we iz runnin'

Last weekend, Carly and I ventured to Finsbury Park to run a race for Action Duchenne charity organization (supporting young children with muscular dystrophy that will eventually kill them before the age of 30). It was a foggy Saturday morning - surprise, surprise - but it was a great way to get out and explore a more diverse part of London. The best part of the race was our fan section who made signs and yelled for us as we passed on each lap. So thanks Kate and Aleks, you're the cutest two cheerleaders I've ever had!

 

As seen in the pictures, we wanted to match whilst on our run so we decided to don American flag bandanas, hot pink and blue. It was an awesome start to our Saturday morning... which concluded with a Bloody Mary, a cheeseburger and a long nap!

Cheers y'all, Lis

Tour Guide Lisa

Some close friends of mine are in London visiting and we had the best day yesterday walking around and exploring the city! I have been in London as a tourist and as a resident so I feel like I have seen all the 'good stuff' multiple times. That being said, each time I wander around the city I am reminded of how perfectly beautiful and unique it is! We walked for five hours around London - Covent Garden, Piccadilly, Trafalgar, Buckingham, Horse Guard's Parade, Big Ben and Parliament, up the South Bank, National Theatre, ran through Tate Modern and finished at St Paul's... at which point I thought I was going to pass out from exhaustion!

I absolutely LOVED being able to show friends around London. I wasn't the most knowledgable tour guide but I was surprised at how much I did know.. it proves I have been listening in class. As well, I was able to get some pictures and see a few things that even as a London-er I hadn't yet accomplished. What a great day with friends, can't wait to meet up with them again a couple weeks in Paris! 

  

Momma, Grandma and Papa will be getting to London in just 18 days so I'm glad I was able to put on my 'Tour Guide Lisa' hat for a bit! I cannot wait for them to visit and see everything I love about London and all it has to offer.

Cheers y'all, Lis

Ash Wednesday at Westminster Abbey

Today we attended the Ash Wednesday service in Westminster Abbey and while it wasn't quite what I was expecting.. it was great to take communion, receive the ashes and have time with God in such a beautiful place.

Cheers y'all, Lis

Antwerp

Last weekend, LG and Kate (my euro lovers) met me in Antwerp to stay with a dear family friend. We were met with wine, hugs and hours and hours of conversation. I have been so blessed that these two girls have been in Europe while I've been in London. They are truly inspiring with their words, love and grace and I cannot begin to tell them how important they are to me. We've conquered Germany, Italy, Turkey, Belguim, Holland and I can't wait to see where we head to next... I'm thinking Sweden?!

ANTWERP

AMSTERDAM

 Antwerp was a neat city, lots of cobble stones and clouds. We enjoy Belgian waffles and beer which were of course delicious, but I have to say my favorite meal was the homemade meatloaf and mac-n-cheese that Mrs. Thomas made us! We explored the Rueben's House in Antwerp and were lucky enough take a day trip to Amsterdam to see the flower markets, Rijksmuseum and the modern art collection. Not to mention, we had a Nutella crepe from "The World's Best Crepes" shop...yes, it really was that good.

The trip was a perfect respite from the busy London city life and seeing dear friends really reminds me how blessed I am to have people all over the world who can support, defend, and care for me in all aspects of my life. North, South, East, West.. I know I'll have someone looking out for me wherever my path may lead!

 So cheers to traveling, to friendship, and unending conversations.

Cheers y'all, Lis

better late than never

The journey I've made so many time before... the drive to Charlotte, the unloading of the 70 lb bags, checkin and speed through security, wait and wait some more... Board the giant plane with hundreds of others, fly into the night and arrive to a crisp, dark London morning, Find your hot pink bags, truck through customs and find a cabbie to escort you home. Welcome back to the flat, welcome back to the neighborhood. It is as if no time has passed, everything is the same. No one even noticed you were going or that now you're back.

I realize this is about three weeks late but hey, life just tends to just get in the way. I wrote this on the cab ride back to my flat and looking back at it now it is kind of making me laugh. Not only am I embarrassed that I am able to make something as simple as a travel day weirdly dramatic but I'm a bit annoyed at how much of a big deal I was making about coming back to London. It is home now, it isn't just a place that I lived for a while. So why highlight something that is so dull?  A flight back to my room, my neighborhood, my pub and restaurants and stores.. seems easy enough to just chalk it up to another trip home.

I think this drama came from a place of realizing that it will be ten months before I am back in America. It was so daunting and so intimidating that I had trouble accepting it and I'm 99% sure I completely ignored it. Denial is not just a river in Eygpt.

But.. ah, that was then and this is now! After a few weeks, I cannot imagine living anywhere other than London at this point in my life. Yes, I'll be happy to come home and move to another big city (one with more familiar accents) when the time comes. But now I am remembering everything about my life here that I so quickly forgot with the blurs of Christmastime, family time and trips up north. All of the excitement and madness of Christmas break and birthday festivities took me far from London and my amazing and unbelievable life here. Luckily, now that I'm back and in the swing of things I know that looking towards the next 9 months should not be scary but exciting!

I'm back and I'm better than ever. Watch out London, these will be our best months yet.

Cheers y'all, Lis