I'm Moving

In honor of my 5 year anniversary with this blog, I have decided it's time for a change. I am moving to a new website. You can find more updates on my new blog

States of Grace

It's still under construction so please don't mind the mess. I will no longer be posting on this site.

Thanks for following me and I look forward to reading your comments on my new blog.

Just for you Dad

My own personalized store

Thanksgiving Sampler

Typical Tuesday

5:30 am-- Alarm goes off
5:45 am-- Second alarm goes off
6:00 am--  Jump out of bed and race into the shower
6:40 am-- Not enough time to do hair. Messy bun it is again
6:50 am-- "Oh no breakfast"... grab an apple ( I don't even like apples)
6:52 am-- Literally run to the train station. This is the only running I've been doing lately
7:11 am-- Find seat on train and let out sigh and begin reading my book
7:45 am-- Arrive at Hauptbanhof. Daily debate if I want to grab a pastry and hot chocolate.
7:50 am-- Stare at blank faces while riding the U5 while listening to music
8:10 am-- Arrive at work. Check email. Respond to emails
9:00 am-- Review PowerPoint and other documents
10:15 am-- Check the office mail
10:30 am-- Watch videos of Britain's Got Talent, X-factor, and American Idol. It's for research
12:00 pm-- Lunch
1:00 pm-- Prepare materials for meeting
2:00 pm-- Meeting discussing a video project
3:30 pm-- Start making adjustments to materials
4:15 pm-- Decided I need to write down so impressions
6:30 pm-- Run to O2 store to try to fix my internet
7:00 pm-- Dinner with the missionaries and new convert
8:44 pm-- Begin pilgrimage back to Schoeneck Kilianstedten.
9:30 pm-- Arrive back at home
10:00 pm-- Scriptures, journal
10:30 pm-- Hop on Facebook. Bad idea...
11:45 pm-- Realize the time
12:00 pm-- Bed

The Rush of Being Young

spon·ta·ne·ous

   [spon-tey-nee-uhs] 

adjective

1.

coming or resulting from a natural impulse or tendency;without effort or premeditation; natural and unconstrained;unplanned: a spontaneous burst of applause.

2.

(of a person) given to acting upon sudden impulses.

3.

buying tickets to an Imagine Dragons concert and driving 2 hours to get there on a typical Tuesday. 

I was probably the only one of the fans that can say they were there at their first concert. Yup, I came all the way from Provo for a concert. After the show, we waited around for the crowd to die down and then I told them I was from Provo. You should have seen the look on their face. Completely in shock.

Soaring to new heights

My internship has taught me many things. It has helped me rise to a new level professionally, spiritually, and personally.

I read books while riding trains
I wear scarves, tights and heals almost on a daily basis (NEVER thought I would do that)
I listen to classical music and find it soothing

                                 I buy fresh fruit at little stands for lunch

                                 I engage in conversation about international affairs

                                 I send out important business-y emails

     

                                       I  am constantly learning how the gospel and the Lord work

                                    I  am surrounded in an atmosphere conducive to the spirit

                                        I write long and sometimes poetic journal entries my feelings

I do things that make me feel important

I feel like I am participating in a worthwhile cause

I am progressing on multiple platforms

Now while all these things are wonderful, it isn't always the dream life

 I sit in front of a computer for hours on end

I deal with people who are hard to work with sometimes

I make a lot of phone calls, which I don't enjoy

                                                I get very little sleep

                                                I come home to an empty house 

                                                I feel very isolated sometimes

I battle the feeling of inadequacy

I discover new weaknesses everyday 

I realize that I have so much to learn

Conclusions: Being stretched to new heights should be done frequently. At times it can be uncomfortable. It feels good and it hurts. It refreshing and it's draining. It's inspiring yet it's discouraging. It's an adventure and it's routine. 

When you reach the top of something, the view is often referred to as "breath taking" and "well worth it." Being elevated to a higher plane changes ones perspective. You are able to see a bigger picture. While I definitely agree with these statements, I think it's important to remember that it is all the little details, which sometimes seem insignificant,  joined together that make the view what it is. 

"...by small and simple things, shall great things come to pass"    Alma 37:6 The Book of Mormon

View from the Main Tower

Frankfurt skyline at night

I hope to always remember the small and simples things I experience on a daily basis that has made my internship so wonderful and worthwhile

Britta and I on the top of the Main Tower

Spooky Times

This year for Halloween I dressed up as a public affairs professional. Scary right? Actually, I totally forgot it was Halloween until I saw some girl walking down the street looking like she walked right off an album cover for the band KISS.

I spent my halloween night exploring the Städel Museum, perusing through paintings of Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Victor Hugo and much more. There was a special exhibit called Schwarze Romantik  which focused on the dark and evil side of romance. That was a little disturbing-not going to lie.

Now if I can just sleep through the night without any dream about aliens, I'll be good.