Travel Memoirs: A Dreamy Train Ride

It was one of those moments when you wake up in a strange bed and feel disoriented, wondering where the heck you are. And then I remembered, Oh yes, I'm on a train.

It was five weeks in during my semester studying in France when classes halted for a two week-long break. In these five weeks, I had made friends with two American girls from my study abroad program and another Swedish girl from one of our classes. Together we had decided to set off to southern France and then on to Barcelona to fill our two weeks with as many adventures as possible.

I had volunteered as trip organizer, booking our flights and accommodations. Though we could have flown to Nice, it was cheaper to take a train, and after all, why not take advantage of France's famously speedy and efficient railway systems? I also had always thought the idea of taking a sleeping car and traveling overnight on a train to be appealing, and perhaps even slightly romantic. Thankfully the girls seemed to like my idea and I booked our tickets.

We knew full well that our sleeping car wouldn't be spacious or glamorous at the rate we paid, and we were curious to see how six individuals were to fit into one sleeping compartment. Yes--we would be sharing a compartment with three other strangers! We ended up sharing with a mother and her two children, both of whom were extremely quiet, well-behaved, and slept soundly.

The beds pulled out of the wall and were stacked three high on either side of the compartment. By the sheer kindness of my travel mates, I ended up on the lowest bed. Our train had departed around 10:30 at night, and by 11:30, we were all tucked into our beds, partially as a courtesy to the very sleepy children curled up opposite from us.

As I lay there, I stared at the twinkling stars out the window by my feet. The clickity-clack of the train quickly lulled me to sleep, and I slept deeply and soundly the whole night through.

I awoke early, as sunlight began to peek into our compartment. I propped myself up on my elbow to see out the window and stared for many moments, certain what I was seeing was an illusion. It was the sea!

There was my first glimpse of the Mediterranean, seemingly yards away outside our window, sparkling with the most gorgeous shades of orange and red from the sunrise. I was in awe, feeling I had stepped into a dream. This--this was one of the most beautiful sights my eyes had ever seen, and appearing at such an unexpected moment.

A huge smile crept across my face as I took in the beauty of the sea in the utter quiet and stillness of our little train compartment. What a glorious beginning to our adventures along the sea.

Travel Memoirs

My little blog here began as a way to share my overseas experiences with family and friends while I was away. The travel theme has been recurring here many times since I have been so incredibly fortunate to have traveled and spent time abroad in my life thus far.

I think of these many travels daily. Most often I am thinking of dear friends I made during my travels and missing them terribly. Other times I think of little things: the quiet restaurants, the amazing coffee, the fresh bread and pastry shops, walking everywhere, lovely architecture. I love these little moments of remembrances that transport me back to these special places where I've visited, lived, studied, or worked, even if only for a tiny instant.

These little memoirs that are a part of my daily life are very special to me. Travel is sacred to my soul. Travel is something I desperately need in my life. I had felt a longing for it ever since I was a young child, but until I first traveled abroad at age fourteen, I never really knew how deeply I needed it. I still feel the call of travel tugging at my heart each and every day, beckoning me to adventure and new discoveries.

I am a firm believer in living in the present and enjoying it to its fullest potential, however I find it to be quite refreshing to my mind and heart to pause and reflect upon my travels. I believe that is what travel is all about. It's excitement, discovery, stepping outside of one's own comfort zone--these things inevitably change a person, be it in big ways or small. The times I have studied or worked abroad have been especially intense times of growth for me--personal growth, spiritual growth, academic/linguistic growth, and thousands upon thousands of enriching experiences. I feel that if I were to forget these times and not pause to let the memories flood my heart and mind once again, then it was all for naught.

Strasbourg, France

Because I recently read a book on French parenting, France has been especially on my mind. I essentially spent eight months total there--two six week-long study programs in Normandy and five months studying at the University of Strasbourg. Oh! How I adore France! I lack the words to convey how deeply I love the French language, culture, and people. Yet in my recent remembrances of France, I've felt inspired to start sharing some of these travel memoirs that cross my mind--not just of France, but everywhere else I've been, too. It may be something as small as foods I came to love or something as big as a specific event that was quite memorable.

I hope you will enjoy these snapshots I will soon begin to share!

Bring on the Thirties

A few weeks back, a big thing happened: I turned thirty. It felt like a big thing, and yet oddly, it didn't.

Big, in how I could sense that a "book" within this novel that is my life had ended, and a brand new one had begun.

I can just imagine all the blank pages yet to be filled. It's the lovely anticipation one feels when acquiring a fresh new journal--the way it smells brand new, and the crisp, clean pages beckoning to be filled with unforgettable memories and deep thoughts.

But I wasn't scared or freaked-out to be turning thirty. It came in a quiet way. I had watched it approaching for the past few years and it just didn't feel like a big deal to me. In fact, after all the life I have lived thus far, it kind of felt like it was time for me to turn thirty, do you know what I mean?

{This birthday was also accompanied by a fair dose of melancholy, as my Grandpa Dorsey had passed away two days prior. It's a sad actuality that he passed away on what was my sister's birthday. She has a good attitude about it, but I still wish it hadn't happened that way.}

I've lived a lot of life in these past thirty years--thirty glorious years overflowing with happiness and joy and more incredible experiences than I ever could have dreamt of.

Still, I feel there is one, singular thing I have learned from life, just before turning thirty. Through my daughter, I have discovered love in its absolute purest form.

This love is so different from all the other great loves in my life--the love for my Heavenly Father, the love for my husband, the love for my family members.

It's just that this love I have for my baby girl is something I never knew I had inside of me. It has utterly and completely rocked my world. I am a changed woman, and a thousand times better for it. I never could have believed love like this were possible if I hadn't experienced it for myself.

 

So. Enough of the gushing.

All in all, I'm incredibly excited to discover what this next decade of my life will hold. After all, my twenties were pretty epic....

Let's see, there was: six weeks studying abroad in Normandy, France, then later studying abroad in Strasbourg, France for a semester and getting to travel around Europe, graduating with a double major, meeting and marrying the absolute love of my life {which afforded me my dream wedding and honeymoon!}, spending a summer working abroad in England, a mission trip to Trinidad and  Tobago, living and working in Hungary for eight months while Matt was deployed to Afghanistan, a whole fun array of work experiences {including working as a wrangler!}, lots of domestic travels, buying our first home, and of course, welcoming our first child! Oh goodness, I just can't even imagine being any more blessed.

If that is what my twenties brought me, then oh yes, please. Bring on these marvelous thirties!

Five Years

This weekend Matt and I have been celebrating five years of wedded bliss! It's hard to believe five years have gone by already. When I think back to a mere two years ago, I was just starting my time abroad in Hungary, and Matt had just deployed to Afghanistan. He felt so very far away on that day and it didn't help that I felt like a very lost lamb, having newly arrived to Debrecen. I could never have imagined all the wonderful things that would lay in store as those two years passed, and now here we are, settled back into "normal" life and expecting our first little one!

I love reminiscing about our wedding day. I know it sounds oh-so-cliché, but our entire wedding day was like a fairy-tale-come-true for me. It's funny, too, because I had never been one of those girls who had planned out wedding details in their minds years in advance of meeting Mr. Right. Yet after Matt proposed, it didn't take long until I knew exactly what I wanted our day to look like. {And thankfully I had the most wonderful fiancé ever--Matt was willing to pretty much go along with whatever I wanted!}

Here are the things I knew I wanted:

1. To have our reception at the Hertitage Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan. I have always loved the building and knew the interior would be a gorgeous place for a reception. The venue was already booked for a Saturday and a Sunday wedding the weekend we wanted, but they were free for a Friday evening reception. That of course meant our wedding day would be on a Friday, but the day of the week was no matter to me, plus I really loved the idea of having an evening wedding ceremony {6 pm to be exact}.

2. To be married in the church where I grew up: First Church of God, Saint Joseph, Michigan. I also knew I wanted to use lots of ivy and have it lining the aisle. I knew I wanted sea green for my bridesmaids gowns {my favorite color} and my bouquets to use lots of roses in the palest shades of pink. I also knew that hiring live wedding music wasn't an option because I wanted to use Celtic music throughout the ceremony {one of my favorite genres and also befitting my red hair!}. Matt loved the Celtic music idea and approved all my song choices beforehand.

3. To have wedding pictures taken at the beach {St. Joseph is home to some of the most beautiful beaches you'll ever see}, preferably at sunset. The beach pictures all turned out better than we ever could have dreamed!

We sailed through the entire wedding day without the slightest hiccup. My mom really should go into wedding planning because I kid you not, this woman thought of ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. The most minute of details was covered. The wedding party all received ten-page packets at the rehearsal, and though it may have seemed over-the-top initially, it indeed ensured that every single person knew his or her schedule to the minute, had directions, contact numbers, and knew the odd job he or she was responsible for. For example, my mom had assigned a bridesmaid the task of gathering up my things post-ceremony and transporting them to the reception hall {a groomsman did the same for Matt}. Then we knew exactly who to ask when we needed our things for freshening up and later changing at the reception.

Because we knew everything had been so thoroughly planned out, Matt and I were able to truly relax and enjoy our wedding day to the fullest. There was no stress, no frazzle--it was simply able to be what it was: the single best day of my life.

Here are some more pictures for you:

Since our wedding ceremony and reception would be taking place in the evening, we had no choice but to take all of our wedding photos during the day. {I actually LOVED this idea anyway...I didn't want to have to mess with many photos after the ceremony. I just wanted to celebrate!} Matt and I still had a very special, private moment where we saw one another for the first time. It was so lovely.



Love LOVE this photo!

Our flower girl: my niece, Krista.

Isn't she the cutest? She did her job perfectly, too!

I adore this photo because it captures me smiling at Matt just before my dad hands me over to him.

I felt as if I was in a dream the entire ceremony.

While the guests headed to the reception hall down the road, we drove to the beach {five minutes away}. We arrived just in time for a gorgeous sunset! {Praise the Lord for fabulous weather that day!} In the twenty minutes or so that we were there, our photographer got the most amazing shots.

Our favorite.

We went back to the reception hall and snapped a few more pictures outside while the guests had hors-d'oeuvres inside. {Our caterer brought out some for the wedding party while we waited for our grand entrances}.

Matt was good-humored enough to let me have the Indiana Jones theme song playing while we made our grand entrance to the reception hall.

Krista totally wore me out on the dance floor!

The only downside to the day was that we weren't able to invite nearly as many people as we wanted. The reception hall only fit about 165 guests comfortably. I know 165 sounds like a lot, but remember that Matt and I are both pastor's kids, so we had many, many people we were very sad not to be able to include.

Not only did my mom do the most fabulous job of planning the entire event, we had so many other people help out with the details, decorating, setting up, and tearing down. From friends who served as wedding coordinator and my "personal assistant", to all the family who helped out as well, thank you from the bottom of our hearts to each and every one of you for making our wedding day the most beautiful and unforgettable day we ever could have asked for!

Things You Didn't Know About Me

For those of you newer readers to my blog, I thought I'd do a quick little list of things so you can know me a bit better. And hey...for those of you who know me personally--well, you just might learn a little something, too.

• My favorite ice cream: Edy's French Silk {it's dangerous.}
• My favorite tea: Earl Grey {preferably Harney & Sons brand}
• I have always been a "back" sleeper. Though I'll occasionally roll to the side, it's by far the most comfortable position for me. I drift off in this position with my hands folded on my ribcage and my feet crossed. My sister always remarked that I look like I've been laid out in a coffin!
• I have always gotten asked if my red hair is natural. It is, and I've never even highlighted it because it gets lots of natural highlights from the sun {to the point where people have asked if I dyed my hair blonde}.
• As often as I get asked about my hair, I get questions about my eyelashes--whether they're real or fake. They are 100% real {plus mascara}. Many thanks to Mom and Dad for great eyelash genes! The mascara is just as important, however; my eyelashes are too light to be seen without it.
• My favorite childhood book: The Farthest Away Mountain by Lynn Reid Banks {author of The Indian in the Cupboard}
• I work as the Unplanned Pregnancy and Adoption Counselor for a non-profit Christian counseling services, also a licensed adoption agency.
• When eating a standard sandwich, I eat all the crusts around the edges, then eat the center last.
• If I had to narrow down all my favorite foods to only two items, it would be mashed potatoes and chocolate cake.
• I have a freakishly strong memory, especially when it comes to how far back I can remember when I was little. I have all these memories I can tell you from age 3 and on, in lots of detail and recalling my thought processes at the time, too. Then, I once drew the layout of a house we lived in for my parents, trying to test my memory. I also drew the location of the furniture in the rooms, including where my high chair sat in the dining room and the crib in my room. My parents were so completely stunned, and verified the exact accuracy of my memory, explaining that we moved out of that house before I turned two years old.
• I have a large shoebox where I keep cards and letters from dear family and friends from all over the world, starting from when I was just a little girl.
• The household chore I most enjoy is dusting. I use lemon Pledge and not only do I love the smell and the sheen it gives to the furniture, it brings be back to my childhood as that was the household chore I was always assigned. I pretty much despise all other household chores.
• I have two recurring types of bad dreams: 1) It's the end of the semester of high school or college and I've completely forgotten to attend a course all semester, and will therefore fail it, or 2) It's dance recital time and I'm about to go onstage and do a dance that I haven't learned at all, but am supposed to know. The psych analyses aren't hard to see with these two...
• My whole life, people have mispronounced my name. Instead of Deanne, I'll usually get Deanna. Or Denea, or Deena. Since I've been older, I've frequently been getting Dean. As in, the male name DEAN. {Really.} I'm sure my parents would have spelled my name "DeeAnn" or something if they'd known people couldn't get it right.
• I loved walking as my means of transportation at the times when I've lived abroad. I can't even describe how much I wish that were a possibility for my life here in the US.

There, you know me a bit better. Thanks for taking the time to do so!

Coffee Heaven in a French Press

Last week I showed you this gorgeous French Press coffee maker I got for Christmas:

This is a Bodum Chambord 8 cup French Press.

I can now officially announce that I am madly and deeply in love with my French Press.

Anyway, I realized that not all of you may know what a French Press coffee maker is or how it works. After all, Matt didn't!

The process of brewing coffee in a French Press is simple enough.

First, boil your water. While it boils, add very coarse coffee grounds to the French press.

When the water is hot {but not still boiling}, pour it directly over the coffee grounds and give it a few good stirs.

After letting it sit and "brew" for just a few minutes, place the lid on the French Press and apply a slow and steady pressure as you begin to press down on the filter mechanism.

This filter has a fine mesh which traps the coffee grounds and presses them to the bottom. It's important that your coffee grounds are coarse, as too fine of grounds will escape the mesh and settle into your coffee.


Below you can see all the coffee grounds pressed and trapped at the bottom of the coffee maker.

Your coffee is now ready! Get ready for some seriously rich and smooth coffee...

I take mine with just a bit of cream and sugar, but not enough to hinder the delicious taste of the coffee!

The reason coffee from a French Press maker is supposed to be superior to standard electric coffee makers is because the coffee grounds and brewing water have direct contact. The mesh filter in a French Press allows the essential oils and flavors from the coffee itself to come through full force, whereas traditional drip brew coffee makers trap these in their paper filter. The proof is in each sip from one's coffee cup...it has made me a believer, and Matt, too!

The only downside to a French Press coffee maker is that it isn't quite as convenient as a conventional electric coffee maker; with a French Press, you must boil your water separately, plus, the cleaning of the French Press can be a bit messy. But for me, these small factors would never deter me from using my French Press--the resulting cup of coffee is just too far superior in every delicious drop.

I have to admit, all the time I've spent abroad in Europe has really turned me into a coffee snob. I still haven't been able to pinpoint the exact reasons European coffee is so much better--I believe there are several factors. All I know is that coming back to the US after I've spent any significant time abroad leaves me practically gagging on the stuff we Americans drink. Even Starbucks doesn't always cut it for me. But this new little French Press of mine produces coffee that is so much closer to what I remember from all my favorite coffee shop haunts abroad. It brings a smile to my face and with each sip, I think to myself, Ah, yes. This is what coffee is supposed to taste like.

{For anyone out there who is more of an expert French Press-er than me, I'd greatly appreciate any tips and insight you could offer!}

Flats

We all know a girl can never have too many shoes, right?

At the times when I have been abroad, walking naturally becomes my main means of transportation. This makes having comfortable foot wear imperative.

That's hard for me, however. I LOVE a killer pair of heels and I have been known to submit my feet to lots of pain and blisters for the sheer adoration of a pair of great heels.

But even I know that I must submit to my short stature and walk with my heels on the ground overseas. I won't say I've never worn a pair of sneakers, because I certainly have, but I usually prefer something more "cute" and stylish.

Enter ballet flats. These have been my staple in times abroad. They don't support feet as well as sneakers would, but they are definitely comfortable and walking-friendly.

Now, back home in the US, I wear flats any time I know I'll be doing a lot of walking {read: shopping). So I decided to pull out all my pairs from my closet and size up my current collection.



My latest addition: sparkly black flats from Hungary. They have definitely been my summer staple.



I wore this pair a ton the summer I worked in England. Also...do you ever have clothing or accessories that for some reason, you associate with a story? For example, I think of these as my Cinderella shoes. I can't quite explain it!

I always think I can only wear these on days when I'm wearing gold jewelry, which is less often. I'm sure it doesn't matter, but I can't help feeling that way.

These are the other pair I wore to death whilst in England.

Blue velvety pair.

I love these grey ones.

Another black pair--but slightly different because of the ankle straps.

I almost didn't model these for you, because I'm way embarrassed at my ankles/feet. They are a horrible mess of mosquito bites and mosquito bite scars from earlier this summer. They stand out so well against my pale skin! Sigh...

Anyway, seven pairs of flats--that's not too many, is it??

Kinder Surprise Eggs

I have had a love affair with many different European chocolates, but by far, one of my favorites is the Kinder Surprise Egg.

This is a hollow, milk chocolate egg {very delicious chocolate, I might add} with a plastic yellow "yolk" in the center. The "yolk" contains a toy, often requiring assembly.

Unfortunately, Kinder Eggs have been banned in the US since 1997 because of a law stating no food item can be sold which contains a non-edible object. Even Canada sells them, but they will be seized if you try to bring them into the US.

I first encountered Kinder Eggs when the Steiner family brought them to the US prior to their banishment. Since then, I have maintained a collection of all the Kinder toys I have acquired over the years. Since I have traveled quite a bit to Europe, I now have a decent stock! I just adore Kinder Eggs and the amazing, and sometimes complex, little toys that come out of the tiny "yolk."

Of course, having lived in Hungary for eight months, I treated myself to quite a few Kinder eggs. I also introduced them to Matt when he came to visit! After consuming the eggs in Hungary, I brought back my newer Kinder Egg toys to add to my collection.

Below, I'd like to share some of my newer additions, as well as some of my favorites overall.

A new one--a mini puzzle!

Before

Finished

Another new one...

A sailboat that actually floats in the water! {I checked}

This new one is so cool...first, the skier bends down to touch the skis. Then
you insert him {folded down} into the left side of the lodge. As you insert
him, an inner piece of the lodge slides out to the right. Push this inner piece
back into the lodge with force, and it catapults the skier out at a great
speed and distance!

One of my favorites! Push the Eskimo along and the dogs move
back and forth.

Push down on the top of the magician and the woman raises up.

Just plain cute.

A very European-looking car.

Jumbo jet!

The ever-classic witch.