Processing...

Hey ya’all. Apologies for not keeping up with blogging! Things have been incredible… scary wonderful. I have new experiences at every turn. We have a couple days in Rome and then will be heading out to Solatio, the home in Tuscany. This lovely villa is the part of the trip that I long for with all my heart. I look forward to abundant rest and peace. I will be processing pictures, thoughts, and writings, and will try to get caught up to the present time. I’ll do my best to get everything organized… :)

So, today, we explore Rome… and in about a week, you will all read about it and see pictures on my site! It’s good that you can read the family blog too because my mom has been very diligent about keeping up with each day. For me, a blog is more of a creative art form… pictures that I wade through and then alter, writing, matching pictures with writing… it’s very fun and relaxing for me, but it takes time… time that is scarce during this part of our trip! First, Bruges, then Paris, and finally Rome… all three major cities that we are attempting to hit in a few days each. Each place has been amazing, but they leave little time for “processing.”

So I am just taking things in as fast as they come, and trying to absorb as much as I can in the knowledge that my processing days are coming soon… :)

I love you all so much and miss you like crazy! Blessings on each of your families and lives.

Over and out,

- Jess <><

Arrival in Belgium... written May 14th

We are in Belgium… wow. There are just no words to describe the beauty I experienced last night. We arrived around 8:00 PM and were greeted by the woman who was to show us our house. She took us down stone-lined streets until we came to our destination.

Our home we are staying at is filled with character. A small house, each tiny nook and cranny is taken advantage of… each hidden corner a mysterious treasure to behold. Architecturally, the house is, in a word, funky. There are four basic floors, but none are really full floors. The spiral staircase joins them all, but is a piece all its own. It is very strange, but extremely interesting.

The family settled in and each of us expressed a strong desire for food! The kind lady directed us to the Markt, the middle of the city of Bruges.

The whole crowd ventured into the town square…

Nothing could have prepared me for the sights my eyes beheld. Such elegance and timelessness that met me on that cobblestone road… the buildings were of classic character and seemed to each have an intricately woven story of their lives. The grandeur of each and every façade held my vision… breathless. I could not have imagined a more magical place.

Elements of stone and brick and wood all melded together as one and provided the most incredible picture for my little self. I could only attempt to comprehend the vastness of all that lay before me. Still processing, I walked on somewhat of a cloudy haze. The smells that found their way to my nose were new and exciting. The idea of food was perhaps the most promising! Each new experience permeated my senses… then found its way to my spirit and engrained itself there. When we finished our Belgian fries, I walked to the very center of the square, loveliness all around me. I stood in awe there thinking.. I will always remember this... for as long as I live.

Purple bears... sure baby sure

<---- Pooped on the plane!!

Though we have only been here for two days, it feels like a week has gone by. I cannot believe that this is only part of our 20 day trip through Europe! Right now, we are in Solvesborg, Sweden staying with family. It is so interesting to make the connections and family ties to what I know from home. These people are so wonderful. It has only been two days, and already it feels as if we have known them forever. Jan is my father’s uncle, and Monica is his wife. They are a pair. Jan is the quiet humming type. He is very much a grandfatherly figure. Monica is just beautiful. She is a gorgeous person. Her favorite American words are “Sure, baby, sure,” which sounds like “Shoower baeby shoower,” when she says it. So alive and vibrant… she makes me happy! My dad’s cousins are Chris and Pear. They are Jan and Monica’s sons. Chris has Sarah (18)… she’s a babe. J and Pear has Sophie (17) and Julia (15) who are both very fun. Jourdan and I are staying at Pear and Camilla’s house.

We cannot get away from the States! ----->

Yesterday was a beautiful day. We explored Solvesborg. Jan and Monica took us shopping in the town square and we ate princess cake and Korv med mos. Princess cake is FABULOUS. My dad, when he visited Sweden in his younger years, fell in love with princess torte and now I know why! Korv med mos is a sausage hot dog with mashed potatoes. It was excellent.




<----- Atop the ruins of an ancient castle



Also yesterday, our cousins took us for a walk through the woods near their house. The entire path was wonderful. We joked about purple bears that eat small children, and executions that happen “just around this bend!” I love listening to the girls speak English. I am finding that the more time I spend with them, the more my accent begins to sound Swedish! Even now, while typing, I am having slight difficulty forming my words!





A tulip´s beauty truly captures one´s attention

This morning was lovely. I went out early and took some pictures of nature. I fall more and more in love with close-up photography every time I try it!





<----- Little blue bells!

Aaah, writing these things down is really good for me to organize my thoughts. It is a processing tool for me! I miss everyone back home, but I feel like I could stay in this place forever. I have a feeling that I may not be in the Tri-Cities, or even the United States for much longer.








* Don´t you think daisies are the friendliest flower? *














Inviting benches make their home in every park! ----->


The architecture is stunning. My favorite building materials, stone and stucco, are a staple of Swedish architecture. I love it! They have my favorite terracotta roofs too! Everything is so clean and alive here. The atmosphere is lovely.





In my opinion, the most beautiful home in all that I´ve seen in Solvesborg... Wow, gorgeous. ----->

Today, the family adventured into the shopping markets of the larger city of Kristianstad. What a perfect place! Population-wise, Kristianstad is about the size of Kennewick. The shopping here is excellent. I fear I have been ruined by European clothing. It will be difficult to satisfy me in American Eagle anymore! J I found a lovely rust-colored linen dress, a pair of sunglasses, and a necklace. Again, it is hard to believe that this is only our first stop… and only the second day no less!

<-----Niklas and I with our beers... :) (They´re not really ours... but they could be!)

Peace from the Swedes ----->

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Well then, täk semikä for exploring with me... We will meet again.

- Yessica <><

In a dream...

Written at 5:40 PM Washington time.

Walking in a daze

There are no words to explain

Breathe

Swirling haze of thoughts

Form no connection

Anticipation

Not here. Here.

Surreal surroundings

Perfection

Together and beautiful

Unified in purpose

Truth

This is my journey

Life abundant

Follow

Here I go

Finally, the day has arrived

Awe

Inspiration at every turn

Absorb it all

Overload

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We have yet to leave the country and already, I feel like I am in a dream… so real and at the same time, so unimaginable. My family and I will board the airplane in a little over an hour. Excitement hangs trembling in the air. There is an element of fear for the unknown, but the thrill and exhilaration of an exploration promises to overthrow much of my anxiety.

An adventure of my lifetime…

Until later,

- Jess <><

T-22 hours

Within the next 24 hours, my family will be boarding an airplane in Seattle that will fly us to Copenhagen... that's in Denmark... which is in Europe. Hmm. I think everything is still surreal. I will be on a plane to EUROPE.. within the next day. Wow.

My head is currently a swirling mass of thoughts.

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What will it be like?
How will the people receive us?
What is in store for me and my family?
How will this trip impact our lives?

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The answers to each of these questions lie ahead in the next three weeks. I invite you to join me as I travel through Europe and partake of a journey that I am convinced will forever change my life. I will be posting pictures and stories, so stay tuned!

Blessings to all,
- Jess <><