makes for another show just how much they really care.

 23. My brother and I have an irreplaceable and special relationship. He is growing up to be a kind and smart man.

 24. When I depend on my best friend, being without them feels weird.

 25. When I am thankful, I let the little annoying things go, allowing me to be truly joyful.

 26. Sometimes you just need to sing a good old Reik song with some friends.

 27. I'm not in it alone.

 28. The Lord's timing is perfect. Always.

 Kthnxbai!

Sweet Home Alabama

 I slept in until 10 am on Monday. It was such wonderful rest. My mama made me some cheddar grits for breakfast. It tasted like home and happiness.

 

 We all went out to PF Chang's, one of our favorite restaurants, for lunch.

 My mom and I went to Trader Joe's after lunch. I had missed the flavors and fun of Trader Joe's so much!

 When we got back home, I wrapped some gifts that I got in Spain for my family. Luke tried to peek at them before I wrapped them and I had to push him out of the room. It really took no time for us to start bothering each other as if we've been around each other for the last few months.

 People told me little of reverse culture shock. I didn't pay much attention to it because I didn't think it would really happen to me. I mean, it's home, so I would just fully appreciate it when I come back, right? Not exactly. I've noticed the little differences, like how plastic bags are used more here and how drive-thru is a thing here. I've also noticed the deep southern accents here much more. It sounds so weird and so foreign to me now. These differences make me miss being in Spain so much because I made many friends in Spain and discovered so many neat places there. The people there are so kind and care-free.

 Even though being here again is weird, I love that I am with my family. Going to see Star Wars together, raking leaves and listening to music with Luke, entertaining Auggie with my mama, and laughing with my dad were fantastic. All of these moments from this week are so precious. I am going to focus on the present, spending time with my family and friends, instead of longing to be where I was last week. I will treasure what I have now.

 Kthnxbai!

I'm Going Home

 I woke up this morning at 5:30 and got dressed, grabbed my suitcase, backpack, and carry-on bag, and got on the bus to head to the Madrid airport. I cried a few times on the bus for two reasons. I am so sad that all of this incredlibe experience in Spain has come to its end. It seems like it went by so fast. I also cried tears of joy because I was going to see my family by the end of day. I hadn't been with my family since the beginning of September. We have a lot of laughing and catching up to do.

 When I got to the desk to get my boarding pass, I have to go to a different desk to which I had to walk a long way to pay for my really heavy suitcase. It took a while, but fortunately, I got to the airport four hours before my flight, so I had time to spare.

 I've been seeing just about every cool little moment as symbolic lately. The pom-pom came off of my purse on the first day in Spain. In the last few weeks, I've noticed that another one was just about to come off because it was hanging by a thread or two. It finally fell off this last Sunday, the day of the flight back to the United States at the airport. I'm not sure what it would symbolize but it's cool. 

 I got a pineapple, mango, and carrot smoothie and an almond granola bar at a cute and fancy café at the airport. 

 I had this whole row to myself on the way to London! So awesome! 

 I thought that the cross in the distance was super cool. 

 I've said it once it the beginning of this blog, and I'll say it again: Airplanes are so cool! Clouds are also so cool! I love looking out of the window to find endless cities in the sky made up of clouds. It is so amazing, especially when there are beautiful sunrises or sunsets.

 In the next two pictures, you can spot the London Eye and Tower Bridge. So, I was in London for about two hours on Sunday. I didn't take a step out of the airport, but I still got to fly over a neat view of London. That was pretty awesome. 

 I exchanged some euros for dollars and got a pound and some pence back too! They're shiny and kind of pretty. I paid for a BLT wrap with it for lunch. 

 I'm a world traveler. I love that. 

 I played Tetris to entertain myself on this super long flight. There was a little game controller that came out of the seat in front of me! 

 Dinner wasn't bad! I had chicken and vegetables, bread, quinoa and peppers, and a really delicious salted caramel chocolate pudding. 

 Did you know? I didn't.

 When I got super bored and annoyed because I just wanted the flight to end, I liked seeing where we were. It was really neat! 

We got a little treat! We got a lot of treats! A little too much in my opinion... 

 Wow... just look at that. So pretty. It was much better in person, looking out the window of the plane, of course. 

 At 7:00pm, I landed in Atlanta. After going through customs, finding my suitcase, finding my family, and riding in the car to Birmingham, I finally got to go to sleep in my bed.  

 Kthnxbai!

The Last Saturday in Toledo

 I had my last typical breakfast of the semester which was pieces of bread with strawberry jelly and a glass of water this morning.

 Maggie gave me a rewards card for Starbucks a while ago, and I finally got a free drink after buying four. I went to Starbucks for a free hazelnut hot chocolate- my new favorite- which I didn't know came with tears. I sat there with my huge mug filled with hot chocolate and reflected on last night and the semester I'd spent going on adventures and meeting awesome people. I cried because this was my last drink in this two-story Starbucks. I cried because the next day, I was going to fly out of the country I'd called home for the last three months. I cried because this was my last full day in Toledo. 

 When I decided to go back to my room to start packing, I realized that this was going to be a mess. I had bought so many things throughout the semester for me and my friends and family. I have a lot more stuff than I did on the flight to Madrid. I honestly don't know how everything fit in my suitcase, backpack, and carry-on bag. 

 A theme that I can't get enough of lately is seeing the close of circles that began in September. These are my shirts from my two schools in Alabama and Spain. On September 3rd, I wore my UA Study Abroad t-shirt on the flight to Madrid. I planned to wear my FOM shirt on the flight to Atlanta. I thought it was cool that they are Christmas colors. I am so sad that this semester in Spain has to come to a close, but I am absolutely excited for Christmas. I can't wait to drink hot chocolate with my family and praise the Lord for the gift he has given us. 

 Once I finished packing, did my laundry, and took a nap, I met Álvaro for the final time this semester. We were going to go to a Christmas concert that his friends were going to sing in. I invited some of my friends from the University of Castilla-La Mancha who are from the United States. 

 This is a model of Bethlehem that was on display in a tiny church. He told me that it is tradition for people to build models and compete to have the best one. We tried to find baby Jesus and were surprised to find that he wasn't in the center. 

 We had a while until the concert was supposed to start, so I showed him the gallery that I had been to with Maggie twice this semester. This artist really liked painting hamburgers. It was really interesting. I loved the painting of a ladybug. 

 We met with my friends and went to the concert. It was really awesome. There were very few songs I recognized, but the choirs were really good. I loved when they sang in round. 

 One of my favorite things about the concert was that it was in a beautiful, historic church. Whenever I've gone to a holiday concert in the United States, it has been in a modern church or a school, which is nice, but here, it was such a different and special experience at such a neat church in Toledo.

 My friends left when the concert ended. I had met them two weeks ago. That just didn't make for enough time to spend time together and get to know each other. But, I know that God's timing is the best, so I'm reminding myself of that every time I feel sad about leaving them.

 After the concert, there were churros, and everyone was there to have a few to dip in chocolate and snack on with friends. As soon as I walked in, I thought about how I didn't want to leave because this was just so sweet. There were so much laughter and joy filling the room. A group of three or four ladies from one of the choirs was still singing. They were clapping and singing out loud their favorite Christmas carols. It was such a sweet and precious moment. 

 Álvaro and I walked back to the FOM and we said goodbye after I gave him a little Christmas gift. We said we will definitely keep in touch. I hope we can see each other again. This friendship is really special. 

 ~Kthnxbai!