YOSEMITE

Well, it's been a while. But, you see, I feel the importance and necessity of chronicling this certain event in my life because I'm pretty sure that all of my wildest dreams came true.

Experiencing Yosemite National Park was truly magical. Best of all, I was able to do it with 3 of my favorite pals.

Here's how it all went down- we decided on our drive from San Francisco to Yosemite Valley that we needed this to be more of a glamping trip. This partially was due to the fact that our car rental was upgraded to a sleek, brand new, black 2016 BMW. We weren't too mad about it. So we made our first stop at good ole, tried and true Trader Joe's. This is where the trouble started when we started filling up our shopping cart with smoked salmon and rosé. I told you, glamping.

We set up shop our first night on the fringe of Yosemite National Park at this little campsite/working farm. We drove along the windy roads (shout out to Hannah) and found ourselves at the Wondernut Farm. (Thanks, HipCamp). Now let's take a moment to let this visual sink in- four girly gals decked out in their workout gear, pulling up in the BMW to this total hippie farm. It was a sight to see.

Nevertheless, we made fast friends with the people that lived and worked on the farm. We received a tour of the animal pens where we met baby pigs, goats, sheep and a few lively sheep dogs. The crowned jewel of the farm was definitely the area beyond the garden, overlooking a stunning scene of Yosemite Valley, which was affectionatley named "Pootopia". Yep, you can probably guess what went down in Pootopia. It was a glorified outdoor port a potty. But hey, at least the views didn't disappoint!

The purpose of not driving straight into the national park on our first day was because we were planning on nabbing a first-come, first-serve campsite in the park. In order for that to happen, we were estimating about a 5AM arrival at our desired campsite. After our day driving from San Fran to the Wondernut Farm, exploring the farm, visiting nearby Rainbow Pools and sleeping outside underneath the stars, we wearily arose at a chilling 3AM to begin our campsite pursuit.

Cold brew in hand (glamping alert), we set out on the last leg of our drive into the park. Our jaws were dropping to the floor mats as we watched the sun rise over the valley. It was truuuuuly magical. Although I must say that it was also magical that we drove into the park way before the normal hour when park rangers arrive, so we slyly skirted past the $30 entrance fee to the park. Air five.

We were shocked to roll up to Camp 4 to see a long line of eager campers already in line for a campsite. We jumped in the back of the line and waited....and waited until it was finally time for the park ranger to arrive. Around 8AM she began passing out numbered cards for the exact number of people that were going to be able to camp at Camp 4 that night. After declaring that there were exactly 86 spots to assign, we held our breath that we would make the cut. Lo and behold....we landed spots 81, 82, 83, and 84. PHEWF.

After sighing a huge breath of relief and setting up camp at our precious campsite, we set out for our first hike to Mirror Lake. From Mirror Lake, you are standing right at the base of Half Dome, which is quite an incredible sight to see.

After warming up a bit, we were feeling up to the challenge of hiking the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls. And challenge it was. Entirely uphill, ending with 600 soaking wet steps from the mist of the falls, we persevered to the top of the 317 foot Vernal Falls. It was pretty spectacular. And also very rewarding to pass out by Emerald Lake for about an hour once we got to the top.

The next day we took it easy by hiking along the Valley Loop Trail, which was actually quite nice because it provided us some solitude away from the big crowds of Mirror Lake and Vernal Falls. We strolled along, stopped for a picnic lunch at Sentinel Beach and took some time to marvel at the rock-climbers attempting El Captain.

That evening we drove the Beemer up to Glacier Point to enjoy the sunset over the valley. Cannot even describe the magnitude of beauty that is visible from that spot. We stayed until it was pitch black because we just could not rip ourselves away.

Our very last morning we hiked out to Taft Point to catch some views and enjoy one last hike in the High Sierras. 

Yosemite, thank you for letting us experience your beauty!

In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. // Psalm 95:4-5

hi from KCMO

So. I know that post-grad life is supposed to be hard. Luckily I had some really awesome people shed light on some of the difficulties we experience after leaving the comforts of our college home. Yet I could have never imagined what it would look like.

Directly after graduation (we're talkin' like less than 2 weeks), I packed up my bags and jumped on a plane to Kansas City, Missouri. I remember looking out the plane window at the Kansas River as we approached our destination and feeling SO ecstatic. A new home! So many new things to explore! So many people to meet! So many friends (hopefully) to be made! EEP. I have to learn the lingo, the lay of the land, where I should go to church, where should I get my groceries, all that jazz.

 After my week of Induction in KC, I was completely smitten. I am shocked at how quickly it took me to fall in love with the city, semi-learn my way around through all the different neighborhoods and declare KC my new home. I began to form relationships with the people I would be living and working with for the next two years (at least) and I felt like education was the field I was meant to be in. Learning about the city and the education gap that plagues our country, I was so fired up and ready to jump in.

But first, we had Institute. Five weeks that now seem like a complete blur. Teach For America regions from all over the country meet in their designated Institute location, take up residency at a college and teach summer school to get some hands on experience before returning to our home base. For KC, we were in Tulsa for our Institute along with the Colorado, Indy, Charlotte, Detroit, Milwaukee, Washington and North Carolina Piedmont Triad regions. We all stayed at the University of Tulsa and were split off into different schools in the Tulsa Public Schools to teach summer school. I'll spare the nitty gritty details but I can confidently say those were the most rigorous and challenging five weeks of my life.  Completing Institute feels like my biggest accomplishment so far. Thankful for the experience and even more thankful that I made it through.

After coming back home to KC and moving in my house with my two roomies, I was still interviewing at schools. I assumed that I would get placed before school started and be on my merry way. But, it seems as if that is not what the Lord had planned for me.

Now, after three interviews with different charter schools to no avail and complications with the school board, I have been fighting hard not to completely lose hope. Most days I feel frustrated to the max, no longer believing that the Lord has my situation in his grasp. I feel a bit worthless and have questioned many times whether this is actually the place where I am supposed to be. Stuck in this weird limbo with school starting, I have to know that I TRULY am here for a reason and the Lord DOES have a plan, despite what it feels like to me. I'm a little shocked because I've never been in a place where it is this hard to trust before. I actively have to make the decision to be hopeful and know that the Lord will NOT let me fall.

In the mean time, I've been exploring KC and beyond thankful for the friends I've made and the home I've started to make here in the good ole heart of America. Go royals, y'all.

Blessed is she who believes that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her. // Luke 1:45

the grandest canyon

Ever since returning from France, I've had this insatiable desire to see more of America. I loved being able to see so much of Europe last spring and realized that there is still so much of my own country that I have yet to explore. It is the land of the free and the home of the brave after all, right?

This summer I read Donald Miller's Through Painted Deserts and started dreaming of backpacking in the Grand Canyon. Something about the way Donald described his experience as one of the most challenging and wonderfully rewarding things he has ever accomplished in his life made me want to explore the canyon for myself. So, after a whole semester of planning, preparing and training, three of my gal pals and I set off for a week to conquer the grandest of the canyons. And we were not disappointed.

Everyone loves a good road trip, plus plane tickets can be pricy and binding, so the gals and I decided on an ole fashioned Route 66 drive to the land of the wild, wild, west. We hit Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, made a 10 AM Dairy Queen blizzard stop, met some fellow Aggies at a gas station in New Mexico and ate Sharky's burritos like true Abilenians. We were tempted to take a slight turn to the North and head up to Las Vegas when conditions were looking a bit too cold or icy. Yet, we persevered. We also came to a mutual consensus that Flagstaff is the neatest little town along Main Street America, complete with trendy wall murals, breweries and outdoor surpluses galore.

After a restful night at the Red Feather Lodge motel, we strapped up, secured our crampons and headed down Hermits Rest Trail. First, let it be known that hiking 10 miles downhill is more exhausting than one might think. After descending down the trail and the steep switchbacks of the Cathedral Stairs, we were completely relieved to crawl into Monuments Creek campsite that afternoon. We rewarded ourselves with some backcountry pies (#BCP!!), made a mean sausage stir fry, read some Bill Bryson, and snuggled into our sleeping bags to prepare for day two. And if I didn't learn anything else on day one, I did learn that snow makes an excellent substitute for toilet paper.

Day two consisted of hiking along the rolling hills of Tonto Trail and catching some spectacular views of the Colorado River. We even ran into some friendly mule deer! Okay, actually they just took one look at us and went back to their grazing, but nonetheless I will include them as friends since we did not see a single other human until we reached our campsite on the second afternoon.

At Indian Gardens we met an eccentric college professor from Boston who was very concerned about us disrupting her sleep with our playful banter that night. But, we managed to soften her up a bit and share a few laughs. I preferred to call it Indian Paradise as it was filled with beautiful cottonwood trees, comfy picnic tables, filtered water and actual toilet paper- YIPPEE.

The morning of the third day we woke up prepared to tackle the famous Bright Angel Trail with our bellies full of apple cinnamon oatmeal and our eyes on the prize. That morning before we set off, our buddy who we affectionately referred to as Professor Coco informed us that we might hear her singing opera on the trail because it helps her to steady her breathing while climbing uphill. Pardon me, but I do not think that belting out opera sounds too appealing while ascending 3,000 feet. Nevertheless, we did indeed hear Professor Coco yodeling her opera melodies which seemed to rebound off the canyon walls and visit the ears of many tourists strolling down the trail on day hikes. We met a few other friends along the trail, one being a man who was there on a two day hike to celebrate his 70th birthday. Go John, go!

At the top, we treated ourselves to a meal of cheeseburgers and cherry pie to celebrate our twenty seven completed miles across the canyon. It was undoubtedly the most challenging hike I've ever done, yet fed my passion to get out there and continue exploring.

Thankful thankful for three great pals, new land traveled, and an able body that I can use to honor the Lord.

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness." // Psalm 37:3

life's a dance

Life's a dance

You learn as you go

Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow

Don't worry bout what you don't know

Life's a dance

You learn as you go

- Good ole John Michael Montgomery

I heard this song on the radio the other day and it sounds a bit cheesy, but I really did take it to heart. Since launching into my post-study abroad life, anxious feelings about my future have been bombarding my brain and stealing most of my attention.

I expected to come back from my semester in France and have all of it magically figured out. I think I believed that the perfect job opportunity would just land in my lap, tailor- made for me.

I sincerely wanted to have a life plan mapped out for me or at least a little something I can refer to when I don't know what's up next. But, there's a little thing called trust that I'm reminding myself to lean on.
Trust in God cause he did tailor-make me to be here for a certain purpose. Broadly, it's to glorify him. So I'm finding myself waking up each morning and reminding myself to:

1. Don't feel like I have to have it all figured out by dinnertime tonight

2. Trust that God is much more interested in who I am than what I do 

3. Take a deep breath because after all, I'm only twenty one

4. No matter where I am, remember to always be serving God and serving others 

So. Even though I don't have a roadmap marked out with flow charts and diagrams for future jobs and life plans, I think it is better that way. I know what I am passionate about and I know what my purpose is. For now, I think I'll celebrate cause life is a dance. 

deep in the heart

I didn't miss home until I arrived here.
It feels so right to be back where BBQ, George Strait and burning hot temperatures are a way of life.

Texas has been good to me the past week that I've been home. I was thrilled that I made it in time to celebrate one of my best friend and roommate's 21st birthdays with some of the girls who mean the most to me. I've missed long chats with my elderly "grandpa" across the street and my brother's silly, often ridiculous, jokes.

It's strange being in Dallas for more than a month during the summer and I think it's my first time since about middle school in between kamp, mission trips and traveling.

And for the first time ever, I just want to stay home for a bit. I started my summer internship at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children where I get to work alongside some really passionate people who are striving to help children through their differences. I even went shopping for business pants today. Weird.

I'm trying to sort through all my thoughts and emotions and ideas about this past semester and I've come to one conclusion which is: that experience was 100% unique. It was a time that can never be recreated because even if I were to revisit Grenoble, it was actually the people who made my semester so special.

It was Maggie from Michigan, Marjorie from Maryland, les filles- Zamzam, Danica, Rachel and Loren. Two of the sweetest guys I've ever met, Chris and Isaac. The "business" crew. Cicily and Catherine- my market, picnic, skiing and movie buddies. Precious Val from Cancun. Papa Patrick, The Kieser's, all the random cats that were always following me around. Most of all, Clo, Eva and Mateo. My French family who hopefully realizes that they still have a piece of my heart back with them on Rue Nicolas Chorier on the top floor apartment.

I'm afraid Miriam Adeney was correct when she wrote that "you will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place." 

Two of my fondest memories will always be the two different old men in a restaurant in Prague and in a hostel in Killarney, Ireland who sand "Deep in the Heart of Texas" for me.

It's good to be back; Texas, I think it's time to get reacquainted.

sheryl said it best...

....everyday is a winding road. 

Well said, Sheryl. Well said.

These were my sentiments exactly as I was wandering down an obscure road beside some donkeys in the French countryside, by myself. I couldn't help but giggle because I had no where else to be for the next few hours, so what was the harm in getting a little lost?

For the past month I have been spending my weekends in Grenoble after several weekends in a row of traveling to Belgium, Italy, The Netherlands and Czech Republic. Some of my favorite memories have been made here and I've fallen more in love with this beautiful city after spending time exploring it and bonding with my host family, whom I adore! It feels so reassuring to be comfortable enough to call this place home.

window to the world 

Speaking of home...I think my real home is actually on the top of one of these mountains. Sign me up for a little shack and endless supplies of dark chocolate and I should be good for the rest of my life. 

The second best day of my semester thus far was going up to Chamrousse for a full day of skiing with some pals in the most perfect weather we could have asked for. My host sister even brought a friend and joined us! (Host) sisterly bonding- check! We had an absolute blast flying down the mountain, falling on our faces and being in complete and utter shock at our surroundings. It was magnificent. Chamrousse is a ski resort that is situated RIGHT above Grenoble so we could turn around on the ski lift and see our little kingdom down below us. Happy, happy, happy day. 

So...what was the best day you ask? 

Visiting my favorite city that I have been to this semester thus far: Annecy, France. 

Wow. It was shockingly beautiful. Just less than two hours outside of Grenoble and twenty miles away from the Swiss border, Annecy is a petite village that has canals running through it and an alpine lake that is known as the cleanest in Europe. 

With peaks of the Alps as the backdrop, this lake was just stunning. I literally could not contain my excitement as we skipped through the outdoor food market with eyes bigger than our heads and plopped down au bord du lac for a little picnic lunch. Afterwards, we rented pedalos and maneuvered around the lake. The nice young man renting them tried to tell us that the water was too cold to swim in, but all we heard was challenge accepted, monsieur. Let me be the first one to tell you that the temperature of said water rivaled the icyness that is Taneycomo Lake in Branson, Missouri. But, alas, I survived and it made for one of the sweetest memories. 

don't let the smile fool you. you know what they say- laugh to keep from crying... okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic. but it was cold.

Annecy, thank you for a wonderful day trip. We fully enjoyed your vibrant tulips, fresh savoyard cheese, tasty gelato and homemade macaroons. 

Pourquoi pas profiter de la nourriture très délicieux?

À Bientôt. 

les vacances

A glorious period in France where students receive 15 days of winter vacation: les vacances. 
Thankfully, the awkward international students (my friend described our existence as similar to Fez, the foreign exchange student, from That 70's Show and now I can't help but think of him every time I'm in an uncomfortable situation) get to participate in this beautiful tradition as well. I love you, France. Thus, my friend Catherine and I began dreaming up our week in Amsterdam and Prague. Two completely different cities!

But! Before anything else, it was high time I went to see one of my very bestest friends who is studying in Paris for the semester. Shelbi and I adopted the mindset of professional wanderers and ambled our way through the streets of Paris, arms linked, telling each other stories of our semesters thus far and stopping more than once to sample the many flavors of Ladurée's famous macaroons. The Marie Antoinette flavor took the prize in our books.

No matter how many times I return to Paris, I've found that each time is special and different than the last mainly because of who I'm with and the season during which I'm visiting. With that said, this visit to the City of Light has been my all-time favorite.

We both found a few treasures at the Marche aux Puces, sat on the steps of the Sacre Coeur listening to live music and raced un petit voilier around the pond in the Jardin de Luxembourg. We even indulged in a very, very Parisian dinner of guacamole, perfectly sea salted tortilla chips, burrito à la carnitas and a fizzling Dr. Pepper. To our defense, we did do the French thing and buy a baguette and a block of cheese for a picnic lunch earlier that day. I just simply could not resist when I learned that Paris was home to the only Chipotle in France.

happiest girl in Paris

On Sunday we attended The American Church in Paris, a stunning chapel in the center of Paris where, as you can guess, there are services en anglais. Then, what else would one do in Paris but attend an antique book fair? You could say it was bliss- or something like that. We had our fill of kir and compté, took full advantage of the metro system, until we got caught....60 euros later....and witnessed all the mesmerizing magic of Paris that it always produces.  

The best part of the weekend was getting to talk about Jesus Christ and how our faith has been tested and strengthened during our stay in Europe. So with my heart full and my tear ducts a bit damp, we parted ways and I headed north to the land of the Dutch. 

top tier right here

Amsterdam. Most people associate this city with illegal drugs and the Red Light District. While these are indeed major attractions of the city, it has so much more to offer! Amsterdam is full of around 60 miles of beautiful canals, yet they are very different than Venice. Since housing is limited, Amsterdammers have taken a liking to living life on the water. Catherine and I stayed with one of these families- Eltjo and Liselore (so Dutch!) and had an amazing time experiencing the local side of A'dam in a houseboat. 

One of my favorite moments was going to this little restaurant named Wikel to enjoy a little slice of heaven aka- Dutch apple pie. It was a beautiful afternoon so we sat outside and watched all the people of Amsterdam stroll by. Then, to get a better idea of the history and layout of the city, we participated in a bike tour where we rode through the famous Vondelpark, saw the Anne Frank House, Dutch Tulip Museum and Dutch Cheese Museum. I especially enjoyed the Rijksmuseum- The Museum of the Netherlands. It has great exhibits on everything from Rembrandt's famous "Night Watch" painting to ancient Dutch war weapons. My favorite piece was of the 1815 Battle of Waterloo where Napoleon was finally defeated; it is the largest painting in the Rijks! 

Rijksmuseum

A few random facts about Amsterdam:

There are more bikes than people.

Holland is most well known for their windmills, tulips, cheese and wooden clog shoes.

One of the only word Dutch words I learned is straat. It comes in quite handy when trying to read a map! 

Also, "thank you" in Dutch is dank u. Very difficult. 

view from Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) 

Our favorite part of the trip would have to be the overnight train from Amsterdam to Prague. (jokes) We were in a small Harry Potter style train compartment with three random strangers whose language we honestly couldn't identify. If nothing else, it was an interesting experience. 

On our first night in Prague we went to a restaurant called U Fleku where a sweet old man played "Deep in the Heart of Texas" for me on the accordion. Not to mention, Fleku translates to my last name in English. These were my people, y'all. 

During our walking tour of the city, I learned some pretty interesting facts about Prague and the Czech Republic, such as:

The Czech Republic is one of the most atheistic countries in the world, yet they have a national church. 

The Prague Castle is the biggest castle complex in the world, covering 70,000 square meters.

Thanks to the Nazi's during World War Two, one of the best Jewish museums was created in the Jewish Ghetto of Prague. The Nazi's thought they would be clever by creating an exotic museum of non- existing people, so while forcing the Jews to concentration camps, they were simultaneously collecting all of their personal items and adding them to this museum. The Jewish Cemetery was very interesting to witness as it has over 100,000 bodies buried there. 

Charles Bridge

After we were tired out from walking from one side of Praha to the other, we put our fancy pants on to see Sleeping Beauty: ballet edition at the Státní Opera. It was absolutely magnifique and made me want to return to my elementary days of tutus and my mom's hot pink lipstick. 

Side note: in this case, my fancy pants consisted of one of two pairs of pants that I had for the whole week and a half. So you can go ahead and say it was the fanciest of the fancy if you'd like. 

And that's a wrap! After visiting three beautiful cities, bonding with two great friends and surviving one bad case of the stomach virus, it is great to be back home in Grenoble.