"Just touched down in..."

Well hello!

So, nothing exciting much has happened here, except...

We're FINALLY in LONDON!  and it's my MOM'S BIRTHDAY!!

But let's start with London.

I ended my last blog in Amsterdam.  From Amsterdam we travelled back to Belgium!  Brussels to be exact.  And you know what that means... CHOCOLATE and more WAFFLES!!  Loaded up on these goodies for my fam and my future Chem tutor (yes, I will do ANYTHING to get a good grade in Chem).

Anyways, first we headed to the Atomium, which is a huge replica of an Atom that was made for the World Fair in 1958. We didn't spend much time there, really only to get a picture and head to Brussels.

oh and they had letters welcoming you to Belgium, and naturally we had to get a picture with them because we love letters. (amsterdam anyone?) ps. I always think of she's the man when the principle welcomes viola to Illyria.

We got to the big city of Brussels and went to yet again another museum. This one was way weird to me, it was Rene Magritte the surrealist...not digging his style. After we just explored the city a bit more. 

Brussels city scape

I have to admit, the past couple days haven't been fantastic for me, in spite of all the wonderful and fun things we've been doing.  I guess there's this bug going around our group and I'm pretty sure I've caught it.  I went running un Antwerp the other day, and my throat hurt so bad I could only go two miles before pooping out.  That's how I know something is severely wrong.  And Barkdulls never get sick, but when we do, we make a big deal out of it.  So there will definitely be more on this subject in later posts.

Today we FINALLY reached LONDON!  It was such a relief and shock to be able to ask people at the information desk where to go and actually understand what they're saying!  More on this, too, later.

Now...

Back to the MOST important topic of the day, my mom's BIRTHDAY!!

So, probably all of you know my mom, but if you don't, allow me to describe her to you:

My mother is probably the most dependable person in the world.  Except for the time in second grade when she promised to bring cupcakes to lunch for my birthday and forgot, I have never had reason to doubt that when she says she'll do something, she'll do it.  I love that no matter what the situation, I can always put my complete faith and trust in my mom.  

She's forever taking care of the little things that I hate to do, like folding my laundry, cutting my apples, calling about some financial thing that's over my head, organizing paper work for me so that all I have to do is sign, planning my packing lists, doing my taxes, and SOOOO much more!  99.9% of the time, it's not even stuff I've asked her to do, but I know it's her way of saying "I love you" (more often, though, I'm pretty sure it goes more like "I know you're too lazy to do it yourself, but it's got to be done, so I'll just do it for you."

Both of my parents, my whole life, have opened up a world of opportunity to me.  Just this past week, when I told them I wanted to go on a mission in April, I was expecting a counter plan from them, or at least some concerns.  Instead, they simply said "okay, if that's what you want to do".  Then, when stressing over the financial aspect of a mission and, ya know, being on study abroad and all, my dad just says, "Briana, do all you can do while you're in Europe.  Then when you get home, do all you can do to get ready for your mission, and we'll make up the rest."  Now, I know I already have heavenly parents that are perfect, but do these parents not sound like a close second?

What makes this aspect of my parents' love so important to me, though, is that even though they probably could pay for everything I want to do, they make me work my rear end off for it too.  I have been blessed with extremely supportive parents, but I've never been handed anything on a silver platter (except maybe my braces and back surgery.  thanks.) which is probably the best blessing of all.  In recent life experiences, I've met a lot of girls who have an allowance given to them every month, who get a new wardrobe every season, who have never learned how to scrub a toilet, and say they're independent when really they live in a Barbie world.  I'm so thankful for parents who expect me to pull my weight in the family, who have taught me to work hard for things I want, and yet are always there to "make up the difference".  The fact that because of them, I have the confidence to do anything I want to in life is the greatest gift they could have ever given me.

Mom, this was supposed to be a blog about all the reasons I love you, my gift to you on your birthday, but I guess it's kind of turned into a monologue about how awesome both you and Dad are.  Sorry.  I hope you know how much I love you, and that I don't take all little things and life changing things you've done for me for granted.  I thank Heavenly Father every day for being so blessed to have been sent to you and Dad for eternity.  Have a happy birthday Mom and know that I am thinking of you especially today all the way in London.

Love

Briana

P.S.  Clearly we need to take more pictures together because these are pretty much the only three of you and I that exist in our vast collection of family photos.