Vi Ses, Copenhagen!

On Tuesday, December 9th, I departed Copenhagen and returned to the United States.  After four months of being separated from my family and friends as well as the familiarities of home, I was more than eager to set foot in America.  After a cancelled flight and over 21 hours of travel, I was finally reunited with my mom.  Although the reunion was not as we imagined, I was thrilled to see her run into the airport with my welcome home sign. 

Since being home, I've had hour-long friend dates at Starbucks, travelled up to New York City for the day to have tea at The Plaza and tour around the city, and spent quality time shopping at all my favorite stores.  Being home has been wonderful and I'm soaking up every minute before I have to go back to school in early January.  

Life Is Hard

There's no getting around it-life is hard. Sometimes it seems as though you overcome one hurdle only to be confronted by another one, or two, or three.  As I prepare to say goodbye to Copenhagen, I find myself reflecting on my own challenges that I experienced while abroad.  My semester was certainly not a walk in the park; I had good days, but also days of deep heartache.  I had to mourn the loss of an important relationship, while simultaneously embracing and maximizing my time in Europe.  These two tasks are not easily compatible.  Everyday I had to make a conscious effort to try to find little joys, whether it be a rare ray of sunshine emerging from behind a cloud or a nice meal at a new restaurant.  

My time in Copenhagen gave me a new confidence and independence that I have never had before.  But most importantly, I learned that God is the ultimate Provider.  He knows my needs and never abandons me.  During both my darkest moments and my happiest moments, God was there. God will always be there.

Fashion Friday

Happy Friday! It has gotten bitterly chilly in Copenhagen over the past few days. The dropping temperatures coupled with Christmas being less than one month away has precipitated my hunt for fun and festive leggings! I picture myself wearing them with oversized sweaters or under sweater dresses. Even though Black Friday is not an event in Copenhagen, I have satisfied my shopping bug with some online shopping.  I am thankful for the Internet :)

Here are some of my favorite legging finds!

Holiday Red Flower Reindeer Print

Nordic Reindeer Print

Reindeer Snowflake Print

Holiday Reindeer Print

Happy shopping and enjoy your weekend! 

Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving! I pray that everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday filled with love and memories. 

This is my first Thanksgiving spent away from home (very far from home).  Not being surrounded by my loved ones on such a family-oriented holiday is difficult. However, God is so good and has given me ways to stay connected with my family and friends even from thousands of miles away. Last night I was able to contribute to dinner by helping my mom find a mashed potato recipe and today I plan on video chatting to say hi to my extended family.  Here in Copenhagen, we're even executing an elaborate traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday!  I am thankful for friends and family both near and far and for the eternal love, grace, and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

(Some pictures from last Thanksgiving)

Kisses for Sammy!

A fun visit from my step-sister and her daughter! 

      Missing these snuggles!

Fantastic Fudge

We’re halfway through the week; it's time to reward ourselves with a sweet treat! Here are a few amazingly delicious-looking fudge recipes that don't seem too difficult to make!

Gingerbread Fudge

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Fudge

Chocolate Fudge

Happy eating and have a great rest of the week!

Mid-week Reminder: "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her."

Luke 1:45

Smart Girls Group

Check out the article I wrote for The Smart Girls Group about feminism on the runway!

No Catcalls on This Catwalk!

Power of Prayer

The more time I spend reading God's word, the more I realize of just how awesome He is.  His greatness gives me this unquenchable feeling of love and warmth and protection.  While I sometimes find myself forgetting to talk to God throughout the day, the instant I sit down with the Bible or read a passage from a Bible study, I am once again reminded of the power of our Savior. 

The past few days have been particularly taxing for me on a mental/emotional level. I was faced with making a decision that did not (at first) have an easy answer; it dealt with revisiting an old relationship and had the potential to be either really great or really distressing.  I immediately turned to family and friends to help me navigate this dilemma.  With various pieces of advice, I was still left with uneasiness as to what to do.  I made a decision that I felt ambiguous about and rationalized my choice by thinking "why not?" (not a great reason).  I stuck with this decision for a few days before I suddenly realized I had made a poor choice. Throughout my mental turbulence, I prayed to God asking for clarity and had my family praying for me as well.  And God answered my prayer.  He made it clear to me that I needed to protect my mind and my heart and avoid the situation. When I finally accepted this reality, a weight was lifted off of my shoulders; I felt free from the burden of people pleasing and closer in my walk with God. 

Sometimes when I pray, I get impatient with God's response time.  I tend to jump to the conclusion that He has decided my prayers is too insignificant or is busy handling other, more important, issues than mine.  I couldn't be more wrong.  God answers prayer not according to my timetable, but His.  He doesn't always (usually) answer prayer in the way I envision because He provides even greater things or what I actually need.  In every season, God is good.  He never forgets his children.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Romans 12:12

Amen!