The Return

I'm back.

After nearly three months of silence, I have returned to the land of blogging. (My apologies in advance)

Much has happened since the last time I blogged. I have been to Madrid, traveled around Great Britain, returned stateside, got a job, and took a five-week Statistics course.

But for now I will just mention our escapades through England and Ireland:

In late June my mom and sister came to get me, and off we went on our excursion to see as much of England and Ireland as we could. Challenge Accepted. What a great adventure we had together. My mom even went native and drove on the "other" side of the road. I must add that my sister dominated as our navigator. She did not have a GPS, and she navigated us through all of Ireland and Northern Ireland with only a map. My Sister is awesome. Just saying.

We did so much while on our adventure. We went to Blarney Castle and kissed the Blarney Stone. Saw the Wicklow Mountains, Cliffs of Moher, and Giants Causeway. Went to Trinity College, Dublin and saw the book of Kells and their beautiful and massive library. In England we went to The Isle of Wight, Winchester, Bath, Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, The Original Pooh Corner, Canterbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and saw the musical Wicked in London, and that's not even everything that we saw and did. But that is all I have time for now. I will leave you with some photos of us in Ireland.

With all the Love and Dreams of Ireland in the World,

Natalie Xx

Blarney Castle

Giant's Causeway

34 Days

In 34 short days I will be on an airplane heading back to Oregon. My heart is full of sadness. I do not want to leave this beautiful country, and all the amazing friends I have made, but unfortunately I have to. The exciting this is, there is no doubt in my mind that I will be back. Nothing can keep me away from the country that has become my home.

The thing is though; I have realized that I have been more than negative when it comes to talking about going back to the good ole US of A. I am excited to go back and see my family and friends, but I am so used to life here, and it is going to be a tough transition. I need to be positive and know that God has a plan for me back in Oregon. I will go and finish my degree, and then I will find a way to get back to England. I know God is going to provide for me, like he always does, I just need to trust him.

So even though I am leaving for at least two years *cringe* I will be back, and my heart will still be here.

With all the Love in the World,
Natalie Xx

Whoever Dwells in the Shleter of the Most High

I was in Amsterdam over the weekend with a friend. What a lovely city rich with history and unrivaled beauty. While I was there I was unsettled that even though this city is so beautiful, it is so broken.

Many people warned me about the red light district and the amount of drugs that are around but, I didn't believe it was that bad. I thought they were over exaggerating. I was shocked to find out that all that I had been told was true.

Our hostel was literally one road over from the main section of the Red Light District, which I thought was a little dodgy. So here we were, smack in the middle of the Red Light District. As we walked through my heart shattered for these girls. I was first sad, and then my sadness turned into anger. That was on the first night in Amsterdam, and I was ready to go back home to England. The thought of spending two more days in a city that accepted that sort of thing was appaling and saddening to me. I felt hopeless because there was nothing I, or my friend Harriet could do to help the girls in the Red Light District.

I started to get angry about the “coffee shops” all around the city where you could go and smoke marijuana out in the open. I got annoyed every time I smelt a whiff of it.

  Let's just say I prayed a lot while in Amsterdam.

I was confused why there was a Christian hostel in the heart of the Red Light District. I thought that seemed a little bit dodgy. I then realized why it was there. The hostel is called “The Shelter.” Their key verse was Psalm 91:1 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” This hostel was a shelter amidst the darkness. They are there to be a light and to be a safe haven. They were exactly where they needed to be. When I got back into England I was reading over Psalm 91 and came across verse 5 and it really touched me, “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.” What a verse. I was given a hope and a peace about the Red Light District.

All in all I had a good time in Amsterdam. I got to experience the joys of hostels and sharing a rooms with strange people.  The first night we shared with some lovely people from Brazil who spoke Portugese and only broken Spanish, so I got to communicate with them through my very broken Spanish, that was good fun. Then the last night we shared with two ladies from Germany and we didn't speak at all because they didn't speak English and we do not speak any German.

We also went to Anne Frank's house, the Van Gogh Museum (Which was my highlight), we walked loads, saw the beautiful canals, some lovely churches, a weird covent garden, and we took a really cool canal cruise.

I am glad that I went and experienced it, but I do not think I would go back no matter how beautiful and historical it is.

Psalm 91

whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in teh shadow of the Almighty I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whomI trust. Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by fay nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see teh punishment of the wicked. If you say, "The Lord is my refuge," and you make the Most High your dwelling no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliever him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

With all the Love in the World,

Natalie Xx

Amsterdam: Photo Diary

Van Gogh Museum

Van Gogh Museum

Van Gogh Museum

Van Gogh Self Portrait, Van Gogh Museum

A bike garage

Tulips

With all th Love and Tulips in the World,

Natalie Xx

It's Times Like These We'll Never Forget!!!

What. A. Night.

This evening literally was the BEST night of my LIFE. Hands down. Today I got to live my teenage dream. I GOT TO SEE McFLY IN CONCERT. IN ENGLAND.

After Six years of waiting to see McFly in concert, I finally got to. You may be wondering why I have been waiting six years. The reason is simple. They are an English band, and not well known in America, and don’t play gigs there.

Not only have I waited six years to see them in concert, but we waiting four and a half hours in the freezing rain and gale force winds. But, it was worth it because we were in the second row and got to experience everything. I was an arm reach away from Danny when he jumped into the crowd, and I almost got Dougie’s pick, but I gave it away because I dug it out of a girl’s hair, and felt bad. I wish I wouldn’t have given it to her because she had no idea that it was there and for all she knew, I could have saved her from a bee.

This night will literally be a night that I look bad on in life and smile. Such wonderful memories.

With All the Love and McFly songs in the World,

Natalie Xx

What Are You Passionate About?

Passion – Any powerful and compelling emotion or feeling.

Every single person has something that they are passionate about. Something that gets them all fired up, be it a certain cause, charity, or hobby. For me it’s missions. If you know me at all, you would have already known this small fact about me. I have always had a heart for missions, thanks to my dad who took the High School youth group on trips. My first missions trip was to Kelowna, Canada. I was 3. That love and passion has grown over the years, and although I have known that I am passionate about missions, sometimes it is quite easy to lose sight of just how much. A few nights ago I was reminded.  As I closed my eyes to go to sleep, I started to think about missions and different possibilities. All of a sudden I had a burst of energy. I no longer could sleep, I was too excited. I had a renewed love and passion for reaching the lost. I immediately turned on my computer and started to research different missions organizations around the UK. I was reminded of what I want to do with my life. I was so excited that I ran downstairs and started telling my English family about my epiphany. I could not contain my excitement. Sometimes all we need is just a little bit of a reminder to get us back on track to where we need to be. I hope this inspires you to think about what you are passionate about.

"Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it." - Julia Child

With all the Love in the World,

Natalie Xx

London: Photo Diary

“When a Man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford!”

-Samuel Johnson

Buckingham Palace



Changing of the Guard



Big Ben



The South Bank and London Eye



The London Eye and Parliament Buildings





BUS!



My last name is on a sign... Of course I took a picture of it!



No trip to London is complete without a red phone booth experience!

With all the Love in the World,
Natalie Xx

Bath: Photo Diary



The Royal Crescent, 1767-1774




Bath Abbey




Bath Abbey, Jacob's Latter




Bath Abbey, Ceiling




Roman Baths,




River Avon




Pulteney Bridge, 1774





The Assembly Rooms, 1771




The View







Yah, that just happened! -Fashion Museum



Tintagel Castle: Photo Diary

Tintagel Castle

For hundreds of years this castle has been famous for its King Arthur Legend. As legend has it Tintagel Castle was the birthplace of King Arthur. It is said that he was protected by Merlin, who lived in the cave below the castle. Many mysteries still remain about Tintagel.

Merlin's Cave

Stairs to the top

With all the Love in the World,

Natalie Xx