European Adventure Part Four: Lauterbrunnen

LAUTERBRUNNEN, SWITZERLAND

5.23.15 - 5.25.15

I should probably warn you... there will be a lot more pictures on this post than on the last one.  Because it was the only small town on our trip, Lauterbrunnen valley was my favorite.  (I wasn't going to pick a favorite because they were all so different, but people kept asking... so this is it!)

This was the view from the balcony outside my window.

Now add spring mountain air on a breeze, the soft sounds of cowbells, and you're about there. 

The cows all had cowbells ... and every sheep wore a bell ... and all the goats had bells, too!

I loved the bells.

Staubbach Falls is the "signature" waterfall for Lauterbrunnen valley ...

but only because it is the most prominent of 72!

As you can tell from the picture, Lauterbrunnen is definitely a valley.

The sheer cliffs on either side create the perfect Swiss retreat.

We took a train ride to the mountain Jungfraujoch. 

Although we did not expect the overcrowding at the top,

the views on the way up and from the observation platforms at the top were beautiful.

At the top, one was surrounded by snow-heaped mountains.

Yes, we are above the clouds.  

God blessed us with great views before the clouds enveloped the mountain in early afternoon.

Caroline, Mom, me, Dad

Here we are on top of Jungfraujoch!

(Doesn't Dad look like a Swiss mountain guide in his bright coat?)

There was just one chapel in Lauterbrunnen, visible from the opposite side of our hotel balcony.

Lauterbrunnen had the most beautiful cemetery I've ever seen.

Each headstone had its own flower plot, and every one was meticulously well-kept.

There was even a little station with tools for gardening.

More than aesthetics, the cemetery had a serene feel, as if the presence of the Lord was there.

Me, Caroline, Mom, and Dad at the top tram station.

We took a tram from Lauterbrunnen up the mountainside ledge to Grütschalp

to start our loop hike in the Alps foothills.

It. Was. Perfect.

This was part of the path we walked.

The views into the valley were beautiful, too.  (Can you see the buildings?)

Swiss people decorate every available ledge.  It's lovely.
This was from a building in Mürren, the town at the end of the upper ledge on our hike.

Our tram back to Gimmelwald swung over the ledge ... to this view.

Notice the parachutes in the field behind me.  We watched at least half a dozen land.

All at once, the sun broke through the overcast afternoon onto the falls.

We followed a path alongside the stream much of the way back.

It was about 3 miles through scenery like this to get back to our hotel.

I found another example of Swiss decor on our walk.

This was one of the two main roads through the valley.

It was so hard to say goodbye to Lauterbrunnen.
While it reminded me of my Appalachian mountains, it had its own distinctive feel.
I am immensely grateful for the two days we spent here!

European Adventure Part Three: Salzburg

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA

5.20.15 - 5.22.15

Salzburg had a beautiful, small-town feel that I really appreciated after the bustling crowds of Rome and Venice!  We spent a good part of the first day strolling through Salzburg and looking in the many charming shops.  I loved their woodwork and craftsmanship! 

Though it rained during our time in Salzburg, the city was no less beautiful draped in soft gray.

It was exciting to be in Mozart's home city!  I expected the best music to be in Italy...

but the instrumental music in Salzburg took my breath away.

I can't speak for concerts, but Salzburg's street music wins by far.

Many of the cars were in Salzburg were bigger than Roman cars, but not this one!

We saw several "trucks" like this both in Rome and Salzburg.

Our hotel was lovely and comfortable, but the European style bedding was a new experience!

Notice the folded duvets on the fitted sheet.

One is supposed to use only a duvet (and possibly an extra blanket but not sheets) for sleeping.

Does one sleep sleeping-bag style?  Or double-thickness style?  I never figured it out.

On the second day, we headed up to this castle (Hohensalzburg).

*The rest of the pictures are from the castle that overlooks Salzburg*

We had a lovely views of Salzburg from the castle above the city.

That is, until it rained the hardest on our entire trip while we were on top of the castle parapet 

trying to see the city and surrounding countryside!

Close-up detail from the previous picture.

Dad, Mom, John R., Eli R., Denise R., me, Ada R., and Caroline

We spent our second and last day in Salzburg with the Redmond family, 

who drove from the Czech Repulic to spend a day with us.  (Thank you, Redmonds!)

We went to church together before they moved to Europe for ministry.

Caroline and I lost the grownups occasionally while we toured the castle with Ada and Eli... 

but I don't think it was a problem!  We all found each other and really enjoyed the fellowship between our families.

Who could resist photographing this beautiful, old wood?

I think this door was in the royal apartments...

Throughout the castle tour, one caught beautifully framed glimpses of Salzburg.

The building is actually part of the castle compound.

The view leaving the main castle 

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The next morning, we travelled north to what would become one of my favorite places in Europe.

European Adventure Part Two: Venice

VENICE, ITALY

5.18.15 - 5.20.15

We traveled via Eurail (train) to Venice from Rome and arrived mid-afternoon.

Venice does not permit vehicles, motorcycles, bikes, etc.,
so the narrow streets and back canals make the city look like a confusing jumble!

These massive bells (between 6 - 10 of them)
began pealing while we were in the top of the bell tower.

We were grateful that none of us dropped a phone or camera 
through the grate-covered arches!

An interesting fact... the Italian alphabet only has 21 letters!  
It does not have j, k, w, x, or y.
That's okay, though.  I still figured out how to write my name in Italian!

As you can see from the bottom of the photo, my camera is not crooked.

The arch really is leaning that much on this little alleyway!

There are many more "back canals" than I realized, and they are quite small!

(Notice how the buildings still curve along the water roadway, just like Rome.)

The grand canal is exactly what its name implies ... massive.

Some of my favorite things about Venice were the windows.

There are lots of bridges - and stairs - in Venice. 

Yes, we took the mandatory gondola ride!

Here are Mom and Dad in front of the Rialto Bridge.
Our gondalier was wonderful - he was pleasantly conversational and friendly.

Venice has been having increased flooding problems.
It floods about 100 times annually, mainly in early spring and late fall.
It makes for beautiful bricks, at least!

  

The dark gray stone building in the center
(with the fireplace climbing up the side) was Marco Polo's home.

For music lovers, the white building in the middle was home to Antonio Vivaldi!

The Venetians built their homes with their most elaborate exteriors facing the canals, 

not the narrow alley-streets, as a show of wealth.

On our last morning, we walked to a local market.  

The market displays were beautiful.
(Notice the squash blossoms in the center!)

The extensive market is set up daily, stands and all,

by the produce sellers and packed up by one o'clock in the afternoon.  

Venice is an old city, and it has not been well-preserved or restored.
If one looks with critical eyes, it could be seen as dirty and worn-out.
Or, if you choose to look beyond, you can catch glimpses of beauty that are truly breathtaking.
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After admiring the produce market and walking around Venice for the morning, 
we began our afternoon train trip to the third destination...
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I apologize for the font discrepancies!  If you cannot read some of the font on this post, leave me a comment, and I will try to change fonts or enlarge the size.  ("Normal" size font does not seem to be working at the moment.)

European Adventure Part One: Rome

For those who wonder why I haven't been posting, I have three good reasons!

First, my family and I took a long trip to Europe in mid May - early June.  Though it was an amazing trip, it was a busy one!  I've been asked if this was a mission trip and thought I should clarify before proceeding.  No, it was a family vacation just because none of us had ever been.  It was special to experience the Old World together.

Second, I jumped into a college class in June as soon as I got home.  It required much more time than I had anticipated, but I am finished and grateful that I took it.

Third, I said in the About Me page that I did not want to post just to make noise.  I have been learning so much and growing and seeing the hand of God at work in my life, but it's not really blog post material.  (Sorry!)  As much as I gravitate towards orderly timetables, I am realizing that my posts will be sporadic.

With that said, I do want to share pictures from our trip.  I have decided to mainly share pictures, because there is too much to tell from three weeks!  Enjoy!

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ROME, ITALY
5.14.15 - 5.17.15

Rome is a beautiful city - it has been rebuilt on itself for thousands of years.  Unlike some European cities, Rome has almost exclusively old, elaborate architecture.  The city is a mix of impressive buildings, the best sculptures I have ever seen, old cobblestone streets, and history appearing at every corner.

Isn't Rome beautiful?  I love the curved buildings.
(May I ask why we don't curve our buildings along streets in America?) 

This is a good example of a typical Roman side street.  
(Notice the motorcycles - there are at least as many motorcycles as cars in Rome.)
Most streets, however, had only cobblestone - no asphalt. 

Caroline, Mom, and me at the Colosseum

At the Colosseum, I wanted to remember my brothers and sisters 
who perished here for the cause of Christ.

Suddenly, I noticed something.  
If I stood in the right place and looked through one of the arches, 
the four windows of another building outlined a cross.  
God showed me a cross in the Colosseum!  Can you see it?

There is a reason that the Colosseum is a Roman icon.  It is really fun to photograph!

We could still see the Colosseum as we walked back toward the city.

This was one of the few cathedrals we were allowed to photograph.

The ornate decorations everywhere, from floor to ceiling, are a little overwhelming ...

and this was not even my favorite cathedral!

My favorite part of Rome was simply experiencing the city itself.
I loved walking down streets and photographing the orange-red buildings.
I later realized that these doors are often private residences, apartments, or inns.

Trailing vines and flower-decked sills, statues peering from a corner in the wall, 

elaborate fountains, extravagantly-decorated exteriors, ancient cobblestone streets...

it all combined in one beautiful collage of experience.  Ah, Rome.

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SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

Italians sound so Italian!  I know, that may be obvious.  But it was delightful to hear the perfect Italian accents every time someone spoke to us.  My sister and I found it very gratifying.  :)

Mealtimes.  Restaurants were quite different from American restaurants.  Supper was my favorite meal.  It often took 2 or 3 hours, even if it was not an especially fancy meal, simply because meals are a time to visit.  At first, the service was hard to get used to.  The waiter's job is not to wait on you hand and foot; it is simply to take your order and bring your food.  Almost every restaurant we visited for supper only seated each table once instead of turning them quickly to make more money.  Throughout contiguous Europe, it was the same.  I learned to savor not only the food but also the atmosphere of rest and fellowship.

Coffee.  I'm not a big coffee drinker, but when it appears in cute little cups everywhere you turn and it is just so good, it's hard not to like it.  Especially the rich, dark espressos.  Yum.

I'm afraid we became rather spoiled - 
we usually had a latte, cappuccino, or espresso three times a day!
Each morning at breakfast, we were greeted by a sweet Italian lady who asked, 
"Caffe latte, espresso, cappuccino?"  All three were very good!

The cars!  They are tiny!  Smart cars are actually smart in Rome.  You can park in the median... on the sidewalk... almost anywhere.  There are cars even smaller than Smart cars in Rome.

The motorcycles were great, too.  There are almost as many motorcycles as cars.  I think the rule for Roman motorcycles is: "If you can fit, you can go."  As chaotic as it might sound, I found Italian drivers to be very courteous.  I began to feel (cautiously) safe about crossing roads almost anytime.  It seems that pedestrians own the streets and vehicles and cycles just have to do the best they can.  Nowhere in Europe was as crazy as New York City.  I think Europeans don't get in the same frantic rush as Americans!

...

I DID NOT EXPECT...

Smoke.  Europeans seem to be more health-conscious for the most part, but there is smoke everywhere.  That is why we ate meals indoors whenever we could, and even then it was hard to get away.

Tourism.  If you ever need a selfie stick, go to a crowded European city!  At every corner, there are street vendors accosting you with, "Selfie, madame?"  The wares change slightly from city to city, but the idea is the same.  Don't let the rose scammers fool you, either.

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On Monday morning, we left Rome for the next stop on our itinerary... 

In Its Time

Two years ago to the day, I graduated high school.  To that point, my life had been structured through school and activities.  I understood what was expected of me in high school life and applied myself to the best of my ability.  My world was safe and familiar.  Then, in a beautiful and unexpectedly fulfilling ceremony with six other graduates, the known chapter of my life closed.

Anytime I slowed down enough to listen, God told me to surrender my life to Him.  To trust Him practically.  If I could trust my future to Him after my death, was I not willing to trust Him with my future here on earth?

You see, I had a good plan.  I was going to get a college degree in music cheaply and quickly through non-traditional means.  I already had a year of credits.  I did not know exactly how to pull it together or what I would do when I had my music degree, but I held my plans in a soul death-grip.

If I give up all my plans, I thought, won’t I have a horrible, vast, blank sheet of time stretching endlessly before me?  What will I do?!

As my fear and hesitancy to surrender continued, God’s voice increased.  I began to realize that my spiritual life would be massively hindered and even begin to wither if I did not yield.  And then I actually saw the deadness creeping into my life.  Torn by my stagnancy and my heavenly Father’s strong command, I finally yielded my plans.

The process of practically walking away from my plans, and from all my music, was not easy.  But bit by bit, each tie began to break and leave me freer to follow God.  As I surrendered my life, He faithfully showed me the next step: Basic Training at Ellerslie Discipleship School in Colorado.

For the next two years of my life, my faith was strengthened as I watched God perfectly guide my steps.  I had no earthly guide to follow.  I did not know whether to aim for college, a career, a mission field, or anything else.  I had seen only one friend, with whom I did not get to spend much time, trust God to lead every step of the way even when earthly sight could not see beyond the present moment.  Could God lead me the same way?  

While at Basic Training, God showed me to go back to Ellerslie when the training opened next semester for an additional nine weeks of Advanced Training. Because God had me at Ellerslie at exactly the right time when their programs were changing, I was able to attend part of the Advanced training for just nine weeks instead of the previous ten months, which seemed a long time to be away from home.  The time at Advanced Training was an amazing blessing and exactly what I had been wanting!  I am so grateful that God sent me back!  (Note: for any Ellerslie people out there, this was the nine-week end of the “old” Advanced Training; I don’t know anything about the new Advanced Training!)

When I finished Advanced, I only knew that I was coming home.  What would I do once I was home?  I trusted God to show me… and He did!  I was surprised at how busy I was kept as He filled the end of my spring and early summer.  Once life quieted down, the test really came as to whether I trusted God to guide me, even if it was day by day.  Only God could have upheld me and kept me resting in Him.  He perfectly led me and gave me tasks each day.  I had a pleasant, relaxed, but productive end of my summer as God continued to grow me spiritually.  

But what about fall?  I had made no plans for myself since God had made it clear that my job was to wait on Him and follow wherever He led.  All at once, my fall came together!  God provided a mix of music, ministry, and one college class at the local community college.  Fall was far busier than I had anticipated - almost too busy!  If I was worried about sitting around twiddling my thumbs, I had no cause for fear.  Once again, God had perfectly timed and planned each detail of my life.

When Christmas break came, I was more than ready.  I needed a rest.  Looking ahead, I decided not to take a class during the spring semester, which opened up a large chunk of time.  What would I do with all that time?

God had kept me so faithfully moving from each thing to the next that I was disturbed when February came around and I found myself with plenty of extra time.  What was God doing?  

Though I could not tell humanly for a couple months, God was still perfectly faithful.  He had to bring me face-to-face with erroneous aspects my worldview, and I would never have been quiet enough to listen without so much time. I had always thought that I had a sound, Biblical worldview; and, in many ways, I did. But my Biblical worldview was more of a borrowed one from speakers and writers than one I had built solely from the foundation of God's Word. A Biblical worldview is very different from a Christ-view. Subconsciously, my Biblical lens was more about being right, whereas a Christ-lens focuses on Christ preeminent and glorified. It felt so freeing to allow the Holy Spirit to release me from men's doctrines and opinions!

As God faithfully renewed my mind, He also began to show me that, for at least a year and a half, I had seen His faithfulness to lead me.  However, I did not always have to live life without “a plan.”  My plans had been surrendered completely to Him… but He could give me a plan if He wanted to.

All at once, the clarity of Scripture pierced through my inner man.  To every thing there is a season, and a time…  For the first time, I saw the year and a half of “trusting God for my future and not planning it myself” as a season.  And a new season was coming.  ...A time to break down, and a time to build up.  That foundation of faith and surrender was a foundation, not the whole building itself.  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones…  The principle of trusting God and not taking matters into my own hands still stands, but now it stands as an integrated part of me from which specific action may find a surer course.  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.  The idea of being able to move forward purposefully was invigorating.  I sensed myself moving into a season of practical changes.  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. (excerpts from Ecc. 3:1-7)

God handed me college.  The dream I had surrendered.  When He gave me college, it was so much better than what I had given up.  Instead of collecting credits from everywhere I can, I am planning to commute to Emory & Henry College, just 15 minutes from our house.  Rather than just studying music, God first focused my attention on Mass Communications and added Vocal Performance as a double-major once I knew I was going to college.  

This blog post would be a book if I described each detail I have seen God work out, just in the area of college.  God’s timing in when and how I met the music professors.  God’s timing in the music classes I had already taken.  God’s guidance to take these CLEP tests but not the ones I was about to take since I did not need that credit.  God’s provision in my ACT scores. God's financial provision through scholarships, programs, and awards.  Everywhere I turn in this college journey, God has showered me with His favor and blessing.

What will I do with my college degree?  I will trust God with it!  He knows exactly how it should be used.  And, in His perfect time, He will show me.

As this chapter of my “sporadic” life comes to a close, I want to bear testimony to the absolute faithfulness and trustworthiness of God.  It is not that I have proven anything by allowing God to be God in my life.  “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13)  But He claims every yielded vessel and delights to write a life story for each of His children that is just as unique as their souls.  To God alone the glory!