Healing my "Heart" in Spain Part 10

We hopped on a couple of Metro rides to get to the "Gaudi Cathedral." Oh my!
Rain, rain and more rain today!

Antonio Gaudi was an architect with an innate sense for geometry and volumes...
and a powerful imagination!
He perfected his craft using ceramic, stained glass, iron, forging and carpentry.
The four passions of his life were architecture, nature, religion and his love for Catalonia.
He died
before this cathedral was finished.

I couldn't really put into words what it was like...
ginormous....whimsical, out of the ordinary,
all centering around a Catholic theme of Jesus Christ.
The Pope came last November to dedicate this cathedral.

















This is one of the buildings he designed in downtown Barcelona!


Our metro ride back to our "Hosteria!"

Dear Alain...
After coming home from downtown BARCELONA, Michelle and I layed on the bed
talking...
I just started to CRY!
Oh how my heart hurts. At times I just ache inside. I feel true physical pain as I think of you/US!
I can't believe that you are really gone.
I think because I am so far from home.... I think somehow when I get back, you will be there...just waiting for me to get home...
then our lives will go on... just like before. You will go to work in the morning, and
I will take care of our home and YOU when you come back!
We will go to the temple together, serve, play, check on our children
and love our precious grandchildren together...
we will work in the yard,
I "mow" and you "edge!"
We will live the rest of our lives, go on a mission somewhere exciting,
and most importantly...
grow old together!
Tell me what is FAIR about all of this?
What is going to motivate me to be strong, to be HAPPY?
I hear you once again in your soft, sweet voice telling me,
"TRUST.... it will be OK!"

Why am I so worried that too many things will have changed by the time I'm with you again?

I fell asleep after talking with Michelle. I had a dream. You were there. I love you!


....to be continued!

Each Life that touches mine.... BYU-Idaho 5th Ward

I'm interrupting my "Italy" posts to show you my answer to pray!

Last week as I was looking out my windows and saw all the snow melting,
I wondered how in the world
I would be able to take care of everything
all by myself... (sigh/cry)

Then I got a call Saturday night from my friend Wendy who said,
"Donna... make a list of everything you need done inside and out because Bruce is
bringing over his kids from his campus ward
to do SERVICE! (cry a little more...happy cry)

It seems like every worry I encounter.... a solution comes right around the corner.

The Crew!

Dead Squash Crew... (because I was in the hospital last fall & we didn't winterize before it snowed!

Dig out carrots crew!

Rhubarb & Dead leaves crew!

Raspberry Cane Crew!

Front Yard and Discover Flowers Growing Under Leaves Crew!

Backyard rake & haul leaves crew!

Crew that picked up every last leaf!

My sweet dear friend Konda and her husband came over to join in... Rex went and got his pick-up and took a huge load of yard bags to the dump. Konda finished
cutting back my raspberry patch for the spring. She is just as beautiful on the
inside as she is on the outside!

Thank you from the bottom of my HEART!

Healing my "Heart" in Spain Part 9

Monday, March 14

While in Barcelona we visited a open market that was incredible!
We were "kids in the candy shop!"

Of course I spotted the HEART candy!

Beautifully arranged fruit!

Fresh fruit smoothies!

Oh nuts!

...to be continued!

Healing my "Heart" in Barcalona, Spain Part 8

Barcelona, Spain

We arrived to Catalunya. The people here are very proud. They even say, "You're not
in Spain...
you're in Catalunya!

We ate Tapas and then walked down the Ramblas...
shops on every side, flowers, souvenirs, food etc!

....to be continued!

Healing my "Heart" Part 7

Soggy Heart!

Sunday, March 13

Ate breakfast at the hotel.... croissant, orange juice, yogurt & cheese.

Just visited Pont du Gard, in Genova....
This is a Roman bridge aqueduct that was built in the 1st Century AD. It brought 44 million gallons of water per day to the fountains and baths and homes of the citizens of Nimes, France.

It was raining CATS & DOGS... our umbrella's were soaked an so were we!

Etched into the bridge in 1833

Visited a garden/building where Vincent Van Gogh did some of his painting...

Loved this door handle.....

......to be continued

Healing my "Heart" in France Part 6

Saturday, March 12 2011

Started out for France around 8am. Today we are driving, driving, driving. We passed by beautifully terraced hills with quaint old Italian homes. Beautiful Mediterranean views!
The minute we crossed into France...
the wind became fierce and cold. We passed Nice (the birthplace of Alain's mother), and Cannes (the place she grew up).
I am doing a lot of reading... I have my I-Touch where I can read scriptures and lots of conference talks.
I have received so much comfort and inspiration and even direction...

We made it to Arles, France!
The older woman who greeted us was friendly and helpful and spoke English.
We went out walking the narrow streets holding our umbrella's. We laughed so hard
when one of ours would be blown completely inside out! We would just turn around
until it blew back the right way.

We visited a Roman Amphitheater built in 90 A.D. Whoa!
It could seat 20,000 spectators. The Roman public delighted in watching gladiators or animals fight. In the Middle ages, it became a fortress.
Bullfights have been taking place since 1830.

We ate at at Restaurant Le Galoubet!
There was a fireplace with a cozy fire right by our table.
Our meal was delicious! Dessert was baked apple with a dab of vanilla ice cream.

Oh my!
I had a HARD TIME FALLING ASLEEP... kept thinking of the "WHAT IF" about my Alain!