Summertime and the living is easy

I hate to jinx it, but I think summer has finally arrived in France. The weather has been a fickle friend for the past couple months - literally dropping or rocketing 10-30 degrees in a day. One day I'd go to work all bundled up under cloudy skies, and the next day I'm sweating my socks off inthe blazing sun. The saddest part is that the nice weather only lasted 2 or three days a week , at most, and the cold, overcast, drizzly days in between were more than enough to kill any joy the sunshine brought.

However, I am happy to report that the weather has been beautiful for well over a week now. In fact, it rained a few days ago, but stayed warm, and was still sunny in the afternoon. Hurray!!

The past couple years, I spent summer sweating it up in the extreme heat and humidity of central Florida. I have to admit, it's nice to enjoy a gentler summer - and the cool, gloomy winter weather I endured only makes me appreciate this even more. This recent stretch of warmth is about as close to perfect summer conditions as one can get!

Summer brings back so many fun memories and feelings.

I love the smell just before a summer storm, and just after the rain.

I love the feeling of walking barefoot through cool grass (another luxury one rarely enjoys with all the crabgrass in Florida).

I love that it is noticeably cooler in the shade.

I love that even though I'm a pale redhead, I can actually tan. Yay for vitamin D and a healthy glow:)

I love playing soccer or going running in the evening.

I LOVE that the temperature drops ever so slightly at night - just enough to be refreshing.

And I love that it stays light out so late now, that you just want to play forever.

Summertime is beautiful in Paris! I have the blessing of living a quick metro train ride from a city full of parks and sites and yummy food. It's like a mini-vacation every time I go. And I have so many wonderful people to share it with! Lately I've had lots of visitors - and therefore excuses to play:) I'm becoming closer with my work friends, who are introducing me to the local favorites.

France also has this beautiful thing called "Soldes." It is a month-long sale, in almost every store, and up to 70% off in some cases. They do it every year. Isn't that fabulous?!

I have to say that the air conditioning here is pretty weaksauce, and somehow they missed the memo on window screens, so night time can be a little toasty. I miss the beach days, YSA activities, pool time, lizards, slurpees, and roadtrips from my Florida summers, but I'm sure I'll have all that again someday.

In the meantime, I'm basking in the glory of my European summer. I've already made some great memories, and I'm certain I will make many more in the months to come. YAY FOR SUMMER!!

Getting better all the time

Recently I have been in a funk. I don't know how else to describe it. I just felt frustrated and unmotivated and discouraged and lost and unloved. I know, lame right? I have so much love and so many wonderful people in my life, and I live in France for Pete's sake!! Well I am happy to report that I think I'm about out of said funk. I feel lighter and happier and prettier and excited about life. Sorry for the previous negativity, but we wouldn't appreciate the highs without the lows, right?
I don't think there's any specific solution or remedy when you feel like that. Sometimes you just have to keep pushing through, and eventually it goes away. But you have to decide you won't let it win.
My recent battle involved a lot of prayer, dancing, patient parents, a great bishop, two of the most amazing best friends a girl could ask for, way fun friends here in France who provided plenty of healthy distractions, lots of sleep, some good old-fashioned physical activity, and Paris. Just wandering around the city can be so therapeutic:)
So thanks for bearing wth me. I look forward to reporting more personal progress in the near future. One step at a time...

PS I love my Daddy

I have the best Daddy in the entire world for so many reasons. He listens to me, counsels me, and helps me keep pushing forward through the muck of life. But most importantly, he knows me so well and still loves me - just the way I am: faults, frailties, and mistakes included. He's apparently the only man in the world capable of that feat.

Thank heaven for my Daddy.

Why is it that the people and things that you love the most and make you happiest are the very things that can hurt you the most and cause you the most misery?? I try to keep minimal expectations, and I still feel used, disappointed, and betrayed. No wonder people have trust issues...I think I'm developing my own. Meh!

hmmm...

I am a dreamer and a schemer. I always have been. I like to take chances and go on adventures. I believe all things are possible if you want them badly enough and are willing to fight for them. Of course, I also think there is a careful balance to be found between my own will, and that of the Lord. However, I believe He wants me to be happy and therefore pursue my dreams.

Lots of people look at my life and think, "Wow, you've done so many cool things! You've traveled to so many places and you have so many friends. Your life is so exciting!"
And they are right. I have done some pretty cool stuff. I took the opportunities that came my way, and I have been very blessed.

But sometimes I think that I just keep setting myself up for disappointment. The higher you reach, the further you have to fall when someone pulls the step out from under you. The bigger the dream, the bigger the heartache when it gets squashed.

Maybe if I wasn't such a dreamer I wouldn't get so hurt. Maybe I wouldn't feel so alone. Maybe I would keep the same job for more than a year. Maybe I would actually establish myself somewhere. Maybe I could be a mom.

Is that the price of happiest? Giving up the crazy dreams for the sheer chance of stability, acceptance, real love... Or do I keep searching amongst the impossibilities?

And if I stop dreaming and scheming and fighting and believing, would I really still be me?

The Beach

A little over a year ago I was in Tampa with friends, and we decided to go to the beach at night. Ok, I decided, and my crazy-awesome friends came along for the ride. Since I hadn’t been there in a while, one of the locals took the lead. We followed him along the regular route, and all sorts of familiar territory. I was about at the point of feeling confident on my own, and thought I had figured out where we were at (I have a pretty good sense of direction). But then we came to a police barrier and had to take a detour.
Again, I followed. But I was skeptical. I did not recognize the new route. Time was passing, we were still driving and I was getting aggravated. Every few minutes I would get caught up in conversation, start singing along to the radio, and enjoying the ride. But then an unexpected turn or unfamiliar street would get me riled up again. I even began to insult our leader, thinking he was lost himself and was just leading us further away from our destination.
By the time we finally reached the beach - almost 2 hours later - I was so annoyed. I felt like he had led us on a crazy-long drive on purpose and I was so mad at him. I got out of the car biting my tongue, and stomped off to the water.
I kicked off my flip-flops as soon as I hit the sand, and within seconds I was mesmerized by the sound of the waves crashing along the shore. The wind whipped through my hair and the stars sparkled overhead as we waded in the cool springtime waters of the Gulf. All my anger and tension melted away with the complete peace and calm that I felt there on the beach. Suddenly that miserable drive was worth every second, just to enjoy a blissful hour under the stars at the beach.
On the way home we drove back the way we normally would have, and I finally got some answers. The cause of our detour had been a nasty car accident across all four lanes of the main bridge connecting the smaller island to the mainland. By the time we left they had cleared it and reopened to bridge so we could see why we had been redirected.
Only then did I realize that our friend had been guiding us to the best alternate route, albeit long, twisting, and confusing. So even though he knew the way and was trying his best to get us to the beach - and he knew how important it was to me – I didn’t understand, and got upset with the very person who was doing the most to help me. He stuck with us and led us all the way there. All I could see were unnecessary turns and the ridiculously long time it took to get there. It was different from what I knew and had planned for, so it frustrated me. I assumed I knew better instead of just trusting my guide and enjoying the drive. Fortunately for me, I still followed despite my doubts and grumbling, so I eventually made it. And in the end, it was even better that I had ever anticipated.

The next day, as I was retelling the story, I discovered an allegory in my experience. Now bear with me, but isn’t that how life is at times? You are cruising along thinking you know exactly where you are going, and you are in control. You know what you want, and it’s so close you can almost taste it! You’ve got plans and goals and you are so excited to get there. But then, all of a sudden, you hit a roadblock – inexplicably you are sent in a new direction.
You are frustrated, confused, but not alone. You have the counsel and support of wise parents, friends, and leaders to guide you. Most importantly, you have a Savior leading the way; one who has been there before and knows exactly what you need to reach your goals. He knows the desires of your heart, and even better, your individual needs. He knows your potential, and is virtually leading you by the hand through the unexpected turns and challenges of life. Yet in spite of all that assurance, you doubt, question, and even insult those who are trying the most to help you.
My life has taken several detours over the past year. It is not always what I want or expect, and it has certainly not been the easiest path. However, I know that this crazy, long, and unfamiliar path will eventually lead me to my destination. I know it will be worth every painful moment in between. Someday all the pieces will come together for me, and I will feel the total peace, satisfaction, and sheer joy of reaching my goal. Not to mention the blessing of all the amazing adventures, experiences, and friends I will am finding along the way. My ‘beach’ will be more peaceful and beautiful and happy than I could have ever anticipated, and I’ll appreciate it so much more because of the long and winding road I’m taking to get there.

Whatever your ‘beach’ is, keep holding on the way and trust in your guide. He knows what He is doing, and He will never lead you astray. And don’t forget to sing along to the music and enjoy the scenery along the way. Half the joy of the destination is found in the journey. Savor the glimpses and make the most of the moments. No matter how long it takes, we can - and must - choose to be happy along the way.

Happy...

Looks like this:

I just spent 17 days with a guy who makes me laugh, lets me cry, teaches me things, challenges me, teases me relentlessly, and is ridiculously good-looking. Every day I woke up and realized it was really happening. Yep, we traveled France and Italy together, and didn't even want to kill eachother at the end. This is dating on crack! And you pretty much have to be insane to attempt it. But we did, and it was wonderful.

I'm sure I will further elaborate on our adventures, but for now, let me share the greatest lesson I gained from these past couple weeks:
Life is meant to be lived by two. It is so much easier, and happier, when spent with another person. It is so much better to be part of a team, to lead sometimes, and to follow in others. To make decisions together. To face frustrations and opposition from 2 perspectives. Happiness is not just about the journey, but about sharing it. It's about grocery shopping, cooking, catching trains, climbing mountains, sleeping on the beach, swapping ice cream cones, taking pictures at arms length, sunsets, full moons, exhaustion, sunburn, pizza, talking till the wee small hours of the morning, kisses, crepes, laughing uncontrollably, and eating way too much chocolate.

It only took me a couple weeks to figure out what I've been skirting around for years. Not that I can't have fun, learn, and enjoy life on my own, but I have now experienced a glimpse of why we spent our lives searching for our "other half." We are incomplete alone.

Someday I'll be complete for real! For now, I treasure the glimpses:)