Fin

I don't speak French, but I felt like 'fin' was more sleek than 'the end' :)

My trip is officially over and has been for awhile now (this post is sooo overdue).

Leaving Seattle was hard. While there, I felt completely happy and peaceful (as I should on a vaca), so when it set in that I had to leave and get back to the life that continually frustrates me and leaves me confused (as well as crazy stressed at times), well, it made me kinda bitter. In my time of separation/saying goodbyes, I heard myself cry out to God, asking Him "why do I have to go back to a life where I do not see as much worth or joy as I do here?". I heard God whisper in my ear "Beloved, I know where I have you and I know the desires of your heart". Part of me wanted to say "well God, I want to stay here, that is my desire" but I would have been fooling myself. Really I just wanted to escape from my frustrations and that would ultimately do me no good. It's shameful how selfish I can be. I was so focused on what my emotions were telling me and not listening to my brain or what's really in my heart. There is so much here in NC that I love, like my friends and family, and my church. But my frustrations with my career, singleness, education, living situation, etc. have slowly been eating at me and causing me to become bitter and angry. This is so not a good place to be. No wonder God was probably laughing at me a while back when I called out "God, I am ready. I want some change". He knew that I needed to work on what I had right in front of me before I bit into another mouthful of something. He wants my roots deeper, so that I can stand the stronger winds that are going to come.

...Now that it's been almost 3 weeks since I arrived home, I feel like another vacation would be lovely and welcomed ;). But then again, I really don't feel like I have to escape (good sign!). Life is okay, it's not exactly what I had in mind, but I know God's present and his way for me is prosperous. I need to continue to learn how to trust in God and learn to rejoice over the simple things/the things in front of me.

Okay, to sum everything up... Seattle did the trick, I came back relaxed and overjoyed. I felt God nurture me in a way that I so badly needed, and I walked away feeling like I was more in love with Him than ever before. And even though coming home wasn't exactly what I wanted, it's been for the better. Life in NC can be great too... at times :)

Until my next big adventure,
Rachel Grace

Coming to an end...

So my trip should be concluded; however, there were horrible thunderstorms, rain, and fog in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. So after circling around several times and then actually having to fly to a smaller airport about 30 minutes away for fuel, I am finally at DFW, but I am stuck here until I can catch a flight tomorrow at 6:50am. This almost makes me feel like a hardcore traveler... I have never had a canceled flight before (I've been flying for 10-11 years), so it's something new, but not necessarily exciting... At least I'm safe and this just means I won't get a good nights rest and that is all.

As of now, I can’t really tell how I’m doing with the whole time change. I know my eating schedule is way off, but I have been sleepy since 10pm, which is a good sign since it would only be 7pm Seattle time (waking up at 5:45am to take Esther to work is paying off).

Well, I think I might go read my book and try to catch some shuteye. Much love, my dear friends and family :)

My Day To Explore

So yesterday was my day to explore on my own.

I dropped Esther off at work so that I would have a car and drove back home because it was too early to venture out. Then at about 8am, I packed up and headed Downtown. I stopped for breakfast at La Panier French Bakery and walked around Pike Place until everything else started opening up. Once shops were open, I mostly just went into the shops that Jonathan, Esther and myself hadn't had time for, like American Apparel and H & M. At about 12ish, I stopped in at the Chocolate Box off Pine St and I was going to order a hot chocolate, but instead ordered some gelato. Afterwards, I almost headed down to the Art Museum, but instead I headed home to West Seattle and took Rae and Fran (J + E's greyhounds) for a walk down to the beach and back.

At 2pm or so, I packed up again and headed to The Junction. I decided I was hungry and should eat lunch, I sat down in the West 5 diner and ordered one of their original classics (the restaurant has been open for a good long while). The place was pretty quiet since I was eating in the middle of the afternoon, and that gave me a wonderful opportunity to chat with my waiter, Don. Don had just come back from a 2 month tour with his band, Earth (http://www.myspace.com/earthofficial), from Europe. He was a lot of fun to talk to, as are most musicians and most Seattle residents. I think that's one reason why I like Seattle so much; it's thriving with such neat people. After lunch I walked around and poked my head into a thrift shop, an antique shop, and then back to the record shop (Easy Street Records). I decided I couldn't leave without buying at least one local artist's CD, so I picked up Mirah's most recent one because I had already been wanting it and when I turned over the cover and saw Olympia, WA, I was sold.

Once I purchased my CD, it was time to trek to Bellevue to pick up Esther. I can say that I have officially experienced city traffic, I was pretty much in a parking lot for bits at a time. My first reaction was to think whether or not there was an accident ahead, but nope, it was just congestion.

In the evening, Jonathan, Esther and I went to the Regal 16 theater in downtown and watched Wolverine. It was good, except for the computer animation in a few scenes, but pshh, it's Wolverine and that in it's self makes it awesome.

Today, I get to enjoy only a few more hours before I have to hop onto a plane and fly home :(

I really love it here and have enjoyed my stay tremendously, I am sad to say goodbye.

...I'm off to enjoy the last bit I have. I will write more tomorrow. C ya!

Night w/ Josh

The rest of my Thursday was very enjoyable. Josh picked me up and we headed to Azuma Sushi in The Junction area for dinner; the food there was very yummy and I discovered that I love sushi with cream cheese in it :). After dinner, Josh and I picked up dessert at Shoofly Pie Co., and then took our pie slices to the Alki Beach front and watched the sun set behind the mountains while talking about life. The sunset was majestic, I don't think there could possibly be a more beautiful sunset. I tried to snap a few pictures, but the photos didn't do it justice.

As for today, that will have to wait... I've been up since 5:45am this morning and I will be waking up again at that time tomorrow.

So, goodnight + sleep tight!