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"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, 

such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 

Instead, it should be that of your inner self, 

the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 

For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God 

used to make themselves beautiful."

~I Peter 3:3-5

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Winter is on it's way and I'm heading south

This past week has been one of my busiest.

Teaching. Monthly Pub Talk with my seniors. 

Lunch with friends.

Lots of coffeeshop lounging (our internet's been out).

a new Bible Study. Bellydancing.

Young Life movie night (ten of my students came!).

Drinks with the girls. Baking tons of pumpkin goodies.

Saturday mornin' market down by the river.

Sushi making. TV watching on a laptop with friends.

Pottery painting and pick-ups.

I need a vacation from my schedule!

On Tuesday I'm leaving the country

and driving south

through the Czech Republic and Austria

to Slovenia!

I am so thrilled. A dream come true.

An epic road-trip with two others

to a small lake village in the Julian Alps

for a week of relaxation and hiking and sightseeing

during my favorite season of the year!

Goodbye Prague!

a stroll at Stromovka Park::the largest park in Prague

October
by Robert Frost 

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
To-morrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
To-morrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow,
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know;
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away;
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes' sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes' sake along the wall.

This past weekend I went for a walk at Stromovka Park with some friends

after attending an Expat Expo, basically an event for wealthy foreigners with families

to find all the English-speaking services in Prague...we did enjoy the free give-aways though! 

I got a henna tattoo on my forearm for free. :)

It was a wonderfully windy weekend with low clouds

and a light drizzle. Besides the walk in the park, I did get my lazy self out of the flat

to see two movies at the oldest cinema in Prague

and enjoyed some good conversation over a thick, hot chocolate at my favorite coffee shop in town

with my roommate who is about to leave me for the States in November. 

The week is now in full swing and I've got new students to tutor (in my flat).

Hooray for not having to travel to more homes!

And I've got a British guest speaker coming and talking to my classes about the British lifestyle.

I am so very excited!

at home, a detailed look at how I've made this foreign place "home"

 

Here are some photos of my flat in Prague,

The meals I've been making, and the flowers I've enjoyed,

especially now that the weather has suddenly turned to a foggy, rainy fall.

The little things have kept me sane here.

Tea. Candles. Baking. Flowers. Color. Baths. Coffee. My warm bed. Books and more books.

I think I'll be able to survive a winter here again with these little joys.

And perhaps the occasional trip to the movies...

I went to see two this weekend! Midnight in Paris and One Day.

Both were glorious! I laughed and cried and remembered how much I love Europe

and wanted to fall in love after seeing these two films.

Have a happy week, even if it's a bit rainy wherever you are!

Love&Laughs,

H

Welcome October, but, please, can you begin fall weather since September insisted on finishing summer?

This weekend I cooked and baked.

It was somewhat relaxing...

The mornings here are cold, but the days are hot,

so I spent Saturday in my kitchen.

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I am excited for October!

I'm hoping to attend a bellydancing retreat

one weekend in the countryside with some of my dancing classmates.

Plans are also in the works for a road trip

to Slovenia {particularly Lake Bled}

I've only dreamed about this country since 2008.

And now it's becoming a reality!

Then, I've got some fun autumn/Halloween lessons

in store for my students.

Think Hocus Pocus and bobbing for apples

and chubby monkey and candy and dressing up.

Plus! I've got some interesting, new ways to get involved

with my church in Prague.

There's a lot to get excited about!

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Now if only fall would begin already!

Enjoy your week!

Love&Laughs,

H