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Final post and photos from Roma

Below are a few photos from my last day at the convent and my final day in Roma- which did not disappoint with a heavy rain and thunderstorm! A perfect day to sit inside and reflect upon my time here, listen to Christmas music, plan my trip to Poland and let myself get excited about coming home and seeing everyone I love in Seattle and Phoenix! I will post about my Polish adventure (complete with a tour of Auschwitz, a stop in Pope John Paul's hometown of Krakow and some pottery shopping in Warsaw) but after that this blog will be finished as I don't think anyone is really interested in hearing how stressed out I am during grad school ; ) I can't thank everyone who has loved and supported me on this journey enough- it means the world to have such special people in my life- friends who now live all over the globe. I would kindly ask my friends to pray for the convent, the Seesters, the poor they serve and the ladies who live there during this Christmas season. 

"He who listens closely to the word shall find happiness: he who puts his trust in the Lord is blessed" Proverbs 16:18

Giving love to 86 year old resident Bette! She is beyond hysterical and has brought me much joy and many laughs- especially when she constantly thought I spoke German and would say "spreken de Deutsch" to me every time I saw her. I would say no and she would stomp the umbrella she always carried on the floor and shout "keine, keine, keine!!" You had to be there ; )

Bette and Seester Maria Gabrielle- Bette loved posing for the pictures! 

NeNita and Bette! 

Seester Claire working her magic in the kitchen! 

The ladies of the convent at lunch table 1 

More ladies at table 2 

Group shot of an incredible bunch of women- how blessed I am to call them friends 

My present and thank you note from my Seesters- I sobbed cried 

Buon Natale from San Pietro! Tree is up, the manger scene is on it's way 

Storm watching from my room- the Vatican Museum wall is in the background

Gratitude

Tomorrow will mark my last day at the convent and Thursday will be my last day in Roma. I feel many different emotions at the moment.....but what I am feeling most is gratitude. For everything. Not only this experience, which has changed my life in almost every way imaginable, but gratitude for the people, decisions, experiences, friendships and opportunities which helped me get to where I sit right at this moment. Living in Roma had been a dream of mine for so long- but now that I have been here and lived the dream- I realize it wasn't so much a dream but a love letter from God- a call from God- to come here and experience all that I needed to experience, in order to better not only myself, but serve and better those in need. God was calling me to come here, to love and serve and work with the Seesters, volunteers and the ladies of the convent, all of whom I feel such a special connection to. 

I will prepare lunch for the ladies tomorrow, then sit with them as they eat....and I am sure I will cry! They are such loving and sweet souls and I want so badly for them to all succeed in life. I know some of them will get back on their feet, and some of them won't. I am grateful for the chance to serve them, for as much as I have served them, they have served me just as much- if not more. The same can be said for the Seesters and all they have taught me about faith and the power of prayer. I do have some very sweet and downright hilarious stories of my time at the convent, but I hesitate to share those, only because everyone who lives and works there deserves their privacy. I am grateful for those stories because they will stay with me forever and every time I think of them, I will smile. 

This journey has been an answered prayer. No words which can come out of my mouth or that I can put onto paper can fully express they joy and love and gratitude I feel for the Lord for leading me here. It is my continued prayer that I use this experience and the gifts He has blessed me with to better the Kingdom He has created. I am grateful He put the necessary courage in my heart and mind for me to accept His calling for my life. 

On Sunday, this chapter of my journey ends and I will begin another new and exciting chapter in early January as I continue my education. I am grateful for new beginnings and I am ready. One of the things this experience has taught me is to live in the present, not worrying so much about the future. Those are tomorrows worries and burdens and can wait for tomorrow. So for now, I will enjoy and soak up my last few days in Europe and continue to rejoice and thank God with a most grateful heart. 

Firenze (Florence) and Fiesole

I completed my tour of the four Italian cities I had planned to see on this trip by visiting Florence on Saturday. Florence and Fiesole (the little Tuscan town eight kilometers to the northeast of Florence) are beautiful and I am really hoping my future grad school plans bring me the opportunity to study here one day! 

The Duomo from Piazzale Michelangelo 

Tuscan hillside

Another view from Piazzale Michelangelo 

Not the REAL David, but close! 

San Lorenzo 

San Lorenzo Courtyard

Il Duomo- Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

So grand 

Duomo ceiling 

Duomo doors 

San Marco 

Fiesole 

Fiesole 

Santa Maria Novella 

Santa Maria Novella Square 

My Italy ring! This was given to me in Fiesole by the artist who created it- such a fun souvenir from my time here 

Firenze has such rich history! 

Photos from a busy week!

Below are photos from my very eventful week as I had both my mom and cousins from Germany in town. I will spend my last few days in Roma working with the Seesters, crossing a few more things off my local sightseeing to do list and packing (eeeekkkkk). I head to Poland on Friday morning and I fly back to the States on Sunday and begin the next chapter of this new and exciting life. I am so happy I will have the chance to see so many friends back in Seattle and Arizona shortly. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a great few days off work!

Pantheon selfie

San Pietro selfie 

Seafood Lasagna. My anniversary meal- Happy 30th Mom and Dad! 

Papa up close!!! 

Our view of the Papal Audience 

Vatican Museum with the kiddos 

Mia, Avery and Hayden getting ready to climb to the top of St. Peters! 

View of my apartment building from the dome 

Tiber River 

Castel Sant' Angelo 

Thanksgiving dinner at the Abbey Theater! Delicious American meal 

Live football on TV!! 

Mom and I in the kitchen. Seester hasn't exactly mastered the art of using a camera ; ) 

The Fendi store all decked out for Christmas!

Marching band playing tunes on the Spanish Steps 

Snowflake Lane in Roma 

Christmas!! They have Black Friday shopping in Italy too, and it is craziness!