1. we're in america. I'm writing this from my grandma's house in Texas. Our loooong, but uneventful, ten hour and twenty minute flight got in yesterday around 2:45pm...you don't know how glad I was to get out of that beast! Today we'll be driving back home, where my dad and Sarge await :)
It doesn't seem like just yesterday we were in Germany. One week ago today, at this moment, my mom and I had just arrived in Paris. Wow.

2. no joke. I seriously brought back eight bars of Milka chocolate from Germany. Wait, maybe more. It's so much I've lost count ;) But at seventy nine Euro cents per (they cost anywhere from three to five dollars here!), I couldn't resist. What's your favorite kind of chocolate?



3. oh yeah. We saw the Mona Lisa while we were in Paris - I can't believe I forgot to mention it! It was pretty incredible. Thankfully we were able to see her before most of the crowds came...when we went there were only about thirty people, but one hour later there were over two hundred. Wow.
Speaking of Paris, there was a bicycle rally while we were there. There were two people riding a bicycle where the seat was as tall as a normal person. Take a look...



I was scared he was going to fall off ;)
4. flickr. I'm a leeeettle obsessed. Let me know if you have one too! I'd love to see your photos :)

5. gosh i miss them. I know, I know, I've gone over this before. But I really miss my German family. A lot. I wish Germany didn't seem so far away. I wish it felt more real. It's so hard to believe that we were with them yesterday.



6. ha. I don't know what it is, but this photo cracks me up. Goats. You gotta love 'em.

7. okay, i'm curious. What's your favorite kind of ice cream? I love chocolate. Like, love love love love it. But I kinda want to "branch out" and try something else. Suggestions? :)

-carlotta

It seems like only yesterday that I wrote my "This Is It" post...over a month ago (man, time flies!). At time time I wrote it, I was extremely excited about our upcoming to Germany.

That trip is now over. While you're reading this, I'll be flying high over the clouds, traveling back to the plains of Oklahoma. Like I mentioned yesterday, I'm glad to be going back to my dad, our dog, Sarge, and all my friends.

But there's still a part of me that wants to stay in Germany forever.



My heart breaks when I think of leaving my German family. I hate always having to say goodbye to them, knowing it'll be at least a year before I see them again. Those of you that have your grandparents and all your immediate family close by - I envy you. Greatly. You're very blessed to have that gift :)

My family and I made so many wonderful memories this trip. Jeremiah, MeMe, and my dad got to see my older sisters. My mom and I were able to go to Paris. Our whole family was able to spend lots of time with my grandparents and other family members. My grandparents celebrated their fiftieth anniversary. And that doesn't even cover everything.

I have an incredible amount to be thankful for. I'm so blessed.



-carlotta

(This is the last post from Germany for at least a year. Sob.)

Today is our last day in Germany. Sigh. I'm ready to go back, as my dad is already home, but if it weren't for him, I'd definitely want to stay here much, much longer.
The school load is going to drastically increase, as well as the responsibility, I won't get to see my grandparents everyday, I'll miss the kittens that were born on my aunt's farm a few weeks ago, among many other things. Then again, I know that it will feel good to be home again, but while we're still in Germany...I don't want to go.

But enough wallowing in self pity. I'm going to cheer myself up with some happy thoughts :)

Participating is easy. Just write a post with two things that have made you happy this week (including the button below in your post) then come back here and link up! So simple.

<div align="center"><a href="http://pastors-girl.blogspot.com"><img alt="Happiness Is..." src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1064/4732886685_1331802b43_m.jpg" /></a></div>

Oh, and thank you to everyone who voted on the poll (which is now closed) regarding which direction Happiness Is should take! I've put up another poll asking whether you want to leave Happiness Is on Wednesday or move it to a different day. I'm going to reveal the changes I've planned next week :)

Happiness is...

...Paris. You knew this was coming, didn't you? But Paris is definitely happiness. Which I'm sure you already know from reading my posts on it the past few days ;)

...kittens. I think they're one of the sweetest things on earth. These kittens were born on my aunt's farm about three weeks ago. They're seriously adorable. I so wish I could take one home with me...

Your turn!

-carlotta

(Aspire photo challenge entry farther below)

I'm still looking at all the photos I've taken in awe. It has yet to sink in that I was really in Paris. Paris! It was so incredible.



Everything was amazingly beautiful. I adore French architecture...so graceful and timeless.



There was live music on pretty much every corner. It really gave such a light, happy feel to the atmosphere around me. Speaking of corners...there were seriously about ten bakeries on every block. Delicious bakeries. I mentioned a few weeks ago that "no one can make croissants like the Germans do"...well, I'm happily eating my words (no pun intended). The French steal that place away from the Germans. My goodness, I could live in Paris for the bakeries alone.



Sacre Coeur was gorgeous. And the view from its location was absolutely breathtaking. The whole city laid sparkling at our feet. I mean, really. It's hard to believe that things that magnificent exist.



This was the view from our hotel room. We had a fairly large balcony on the fifth floor...it was so pretty. This was taken on Sunday morning...the sun had finally decided to shine :)

(Gosh, am I starting to sound like a broken record? So pretty, so beautiful, gorgeous, stunning...well, there are only a certain extent of adjectives ;))



When we were walking back to our hotel one night, I stopped in the middle of crossing the Seine to get this shot. After a cloudy day, the sun peaked out, promising good weather the next day.



One thing I really loved about Paris was all the side streets. They were filled with bakeries, shops, restaurants...so quaint and lovely.



When we finally made it to the Eiffel Tower, I probably took fifty pictures within the first ten minutes we were there. It was amazing to finally be there. To many, myself included, the Eiffel Tower is more than just a structure. It pretty much sums up everything that Paris is. And to finally see it was incredible.



(linking up the above photo to Hannah's "joy" photo challenge...joy was exactly what I felt when I saw the Eiffel Tower)

-carlotta