learning...

So I've been doing this "reading through the Bible in a year" thing. It's been a very long time since I've read through the whole thing, so I decided it was about time to do it again. This morning I just finished up with Psalms. A book that has so many good nuggets in it and one that is read and quoted very often. But out of the whole entire book with 150 chapters, one little verse really struck me.

"You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." Psalm 16:2.

I always want things. More of what I have, things that others have that I don't, better things, cooler things, money, people (most specifically people of the male persuasion...). Two things I constantly struggle with (and always have) are pride and discontentment. I am in need of no thing. I have everything and everyone I could possible want or need. But I still want more and think I deserve more and think people will like me (which I value way too much) if I have more. So this verse really spoke to me when I read it.

I have been blessed with so much. So much. But I'm still not happy and still think I need more? Like if I have more money or cooler clothes or a boyfriend or a new car...I will be happier? Things will never make me happy. People will always let me down. There is no good thing apart from God. Other things will always disappoint you or just make you want more. I have the one thing that matters, so anything else is just a cherry on top.

I am a planner and a dreamer. I like to plan things out, whether it’s my hour or my day or my life. And I like to dream about a perfect future. I’m pretty much constantly daydreaming. And I think that’s okay - I can dream about things. I can want things. But only as long as I know that no one thing or person will make me happy and truly content. I have God. He is the only thing that will never let me down. As long as I have a relationship with Him, I need nothing. And nothing will top that. There is no thing or no one that is better than God. As long as I remind myself that apart from God, I have no good thing, I will be fine and will (hopefully) learn to be content!

Anyway, just something I've been trying to take to heart! A little inspiration for the day :)

To-Do:

Because I love lists so much, I decided to make a list of things I need to do before I leave for Spain. So here goes:

• figure out a place to stay in Madrid. I am flying into Madrid since it is much cheaper than flying into Sevilla (plus you have to stop in Madrid anyway to change planes before you get to Sevilla-might as well stay and play for a few days!). I am flying in a few days early, so will have some time to explore Madrid before I take the train to Sevilla. I was thinking of using CouchSurfing to find a free place to stay. But I'm not sure that I want to be that brave first thing when I arrive in a new country :) I could stay in a hostel, but will probably end up finding a cheap hotel that has a free shuttle from the airport, as that is an invaluable thing when you are jet-lagged and exhausted and just getting to a new country. I like not having to worry too much about the transportation first thing!
• get some Euros to take with me, just in case I need some cash right off the bat (for example, if aforementioned airport shuttle doesn't work out how I expect it to). Fortunately for me (and unfortunate for the whole of the European Union), the exchange rate is in my favor right now. Hopefully it will stay that way.
• figure out if I want to get a Eurail pass or just wing it. Last time I went to Europe for an extended period (2 months in Italy), I got a pass. It's nice to not have to worry about buying tickets. But I don't think it's worth the cost. Just need to do a little more research...
• email my adviser to get a list of alternate classes that I can take. I know the classes I requested will directly transfer to required PSU classes. But just in case I can't get into those, I need to know what other classes will also transfer. Don't want to take a class only to find out later that it will do nothing for my degree!
• figure out what bank to use. My normal bank, Bank of America, charges exorbitant fees for using their debit cards overseas. If I was traveling to one of like 5 countries it would be free, but I'm not going to one of those countries. If I want to pay $5 + every time I want to get cash from an ATM then they will be fine. But I also have an Umpqua account, which I used last time I went to Europe since they only charged $1.50 per ATM withdrawal. I need to find out if that is still the same or if there's another bank that will not charge at all! My Capital One credit card is what I use whenever I travel because they are the only credit card company that I've found that doesn't charge the standard 3% fee on every single foreign transaction. In fact, they charge nothing at all. That, I like. Free is my cost of choice.
• figure out what to pack! (I see another list in my future...). I'm really terrible at packing light. I mean really terrible. But since I'm not flying directly to my destination and want to do as much traveling while I'm there, AND because I think checked bag fees are RIDICULOUS (hear that, US Airways? I said you're ridiculous.), I am hoping I can squeeze everything into one big suitcase (I can check one bag for free-anything else is $50. Each way.). I think I can do it....but I also want to be able to shop while I'm there and bring lots of stuff back. So I will have to have plenty of room in my one bag....not sure if that is possible.
• figure out a little gift to bring to my host family. Something Oregon-y. And that won't take up too much room in my suitcase.
• email the CIEE lady about said host family. I don't know what the situation will be, but would like to know if I'm living in the dorms, or with a family, or with a little señora like I requested.
• win the lottery. This is pretty much necessary at this point...
• get an iPod shuffle. Much easier to carry around than my big old regular one. Plus if it gets stolen or lost or broken while I'm there, I won't cry. As much. Thanks to my Chase credit card, I should have enough "points" to almost pay for the whole thing because of how many points I got from putting my plane ticket on that card. They have this great thing where if you shop through their website, you get extra points. So basically I got 3 points per dollar on that plane ticket instead of just 1! Just have to wait for them to post, then order a gift card, then get the iPod!
• figure out what I want to do regarding my phone. I could just use my phone while I'm there, which is the easiest way to do things. But then I have to decide if I just want to pay-per-use or sign up for an international plan for unlimited use...OR I can get a phone while I'm there to use...not sure which is cheapest. More research to be done.
• pay the tuition. See above: "win the lottery."
  
• get a guide book about Sevilla. I love bookstores. I love books. I love travel books. This should be fun shopping trip!
• become fluent in Spanish. Oh...that may not happen... ¿Quién quiere hablar conmigo en español? Necesito practicar mucho. Ay.....
  

Well, that is quite a list. And doesn't even include everything! Guess I better get started.


On a side note, I should definitely NOT be allowed to shop alone. Ever again. I foolishly decided to go do a little shopping this weekend. Too much money later, I bought a LOT. Then I got home and bought more online. I haven't really been shopping much since I quit my "real" job and moved up here. Just have bought a few things here and there. But I got started this weekend and just couldn't stop. I don't make enough money to shop like this anymore...but no one was there to stop me....so now I have to figure out what I absolutely love and am going to keep, and what I must return. Whoops! :)

Greetings, ciao and hola!

I can't believe my trip to Spain is only a little over two months away! It's crazy to think that a year ago, I was living with my parents and working full-time at a job that really made me miserable, with little to no social life to speak of. I am loving my life right now! Its such a change from what it was, but a great change. I am actually enjoying my classes, love my little part-time job, have met some awesome people and am just having fun! And on top of that all, I get to go spend four months in SPAIN! I still have a lot to do before the trip, and am praying endlessly that I get some sort of scholarship to help pay for the program in Spain. But I am so excited! No, life is not perfect. But it's much closer to perfection right now than it has been in a long time :)