Memorial day...

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, which in today's terms basically translates to a day off of work in the United States. I think many people, especially those in my age group, have lost sight of the significance behind this day.

I'll be honest, growing up, Memorial Day to me was dragging my happy summer ass early out of bed to be bussed around to local cemeteries to play in the high school band. Patriotic tunes, prayer, gunshots. Rise and repeat, we'd be off to the next site. That's not to say I didn't appreciate the day and it's meaning, it was just met with a mundane routine year after year.

I have both family members and friends who are veterans and are currently serving. I respect these men and women tremendously. I have begun to appreciate them even more along with my increasing interest in a future military career. We really don't think about how much those in the military sacrifice and how hard they work until we apply the scenario to our own life and imagine what we would have to sacrifice. Really, think about it.

Not only is this a wake-up call to appreciate the importance of our American military, but I think Americans should reflect on their life in general as Americans. Like, this weekend I ate probably four meals a day. I had access to clean drinking water. I went to a job that takes excellent care of elderly individuals. I went to another job that takes excellent care of individuals with special needs. I took a bike ride on a beautiful night around the town I grew up in, and not once did I harbor the fear that I would be attacked. Afterwords I went home to enjoy a glass of wine. This morning I took prescription medication to aid in allergy relief. I could do all these things because I live in a country that allows me to.

How FREAKING AWESOME is that?

So this Memorial Day (and really, everyday) consider all the blessings that have been placed in your life, and think about those who are less fortunate. Men and women in the military have a long history of working hard so we can live with these luxaries. Don't take them for granted. Happy Memorial Day.

Bike rides and wine. 

Freedom, baby. 

what I needed to read today...

Wow. Isn't this good? Isn't stuff like this great just at the exact moment in time your heart needed to hear it? The validity that this verse carries to my life right now is huge. In the past two years, I've gotten rather comfortable. I'm really happy, but I'm also content. I've realized in my short time here on earth that the most rewarding instances in life are those that result from discomfort. From sweaty palms, nervous breath, tears, and leaps of faith. I know what I need to be doing with my future. I know how to get there. It still hasn't hit me I leave in three weeks. I'm trying to prepare myself in the best way possible, and right now that's breaking the ties with the comfort that I've established in the past two years. I'm Skyping with Carla, a young woman who participated in the LeaderworX program years ago. I'm hoping she'll give me a better understanding of the program and what to expect. I'm ready to get excited again and be a part of something greater than myself. 

Blog Revival...

That's right. I haven't been seen posting on my blog for the past TWO YEARS, when I started this blog specifically for sharing my experiences in counseling at a camp for individuals with special needs in Oregon.

I've decided to bring this blog to life once again as I prepare to live in New Jersey for the summer working for the Center for FaithJustice. I am excited and eager to see what this opportunity has in store for me.

Since living in Oregon, I have returned to Kansas to do the whole college thing. I have not lived anywhere differently since 2012, however, I am grateful for the events, people, and revelations that have been placed in my life in those two years. I have done a tremendous amount of growing, and I've come a long way in finding out what I want to make out of my life (I think they call this adulthood...gross).

I love to document the crazy amount I have been blessed with, but the reality is that it's sometimes  always impossible to do so during the school year with my schedule. SO: the goal is to put down as much as I can about my summer in this blog, and until then I might throw in some pointless ramblings that I feel at the time I need to get off my chest. You've been warned.