Beautiful Things

beau·ty 

   noun

the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arisingfrom sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), ameaningful design or pattern, or something else (as apersonality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

It's that time of year again. Finals! Lately, I have realized the people that I live around and interact with are either consumed by Christmas stuff, or finals, seeing as this coming week is the final week of the semester. To step away from all of that I go to song.

Over the past week or so of finals and life, I have come across a Gungor song that is called "Beautiful Things." I have fallen in love with this song. I even bought and downloaded it off of amazon I loved it so much. This is a regular song talking about God, but over the course of listening to it over 20 times it really speaks to me. 

Part of the chorus of the song goes like this: 

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust

When listening to it the first 15 times, I thought they just repeated this phrase. It's a great phrase. God has made beautiful things out of dust. Think back to the last time you cleaned off the dust of a table or vent area. It was gross. Just looking at it on the swifer wand duster it looked bad. You couldn't believe how much dust had accumulated. 

Switch your thoughts to your friends and family. The most beautiful people in your life that God had created. Go back to remembering that dust that you swept up. That's was what man and Your images of beautiful people were made out of. Dust. 

In Genesis 2:7

"Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

And Genesis 3:9

"By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Sometimes it's hard to think that out of something we reject and disgust as something beautiful. Sometimes it's hard to think that even though we are made from dust we are beautiful to God. 

I had said that I thought they repeated this phrase, but come to find out they don't. the whole chorus is:

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

This final part says he makes beautiful things out of us. Out of us. Not just that we were made beautifully, but that he takes us, sins and all and makes beautiful things out of us. This line just captures me. He not only made us beautiful, but he's using us to create beautiful things too. 

This point is very important to me. As an artist I create things. I try my best to create beautiful things. I want God to use me and the talents he blessed me with to create beautiful things to bless others with. I'm hoping that through my discovery of these talents God makes me more beautiful in His image. 

"So God created mankind in his own image, 
   in the image of God he created them; 
   male and female he created them." -Genesis 1:27

Operation: Antwerp

"Life can either be accepted or changed. If it is not accepted, it must be changed. If it cannot be changed, then it must be accepted." -Winston Churchill



Now I know most of you have seen me, congratulated me, and most likely have heard the story. For the rest of you let me start at the beginning. 


On June 10, 2011 Eric and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary of dating. This was big and exciting for both of us. We were able to have a nice dinner date and spend time at the beach in Holland, MI. It was wonderful. This was the last time I would see him before making my trek up to the U.P. to work at Cedar Campus for another summer. I left for camp in the following weekend and got settled in with new and old friends at camp. While there, Eric was in Holland working at LG Chem and getting adjusted to being in Michigan next to the lakes and beaches. He was even able to go and spend a weekend with my family at Higgins Lake, without me. Both of us kept in touch with calls, texts, and emails like normal, but the subject of conversation started to shift after a bit of me being up at camp. As the summer wore on the conversations flowed from daily activities to the future and what God is leading us to. We then started to see and ask God about where he was leading us, together, as a couple. We started comparing lifestyles, and what we think we would like, want or dream of wanting or doing in the time we have here. We started talking of engagement. It was exciting, nerve wrecking, and yet not surprising. After we had a few of these talks the topic kind of died down. I'm pretty sure we were both kind of processing it and letting the thoughts sink in. The summer edged its way to August, where it gets a bit more exciting. 
Once those talks of marriage died down, Eric was set on his path. He wanted me to be his for the rest of his days and mine. On the return trip from Camp Perry, a gun shooting competition, his car made a detour to Riley, Michigan at 2pm, where at that moment he arrived my parents were on the phone with me. So here's Eric at my house waiting for 1 of 2 biggest questions he gets to ask in his life. Here I am still at camp having one of the shortest conversations with my mom and not being able to figure out why it seemed like she was in a hurry for me to hang up. As she hung up the phone the conversation began. Eric was asking my father if he would allow for Eric to marry his one and only daughter. Both my father and mother approved and Eric was then in the clear to talk guns with my dad. 
Now we skip ahead to the end of August. I am now home working and preparing for school. I am ready for my "vacation" over Labor Day weekend with Eric and friends of ours at Cedar Campus. School starts the last days of August, such torture sitting in class knowing Cedar is a matter of hours away. It hits Labor Day weekend. Now the ride up to Cedar was interesting. We sat in a traffic jam for about an 1 to 1 1/2 hours. I was in vacation mode: we get there when we get there. Eric on the other hand was a 6 year old on Christmas Eve just waiting to open his present. Anyhow we finally get to Cedar at like 9 or 10pm setting up the 2 tents, one for each of us, in the headlight light we had. After all set up we could relax now at Cedar. 
The next morning we found out our friends, Jake and Lindsey arrived and survived the storm. We got around to making some breakfast and the sky cleared up for us to have a lovely afternoon couple time. Eric sent Jake and Lindsey on the Timberwolf trail while Eric and I hiked out to Whitefish point. Eric would insert in here that I walked fast and talked a lot out to Whitefish, I would say I was keeping up with his steps since my strides are smaller. Anyways, we get out to the shoreline by Whitefish point and it was gorgeous! The sun was shinning, wasn't too hot or too cold. It was just a beautiful afternoon. We decide to sit on what we call "our rock." This rock was the place Eric asked me to be his girlfriend. It is the first time both of us have been at Whitefish point together since we started dating. As we sit on the rock, we hold hands and enjoy the scenery. Then Eric starts looking for something in his bag. Honestly, I'm peeking to see if there is a small box for me; denied. No small box. However, there was a bigger, black bag that had something in it. As he pulls out the mystery item, he places a scrapbook in my hands with the title "Eric & Sara." My mind was racing, now it stopped in it's tracks. I am one who tries to figure things out and makes all the connections at a reasonable speed. This scrapbook my mind went blank. As I opened it I saw a line from our Psalm along with a King of hearts card. I flip through the pages very slowly and carefully taking in everything there, with Eric inserting descriptions and explanations here and there. I don't know how he felt as I progressed, but I know I was just soaking it all in one page at a time. Each page was a date or event that we celebrated together over the past year. As I turned the last page, I'm pretty sure my heart stopped. It was white-ish with diamond jewels on it. The left page said "I love you" and on the right page there was a ring. I was breathless. I looked at him as I became teary eyed. He said stand up. As I stood upon the rock he took out the ring and knelt down and asked "Sara Farver, will you marry me?" I found my breath and softly said "Yes."  As he slipped the ring on my finger the loons near by gave their cry of approval and now I can't be sure, but I at least think there were some angels singing in heaven that day. 


"The man said 'This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.' That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh" -Genesis 2:23-24

I am a Photographer

"Buying a Nikon doesn't make you a photographer.  It makes you a Nikon owner."  ~Author Unknown


As I come upon my last week here at Cedar for the summer, I start to reflect on what has happened and what I've become in my short 2 months here. First of all I should explain that looking back upon a summer is hard to do. To try and remember all the details and events that have happened up to this point in time. But yet when you add Cedar Campus to that equation it becomes difficult for you to remember what you did yesterday or even what day yesterday was. When at Cedar the days of glory blend together to not make up a summer, but to make an experience. 


Working at Cedar Campus has been a wonderful decision for my life. Not just because I got to work taking pictures of everything, not just because I got to live on lakefront for a few months, not because the friends I've made are freaking fantastic and it's not because it's the place I've met my current boyfriend. This decision to work here has a much higher relevance to my life. It has been one of the best decisions for my life because I got to grow in my faith with God, and start to discover who I am in Him, through Him and with Him. 


As I've gone through life I've been called an employee, a student desk worker, a babysitter, a ticket taker and seller, but never have I realized that that isn't who or what I do. Well, okay it's what I do for a job at that time in my life, but it's not how I normally define myself. When working here at Cedar this summer, I've been getting a different view on life, my life especially. Now I want to say that when working at Cedar I am on crew. I am part of crew and will be addressed as crew from day one to my last day here this summer. Nothing about that will change. However, when asked what I do on crew, my answer has evolved. It's always interesting talking to families when asked that typical question: "What do you do on crew?" 
I will demonstrate a typical conversation I have when eating dinner with a family I've just met. 


Camper:"What department do you work for on crew?"
Me: "I'm actually the camp photographer for the summer."
C: "So you get to take pictures of everything that is going on here?"
M: "Yes."
C:"Is it just for this week or have you done this all summer?"
M:" All summer."
C: "Really!?"
M:"Yup."


I don't know how many times I've gotten to explain to families that I take pictures, here at Cedar, all summer long. It's been interesting. I usually respond gracefully as if they haven't understood I'm the photographer yet, even if they've seen me around camp taking pictures  already. But what I want to say is that even though I say this to them, I'm starting to realize that it hasn't internalized yet. I mean this is really my first job, being hired specifically for my profession. I know my professor is guiding me and telling me that I am the photographer and I'm able to get into everything that is happening, but deep down I have been lacking something. 


Now as this summer is winding down for me, well mainly here at Cedar I am starting to see, finally, that I have to wise up and learn that photography isn't a hobby anymore. It's not just what I like to do or just a gift God has blessed me with. I need to realize when I am getting people asking me to take pictures for them, and I'm working for a camp that, in all reality, no matter what the world's opinion is on my work is that I am a photographer. 




" We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." ~Romans 12:6-8

One bread, One body...

"United we stand, divided we fall."-Aesop

I've been taught that there is one body in Christ and that we all have our own way of expressing love, worship, graditude and occupation for God's plan in the world. I am in a Family group here at camp and we are discussing our vocation, God's calling for us in life. While reading and discussing the book Courage and Calling  and working at the camp and me graduating next year I am starting to wonder what and where I belong in Christ.

There is a verse in the bible in Romans that talks about how each of us is a part in Christ. We all have seperate calling that make up the body of Christ. It tells us to not be jealous of another part. This got me thinking: What part would I be? If I could pin point a specific body part in the body of Christ what would I resemble? After only a few minutes of thinking, the answer came to me. I kind of laughed when I realized, I would be an eye. No doubt an eye. There are two reasons for this thinking. The first: I am a photographer. I look through the lens to see all of which God created. I am one who shows you what God sees and what God created. I try to look at everything as God's precious treasure. I've strive to make everything beauitful for God. Also, I attempt to capture God's passion in those around me, especially here at camp. Now the second reason is a bit personal, but definitely applicable to why I am a God-eye. I have this undenying interest in peoples eyes. I believe you can tell someone's emotions by looking into their eyes. They can show what's deep inside. No matter if you're trying to hide emotions, if you read them right, the eyes will tell you what's really going on.

Knowing I can act as an eye for God's glory makes me feel like I have a purpose and a talent I use for God. There are other things I'm quite good at, but this, photography, this is what I love to do to show God to others.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;  if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;  if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

 -Romans 12:4-8

Oh how He loves ♥

What happens to someone who has become so strong, that they become weak? God picks them up in his arms. What happens to someone who has become blind to life around them? God brushes their eyes and shows them his beauty. What happens when someone goes lost and have a hard time coming home? God sends out his light ahead of them to guide them home. What happens when you realize this is what happened to you? You praise God for always being there.

After returning home from Italy I spent 2 weeks at home, spending time with my wonderful parents, friends and even fitting in time to visit my lovely boyfriend. It was a nice change of pace from city and school life. Although, part of me yearns to be back climbing those stairs just one more time to my apartment in Florence. After those two weeks were up, I was on the move again. This time I decided to go northward to some call Cedar Campus, and what others of us call home.

Those who have never been to Cedar Campus, I highly recommend it someday. This is, as Cedar Campus is known for, a place to meet God and be renewed. Now people are able to be campers here, while others of us enjoy being on crew working. I have been fortunate to be both here, like many other students who've come before me and are yet to come, but my purpose right now is to be crew. Cedar has become a place God has called me to, twice.

Seeing as I am on crew again this summer I thought it would be nice to keep updating my blog when I can about how things are going for those of you back home. I have been here at Cedar now for almost 3 weeks tomorrow. Many talk to me or are here ask what I do on crew. It's very hard to explain sometimes, but what it boils down to is serving God as the camp photographer. What an opportunity it is for me. Not only do I get to take pictures, but I get to take pictures in a place away from pollution and have God's beautiful creation preserved. Along, with getting to see new and old friends and most importantly renewing my relationship with God in a Christian community setting. Now as a photographer I have the privilege to see all the crew, meet all the new crew, and go back and forth between the two sides doing what I need to to get a good picture. I am in my element.

For only being here for 3 weeks I have come a ways as it is, spiritually and as a photographer. As a photographer I am learning the ins and outs of photojournalism by practice and not through a classroom, persay. I was always a hands on learner. Now spiritually, there were matters of the heart and matters of the mind that needed reforming and team work with God. I have come to realize that God is everywhere. There's always that feeling that he's not around, but it's not him, it's us. We are the ones who are lost. We are the ones who have to find God again. My eyes became foggy and couldn't see his works again. Which is a bit weird, because I am normally a person who always looks to God and would be the one to remind others God's mighty works around us. If I go hazy, what happens to the others around me I help uplift with Christ? Finding myself again was good and again an interesting event. After praying and having some one-on-one God time, I became more relieved. What happened next only a select few understood,a friend Kyle, myself and God. Searching through my bible for verses on joy, I started laughing. Not just giggling or snickering at notes I made to myself long ago in the past, but full out laughing for no apparent reason. I tried to hold it in and I couldn't contain myself. It was good. It was fun. I was smiling and filled with joy, not happiness, but joy from the Holy Spirit. It was one of those moments you just knew the Lord had been reconnected.





"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
-1 John 4:8

Water and land a mix of the heart ♥

When coming to Italy I didn't know what I was in for. I didn't know what I would be doing, where I'd be going, what I'd be seeing and most of all how I'd feel about it all. I was definitely nervous the first bit here in Italy. Now, the Italian in me is starting to come out. Over the past 3 weeks I've been able to figure out where I belong: by a lake surrounded by grass and trees. 

This past weekend I was able to go to 2 places. The first: Venice! Now for those who might not know, Venice is on the North-Eastern side of Italy. It is a place where the term automobile doesn't exist. It's a place of trade and splendor. It's also a place that's sinking. Oh Venice, the city with water streets. It's a place you always hear about sinking and that they use boats for transportation, but to me, you don't quite understand what that means until you in a taxi crusing down the canal with you standing up in the back peaking out looking at all around you as if you are travelling through New York City standing in the limo's sunroof window. It was an experience, that's for sure. After getting to the only Piazza on the islands, our tour group was able to see a glass blowing demonstration first hand. It was spectacular! Apparently, it takes 25 years to become a master of glass blowing. The glass that they make is emaculent and naturally colored. Also, pretty well at becoming close to indestructable when dropped. After our demonstration and Murano glass, we ate lunch and walked around the islands. To cross the canal again, we took a gondola! No the gondoliers didn't sing to us, but they both were really nice. We didn't really do much else besides walking around. Some of the streets there were small, single file pathways between houses. They couldn't of been much wider that maybe 4 feet, just enough for people to pass. Every little while after we walked, we'd have to go on a bridge to go over the water streets where they parked their watercrafts. It was just an eye-opening expereience!

Next stops on my weekend was Cinque Terre, which translates to 5 towns. I can't remember off what what all 5 towns are but we did visit them all. Now what's special about Cinque Terre is that 1) they are located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, 2) they are kind of in the mountainous area, 3) there is a trail or pathway that connects all 5 of the towns together. We took about a 3 hour train ride from Florence to the first town on the list. Met some nice Italians on the train, however the language barrier had us communicating a bit slowly and with hand gestures. Upon arrival at the first town we set off on the first path, also known as the lover's trail, which was the easiet hiking of the day. As we all found ourselves at the second town we waited for the whole group of like 100 of us students of our tour group to show up. After we all were present, we had to catch another train to go to town #3 because the trail was still closed. Now picture this: 100 students, many other tourists having to get onto a semi-small train that already had passengers on it. Let's just say personal space was an extinct idea at this point. My friends and I shoved our way onto the train to make sure we got on, however we were in the middle place when you walk right into the door that had a innumberal amount of people. We were almost closer than shoulder to shoulder. It was hot, smelly and a touch closterphobic. Luckily, the train ride for us was only about 3 minutes, unfortunely, it tooks us about 10 minutes until the doors shut and we started moving. Once we shoved our way off the train at the next stop we got ready and started our hike. The first was stairs. Angled stairs carved into the side of a hill basically going up and up and up. It was okay, once we found out what came after. But before we continued we had lunch. It was about noon now and we needed energy to continue on our next segment of the trail. After ordering lunch, we started up again. This part was difficult, though it was only a moderate path according to the pamphlet we got. We went up. And up. And up some more. These were not wide trails. As we walked we were lucky there was room for others to pass. There were about 80 of us from the group that chose this instead of the beach. It was a lot of work climbing up, and walking on edge, edge of the path that is. There came a point though that it went down hill. This part was good. Now they told us to keep up our pace and not take many pictures, we were trying to figure out how we could take any pictures because if we didn't look at where we were stepping it was likely we'd trip. Now it took us about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours to complete. Not too shabby for college students. In the 4th town that we arrived in they had a let's say rocky beach.
Now this is me and my experience with the sea: They were big rocks. Rocks to jump off. It was a bit difficult at first. Peering over the ledge seeing vivid blue water, with more rocks under neath, but far enough down you wouldn't hurt yourself unless you really tried. Stepping back a bit, calculating how far  to jump across those rocks just in case how deep you thought they were was off. Repeating in my head: "jump! jump! jump! You are only at the Mediterranean once right now in this point of your life. Don't you want to say you swam in there?" Encouraging words from sunbathing friends pushes me to take a leap of faith, literally. Plunging into the water was an instant chill of relief. I bobbed up so quick I grasp a breath of air and realize it's okay. Now what am I going to do? I didn't think that part through. Well a few friends are on the far rocks over there let's see if we can make it. I climbed on to the rocks closest to me. Water swirling around, it was a more difficult task then I thought, but I managed it though the muscles, on the rock not mine, made it more difficult. I manuvered my way across the dry part and climbed on top of another rock near by. I plopped myself in a dry area without any muscles to bother me. As I sat and waved at friends, they had faces of horror at me. They pointed, I looked down and there it was. Blood streaming down my leg. It was wound 1 of the day. I wasn't surprised I was hurt and thought nothing of it. I couldn't of made it all 4 weeks here and not have a wonund to show for it. Now I relaxed and took in the view and sun before I returned back to land. While returning back to land I followed my previous foot steps to the water to swim back to the bank to climb the steps. The first step is always the hardest. Muscles again. As I finally climbed out, I looked down and saw more blood on the ground, but not from my leg. I sat on the ledge and those muscles tore 2 lines in my foot. This wasn't as easy to cure as the knee. The day wasn't done yet. We had one more city to go. Luckily, my friend Laurel had neosporin and a bandana on hand. We wrapped up my foot and I pressed on.
Now for us to get to the 5th and final town we didn't hike the challenging trail. Instead we took a ferry! It was glorious. I would of been in trouble if I would of had to walk too much. We didn't have much time in the 5th town before we boarded the train back home. That was an experience I hope to never forget.

Now there are more experiences I want to share, but for a later day seeing as I have to get to class now. =)

Realizing one can make a difference

At the end of my last blog I said I had another story to tell you, but it was long enough so this is my seperate post for that story.

It starts on a beautiful sunny day in Florence, Italy. I decided to wander around Florence to explore a bit after class. I walked around the Duomo, down streets, by bridges and through Piazzas. As I strolled I was keeping an eye on the street artists. When I'm here I have been thinking of getting a piece of artwork for my dorm room and future home to help remember Italy. Now most that I looked are were beautiful, but seemed a bit expensive. As an artist myself I didn't want to get ripped off by spending 25 Euro for a small 3x3 painting. I wanted my money worth if I was to buy a painting. Now I came round to a full circle ending up close to the Duomo. I decided to look at those street artists a little bit better because I now had more of an idea what size, how much and what picture I was looking for.I slowly paced myself down the line of artists working. I stopped at the one stand, but her paintings and etchings were a bit more than I wanted to pay, so I kept going. I stopped at one of the next stands. This one painting caught my eye. I asked the painter how much and he gave me a good number, so I bought it.

As the man is packing up my purchase, he engages in conversation. Now picture this: an older man talking in broken English with an accent speaking to me, an American student who knows about 6 words in Italian. Let's just say one of us knew what he was saying through the whole conversation. He was really a nice guy. As we talked he found out that I'm a student here in Florence studying art. He talked some more about how there is a lot of history and information for art history here in Florence. Then he was trying to tell me what it was like about being an artist out by the Duomo, however at this time the bells that ring every 30 minutes that are in the bell tower that is no more than 500 feet away from us started ringing. We waited then continued our talk. He said how it was hard these days for them because of photographers and photoshop. With that technology now everyone can have a piece of Florence stored on their computer or camera. This was the point he was kind of bashing photography, which is ironic, because that is what I want to pursue in the future. It was only fair of enlightening him to my future plans of wanting to be a photographer. He kind of gave me a look of grotesque, but I proceeded to tell him that as an artist I do appreciate what him and others do because it's something I can't do. I think it was a statement that changed something between us. He understood I did understand how much work it was to do what he does. So with that he said, "Since you're an art student I'll add this one for you. It's uh, last years." With that he opened up the wrapping he did around the first painting and put in the second painting.

A few of the last words we exchanged though I hope to remember for a long time. Hopefully, I can go back to them and see inspiration to furthering my faith. "It's people like you, nice people, who come here and buy this. It's people like you who make me believe there is still a God." With that it was kind of the end of our encounter. I walked home thinking that being nice and talking with this man I might of been able to encourage his faith another day. It doesn't sound like I did much or that important, but it stirred up thoughts for me as I returned to my apartment.

"Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’~ Matthew 25:37-40

I thought it was called summer BREAK?

"I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught. " ~Winston Churchill

 I've been thinking what we will be doing the most over here in Italy. I've come to the conclusion that it will be learning. We will be learning a lot. Not just our minds in the course we are enrolled in, but their society rules, along with Italian living and speaking and also our bodies will be learning to cope with the difference in food, weather, exercise and all else that comes to a new environment.

Now what does this really pertain to? I have been realizing that there are things that I have to learn to do, kind of out of necessity and out of respect. To live here the way of life is different from that in the United States. As the days pass by I start to realize I am becoming more and more "Italian" while still keeping, obviously, my American traits. This week has been a big week, as it is our first full week living here, for my compadres and I. Now I can only really talk about myself and my roommates here because that is who I am around. Now besides learning how to order and buy stuff there are more important things to learn while living abroad.

As I said there are societal rules to learn. One is don't be afraid of the cars. They are going to be crazy drivers and they most likely will stop if you do get out in front of them. However, do not rely on the whole American: Pedistrian has the right of way. This is not the right way. Now that was easier than others to learn because you just observe the people around you and follow their examples. The most interesting learning experience I've encountered has to be our living style. Yes, we have all the necessities we need plus a few extras, like that of wi-fi. However, "things" may be the same but the directions are not. This week my roommates and I in a collaborative effort have learned how to work an Italian oven and an Italian washing machine. These appliances you may think should be easy for us to use, but not really. The knobs are different, the symbols are different, the whole process is different. *Side note: We learned to use the oven for one purpose so far: toast. We had to be creative to get toast since we don't have a toaster.* Aside from just appliances to learn, computers are also a new experience. I come to the ISA office to use their computer lab to type up these wonderful blogs. This is always an adventure for me. Let's just say that their keyboards are Italian. Now we can switch the keyboard keys to English, but that still means you have to kind of use your muscle memory to remember where the "normal" keys are for an English keyboard. Also, all the pop-ups and websites are in Italian. Let's just say I have learned how to understand the context of things without exactly knowing what they are saying.

The last thing on my list of learning was our bodies. Now it definitely is a lot easier evolving to the eating style here. Last night a few friends of mine and I had made homemade pizza, brucchetti and nutella crepes for dessert. Now this type of eating, the freshness, the love put into the time making delicious food seems so unique to this country. At home I have been able to enjoy homemade meals from my parents almost every night of the week. But yet what we eat in Michigan is completely different from what I've been eating in Italy. For those of you who know me, I tend to be a picky eater, but over the years I have shown improvement. Italy has so much fresh food that I have been up to trying pretty much everything! Yes there are things I don't enjoy, but come on, I can't like everything I eat. In addition to our stomachs adjusting, our muscles have to adjust too. Now I live on the top floor with an amazing view, without an elevator. I walk up 100 stairs (I counted) to get up to our door. The first times having to go up were a struggle and had to take breaks after this one certain flight of stairs. After having to do this daily and multiple times, I have had to take less and less stops and now I am very proud to say I have made it up without stopping now and my pace has gotten slowly quicker. Yesterday after returning from the market with my roommate Sarah, I was very proud for my accomplishment of not only carrying back a 6 pack of 1L bottles of water from the market, but all the way up the stairs without stopping once. These stairs have been the biggest challenge for me and eveyday I see my progress and keep staying proud of my accomplishments.


I have another story to share another time about something else I learned. Hopefully I'll post it next week.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."~Proverbs 1:7

When In Rome...

Rome was not built in one day. ~John Heywood 

 It didn't hit me that I was in Italy until recently. The past few days have seen like such a blur and yet so magical from all that has happened. Travelling from one end of bella Roma to the other. Along the way picking up words, food, and most of all memories.

The first of Italy I've experienced is Rome. This is a place that holds a special place in my heart, maybe not as much as what Florence will, but still a place is held there for Rome. The atomosphere around you is so unique to the American ears. Walking down the street you here multiple languages that you don't recognize. It's scary, it's exhilirating!

Now since I have been able to see basically all of Rome in 2 days, theres no way I can fit it all in one post, so I will talk about the things that I feel like sharing. =)

  This is the place that had death and murder as a best friend. A place of violence, a  place of peace and a place of importance to Ancient Roman culture. This is the Colosseo. The marble stands strong and stands firm against the sun and tourists. The ruins stand tall and proud of what they have endured, though they chill it gives is refreshing. Seeing this great ruin was amazing. I still have a hard time realizing I was there! I was seeing the history come to life! Now I do want to add a side note here, while staying in Rome, from our hotel you took a right and walked to the corner looked left and you saw the Colosseum! It was amazing.

The next place on our map was a bit more busy, bit more rich and a bit more wet. Fountina de Trevi. Now this place was really packed, but beautiful anyways and of course a must see. To me it was beauiful at night with the lights illuminating up the water and statues. It was just gorgeous. Yes, I did throw my coin with my right hand over my left shoulder to come back to Roma.

Now I think I had 2 favorite spots in Rome. One was the Sistine Chapel. I was where I needed to be. I think once stepping in there and seeing the "Last Judgement" on the wall a few feet in front of me I whispered "Oh. My God!" It was breathtaking to just see it all. It was hard to take it all in. I think I would of strained my neck from looking at the ceiling any longer. It was hard to realize I was surrounded by such history and such great art.  Though the placed was packed I felt at peace.

Now the last I will describe has to be my favorite thus far. It's hard how to describe how I feel about the Pantheon. When I learned about this place in class back in Michigan it was something else I needed to memorize for class, but being there in person was breathtaking. I, again, was at peace and in awe. To go in you walk through a few colomns then you pass through the 2 big doors and inside is decorated with all sorts of art. There are paintings, there are statues and gold leafing. As you look above you see a magnificent dome with a hole at the top. The sun streams down and warms the heart. Yes, it may not sound very special, but I think what made it extra special was when we were there touring it another touring choir started singing. I couldn't recognize what they were saying, but it didn't matter. My ears were swimming on the beauty of the sound and my eyes were consumed with everything around. The choir was the cherry on top of the whipped creme on top of the tastey gelato. It was perfecto!

I'm now in Florence and will have many more stories to tell when they come along. Although this is the same country there are differences between the cities. Now apparently Firenze (Florence) is a small city, though that's compared to Roma. Firenze is about 325,000 where Roma is about 3 million. I think I'll enjoy this city. It has about 12 museums and many churches.

Now you may wonder where I'm living at for the next 3 weeks. I am staying in an apartment, that is beautiful, and has a gorgeous view, which is reached after 95 steps. (Just imagine 95 stairs, 4 girls and luggage...it was an interesting first impression).


"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."~Psalm 16:11

First steps...

"We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey." ~John Hope Franklin 

Most college students get the "college experience" living on campus and meeting people from all over the nation. We become situated and secure in our place of friends and security. But what if that isn't enough? For me it would and can be. I like routine with a bit of flexibility thrown in, and I like the comfort of knowing the people who surround me. However, there comes a time that we want to expand our horizons and explore the unknown.

When I think back to the days leading up to college, I'm pretty sure I was close to the same as I am now: scared,worried with a dash of excitement. Studying abroad is something I have dreamed of doing for years now, probably since my eldest brother did. I wanted to go to Europe because it is enriched with history. I adore history. I love seeing how things progressed and see the wonders of the old days. It astonishes me what they accomplished without knowing what we did. Now I have to say Italy may not of been exactly my first choice to go to study, but once I became an art major it only would make sense. I have an overflowing passion for the arts, especially for art history. This is an opportunity for me to see what I have been learning about for years now in it's natural habitat.

Now this plan of travelling to Florence has not been an easy decision for me. I have struggled with seeing if it was in line with God's plan or not. Honestly, I came to the conclusion that God is going to use me while abroad. I don't know how yet, but I feel that in someway he will be able to turn this trip into something for His glory and bless all that happens on the trip.

Through this blog I am hoping to update on my life while in Italy and hopefully continue this as I am at camp again this summer. This also means (attempting) to post pictures in addition to my future posts.

I do want to ask for those of you following this, that you pray for my time overseas and that God works in great ways in my life and those who surround me there.

Thank you and God bless! ♥

"So do not fear, for I am with you; 
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God. " ~Isaiah 41:10