A week down south

I have a friend, Lorena, who I met years and years ago at a performance of Legally Blonde at the Fox. She’s from Toulouse, and when I spent some time in Italy a couple years ago, she invited me to come visit her. Unfortunately, it was a bit tricky, so I waited until this year. Our school vacations worked out perfectly, and what a wonderful visit to the south of France!

Capitole

Though the weather wasn’t exactly any better than Paris (I believe I picked a bad week, because it’s normally significantly warmer in the south), but the company was good and I really enjoyed experiencing a city that was much smaller than Paris, much more “human sized,” as my friend Lorena called it, and much more personal.

I was so happy to be able to meet Lorena’s family and friends and spend the week with them. It’s amazing to me how we were brought back together to spend a week exploring her city and spending time with good people. Four years ago, I would have never guessed that we would have been reunited in Toulouse, catching up on years worth of life stories and making memories for years to come.

St. Sernin

And it makes me realize—I have made friends here that live across the world (literally) from me, who I love dearly and enjoy spending time with. I have no idea when I will see them again after I leave here, and though I expect to see them again eventually, no one knows what the future holds.

My favorite church in Toulouse by far—Jacobins

When I think about how I will be leaving Paris in a month and a half, tears surely rolling down my cheeks, a chapter in my life will have ended, but so many new doors will have already be opened. New friends all around the world in addition to new opportunities at home and even back here in Europe. I’m not sure anymore of my exact plan after graduation, but I know that God has something good up his sleeve.

Whether it be grad school, traveling, teaching, or working, I know God will put me where He wants me to be. And as the change comes, I trust more and more in Him so that I am confident in the fact that His change is what’s best for me.

St. Aubin

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. —Jeremiah 29:11