I have to admit I have one week left and I am ready to be going home! God has provided so much to me in the past week. Last weekend my family came from England and I gave them a semi- tour of Barcelona. We had such a fun time. We stayed in the Marriott BCN, it was so nice! My aunt and I had a special night when we went out without the three boys (not that we didn´t want them to come but just that we wanted some girl time)... well we ate at a really nice restaurant with 7 courses! It was such a treat! We started off with spoons of tomato paste--then appetizers, they served the main meal, dessert, coffee... you get the idea

I have to admit also that I really miss England. It was so nice getting to see my family and honestly it was the first time anyone from my family had seen an aspect of me at school. Neither of my parents have seen Liberty University but my aunt Renee and uncle David and boys were able to see my room, the restaurant I am interning at and the city I live in. Well after they left, it was back to work. During last week Michelle went to France so I had the opportunity to go to Barcelona. I planned a beach day and then sat and enjoyed the sun, caught up on some reading, (I have had amble time for that) and had a fat free sorbet on my way home. This weekend Michelle and I worked.. and now I feel as though I am just waiting to go home. I also thought of the 50k that I ran last year that was this weekend, I will be really excited to start competing again! I am looking forward to two special races this fall. I am posting a video this week I found on YouTube of last years race. Just as my aunt got some insight to the things going on in my life, here is a post to one of the most special things to me. (I am in the video at one point when the author sees three girls and says we are right behind the second place girl which is my friend Sarah!)

I miss you all dearly and am awaiting my arrival in the States. I have one week and then it´s work, school and US life again. Praying for you all
Krista
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U458TlKo03I

England

This week has been a breath of fresh air. I have had a lot to think about in coming back to the US and this week has been a blessing! I have already had the opportunity to see the first Capital of England, (Winchester), seen London (been on the London eye), seen Buckingham Palace (Queen was there!), and been to an island here in England. Tomorrow I am headed to a 17/18 mile trail which I will run in the am. Super excited! Also this week I know that God has provided for me a place to live and a job. So many things are working out. (Rom 8:28)

Being in England is a new site everyday. My cousins prefer the dungeon as my aunt and I call it, but it is really just Wii 24-7. My aunt and I have had a lot of quality time together and twice this week we have gone to Jane Austen's house. Her life is so much like her books. Her house is so quaint as well as the town she lived in. Upon going there twice, Renee and I rented Pride and Prejudice and it just made me want to fall in love. We are going to watch another one tonight! (Becoming Jane)

The end of this weekend, my family and I are headed to Barcelona. It should be a lot of fun. We are staying near the airport and my cousins are excited because it has a pool. Hope to take them to Sagrada Familia, (Gaudi), and to eat the best dish in Catalonia, Paella! I will be home in 22 days...wow See you all then much care, love Krista

The U.K

I have learned a lot these past two weeks. There have a lot of ups and downs. I must confess I have made decisions I should not have and I have made decisions that will forever change my life in a positive sense. I guess there are things that are not a big deal until you have a large enough dose and then once damage is done you realize the caliber. Once in Barcelona last week I was standing on the street with my friend Ainhoa's grandma and a ray of sun shine caught my attention. I looked into the sky and saw how BLUE it was. I also noticed all these Spanish style balcony's, all these people's clothes drying just a sense of life from analyzing a different view I rarely take time to see. It was so beautiful to take everything in, the sky, the culture. I realized that I miss so many things because I do not look up enough. As I chewed on that this past week I realize I don't look up enough but with God's grace I want to start looking up more in all areas of my life.

I am closing out my time here in Europe. I say Europe because this week and the next I am in England! The UK baby. When I left Barcelona I was wearing flip flops. When I was in the airport I started chatting with a young man from England and he informed me a buddy let him know that it was snowing. On the airplane I was chatting with two young cyclists and they informed me of all their adventures in Spain and how they could not believe that it would be snowing when they got back home to England. When we to England, it was rather chilly for my flip flops but I thought it may warm up. I woke up today--just out of curiosity I opened the shade and it was snowing!!! And so hard. I decided what a better time then to take a run. So that's what I did, 10 miles this morning in the cold snow, but I found a variety of trails. (And I got to speak to a few people on the way... I LOVE the accent!!) I also got to go to church this morning and help with a bake sale raising funds for missions in Venezuela. Made me think how little I have been doing lately, gotta get on the ball!

I am starting to enjoy Europe so much. I really am thinking of coming back. I could see myself here at least one more year.

This week I am scheduled to go run an 18 mile trail yeah, go to London Tuesday and Saturday, visit Stonehenge and go to Jane Austin's house. (I'm such a romantic) When I return from London I will have two more weeks in Spain. I will soak up what I can and then be off! When I get home everything is up in the air. Have no clue for a job, a car. I am truly stressed but trying to trust everything will work out! It always does, just have to remember which direction I am looking in-- UP.

Heart-- Kristada