I’ve got so many stories to share from my trip, but I’m suffering from a bit of jet lag and haven’t had time to properly organize my thoughts. Let’s just say that this was the trip of a lifetime, and I have so many wonderful memories. Stay tuned for some pics soon!
Author / Bethe
And yet, no photos…
I wish I could upload photos from my trip, but the cruise ship’s Internet cafe doesn’t allow it. So once I’m home and settled, I plan to upload a few highlights. Of course, the funny “outtake” photos are probably the best… and we’ve had several of those! Even a few that could be used as blackmail should I ever decide to run for public office. Not inappropriate, but highly embarrassing and amusing.
Yesterday was Sicily and the mafia… today was Naples and Pompeii (which I loved!). Tomorrow is good old Rome, and then Florence, and then Barcelona! I’m sad to think that my fabulous vacation may be winding to a close… it will be hard to go back to the real world (which I will have to do just a few hours after I land… it should make for a very interesting first day back at work!). At the moment, I have no idea what day of the week it is, and it really doesn’t matter. I haven’t done any heavy-duty thinking in over a week… and it’s wonderful! Memories of stress from school and work faded days ago.
And… I have eaten my weight in pizza and ice cream. Luckily, we have also been good about hitting the gym.
Now I’m off to read a book before a late-night comedy show. I love vacation.
Postcard from the Adriatic Sea
Just a quick note to say that the European Cruise is going wonderfully! I’ve visited Venice, Croatia (Dubrovnik), and Greece (Corfu, Argostoli, and Santorini). I have walked miles around a medieval wall in 100 degree heat, walked down a mountain in donkey dung (funniest 40 minutes of my trip), and rolled backwards through a Greek village in a jeep with stripped gears (before hitching a ride with a group of French Candian strangers). It has been a magical vacation. And anybody thinking about visiting Europe should definitely consider seeing it on a cruise… we travel from destination to destination while I sleep soundly in my cabin. Every night I get a 5-course meal… for free. I’ve got all the water I want… for free (if you’ve ever been to Europe, you can appreciate this). And I have taken a nap almost every day of my trip. Greece is spectacular, and I’m seriously tempted to sell everything I own and buy a villa on a cliff in Santorini. If I don’t come home, you’ll know where to find me… in a white-washed home with a blue dome roof, overlooking the sea.
Tonight I had a 3-hour dinner in a restaurant on a cliff in Fira, Santorini (the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants island), overlooking the sea as I watched the sun set across the horizen. It has been a spectacular vacation so far. I promise to post pictures when I return. But trust me, it’s spectacular!
Football
My favorite Sunday afternoon activity used to be taking naps. It takes something pretty important to get me to sacrifice my beloved two-hour Sunday nap. But then I learned to play football… and everything changed.
Now, you can find me, along with my sweet church friends, up at the park, playing a serious game of flag football. Okay, not really serious. Some people are serious. I’m not one of them. I’ve been known to miss a play because I was chatting with an opponent (you’re shocked, I know). But it’s still a great way to get exercise, enjoy some sunshine, and hang out with some cool people.
Speaking of which… time to go get ready for today’s game.
Hodge-Podge… big time!
This is what happens when I take a break from writing for awhile. Everything starts churning in my head, bubbling up to the surface, and next thing I know there’s ten topics that
Hodge-Podge… big time!
This is what happens when I take a break from writing for awhile. Everything starts churning in my head, bubbling up to the surface, and next thing I know there’s ten topics that I want to cover.
First of all, you won’t be hearing from me for awhile. Again. I know, you should probably give up on me altogether. This time is for a very FUN reason though… I’m about to set off on my third European adventure in the past four years! Hooray! This time I’m going with a wonderfully sweet girlfriend of mine, and I already know that God is going to bless us with exciting adventures, good conversations, and fun memories.
Our cruise ship will have an Internet cafe, so there’s a slight chance I may sneak in a post or two, but it depends on if (a) they charge by the minute to use their WiFi, and (b) if I can tear myself away from all the Mediterranean fun long enough to write. So if not, bear with me, and I promise to post lot’s of pictures very soon!
On to the next thing…
My youngest sister graduated from Baylor yesterday! She, Sarah, and I are all fifth generation Baylor alums… our family has gone to Baylor since 1885. A great great aunt, a great grandmother, my grandfather, both my parents, and now all three of us, plus a future brother-in-law who is a Baylor Bear. And I can’t forget my genius British aunt who taught here for a few years. My family’s blood flows thickly with the green and gold goodness of the Baylor spirit.
Ick, I look a little creepy in that photo. It was horribly humid, and I was a bit tired, and well, I could come up with many more excuses… but oh well, sometimes a gal just ends up taking a creepy photo… I guess that’s life. But I do love how excited both my parents look in that photo. I’m sure they’re breathing a huge sigh of relief that they finally got all three daughters through school.
Here’s a photo of something I got Lins for graduation… this shirt makes me laugh so hard, I almost want to become a nurse simply so I can wear it. Which reminds me of a Seinfeld episode where the guy converts to Judaism simply for the jokes. But I digress…
Speaking of weddings… I wrote awhile back about Lindsay’s wedding dress debacle. I’m not sure if I ever wrote about the resolution… basically David’s Bridal did in fact do the right thing and fixed her dress (I think it was the fifth alteration) for free. Apparently the curse of the ill-fitting dress must run in the family, because I went to pick up my bridesmaid dress this morning from the tailor, and mine didn’t fit either. My alteration guy was smart though… I could tell he was about to accuse me of gaining weight, preventing my dress from properly zipping up, but I gave him a look that said “Sir, I dare you to even suggest that I would gain enough weight in one week to cause my dress to be about four sizes too small,” and I think he got the point. So instead we’re going to try letting out the part he took in. Hope this dress survives until the big day!
I’ve been on a crazy organizing kick lately. I’ve cleaned out every closet, cabinet and drawer in my house over the past month. It’s what happens when I finish with school and suddenly find myself with a few hours of spare time. But as you can see, the compulsive cleaning was necessary. Check out my before and after pictures:
Before (I promise, this is exactly how it looked when I opened the door… everything falls right on your head):
After:
Now onto the hardest project of all… packing! I’m not sure how a gal packs for such a long get-away, one that includes 4-wheeling across the Greek countryside, formal dinners on a cruise ship, leisurely walks along a Spanish beach and miles of trekking through Rome. I may win the award for most luggage on a trip… I’m off to go see if I can weed anything out.
Happy Ending
This is from today’s Beth Moore blog:
“If I say, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your loyal love, O Lord, supports me. When worries threaten to overwhelm me, your soothing touch makes me HAPPY.”
Psalm 94:18-19
Boy, is that good. Here’s another one I’m memorizing this week:
“The one who calls you is faithful and HE WILL DO IT.”
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Nine down…
I finished classes number 8 and 9 this week. It was my seventh semester in grad school. The end of my third year. Two more semesters to go, three classes left. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel…
And the good news is, I was hoping for B’s this semester. But I got A’s instead.
I’m looking forward to a 5-week reprieve from thinking, which I will happily enjoy as I sit on a boat in the Mediterranean for three weeks, and then back home as I entertain my British relatives for two weeks while they visit for my sister’s wedding. This may be the most fun five weeks I’ve ever had. I can’t wait!
But now, back to my friend Beth Moore as I finish up Sunday’s lesson (while munching on cinnamon bread sticks). What a great start to my vacation!
Vow of silence
Dear blog,
I need a break. I still have plenty to say, but for some reason, feel the need to go quiet for a little while. Hopefully not for long… but please bear with me as I take a short break.
In the meantime, you should try this. It’s one of my favorites.
I will see you soon. I promise. Hopefully for post #346 I’ll be better traveled, more rested, and ready to talk again.
-Bethe
Shouting
Sometimes the Lord speaks to me in a whisper. And sometimes he shouts.
This week he has done a lot of shouting. Through scripture. Through the words of some wonderful friends and mentors. All are giving me the same, consistent message. And my soul can’t get enough. I’m literally thirsting for his promises and find so much comfort in them. Here’s a few that I have fallen in love with.
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded, YOU NEED TO PERSEVERE so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. –Hebrews 10:35-36 (NIV)
“The Lord LONGS to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who WAIT for him.” –Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” –1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)
“Let us not become weary of doing good. Because at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we DO NOT GIVE UP.” –Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
“You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is dependent on you, for it is trusting in you.” –Isaiah 26:3 (HCSB)
Oh the peace and reassurance that can only come from my One and Only.