Adjusting...

Well, I am back in the United States of America. I was on a flight for 12 hours from Duesseldorf, Germany to Los Angeles and was scheduled to fly out on a plane the next morning into Salt Lake City. I was quite lucky though and was able to take the next flight out that night and was moved there for FREE by 2 really nice ladies at United and so I arrived into Salt Lake late late on Sat.
Right away I was able to notice the differences that I went without for so long.
I feel so strange being able to talk to someone and feel confident they understand everything I am saying fluently! I still feel strange when talking to others at a store or something like that.

I must say though, this change is quite sudden for me and I think the reason its so hard is because in my mind and heart I was not ready to come home. I really worked to embrace the European culture because I felt I would not be coming home, at least not for a longer term basis.

In a way, I am glad to be home so I can recover from all the stressful events that happened, yet already there are so many little things that I grew to love and made part of me that conflicts with things where I currently am, but with strength from the Lord, patience, understanding and flexibility I can make it through. I feel so incredibly lost though to be honest. I was struggling a little in Germany as well because I felt that I was in between cultures and discovering my very own. I still feel this way, but I know all of this is to strengthen me in so many ways for the future.

I am going to be going to the temple today in hopes of some added strength and understanding in many areas of my life. I have a tendancy to be impatient, and with recent news I have really suffered in being patient and I get down on myself, the situation, etc. It is something I want to change and make positive and be strengthened because it is what matters the very most to me and I would be lost without it. I know that I am being stretched to the limit and I am determined with all the love I have, with the faith I can be helped and courage to move forward that it will come to pass.

As for being here in Utah, I am so grateful for all my friends and the love and support they offer me. I have had alot of fun being around them and seeing them again after a year.
I will start school this next monday and am looking for a job and I hope that things will be a little smoother in these areas. :) I am excited to start institute up though!!!

I am grateful for my blessing from above and I pray I can live up to the standard I am expected to, otherwise I wouldn't be given these trials.

Grateful for Eternal Families

I woke up this morning with an overwhelming sense of happiness and desire to share how grateful I am for families! I know that some of you reading this may not be part of my religion but I just wish to share how grateful I am for it, especially in how it teaches that families are eternal!! I desire so much to have a strong family bond in my own personal family. A family can help lift one another, teach each other hard lessons but still love each other in the end. I am excited to be my future daughter's best friend! Or to be a strong support and confident for my future son! (I hope I have at least a son and a daughter :D ) I also am excited to be able to teach my children personally and mend them in my own special way without having to worry what others will think or say. (Meaning...I won't be an aupair and have to report into the parents.)
I am so grateful for all that our Heavenly Father has blessed me with, especially the knowledge that families are eternal!

Frankfurt Temple Trip

On Sat. for my last weekend in Germany for a while, I went with the Farrow's to the Frankfurt temple. The temple actually is really nice, just very different from most temples I have been to. The entrance is a little different (if you don't use the front entrance...) but I really liked going to the temple. I felt so much peace there and knew everything would be ok.

We woke up and were on the road by 5.30am!!! SO--- in some of these pictures I look WASTED tired, because I am. :)

Firefighting- Ratingen

I need to update my blog! Lots of things have gone on so I will do the little things now and then when I am back in the U.S. in a week I will write more.

So-- firstly, I was able to join Florian and his brother in their Firefighter activity/practice the other day and it was alot of fun! I really enjoyed seeing what Florian does and I got excited and even wanted to try it once! :) I have alot of respect for these guys and what they do. Here are some pictures of the time I was there! Also, the last picture was probably the best of all! Its not so easy to see but at the end of the practice they had me dress up in the firefighter uniform and stand in front of the firetruck with the unit!! It was so exciting and they will be posting the story on their webpage with Florian writing the information on it! I will post that when it comes up! :D