It's been my pleasure falling in love with you.

I'm in love. 

And I'm ready to get it out in into the open.

Quote of the Day

“We cannot rely on ourselves, for we have learned by bitter experience the folly of self-confidence. We are compelled to look to the Lord alone. Blessed is the wind that drives the ship into the harbor. Blessed is the distress that forces us to rest in our God."      [Charles H. Spurgeon]

Roma Roma Mia

Still can't believe this was real life.

 Editors Note: Please excuse my lateness on this post, but I figured better late than never :)  

Okay this is actually Budapest… but I kinda left a piece of my heart there too!

     4 countries, 18 cities and 100 amazing days later, I am back in the grind. The adventure I had waited for what seemed like forever came and went in a glimpse. I no longer wake up to the noise of nuns protesting, run downstairs to get my daily cappucino from a little old man named Giovanni, get harassed on the metro on the way to school or pass by the Vatican on my nightly runs. It still seems crazy that just a few weeks ago, Rome was my home and Italian life became the norm. The pavement I walked held more story then the entire state of California. But as they say… "all good things most come to an end." My trip may have come to an end, but the learning, memories and friendships made have not. What happens in Rome, does not have to stay in Rome and nor do I want it to. I am proud of the journey I made and the impact my trip has made on the rest of my life. 

Yeah, all the dessert was to die for. Brought a new meaning to death by dessert

  If you knew me prior to my trip, you knew I could not wait to go to Italy. It could not come soon enough; September could not come quick enough. I landed in Florence on the evening of September 6 and despite my rough flight, late night and inability to adjust properly to time change, it all felt so unreal. I was here, in Italy, afters months and months of waiting. Yet the next night when my parents dropped me off, things became very real and actually a little depressing. I was going to be away for a long long time (or so it seemed at the time) and despite all the wonders and glories that Europe had to offer… my family would be miles and miles away. In that moment, my eagerness quickly faded and I was left standing with a room full of suitcases and a handful of Kleenex. 
     
     In true Lydia fashion, the homesickness comes right away and as fast as it comes, it also leaves. Looking back today, Italy gave me the journey and adventure of a lifetime. I lived with 5 other girls, each of us so vastly different.. in personality, in style, in belief and in daily routine. But that was the beauty of 114 Viale di Trastevere, we learned to live, compromise and communicate with each other and came to find that maybe we  weren't so different from each other after all. We all had the same fears, failures, heartbreaks and heartaches.. we all missed our families and american food and venti sized lattes.. and at the end of the day, all we wanted to be is to be understood. Perhaps some of us will cease to exist in each others lives and some of us will only strengthen our newly grown friendships, but the point is that we grew on our own because we grew together. 
    People ask me why I chose Italy and apart from the obvious response of "why not?" there is another part to the story. My political science program at Point Loma may have required a semester abroad, but it was something I knew I wanted to do long before I even went to school. I always knew I wanted to go abroad and was set on London for years but one day, something within me changed and to be honest, it wasn't my choice, it was made by the man upstairs. I had prayed about study abroad for a long time and one morning I woke up with complete peace and confidence just knowing that Rome was it. It was settled and done and doubt never again crossed my mind.

a personal update for october

     Life has been crazy... well a super good, amazing, hilarious, maturing, exhilarating type of crazy. Time is flying, literally flying by. It is flying by so quickly that even Mondays no longer upset me anymore because before I know it, it is Friday. They say time flies when you're having fun and that statement could not be any more applicable to me right now. I usually address general subjects in my blog so I have decided to switch it up a bit. I get so many calls, texts, messages and emails and I figured it would be nice to at least address some of the questions in this blog so that I can fill in the people I love a little bit of whats going on in my life. 
     I am finishing up my 6th week at school. This year is very different  from last year. Last year had its charm in its own unique way but this year... well it's only week 6 and I couldn't be happier. The people I interact with, the professors I am taught by and the picturesque scenery that I am surrounded by have completely, entirely, inspired me. This year, my goal is to be proactive and pursue the desires which Christ has placed within me. There have been so many things I have wanted to do and see and be and now is the time. I am surrounded by limitless opportunities and possibilities and I am eager to take them. Every day here is the greatest blessing. Every day is better than the one before it. Yes, my schedule is monotone during the school week: class, work, homework, gym, but I gladly do these things with joy and I spend the majority of my day in laughter. The kind of laughter where you lose your breath and your stomach hurts. I know it sounds so cliche but no matter what I do, it is so memorable. The people that have surrounded me see the good in everything; the most annoying or upsetting of tasks become hilarious unforgettable adventures. 
     I am finishing up my last polisci lower division class and it's a tough one. I love politics but I don't love science and  that is what this class is all about: the science of politics. In the past, I have given up on science and mathematics but this is no longer the case. I want to learn it all and love it and I accept the challenge. My professor has been so understanding and helpful and I thank God for professors like her, so gracious and willing to do whatever it takes to help. Also, my major requires that I study abroad, so in 10 months I will be a student in ROME (stay tuned for those adventures). I wish I could go now but based on how fast time is flying,I know that my italian adventures are right around the corner. 
     My days consist of one thing happening after another so it is crucial to stay focused and on track. So far I have been able to do things in a timely manner so pray for me to keep that pattern up since coffee no longer helps stimulate any energy in me whatsoever, and sleep is of the essence. 
     I wish that everyone could be experiencing what I am experiencing. To be surrounded with so much love, support and understanding; to be given limitless opportunity; to be cared for and sought out by professors; to spend the majority of your day in laughter; to feel God's presence surrounding you and inspiring you; to live in place resembling paradise; to fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves and wake up to ocean sunrises; and know that you are absolutely, 100% at the right place at the right time ... I am blessed. So blessed. 

Quote of the day 3/9/11

"We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
But long that we'd have the faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise."


Taken from the song "Blessings" by Laura Story