Enjoying the Ride

Wow! We just got back from Berlin yesterday afternoon, and I am so glad we were still able to go after everything with my tooth dilemma. It was a long ride there but so worth it to see all of the amazing art, learn about different histories and cultures, and just have fun together! We didn't have much time there, but we rocked that city! With serious planning and lots of energy, we were able to see just about everything our hearts desired! ;)

The first thing we visited once we got there was Potsdamer Platz, the "Times Square" of old Berlin. We sat down and had a lovely dinner here in the Sony Center... so cool!

Early the next morning, we went to the Egyptian Museum and saw the famous Bust of Queen Nefertiti! Seeing something that's over 3,000 years old was so surreal!

We also did the Pergamon and loved it! The audio guide was key for me because I didn't know very much history on the subject matter...

Claire and I went to a fancy organ concert in the Dom (Berlin's Cathedral)... it was so beautiful!

We also went to the upper dome of the Reichstag, which is Germany's old Parliament building.

We took turns going to the Jewish Museum, which was interesting and good to experience

but quite sad...

Although this was air-conditioned and clean, it is a model of what a claustrophobic cell in a concentration camp might've felt like:

I fell in LOVE with art when we went to the Gamaldegalerie. It was so interesting and inspiring to see these works from artists like Raphael, Rubens, and Caravaggio. I loved making my own interpretations of the paintings and then comparing what I thought with others' interpretations.

We also had a chance to see the Holocaust memorial to the murdered Jews

(about 3,000 pillars here).

We even took a minute or two (literally) at the Wall at Checkpoint Charlie!

We did ALL of that in about two and a half days... isn't that awesome?!! I was totally proud of us for being able to get it all in! While driving to and from Berlin, we stopped at this disco-fabulous German hotel because the drive was so long with all the construction and World Cup traffic. It was so sweet... disco balls EVERYWHERE, orange walls with lime green chairs, and animal print furniture = a good time in Germany! Claire and I had a blast in our room painting nails and doing other girl stuff. :)

For the next two weeks, our calendar is jam-packed full of our travel plans. Our next destination: Holland! It will be roughly four and a half hours to drive there, but the drive will be beautiful, and the kids are excited! Everyone is very excited to what the country has to offer!

As for me...

I'm just taking it all in, learning from my experiences here in Europe, and

enjoying the ride.

P.S. It's my amazing dad's birthday today! I feel so blessed to have a dad who takes such good care of us all and is the best example in the whole world. I hope you have a good one, Daddy! I love and miss you so much!

Learning to Lean

Hey guys, sorry it's been a while since the last update! As most of you family and friends know, I've been having a bit of traumatic tooth troubles. For those of you who I don't talk to daily, I've had lots of tooth pain ever since I got here but kept ignoring it. Well, it finally got to the point that I couldn't stand it anymore and the painkillers weren't really helping, so we had no choice but to go to a dentist here in Germany. Ah! It turns out that yes, I needed a root canal and it had to be done immediately.

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm petrified of the dentist and can't go without serious doses of anesthetics beforehand even in my own country, let alone here in Germany. Regardless, this had to be done. Trying to have faith, I decided that if I could go paragliding, surely I could handle a root canal! After Grandma Penny helped me realize this, I kept telling myself that people get this procedure done every day and are just fine, but still, my irrational fears kept returning.

Emily was so sweet and thoughtul though; she found someone who could give me a blessing before going in. It was such an amazing experience to be able to obtain such comfort through that. One thing that was said that really stood out to me was that even though those I'm closest to aren't here, I can still lean on them and they can still bring me comfort through all of their prayers and faith. I felt so much strength and knew I would be able to do it!

Once I got there, everything just sort of fell into place. My iPod, which was broken, started working just in time (and it worked just for the hour I was in the dentist chair--crazy!) Cute Em gave me a shoulder rub and got me relaxed, and the yellow walls made me feel a little sunnier (Clearly, I was trying to look for the good in the situation! haha)! After a few attempts (as usual) of numbing me up, I was finally ready to go and it all went just fine! I was so relieved.

Over the course of the last few days, I've developed a little infection, but I'm sure it's no biggie! I'm talking ultra-strong antibiotics and lots of pain meds, so I'm happy as can be!!!! ;) I'm sure it'll get better from here on out and things are just gonna be okay!

I feel so blessed to not only have family here with me who has been so kind and understanding, but also to have such amazing family and friends in other parts of the world who've given me the strength I've needed. Thank you soo much, everybody, for your prayers, fasts, and faith. I love you and know that through Heavenly Father and those I love, I'll be able to get through this one! Above all, thanks for teaching me that sometimes it's okay to lean on others, that that is what family and friends are for. Hopefully, I'll be able to return the favor someday. xo

Paragliding Over the Swiss Alps

"Something has changed within me.

Something is not the same.

I'm through with playing by the rules

Of someone else's game.

Too late for second-guessing.

Too late to go back to sleep.
It's time to trust my instincts,

Close my eyes: and leap!"

All my life, I've been totally complacent with following the rules, with accepting that I'm just an average girl who happens to be very passionate about lots of things. I would never do anything crazy, I would always be on my very best behavior, and let's be honest...

I am a straight up rule-follower.

The last day we were in the Switzerland, Natalie (Em's sister who has been with us) decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and sign up to go paragliding. 6,000 feet above the ground.

Of course, the moment I heard she was going, I was a little jealous for two reasons:

1) That she is the type of person who can just spontaneously decide to do something like this.

2) That she can afford it!

She then proceeded to invite me to go along with her, but like always, my decision was already made. There is no way. I, me, play-by-the-rules Ali Monsen could never do something like that.

Then I got thinking, and something totally dawned on me! I had this crazy epiphany that maybe these "rules" I've been following aren't even rules. Maybe they are merely my own benighted ideas. Maybe they are limitations that I have made for my own self... think about it! No one can limit me unless I let them, no circumstance can be too much for me unless I let it be, right?!

Well those days are over!! That is NOT who I want to be! I am only gonna be 18 and in the Swiss Alps once, and I wasn't about to pass this one up. I was soofreakingscared. I told Nat and Emily that I really truly knew I was going to die. I had written up letters to my family and closest friends in case I didn't make it...

But I was going to do this.

"I'm through accepting limits

'Cause someone says they're so.

Some things I cannot change

But till I try, I'll never know!"

We got up to the top of the mountain

and met our pilots/flying partners. My guy was named Ulli, he grew up in the Alps and had been flying for 25 years. I told him that if I died, my dad would hunt him down. He said, "Don't worry, Ali. You will be just fine. Just don't stop running when we take off. Run as fast as you can down the mountain, and do not hinder. GO FOR IT!"

I trusted Ulli; I had no choice but to trust him because it was too late to go back now!

We started to run. We ran faster and faster. My heart was a ticking bomb about to burst. Tears of complete fright streamed down, across my face, and into Ulli's.

And then it happened.

We majestically lifted off the ground and into the air! My tears of horror and fear suddenly turned into tears of overwhelming emotion rushing through my body. I was literally speechless. It was the first time in my life that I truly couldn't speak no matter how hard I tried. I was in awe at the beauty and at my own courage. It was almost a spiritual, ambrosial experience, unlike anything I've ever done. Ulli was a little worried because I wasn't responding to his questions, but after a little while, words came back to me and I had FUN!!!

The ride lasted about 20 minutes and I have to say...

I am so glad I didn't pass this one up.

Never again will I accept limits or take the time/chances I have for granted.

No matter what age or stage we are in at this point in our lives, may we remember to never limit ourselves, to live life to the fullest, and to defy gravity.

Mountains of Faith

Well, we made it! We are here in Switzerland and are absolutely loving the Swiss Alps. It is so weird to think that just five days ago, I was back home in Sandy, Utah! It is a different world here. I feel so foreign and outlandish as everywhere I turn, a new language is being spoken. It has been really neat and interesting for me to meet so many people from lands I didn't even know existed. Although everyone has such different stories and backgrounds, everyone here seems to be happy and content about where they're at in life right now. There is something about this mystic place that it magically inspiring. It makes me believe that there IS some good in our confusing and shaken-up world. There IS a little bit of peace, and there CAN be joy found all around us.

Upon arrival, we were surrounded by gargantuan waterfalls. Everywhere we look, there is a new one to see; there are broad ones, narrow ones, enormous ones, and trickling ones. Even from sitting out on our little balcony in the apartment, I can count five within my view. Yesterday, Emily's sister Natalie and I took Emma Claire up to one of the biggest within walking distance. We hiked up a long, pathway, went through a "mysterious, solve-a-mystery tunnel" (quote by Claire), and up the slick stairway to the most beautiful waterfall of all! We were right underneath it and were getting soaked! Claire loved the adventure, and we had a blast too!

Today was absolutely incredible. We took a hike that pretty much took all day. We had to take two cable cars to get there, and we were almost to the very tip top of the Alps! Claire was complaining that her ears kept popping, but once we got there, everything was ok. This hike was unlike any I'd ever been on. First of all, with how many people are here in the Alps, you'd think there'd be lots of other hikers all around you, but that was certainly not the case. I guess there are just soo many different things to do, see, and experience here, so no one is ever on the same trail. These mountains are HUGE!!! At one point, I literally had to pinch myself to make sure I was actually experiencing what I thought I was. We turned around a corner and this whole GREEN valley opened up! Everything was so open and green and beautiful! Random cows and sheep are just hangin' out wherever they feel so inclined to! The wildflowers were gorgeous, and there are fun little stops around every corner for kids to stop and take a break. There were things like old churches to explore and learn about, playgrounds, and restaurants overlooking the unbelievable view. Claire, Nat, and I especially enjoyed a little, secluded zip-line, all set up and ready-to-go for us.

It has been so wonderful in Switzerland so far. It is a new beauty I've yet to experience, even in Utah's famous Rocky Mountains. Although I'm a bit homesick and miss all of you family and friends, there is so much more I know I need to explore and experience. Every once in a while, I catch myself having some fear or even doubting my own capabilities, but with all of the support, prayers, and the fascination of this new world around me, I know I could

NEVER STOP BELIEVING!

P.S. Uploading those pics took FOREVER, and I just ate an ENTIRE German chocolate bar during this blogging session (Whoopsies! Good thing we'll be hikin' tomorrow!), so I hope ya'll like these pics! ;o