No, but seriously...

So I am well aware that I said I would keep up better with my blog, but I haven't been able to! I have, however, decided to go to sleep later and give a better update as to what is going on. I have been doing very well with my classes and have been learning a great deal both inside and outside of the classroom. I have started to play bass at my church here in Granada for the young adult's services and some sunday morning/evening services though I have not yet played on a sunday morning. I enjoy cooking and have failed to improve on procrastinating when it comes to laundry. I have visited Rome, which was amazing, and made a wish at the Trevi fountain(hope it comes true). I am learning more each day about myself and about what God wants from me. Being in Spain has most definitely provided several opportunities to share just how amazing God has been and about the great news. I find myself wishing not that I was home, but that my family and friends could be here with me. The life here is different. People do not live to work but work to live. Relationships are formed easily with local businesses and new tastes are acquired every week..
So lately I have really been thinking, what can I say about myself despite what others may actually think? this is what I have come up with... so taking the place of my list of things learned in general, I give you

Things I have learned about me:
 I tend to get lost in thought washing dishes and sometimes laugh to myself when I recall silly memories from home like saying bye to a friend after having breakfast and then coincidentally running into him right after at a starbucks, or hilarious car rides with my best friend and ALWAYS getting lost. I don't tend to have a ton of friends but I can honestly say those I consider friends are precious to me. Sometimes I look angry when I wash dishes but it's not because I don't like doing it, it's because I am thinking of something serious, like things I regret or things I wish I could do different. In the end I always remember that I would not be where I am today where it not for all of that. I tend to over-think things all the time. Whether it be something small or large I give it too much thought and it never leads to anything good. That said, I should probably abstain from washing anymore dishes. I'm not always right, although I like to sometimes pretend I am. I tend to talk way more than I should. I cook in much too large quantities despite my countless efforts to make smalls portions. I don't know how to pick the right melons, and I am notorious for getting lost. I eat poorly and like to make meals out of junk food. I spend too much time on nonsensical things and can be difficult. I try too hard to hide that I am upset but don't hide it at all when I am annoyed. I laugh too much and can sometimes get caught in a nervous laugh attack. I have asthma, poor vision, and cannot digest lactose very well. I'm not very organized, though I can clean up when I need to. I hate that I have had to work before coming to Spain, but I love that I have had work since my senior year of high school. I love kids though I do not plan on having any soon despite the financial benefits and government aid it would provide me with thus paying my degree. I get very irritated with government though I tend to stay out of politics. I don't believe in voting for presidential candidates though I do believe in voting on propositions and such. I cannot name all the presidents, and cannot locate all 50 states in the US. I don't like people hearing me sing, though it pains me I can't sing in the shower here. I love driving, though most days I am happy to walk everywhere.  I love grocery shopping and have learned to stick to a strict grocery budget here. I like having friends, though I tend to be bad at maintaining them. I tend to make non-awkward situations awkward and awkward situations 10x more awkward. I can't walk across a room with a glassful of liquid without spilling it and I know nothing about good wines. I know nothing about designer clothes, brands, and shopping and to this day find paying hundreds on a purse ridiculous. I put my relationship with God before any relationship with a guy and truly believe that God has someone for me that will love Him more than he could ever love me. Singleness is a gift and dating is a serious topic. I refuse to waste anyone's time and would rather no one waste mine. I love my flatmates and though I miss my family immensely, love living on my own. I tend to sing random words in peoples sentences subconsciously and sing random songs that are triggered by key words in conversation. I love public speaking and can do well with short term memorization. I love teaching people how to do things and I love learning a new language. estou fazendo um trabahlo muito bem:) did I mention I tend to talk too much? I tend to be in a good mood and cannot stop smiling because God is good. I am thankful for the pastors that have impacted my life and have taught me sound doctrine. I am thankful for those who have answered my millions of questions. I am outgoing when I am comfortable but can be extremely shy in public or even after class. I don't really have a favorite color and I'm not a fan of flowers.
I guess that's it for now. I wont say that I will write soon but I will say that I hope to. I miss my family, my friends, my church, and my co-workers. I miss Olivia. I miss in-n-out and chik-fil-A and in all honesty...

I MISS STARBUCKS!!!!

Please no tossing people over the edge...

So, I want to start this off by saying, you cannot tell me my God isn't awesome!
Leaving home was hard and one of the things that was most upsetting to leave behind was my bass. With it, my beautiful band, and the gift of praising my God with it. Well, God knew my sadness and as it turns out the bass player at my new church here in Spain is moving to Madrid for work thus leaving an opening!!! It doesn't stop there! My friend from the church was announcing this need and she pointed out that she had seen a picture of me playing bass and to talk to her after church, so I did and starting next week I start helping out for the saturday services and on friday nights I start practicing with them for sunday mornings!!! Now, tell me God isn't amazing!!!! I cannot say it enough.
<3<3<3
Aside from that, this week has been much better. I was finally able to get my classes worked out and while the times are not the best, I am thankful they are all classes I need and I don't have to work so I am NOT complaining. I know I am going to work harder now considering I purposely switched out of the guaranteed A class. Oh well:)

On saturday I went on an excursion to Ronda and it was interesting. See, this is one of the things I absolutely love about Spain; there is so much history in every city and so many things are preserved in their original place rather than museums. In this place, there is the 2nd oldest bull fighting colosseum in Spain!!! Also, there is a bridge over a rather high cliff. As it turns out during the Spanish Civil war people who were(or seemed to be) fascist sympathizers were tossed off the cliff. Sad days. But visiting was nice and I actually have pictures!!! WOOOOO!!! So look at the pix and I will conclude with my lessons learned:)

this is where they used to dump people off during the spanish civil war!

long fall if you get tossed...

a rather lovely view 

my columbian sister

oh yeah!

plaza de toros

second oldest in Spain!!!

a lovely vet

La chela y el Daniel

Chela and her "papi" Jordan

Mari-carmen the best tour guide ever, aka my lit prof.

This is where they keep the bulls

Daniel being Daniel... and Maricarmen being... ya

I look at this picture and I instantly hear her laugh in my head...

drinking fountain

Natalie<3

BUTT

LOOOOOOOOK!!!!

They told me my placard would soon be replacing this lady's

As Promised...

Things I have learned

101. European kids have a greater sense of style... or at least their parents do

102. Middle names are a second chance for people with ridiculously stupid first names

103. In Spain you can change your name legally at age 16 without a problem

104. People's cell phones only seem to work when they need something from you in any country

105. Clothes dryers really aren't necessary if you do your laundry with time

106. Some friends make it really easy to not have enemies

107. Life is full of open doors, closed doors, and opening doors... so, be on your guard to not get hit in the face, in the bum, and most importantly, to not ram into the closed.

108. We all hate being left out, but we quickly forget the feeling and do the same thing with the same story... sad days

109. Tomatoes are better in Espain

110. Kittens are nice, until they claw you leg

111. Jalapeños and avocado can make almost anything taste mexican, thus making it taste better

112. Dogs are a trillion times better than cats

113. A great way to save yourself in a game of mafia where someone is using your change in breathing pattern as a way to accuse you of being the killer is to shout out, "I'm an asthmatic you jerk!" almost always they will shrivel into a ball and apologize non-stop for the next half hour:)... PS I was the killer muahaha... PPS They killed me anyway so i died

114. my blood is Salvadoran, but my stomach is mexican... 

115. I have the best family in the world