A Quick Trip to Heaven

God teaches you so many lessons while in a new place. And while here, it can seem like everything is new and beautiful, like nothing can go wrong because, how can it? You are in England; a new country, for only a few months, how could anything possibility go wrong?

That, my dear loved ones, is the honeymoon phase.

I came down from my honeymoon phase and slumped into a few weeks of not wanting to leave my room, eating the same thing (quesadillas and toast) and easily departing myself from the people that love me most. When the only way for friends and family to connect with me is a text or a call, it was all too easy for me to not text back, say I had a lot of homework or simply not pick up the phone.

But God never left me, and was teaching me lessons and having me experience his grace and Cambridge even through that slump.

I became passionate about practicing guitar more often (I know finally!) and I became closer to my family--I began looking to them for opinions on everyday thoughts and questions, and sometimes, calling my Mom just to hear her voice.

God shows us bits of heaven here on Earth, I truly believe that. I took a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland two weekends ago and it was one of my favorite places I've been thus far--it will probably be my favorite place I'll ever visit. It was one of the most beautiful and interesting cities that I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. One of my favorite parts of the city was how it seemed to perfectly weave nature and city together. In one sight you could see the Edinburgh Castle, which was a breathtaking sight itself, and the grand hills that surrounded it.

Edinburgh Castle was old and picturesque but as I was walking around the courtyards and grand halls it made me smile thinking about how no matter how beautiful this or any other castle or palace in the world is, it will be nothing compared to the beauty that awaits me in heaven.

And how I saw the heavens open up and God paint the sky. I had the opportunity to climb Arthur's Seat, an inactive volcano at sunrise. With some, mishaps and injuries before we even got to the climb we were there prepared to make the hike at the wonderful time of 6:40am. It took us until 7:18am to get up there, notice how I know these times exactly lol, but all the huffing, puffing and wheezing was definitely worth the sites that God had in store for me at the top. It was 7ish in the morning, this is a part of the day where most people in the world are sleeping through, and yet God made it look like this: (pictured above)

It really made me reflect on how much effort he puts into every part of everyday and how he is the original artist, and even though I will never get over the colors int he sky or the way they made me feel, we are his greatest masterpiece.

Speaking of great efforts, I also recently took a trip to Ireland and saw some of God's other great masterpieces. The Cliffs of Moher and Giant's Causeway although experienced very differently both had very similar effects on me. These giants (lol) great in size, made me feel small and also made me feel closer to God. So how did they do that? God created these massive sites, these magnificent beasts that have stood the test of weather and time but as my good friend Bethany says, they, in God's mind, aren't as beautiful as we are. We, me, a small, sinful 21 year old girl is what takes God's breath away. God is truly amazing in that way and I love finding places that make me feel close to him in that way.