Exploring the City

Weekends are nice here.  That sounds insufficient.  Florence is worth of your time and it always has something new in store for you. This weekend (October 1st through the 4th) we were presented with a blessing in disguise.  We all had planned to go out into the Tuscan country side for wine harvesting, but our plans fell through, so we were 'forced' to stay in Florence.  But we really needed it.  We hadn't explored any of the museums yet, so we did.  The Accademia and Uffizi are mind boggling.  Miles and miles of exquisite art to overload your senses.  But we also got to experience what typical Florentine weekends are like.  They are lively, joyful, relaxing and full of fabulous food.  The piazza of Santa Croce held this huge international market full of everything.  Let's just say that we ate here every day, a couple times a day.  German candy... yes, German sausages with grilled onions, sauerkraut and mustard... yes please, Belgium crepes... definitely.  An entire square devoted to satisfy any craving you might have that day.  

This is the way you absorb another culture.  You whole heartedly devote yourself to be susceptible to your surroundings.  Yes you can walk down a street, walk through a piazza, or sit down on the steps of a church, but what good does that do you? You have to observe and absorb.  You have to break down your preconceived notions of what life should be like and allow yourself to experience what life truly is like.  I think that's one of the greatest lessons to learn while studying abroad and in life.  What fun is life if you are never allow yourself to be surprised by something new?                    

Powerful Words

Sometimes I forget how powerful and remarkable the word of God is.  Silly me. Why is it that when I feel tired, stressed, lonely, unhappy, anything remotely negative I retreat, feel sorry for myself and let Satan attack me.  NOT ANY MORE! I need to run to scripture, I need to run to HIM, jump in His arms and be His attentive child willing to be loved, taught and sought after.  I need to be jealous for Him, like He is jealous for me.  


"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; stuck down, but not destroyed." - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 


"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything... Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." - James 1: 2-4, 12 


"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the LORD, your God..." - Isaiah 43:2 


"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:29-31 


"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:1-8 


Thank You Lord for redirecting me back to Your word.  My prayer is Lord James 1:22, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says!" I don't want to be deceiving myself anymore, I want to be glorifying You with my everything.  

His Beauty

There is one thing that keeps being impressed upon me since I've been in Firenze... God's beauty and creativity.  His hand is so evident everywhere you go, especially here in the Tuscan countryside.  Last weekend Tom, Amberle, Sara and I went to Cinque Terre, a series of 5 towns on the Tuscan coast and it was literally breathtaking.  It is my favorite place I have been so far.  The colors, smells, sounds, the unreal picturesque view all direct you back to Him... then why do I feel so distant from Him? 

The Eternal City

Rome... It's always moving... Continually challenges the way we perceive food, art, life... It's perpetually alive... A city that never sleeps... The Eternal City. 

Going to Rome for a second time was such a blessing.  Being allowed to not only be overwhelmed by the grander, but having the chance to process, to think, to absorb what I'm witnessing first hand.  Pictures can never do Rome justice, there's simply too much beauty to be captured in a snapshot.  But then you start thinking about that beauty, and you realize... it's man made beauty.  Yes it takes your breath away, but it's still merely man made.  When you hear the name 'The Eternal City', a quality of a higher power is associated with it.  But Rome's beauty shies in comparison to the true Eternal City.  How cool is that? The most beautifully decorated city in the world shies in comparison to what the LORD has in store for us in heaven. St. Peter's, Santa Maria, Santo Ignazio di Loyola, the Pantheon indeed are beautiful, I'm in awe of the artist's talent, when I stand in them I'm speechless, but one day it will be Christ's beauty that will radiate out, fill heaven and force me to be in awe of Him.  I can't wait to be in that Eternal City.       

The Tuscan Countryside

I love weekends.  I have always loved them.  They are a time to relax, refuel and spend time with friends.  At least that's how it's always been for me back at home, school and camp.  But here in Italy, I get to add one more thing to that list, I get to explore.  I GET TO EXPLORE!!! How cool is that? So this weekend, all of the Horned Frogs went and explored Siena, San Gimignano and Volterra.  The beautiful Tuscan Countryside. 


First stop, Siena.  Siena is a remarkable Medieval town outside of Florence.  There is such history, beauty, and civic pride in Siena.  Siena is comprised of many districts all symbolized by a different animal and they take such pride in that.  Our tour guide told us that she is from the Silk Worm District and that you baptize your children into your district.  How weird, yet neat.  In the states, we don't have that kind of tradition.  Siena is also stunning.  The city was built on three hills and where all of those meet is this beautiful seashell shaped piazza, Piazza del Campo.  Also, the Siena Cathedral is breathtaking.  It is a mixture of Romanesque, Renaissance and Baroque styles, and everything is done so exquisitely.  I could spend weeks in there and never get bored.       

Next stop, San Gimignano.  I absolutely love this town.  It is small, not very touristy, has incredible towers you can climb to see the beautiful countryside and the world's best gelato.  I'm not kidding, the world's best gelato.  They've won the competition several times... they're pretty legit.  There isn't as much to do here as Siena, but it's such a beautiful place to retreat to and see God's creativity.  You get a panoramic view of the amazing vineyards surrounding the town.  Also, who doesn't love a good cup of gelato? 

And to cap off a great weekend, Volterra.  Volterra is a beautiful Etruscan style town that has been tainted by one of the worst phenomenon's ever, Twilight.  Volterra is the setting for whatever that vampire counsel thing is in New Moon.  It was funny walking around and seeing Twilight gear and New Moon flavored gelato (which was actually pretty good), but it was nice seeing that this town wasn't full of teenage girls trying to find Edward.  It is a beautiful, small, quaint town that is totes worthy of a day trip.    

Seeing the City

Picnic on a hilltop at sunset.  Sounds like the perfect setting for beautiful scene either in a classic novel or great film.  But no, by God's grace, this is my reality.  

On Thursday, September 9, precious Amberle Durano had the most brilliant idea to make picnic style dinners and climb the hill to Piazzale Michelangelo.  From this beautiful hilltop you can see all of Florence: the Arno, the Duomo, the synagog, Santa Croce, San Siniorina Square, my home, everything and in the beautiful, luminous, dreamy light of sunset.  How can you not stand in awe of the most beautiful artwork brought about by our most loving Creator? Nature, light, and beautiful places reflect the ingenuity, creativity and splendor of our God.  How remarkable is that?     

This is really random, but here is a classic Florentine couple for you.  It was a precious moment that we got to witness, so I creeped on them and took a picture.  But we all commented on how neat it is that the Florentines still appreciate the beauty of their home.  That they still make the trip up a hill to see what a beautiful place they are so blessed to live in.  Wait, for a couple precious months I'm a Florentine...what a beautiful place the WE are blessed to live in.

   

What A Day!

Tuesday September 7... wow... you were a full day! 


So Tuesday was our first day of classes at Lorenzo di Medici.  We all knew that this day would come, it's bad to admit this but when you're studying abroad, school seems secondary.  Classes were fun and I know I'm going to learn a lot, but college has always been about the life lessons for me & I'm excited to see what the LORD is going to teach me just by being here. 

That's just the beginning of a fantastic Tuesday... so that night Tom, Amberle, Sara and I went to a free, check it, FREE concert inside of the Duomo!!!! Inside of the Duomo!!!! How cray-cray is that!!!! It was religious opera music and it filled the Duomo.  The echos and the grader of everything was fantastic.  But then we heard some fun, lively, festive music outside... so we ditched the Duomo and joined this huge crowd of Florentines celebrating Festa della Rificolona, the Procession of Lanterns in honor of the Virgin Mary.  It was incredible!!! We walked from the Duomo square to San Marco Square with Florentines who had beautiful, decorative lanterns.  There was a band, it was energetic, it was so much fun.  Once we got to the square, it was packed.  People, booths, lanterns, music, food, everything... the senses were overwhelmed.  It was a surreal night.  Being submerged in a culture is what studying abroad is all about!!! Having difficulty finding another tourist around you is a freeing and joyous feeling.  For a moment, I felt legitimately Italian... yes, even with my bright ginger hair.  Being Italian... I could get used to that.