vatican postal

loading pictures is super slooooooow tonight. 

so i'll stick with these two, sending love back to the states from the Vatican Postal Service!! if you're lucky maybe you'll get a post card coming your way ;) 

today was amazing, and a huge day. like all the days so far. 

(including hiking 551 steps up to the top of the dome of st. peter's basilica!)

Hopefully I can get caught up with pictures on a quicker wifi-night later this week. :)

italy is amazing! i am so grateful for this experience. 

Assisi

Wow. There are truly no words or pictures to do Assisi justice.

Assisi was amazing, and definitely the most beautiful place I have visited so far!

We woke up early Monday morning and literally sprinted from our hotel to the metro to the train station to catch our early two hour train ride out to the country.

Assisi is typically what I imagined when I would picture what I thought "ideal beautiful italy" would look like. Vineyards and olive tree orchards leading up to these gorgeous hills with beautiful old buildings and houses covering them. It was seriously so beautiful and I could have stayed there for a week and still have something new to take a picture of every day!

I loved Assisi!!

While we were there we studied and went inside St. Francis Basilica, and St. Clair Basilica. 

PS i've learned to always share a pizza because their single servings of pizza… is literally the entire pizza. holy cow! but ohhh so yummy. America definitely doesn't know how to do pizza.

I can't believe i've been here a week already! It's going too fast and i've seen way more than I ever thought I would be able to. Love it!

happy mothers day, from rome

happy mothers day to all those beautiful and amazing moms out there… but especially to mine!

She would love it here in rome just as much as I do and i sure miss her and wish she was here to gawk at every cute building and quaint cobblestone streets, and beautiful greenery that is EVERY where i look with me. 

I MISS YOU MOM!

but I love you and I thank you for all the support you've given me. love you the most!!

>today we were able to attend an LDS ward, and then take a little walk after church, and explore the city a little bit. It was nice to slow down today and truly take in so much of the beauty that is this city! 

ps did i mention i love mothers day? ^^

Skype dates in rome don't get much better than this! 

oh, and also i'll not only get to see but touch that cute face in 4 weeks!!

we leave to assisi briiiiight and early tomorrow, xoxo wish me luck with sleeping tonight!

roma, italia

i'm in love with this city.

i wish i could show you more of what i've seen but here is a little glimpse into the past few days i've spent in roma, italia!

we have visited the colosseum, the vatican & St Peters Basilica, Arch of Trajun & Constantine, the Trevi fountain, and we have so much more to learn about!

I can't believe i'm only on day 3, what more could there possibly be to see and experience! 

Rome is gorgeous, it is a lot more green than I expected and I looooooove it. 

My favorite part about the city is how ancient rome and modern rome are one in the same. The new city is just built right around and on top of the ancient city. Ancient rome is around every corner you turn and it is gorgeous and i'm in love. Ah! so dang amazing.

peace out america

PEACE OUT AMERICA

i'm headed to italy & i'll see you in one month!

i'm planning on having wifi so expect to be updated on my little online journal here of most likely way too many pictures and stories :) 

excitement is an understatement for how i'm feeling.

thank you thank you thank you to everyone who helped me get here…

support has been OFF THE WALL.

and i am feeling very humbled.

and trust me it means way more than you know!

Love you all & wish me luck!! :)

ps give my mamma lots of hugs and kisses for me cause i miss her already.

& don't forget to wish my dad happy birthday because the world is definitely a better place because of him!!

my dad

of course i would leave to italy the day before my FAVORITE man's birthday.

i love my daddy sooooo much, and honestly who couldn't.
He is so caring, and sincere!! He wants people happy, and he'll do whatever it takes to make sure they are. i've definitely been blessed with his comforting and strong guidance in my life. i know without a doubt that he wants the best for me, he always has been and always will be there for me, i'm one lucky girl. oh i look up to him so much and love him with all my heart! and i'm going to miss his big strong hugs almost too much to handle. wish him a happy one!!
May 7th happened 44 years ago and now the world is definitely a better place.

I love you daddy!!!!!!!

mexican candy picnic

remember all that sweet (and spicy) candy i got in the mail?
well, we decided we'd actually maybe try some of it… and hey! it wasn't all too bad.

you-tube link

ps i know, i know my stupid hanger-string is hanging out of my shirt the whole time. >:(

hope you had the best sunday ever.
i'm feeling extremely full of gratitude and a bit of nervous butterflies because i leave for italy in ONE DAY. tuesday morning is coming quick!
i hope i'm ready, (i mean i think i am, but ya know lets hope i am)
and wish me luck!