"I want to go to Italy! Let's Go! What am I doing here?"

The string of phrases I now recite on a daily basis. Italy can be interchanged with Spain and just Europe in general.

I just finished reading the 2 post cards my best friend Rachelle sent to me, the first after having visited Rome and the second after having visited Florence. And my heart now aches to travel even more than it did before.

I have the bug. The travel bug. Big time. I want to be in Europe and I want to be there real bad. And even more specifically... I want to be in Italy.

My dream (which I hope to unfold into a reality within the next 2 years) goes like this...

Move to Florence, Italy and live in a rustic, old, teeny-tiny flat that over looks an authentic cobblestone Italian street. I want to hear the sounds of bustling busy people speaking Italian. I want to eat the best pasta that I have ever put into

my mouth and drink the most amazing wine that I have ever sipped. I want to walk the streets of Italy and go all over. I want to meet really neat people, buy beautiful artwork, learn Italian just for fun, and as my roommate Kate says "live the bohemian life".

Tomorrow I will be one day closer to this dream because tomorrow I start Grad school. That means one school day down and one day closer to a traveling life that I can't wait to begin. I mean business. Europe I am coming for you very soon!

Ciao!

Next blog to come will be all about Rachelle's trip to San Diego! Promise. One of the most fun weeks of my life, and one to surely be documented. Stay tuned...

This one's for you!

A new blog is coming soon! It will include Rachelle's amazing visit here in San Diego, snip-its of my new life, and hopefully pictures of a somewhat compl

eted apartment (fingers crossed!)

So to Rachelle and Jill my new avid followers... a new post will be happening soon. Let me pick of the pieces of my scattered life, put them back together,

and a new post will then await!

In the mean time, here's something for you two to snack on...

Loveeeee

Caught up in the busyness...

of life.

I have lots of pictures to share of adventures with my love Ms. Rachelle Catherine, the happenings of my new apartment in San Diego, some crazy sights I have seen since being back down in Southern California, and lots to say about the downright busyness that has gone on since I made my move. They will be up soon!

Today I was able to pause for a good couple of hours while at church back at Flood. Oh how this morning did my soul and heart some good as I begin this next year of life in San Diego, pursuing my life long dream of becoming a teacher, all the while wanting to so badly take advantage of this current time in my life to live, experience, and be (in other words travel through Europe). I am in prayer about where and how I will get to serve here in San Diego for this next year and for how my faith is going to be strengthened and grounded as I step into the shoes of what is now real life.

People (as in wonderful visitors whom I love) have been in and out of my new apartment. Boxes and crap has been and still is (somewhat) strung out everywhere. My bank account has been draining. I have been going going going. Nonetheless, these last few days have been fun, spontaneous, challenging, tiring, exciting, new, and empowering.

Tomorrow marks my one-last-week-before-school-starts and I will be drowning my sorrows with a delicious and amazing Acai Bowl from OB. That's right, drowning the sorrows and I say "sorrows" only because I am just not wanting to start this last leg of my journey..... summer, let's start over again!

"Saint Diego..."

Title inspired by the film Anchorman. That movie, as a matter of fact, has been on the brain lately just as it usually is when I arrive back in what has become my established second home, San Diego!

The first 5 days back in San Diego look a little something this...

And more to come to come soon!

Today is a day to BE.

I woke up this morning and took a nice deep breath. Let 5 dogs out to pee, fed'em, and climbed right back into bed. 10:30 am, I took another nice long deep breath. Ahhhh. Today is a day off and my soul already feels juvenated from just simply sleeping in! Such a beautiful thing.

And now it is time for some life updates! What the heck have I been up to?! Let me share.

I am dogsitting/housesitting! Yep, again! This time for 5 little dogs that probably combined don't equal Max. But there are 5 this time and I noticed this morning that I now have circles under my eyes. 5 dogs is hard work and I now worship the ground that Mary LaRose walks on because I don't know HOW she manages these pups and finds time to relax. However let me share that these 5 dogs: Lily, Gus, Colby, Mufasa, and Scar are the cutest little love bugs and I do enjoy their presence............ minus the waking up early and barking in harmony at any little pin drop of a noise.

My dad has been in the hospital! Not as fun as an update for sure. But the good news is that he is finally home. He was graced with a 3 night/4 day stay at the fabulous Sutter General Hospital in downtown, Sacramento. It all started last Wednesday night with a weird pain in the lower left side of this groin. By Thursday morning the pain was quite strange and real bad, so he and my mom went to the Dr. Our Dr. was not in and so off to the emergency room they went. After some long hours in emergency and lots of tests, my dad was diagnosed with Diverticulitis. This is an intestinal infection that happens when certain foods cause inflammation in pockets known as diverticula in the intestine/colon. So... thanks to antibiotics, lots of visits from all those who love him, and pain meds, he has finally made his way home! So so glad! What now? Well, he has to change his diet forever. He will forever have to eat a high fiber diet and never ever again eat strawberries (anything will small seeds really), peanut butter, and popcorn among many other "must be avoided foods". Mr. Whipple is in for a journey of learning to love some foods he never thought he would have to love. Shall be interesting! Nonetheless, despite the pain and discomfort, my dad kept his hilarious spirit the whole time.... and when I asked him "Dad, how are you doing?" he responded, "I'm OK monnnn (Jamaican for "man"), while placing his fist upon his head as we were asked to do in Haiti, on our cruise, during a jet ski excursion, to indicated to the guide that we were A-Ok. Only my dad, only my dad!

Next to report: Taylor came to visit! Woohoo!!! She came at the most perfect time to provide for a great, fun-filled weekend. And boy is that what we had. We went to Dad's Sandwiches downtown and had amazing sandwiches and a great chat, visited my dad in the hospital and got locked in a parking garage (scariest moment of my life... but yes, we did get out....eventually!). BBQ'd with lots of friends, went to church so she could meet, see, and experience the Sun Grove I LOVE LOVE LOVE. And then we topped the weekend off with a day at the fair with Cory and some Kate Plus 8 that night.... anddd a new iphone video chat date with Anns. It was so great to see her face! So so so wish that she could have spent the weekend with us!

[Pictures courtesy of Cory's Camera!]

And lastly, yesterday! Yesterday Danielle Young and I made the journey to visit our very missed and loved friend Kallie Markle. Such a great day. Such a great visit. We got to see her one last time before she pops out little Mr. Mini Markle. The day consisted of talking, buying a carseat, talking, eating Chipotle, talking, going to a dr.'s appointment, talking, and seeing all the fun baby stuff Kal and Josh have accumulated. We would like to call it a day of milestones! I am so happy and excited for them and absolutely can't wait to meet the little monster.

[I wish I was inserting a picture here. I had a bad picture taking day and did not document... ahh!]

And now for Today! I have finished registering for classes for this upcoming fall. Grad school is here and approaching whether I like it or not. Oh dear. And I have this very day to BE. And I am going to go do just that. Happy Wednesday.... go BE.