One Is Just A Number

My most memorable trip was the three weeks I spent in Europe in 2013. It was my 50th birthday present to myself. That year, I wrote about it for 31 Days . It was a dream come true and I've dreamed of going back ever since, especially to Paris. The photo above was the first time I laid my eyes on Notre Dame. The next time I go back, I'm going to attend a service there. Can you imagine worshiping God every Sunday in the splendor? Our first stop was London. I can't believe we were this close to Kensington Palace, the home of William and Kate. We also saw Windsor Castle, where the Queen spends her weekends. Stonehenge was amazing. My sister and I were talking at dinner tonight about the burgers at this restaurant. They were so good we ate there twice in one week. We took the train to Paris and I fell in love with that city. Both my sister and I feel at home there. We were so excited when we had our DNA tested and it said we w...

This is joy to me. I'm standing on the top of the Arc de Triomphe with the Eiffel Tower in the background. I know I keep writing about Paris on this blog but it is my second favorite place on the planet, after my hometown. Both my sister and I feel a pull to this city. Neither one of us speaks much French but the City of Lights feels like home to us. We can't wait to go back and wander its streets, eat macarons, and take in the beauty that is Paris. I search for joy at home. I like my little bungalow but there it is hard to look past the incomplete projects and those that need to be started. I doubt I'd have grass to worry about in Paris, which would suit me just fine. I feel safe in my home, which is very important. For now I am not worrying about paying my mortgage, which is definitely important when you have a job that is impacted by the oil industry. It just doesn't bring me joy, not like a hotel room in the Latin Quarter that is convenientely located across the...

Is it possible that this could be my home in Paris? I have written before about my desire to live in Paris . I am building a library of books about the City of Lights to look at and imagine myself as a part of this wonderful place. Is it possible that this could be my home church - Notre Dame? Who wouldn't feel closer to God in a place like this? Is it possible that this could be my view while writing my blog? Think of the wonderful words I could come up with while sitting on a bench in Luxembourg Gardens. While St. Genevieve watches over me. Is it possible that I could buy some macaroons at this wonderful bakery? Because I'll need a snack after climbing these steps to Sacre Couer. Is it possible that if I lived in Paris, I could see every piece of art in the Louvre? And the possibilities are endless of the treasures I could find on the shelves of this wonderful bookstore. Is it possible that after dinner, I could stroll down to the Eiffel To...

This photo is a re-creation of one taken of my sister when she made her first trip to France. I framed hers as a symbol of how proud I was of her for taking that trip. I wasn't able to go with her that time and I have to admit that I was so envious of her for getting to see all of the places I had dreamed of. This trip to Europe was that dream come true and I am so glad that I made it. There were times I lied awake at night wondering if I was doing the right thing. Should I spend this money on travel instead of my house? How would we navigate these cities on our own, would we get lost? Would my travel insurance cover me losing my nerve and cancelling the whole thing? I am so glad that I fought through the fear and uncertainty and took the leap of faith into the adventure waiting for me on the other side of the ocean. The more I look back on my vacation, the happier I am that I took it. It is so much fun to be watching a TV show or a movie that is set in one of the places...

I was so lucky to not be struck down by jet lag. I think the secret is to return to your normal schedule as soon as possible. My first day back home was jam packed with activities so I wasn't able to go to bed at 5:30pm, which my internal clock thought should be bedtime. I was only 30 minutes late for work and had three weeks worth of email to sort through - no time to even think about being sleepy. When the 5pm whistle blew,  I went to my parents' house to celebrate my mother's birthday. After dinner out and opening of gifts, I headed to a friend's house for a going away party. I finally returned home around 10:30pm. I tried not to think about the fact that it was 4:30am in Rome. I just went to bed and thought about how in one more day it would be 4th of July and I could sleep in as late as I wanted and do it in my own bed. As I drifted off to sleep, I said a prayer thanking God for everything I had experienced and seen on my trip of a lifetime.

 It was a pleasant surprise to see our ride to the airport waiting for us in the hotel lobby. It was an even more pleasant surprise to see that we'd be riding to the airport in a Mercedes! It was one last chance to see Rome and we got see a different side of it, a more suburban side. We navigated customs and check in and then found out our flight was delayed for over an hour. We finally get the go ahead to board the plane and it was the strangest system ever. We lined up according to our group then were directed to an escalator. Down the stairs we went and that's where we realized that the groups were useless. We waited as we were put on buses like cattle and driven to the plane. Our biggest fear was that there would be no overhead storage by the time we got to our seats but the luggage gods were with us and we were able to store our bags full of souvenirs. Our next stop was Washington D.C. Several of the people on our plane were in danger of missing the...

Our first stop of the day was Circus Maximus, the chariot racing stadium. Next we saw the Bocca della Verita. We were so surprised that this was in the portico of a church, not by itself like it seems in the movies. Neither one of us stuck our hands in the mouth. It is a bit odd to visit churches on a Sunday, especially when a service is being held, so we tried to be very respectful when we went inside the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano. The oculus was the star of the show at today's visit to the Pantheon. It was magical to see the sun rays coming down from the ceiling. We had to wait for the Church of the Gesu to reopen for the afternoon, but like every church in Rome, it was worth it. Before heading to our hotel to pack, we made one more visit to the Pantheon. I can't believe we fly home tomorrow. What a wonderful trip this has been!

We took a bus to Vatican City and lined up to get into St. Peter's, only to find out that there was a special event there and it was going to be closed to the public until 2pm. So we go to plan B and walk over to the Vatican Museum to see the Sistine Chapel. Amazed that the lines were so short, we finally make our way to the front and see the sign that tells us that we are there on the only day of the month that the museum is closed. Plan C, go to the Colosseum. What an amazing place! It is so unbelievable that it is still standing after all these years. We spent some time walking around it. the Roman Forum, and the Palatine. Everywhere in Rome there are ruins like this, on city streets along with modern buildings. I love that kind of respect for history. Another thing that has struck me about this city is how people honor God by erecting such beautiful churches. And St. Peter's has to be one of the most stunning examples of this devotion. ...