Swimming Into the New Year

It's Saturday! It's Saturday!
I feel like I could dance a jig...
This weekend is one earned and deserved.

I have wiped little noses that would not stop running...
I have sang songs for attention...
I have tried, in hoarse voice, to explain the why's:
-WHY we do not push our friends (it hurts them!)
-WHY we use our words (because are BIG kids and it helps people to understand us!)
-WHY we do not throw food at lunch (do I even need to explain this one?)



And it hasn't come without reward:
-hugs unexpected
-laughter shared with my co-teacher over the explanations only a child could give
-And, of course, much expected progress throughout the week.

I have also learned to never underestimate:
- a book that has textures for little fingers to feel- but only the quiet ones first!
- the power of a threat of putting a popsicle stick on the discipline chart
- and, LORD KNOWS, to never underappreciate a parent that reinforces good behavior!

They say the first week is the hardest and I hope that saying proves true.
I have come home WIPED OUT, I didn't make it past day three without a caught cold, and I MAY spoken to my husband like a 4 year old. "What are we miiisssiinnggg here?" (I didn't mean too!)
But it's been 2 1/2 years since I last helped grow small souls and we both have some adjusting to do.

So yea...I got a job! Teaching Pre-K and for it I am thankful.
I believe this will be a job long and earned.
And I believe it will be a good year.

....

 I shall give life here my best, and I believe it will give its best to me in return. When I left Queen’s my future seemed to stretch out before me like a long straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don’t know what lies around the bend, but I’m going to believe that the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder how the road beyond it goes — what there is of green glory and soft, checkered light and shadows — what new landscapes — what new beauties — what curves and hills and valleys further on.”

Anne, Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

"We thank Thee Lord for pilgrim days,

when desert springs were dry.

When first we knew the depth of need,

Thy love could satisfy."

Something a bit Tookish springing up

Hello friends!

Sorry I have been incognito lately what with the whole 

-driving 14 hrs to Florida from Memphis

-Settling in the apartment

-Trying to figure out life here

-Not having internet a la casa till tomorrow 

I am just now hitting up the local Panera for some internet time...

Greetings from Orlando OVIEDO!

Come, join me here. Grab a cup of joe and let's catch up.

I'll even invite ya into my new home to sit...

Today is our one week anniversary of moving in. Tez and I will prob break out the bubbly to celebrate making it, maybe put on a little Bon Jovi, Livin' on a Prayer and have a dance party. Who knows- anything goes in Oviedo!

I kidd...

Life has been good settling in here. 

A few observations:

-When they call FL the sunshine state they don't kidd!

-People in Oviedo are genuinely friendly and that's coming from a place that prides itself on southern hospitality

- If you are needing a little conversation, the college kids at Publix who are checking you out and the people behind the deli meat counter can be good conversationalist

- I have began to enjoy the little "Florida showers"

- Puerto Rican people are all around... it's probably what heaven will be like

- You know you are from Memphis when the fact that grocery store's sell wine throws you off EVERY time you see it

That's all I got so far....

And, yes, I do miss Memphis

But I am positive this is where we are supposed to be and that confidence makes things a lot better.

We hooked up with a local church that we are excited about getting involved in.

I am still searching for a J-O-B (why don't you say a little prayer for me now that I mention it)

And I have never felt so small before.

In Memphis, I kind of feel like I own the town. I mean, I literally cannot walk anywhere without seeing someone I know. Sally from the 2nd grade, old colleagues or co-workers. 

I felt like a big fish in a small town and there was a comfort to that. A whole lot less dependancy. 

Also never before have I felt the whole, biblical aspect of "leave and cleave" until now. I don't know why, maybe b/c I had my family and friends around, who are dependable. Not that Tez is not, but never before have we had to depend on each other like this. Tez is my only close friend here, right now and while I am hoping that will change, that we will add other friends to the contact list, I have never been more thankful that I have him.

So that's all I got.

And on a little sidenote, I am reading the Hobbit for the fourth time of my life and loving every second of it.  Is it weird to say that Tolkien as narrator is like an old friend??!

I end with a great quote that encourages me from LOTR

“He used often to say there was only one Road; that it was like a great river: its springs were at every doorstep, and every path was its tributary. 'It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,' he used to say. 'You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

...Na na na na hey hey heeeyyy Goodbye....

This is kind of what my life looks like right now....

And that has only been the last three days!

Hi! I'm back in Memphis and must I say, I have never loved a place more dearly.

I also must say that when I said life was crazy before... I didn't know what I was talking about since...um... this season?

The above pic is not only the calendar of what my life looks like but also add in:

*3 Chihuahua's (yes WE ARE the stereotypical Hispanic family! One is Tez and I's the other two belong to the parents)

*Living back with my parents for the last week and next ten days
- Did I mention they are Puerto Rican?
- Did I mention that my bro is also currently living at home?
- Did I mention that I have an 11 yr old sister?
- Did I mention that this combo makes for absolutely no quiet time available...at all?!

Yesterday the "quietest time" I got was when my parents left for work and my sister kept asking me questions about Mario Kart as I read a little.

I don't mean to be a whiner. I am thankful that my parents are letting us barge in on them during this transition phase but did I mention that we are moving to Florida?

Oh yea, we are, in 10 days time...

I'm trying to process through it as much as I can. Thankfully I am busy with to do's. Thankfully when I need a break I get text messages from friends wanting to know if I can accompany them to a yoga class (my love language), or Bosco's, or their houses just to chat.

But oh how I miss MIDTOWN!

My parents live in the suburbs...Bartlett... actually my friends and I have renamed it "Fartlett" (I know we are sooo mature) and sometimes I can't help but drive around this place with disdain... Tez loves the suburbs, I myself am a city girl.

Well, we are def moving to the suburbs in Florida so my paradigm needs to adjust!

It's hard leaving a city that you were raised in. I feel I have a love/hate relationship with Memphis as if it were one of my boyfriends.

But the sweet thing is all through High School my mantra was to "GET OUT OF MEMPHIS"
In college I took any opportunity I could to travel the world. Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Amsterdam, Israel, Brazil and then post college Amsterdam again, Barcelona, Jakarta, Bali, China
Now that I have been a few places, I have grown to love the city of Memphis.

Maybe my church or the organization Tez works for has had something to do with that, or books or plain old GOD but when you go from not liking something, to seeing potential, and from there growing into a love for something you never saw before- it can get kind of Jane Austen-y and you realize you have had something beautiful right in front of you that you always took for granted.

That's how I began to see Memphis these last two years. God has really changed my disdain for the city into a heart overflowing with love and a desire to serve.

It's bittersweet to leave and as I'm collecting many goodbye's I know that just as God grew my heart for Memphis He can grow my heart in the same fashion for the suburbs of Florida....


I just ask that he give me at least one hipster and/or "eccentric" friend to keep me sane....

I don't know why it is posting without paragraph breaks...sorry!

Hey guys I'm back! And you have my permission to call my bluff if at any time I say I shall write a post "series"...who am I kidding, right?! sigh.... I had every intention of finishing my Barcelona posts... and then we had to move from our duplex, what I thought would take 3 days ended up taking 10...yea... in the past two years we have accumulated A LOT of stuff I am sad to say. "My Name is Tatiana and I am a pack rat". We trashed a lot and gave so much away (Goodbye precious Norton Anthologies from every semester of college, may the precious notes I wrote from my classes enlighten some other mind) At the end of the day I was plain tuckered out and it was all a whirlwind b/c at the end of the 10th day we left to a little country by the name of...China... And that is where I have been for the past 6 weeks. Also the firewall there blocks blogspot so I had absolutlely no way of contacting here, I promise. But I am back in America now at least. Not home in Memphis but with the internet! And I am all the wiser, cultured, and.... jet lagged. Just thought I'd drop in to say hello, that I have not forgotten about you. And that I will do a series about my travels in China...I kidd... Your lucky if I put up some pictures within the next couple of days... Ok, You know I'll get around to it, but until then I will give Mr. Potter a visit here in Orlando and spend a day or two laying on the beach for a little R&R...and suntan... White skin may be considered beautiful in China but looking at my white legs at the end of June just makes me sad. XOXOXO

Barcelona: Behold the Beauty

One of the most wonderful things we did in Barcelona BY FAR was visit different houses built and designed by Antoni Gaudi.
Apparently I am out of the loop because I had never before heard of Gaudi before Barcelona.
According to my neighbor, who upon first mention of Barcelona got to talking about Gaudi, informed me that we get the term "gaudy" from Antoni himself. (  Example: "I'm not comfortable with this bracelet, its too gaudy" )
I am going to post  four different Gaudi posts and by the end of them you should understand why that term comes from his name!

Here is the first of four.

According to wikipedia Gaudí devoted his life entirely to his profession, remaining single. He is only known to have been attracted to one woman—Josefa Moreu, teacher at the Mataró Cooperative, in 1884—but this was not reciprocated.^[40] Thereafter Gaudí took refuge in the profound spiritual peace his Catholic faith offered him.

Below are pictures of La Sagrada Familia
These pictures do not do it justice!
The details of it are beyond anything I can describe- but I shall try!


La Sagrada Familia isn't yet finished and it is considered the pinnacle of one's career to be able to contribute to it.

The front depicts the crucifixion of Christ

Gaudi put himself as an observer

The details are amazing

And INSIDE... well, it takes your breath away

He wanted to depict a forest. Gaudi loved nature considering it "a book worth reading".
In the works I saw of his he tried to merge nature and architecture and the results are astounding.
He wanted the inside of the church to mimic the solitude of being alone in a forest while the gentle light being reminiscent of God's presence.

Unbelievable
Last but not least the back of the cathedral depicts the birth of Christ.



There were so many details I literally could have spend 4 hours picking them out.
Details like the genealogy of Christ written on a pillar and a snake wrapping itself around said pillar.
(that was one of my fave's)
Seeing as the cathedral would be one of the first things incoming ships would see he wanted the cathedral to appear as a sand castle.
Everything about it is symbolic and beautiful.
If you are EVER in Barcelona this is a MUST see.
The pictures fail in comparison.
It honestly is a worshipful experience.