ROME-ING

Benvenuti a Roma!


I have been in Rome for two and a half days now with Moody for our studying in Europe trip. I have seen so much. I have seen some of the most beautiful things in the world in just these two days. I love it. I never want to leave. It is amazing. But, here is a post from these two days and just a little bit about the days. Some of the pictures are from Chesney, so thanks girl, love you and love your passion for taking pictures on your iphone! 









May 28, Monday: 
We went to the Milvian Bridge where Constantine won a battle for the title of Emperor, Spanish Steps, we got to shop and just hang out. Some of the pictures will be of our traveling days! 

We were in Paris!

Chicago-Paris, 

Paris-Rome

Hostel #1

LAURENtina stop on the metro! 

Milvian Bridge

Ches and I over Roma

Dustin, Johnny, Kory and I

Drinking water from a public fountain because its legal and clean

Girls and our tour guide for the week, Christina, at the Spanish Steps

Ches and I at the Milivian Bridge

Statue in Piazza del Popolo 

Overlooking Rome

May 29, Tuesday:

Today was a wonderful day. No class just seeing great historical things all day. We went to the Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Arch of Titus, Palatine Hill where Caesar Augustus lived and also what is thought to be the hill that Rome was founded, The Roman Forum. Later, we split up and I went  to a park and hung out and rented two person motorized bikes to ride around! Great weather, great day.  Pictures may get mundane on this one..but power through, they are great! 

Colosseum 

So wonderful

Ches, Megan, Jin

Dustin

The pillars would have been the "basement" where people/animals lived 

The half with the wood flooring is what it would have been like all the way across. Wood floor with sand on it to soak up blood.

Arch of Constantine. Put up by the Senate and People of Rome of Constantine after he won the battle at Milvian Bridge. Soon to come, Dr. Litfin's article on this!

Jin, Me, Chesney, Hannah. And others.

This thing with the pillars was built for Hercules 

I am STANDING ON THE GROUND OF THE ROMAN FORUM..come on now!

bike rides!

Ches and I at the Colosseum 

Presh

Taking notes like a boss

All My Fountains

Before I left for Europe I decided I wanted to memorize a piece of scripture for each place I go. So today, my second day in Rome, I realized, dang, I haven't thought of one yet. I thought, "Hm I wonder what passage I want to do." As I thought that, another thought followed, "All my fountains are in You". I was like daaaang, where did that come from. Well, we do have a LIVING, ACTIVE Savior who speaks to us and whispers in our ears. That is where it came from! 

As I thought about that saying and then franticly looked up what the reference is, I thought, "That is probably the best words for Rome". If you have been to Rome, you know that this city is full of fountains, every where you turn, a beautiful fountain. These fountains are handcrafted pieces of art that are so brilliant. Not only are these fountains so great, the water in Rome is fine to drink from anywhere. Tap, random spouts from the ground, bathroom sinks, etc. You don't find that all that often. 

As I have had time to think about this and think about the words to Psalm 87:7 I have begun to be consumed by this thought of my fountains in Him. 

"As they make music they will sing,

    All my fountains are in you.” 

In other versions it states, "Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.”. I like to combine them both. "As the singers and dancers alike say, "All my fountains are in you" Most of you probably know, I am obsessed with dancing, dancers, dances, watching dancing. LOVE IT! I also love when people are undignified before the Lord, is that not what we are called to do? I believe it is and I also believe it is one of our only responses to the King of the world, His world, THE Messiah.

Psalm 30:11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,

Psalm 149:3 Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.

2 Samuel 6:14 And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might...

Our joy and pleasure comes from Him. Through prayer and the Word we find our joy and our godly attributes. It flows from within us. Our bodies are His temple and "in Him all of our fullness dwells". The springs of life that we have are not our own but flow from Christ Himself. All of our fountains of flowing "water" are what He has graciously given to us through Himself. All of our attributes that are lovely and good are not our own. We could not come up with those without our fountains being in Him. If they were not in Him, they would be dirty fountains. Fountains that are not allowed to be sipped from in Rome! 

The things that flow out of us represent the fountain in Christ. Do we need to step back and look at our actions and words? Do they reflect Christ? Are they flowing with joy and goodness? Or do they deface the image of God that we each have in us? Is our water fine to drink from in any fountain it comes from? Or do we have water that is intoxicating to those around us?

I believe I have things to think about and work on. My fountains flow from within Christ, out of me. That is something I do not want to destroy. I have much more to learn and figure out about this, but it has taken hold of my thoughts these few days of walking past fountain after fountain. 

Sisters.

"Sisters, sisters 
There were never such devoted sisters, 
Never had to have a chaperone, no sir, 
I'm there to keep my eye on her 
Caring, sharing 
Every little thing that we are wearing 
When a certain gentleman arrived from rome(JUST WAIT FOR SUMMER TO END HA!)
She wore the dress, and I stayed home 
All kinds of weather, we stick together 
The same in the rain and sun 
Two(THREE) different faces, but in tight places 
We think and we act as one 
Those who've seen us 
Know that not a thing could come between us 
Many men have tried to split us up, but no one can (TYLER!) 
Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister 
And lord help the sister, who comes between me and my man"

Meredith Brooke & Melissa Joye: 

Thank you for being the best big sisters a little sister could ask for. Sure we don't get a long at all times but I mean all sisters go through things. I also know that we have all gone through phases of wanting a brother or two..and still do. But, even without, we are the perfect sibling trio. No one can top it. 

When we were growing up you guys were always close since you were close in age..at least you always hung out together. I always just sat around and couldn't watch the same movies, got patted on the head, didn't get the jokes, didn't get to go to youth group, or hang out with you guys when you would go out, didn't get told the secrets or whatever. 

Even though I am 8 years younger than you Brooke and 5 from you Melissa, you both still cared for me and showed me so much love. I have vivid memories of playing nintendo in the kitchen and in the sprinklers of the Texas house, also watching Titanic at the neighbors house, riding scooters on the neighbors house of the Ponderosa house, playing barbies, going to get slurpees, going to the movie store, doing dumb skits with you and friends, going to the store with you when you had car wars, hanging out with you and your boyfriends on the couch and talking, swimming in the pool together, you taking me to Lexi and Lindsey's houses, making stupid videos every Christmas or whenever the cousins were around, going shopping with you guys and Kristen and Rebekah, helping with my lemonade stands. And so much more! 

So, thank you. Those words seem so un-worthy of how I want to express my emotion to you both. I am truly thankful for both of your impacts in my life. I would be a totally different person without you two. I am blessed to be a little sister. I am sorry for the boogers, the screaming, the tattle-telling, fighting, kicking, crying etc. 

Thank you for loving me in every way that I struggle to love you back. You are gracious and kind to me, genuine and full of mercy and compassion. You have been there for me since day one..literally. As we have all grown up and done our own things I have loved reflecting on how we used to interact to how we do now. You both treat me like an adult, even though i probably don't deserve to be treated in that way. 

I thank God for you in my life. You are two seriously incredible women and mom and dad are pretty luck to have us! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am here for you always and even though i am the youngest, I am here to cry, laugh and just talk with. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Here is our lives :) 

Since day one!

Well, we were ALL awkward in this one.. we stick together. Melissa looking like a lizard!

Through dopey family pics for support letters and biting dogs

Through the crazy and putting on a show for everybody..always

Through the stinging nettles(metals) and the crappin crunch 

Through underwear and burnt smores

Through being missionary kids and scary Hungarian pre-school

Trips to ski with the Downey side

Through scrounging through each others gifts to see if we are jealous

Through family camping trips in random lakes

Professional climbers..obvi

Awkward Christmas picures

Melissa's grad! I didn't get to be in the one with Brooke cause..I just didn't

Through taking uncomfortable pictures before our grandfathers funeral..is that appropriate??

Through countless Christmas' at Nana's

Through the brace face stage

Thanksgivings

Well we have a brother now.. not you Brooke..he's your husband

Through the goon phases

<3

Through dopey purple slippers and being in trees.

Our lovable family

Typical sister picture

Through being so far away through my high school and middle school years

All the way to where we are now! 

We have been the works and back. Our lives have not been easy moving a lot and change has been countless, but we have stuck together and loved well through it all. Mom and Dad taught us how to forgive and move on. I may as well just stop here cause I can't even find words to describe my joy and gratefulness for you women of God. I am thankful for you being in my family but even more I am thankful for your friendship and who you have allowed me to be and grown with me to help me become a daughter of our BEHOLDER along with you. Love you to Budapest and back!