*sigh . . . *

I haven't slept in my own bed for 3 WEEKS!

Seriously, people -- isn't that sad?
I got home from Europe last Tuesday and still haven't slept in my own bed.

It's pitiful.

One of the GREATEST things about getting home from any trip is getting to sleep in your OWN BED.

No wondering. No worrying.

Just your OWN bed in your OWN room.
Complete. Utter. Bliss.

Before heading to Europe, I even put clean sheets on my bed so that when I came home I would have that added luxury.
(Girls, can we all agree that one of the most wonderful simple pleasures in life is getting into a bed with clean sheets and freshly shaven legs? Mmm . . . )

So then what happened?

RAIN

And what came of the rain?

FLOODING

And of COURSE it flooded my room.

But TONIGHT is the night. After sleeping the night in 7 countries and on 11 different surfaces, I'm finally on my way to my OWN bed!


Here's a list of where I've slept since last sleeping in my own bed:
June 7 -- Last time I slept in my own bed
June 9-10 -- NH Hotel in South Kensington, London, England
June 11-12 -- NH Hotel in Amsterdam, Netherlands
June 13 -- Apartment in Fussen, Germany
June 14-15 -- Marriott Renaissance in Munich, Germany
June 16 -- Apartment in Bad Mitterndorf, Austria
June 17 -- Hotel in Modling, Austria
June 18-20 -- Apartment in Paris, France
June 21-22 -- NH Hotel in Brussels, Belgium
June 23 -- Living Room couch
June 24-26 -- Alex's bed
June 27-28 -- Family Room couch
June 29, 2009 -- Clean sheets (check), shaved legs (check), own bed (check) . . .
BLISS!

Brownie is the royal dog of Belgium . . . and other things I learned in Europe

So while I was being a good girl in Europe and writing in my journal daily I started jotting down a list of funny little things I learned while I was there. For the most part, these are just random observations, but a few have stories behind them (ask what they are and I might tell you ;) ). I might add more to list later, but here's what I have for now. Enjoy!

• Tube strikes in London are a lot harder to work around and deal with than Metro strikes in Paris.
  
  
• The Netherlands are full of LARGE women. And by large, I mean tall.
  
  
• When the light turns green in Geneva you should already be moving. You will be honked at.
  
  
• You can't buy postcards -- or anything but McDonalds -- at night in Lichtenstein.
  
  
• McDonalds restaurants are EVERYWHERE! They are officially taking over the world.
  
  
• Utah's grid system ROCKS!
  
  
• Germans eat a TON of food!
  
  
• I can read every plaque and look at every item in a Museum before Mitch finishes a single room.
  
  
• Munich thunderstorms are awesome -- even though they are missing the thunder echoing through the canyons that we have in Utah and the torrents of rain we had in Thailand.
  
  
• Anne Frank's birthday is June 12. She would have been 80.
  
  
• Hallstatt really is a great resting point between Salzburg and Vienna.
  
  
• Good tomato soup is heavenly :).
  
  
• Peter and Monique Bearts are awesome.
  
  
• I ♥ Bad Mitterndorf.
  
  
• Despite all the pictures, Mozart Balls are NOT green inside!
  
  
• BILLA grocery stores have great sandwiches.
  
  
• The countryside between Salzburg and Vienna is made for sledding.
  
  
• I remember French better than I though I did.
  
  
• I still know my way around the Metro.
  
  
• I still prefer the Metro to the Tube!
  
  
• Living in Paris for 3 months supposedly means that I know everything about Paris/France -- from the population size to the name and use of EVERY building!
  
  
• When my mind starts shutting down, I can't decipher between French and English.
  
  
• They tell you that admission to the gardens at the Palace of Versailles are free -- what they don't tell you is that from April 1 - Oct 31 admission is 8 Euros/per person on Sundays.
  
  
• I found a really really good incentive to stay in shape.
  
  
• I'm "addicted" to the gym.
  
  
• If they reprint your boarding passes at the gate, prepare yourself for trouble.
  
  
• My dad has the best truths for "2 Truths and a Lie" EVER.
  
  
• My family is full of loud sleepers. Luckily, I'm not one of them.
  
  
• I've got a whole new list of reasons to get married!
  

Life is Grand!

Can I just say that I LOVE MY LIFE?!? Seriously.

First of all -- I was home for the week (which is always relaxing) and Conference was AMAZING. As I was driving back to Provo after the weekend home, I was thinking about the talks and which one I would label as my "favorite" should someone ask. Well, I don't have one. There isn't even one that stands out more than the others because ALL of them were amazing, wonderful, and directed toward me. I think it was the first time in my life that I didn't even start to doze while watching. Wow. You can REWATCH ANY OF THE TALKS HERE!

Secondly -- I'M GOING BACK TO EUROPE!!! Wahoo!!! My parents told my three younger brothers and I that we're going to Europe for two and a half weeks this summer and I CAN'T WAIT! We'll be starting off in London on June 8th (been there) and ending in PARIS on June 23rd (OBVIOUSLY I've been there ;) -- and I can't wait to go back to my "second home") and we'll be hitting Amsterdam, Vienna, and Frankfurt in between . . . possibly more.

Thirdly -- Yesterday I was feeling all sorts of love from my friends. I have the greatest friends. Ever. Hands down. I also have the greatest family. And I'm getting a nephew in August! :)

Finally -- I had my LAST BYU observation yesterday. Don't worry -- I've really passed! (Not that I was worried) But it's done. Over. I teach a short day tomorrow, have Thursday and Friday off, teach all next week and then Graduate. Crazy.

I'll repeat -- I LOVE MY LIFE!!! :)