Savoring every last second

We've been packed for days--a total first for us! We are just aching to get back to see friends and family. I've been blasting the Christmas music and both David and I are looking forward to being with our families for the holidays.

The last few days we have been trying to squeeze in some good meals and really savor this place just a little longer. Being packed early has really allowed for us to take advantage of our final time here. Today we woke up to the smell of roasting chestnuts. Yeah, chestnuts!! Right outside our apartment and up a little. Apparently this time of year, the small shops on the street right above ours, set up tables with items to entice the Christmas shopper---sweaters on sale, handmade scarves, handmade jewelery, hot chocolate, baked pies and other desserts of doughy-goodness and even a vendor for roasted chestnuts.

After my super star husband brought me a cafe con leche from the cafe just outside our place (something that he has been doing for me EVERY DAY and has earned him Major brownie points), we headed out together to return the stroller we borrowed from a GBU Staff worker. After handing over that compact, purple, God-send and thanking said staff worker profusely, we thought we would try and explore a little and try and find ourselves a quaint little cafe down one of the thousands of picturesque streets to have lunch. We walked and walked. Down streets we had never been down. We marveled at how much there is to experience and just how long it would take to actually see everything within a several mile radius.

Amalia was uncharacteristically mellow and we finally happened upon a small and very packed restaurant. This was our place--the kind we had hoped we would find for our last meal. Our food was incredible! (In case you are wondering, because I know I always do, I ordered a baked chicken with roasted oranges and garlic mashed potatoes served with a wilted spinach, bacon, raisin and pine nut salad and for dessert I had something like a cross between a piece of french bread and a doughnut and of course a cafe con leche!)Amalia has never behaved so well in a restaurant. A true treat!

This evening after completing our "checkout" (which really only consisted of kind farewells and our landlord asking us to rent from him again if we ever come back and even saying he would not charge us a deposit), we thought we wanted just one more evening stroll through the city. Amalia was game--she almost always is when it involves the outdoors and especially Christmas lights.

We headed up to a Crepe place we had been eyeing. It was a little cold out, so walking into the small and tellingly crowded crepe place dazzling with tea lights, warmed us right up. We sat down and ordered a savory crepe with spinach and goat cheese and honey and then a sweet one with butter and sugar. Those crepes were out of this world delicious. Again, Amalia ate well and behaved well and we headed out before any potential meltdowns. We took our time walking home. Tomorrow would be all hustle and bustle again and off to the airport and onto a full day of travel.

And now I am off to bed, thankful for this experience and the ways I have grown and am growing and eager to see what God has next.