last monday of june

hello team!

it's the last monday of june. at this time last year, i was kicking it back in the midwest waiting to celebrate the fourth with gyros, hummus, and sangria--perhaps too much sangria.. i was experiencing a love-hate relationship with the 80+ degree weather while soaking up the sun's rays. my skin was covered in perspiration as it began its transformation from white to red to tan. my hair was getting more blonde. my legs were toned from rollerblade marathon training and all the protein powder. i was covered in bug bites from outdoor movies and music in the park. i was avoiding the police while playing midnight croquet on the golf course as tiki torches illuminated our course. my lips were blue from all the summer snow and my shirts covered in ice-cream. my toenail was on the verge of falling off. bags were under my eyes from staying up too late sitting on a bench under the stars of carson park with a donut in hand as i shared my heart with some of my best friends. i was angsty form all of the wild middle-school boys trying to buy a $0.25 freezy pop with a $20 bill at the front desk while trying to be flirty with the cool college girls. at this time last year, my heart longed to be back in juneau. it seemed impossible as i had 1.5 years of school left to finish a degree in both elementary and spanish education in eau claire. and afterwards, i was to join the peace corps and live in peru for two years (ideally). following that i was going to go straight to grad school.

but obviously, things changed.

i graduated a year early with a liberal arts degree in spanish and intercultural communications. i went to nicaragua for three weeks. i was offered a job as an admissions counselor at UAS. and now... i'm here. in juneau. holy shit. my reality is much different than i ever had imagined.

it's weird thinking that i won't be home for the fourth but it feels right. i'll miss eating a hot dog in the sweltering sun as i desperately try to cool down with some summer shandy. i'll miss playing croquet with the family and i'll miss laying on the grass i watch the fireworks. BUT i know that my fourth of july will be filled with new adventures. perhaps i'll watch the fireworks from atop a mountain or i'll watch them from the dock with an APA in hand. i'll still eat a hot dog, though it might be in the rain and a little soggy. the beauty of adventure is that it's unpredictable and anything can happen.



speaking of adventure, the past few weeks have been full of it! i've hiked more mountains and rewarded myself with a donut at the top, i was able to show two friends from greendale some of my favorite places when they visited, i spent a weekend in kake which was filled with fishing, getting sea-sick and throwing up, foraging for berries, stepping in bear poop, a mini hike, and laughs! i've been playing softball and ultimate frisbee in-between rollerblading. i've cried and laughed as i've shared my heart with close friends. and i strive to grow in my relationship with God always.

my challenge for you is to find adventure in your week, make someone laugh, share your heart, and be sure to find something to smile about. 

xoxo
-A