Honeymoon Planning

I've always wanted to travel the world with my husband. While being here in Germany and surrounding countries, I've found some of the places I'm visiting on our honeymoon: 

Strasbourg, France- the river, the shops, and we're staying in an old hotel by the cathedral 

Schwarzwald in Trieberg- go to the waterfall to find my name that I carved in the bridge and to shop in the Flohmarkt along the main street. We'll find old things and decorate our newly wed house with our treasures. 

Luxembourg- the old towns in the lower city. An old flat, pretty trimming, and beautiful windows; you and I.

Austria- everywhere. Zell am See particularly and the old town that surrounds it. Perhaps the Grand Hotel. We'll have a marriage ceremony on top of Grossglockner in the green hills. Me in a white dress and a top hat. He's wearing a gray suit, perhaps khaki, white daisies in hand and on the lapel. 

Rüdesheim- dancing. At night, lights twinkling, on Drosselgasse street in a cafe filled with old couples: we'll mix in because we'll both have old souls. We'll take the cable car up the vineyard hills and go on the Romantic boat tour along the Rhein river. We'll sip lemon water while everyone else sips wine. 

My aunt told me about a couple that got married in every new place they visited- that ended up being about 100 different times. After getting married in the temple, I would like to get married civilly in as many places as possible. What cooler way to make places even more special for you and your hubby?

Marry me. 

Chloe

xx

Realizing Austria

The final two of my very best friends have gone into the mission field. 

It was a bit of a different feeling than the first time two weeks ago. Maybe it was because I didn't get a final Skype goodbye, or maybe it was the sweet "I love you" I got. We said it all the time, but for some reason, this time, the personalized message, made it so different. For the first time, I didn't want my missionaries to leave. I wanted to be selfish and ask them to stay; to give me one final hug. 

As I was hiking Schmittenhöhe, a peak in Austria, I was over looking the view and thinking how much my heart has grown for the people I know. Like the Grinch, it was as if I could feel my heart growing in size. It could have been the lack of seeing these people, but I felt so.. Personally attached. I felt loved, and I felt missed, and I felt thought- of. 

Because I know that I, little simple, plain, Chloe, am loved by these people. 

It's an amazing feeling to love a person, to say that you love them, and to know that they know. That it isn't taken in a way that would be mistaken as "in love". I am extremely fortunate to have 4 people I would give my life for in one second. And that they would do the same. 

They make this small knot in time, this time on earth, worth every trial, heartache, and confusion. They make the eternities more beautiful because they'll be in it and I was fortunate to know them before then. 

I'm surrounded by beauty here, and it's special I got to leave something so important to me here while I go. So many moments, so many feelings. I can't wait to come back and experience it all again, in a different way. Hopefully with the man I love. 

... I've only thought of "doors" here in Austria. 

Chloe 

xx

Here's to you, my two final (almost. I've got a special missionary to send off in two weeks now) missionaries. Until we meet again.