Roma day {2} part 2

The Vatican Tour

 This tour was overwhelming, there was artwork everywhere in excess, and it was hard to take it all in. It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip! 

Roma day {2} part 1

Day two of our time in Rome was incredible to say the least! It was my first time experiencing being in another country, not speaking the language and being SO excited! I was happy just walking the streets! We did much much more than that though! We packed so much into our first day! 

The Vatican tour 

St.Peters Basilica

Sistine chapel

Santa Maria 

St. Maria maddalena camillus 

Chiesa Del Gesie

Pantheon 

We did a lot of church hopping, there is a beautiful church on almost every street!

Wordless Photo Friday {My Town}

Sunday Currently {29}

Oh I miss this girl already! I am so unbelievably grateful that she came for a visit! We had so much fun together! I will save that for another post though.

Reading: USFigure Skating, learning how to be a better coach! I love it, it's so easy and fun to learn about something that you love:)

Writing: Blog posts on my trip to Rome and Ireland! 

Thinking: About getting back to reality tomorrow. This past week off with Maggie was SO wonderful! I only worked out three times though (that's jaw dropping) I sometimes workout three times a day! It was nice to have a relaxing week though!

Wishing: I could be a figure skating coach for a living and I could do my day job very part time!

Thankful: For the amazing visit with Maggie, and spending time with my nieces and nephew this weekend! Man I missed all of then so much!

Hoping: For a great work week, lots of healthy food and exercise to make up for my lazy week:)

Sipping: wine, and lots of it this week:) I am loving red wine lately! 

Loving: that spring is on it's way!!!! I cannot wait to get outside for a run!

I hope you all had a lovely Sunday!

Ciao,

Rachel

Roma {1}

11.23 ~ 11.24.2013

I know I know it's about time I get posting about my trip! 

 It was pure excitement! I had never left the country and I was finally on my way! With the most random person and someone I would have never picked or ever even thought to travel with! My best friends younger brother. We had a blast though! It is strange how different opportunities arise in life that we never expect!

At this point it was pure exhaustion and all they did on the plain was feed us! SO annoying it was a night flight! I'm someone who is always hungry but seriously all I wanted to do was try to sleep. Not hear "Tea, Coffee, Tea, Coffee!" "Miss do you want any tea or coffee?" DO I LOOK LIKE I WANT COFFEE? I have a mask over my eyes and my chair is leaned back!!! Bahaha 

We finally landed in Dublin Ireland! Ahhh I was exhausted and so excited at the same time! We had just enough time to make Sunday Mass and go to a Pub for lunch before out flight to Roma!

The Guinness Factory

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I thought this day called for some pictures from Ireland, and Guinness! 

Make a difference

This is something that I have been wanting to post about for a while and just haven't gotten myself to sit down and type it up. After receiving a handwritten letter from a young boy in Uganda I was inspired again to share about this great foundation. The foundations is Unbound where you have the opportunity to change the life of a child, or assist an aging person who may not be able to work anymore!  

"Unbound works directly with children, families and the elderly around the world as they confront the challenges of poverty and work toward a better life." ~ Unbound

How it works:

You can sign up to sponsor a child or elderly person on their website http://www.unbound.org/

The donation is $30 a month and you can set up auto pay so you don't have to remember each month.

93.6% of Unbounds expenses go toward program support. So your money is not being wasted, it is making a difference!

Then the best part, you send letters back and forth and find out about your sponsored person and build a relationship of encouragement and kindness!

I currently have two sponsored children one of school age and the other has Cerebral Palsy. I have a sister with Rett Syndrom who needs total care and I can't imagine having to take care of her in the primitive conditions that they have. Dirt floors, a leaky roof, having to carry water. We have SO much that making this small contribution is nothing in comparison. Many of the children's families can't afford the basics; food, clothes, and school supplies.

Go to there website for more information and choose to make a difference! You won't regret it I promise! I've been a sponsor since I was a Jr in high school.

Have a wonderful day!

Ciao,

Rachel 

sweet cheeks

this weekend was so nice playing cards, sipping whiskey and being with my adorable sister! i love when she is happy, it makes me happy! i love her to pieces. 

sweet cheeks

my brain is so foggy lately. what is up with that? i can't remember anything! it's freeking me out. i have to make lists for everything! i get home and can't think of what i need to do. i have plenty i need to get done but can't remember any of it! this has to stop. i am making lists like it's my job. yeah i forgot i just said that at the beginning of the paragraph. i need to make bread i forgot that and something else....oh get my photo book done! this is how i've been lately and i hate it! 

anyway on a better note

the window is open and i can hear the snow melting as it drips down, i didn't have to wear boots or even socks out tonight! that was strange feeling but so nice. i hate wearing socks. from the picture above i don't see how we'll ever swim again but i think it will happen, this warm day gives me hope. i love the snow but i am getting excited to be able to run outside again:)

i am getting out of my mind excited to see this beautiful mama to be! seriously it has been WAY too long! i can't wait for your visit chica! 

i hope it was a good monday for you because it was for me:) maybe that's because i forgot what happened already.

Ciao,

Rachel  

Sunday Currently {28}

Happy Sunday! This seems like a strange weekend for some reason. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I've been indecisive lately. I hate it when I'm like that. So I ended up going to watch high level black belt testing at my TKD studio and headed home to my parents. The testing was really fun to watch, it was nice to be a spectator for once, and the rest of my weekend has been pretty relaxing!

I haven't been taking many pictures lately so I thought why not Venice? I never get sick of looking at pictures of Venice!

Reading: A lot of Lenten reflections, and The Bible! 

Writing: Not a whole lot. I am not one of those people who has to get so many posts out per week. I post when there is something that I want to post about. I don't try to make something up just to hit publish. 

Thinking: that this time change is the worst! I hate loosing an hour, I feel like I am always behind and chasing time. Most people complain that there isn't enough time in the day, oh so let's get rid of an hour! Stupid if you ask me! 

Hoping: To finish my Europe book today! Seriously I have to get this done and printed!! I hope it turns out good! I've never done a digital book before!

Listening: To my sister giggle! She is so happy this morning, I love it! And to a Pandora station that I created in high school and re-discovered last week! Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Enya, Brian Adams.... all those artists I never get sick of and are easy to listen too.

Smelling: My eggs and tea! 

Wishing: I had a clue about my life and where the heck it's going? HAHA The mystery is fun but sometimes I just get sick of waiting! I know I don't want to be an Echocardiographer forever and I know I don't want to be in this town forever either. When is something finally going to come together?

Wearing: My favorite yoga pants and polka dot sweatshirt! It's a comfy relaxing Sunday morning because I went to Mass last night! I like to have one morning a week where I don't have to be up and ready to go anywhere! I am a go go person but I love a relaxing morning!

Rejoicing: In all that I have, I have so much and I take it for granted. I always want more out of life. I'm not talking about material things. Though I am starting to feel like I have more than I need.  

Thankful: That I get a day off this week! I cannot wait to skate, visit a dear friend and go to the rolfer! I am also grateful that our request to drop our FTE's was approved! YAY I will be getting a for sure day off every other week now! I cannot wait!

Loving: When I get up early in the morning and have one of my workouts done before work! Let's hope I can keep it up even after this lovely time change! 

Wanting: Everything that I gave up for Lent! It's such a good exercise of self discipline and a reminder to pray! Every time I want to give in, I pray and offer it up. 

Anticipating: Watching Dancing With the Stars! I haven't watched for quite a few years BUT......this year Maryl Davis and Charlie White the Ice Dancing Olympic gold medalists are going to be apart of the cast! Competing against each other for the very first time. Oh my gosh no one stands a chance against them! Seriously it's not even fair! I cannot wait to see how they translate there ice dancing to the floor! It's going to be amazing I'm sure! 

Needing: To stop being so hard on myself RIGHT NOW, and have a more positive outlook on life. I am too self critical and I need to let it go!

Have a Blessed Sunday!
Ciao,
Rachel

Pearls of Wisdom

Happy Ash Wednesday and first day of Lent. One of my favorite times of the year. I love it because it is a challenge of discipline in my spiritual life. I try to do this all year round, there is something special about Lent though. Because it is a special dedicated time to meditate on Jesus passion and death, and His great love for us! Choosing to sacrifice extra in a small way as Jesus sacrificed His life for us. I say small becuase my sacrifices are nothing in comparison to Jesus' suffering. He gave His whole life! Could you imagine giving up your whole life for someone you knew was going to betray you, hate you, and you still loved them enough to give your own life that they might have life? I don't know if I could. The last thing that I think of when someone has done wrong against me is do something nice for them. That is exactly what God asks us to do though, Love our enemies, keep them close and pray for them! That's SO hard!

This Lent I am doing a Bible study on James, Pearls of Wisdom. We are only on chapter one and it is already incredible.

"My brothers, you will always have your trials but, when they come, try to treat them as a happy privilege; you understand that your faith is only put to the test to make you patient, but patience too is to have its practical results so that you will become fully-developed, complete, with nothing missing" James 1:2-4

Privilege: a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people
 
Now there's a challenge for you! This may sound strange but, at the same time doesn't it make you feel loved and special becuase that trial is a privilege? I felt better about my life after reading this, and I want to tackle my trials with joy. That is so much easier said than done!

Ciao,
Rachel

Sunday currently {27}

I am currently wanting this Sunday to last forever, I don't want reality to hit tomorrow! There are two adorable boys eating breakfast with me, life is good!

Reading: still nothing. I need to make a stop at B&N! 

Thinking: this post is going to be short I have to get ready for church, or it's going to be one of those never ending ones where I write it all day.

Wishing: that I could get into the rolfer tomorrow! 

Thankful: That my neck is at least 50% better. I have to say I was not imprest with the chiropractor! I cannot wait to get into the rolfer and get loosened up for real! 

Listening: to the fireplace and my jabbering nephews:) 

Smelling: banana chocolate chip muffins:) 

Anticipating: A good and sacrificial Lent coming up! 

Loving: That my sister smiles and giggles when I come home now!:) For the first three years of my new job whenever I came back home for the weekend she would yell at me! I'm glad that has changed:)

Rejoicing: In the fact that my best friend is coming to visit this month!!!:) I miss her, we were so spoiled last year visiting each other almost every other month!

Have a blessed Sunday!

Rachel