When in FIRENZE....

We made it! We arrived in Rome at 7:45 this morning, 45 minutes ahead of schedule. We went through customs and boarded a bus for Florence where we all passed out. Once we arrived, we hiked a mile long hill up to the beautiful villa where we got our rooming assignments. I am in a room with three other awesome girls, and it is by far the best room in the place. It is my favorite yellow with antique looking dark wood furniture, we have our own bathroom, and just enough closet space to not have to live out of a suitcase:) I love it.
Despite loving it, until about an hour ago after I finally was able to get a shower and re-vamp I hardly spoke 5 words to anyone from sheer exhaustion. I was so relieved to get in touch with my family who's stranded in the middle of a ridiculous ice storm, but I think I was just still in overdrive mode. We've had two delicious meals today prepared by our fantastic Italian chef. My favorite part- a giant fruit bowl in the middle of every table 24/7!!! I've had more bananas and clementines today than I have in the last week. If only I could curb my sweet tooth and leave off the Nutella tomorrow....
Another villa tradition- tea time, every night at nine o'clock. Tonight I had a delicious, caffeine-free peach tea as I watched the end of a close game between the Florence and Naples professional soccer teams. Smith- I'm telling you, this is the life.
Don't assume that this blog is simply about facts, because I fully intend for it to be much more than that. However, at the beginning with a million new things to share I'm afraid it will be consumed with the details, till the details are said, and then the real stories will unfold!
Pictures tomorrow!

Study Abroad

I have one of the most creative moms in the world. Since I have recently become such a world traveler, she has decided to embark her first grade classes on a journey with me. After following me to China last Summer, they will be following me to Italy this Spring. Which means I will be getting up at the wee hours of the night/morning to talk to the most energetic group of 6 year old's I've ever seen and tell them all about my latest adventures & discoveries. Today, I went to their class, sat in the special chair, and answered their many questions at question time; always proving to be quite entertaining. What will you do there? What will the weather be like? Can you buy a puppy? What animals do they have there? They will no doubt make another appearance on the Brandon Thomas portion of the WPSD news for another of their interactive, collaborative, international learning experiences. Stay tuned for the times. They don't call her Nationally Board Certified for nothing.

Oh yes, I leave in approximately 28 hours for Atlanta, where I will be meeting up with the rest of the Harding clan. Pray for our safety on our flight to ROME!

In other news, I will be appearing in my first Harding musical production, SCROOGE! I haven't had a chance to be a part of a musical this far and I am so excited to finally get my feet wet in theater again. I am playing Helen, niece of Scrooge. Beck Martin will be my lovely husband. We have every intention of stealing the show- Halloween 2009- write it down.

Thirteen Days Out

Okay, never done the blog thing before. The initial idea has always weirded me out; the ability for anyone and everyone to know the thoughts running through your head without even speaking to you? Seems a cheapened version of life if you ask me. But oddly enough, I'm proving myself wrong as in the midst of the highest version of life - three months studying and living in Florence, Italy- I feel this 'blogging' will only prove irreplaceable, because speaking to me may not be a reality yet I most certainly want anyone and everyone to know what kind of INCREDIBLE things will be happening in the days to come. And come shortly. T-minus 13 days now. God is really taking care of me. Little things I procrastinated on, and other major things I was simply uninformed of are coming to my attention just in time for me to take care of them. Even when there was no way for me to realistically be able to take care of them, God took over for me. A brand new, just the right size, nice green colored, Coleman pack was waiting in the basement of our church for me when I thought I was going to have to resort to a 1990 addidas duffle bag. Come on, only God shops like that. 

So, that is where I am at the moment. Getting ready, getting packed, getting excited, getting confident day by day that God has so many things to show me and will take care of all our needs. It's going to be a journey! I can't wait!