LMP

Today is our last full day in Europe. We're in Lisbon and have a flight to Boston and then D.C. at 2:30. We have nine and a half hours of airplane travel to look forward to! :/ Today we went to a museum with mummies and cool Egyptian and bronze age stuff. We also went up in a monument dedicated to the people who found America (the Portuguese) and an old fortress that was used for protection. The views were so pretty and the water was sparkling brightly in the heat. I got a big strawberry and Nutella gelato to cool down:) Ruby and I are sitting in our own hotel room getting ready to go out again. That's right. Our. Own. Room. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we'd have our own room. It's never happened. With our big family someone actually fights for the spot under the desk to sleep. You have to get creative with sleeping arrangements and we do and it works. It's fun and plus there's usually free breakfast! :) I'm sad to leave but it's time. Dorot...

Tonight is my last night on my crazy summer vacation. I fly home tomorrow by myself to Kaysville Utah. This Friday and Saturday I have a workshop in salt lake with dance company and then girls Camp so I still have some trips still. I am excited to sleep in my own bed but I'm sad to leave D.C.and my family. It's been awesome! Tonight I went and saw the temple with ruby and mom. It's gorgeous!! I am so thankful for this summer. For family. For their patience, because mine was short this week after coming from being spoiled in Europe:) and for parents who live to make us kids happy. I've learned so much about my country this week and seen some amazing and famous places. Not to mention the six museums and the yummy food! Preposterous plan is near complete. It's been practically perfect and I'm so thankful for it and my parents who made it possible.

My parents and Ruby and I have been having fun with the fancy facebook app that lets you send stickers and pictures. Here's a funny one I sent. I'm so excited to see my family this week but sad to be leaving Europe! It's been amazing!!

Yesterday we went to Seville! We went to the largest gothic cathedral in the world and took a tour on a horsedrawn carriage. I got the cutest little somethings for two of my friends but they might read this, so I won't say what. I also finally got a snow globe! It was very warm and pretty. I loved it! Yesterday was also national dance day!!

I was reading a favorite  blog of mine  yesterday and was led to a link of yet another blog. The author briefly mentioned periods of planting, and periods of growing. It really resonated with me. Although we should be growing and progressing constantly, part of growing is planting. We aren't going to be accomplishing things or seeing noticeable growth every minute. There are times when Heavenly Father needs us to simply desire, to plant the seed, to nourish it, and to be the gardener. We cannot constantly be reaping our fields or picking the flowers. As gardeners of our lives, there is sowing to be done, weeding to finish, and watering to see to. Most flowers bloom in their season, but that does not mean that they are not beautiful as bulbs, sprouts, or buds. The trick is to see the beauty of the process, to appreciate the pursuit, and to love the struggle of endeavor. Whatever season my life landscape is in, I want to notice the subtleties and promise of possibility, but gl...

 Portugal might be my favoriteso far. Don´t worry, not of all time, just on this trip. Paris is still numba one!! :) It wasn´t too hot which was nice since Italy was so warm. We went to a castle, palace, and museum. We dined three times. Once at a cute cafe restaurant, once at a nice restaurant where we got fresh fish (likethey caught it a few hours before and they showed us the whole scaly fish before preparing it) and today at the cafe at the museum. Portugal is rich in history and strongly influenced by Muslim culture due to the Moors. It had a very rich royal family for a while but the royals kept marrying cousins and family so... yeah that might have been their downfall. The beach was crowded but nice. I never saw so many bikinis in my life. After the fish dinner we watched the sunset over the ocean. We had an amazing view from our table as well and it was gorgeous! I did not used to like fish but now I do! I´m glad because the fish wasso good. I still don´t like sushi or ...

Italy has been great. Venice is amazing and the family we're with is just so nice and humble. Church today was different for sure but the spirit is the same and I'm so glad I could take the sacrament again! This afternoon we fly to Lisbon. I hope Spain and Portugal will be less humid, but alas, I'm sure it won't be. It will still of course be amazing!! Thank you so much Argentis!

Ciao! We are in Italy! We woke up at four and went to the airport. We cut it close, which means we just didn't have two hours to waste in the terminal;) the flight was so short! Luckily everything with our bags worked out which had been a little worrying since we took EasyJet. We arrived at the Argenti's and almost immediately left to take a train to Venice. Another American family is here staying nearby who are friends so they also came to Venice. It was weird to speak English to someone besides Ruby! Venice was amazing! It's so pretty and colorful. It was very hot and kind of crowded so we didn't stay in touristy parts the whole time. The water is turquoise and the buildings are intricate and charming. It's kind of like Paris but sassy. If that makes sense. We got yummy pizza and gelato. I told the dad my and Ruby 's order for gelato and he thought it was just mine. So I got two scoops! So much ice cream! Italian is so beautiful and basically a combination of...

We are in Lyon! We arrived on Monday late afternoon. Yesterday we went to the Old Lyon as well as visiting some beautiful churches. We had a picnic in one of the charming narrow streets and then got gelatto. I got... are you ready for this?.... Vanilla macadamia! I know, not chocolate or even strawberry? It was so delicious though and it had a touch of caramel. I``ve been craving Oakridge macadamian nut cookie so this ice cream hit the spot! Anyway, Ruby and I got Ari a present and I bought some post cards. Lyon is a beautiful city with lots of variety in buildings. You can see a Parisian-looking one then a modern office building then a medieval pink building, all on one street! The view from a certain hill was so pretty and the two rivers are very clean and pretty. Today Genevieve brought us back a pain au chocolat and then we went to a park slash zoo. It was so pretty and walkig in the rain with nice umbrellas was so cozy and fun. We came home to make some lunch and now we are resti...