Well I made it to London! It has been a whirlwind since we have been here! Here is the shortened version of what has happened so far.

I got to the house around 2 pm London time (after getting slightly lost...) and Em and Katie joined me around 4. We headed out onto the town shortly after went to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben that first night. We had a lovely dinner at a Turkish restaurant near Big Ben where Em and Katie introduced me to their favorite Turkish food. We hung out around the Westminster area long enough to hear a few gongs and take some great pictures then headed home.
The 28th was an eventful day! After a delicious homemade breakfast, we headed out early to get a glimpse of the Olympic Stadium and were amazed at all the new construction! After shopping a bit around that area to secure a few Olympic souvenirs, we ventured forth to the British Museum. We saw the Rosetta Stone and the Frieze from the Parthenon and many other amazing artifacts. Once we were finished there we headed home to get ready for the Opera! Phantom of the Opera that is... We got all dressed up (as well as you can when living out of a backpack) and went to dinner at a little fish and chip place. The Play was amazing and the theater was beautiful! And there is something to be said about seeing it in the original theater it was first shown. On our way home we ran into a street full of Italians celebrating their recent victory over the Germany. It was quite a site!
On the 29th we had to say goodbye to Katie as she began her journey back home. :( After she left we hurried over to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard. When that was over we wandered to the royal stables and got a little tour of the royal carriages and horses. Once done there we headed over to the tower bridge and the Tower of London. Then we made our way to Nottinghill where we wandered around the market and had a nice cup of coffee. Next we found ourselves in Trafalgar square then walked back to Big Ben where we hopped on the tube and headed home. Our night ended with dinner at a nice old pub near our flat and enjoyed some delicious food.

I will keep you all updated as we continue to travel through England and beyond!

Goodbye America

Well I am officially out of the country. Although I didn't make it very far. I'll be hanging out in Calgary for the next six hours waiting for my flight. Met some really nice and helpful people already. It's funny, I was so busy the last month that I hadn't really had time to think about my trip. Now I am getting more an more excited! I love the unknown, the feeling of not having a clue as to what you are doing, the chances to meet new people, and ultimately relying on God to walk me through it all.

Selfless Love

I have been blessed in so many ways lately as to leave me completely humbled. The generosity and thoughtfulness of my friends, family, and all those close to me has shown me how God uses people to show his magnificent love. The steps people have taken to help carry me through the good and bad times has not ceased and I cannot seem to find the words to thank them enough. These are just some examples of the ways people have selflessly given...

• Spending hours helping me in and out of the classroom to lighten my load,
• Lending me a car to get home from Pullman when mine broke down,
• Traveling 6 hours one way and trailering my car 6 hours back to get it home,
• Lending me a car to drive around for over two weeks as I piled on the miles,
• Treating me to lunches, dinner, and coffee,
• Hugs and supporting words when unexpected tragedy befalls,
• Staying up into the late hours of the night helping me cut and paste,
• Secret notes, from precious ones, I find on my desk or hanging on my whiteboard telling me how much I am loved,
• Packing boxes and pushing carts piled high as I move to a new classroom,
• Prayers and words of encouragement that remind me I am not alone,
• Selfless gifts of such generosity that leave me in tears and speechless,
• And the list goes on...

I do not deserve it, but I am joyfully thankful for it. And I find myself reminded of what it is to love in a selfless way. This trip I am about to take would not be possible if it wasn't for how God has taken care of me through all these wonderful people.
So to all of you I say thank you. Thank you from the depths of my heart. I want you to know that all these gifts of love have filled me with such joy I can hardly contain it and they have not gone unnoticed in the least. God has blessed me through all of you. Even in the hard times I am reminded of his grace and selfless love. My hope is that someday God can use me to bless you as you have blessed me.

Only ten days until I head out so I thought I would create a blog where I can keep track of my adventures in one place. I leave on the 26th for London where I will meet up with Emily and her friend Katie.  England, Scotland, Ireland, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana, here I come! Let the adventures begin!