Love you girls!

Katie, Kristal and Jen - thank you sooooo much for my fun gift package! I love the banner with the pictures that remind me of good times with you all and how special our friendships are. If there is anything I have learned this past year, it is that I have much to be thankful for, and you girls are at the top of the list! I am going to miss sharing these next couple of days with you fellow birthday girls and friends, and I wish Kristal & Jen the most wonderful of birthdays too! Know I am thinking of you and will toast to seeing you again in September! :) Here's to another great year of adventure and blessings.

Mom and Gary Come to Cambridge

After a lovely weekend in the Cotswolds, Mom & Gary finished their trip to England with 3 relaxing days in Cambridge. Here are some highlights:

• Formal Hall at Corpus Christi College hosted by my friend Hanan (don't we look very Harry Potter?)
• Punting on the River Cam to see the 'backs' of the oldest colleges, including Queen's, King's, St John's, Trinity, and Magdalene (where CS Lewis taught).
• The University Botanic Gardens where all the trees and shrubs from around the world are labeled for our education! :)
• The choir service at King College Chapel where the most talented male singers from all over England are trained - beautiful atmosphere, amazing sounds!
  
• Pub dinner at the Anchor, where the band Pink Floyd started. (They were Cambridge townies as opposed to Gownies, the University students and members who were the gowns you see above.)
• Getting to spend two afternoons with mom, punting down the river, having tea at Aunties, going to gardens and the Fitzwilliam, and just relaxing in lovely Cambridge. :)
  

Family Time in Paris and London

I honestly did not expect to have visitors this year due to credit crunch, so it has been a joy to have two different visits in the past month. First, my brother, Dad and grandma Thompson met me in Paris at the end of my Easter break trek. It was great to see Grandma and Dad experience Europe for the first time. I believe the highlight was when we had a beautiful day out in Versaille. The gardens are truly amazing!

My Mom and step-dad Gary arrived early this week in London, where were joined at times by Anna who graciously led us to some great spots. On Wed. we did a 'historic pub tour' in the old city of London, beginning at a pub that wasy built in 1546! We walked over the River Thames to the Shakespeare Globe for a final pub dinner. We then strolled along the river on a strangley warm and clear night, under the London Eye, and crossing the bridge towards Big Ben when it stuck 9pm! (Check out the beautiful twilight on the Thames.) I look forward to Mom and Gary returning from their 'Best of Britian' tour they began today, when we will have a weekend in the Cotswolds before coming back to Cambridge. Funny, all this traveling has made coming home quite nice. :) I look forward to a lovely summer in Cambridge. I do miss people from home dearly as the weather gets warmer. The plan is to come back and work in SLO again starting in October, so my Europe experience will be over in a few short months. Praise Jesus for this time!