In Paris

Ok, so we have made it to Paris! The Eurostar through the English Channel was pretty cool, and now we are sitting in Erin's flat waiting to go out for dinner. Those of you who are awaiting email or phone confirmation that we have made it to Paris...Allen's phone isn't working and Gmail isn't working for me either. I'm sure we will get that figured out soon, but I am trying to be the very responsible one and get the message out that we are here safe and sound. I already LOVE Paris! I mean, I haven't seen much of it, but it is just beautiful. We have only been in the residential area so far, and I'm sure we will venture out to the rest of the city in the morning. Ok, I'm going to let these guys get some food in their bellies. Off to dinner...and I will write more later for sure!

In London

Cheers from London! Our stay here in the UK is coming to an end, as we leave for Paris tomorrow afternoon. We have had an incredible time here, so we are sad to say goodbye...but, I can't wait to see Paris!! Here is a quick run down of our recent activities: a day in Hampstead Heath (where part of Notting Hill was filmed), dining at some really great restaurants, visiting Notting Hill itself, going to see Leeds Castle (southeast of the city), seeing Wicked at the theatre, and exploring St. Paul's Cathedral. After lunch today, we just took our books out to Hyde Park and read for a couple of hours. We have been resting every day in the late afternoon. This is our vacation, you know.
So, I will try to post some pictures once we are in Paris. Thanks for your prayers. We are enjoying every minute of our trip...and I'm journaling every day to remember it for years to come.

Packed and Ready

Ok...here it is.
Isn't it cute? My clothes for the plane ride are stacked neatly on top of my absolutely stuffed bag. I got packed earlier this week, and I had some extra room. However, as the week went on, I thought of a few more shirts, a dress, and a couple of pairs of pants and shoes that are "musts" for the trip. So, everything is in, and I just hope that in a couple of weeks, it will all stuff back in there for the ride home. My "small personal item" is my huge purse crammed full of books, toiletries, my purse that I will actually carry, granola bars, and who knows what else. All that to say, I can't wait for this adventure! Please pray for safe travels and good times. Pray specifically for flights on Saturday the 19th into the morning of the 20th, August 3rd for Wes, and August 4th for Allen and me. I will try to post pictures at every opportunity possible, but I'm not sure when and where those opportunities will be found. And Leslie, or someone close to the Lutz family, I'm expecting to see pictures of baby Samuel posted on here or Facebook as soon as he is born! We are praying for you in these next couple of weeks.
So, a presto, a bientot, and bis bald! That's "see you soon" in Italian, French, and German. I'm not sure if they actually use those phrases...I've never heard them before...but that's what the "phrase book" says.

21 inches

That's the amount of room I have to pack for a 17 day trip to Europe. When I brought home my fancy new suitcase yesterday, Wes just looked at it, looked at me, and said, "Oh, this is going to be fun. Prove to me you can pack in that bag." I am the typical overpacker. For a weekend trip to Conway, I pack at least one big duffle bag, my hanging bag, and a few extras. But now with the additional costs of baggage, I decided to try and change my ways. I first had to find a cute bag. TJ Maxx always can be counted on for high style at a low price, so I bought a $300 bag for $50! Second, I had to find a bag small enough to carry-on because I definitely do not want to check a bag on an airplane or pull a big bag on a train. So this new bag is only 21 inches long. I've decided to pack enough clothes for 1 week, and I bought some Tide travel packs that will allow me to do laundry in my hotel sink! It should be warm where we are going, so that helps. Smaller clothes. I'm actually excited about the challenge of packing in my new bag.

Oh, but the real kicker is what airlines are now calling "personal items." On my last trip to Europe, I took a carry-on bag, a large duffle bag, and a purse. Now, I can only bring my carry-on bag and one SMALL personal item. Woah...one of the personal items listed is a backpack, so I'm going to try and go that route...pack my purse in my backpack along with all of my other essential travel needs. Magazines, books, granola bars, and a toothbrush. This should be fun.

We leave next Saturday for London, Paris, Gimmelwald (Switzerland), the Cinque Terre (Italy), and Milan/Lake Como. Please pray for an efficient and productive week here in Arkansas and for safe travels in the few upcoming weeks.