Carlisle

I returned from Carlisle today. It was cold, windy, and rainy, but it was so worth the nasty weather :) I was with one of my greatest friends, Jessica, who is doing a course with YWAM (Youth With a Mission). She lives in a house with 12 other people doing the same course. It was a really nice house with wonderful people. It was so refreshing to be in Christian community.

On Thursday night when I arrived, the team had a speaker that was leading worship at their school. So we went straight there from the train station. I love having praise and worship nights. I miss that. We got to her house around 9:30, I had a cheese toastie (grilled cheese) and went to bed around 1am.

Friday the whole house slept in. They normally do not have Fridays off from school. I got up and showered at 11:30 and we all just chilled the whole day. Friday night we went to Tesco to get all the stuff for Saturday night's Thanksgiving dinner.

Saturday Jessica and I went into town, and she showed me all the sights. Carlisle is actually a really "happening" city. I was expecting sheep pastures and walking miles upon miles to get to any life...It was a real city. They had Next and H&M (clothing stores) and Waterstones (bookstore) and much much more. I was really impressed. I didn't want to be around that much, though. I get enough of it in London. So Jessica decided to show me other things.

The Carlisle Cathedral,





































An exhibition of haute couture hats by Phillip Tracey,



































And other beauties.





































Saturday night we had Thanksgiving dinner. Jessica and the team did an amazing job!





































We decorated the chandelier (spelling?) with Party Poppers. You pull a string and out pops streamers propelled by gun powder. It was like Thanksgiving and 4th of July all in one :) So patriotic

I sadly didn't take pictures of the food. I was too busy eating it to take pictures of it)

I left Carlisle at 10:05 this morning, changed trains at Newcastle, and arrived at King's Cross at 3:08pm. I took the tube home and arrived there at about 4pm. I then left at 6pm to go to church. I got home at 10pm. I do not have to be at school until 11am tomorrow! Yay! I can sleep until 9am. I am going to bed now so I can get 10 hours of sleep. Love my sleep!

Take care all :)

Thanksgiving!

I just bought a train ticket to visit my friend in Carlisle, England for Thanksgiving. I decided this morning to go, and I got a call from my friend saying that I was more than welcome to come! I am so excited to be with someone that I consider family for Thanksgiving. Awesome!

I am not going to promise anything, but I might have some pictures from this weekend the next time I update! Yay for Thanksgiving in England with family! Love it. Now I am going to pack!

Adios!

Apologies

I apologize profusely for not updating. I know you have been on edge wondering what has happened to me...I'm kidding.

Wow, a month has passed since I went to Germany. It was beautiful by the way. It reminded me of TN with the hills, changing of the leaves, and driving on the other side of the road. :) It was beautiful. We saw so much art! I loved it! My new favorite artist is Rosemarie Trockel. She had a video at a museum called MMK. The video resembled a sepia toned photograph and was combined with a music I can only describe as haunting and enchanting. It's entitled "z.B. Balthasar, 6 Jahre" (I think...the label was in German-obviously-and I assumed whatever was in italics is the entire title) Sadly, I can't even begin to describe it. I just had an experience with it, and for some reason it seems beyond words. If you enjoy art, you know what I mean...hopefully :) Here are a few pictures from Germany:

This is a photo of the interior of MMK. The architecture here was really interesting. The overall shape of the museum resembled a slice of cake (triangular).

This was our Hotel Cristall in Cologne, Germany. Pretty sweet :)


This is me with the creepy painting in our room :) If you woke up in the morning with that staring at you, you would be creeped out, too. We had the ability to turn it around at night. Everyday we came back to the hotel at the end of the day, the maids had cleaned our room and turned him back around...

Since Germany life has been great. I finished reading "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge. It was one of the best books I have read in a long time. It discusses the beauty of women in God and encourages a deeper relationship with Him. I highly recommend it. :) I am buying John Eldredge's books "Waking the Dead" and "Journey of Desire" from my church here. I have heard those two books are incredible as well :)

I am creating a magazine with 3 other classmates at school for an end-of-the-year project. I am so excited to be doing design again! Shocking for most of you reading this, I know. I couldn't wait to be done with undergrad and get away from design. Since being here in London I can't stop thinking about it! I am constantly wishing I had a project to do where I can play with type and layout and grids. I guess I needed a break to realize I actually like it. We'll see. I am just going to enjoy making this magazine and think about graphic design as a possible career over Christmas.

Tonight Kendall and I are going to the musical "Blood Brothers" for her birthday. I am so excited! I haven't been to a single play or musical since I have been here, and it's Kendall's favorite. I am sure it will be fantastic! I can't wait!!!

I hope everyone is doing well. In 24 days I will be an hour and a half away from taking off towards home for Christmas!!! Yay!!! I can't wait to see all my family and friends. Life is grand :)