Walking

It's time to start visiting all the favorite places and seeing how much I'm going to miss the charm of the city.  I went for a nice long walk today around the city wall and I only cried a little twice.  Fall in Visby is just as beautiful as summer.  The smell of apples has replaced the smell of roses and the soft yellows and reds are coloring the green leaves.  Under a strong breeze and a bright blue sky it doesn't feel like a real place.

Fika i Hällarna

In Swedish schools there is something called "study days."  These are days when a certain class just is out of school for a day off.  They are universally not used for studying.

Today was Frida's study day, so we decided to go for a walk in Hällarna after the weather cleared up.  After I taught her how to make apple roses and we had fika we played cards.  It was a sweet afternoon before practice.

American Burgers

Tonight was a thank you dinner for the fam.  I made burgers, mango salsa, avocado fries, apple roses, and Arnold Palmers (very fitting since he passed so recently).

I knew I missed cooking with Jonathan, but tonight it was even more apparent.  I had fun in the kitchen, but it wasn't as nice as when we coordinate and make yummy dinners and have so much fun doing it.  It also takes FOREVER when you are doing all of it on your own...

It was a great night though.  We invited Farfar and Farmor and Lise and Ali and Jocke and had a very fun time.  Since I didn't have my grill master with me, Bobbo helped me get the burgers cooked.  Lise brought me sunflowers and we lit the candles and had a cozy time.

Sista Hemmamatchen

After a couple of tough losses it was nice to beat the stuffing out of a team - especially for the last home game.  It ended 12-1 and we were happy.

It was sad to think that it was the last home game.  I thought four months would be a lot longer than this, but I'm also ready to be home for a little while before the big move to Kingsport.

What an incredible adventure this has been.  I will always be grateful for everyone that encouraged to pursue the opportunity.

Två Veckor

I can't believe it's only two weeks left until I'm back in Tennessee!!

Sunday FaceTime dates with Momma and Dad and Jonathan will be a thing of the past and face to face conversations will replace them.  Ah.  How lovely that will be.

I will miss waking up and looking out at the ocean every morning during breakfast and watching the sunset every night at dinner time.  What a truly incredible place I got to call home and the sweetest host family that I possibly could've had!

Gotland is an incredible island with incredible people.  I hope I make it back to visit over the next years of my life.

Hammock

A perfect late summer day for reading outside means a great opportunity to lay in a hammock outside the city wall and read a good book.

I've been happy that I've been reading again.  I've also re-developed an appreciation for public libraries and I think that's a good thing too.  I've gotten to read some challenging and fun titles while I've been here and having that time after not reading for the last 4 or so years has been really incredible.   I hope that it's something that I carve out a little time for in the future when I'm back stateside and getting caught up in work and family and love again.

Västerås BK 30

Unfortunately the game today was nothing to write home about...

WE played the top team in our league, and they made it very apparently why they were the top team.  Very talented group and it was not handled well by us.

The next two games in a row are home and I am thankful for that even though traveling has begun to feel like a little routine now.  It's always fun to see Stockholm come into view under the plane's wing when we head over to the mainland to play.