Okay, no pictures of this one... But a pretty cool thing happened today.

I'm not an avid churchgoer, and if you don't count Christmas and Easter, I probably only go a few times a year. However, it is striking how when you do that it seems like the message particularly applies to you and GOD is asking you to return to him. 

I went to the mass the first week of 2014 and the cardinal was there in Houston giving the mass and even blessed me before my trip. That renewed in me my sense of obligation and I wanted to find something in holland.... I searched online and was looking for a church, it had to be in English, it had to be catholic... Turns out it just wasn't fitting my "criteria"... I was ready to give up until Easter but then my friend mentioned that a mutual friend of hers goes to church every Sunday and I should just check it out, practice Dutch, and meet new people.

So here I am on a Sunday morning, having to actually wake up, get ready (no all day pajama party)... Put both my "outgoing" and "learning" (for Dutch purposes) caps on and head out with a new friend. Despite what you may think... With me moving away and making new friends pretty quickly and all...., it's always difficult to open up to new people and I've been very lucky that their kindness is just all around me.

The spectacular thing was, as soon as I entered the church it felt very cozy... Or gezellig... And then the most amazing thing happened - there was a guest speaker speaking English!! With a Dutch pastor translating every word.... (So I did learn some new phrases). I was speechless. Here I was searching for the perfect church, making excuses everywhere week, feeling lazy about waking up early, nervous about meeting new people and yet here is GOD saying "look you didn't have to worry, I'm giving you a message!!! In your language!!! And you just had to trust me!!!" 

I'm not going to get very religious on this blog... But I think it's a message we Can all accept- don't worry about everything, don't worry about the future too much, don't try to make everything perfect... Follow the steps that are shown to you and it will work out. You can't see 5 steps ahead, but you can know that if you follow your intuition and your heart, and hear messages even when there is no neon sign... Life might just surprise you....

Here are some pics of me walking around the harbor...

2014

It's 2014 and the start of a new year..., i could say I want to read more, learn more, travel more, laugh more, smile more, love more...

But what I really need to say is that 2013 brought me a lot of blessings that were unexpected, changes that were unexpected, new friends that were unexpected. Nothing was planned in January last year and my life is on a track I never would have guessed. All I can say is I hope to accept what 2014 brings me and not be filled with anxiety about what it may or may not. I have lived the joy of having things when they're meant to be there for me, if they happened later or sooner.. They wouldn't be right. 

Thank you for being there, thank you for reading...and as they say here in holland beste wensen (best wishes for 2014).

Family time

What I cherish most is all the family time I got to have and that my family spends that time with me, and is happy to do so. I am truly blessed.

Tetra 4 reunion and nYe

Im so lucky to have these girls and be able to reunite and still feel the connection.., tetra 4.. They say if you have a friend for 7 years you have them for life--- but we never had to count and we are still going :) love you all...

 We even had a bonfire like the old days... Thanks Mr. Fis!!!

Sally couldn't join for nYe, but it was so fun to be with Lindsay and Katherine for New Years seeing as we are scattered across the country and world!!

I was also extremely fortunate to run into my college roommate and best friend Danielle, who is also in California and haven't seen since graduation!!

Austin rendezvous...

How can I make a trip to Texas and NOT go to Austin?? I can't,,,,

My 21 and up city, my j'taime city, my "hometown"... That's what Austin will be. Plus it includes best friends, great food, and lots of catching up.

First stop, head to the tower....

Second stop... Take ridiculous pics and hook em

3rd: Margaritas (extra tequila please) before 6th

Finally... SIXTH STREET

Got a second day? Repeat...

 (That day however we went to Rainey street... Because we are so mature now)

Well it makes sense that the boys are missing since they were taking the pics.., but how could I not have taken pics of the food??? I'm drooling just thinking about pluckers, Trudy's, bangerz, hopdoddys..... UGH YUMMMMMM 

All in all /// tres bien :)

Christmas 2013

Christmas with with the family was beautiful..  We were missing the Clarke's but they were there in spirit

Not many pictures were taken but here are the 4 girls:

And for cuteness sake... His yearly outfit. 

Tatted up :)

Well, as if the 12k wasn't crazy enough...the second thing I did was get a tattoo. My mom and I were invited to Susan's bday extravaganza where the mothers and daughters got matching tattoos... My mom always wanted to, and we finally got our chance, and with best friends to top it off...

 (It was also an ugly sweater party) ... 

Here it is: the moment::::

 Ashley was kind enough to hold my hand... It hurt like $?&@$$$

But the final result was priceless and my mom and I will always share it. 

Run for your life!!!

Travelled home for Christmas and the first thing I decide to do the day after arriving (of all the things) is run a 12k... Hmm,.,, never run more than 3 miles before without stopping, and now I want to do 7,5..??? Yeah call me crazy.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

I'm very thankful that i could stumble into house of pies after that, because my hip gave out at mile 6 and I couldn't walk for days. 

You sound like you're from LONDON

Lol all weekend I kept thinking of that phrase.... You know... Paul Rudd??

Anyways ... It was such a glorious weekend...

 We did all the sights, took in the wonderful weather (not foggy OR raining) but most important... We were with great company!! 

25th birthday away.. AND off to London we go!!

My first birthday overseas and I turned 25!! So blessed to have such wonderful friends ... My friend Danique decorated my door and it was a special day from that moment on.,

I had a nice day at work, and even received a card from my colleagues in Houston, and flowers from those at cebo!! Although I did miss my family and friends.. There was no shortage of texts, calls, messages and even presents in the mail :) 

For the weekend, some friends and I got away to London where Courtenay is working and we had such a good time!!! (See "you sound like you're from London" post) 

Cebo at night....

Just a quick look at cebo at night...

I say night and I mean 4;30 pm.... But it's a beautiful sight to see the port lit up on your way to your car :)

German Christmas Market --- Dusseldorf

I was invited to dusseldorf for a business meeting and was so excited to get to go during Xmas season. Like always, Germans love to party and use any holiday to get it... Having been in Oktoberfest I absolutely fell in love with the country and jumped at the chance of going back. Also, Germany is known for its Christmas markets.

We walked around and it was like a little nativity set with stands and stores looking their best for the holiday. 

My client was showing me around and very enthusiastic about this stand that made tiny steel works...

Also, tried the famous gluwein... Must say that it was delicious. It is mulled hot wine, blended with cinnamon... It's good but the fumes will get you.. If you know what I mean..

And finally... You can't go to Germany without visiting a local brewery...

And stuffing your face with some obnoxiously large thing to soak up the beer...

In this case... Pork knuckle ... I must admit I missed by dose of sauerkraut! Here is to 2014...

Sinterklaas and zwarte Piet

Inthe Netherlands they celebrate a holiday on dec. 5th called sinterklaas. It revolves around Saint Nicholas and his helpers zwarte Piet (black peter) who go down the chimney delievering presents... The kids leave carrots and water for sinterklaas' horse, and watch a tv show everyday at school from nov. 23 (when he arrives in holland from Spain) until dec. 5...

I was able to go to the parade and see him arrive in Haarlem on his boat....

The crowd awaits...

The boat..

 Zwarte Piet

This all made me want to decorate for Xmas ... 

And Haarlem didn't stay far behind...