day dix

after ten days here, i'm officially loving the food. here are a few faves:

liebniz. i first had these bad boys a few years ago in germany. my roomie and i ate them by the boxful. things haven't changed since. why is it that european chocolate is so much better?

cheese. i have always liked cheese, but i eat it everyday now. this fresh mozzarella was only 50 cents(pardon my pic. add some basil and olive oil and this would be heaven) where can i get it that cheap when i get back?

for good, and probably bad, i've fallen for all things food here.

day neuf

my father has shared this quote on more than one occasion:

"Teach our members that if they have a good, miserable day once in a while, or several in a row, to stand steady and face them. Things will straighten out.

There is great purpose in our struggle in life."

-Boyd K. Packer

i have had reason to meditate on that quote the past week or so, but....today was our BEST day yet....nothing like a good solid day full of inspiring things and good blessings.

after a little nudge, the final thing i did last night before zonking out was write a favorite line of our cherished prophet in my journal, making sure it took up the entire page: "the future is as bright as your faith." this past week was not always bright, my faith i'm sure the cause. but today, today was our day. it's funny how displaying even just a little faith(mine is smaller than mustard seeds) and immediately He sends blessings. i can't name them all, but at least one was a good dinner at a chinese place paid for by the boss:)

the future is looking bright.

...sorry for the lack of pics

day huit

(eight, pronounced something close to wheat, is my favorite number to say in french.)

hard to believe that we have officially been here over a week now.

two great things of today:

1- due to unstable internet, our phone conversations are pretty choppy. yesterday i was cut off right before saying i love you to my mother-which led to tears(sounds silly now). but today- we talked for almost a full hour! that was a first since we've been overseas. i dont know if there is anything a good talk with my mom can't fix. bless that woman.

2-for the first, and perhaps the only, time in our marriage i get to work side by side with devin, like get paid work-not housework. it is a rarity to be with him 24/7, and with all the change of late, i wouldn't have it any other way right now.

day sept

today was nothing spectacular, not bad but not great. i wasn't in my normal spirits, and not quite at home with things and while making dinner these words helped:

"The challenge to remember has always been the hardest for those who are blessed abundantly. Those who are faithful to God are protected and prospered. That comes as the result of serving God and keeping His commandments. But with those blessings comes the temptation to forget their source. It is easy to begin to feel the blessings were granted not by a loving God on whom we depend but by our own powers."

from the beloved Pres. Eyring

"Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. Your character will grow; your faith will increase. There is a relationship between those two: the greater your faith, the stronger your character; and increased character enhances your ability to exercise even greater faith."

from the all knowing Elder Scott

Thank heavens for living prophets whose words unceasingly bring our spirits up, and our heavenly home nearer.

day six:

weekend recap:

devin and i in ikea=can't wipe the smiles off our faces. not only where things written in a recognizable language(swedish) but every employee we talked to spoke fantastic english. That is not the story of our little village. also, ice cream for less than a dollar, way good for europe.

spent a lot of time making our apartment home: hand sewing some fabric curtains, putting together all our kitchen supplies. there is beauty all around, when there is love at home.

heard a donkey ew-aw from only a few feet away for the first time since i can remember. squealed for fear and fun.

drove around the bruxelles, what a quaint town. can't wait to head back this weekend and actually get out of the car.

saw a rainbow.

church was a maze to find, but so rewarding to be among the saints. we hardly knew what to do with our time on sunday because we had early church and no family dinner. sunday is such a rejuvination when done right.

still in awe that people actually live in these houses...uhmazing.

found a perfectly inspiring road for a run. since i haven't gone running since we arrived and i dont want my new habit to melt away, i need a place to go thats both inspiring and safe:)

got our hands on some non sparkling water today. the best thrist quencher in the world.

blew out our last converter fuse, and therefore no talking with family until we bought one today.

had a better grocery shopping experience-everything is on the up.

life, after this weekend, seems like it could really work for us here.