And so it ends...

I am sitting in Copenhagen in utter amazement that my time here in Denmark is over. The past 8 months have been an up and down battle of completly amazing and completly difficult. And now I am here in the airport like a blubbering idiot in shock that it is officially over. 

The past few days have been a wonderful way to end my adventure in Denmark. Saturday was a relaxing and recovery day from Germany. It was a typical day full of TV, gym time and not much of anything else. The night brought a night in with the girls. For one last time we put on our fancy clothes and had a night in. 

all packed

As Sunday came along Betsy and I packed our things and walked down the apartment stairs for the final time. We called a taxi and dragged our 4 bags each onto the train for another last. It was quite a site to see as these crazy American girls made their way to Copenhagen Central. We checked into our across the street hotel (thank God we didn't have to go far) that Betsy's parents so graciously paid for and enjoyed a night in the city. We got out in the rain and found a bite to eat and quickly made our way pack to the hotel and out of the cold. We sat and chatted as usual nights went and enjoyed the company of one another for the final night of our Euro days. Morning came quickly and soon Betsy was off to Greece. I was glad she left in the wee hours of the morning and I was not completely coherent when we said our goodbyes. It has not even been a full day and I already miss my partner in crime. I'll miss the countless hours watching HIMYM and FRIENDS, bike ride bashing (literally and verbally), creative dinner making, cookie baking, waking up at the crack of noon and going to bed at the crack of dawn, too late volleyball game watching only to play in our own late nighter in the day to follow, laughing until we cry and just plain being awesome. So with that said it was a good thing I was not really awake when she left...

gonna miss this lady

And so after one goodbye my final day in Denmark began. Mie caught an early morning train to enjoy a delicious breakfast and be a tourist with me for the day. We walked around Copenhagen until our feet hurt and then walked some more. We climbed what we called the "Empire State Building of Denmark", saw the Little Mermaid, road a boat tour, enjoyed a coffee in Nyhavn and were dazzled by the colors and craziness of Christiana. We talked about the past 8 months and memories that were made and began planning times in the near future where more memories will go in the books. 

After an hour of rearranging 3 bags of luggage to fit the weight limit and a final dinner here the time to say bye came and the fact I'm leaving set in. The past few weeks the only thing I felt was excitement to go home and see my family. Though I knew going home meant leaving here it didn't process until I was sitting on the steps with Mie. The tears began to fall and hugs were swapped with a promise to keep in touch and a trip to the States in 4 months. 

Christiana

Church of our Savior

View from the top of the Church

love this crazy Dane

Nyhavn

worlds tallest man: 8'11''

the Little Mermaid!! 

Even with my tired eyes sleep is probable nej tonight. Emotions are high and memories are flooding my mind. I'm so thankful for the past 8 months and the experience I've had. I can't begin to express how amazing my time has been and though there were moments, many at that, that I wanted to get on a flight and come home, I am so grateful for the opportunity I had. It has been a year I will never forget, one where friendships were made that will last a lifetime, a year I got paid to play volleyball and travel the world, one where I realized I really, really appreciate the little things I have, a year where friends became family, and a year my team took Bronze in all of Denmark. 

What a year to remember...

xoxo

A bit of London...

London is wonderful so far. I still am in awe that I am here.

In the short amount of time we've done and seen so much and I can not believe we still have 2 full days left of being here! It is simply wonderful.

Yesterday we were major tourists and did the double decker bus tour. Though it was quite cold we sat on the top deck and had a great time for the first hour. Once our fingers lost feeling and lips were too cold to speak words we found a little coffee shop that was one to be expected to be found in Europe. Once we warmed up from sipping on our mochas we got back on the bus tour and saw the rest of London from the outside. At the end of the afternoon Betsy and I came back to the hotel and got glamed up for our night out courtesy of her parents. 

 We found frozen yoghurt! First time enjoying it in months!

   

 Coffee & cafe goodness. 

 We ate a delicious 3 course dinner and enjoyed a fabulously preformed play called Billy Elliot. The kids in it were amazing and though we were exhausted from the day we had a great time. 

Today our day consisted of much walking. We first went through Westminster Abby. It was extraordinarily beautiful and the whole time is was in amazement of the whole place. We saw where the royals like Princess Diana were given their crowns, where they were married and where they were laid to rest. We learned interesting facts like Queen Elizabeth had Queen Mary put to death because of her dislike for her and they are now ironically buried directly across from each other. Though all this was amazing to see I loved the corner honoring famous writers like William Shakespeare, Jane Austin and Emily Bronte. 

Later we went for an hour and a half long rock and roll tour. Though we were skeptical of being out in the cold that long it proved to be worth it. We saw where the Beatles had their final rooftop concert, the places they recorded their records and where the start of their end began. We walked in front of Mozart's home and saw the office where Ozzy and Sharon fell in love. And all that would have been satisfying enough to be in the cold that long but then we went to the recording studio Florence and the Machine work at. I was in heaven and secretly the whole time wishing Flor would pop out the door. 

The Beatles partied here...

Where Florence and the Machine record albums!

As if that wasn't a full day itself we then made our way to the National Art Gallery. There were more rooms and paintings than our tired feet could carry us to but we saw many that I enjoyed, Van Gough being a few of my favorites. After an hour we decided to call it a day and made our way back to the hotel for the night. 

Its been a great couple of very busy days. I am so thankful and blessed for this opportunity. We still have much planned for the next few days here like seeing the changing of the guards, Shakespeare Globe theater, Princes Dianas memorial, riding the London eye and touring the Tower of London. We're trying to fill as much as possible into the time we are here because though we are tired Betsy and I know this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

I hope you all have enjoyed your week!

xoxo

Rinse and Repeat

Its been a couple weeks and not much has happened. Our days are a constant repetition of volleyball, TV show marathons, and sleep. Some days we spend downtown exploring the city and finding new places to enjoy lunch, but with our tight budget and need to travel those days have dwindled.

 Our $20 soup

We've had a few games in the past couple weeks and already it is clear our new coach is pushing us to be better. Friday night we celebrated our win over Lyngby by having a girls night. The team came over to our apartment and we enjoyed a night of cocktail dresses and good company. Another game was played last night against the number one team Holte. Though we lost 1-3 we played what I think was some of the best volleyball we have all season. We frustrated the girls on the other side by making them earn every point and keeping their best hitter at a low hitting percentage. We battled and though we didn't come out on top I'm proud of the strides we made this week.

With the Super Bowl playing Sunday a group of Americans (and a few Euros) from our mens and womens teams got together and threw ourselves a little party in the late night to wee hours of the morning. We made some tastey wings and other Americanized food and streamed the game. Though the commercials brought such disappointment this year and my eyes threatened to close from the added hour of the blackout it was great to have a night like home.

The weather is changing and the sun is shinning a bit more. The snow has melted for the most part. Some nights bring more snow but with the sun it is usually sparse by morning. Bike rides can be long with the wind in our face but Betsy and I try and continuously laugh to keep our spirits up. On days with nothing to do I find myself missing home and a busy routine.

 I am still learning so much about life and myself and I am still blessed to be where I am at. The Lord is good and I am so thankful for my blessings. Enjoy your week friends and soak up some warm Cali sun for me.

xoxo

A New Year Post

Another year has come and gone. 

Twenty twelve brought many happy memories, many sad moments, many different changes and many eventful days. I started off the year by making my way back to my old stomping grounds at the Grove high school group. After many conversations with my brother and quiet moments spent listening to the Lord I was convinced that not only could I have positive influence on the girls there, but that they could influence me as well. I’m confident that this act made my year the amazing one it was. I was reminded of how amazing the Lord works when you serve side by side with Him. I took a week off work during the summer was able to be a leader at summer camp where I created a bond with the girls in my cabin that I will forever cherish. I saw young adults raising their hands in surrender to our King and students lives changed forever.

This year new life was brought to my family as my brother and sister-in-law welcomed their first child into the world. It was an amazing moment as Stevie walked out of the delivery room and announced, “it’s a girl!” My knees buckled and tears came streaming down my face as my oldest brother who always took care of me on the playground now had a tiny daughter to protect and a face full of pride for her.

The change in twenty twelve didn't stop in just the start of the year. As summer faded and the fall chill came creeping around the corner I made a move across worlds. The culture shock of Europe set in almost instantly and so often I was reminded I was no longer in my little Riverside bubble anymore. As the days went on I began to become accustomed to my new lifestyle and though there are things I miss about the States, I know I will feel the same when I leave my home here.

In the last twelve months I’ve made new friends and rekindled the flame with old ones. I’ve learned that best friends you don’t have to see all the time or even be in the same state to make sure they’re still your person. I’ve understood bike ride after bike ride how blessed I am to have a car. I’ve learned to appreciate technology for the communication it brings. I’ve actually felt what it’s like to have a real winter. I’ve been challenged. I’ve been exhausted. I’ve had joy and sorrow. I’ve seen daily the glory of God and how He is my provider.  I’ve had a great year.

So here’s to 2013. Though the first few days were rough with leaving family and friends behind, it started off with adventure. And you can never truly go wrong with that. As I sit in my little European room and look back at the pervious year I cant help but smile because I see the Lords work and how he is in control. And that is a great way to start off any year.

May your 2013 be eventful and blessed!

xoxo 

Rain&Lights

These last two weeks have been full of amazing fun. With the holiday season everything is so beautiful here. The weather has officially dropped to winter and there are lights glistening everywhere. 

Last week my roommate Betsy and I celebrated Thanksgiving by making a mini meal for ourselves. Because we couldn't find all the necessities (like turkey and sweet potatoes) to make a true Thanksgiving we had to tweak it a bit, but it turned out delicious! We made a whole chicken, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cream of corn and to top off the night delicious pumpkin bread. It was weird to be away from family and I was sad to not be there to help dad with the feast but I was so thankful to share a delicious meal with my lovely roommate. I was able to reflect on the past year and there is so much I am thankful for. I can not believe all that the Lord has done for me and that He chooses to use me and bless me the way He does. Though I was not home it was still a lovely Thanksgiving.

On Saturday my team made another trip to Copenhagen to participate in our first round of the Cup Championships. We defeated the team 3-0 and now advance to the quarter finals where we'll meet Holte a team that we have seen twice already. After the match Betsy, Mie and I were invited to Mies brothers apartment to enjoy another Thanksgiving meal. Though some of the food was not quite Americanized it was delicious and I enjoyed meeting new people. We stayed that night in Copenhagen and the next day payed a visit to Tivoli and amusement park where Walt got his inspiration for Disneyland. 

The place was decorated for Christmas and it was the most beautiful thing I'd seen. The weather was poor and it rained continuously but I think that made it all the more beautiful. There were lights everywhere and with the water falling the lights glistened even more. We got to see reindeer and sit on Santas lap for a photo. When our boots became full of water we found a quaint coffee shop and enjoyed a warm cup of coco and a delicious snack of churros. It was a lovely day and made me even more excited for the holidays!

This week presented the second round of league play where we met Brøndby. Playing them last time we lost 3-0 and so we were determined to come back with some revenge. The game started off well and we were up 2 sets to none but then they decided to step up their play. We went to five sets and lost in the fifth 13-15. It was a game that I personally believe we should have won, but luckily we will be seeing them again this season. We've improved so much from the start of the season and it's so encouraging to see how well we are doing now. I'm anxious for the next couple weeks of games. We play a good team tomorrow where I know we'll have to fight for every point to win, but those are the games I love most!

Everywhere I look I'm reminded that the holidays are just around the corner. The weather has gotten down to the 30's and it actually started snowing yesterday as Betsy and I biked to the market. I'm anxiously counting down the days until I come home and can not wait to see my friends and family. I'm loving life here but I find myself missing the American lifestyle at times. Yesterday for the first time as we were at the market Betsy and I came across black beans and we were so ecstatic! All we had been talking about the last week was wanting a bean and cheese burrito. So we made a delicious mexican meal last night for the first time and it tasted like home. I'm excited to experience some sunshine when I come home and have hopefully soak up a few UV rays! 

It's crazy to think I'm almost halfway through my journey here in Denmark. I'm still soaking everything up and loving my my adventure. So often I find that it hasn't truly hit me how lucky I am. It's not everyday that you get to live and travel Europe for free playing the sport you love. I hope that everyone gets to experience this sort of joy and freedom at some point in their lives. It is truly amazing. 

Have a lovely weekend friends. Stay warm and stay blessed!

xoxo