Finally a new post...sorry it's been awhile!

I have had quite a number of people tell me I am not posting often enough. So here I am. Yet, normally when I begin a blog post I have something in mind to write about and therefore, I try not to blabber on and on about useless things you really don't want to hear about. :) However, today I'm just going to write and whatever ends up on the page is what you guys are gonna get!

 In America, typically you can have what you want, whenever you want it, wherever you want it. And can see people when you want to. In Italy, nothing is available that you want or need when you need it. It's never where you want it and the people you want are typically sleeping thousands of miles away. But that’s part of this journey! Realizing the American way of living is not the only way. and while, for me someone who has been raised in America there entire life, to be thrown into a new culture has been life changing! You realize, those people you have gotten so irritated with in America that don’t speak English thinking…”You’re in America, speak English why dontcha?!” You finally feel their pain, you feel how hard it is to learn a new language! But it’s coming along quite well if I do say so myself! And I seem to always get my point across when needed! It’s crazy how fast you pick up a language when you have no other options. Or that a 24hour store does not exist and that if you’re up at 9 p.m. and want to make a late run to the store because you’re out of food…well yeah that’s not going to happen! Or maybe that, you can take your time in Italy no need to rush we aren’t in America, unless you’re driving in Italy…in which case you better not take more than millisecond to realize the light has changed from red to green, or everyone and their aunt Sally is going to honk at you! Or that everything is European size. If you’ve never heard that term, it means everything is about 75% smaller, that includes but is not limited to couches, bedrooms, water glasses, bowls, spoons, forks, food servings, beds, tampons, showers, TVs, washing machines, doors, streets, pillows, plates, butter containers, chairs, footrests, desks, oh and you can’t buy a gallon of Milk here….yup doesn’t exist. You can buy a liter, or a half a liter, and if you don’t know already, a half a liter, barely fills a glass. A European size glass at that ;) 

Last week, marked 1 month! Wahoooo! feels like we've been here about 3 months...so if it continues at this pace, it will feel like I am here for about 2 and half probably more like 3 years. I can do that! I think.....but let's hope, time speeds up just a bit ;) But no seriously I actually love it here! In the beginning of this journey, my Dad and I were the ones having the hardest time with leaving. However, as time has gone on the roles begin to rotate, and while my dad and I have adjusted quite well...Corey and my mom have defintely had their days. But as we have all agreed, anyone can have their moment whenever they please. And everyone gets homesick, but we get through it! No pain that can’t be masked with a little Gelato. ;)

As often as Skype, freezes, drops calls and stops working, the fact of the matter is, it was God’s gift to me while in Italy. <3 There’s just something about hearing your best friends laughs, seeing your grandparents smile, hearing your little cousins scream “Randaa!” when they see you on the computer, talking to old friends, chatting with those you love, seeing people faces, it’s almost like you are just that much closer to home. <3

This week has really been a big one for me. I had one of those, "this is your life, you choose how you live it, you can only rely on yourself, you choose where it's going to go in the future, and it's time to live your life for you and not continue to let other people define you!" moments! This is definitely a self-seeking journey. I need to work on finding who I truly am. And this journey of mine is definitely helping me do that. Your friends and family are there to support you and help you when you fall but they don’t need to be a constant life vest. I’m learning to take life day by day, one step at a time. You decide who you are! Don’t let someone else define you! Embrace your trials; remember god gave them to you to make you stronger. He knows you can handle it, or he wouldn’t have given it to you. It might darn near kill you, make you cry, break your heart, make you feel like you just can’t go any further, but in the end, he has a plan, let him guide you. Instead of forcing what you think is the perfect plan, say “thy will be done”. Remember to love with all you have, like you’ve NEVER been hurt. Your family is everything, put them first. Your friends are one of your biggest blessings, love them and cherish them! Realize that all of them won’t always be in your life. Laugh, smile, dance, sing, love your life! Make choices you won’t regret! And try not to regret the things that once made you truly happy. True happiness is priceless. Forgive when necessary. Apologize often, even if you don’t know what you did! Love your parents, they love you! And most importantly love and have faith in God. Faith he is guiding you right where you need to be. Love him. Make time for YOU! Time to think, and ponder and dream YOUR life. Follow your dreams, you can do anything you set your mind too. And love this life you have been given. <3 I know I love mine, as stressful and hard as it can be, I love it! I might complain but in the end I wouldn’t change a thing, not even the trials and hardships, those have helped shape who I am. Italy is gorgeous, definitely has its charms as well as its frustrations! Missing everyone back home. <3