hello, good-bye: letters to the old and new

Dear 2011,

Good-bye to you with all your trials and triumphs. You have given me some of the most challenging experiences and yet some of the most rewarding and life-changing. You opened my eyes to new things and to new heights (quite literally). You shall be fondly remembered.

Sincerely,

A Wiser Soul

Dear 2012,

Well, frankly I can't wait to meet you. From what I know of you so far, you're pretty exciting. You're gonna bring with you memories and travels and adventures galore. And, yes, I know some of those good times will be wrapped up with bits of hurt and pain, but I guess all roses have their thorns. Here's to discovering the beauty all around us, even the kind that comes from the ashes.

Sincerely,

A Hopeful Girl

A closing prayer for you and me: May all of our 2012s be full of the right open doors and the right closed ones, of memories made in good times and lessons learned in bad. May we have the faith of a child and the courage of a warrior. And may we at all times give thanks to God for his rich blessings and love.

it's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas

I'm not one of those people who begins counting down to Christmas in October and rushes through Thanksgiving, but I must say I'm a big fan of the Christmas season. Maybe it's because Christmas, being sandwiched between my birthday at the beginning of the month and New Year's at the end, represents an entire month of festivities. Or maybe it's because I have an attachment to present wrapping and family gatherings (and, may I add, pie eating). It's certainly not anything related to snow since I didn't see any until I was 17.

I think it has something to do with the music. Music has a way of getting in to you, of bringing back wonderful memories and fond traditions. And I guess, for me, it's always the sign that Christmas time is here. So this year, right after Thanksgiving, we whipped out the holiday tunes and belted out our favorites, and I've listened to it more than anything else since then.

But what I've come to appreciate more and more about Christmas music - and here I mean the classics, not songs like "Mr. Grinch" - is not just the memories of the past it brings but the looking toward the future that it encourages. Advent, a season of the liturgical church calendar, is this time of year; and contrary to the little I knew growing up, it represents more than just lighting a candle on Sundays. Since Christmas is about remembering the birth of Jesus Christ, Advent is about remembering that He's coming back one day - it's a season of longing for our Messiah to return. And the music we sing is resonant of that. From "Joy to the World" to "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" we're reminded of both comings of Christ: we celebrate the one and anticipate the other. In a world where we look around us and see so much wrong, Christmas music reminds us that this isn't the end of the story. There's hope! There's a Savior who came and who's returning.

So, in this season of Christmas that's full of lists of things to buy and people to see (and, for this college student, a list of papers and finals), let's keep the Christmas songs playing and let the message of hope they carry fill our hearts.

time flies when you're having fun

Lame title, I know. But it's true. And it explains why the entire month of October (make that this entire semester) feels like a blur to me. I looked down at my watch today and realized that it's November 1st and thought, "Where the heck did October go?" Though October did go out with a bang: a freak snow storm. 'Twas a strange sight to see Halloween decorations and pumpkins covered in snow.

For the benefit of those who haven't been with me at Eastern (which is probably everyone who actually reads these posts) I'll give ya an update on what I've been up to. Take it as a given that classes and homework are part of the "what I've been doing" so I'll skip to some slightly more interesting things.

Youth group: Can I just say how wonderful being a youth leader is? I adore the students, especially my middle school girls; they're a hoot. We had the middle school retreat a few weeks back and went to this place near the Chesapeake. Fun commenced. A giant swing was involved. It was great. Oh, and I just might be more excited than my girls for our upcoming sleepover. Just maybe. Also, this semester I started co-teaching the middle school Sunday school class. Lesson learned: Food coloring, milk, and doughnuts is cheap entertainment for middle schoolers (with only slight instigation needed). Let's just say that we drank what looked like paint, made our own "jelly-filled" doughnuts, and several students went home with green and blue teeth.

Work: Technically I'm working three jobs right now. Job #1: Office work on campus; I get to work with the nicest ladies ever, too. Job #2: Van driving for freshman service-learning. Funny how the only vehicle I drive on a regular basis now is a 15 passenger van. Also, once we're at the site I get paid to play with preschoolers and make felt animals. Do I like it? Clearly. Job #3: Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. Everyone always asks me what I do there; the short answer is that I help facilitate youth leadership/civics conferences. Never quite feels like work, though, because I love youth and event planning... And even though none of these jobs amount to that many hours, I can still one day tell my kids and grandkids that "when I was your age I had to work 3 jobs at once to pay for college." Hah.

Adventures: Hiking is one of my favorite things to do so I've been happy to have gone on a few hikes this semester (though these hikes can't be compared to Colorado). One was about 30 minutes from campus. We started off in the pouring rain and meandered our way through the trails; proved my survival skills by catching crayfish with my bare hands. Another hike was to Hawk Mountain; prime bird watching territory as the name indicates, so good thing I was with three ornithology students. The last of the hikes was over fall break while camping in Shenandoah National Park. We romped around near Old Rag peak (apparently both the prettiest and hardest hike in the park - but that's to be saved for another trip down there) and also hiked to a really pretty waterfall. Other highlights from that camping trip were gathering around the fire to read The Little Prince out loud to one another (beware of the baobabs) and then having a crab feast in Maryland on the way back.

Future: Denmark and Colorado!! I'm officially going to study abroad in Denmark in the spring. And, a week after getting back from there, I'll be heading out to Colorado for my 2nd summer at Wind River. And a week after I get back from that, I return to Eastern for my senior year. I'm pretty excited about my 2012.

But enough of looking back and looking forward. Time to get back to my task of the day: paper writing.

that time I painted a bedroom... or three

I spent today in Coatesville, PA. If you know anything about the area, you'll know that it was - about a decade ago - home to one of the largest sites for drug dealing on the East coast. No one went up the hill to the projects; not even the mail man. That infamous hill in Coatesville is where I worked all day - not with drug dealers, mind you, but with Habitat for Humanity. About ten years ago the government tore down the projects and, long story short, Habitat was given a substantial number of housing lots by a developer. The site director told us that there are some home owners in the new Habitat houses who grew up on that hill and are amazed by the changes. Newness and life abound; there's hope in that community. To me it was a perfect illustration of how nothing is ever too far gone that it can't be made beautiful.

And it was a wonderful thing to be part of the work Habitat's doing in Coatesville. To hear the stories of what it had been was one thing; but to work alongside and hear the stories of one of the women who's a future home owner - knowing that it's people like her that we were blessing by our labor - was even better. Even though it was simple, today was a day I won't soon forget. I even took home a souvenir as a reminder: a whole slew of white paint stains on my clothes (but at least I'm a pretty confident room painter now).

There was even something - can I say - sacred about today. Seeing. Hearing. Doing. Experiencing. Creating. All these are things that resonate with us as embodied beings, that bring meaning into life. It's possible to have your eyes opened to new ideas in the classroom, but those ideas really take root when you get outside of intellectual speculation and start making concrete application.

Let me make a distinction, though. I used to be under the impression that either you "went and did" or you "sat and thought," as if they were mutually exclusive and you had to pick which you thought was best - or as if one was merely a step up the ladder, a means to achieve the higher good of the other. But I've become convinced that it's not a black and white issue and that life doesn't fit into neat little packages that can be stacked on top of one another, making it very easy to prioritize the ones you want and ignore the rest. I'm convinced that we're both reasoning and creative beings and that both contemplation and action are vitally important. What's more, they work hand in hand, each making the other better. Hearing and discussing new perspectives can certainly lead to more informed action (and vice versa).

And there you have it. In the words of the woman I mentioned earlier: Good things really can come out of Coatesville.

how the day sounds

It's funny how sometimes when you leave a place you're familiar with and come back it feels like you never left. Coming back to school made it seem like my summer was part of some alternate reality - some very wonderful alternate reality. Moreover, having so recently left the ranch it felt a bit like I was being torn out of one world - one full of boots and jeans, idyllic landscapes and days of physical labor - and being tossed abruptly into another - one full of shorts and flip-flops, faster-paced city scapes and hours of intellectual rigor. But after returning to well-loved spots around campus and seeing the faces of people I've journeyed with for the past two years, all the memories (both the good and the bad) have mixed with hopeful expectations for the future. And all is well.

I could rattle off a list of things I miss about ranch life. But reminiscing only takes you so far. It's one thing to fondly remember all those great times, but it's another to take what you learned in one place and go do something with it in another instead of always looking over your shoulder regretting that you're not "there" anymore.

So if I learned anything this summer it's this: people matter. Every single person matters a heck of a lot. No matter if they're different than you, no matter if they stink or get on your nerves or if they make you envious of what you don't have. And life is so much better when you live with other people in mind. When the Bible says stuff like "It's better to give than to receive" or "Look out for others' interests before your own," it's actually telling the truth. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure we're all a lot happier when we don't live for ourselves all the time. That gets kinda boring after awhile anyway; I for one am certainly not as cool or exciting as I'd like to think sometimes.

This leads me to another conclusion: I don't think I'd ever want to live in a large city. Yesterday I took a trip to NYC to visit a friend of mine. For the sake of seeing her, the trip was absolutely wonderful. But I am by no means a city person. I just don't like the constant "go, go, go" attitude or the ever- present crowds. And I especially don't like the fact that everything's so rushed and there's no space to take a deep breath - unless you want to inhale pollution - or to stop and smell the roses - besides, unless you stop at one of those stands where would you find the roses anyway? Sure I'm making generalizations. But the point of what I'm saying is this: When I was walking around the city I was so caught up in the atmosphere and getting to our destination - often undetermined... but highly important nonetheless - that I didn't take time to appreciate what was around me. Or to remember that those "walking road blocks" around me were my fellow human beings, that they each had stories of their own and their own unique joys and struggles.

You don't have to be in a city to have the same experience. You could be in line at a grocery store or even just sitting in class. Every day is full of those moments where you can choose to keep your distance from the beauty and brokenness of others or where you can choose to take a step closer. My experience has been that the latter is always a better option. Not easier. But better - for both them and you.

Now to wrap up this long post. There's this song by Greg Laswell called "How the Day Sounds." I can't vouch for any of his other music because I've never heard it, but I love this one song. He talks about how he had misunderstood what love is: "Everything I knew of love / I was a long way off." But somewhere along the line he begins to understand, if even a little bit, what love's really all about - and it totally changes his perspective: "I like how the day sounds through this new song." I feel a bit like Greg right now. Learning what love is and how to put it into practice. Having my ears opened wider and hearing the joyous notes of "This is How the World's Meant to Be" all around me. And it's a beautiful sound.

one long hike

Darkness. 2AM and heading up the trail. The journey begins.
Headlamp. One foot in front of the other. Hard to see.
City lights. Skyscrapers appear as dots in the distance. Standing above civilization.
Daybreak. Sunbeams break slowly over the horizon. Orange and pink.
Light. Slowly climbing up the boulder field. Watch my step.
Sun. Risen fully and revealing a majestic landscape. Beauty of destination.
Wind. Storm coming in faster than expected. Change our plans.
Breathe. Take in the accomplishment of what we've reached. Savor the moment.
Look. Descending, seeing the darkened path we'd climbed. Take some pictures.
Sigh. See the parking lot around the bend. Return to familiar.
Smile. Greeted by children's smiling faces, warm embraces. Never forget it.
Reflect. The mountain will still be there later. Today will not.
Cherish. Enjoy my last day with these children, with this ranch. Love matters most.

This past Friday I set out to climb Long's Peak (roughly 14,200 feet). I'd been anticipating it for weeks and couldn't wait to see from the top of the mountain I'd looked at every day for half a summer. The poetry-esque thing above tells a bit of the day's story. Basically, we hiked up to a place called the keyhole which is a mile or so away from the summit. The keyhole's the point at which you determine if the conditions are safe enough to go on; unfortunately they weren't. Lots of fast wind bringing in storm clouds. So we had to turn around. But we were SO close. I mean it would've taken us another hour or two, but when you've already hiked five it's not that big of a deal. I was disappointed for sure, but life just happens that way sometimes and you gotta move on. As one of my hiking buddies said, "It's not like that mountain's going anywhere anytime soon." And the view from the keyhole itself was stunning so at least we got some payoff for our hard work.

Because we didn't spend the extra time summiting, we got back to the ranch by mid-morning, just in time for wrangler breakfast. Looking back on it, I'm glad that things worked out that way. Ya see, this past week (week 6 for me) brought with it a fantastic group of kids that I really bonded with (the kids are always great but sometimes there's that little something added to make an extra connection). Getting to hang out with my kiddos on their last day (and the day before mine) was totally worth it. Seeing them with all their joy and energy made me smile real big on the inside and out. And I wouldn't have traded it for anything.

That mountain's not going anywhere. But opportunities to spend time with and show love to other people do.

from chaos to peace

Just finished up week 4 at the ranch. I came away from it with a new appreciation for the energy and creativity of 8 year old boys and their urge to jump and climb on things - which often ended up being me (my hat will forever bear their loving marks).

I have to say that this week wasn't an easy one for me (not that every other week has been complete "pie in the sky" - though there has been pie consumption involved, of the apple variety). Mid-way through I started feeling sick and I spent the rest of the week either in bed or feeling like my head weighed a hundred pounds. It wasn't fun. And with the ill health came low spirits, which in my opinion might have been worse.

Friday night, things started to turn around... Friday is the last night for the guests so we do our final fireside service which includes time for them to share anything that's on their mind about the week. I'd been given permission to take a nap late that afternoon and probably could've just slept through till morning, but I really wanted to be at fireside so I moseyed (yay for ranch lingo) on down there, and I'm glad I did. Guest after guest stood up to say what an incredible time they'd had all week, how they'd been ministered to by God and through others in special and life-changing ways. It's hard to capture in words the atmosphere of a Friday night fireside. Just place yourself around a fire at dusk, surrounded by people you dearly love, with a majestic mountain peak in the background; peacefulness and thanksgiving fill the air.

Now it's not like I hadn't been to any other firesides, but this one stood out to me because it was a clear reminder of why we do what we do. We (the staff) aren't serving here because it's the best paying job or the easiest job - we serve here because we have a love for God and people and the work He's doing in their lives. And playing even just a small part in that process is an incredible and humbling thing, something that makes each day and each task - no matter how small - very worth it.

And as I listened to all the testimonies from the guests that night, suddenly my aches and pains and discouraged thoughts just didn't seem all that important any more.

one step at a time

As I write this I'm sitting outside on the back steps of the staff house looking up at a host of stars. Wish I could see this many stars everywhere I go. I've been trying to remember all the constellations I memorized for astronomy but only a few have been sticking out. Alas.

At any rate, the past couple of weeks have been very full and very fun. I traded out card games for cops & robbers, and coffee-drinking excursions for karaoke. That's another way of saying I'm not working with the teens anymore. Tweens are a blast but definitely keep ya on your toes. Wouldn't trade it for anything, though. Every week I get to run around the ranch catching goats, screaming "Get him!" toward the work crew guys as the kids go running to tickle them, and assist in the lassoing of housekeepers (highlights of the photo scavenger hunt). This last week in particular had a great group of kids (super sweet), and I definitely teared up when I had to say goodbye. I can't tell you how many times they asked me if I'd be back next year so they could see me again; warmed my heart. I'd love to come back but we'll see what happens; one step at a time. It's awesome, too, how we not only had a blast doing all the crazy things that the tweens end up doing but how we also had some really good lesson times (our one serious moment of each morning) that they seemed to really understand and I hope sticks more than who won what game.

In addition to having fantastic tweens, I've had a few neat surprises:
Surprise #1: I finally saw the elk! I'd been waiting and waiting to see the elk I'd heard so much about, and one morning I was sitting outside where I'm at now and look up to see 2 elk in the woods. Beautiful moment.
Surprise #2: On Wednesday I was extremely blessed to go white water rafting with one of the families who had two boys in the tweens group. Long story of how I got to go, but I was so very thankful for the opportunity. I got my fair share of freezing water, but it was well worth it. And I got a neat object lesson out of it, too, which I'll share in a minute.
Surprise #3: On Saturday I went hiking with some people up to a place called Ouzel Falls. Almost went for a nap that afternoon, but I'm glad I didn't because the hike was just what I needed. And guess what we found at the top past the falls? SNOW! In late July, just chilling there. Really cool.

So, while I was rafting I noticed something: We paddlers had no idea what we were doing. The guide sat in the back yelling out instructions and we compliantly obeyed. We obeyed because we trusted that he knew what he was doing and we didn't. And also because we didn't want to end up trashing around in the water with all those rocks around. There were times when honestly his instructions didn't make sense to me. But if we'd ignored what he said and done what we thought was the right thing to do we'd have landed ourselves in the water for sure. Translate this experience into another scenario: I don't know what life's gonna look like for me, and I don't know the way I ought to go to get there (wherever "there" is). That's why being obedient to God is so important. Just like with that rafting guide, I've got to obey even when it seems crazy to me. Otherwise I'm gonna land myself in a bad situation (it may not be wet and cold but it sure won't be best for me). And most of the time we don't get a gameplan or map in advance. We just have to listen and obey, taking one step at a time. That's why I said earlier that I don't know if I'll be back out here next summer. As much as I'd love to (gosh, I'd love to do something like this for the rest of my life - especially in the beauty of Colorado), we'll just have to see what happens. And it's like that with everything. I don't know what next semester or next month or even tomorrow is gonna be like - what joys and what troubles I'll face - but my Guide does and I trust Him to lead me safely.

just jump

Today marks day #10 of ranch life for me. Seems like I've been here a heck of a lot longer than that, though (in a good way). Wind River is a wonderful place to be. Not just because it's nestled in the Rockies (at something like 9200 ft elevation) and I get to wake up every morning to the beauty of the mountains but also because the people here are great, staff and guests included. I've had fun getting to know everyone so far, and bonding with the guests is a highlight - though it was really sad when I had to say good-bye to last week's guests. One of the girls just hugged me and cried, saying that she just didn't want to leave (this was one of the girls who nicknamed me "Los Dos Italianos" - not quite sure they understood the meaning of the word "dos"). I got to know a great bunch of fun-loving tweens and teens, too. We did the obstacle course multiple times, did a scavenger hunt and archery, and went to putt-putt, amongst other things like Bible studies, olymypic games, a kids' rodeo, and square dancing. And because I actually ended up working more with the teens last week, I went with them to coffee in town and also enjoyed the antics of the game Mau (if you've ever played you know it's simultaneously frustrating and hilarious). I'm with the younger and more energetic tweens this week, though; they're a hoot.

When not hanging out with the tweens/teens, I wore many other different hats. Everyone does a little bit of everything around here. So in the afternoons I weeded and watered flowers, made beds, folded towels (I know how to make a fancy towel set now), washed dishes, waited on tables, and - as of today - mucked pens. But it's not "all work and no play" around here either. The first weekend I was here we (meaning the staff) went to Boulder to hang out and have a nice dinner. And this past weekend I climbed up the Twin Sisters peak (it's conveniently in the backyard of the ranch). Hiking is so gratifying because 1) you feel accomplished afterwards and 2) the view is absolutely gorgeous from the top.

At any rate, ranch life / counselor life is fantastic. As with anything there are highs and lows (and up here that's not just figurative) but I love the kids and I can't get enough of the scenery. I'm constantly humbled by the majesty of God around here - be it from looking out at His natural wonders or looking into the eyes of His precious children.

One last thing (I promise it's related): On my flight to Denver I met an older woman who was going to a week-long women's expedition for hiking and biking. I asked her how long she'd been doing those things and she said only in the past few years had she gotten into it. How neat to still be living life to the fullest and starting new hobbies and adventures even in the latter years of life. Move forward to the arrival of the guests last week: I met a girl my age from Australia who'd come to the US and Canada to travel for 6 weeks - by herself and just because. I admired her bravery for doing so. And even though she came without family, she said that everyone at the ranch became like her family. Why do I mention these two ladies? Because they both had courage to step out and do un-ordinary things and achieve their dreams. They didn't let fear or "what if's" hold them back. They just went. Thinking of them actually reminds me of a Norman Rockwell painting I saw once of a boy hanging on for dear life onto a pool's high board. He was too scared to jump, and I wanted to get into the painting and tell him "just jump!" But, ya see, often I'm like that little boy who was too scared to jump. So meeting people like those two I mentioned reminds me that sometimes I need to take my own advice and "just jump." To go and do those things that I want to do but am maybe a little apprehensive about - like going out to Colorado to work on a ranch (don't get me wrong I was excited to come, but every new experience has its uncertainties). I've learned, though, that in the end those things you're scared to do at first are usually the most life-changing.

Well, time for me to be getting off to bed. Bright and early start tomorrow.

I lift my eyes unto the hills

In several hours I'll be boarding a plane to Colorado. I've always wanted to go there so this is a dream come true. I have the great opportunity of working there for 6 weeks on a Christian family ranch: Wind River Ranch in Estes Park. I'm hired to be a tweens counselor, but I'll be lending a hand with a variety of other things, too. The days will be long but the scenery (mountatins of course) will be beautiful. And I've often thought to myself that I'd rather work with kids than do anything else so I'm pretty sure I'm in for a good time. (Ok, not "pretty sure" - this is like a dream job, and I'm super excited for it!) Hopefully I'll be able to update this blog on a weekly basis with what I'm up to.

All that being said, I don't pretend to think that I'm going to be successful on my own. I could launch into the importance of teamwork and relying on the strengths of other staff members, etc (and all that's true and important). But what I mean here is looking to the Source of any strength and ability that I (and we) have in the first place. I believe with all my heart that I wouldn't be where I'm at - including heading out to the ranch - if it weren't for the grace of God in my life. So when the going gets tough, as I know it will, this girl will get going in prayer. And if I ever I forget this, I'll need only to look up at the mountains:

I lift my eyes unto the hills.
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
Maker of heaven and earth.

a few FL high points

When I started this blog I intended to write about the places I go. So far I have two posts and neither are about any travels. And that's not because I haven't gone anywhere interesting either. I want to at least add something about my time in Florida (which is nearing its end) so here are a couple of things, all of which took place last weekend:

1. Let's start with the actual high point of Florida - right near the Alabama border and at a whopping 345 feet. Even shorter than I expected it to be. If it weren't for the sign telling me I was at a "high point" I would've had no idea; there was zero change in elevation from that all-important monument to the surrounding land. Last time I was at a state's high point was in New York on top of Mt. Marcy; that one's about 5600 feet if I remember correctly. Alas. If I didn't already know that Florida was the flattest state, I know it well now. On the bright side, seeing that low high point satisfied my desire to say I'd been there. Total, I'm 2 out of 50.

2. The FL caverns: a beautiful specimen of the wonders of nature. I'd never been into a cavern before, and I was in awe from the moment I stepped in. My first reaction was, "Wow! I can't believe this is actually real." My only experience with caverns until then had been with fake, Disney-esque ones. In addition to being real, this cavern was old. It takes 100 years for the stalactites and stalagmites to grow 1 cubic inch (or some ratio like that). Point is that it takes FOREVER and some of those tites and mites were several feet tall. Old and breathtaking. These things have been around much, much longer than I have and will still be there when I die. Pretty cool if you ask me.

3. Boll weevil monument: Ok, so this one's actually in Alabama. Enterprise, AL to be exact. Long ago they were cotton farmers but then the boll weevil came along and destroyed their crops. Then they got into the peanut industry, and it was a huge success (thanks to the innovations of George Washington Carver). So in 1919 they erected a monument of an angelic woman holding a giant boll weevil above her head. A little weird if you ask me. But I guess it's cool that their community knew how to look on the bright side of adversity and find the good in it.

There's certainly a lot more I could write about Florida, but three's the charm for right now. BECAUSE... I'm leaving in a few hours. More to come on that.

what a wonderful world

When I'm home and in need of a cure from cabin fever, I often go to Starbucks to read. A couple of weeks ago I was in need of such a cure so I found my way into one of the many local Starbucks. As I was sitting there reading, a little girl (escorted by Grandpa) bounded through the doors with all the spark of life radiating from her eyes. She was no more than three years old and had the prettiest curls. All around the coffee shop, heads lifted from books and laptops to take note of this young customer. The newcomer proceeded to prance around the store, holding some small object in her hand that she delighted in. She didn't care that people were looking at her (with smiles on their faces, of course); she just did her thing, and the joy it produced was evident in smiles and squeals of laughter. Soon after Grandpa got his drink, they left the shop. But the atmosphere had changed. That girl, in less than five minutes and without even knowing it, had left everyone in Starbucks with a smile on their face and joy in their hearts; she certainly left an impression on me (that night is still fresh in my mind after two weeks).

She reminded me of the importance of seeing the world as children naturally see it: with wonder. Wonder inspires people to learn and discover new things and to revel in the beauty and blessing of what's already around them. Taking time to delight in the small things, from buzzing bugs to budding blossoms. Or even just appreciating things like a good conversation with a friend or the ability to live in a house with AC (wouldn't want to imagine a Florida summer without it). When you look at the world through eyes of wonder, you can't help but be thankful for what you see; thankfulness brings joy along with it, and these in turn bring love - a love of life, of the people around you, and of the One who created it all.

Sometimes, though, it takes a child to remind us of this important truth: that the world is truly wonderful.

The Preface

For whoever's reading this, I suppose I ought to explain why I made this blog. I might say it's because I've often had the thought of starting a blog and finally decided to "just do it" (thanks to Nike for popularizing that phrase). I might say it's because a few of my friends started blogs in the past year, and reading their posts inspired me to create a blog of my very own. I might say it's because I've been aching for a creative outlet or that, since going off to college, I've wanted to find a better way to communicate my many experiences with family and friends. Whatever the reason, here I am writing my first post.

I hope to share of my travels in the lovely states of Florida (home) and Pennsylvania (school), of road trips to yet-to-be-determined locations elsewhere in the USA, and even to other countries when I study abroad in the spring. I also hope to share trinkets of joy and maybe even wisdom as I find them along the way. Who knows what places I'll end up and what things I'll learn. But here's to the journey - wherever it takes me.