Sick and antsy

So as I shared in my most recent blog, sitting at home and being un-productive is not one of my favorite things. When I woke up this morning to discover I had a sore throat and wasn't feeling well at all, I called into work...and haven't done much since then.

Whatever I have is not the worst thing in the world, I don't feel like I'm dying, but I feel like I have no energy. My head is throbbing, my throat and ears hurt, and I have a small fever, so I have done little besides lay in bed, nap, and read.

When I awoke from my nap I began to feel like I was breathing in dirty air, and all the sudden I had this urge to start cleaning. I've been going slow, its definitely not the most productive cleaning spree but I took the dirty sheets off the bed and threw them in the wash, fabreezed the bedroom, wiped down everything and dusted, and put pet deodorizer on the carpet but still have yet to vacuum.

Well, my cup of tea is empty now so I suppose I should venture back upstairs to vacuum and put some clean sheets on the bed....so I can fall into them.

His mercies are new every morning...

So it has been quite some time since I last blogged, my Europe trip to be exact. Life has been quite a whirlwind since then. I don't really think anyone reads this so it is not here to serve the purpose of updating readers on every detail of my life. (They're really not that exciting, I promise. Plus, that's what Facebook status updates are for :))

Today I am writing as a way to express my gratitude for how things seem to fall together. I am so thankful I serve a God who answers prayers, and who sees what is in my heart, both needs and desires, and fulfills them to His glory.

I recently have been praying a lot about my life working out for the purpose to pleasing God. I know I never thought I'd find myself in this place several years ago, but here I am. I ended up here with every decision I have made and I feel like I am finding my way every day, becoming more of me. There's really no telling how things turn out and how life surprises you along the way. I just keep hoping this is all happening this way for a reason...that I'm on the right path.

Yesterday I was having a really difficult time feeling unhappy and not fulfilled with my day-to-day life. I work and that's about it. I love my job, but I don't feel like I'm making enough to get by. And I'm still not used to coming home and not being a college student anymore. I still get antsy watching tv all night. I get frustrated not having things to do on the weekends. I don't have friends here so that makes a social life pretty non-existant...let's just be honest here.

So yesterday I was letting all this out on Josh, explaining to him how I feel like I'm missing out on something, like I need more of a life here. All the while I was feeling even more horrible than I already did feel because I was basically telling him he wasn't enough to make me happy. that is not what I meant at all but I knew that was how he was taking it. We both decided we would like extra ciricular activities in our lives but that funds were keeping us from that at this point.

So, today is a new day. And God clearly proved that his mercies are new every day. I got a phone call first thing this morning from a woman who found an ad for babysitting I posted on craiglist(and got no response from until now) and asked if I could dog sit for her for a week, and that she would be interested in me babysitting for her in the future. So that was a small promise of extra funds. Then I got an email from the local Hadassah chapter here with an invite to a luncheon that just happens to be on a weekend that Josh will be out of town. Another small promise of networking, friends and activities.

I know that my relationship with the Lord has to be my number one priority, and if I'm seeking him and what he wants for my life, He will start to show me where he wants me. So this morning was just a little reminder of that.

Home

The last post I made was while I was in Europe. It has now been several weeks since I returned back to the states, and at that time I had no idea where my life was headed. At that point I was unaware of where I would live (Jacksonville or Niceville). I had no idea what kind of work I would be doing or if I'd be unemployed. I didn't know if I'd be sharing a room with my little brother in my parents' house (yes, that was the plan). All I knew was that I was stressed when I got home from Europe. I was so excited to see Josh when I got to the airport. I didn't realize how much I had missed him because the whole time I was in Europe I was telling myself I had to get used to missing him if I were moving to Jacksonville, so I never really let myself miss him. Until I saw him, that is. I don't think I've ever been so excited to see someone before. He truly is the sweetest guy I know! I am so blessed to have him in my life.
Anyway, I was so lucky to be able to have a four day weekend to go back to Jacksonville and visit my family. I love everyone in my family so much. I'm so lucky to have such a big, loving family and I honestly miss them every day.
So, an amazing story - I got a job! It was miraculous how it worked out. I ended up changing my flight back home two days earlier than planned. I came home on Saturday night instead of the following Monday. On Monday I got a call from a woman who knew I was on the hunt for a job and said she had a friend who was the executive director of a non profit domestic violence shelter who needed an administrative assistant right away. I called her, interviewed on Tuesday, and started working on Wednesday. I have been working at Shelter House for 4 weeks now and I absolutely love it. Its a really rewarding job and I honestly enjoy going to work every day.
I feel like I'm starting to build a life for my own now here in Niceville and while i miss being around my family and the two good friends I had left in Jacksonville, I feel being here is best for me. I love having Josh's family close by and going to work every day, meeting new people, and getting involved in the community.
Speaking of which, time to make dinner!

Last week of Europe, Days 12 - 17

So, it's been a busy week! Saturday Margot and I took a 6 hour train ride to Berlin, Germany. There, we met my dad at the train station where he met us from Poland. It was the first time I saw Tamir in a year and a half and I'm still having a hard time putting the experience and my feelings about the meeting into words. Let's just say it answered a lot of questions and I'm glad I saw him, however, nothing much has changed and I don't see another reunion in the near future. But here's a picture of the new Tamir and I infront of Friendship Fountain in Berlin.
Berlin is a city of 800 museums, so Margot and I decided it would be a great place to finally do museums. We went and saw where the Berlin wall was and went to the Checkpoint Charlie museum, the Judaism museum, and the zoo because Berlin has the world's largest amount of species. It's a beautiful city with a blend of new and old architecture.

We returned from Berlin on Monday night and then Tuesday morning I flew to London by myself. I spent the day walking around London alone and it was a wonderful experience in such a beautiful city. It was very invigorating, peaceful and liberating wondering around a city I've never been in another country alone just exploring, wondering around streets, waiting to see what lies around the corner. I saw Westminister Abbey, heard Big Ben chime at 1:00 p.m., ate lunch at the park by the London Eye and had a glass of wine at a pub while I read my book. I really had the best day! Then i took a two hour train ride to Bournemouth where Dan and Nicole picked me up and we went to a pub for trivia night...best part - our team won! The Seven Deadly Sinners :) Being with them made me feel like I was at home in another city, I was with family, and I loved every minute of it, thanks guys!
On Wednesday, we drove to Salisbury where we saw a beautiful cathedral that houses one of the last remaining four copies of the Magna Carta. It was exquisite. I had some fish and chips, and we saw the beach at night which was beautiful. The country side is just gorgeous. Today I took two buses and a plane back to Holland, and I have one more day to enjoy Europe before I fly home Saturday. Ready for home...

Day 11 - Fri. Aug. 21

So I finally visited Amsterdam today! After a relaxing day yesterday, Margot, Paul and I took the train to Amsterdam and met their friend Flores. We took a boat tour along the canals. After that, Paul had a meeting because he's joining a fraternity at the university he'll be attending in Amsterdam. Today he had to check in and got a list of things he needed to do/buy for their first frat meeting Sunday. So we helped him on his scavenger hunt and ran around Amsterdam picking up business cards from places and doing random things on the check list. It was actually fun because I saw parts of Amsterdam I probably wouldn't have seen otherwise. I went by the Anne Frank House but the line to go in was soo long and we were on a time crunch, so we're going back next week for the day to do some museums.
After we were done with everything on the checklist, we drove to get dinner then had dessert at this little outside place that serves Poffertjes, or small, puffed pancakes, with powdered sugar. They're a Dutch favorite, and quite delicious I must say!
Tomorrow is an early day so I'm off to bed!

Day 9 - Wed. Aug. 19

so today was a pretty low key day, as will be the next day or two, which is fine with me! We slept in, because Margot and I both haven't been sleeping well. We ate breakfast while each reading our Twilight books, I'm on the first, she was on the last. After taking it easy in the morning, we headed to an outlet here in Paris which was supposed to be really great. There was honestly no more sight seeing we could have done, and not a lot of walking i was willing to do. So i didn't buy anything really but Margot had the most amazing thing happen - and yes, it is worth blogging about!
Ok, so there was a winter jacket, quite beautiful, marked down to 119 euros. She decided she would put it on her credit card and it would be worth it. As we walk to pay for everything, he says the total is 90 euros for her entire purchase (several things, including the coat). She pays, excitedely, and we rush out the front door and start screaming. No way did that man just sell her an already marked down jacket that should have been 119 euros for, brace yourselves....12.5 euros!!!!!!!!!!!
So now you can imagine out excitement!! The man clearly made a mistake and later on Margot admitted that what she did was probably called stealing, but it wasn't her fault. And anyway, I made up for it later tonight because as we were getting off the metro, our last metro ride in Paris, to come home, I saw a guy trying to get a metro pass but the desk was closed. So I gave him mine and told him it was an unlimited pass that could be used until Sunday. He was very grateful and it made me happy that I could do that for him.
After the exciting shopping experience, we met Ileen at the British embassy here where her boyfriend works and they were having a staff party. So we sat and ate dinner there then headed home. Nothing too exciting, especially because it was excruciating walking around in 90+ degree heat all day. But I have to say, the most exciting part of my day, was talking to my sweet, handsome boyfriend on Skype. He is quite wonderful and I love and miss him very much!
ok, i'm done kfvelling about him. More about Europe later!

Day 8 - Tues. Aug. 18

Today was day two of paris and it was fabulous! We did so much walking in the last two days that my body physically is aching. My legs are still tingling from standing and walking to much. I think we saw every single major monument plus more that is in Paris. Today we started off by visiting the Eiffel Tower which was absolutely gorgeous. Just being there so close was incredible.

Then we went walked, a lot, along the water, to Musee d'Orsay. The art was incredible, the walking, exhausting. But being surrounded by such beauty was humbling.

After that we ate some bread and cheese on a park bench then headed to the Notre Dame. The structure is absolutely beautiful!

The day ended late because we met up with Ileen for dinner and drinks then took a long walk to the metro station and a long ride home. Now i'm going to lay in bed and read more of my twilight book and have a good night's sleep!