the day the angels sang.

Today a woman that I deeply love and admire slipped away from this earth and went home to be with her Father. My Nana will forever be one of the greatest roles models in my life and I am so thankful for the 25 years of memories together that now flood my mind. Cancer may have taken her body, but I know without a doubt that her soul now rest with Jesus.

Nana taught me so many invaluable lessons about life and love that I will remember forever. I have never known another woman so devoted to Christ or more determined to teach her children and grandchildren about the importance of living whole-heartedly for Him. Perhaps her greatest legacy will be the example that she set for us all. Not a single visit passed that she didn't ask me about my faith or encourage me with scripture. I have felt her prayers and love for me since the moment I was old enough to understand. I can only hope to one day have the faith the she lived and breathed every day of her life. In addition, she was one of the most selfless people I have ever known. When a person was in need, she was there to help. She made people feel like the most important person in the room at any given time. She deeply understood Jesus' command to "love one another." Not only did she care about those she didn't know, but the love she shared with my grandfather transcends anything that is of this world. Their marriage, which has always been centered on Christ, serves as an example that I hope to one day be lucky enough to follow.

I already miss so many things about her. The way she sang and danced to silly hymns to make us laugh, the shopping trips we took together every summer, the thousands of collections and knick-knacks that filled her home, the smell of her silver Cadillac, her closet full of clothes and shoes, "putting on our faces" together in her bathroom, the Christmas packages I received while living far away- one present to open each day of December until Christmas, the dozens of dresses that she made my sister and I when we were just little girls, the smell of her perfume, the way she proudly introduced me to her friends at church, the way I could talk to her so openly about about boys and relationships and anything else that was on my mind, the marked-up Bible sitting next to her chair that she read in full so many times, the way we gathered around her at Christmas as she read the story of Jesus' birth, the excitement and care in her voice every time I called, the way that she loved my grandpa. I miss her so much it hurts. However, I find comfort in knowing that she is in a place where there is no suffering. I have full confidence that today she is praising Jesus in heaven. I cry now only because I miss her, but rejoice because she has returned Home.

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him." -Psalm 62:5

paradise found.

There aren’t enough adjectives to adequately describe the beauty of Boracay Island. This laid-back stretch of beach felt like a piece of heaven, especially in comparison to the rest of our travels. We came with the intention of staying only 7 days and then traveling to other islands throughout the Philippines, but soon found it impossible to leave. So for the next 2 weeks we spent nearly every afternoon laying on white sand beaches, drinking mango smoothies in the sun, exploring the island on the back of a moped, sailing and snorkeling, and meeting other travelers from around the world. My time in the Philippines was more fun than I ever anticipated and I am so thankful to have seen this part of the world.


sunset. my favorite time of the day.


grant, nicole and i enjoying an italian dinner on the beach.


boracay's white sand beach.

Journal entry from Boracay:
“I HAVE LANDED IN PARADISE.” Boracay Island must be one of the most beautiful places on earth. After traveling through India for a few weeks it became hard to imagine that a place so laid-back and beautiful actually does exist. This morning I woke up in our quiet little hotel room surrounded by flowers and trees and went for a long walk along the beach. I had every intention of listening to music while soaking up the morning sun, but the sound of the ocean crashing along the shore was too beautiful to drown out. I love it here. This island really is one of the most serene and picturesque places I have ever traveled. Right now I am sitting at a beach side café drinking an iced latte and watching tourist pass by. From where I sit I can see palm trees stretching into the bright blue sky and clear turquoise water in the near distance. My only plan for the afternoon is to tan by the beach and drink a smoothie, and tonight I hope to go out and meet some other travelers. The living is easy. Life is good. I wish my family and friends could see this paradise with their own eyes because photos will never do it justice.


main street.


one of many amazing sand castles built along the water's edge.


this is what $22 a night will get you in the philippines.


another photo of the beautiful beach.


the view from my favorite massage parlor. $6 an hour for a full-body massage.


nicole and grant parasailing! i was too scared to go, so i became the official picture taker.

Next stop: Beijing, China...my new home!

three days in manila.

When we started traveling in January I never imagined that we would end up in the Philippines. But after enduring the food poisoning and filth of India, and then escaping through Southeast Asia, it seemed like the only logical place to spend the remainder of our vacation. It was definitely a good decision. I have been to beaches around the world but have never found islands as beautiful as those in the Philippines.

After spending 3 days in sunny Singapore we caught a flight to Manila and spent a few days touring Intramuros and the area along the bay, indulging in $7 massages, window shopping in some of the city’s most fashionable malls, and preparing for our next destination. Manila was an interesting place to explore but all of us were more than ready to relax on Boracay Island’s white sand beaches. So a few days later we boarded a 60-passenger airplane (one of the scariest rides of my life) and landed in paradise.

Photos from Manila:


intramuros. the old, walled section of the city.


view of manila bay.


the smallest plane i never hope to ride again. nicole actually screamed when the plane hit the ground upon landing.

Next stop: Boracay Island.

singapore!

It took a 45-hour train ride, 2 nights in Bangalore, and an overnight flight to Southeast Asia to escape India, but we have arrived in Singapore!

The sky is blue. The sun is shinning. Flowers and trees line the sidewalks. Arriving in Singapore was such a shock after having spent the last 3 weeks in India. There are no beggars on the streets, no dirty cows, no urine-stained sidewalks, no women dressed in sarees, and no pollution hovering over the city. Everything here is so clean and beautiful. I spent most of the afternoon today walking along Orchard Street past professional looking people and high-end retail stores such as Versace, Gucci, and Chanel. It's hard to believe that such drastically different countries even exist on the same planet. I am thankful to have traveled through parts of India and never want to forget the things I have seen, but I'm so happy to now be in Singapore. I love hearing the many languages spoken as I pass people on the subway. I love feeling the light breeze that cools the air. I love the sunshine. It's hard to really wrap my mind around my location in the world now. A few years ago I never imagined that I would have traveled so much of Asia or become so content on this side of the world. I am thankful for where life has taken me.

A few photos from Singapore:

sleepy sam's hostel near arab street where we stayed for 3 nights.


the mosque just meters away from our hostel.


chinatown!


the famous raffles hotel where we splurged for a $20 cocktail.


downtown singapore at sunset.

Next stop: The Philippines.

the escape.

After moving from one city to another and always hoping for something better in the next, we finally gave up on India. I thought I was prepared for the cows and poverty and massive amounts of people after having lived in China and traveled through much of Southeast Asia, but nothing compares. We are tired of fighting against India and are ready for a more relaxing vacation. Perhaps I will return one day to backpack the south, but now it's on to Singapore! I couldn't be more excited.

death and reincarnation in varanasi.

I don't think that anything could have adequately prepared me for Varanasi. Before arriving in the city I knew a little bit about the Hindu belief in the cleansing power of the Ganges River, but I never gave serious thought to the rituals performed there. During our second afternoon in the city we went for a long stroll along the river hoping to gain a greater understanding of the religion. It is believed that the Ganges River has the ability to wipe away sin and because of this we saw many men, women, and children bathing in the dark, filthy water. It is also believed that any Hindu that dies in Varanasi will escape the cycle of reincarnation. Therefore, many people come to the city to die. All along the river bank we saw men carrying the dead on bamboo stretchers into the sacred Ganges to wash them of their sins before being cremated on nearby fires. I have never seen so much death. It was an interesting and hard experience, to say the least. I will never forget the images of that day.

Journal entry from Varanasi:

“I am floating along the Ganges River now. We just passed a large cremation sight where hundreds of men are busily gathering wood to burn those who have recently died in Varanasi. All of the corpses are carefully wrapped in orange silk, placed on a bamboo stretcher, and carried to the river’s edge to be splashed with water, and therefore cleansed of all sin, before being cremated. Death is everywhere. In a matter of hours I have seen dozens of dead bodies waiting to be burned. Smoke fills the air as bodies leave this world and escape reincarnation, as the Hindus believe. A few minutes ago we stopped in front of a deceased man awaiting his cremation. We witnessed his young daughter turn the corner and see her father for the last time. First she screamed and then a steady wailing filled the air. I felt like I was invading on a private and sacred moment- I had to turn my head away. Here in Varanasi death is a part of everyday life. People bathe in the Ganges River to rid themselves of sin and hope to die here to escape the cycle of reincarnation. It seems like such a silly ritual to me, but we all have our beliefs. My heart is aching now for the girl who lost her father today. I can’t imagine the sense of fear and sadness that she must feel now. I don’t ever want to become so numb to the pain and suffering of others that I see their hurt and feel nothing. Death is everywhere in Varanasi.”


boat ride down the ganges river.


bathing in the holy water.


boats along the river.


one of the cremation sights at the ganges river.

Next stop: Bangalore.

i no longer like india.

The moment it all changed.

Journal entry following a 15-hour train ride in India:

"Last night I felt so gross that I actually blew my nose into a bed sheet before covering up with it to sleep. My head is congested and achy, my nose wont stop running, and my stomach is turning at the thought of eating any more curry. It’s official- I no longer like India. We took a 2nd class sleeper from Agra to Varanasi and arrived the following afternoon completely tired and dirty. I thought I could handle nearly anything after taking so many 4th class train rides in China, but nothing prepared me for India. The train station in Agra was dark and crowded. The platforms were covered in a thick layer of dirt and garbage. Men wearing white turbans pushed and shoved to be the first on the train when it arrived while guards carrying rifles patrolled the area. And it only got worse once on board. Because we are traveling with so much luggage it was a struggle to find a place for everything. People were moving up and down the train car as we shoved our 50 pound bags under the seats. I’m not sure I can ever endure another train ride in India after this terrible experience. I have tried so hard to remain positive during the last week but this country is slowly killing me. The pollution is making it nearly impossible to breathe and it feels like I now have dirt permanently embedded on the bottoms of my feet. This really isn’t what I had in mind when coming to India. I wish that I could write home and share wonderful stories about the country but right now I feel nothing…except the need to escape.”