those are my parents, and my oldest brother.
today, my parents have been married 33 years. this is a post in honor of their honor and their trust and love. they are so open and so loving to their children and everyone their children know. they open their arms to those in need and i love that about them.
also, my brother will be a father in a matter of weeks. i felt the little one kick yesterday. so crazy alien and so crazy cool. props to the sister-in-law who's making that baby. she is doing well and looking so cute.
pics of europe when i can. stupid laptop is still broken.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
home is here
you know that song? by edward sharp and the magnetic zeros? well, i don't have one of those people in my life, where home is with them. so, home is here. in california. and provo. and now london. my home is lots of places. i feel like sometimes i throw the word around. but really. home, as in america, is great. i love it here. the toilets are normal, the sinks have one faucet(it's called a faucet), my fam is here and my bed has missed me.
there is a lot of evidence on facebook right now that all my london friends miss it there. all the ridiculous sleepovers and the readings and the nights in south bank. i miss those too. but right now, i feel totally and completely content where i am. california. it's a wonderful place.
soon to be at this girl's wedding and i am ecstatic at seeing her home town and being with her family again. it's gonna be great.
there is a lot of evidence on facebook right now that all my london friends miss it there. all the ridiculous sleepovers and the readings and the nights in south bank. i miss those too. but right now, i feel totally and completely content where i am. california. it's a wonderful place.
soon to be at this girl's wedding and i am ecstatic at seeing her home town and being with her family again. it's gonna be great.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
dublin
yesterday ashley and i walked around, saw the book of kells(way cool) and fell asleep in the student center at trinity college. ate at busy bean cafe and shopped. had dinner at a lovely little restaurant. early this morning, she left.
i found the church building on my own this morning and i am SO PROUD of myself. guidance and answers to prayer come when you really need them. wowza. i got a tad lost, but found my way shortly. church was excellent. and after, i was invited to stay for a minor feast of manna. and tonight, there is a broadcast of the Christmas devo i'm sure you all saw last week.
i am loving this. two days of traveling, here i come. i leave tomorrow night.
i found the church building on my own this morning and i am SO PROUD of myself. guidance and answers to prayer come when you really need them. wowza. i got a tad lost, but found my way shortly. church was excellent. and after, i was invited to stay for a minor feast of manna. and tonight, there is a broadcast of the Christmas devo i'm sure you all saw last week.
i am loving this. two days of traveling, here i come. i leave tomorrow night.
Friday, December 9, 2011
glasgow
when i get home, i can post photos. but hanging out here with jade and bethany and ashley is so much fun.
we got indian food, and we went to kelvingrove art gallery and museum. also, we went to the people's palace. we stopped by the glasgow school of art, as well. a fun day.
to dublin early tomorrow.
see yous.
we got indian food, and we went to kelvingrove art gallery and museum. also, we went to the people's palace. we stopped by the glasgow school of art, as well. a fun day.
to dublin early tomorrow.
see yous.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
leaving london
today i left london.
today i rode on a coach for over 5 hours.
today i walked down bayswater and went into waterstone's for the last time in a long while.
today i felt sad.
today i felt glad.
today i almost cried.
today i am finally sitting on a couch and relaxing with only two people in my company.
today is an okay day.
today i rode on a coach for over 5 hours.
today i walked down bayswater and went into waterstone's for the last time in a long while.
today i felt sad.
today i felt glad.
today i almost cried.
today i am finally sitting on a couch and relaxing with only two people in my company.
today is an okay day.
Monday, November 28, 2011
update
last week we went to stratford-upon-avon and then to oxford. i really should write more about it. i will. but the sad news is my computer got stepped on. the screen is broke. so, no more pics. maybe i can find some way to get them on here, but don't expect anything from me. i'm still grieving.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
seriously?
pictures of brighton
these pictures are the only ones i have of brighton. this day we went to greyhound stadium and watched 12 or 13 races. oh it was only about 4 hours. it was a great 4 hours. so relaxing. why didn't i take pictures of the dogs? don't ask me. i'm a fool.
that's hot cocoa in my hand. i think laura has candy.
our books. baha. even though bryn was trying really hard, the dog she picked to win lost. every time. literally. came in last place. it was hilarious. natalie thought so.
gummy lips.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
brighton
i just came back from brighton. it was wonderful.
i read a book in waterstone's bookstore. the whole book. in 3 hours. it felt so good.
our hostel was a little gross. and there were soooooo many people in that room. it was muggy.
the beach was beautiful. i ate a burger and chips and a soft drink for 4 pounds. brilliant. also, i saw the adventures of tin tin in 3-d and it was so good!
great weekend.
pictures maybe?
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
real feelings
today we went to see the gerhard richter show at the tate modern. i wasn't expecting to enjoy it, to be honest. the only work i had seen of his was stuff i wasn't really impressed with. so, i just wasn't expecting to love it.
it was prefaced by a really enjoyable walk with brooklynn. we talked about real things and shared real friend details about our lives. boys and families and future and problem solving and decision making. it was just real. and lovely.
so, we arrived at the tate and got tickets for the exhibition and went in. he is still alive and still painting. there were 13 different rooms with paintings and installations. there were two abstractions of lions that began the effect. the next room had richter's first attempts at using a squeegee to paint and i was in awe. i stared and i thought. for the very first time in my life, i was inspired to paint. i feel empowered by these paintings. and i can truthfully say that i have not been affected by paintings this way before. i'm not even sure i really love all of richter's work, but the idea of his lifetime of work, his continuation of work, his exploration and his dedication to art and painting and life, is inspiring to me. so inspiring that i will paint tonight. paint and use a lot of paint, and take risks and use colors i may or may not be comfortable with. i feel hopeful about finding a niche and living with a passion for the rest of my life. this may not make a ton of sense to someone not engaged with art every day, but this is a breakthrough for me.
i feel so good.
i've got just over a month left in europe and i am doing my best to continue this fake dream life i'm living. i have so much to see and do. i am so happy here. and i know that i will come back to europe. i feel the fire for seeing the world and i feel very hopeful about loving every inch of it. i can't wait.
back to real life in january. not going to think about it.
another note: i think it's really the fall leaves that make thanksgiving so full of gratitude and love. the colors of thanksgiving are the best of all the colors. and i am grateful for color, and for the season that has claim over the best ones.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
paris
i went to the: tour eiffel.
champs e'lysee.
sacre coeur
saw a man do impossible things with a soccer ball.
found the moulin rouge, well, laurie found it, actually.
visited oscar wilde's grave. and was devastated to find it wrapped up to be cleaned... i was very upset.
but got over it slightly when i saw chopin's grave.
ate a creme broulee flavored macaron and it was INSANE. got it at the galeries de lafayette.
saw the round about of round abouts. this is the top of the arc de triomphe.
went to the louvre.
saw notre dame.
sat by the seine on the most beautiful fall day with brooklynn and ashley and laurie.
not pictured: visiting the musee rodin, musee d'orsay, the orangerie, the quai branly museum, the pompidou, the boat tour, and my entire trip to versaille. oh, and the 7 crepes i ate. 5 days? yeah... yeah.
back from paris
Sunday, October 23, 2011
primary
i teach the valiants at church. today we had the primary program. then i taught the valiants. then we had sharing time. i do not know how you do that every sunday.
i am exhausted.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
a crab
there was this little dog following us around at saint michael's mount. he would run into the water and expect us to follow. he wanted so badly to be chased and played with.
once, he got close enough to pet and we were talking to him. i told him, very light heartedly, to find us a crab. and he was right by this rock and started sniffing. he was finding something and i started to pull the seaweed out of the way and there it was! a little crab! it was so funny and perfect. what a good little dog. he did exactly as he was told.
a few things about my life right now:
i live here with about 60 other people. 3 families. one of two. one of 3 and one of 6. two boys two girls, just like mine. the rest of the people here are 20-year-old girls. sometimes, it feels like hell.
i have a few little groups of friends. and there are many that are dear to me. but i will never live like this again. i am in a room with 13 other people in it. i hear that beloved private room calling my name all the way from provo. i miss having my own space.
i am learning about my happiness and about my sense of identity. i don't define myself by other people. i am made up of my own opinions and attitudes. i feel i am taking ownership of my life. i have claimed parts of my soul. a small part of it has been found in london. but mostly, i found them on jenkin's green in ambleside and on the cliffs in tintagel. i'm hoping to find a few more pieces in scotland and ireland in december.
london is a wonderful city. all the shops close at 6. only restaurants stay open late. i love it because it means people have lives. and people are doing more than shopping. eating is such a better hobby. i can appreciate their love of food and other people. it is greater than their need for material goods.
i like living here. i think this is my unofficial committment to live a fuller life here and take advantage of what is around me. more museums. more adventure. it all starts tonight at the concert with brooklynn and katie.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
in loving memory
warren q mcneil
is this not a totally studly pic of my grandpa? he passed away last week. i know he is in a more comfortable place and i'm glad his suffering is done. emphysema isn't fun for anyone.
also, i'm love love this photo of my grandparents. i think it is so beautiful. can't wait to see g-ma darlene at christmas.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
southern tour
our southern tour consisted of bath, glastonbury, hiking in tintagel and penzance, st. michaels mount, salisbury, stonehenge and stourhead gardens. oh, and jane austen's house, where i bought mansfield park. my favorite one.
me, tourist version, at the roman baths. ps- the water is real warm. also very green, as you can see.
brooklynn and i got lost. then we found this vast garden. quaint and perfect.
conclusion: i still love my life, a lot. going home to london is a dream. i will try to be better at taking pics and posting them. also, on halloween... i'm gonna be in paris... shyeah.
buddy
Sunday, October 2, 2011
feed the birds
for honeybush
oh cambridge
subtle nuance is redundant. sorry, intellectual world. had to look up how to spell "intellectual".
oh beautiful cambridge.
river cam
one of the many gorgeous colleges at cambridge. its name is escaping me.
punting. best. with laurie and laura.
our dishy punting guide, omar.
"i bet you a million pounds you all make blogs."
elsa. cutest cutest baby. she's the daughter of one of our program directors.
i really am enjoying myself. sometimes i feel a lot older than some of the girls here. it's helping me understand how much life experience i do, actually, have. i feel confident here. i am making the effort to have time to myself because 45 girls this age is making me crazy. i'm beginning to hermit some times of the day, but i still feel productive. and i'm still at south bank every weekend with friends. making friends, keeping friends. balancing it all out in this historic city. i think i'm building a motto. i'll post it when it's finished.
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