Break Time

I haven’t posted in quite a while so I need to do some catching up- in this post, I will explain what I did in the break (between orientation and leaving for Tanzania). 

NYC:

The covenant and the sending ceremonies were beautiful. Basically this is where you graduate from orientation and are done in New York! Doug came up for the sending and we went into Manhattan after to do some sight seeing. 

We saw all kinds of things including the tree in Rockefeller plaza, MOMA, central park, and the empire state building! We sure did make a lot of memories in a very short amount of time up there! When it was time to go we took the Metro North train back to Ossining and got an uber to the airport together. His flight back to STL was about an hour before my flight to Alabama so we went through security together and played cards in the airport. When his boarding group was finally called we hugged goodbye and he was off. I watched his plane on the tarmac for too long, and he texted me that there was a problem with the paper work and they were going to leave late. They took off right when I was boarding for my flight.

Alabama:

When I landed in Alabama, my mom picked me up from the airport and we had a nice chill evening. The next day I spent unpacking and packing my suitcases and that evening we went to a Christmas parade! The next day, I went into the office with my mom because I was going to use her car during the day- one last Doctor check up and errands. 

Later in the trip we went to see Cinderella at the Shakespeare house in Montgomery and went out to Olive Garden. That night we did our little Christmas and she gave me luggage tags with a picture of me and Doug on it. <3 I gave her a Christmas ornament from Kentucky. 

the night before I left we went out for Mexican and my mom and I split our first margarita! We also got to see a giant catfish on the line off their deck! Probably the biggest one I’ve ever seen! The next morning we headed to the airport. Checking the bags was not that difficult- I was over the weight limit by 3 pounds on one of my suitcases but the guy let me go anyway without a fee. I am planning on paying the overweight fee when I leave the country though, I will be getting more toiletries and things in St. Louis. Saying goodbye to my mom was not a difficult as I had anticipated, but it also didn’t feel quite real yet either- it just felt like I was going to Doug’s house for Christmas. I got through security after they double checked my hot chocolate because of the foil wrapping and waited to board!

Stl:

When I landed in St. Louis, Doug picked me up and we waited for my luggage together. It was a nice chilled evening. The next day was my day to hang out with the old college friends- Charlie and Lucy met up with me at ihop for breakfast and then we went shopping around a bit. In the afternoon we went back to our usual hang out spot- the church I was confirmed in. We hung out with Fr. Don and joked and talked for a few hours. I had planned a big dinner for all of our other friends (who could make it) and we waited for time to go do that. Doug met Charlie and I at the restaurant along with Collman, Mitch, Fr. Don and his sister. Lucy had her Christmas at her grandparents that evening. It was a super fun dinner and we ended up in the private room at mike Shannon's in Edwardsville.

The next day was the first day I was there that Doug didn’t have to work- we went to canes chicken and we went to see the new Spiderman movie! The day after was Christmas eve and we went to the mall to do a little shopping and opened presents with his parents and sister and her husband. It makes me very sad that I will miss the early christmases of our relationship, but all I know is that I am trying to follow God’s will- both in my relationship and in my lifes calling to serve in Africa. 

Christmas Day was very chill in the O’Donnell household. Since we had celebrated and opened presents the night before (so that Doug’s sister Liz could celebrate her first Christmas as a married woman with her husband and his family) we mainly watched movies and relaxed. Doug’s parents made a great dinner, though, around 4pm we had ham and mashed potatoes and carrots. It was amazing! 

On Boxing Day, we went to the St. Louis Zoo and had a blast! We also went to Doug’s favorite steakhouse in the Lou. It was a great day! The day after that it was time to go up to Springfield to say goodbye to my friend from high school- Michelle. She called me the day before and filled me in that she is officially engaged!!! I (obvi) will be the maid of honor and couldn’t be happier for them! We went and did some shopping and talked all day- spitballing wedding ideas. They are planning a long engagement so nothing is too urgent. Later we went to one of my favorite places in Springfield- Cooper’s Hawk. 

Chicago:

the next day, Doug and I caught the Amtrak in Alton to Chicago! We love Chicago, its just got a special place in both of our hearts. When we got there it was super cold! The first time Chicago had seen snow in over 250 days! The first thing on the agenda was to get donuts! (I was a little hangry) then we went to the architecture museum and as Doug said ‘I was a kid in a candy store’. I just love the little scale models of cities. It's like a real life map! 

While in Chicago we also went to the cultural center and got shake shack burgers. Then we went to the bean (a must) and did some errand-type things (I needed to get some new leggings/etc. before I left). And before we got back on the train to head south again we ofc got a Starbucks. 

the next day was off to the airport- but first we had canes for lunch and went to our special spot in Forest Park. I made a lot of good memories on my break and will cherish them so dearly in my heart while in the heart of Africa. 

Bonus!?: 

we also got to go ice skating twice and went to another movie but you’ll learn why in my next post ;)