Listen to her cute little voice. I love it! Favorite line: "it was really fun!" Also check out Savannah's sassy pose at the end. Diva in the making?

Today was my last day at school. Yippee! Tomorrow I'll be in Ireland with little Lisa. I planned our whole trip (she was really proud of me). Rick Steves helped a lot...

I went to the British Museum today (out of my own will, victory!) and IT WAS AWESOME.
Dialogue:
Me- "Ancient Egypt was my obsession when I was home-schooled. THIS ROCKS!!!"
Hannah-"I know I love mummies. Wait. Did you just say home-schooled!?"
Yes, I was home-schooled. I turned out okay I think...thanks mom. But really, the Egyptian exhibit rocked my socks off.

Pray it doesn't rain the whole time I'm in Ireland and Scotland! Ps- there have been gales in Scotland recently. HA 95mph winds. Awesome. Maybe I'll bring an umbrella and try to be like Mary Poppins :)

If I had an Orchard

What a crazy weekend! Saturday we went to the Tower of London and got to see the Crown Jewels....INSANE. So many diamonds....too many diamonds! Sunday we were supposed to go to Bath and Stonehenge but public transportation failed us. We left the lodge at 6:30am and found out all trains were cancelled so we had to catch a bus. Then we get to Wimbledon and the trains there were cancelled too. So we get on another bus and get to Putney Bridge and then finally we catch the District Line but we go to the wrong place. So we go back and then get on the wrong train again. BASICALLY we get to the Victoria station 15 minutes past the time we were supposed to be there and missed the bus to leave.

The weird thing was that I had so much peace the entire time. I knew that it was going to work because there was no other explanation besides the fact that Jesus was gonna work it out. It was quite a stressful situation but I wasn't stressed at all. In fact we did a music video on the train hehe. AND guess what, the tour people let us reschedule the day so that we can still go!!! Thanks Jesus :)

Last night we painted nails and watched Love Actually. We watched Love Actually IN ENGLAND!! I think it's awesome. This whole month has been like a sleepover, I love it! Did I already mention that Lisa and I share a bed? I will hold the record for sleeping in the same bed as her except for Joe MUAHAHA. Weird and awesome.  Here is a picture of how I did Hannah's hair the other night, isn't it hot?!?!?

Olga

I'm listening to Fleet Foxes right now which explains the title of the post. I love them. Especially in England. The weather is SO Fleet Foxes weather...cold, windy and cloudy. YUM! I will say that they aren't the same without Benjamin. I love music, it's the best! Soon I'll move to Christmas music hehe.

Today we are going to the British Museum and Harrods yippee! Ps- Harrods is like a department store on steroids. So so massive. Also- right now I'm doing some major people watching...I have a problem.  Another thing- I miss my little hispanic class. Oh how I love them! The kids here are really cute but I like MY babies.

I'm going to get an iced chai despite the fact that it's 45 degrees. Mom and Dad would be proud of me that I've only had Starbucks 3 times since being here :)

Big Ben

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for me! I don't think we are going to be teaching very much....I think it'll be more observing and recess duty than anything. Not complaining. I'm tired! Feeling really sick today :( Booooo congestion and aches!! I'll get better, I got my Mucinex and my cough drops and my water. I'm gonna flush it out....IN THE NAME OF JESUS LEAVE NOW SICKNESS YOU HAVE NO PLACE HERE!!!!

You would not believe how different they do school here. It's like half the day they are playing!! I was so surprised. Also, for PE they just strip down in front of everyone and change. In the classroom. Boys AND girls!!! Shocking really. The kids' names are so cute...Owen, Lewis, Alfie, Isabella, Madelena...I just wanted to squeeze their little British cheeks! My teacher is SO nice and cute. I love her already. There are 4 teachers in my class including me so I really did absolutely nothing. It was a nice change ;) My class is Year 3 which is 2nd grade in the US. Babies!! I'm used to my 4th graders and I miss them SO!!! I really love how I was able to be at my school in Waco on the first day of school. It feels weird coming here in the middle of November. I'll be ready to go back to my class in January :)

Yesterday we walked 9 miles at least. I felt like an old lady because I was so tired! My back was killer. I can't be THAT out of shape. Lisa continues to make us go to museums. It's probably a good thing because I wouldn't go in them if I had my own choice ;) Thanks Lis for keeping me cultured.

Today I think we are going to Les Miserables!!! So. Excited.

London calling

Hello from London!!!!

It's already the third day. Holy moly. Currently in the busiest Starbucks EVER. No joke. Constant line (or queue in England). Rachel is munching on Galaxy chocolate....I'm getting a stockpile of this for every month muahaha. Lauren has fallen asleep AGAIN. We're keeping a tally...it's up to 4 right now. Hello we are Americans tourists! Lisa is reading Rick Steve's....she is OBSESSED of course. My little planner roomie! Mary Katherine and Hannah are obsessed with Viber. Hannah calls me tongue-girl because I can touch my tongue to my nose....hopefully it changes to Lizard-girl because tongue-girl just sounds bizarre. Rachel-"I think we're just going to pub it up tonight." Thanks for the update Rachel.

Room deets: Lisa and I share a room....and a bed. So we snuggle. Literally. Weird? Don't care because I'M IN ENGLAND!!! What what!? Also our shower/tub is SO LONG.

Funny and awkward:

1. Getting lost on the bus for 2 hours and getting hit on. Good thing Lis can flash her ring and ward creepers away....thanks Joe ;) 
2. Having to use a converter in Starbucks and them not knowing what an Iced Chai was...um HELLO.
3. Men here are not Gentlemen. I like US men...or really Texas men....or really just Ben. Hi Ben!
4. Lisa and me literally crying the night we got here. Thank goodness for each other :)
5. Us-"Hi do you know where Harrods is?" Random man- "Yea it's that massive building right in front of you with lights all over it." Oops.
6. Now Mary Katherine is asleep. 2 down, 4 to go.
7. Lisa has made a schedule for us. I love organized people. 

Wahoo yay England! More updates to come. Love you all!!

{My heart will burst at the thought of..}

1. My dad being healed. Oh how I wait for that blessed day that his body finally responds to the promise written in the Scripture. The promise that He has already paid the price. We are saved. "Saved" in the Bible comes from the Greek word sozo. Sozo means several things: cured, ensured salvation, get well, made well, recovered and restored. Restored is my favorite. I love the notion that He restores me daily. He restores me mentally, physically and emotionally. He has restored everyone of us when He died for us...by His stripes we are healed- Isaiah 53:5. 
2. Having my own home. I get butterflies when I think about the tiny house that I so want in the future! It will be warm and cozy and clean. There will always be pillows and blankets in the living room so I can lay on the floor with loved ones and talk about life as we know it. There will be candles to make me feel like I am walking into a perfectly lovely store. I want a tin roof to fall asleep under with the rain pitter-pattering like a noise machine app on my phone. I want a rap-around porch with rocking chairs that I can sit and rock away the years with family. I want a yard with a swing on the tree so I can watch the world while swaying with the wind. I want flowers because there really isn't any better smell than freshly planted flowers in mulch. I want lots of crazy mugs that show how many places I've traveled and drank delicious chai and (hopefully) coffee. I want my bathroom mirrors to be covered in verses and Truths. I want mason jars and twinkle lights all over. I want a crafty room for the kiddies with chalkboard walls. I just can't wait for a home. 
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero's - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo
3. Europe in the winter! OH I cannot wait till I get to Europe and teach the little ones and travel and all things good. I have a feeling I will want to stay. Can't wait to pretend I'm really artsy fartsy. 
4. Becoming a teacher. I can't wait to love my students. I can't wait to know all of their names and little of what makes them up. I can't wait to write down silly quotes and take silly pictures of crumbs on their face or their shirts inside out. I can't wait to welcome them with a hug every morning and push them out of my class in the afternoon :)

I sometimes get so happy thinking about the future and what is to come! Joy joy joy joy down in my heart, YAY! 

I love the here and now. But as Anne Shirley says: tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it. 

glass lakes and peaks so tall.

Norway, I love you.

ready for a break, so...

autumnal.

i want real fall. i want autumn. where the leaves fall and are perfectly brilliant colors.

at 11:11 i will wish for that. dang, now it won't come true.