Happy, Free, Confused, and Lonely in the Best Way.

If I were to sum up this whole week into one word it would be crazy.  There were times when I was super happy, then there were times when I was super sad.  I know what you're thinking.  You're thinking, "How in the world could you be sad when you are in London?  In London!"  To be quite honest, I think I know why people feel so lonely in big cities.  Unless you're Taylor Swift and have a bajillion best friends, big cities are daunting places.  They are full of strangers who have their own lives, and for the most part, take no interest into your own life.  That reason alone makes me especially grateful for my ever deepening relationship with God.  These past weeks I feel as if I've been tested in so many ways, I've been shown true love by my family and friends, and I know who I am through God.  Being in London alone has especially shown me that God is faithful no matter where you are or who you're with.

Now, back to what I actually did this past week.  I took a nice little (or not so little) stroll through Hyde Park.  There is just something about London's parks that I just adore.  From the little kids feeding the birds to the quiet streaming rivers, I have found a happy place in these parks.  Not to mention the sunsets are gorgeous!  

This week I saw Cara Delevingne.  That's right, Cara Delevingne.  She is the new face for Yves Saint Laurent so she did a promotion in Selfridges (a local department store).  The store happened to be a couple blocks away from my flat, so I got to see her!  First celebrity sighting in London was a success.  Oh and half of my face is in a selfie with her.  I know I'm dumb.

On Thursday night I went to mass at Westminster Abbey.  Part of me went to church to see the service, the other part went because if you went to church you didn't have to pay the admission fee.  I'm so happy I went though.  It was the 750th anniversary of Parliament, so both houses were there!  The choir was amazing, the church was beautiful, and I snuck a photo.  Shh... don't tell anyone.  

On Friday, I had a me day.  I explored all of the little stores I always pass, but never actually go into.  I drank a delicious latte, ate the best brownie I've ever had, and tried on dresses way to expensive for me to actually buy.  It was great.  Oh and I wore actual tennis shoes.  I'm including the mirror picture to prove to my parents that I indeed wore tennis shoes out and about.  And you know what?  They were so comfy.

On Saturday, I visited the Buckingham Palace and the Portobello Road Market.  At the palace, I saw the change of the guards!  Even though it was cold outside, I loved it.  After, I went to the market.  The market was in Notting Hill, and it just so happens to be the cutest place in London.  The streets are filled with pastel buildings, posh shops, and quaint restaurants.  I went to a restaurant called Bumpkin, and I fell in love.  It is filled with plants, delicious food, and happiness.  I ordered a latte and fish with chips.  So good.  So so good.  I then proceeded to eat a mini blackberry cake from a bakery named Ottolenghi.  One lie that I had been told before I left for London was that the food was gross.  Time and time again, that lie has been proven wrong, just so everyone is aware.  From the food to the beautiful streets, this was just a lovely day.

One thing I've learned over the past three weeks is that it's okay to be lost.  It's okay to be confused, and it's okay to be on a track you didn't have planned.  I've gotten lost plenty of times in the city, but I ended up finding myself in a really neat place.  The same goes for life.  I find a new part of myself every time I get lost, and I love it.  Until next time.

Janae