2013 in a Nutshell

After five exhausting months with AmeriCorps, I got to spend the weekend with some of the best people I’ve ever met…the Team Leaders of the Southern Region AmeriCorps campus. Hearing about everyone’s struggles and growth in our time apart was sometimes hilarious and mostly inspiring. We did it. We made it through our first SPIKE…in mostly one piece. Being with everyone caused a lot of reminiscing over the past couple months: Corps Team Institute, Team Leader Training, and the collegiate months leading up to my first post-graduate job. Through our many walks down memory lane, I realized an incredible truth: 2013 has been the best year of my life thus far.

I feel like every year I’m certain that this year is the best…and I am totally okay with that. I hope I think that the current year is always the best year. That just means I’m always moving forward, loving life more and more fully, and growing into an even better version of me constantly. I am fully convinced that I learned more in the past year than I have all the other years of my life combined. A college Professor of mine once said that when you are 20, you are essentially a new born. Every year after you turn 20 you are constantly consuming an overload of information. When you’re 22, you know twice as much as you did when you were 20…and 4 times more when you’re 24…and so on. This kind of seems like a tangent now that I’ve written it out…but I guess I’m just trying to say that my Professor was completely correct and that being a professional is more educational than being a student any day. What a wonderful revelation. J

So here are just a few of the many things that made 2013 the best year…ever.

• Rode a tandem bicycle
• Learned “River Flows in You” on piano
• Performed at ICCA’s with Take it SLO
• Was completely in love
• Traveled to Amsterdam with Dave
• Had my first marketing internship
• Bought myself a harmonica (that I still need to learn how to play)
• Graduated college with my Bachelor’s degree
• Spent an awesome weekend with my dad in Buffalo and Niagara Falls
• Went to Las Vegas for the first time
• Worked (and am still working) for AmeriCorps
• Went to New Orleans for the first time
• Visited five brand new states
• Turned Bayou 6 into a family <3
• Became a part of Team Green
• Started calling my Dad and brother on the phone

You know what rocks even more than knowing that 2013 was awesome? Knowing that 2014 is going to be even better. I will be spending the first 6 months of the year finishing up my time with AmeriCorps…and I already have a bunch of half-baked ideas about what I want to do with the rest of the year: move to a big city with fellow TLs, work for a marketing company, travel across Spain, start planning a possibly bakery opening…etc. I have never been full of so much hope or promise in my life. I am so grateful that I work for AmeriCorps for the obvious growth and love that is constantly surrounding me…but also because these are the people I am going to start the rest of my life with! I cannot begin to describe just how excited I am. Oh, 2013…and the excitement of 2014!! This has been a wonderful year. Thank you to every last one of you that supported me in my many crazy, stupid, impulsive, irrational, and intelligent decisions this year. Your support means the world.

Ah, I’m so damn happy. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

The Seven Day Countdown!

In exactly seven days, I will be home for 13 whole days. While there, I will be…

• Sleeping in my own bed
• Baking gluten-free cookies
• Celebrating Christmas
• Playing my piano
• Singing to myself
• Reading books all day
• Giving On the Road another go…
• Talking non-stop with Mom
• Hanging out with my “baby” brother
• Running with Dad
• Socializing!!
• Enjoying California weather
• Frequenting coffee shops
• Volunteering at homeless shelters
• Watching sappy Christmas movies with my parents
• Recording songs with Aaron
• Driving around to see muh frands J
• Putting my toes in the Pacific Ocean

It has been a long time since I’ve been looking for adventure in Orange County (or LA or San Diego). If you have any fun, creative, sober ideas…shoot! I want to use my time at home to its absolute fullest. The way I see it…this may be my last time in my hometown for an extended amount of time. After AmeriCorps graduation I will either be moving to some yet-to-be-determined location for work…or traveling. Either way—after these 5 non-stop stressful months’ work—I’m craving a little irresponsibility and self-indulgence. Let’s make trouble!

Okay, okay…for those of you that know me…you know I actually hate getting into trouble. You also know that I’m perfectly satisfied with little things like leaving chalk messages on peoples’ driveways. I just want silly memories and wonderful company. I’ll be home December 23^rd – January 5^th. Come play with me! J

Roller Coaster November

This post, wow, what good timing to start this post. Lately, I have been really down about my team…about our work…and about the general lack of effort surrounding (and drowning) me. Usually, I can pull through and be positive and encouraging for everyone…but lately, that just hasn’t been happening. But luckily, that is where this post comes in. Every day I write in my journal and then every month, I go through and pick out my TOP highlights from the month. After experiencing the last couple days with a negative veil over my eyes, this is the activity I needed to start truly appreciating the incredible individuals I surround myself with every day. Of the top highlights from this month, half (literally half—14 out of 28) are about my team. There is absolutely no reason that this cannot be a trend that happens every month. I just need to remember to try a little harder even when I don’t want to.

So let’s talk about how awesome Bayou 6 is…

Our Last Day in the Iowa Office

As I have mentioned in previous posts, our last day in the office in Iowa was incredible. The staff threw us a pizza party since they think it’s outrageous we only get $4.75 per day for food, the State of Iowa Homeland Security gave us beautiful State emblem coins to express their gratitude, and we left with dozens of hugs and well-wishings. Our first deployment assignment was a hit and everyone there truly knew how to express their gratitude. After being in Missouri for 3 weeks, I think it’s safe to say we miss everyone at that office very much.

We Finally Learned How to Work Out Together

So…because of the varying levels of athletic ability on the team, it is very challenging to enjoy or enforce group physical training. I do, however, enforce group physical training to occur at least once of the three mandatory times per week. Well, we finally figured out a system that works. Every person on the team comes up with a 5 minute exercise (ie. Jogging, sit-ups, push-ups, stretching—anything really) and then we rotate. This system allows for everyone to be in control of the difficulty and type of workout they want to have AND everyone gets to participate. One week we played “Jigalo”—you know, the game where you say “My hands are high my feet are low and this is how I Jigalo” and then you do some silly dance move? Another activity was practicing our runway walk, skipping around a building (significantly more exhausting than it sounds on paper), and more challenging and dreaded activities like burpees. So far, it’s been a hit…and a wonderful opportunity for all of us to laugh together.

Carpe Diem

I learned quickly that the “Can You Help Me?” activity all the Team Leaders participated in during TLT is not only meant to be shared among Team Green. I was at the absolute end of my rope this past month when two Corps Members quit on the same day. I cried—a lot—and talked with just about everyone BUT my team about the disintegration that was occurring. What a mistake that was. It was a mistake, however, that I needed make. It helped me understand just how elating it is to be vulnerable, honest, and ask for help…from those who can actually help. Two of my Corps Members responded to my “How can I help you guys through this?” question with “Just hang out with us more”. Was it that easy? It was definitely worth the try and I was desperate. Over the following two weeks, I went on artistic picture adventures with my CMs, surprised my team with hot cocoa, planned a Bayou 6 talent show, tried on prom dresses, went to 5am boot camp workouts, and cooked breakfast…all with my team. And guess what? It worked. Morale was through the roof—even with people leaving—and there was a huge sense of hope in the air.

Our Honorary Bayou 6 Member, Lady Gaga

One of my Corps Members is a HUGE Gaga fan and purchased her new album “ARTPOP” on its first day of release. We, of course, listened to the CD here and there…especially on our long trek to the new living location. On our first day in the Missouri office, everyone was a bit tired, a little bit grumpy, and a-lot-a-bit unmotivated. In order to lift our spirits, someone asked Jacob “Which song on Gaga’s CD would be a good pump up jam?” Immediately, he said #10: Donatella. This song has become our Anthem, seriously. We blast it on our way to work, on our way to Physical Training, and on our way to anywhere really. Check it out. It’s the best and it will forever remind me of this team. I love that J 

New Goals of November

Taking Advantage of Celiac Disease

While I was in the middle of reading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, I had an epiphany. [I think] I figured out what I wanted to do with my life!

Open a Gluten Free Bakery that offers parent-child cooking classes!

The main reason I want to start this—truly— is for my some-day children. Celiac disease is genetic. I want my kids to have the same chance to sink their teeth into a delectable piece of chocolate cake on their birthday as every other child. The reason for the cooking classes? I might want to study Developmental Psychology…so it would be an interesting way to observe parent-child interaction and learning. And, well, a lot of people have told me I should teach. So that’s part of it too J

HOT AIR BALLOONS!

Add fly in a hot air balloon to my bucket list! My friend told me there is an event called “The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta” that happens every October. I want to go…Fiesta 2014, here I come!

TED Talk

Since starting my job with AmeriCorps…I have listened to a lot of TED talks—probably like 50, seriously. From these talks I have learned more than I’ve learned in most my years of college (oops), gotten extremely helpful advice, and been inspired to rock this world. I’ve also been inspired to get my butt up on one of those stages to give one of my very own TED talks. Between now and then…I just need to find something worth talking about. Maybe that thing is AmeriCorps…or young people volunteering in general? We’ll see J

Just a Little Encouragement 

It is very rare—unfortunately—that I am told that I am doing a good job by anyone (other than my mother). I say this…not to complain…but rather to express my exhaustion. My job is to keep my team motivated, happy, healthy, and safe. There is nothing easy about this. What many of my team members don’t understand is that putting them first every day is exhausting. The bigger problem, though, is that my energy is rarely externally replenished. I give the team my energy…and I rarely get any back. My strength is internal (which I’m proud of) but, like I said, exhausting. This does make the occasional compliment, job well-done, or simple thank you mean so more...

During our time in Iowa, work was slow. I learned that a bored team is the most challenging kind of team. Despite this setback, everyone still got their work done…and with a relatively good attitude. I didn’t really understand just how well we were doing until two FEMA employees told me…

On two separate occasions from two different employees, Bayou 6 was complimented. It was one thing to hear others talk highly of my team—I was proud of them too—but it was more to hear the next thing they said. In the past year of the FEMA/AmeriCorps partnership, these employees have worked with a handful of FEMA Corps teams—some good, some bad. They said that when it came down to it—whether the team was motivated, doing the work correctly, and the like—it was all about the leadership. The most successful teams had excellent leaders. For the first time since leaving for SPIKE—despite members quitting, the team’s occasional bitterness, and my many crazy spells—someone told me that I was doing an excellent job. I cherish these conversations every day.

The Simple Serendipities

Ah, the little things that might go unnoticed if I didn’t write them down. This month’s simply induced smiles…

Inspirational Speech: When the rumors of Bayou 6 members dropping like flies drifted to me…I took action. I spent an entire day typing, editing, re-editing, and practicing aloud a “speech” I wrote for my team. I still read this speech to my team occasionally. At the last team meeting of November one of my Corps Members asked me to send it to all of them so they can read it for inspiration. She called it the “Inspirational Speech”. My effort was worth it. It made me unbelievably joyful…and proud.

Kristen Winston: My Corps Member and I were trying to pick out a movie the other day and we are both TERRIBLE at knowing actor’s and actress’s names. She was trying to think of Kate Winslet’s name when referencing The Titanic…and she called her “Kristen Winston”. I nearly died laughing.

SNOW! The first snow of AmeriCorps occurred on November 11, 2013. It was cold and beautiful. I smiled when I thought of the last snow I encountered… the last day in Dusseldorf, Germany with Dave J

Being an Editor: As you all can tell…I love love love writing. And guess what? I love editing too. My friend Dave has this kick-ass travel blog-- The Quest for Awesome-- and has been writing guest posts for some other travel blogs, too. He has asked me to help him edit a couple posts. It’s been awesome to do something I love for someone I care so deeply about. Win win J

Mini Team Green Reunion: I was in Jefferson City for 7 glorious days. Embracing Sarah and Mike on my first day in Jeff City (November 18^th) flooded me with oceans of euphoria. This had to be the most joyful, emotional moment I had all of November. 

How Thanksgiving Turned Out :)

Yesterday morning, I woke up before the sun. I got to spend my first couple hours awake with my lovely Corps Member Kylie on the easy, relaxing, and even-a-little beautiful drive to St. Louis. The conversation was as lush as it always was. I’m so grateful that I have someone on my team that I truly can call a friend. I was definitely reminded yesterday how wonderful friendship is…especially when my opportunity to entertain that relationship is so rare lately. I’m grateful for all the friends I’ve made in the past months, in my years of college, in Take it SLO, through Cal Poly’s Orientation Programs, and the majority of my life spent in Lake Forest.

After dropping my Corps Member off at the airport, I accidentally got a little lost in St. Louis. “Those with a bad sense of direction see more of the world” was my mantra yesterday. I walked around the city and was able to take in a whole bunch of the Thanksgiving Day Parade floats and wished nearly every stranger I passed by a “Happy Thanksgiving”. Originally, I had hoped to watch the parade, get some food, maybe go see a movie, or go to church…but then I realized that I didn’t want any of that at all. I wanted my family. I spent almost my entire time in St. Louis on the phone with my mom at the beautiful park near the famous St. Louis Gateway arch. The view was gorgeous and the conversation was as if my mother was sitting directly across from me. To be quite honest, I couldn’t have imagined a better use of my day. I really just needed a chance to be away from my Ameri-life, to be outside, and to connect with my family.

The best part of my day…is that the beauty of it didn’t stop when I left St. Louis. On the ride home, my Dad’s, brother’s, and my favorite Christmas song came on the radio: Santa Claus is Coming to Town by The Boss. I blasted the radio, treated the steering wheel as a drum set, and sang my lungs out. It was as if my two favorite men were right beside me.

When I returned to the hotel, all my Corps Members were hanging out…AND they were cooking Thanksgiving dinner. We all indulged in a painfully filling feast of ham, green bean casserole, scalloped potatoes, and stuffing (but I didn’t eat this item, of course).  They even joined me in my Conmy Family tradition: watch a Christmas movie J Luckily my Corps Member is as big a fan of Elf as I am…we pre-emptively quoted the movie the entire time.

I think it is safe to say that I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Considering I was away from the people I love most…I had the absolute best day I could have had. I am incredibly grateful for my ability to be positive throughout the day, for the extensive conversation I had with my mother, for my caring and supportive Corps Members, and for my family for instilling so many traditions of love in my heart.  I’m thankful, too, more than I ever could have imagined if I wasn’t in this program, that I even have a home and family to miss.

So thank you, again, to my family for showing me so much love throughout my life. I am blessed to have a life I miss so terribly. I wouldn’t miss it if I wasn’t so in love with it.

I hope everyone had a memorable Thanksgiving and truly gave thanks this year. Don’t forget to tell the ones you love just how much you do. I promise it is as good to give love as it is to receive it.

Happy Holidays, everyone J

p.s. 24 days until I get to hug my mom, dad, and brother and sleep in my own bed! THE ANTICIPATION IS KILLING ME! J

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! :)

So let’s definitely start off with the super-duper positive here. Back in April, I committed myself to writing in my Daily Highlights Journal every day. Today, on November 27, 2013, I filled out the last page of my first ever completed notebook. Even throughout my time as a student, I don’t think I can say that I have ever completely filled a notebook with words…or sketches…or numbers or ANYTHING. This, I think, is a huge accomplishment in itself. I committed myself to this journal, to bettering myself, to keeping more positive and grateful…and look at me now—I did it…and I’m about to do it again (and again and again, hopefully).

With the completion of this notebook, I’ve become incredibly nostalgic (the timing is also matching up with the first holiday I will spend without my family…but I’ll address that later). This notebook accounts for every exciting moment of my life in the past almost seven months. It spans from April 8^th to November 27^th this year, it’s traveled with me all over the United States, and it contains some huge life events. What should also be included under the “life events” category is something along the lines of “I’m beginning to learn who I really am and what I really want for myself and others in this world.” It is obviously still a work in progress (I truly believe everyone’s is), but the past four months have been especially enlightening for me. Because of my dedicated documentation, I will hopefully be able to reminisce, learn from, and reflect on all my many mistakes and victories in these past months.

Onto the less warm, fuzzy feeling stuff…Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I am in the Middle Of Nowhere, Missouri without my family. My friend who spent last year’s holiday season away from all things familiar said “I’m sure you will do it too and realize it’s not that big of a deal” when I commended him on his ability to handle the loneliness of being away from family, friends, and home on Thanksgiving and Christmas last year. To that I responded: “It won’t be a big deal once it’s over. But it’s a big deal to me right now.” You know what, I hate that. I know that in one week I will have “survived” Thanksgiving without my family and I will be one week closer to seeing my family for the Christmas holiday. So why can’t tomorrow just feel like a normal Thursday? My brain accepts tomorrow as just another Thursday—another day of being a Team Leader—but my heart and my emotions are just not having it. I’m sad I’m deployed without other Team Leaders again, I’m jealous of my Corps Members who get to see their families, and I’m ready to take care of just myself (even just for a day).

Despite my melancholy, I have devised a plan to hopefully manipulate myself into happiness…or at least, peacefulness. Tomorrow morning, I will be driving my Corps Member to the airport in St. Louis, two hours away. After I drop her off I plan to do at least one of these three things: 1) Watch the St. Louis Thanksgiving Day Parade 2) Go to the movies to see “Frozen” and/or 3) Attend a church service before returning to my hotel with the remaining four members of my team. If I’m going to be driving out of my way to a big city, I might as well take advantage of it, right? I hope to dress warm enough to walk around, take pictures, and soak in this brand new environment—even if just for a short time. A large reason I signed up for this job was to see the United States…so that is exactly what I will do. And for that, I am THANKFUL.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who will be celebrating with your families and friends, to those who are away from them, and to those in new and unfamiliar places. If I can do this, you can do this. Someone out there is thankful for you…so don’t forget to be thankful too.

On a mushy, emotional note, I want to give out a few shout-outs to people I am thankful for:

Mom—You have always been my rock, you have never faltered in being the best Mom I could have ever asked for. Thank you for your constant encouragement and reminders that you love me. That means more to me than I think I'll ever fully realize. 

Dad—Over this past year we have gotten much closer and it is one of my most beautiful and valued friendships. Thank you for always being my source of positivity and motivation. I hope to be as good a daughter to you and Mom as you are to your parents-- it's a relationship I truly admire. 

Daniel—I have been missing you so much lately. Thank you for always answering my phone calls, text messages, and goofy snapchats. You are one of the most down-to-earth, genuinely kind, and giving people I have ever met…sometimes I can’t believe we share the same genes.

Team Green—I don’t even know where to begin with you all. Thank you for not judging me when I was my weepy, emotional self throughout TLT, for being my rocks when challenging Team Leader moments come up, and for being my constant sources of inspiration. I know each of you is capable of greatness. I’m so proud of you for your selfless commitment to this program. You are all the perfect combination of insane and invincible and I wouldn't have it any other way. I count down the moments until I get to embrace each of you again J

Bayou 6—Thank you, those still on the team and those not, for challenging me every day. By trying to solve your conflicts, I have learned more about myself and have been able to grasp even better why I am here as your Team Leader. I love all of you—I really, really do. You drive me insane (and I know this feeling is mutual), but when it comes down to it, I’d do anything for you. Thank you for helping me develop patience and practice my leadership skills out on all of you. Bayou 6—SASSY SIX! *snap*

Dave—I would like to think that I would be in this life-changing job without your encouragement…but I just don’t know if that is true. Thank you for helping me realize my need and desire for adventure, for challenging me to solve problems, and for putting up with my occasional B.S. From the moment I met you, I knew you would change my life. Thank you for the memories, the love, the support, and the laughter you have given me this past year.

Emma—Thank you for being a constant source of joy in my life, for being an introvert with me, and for giving me the best memories of my senior year. I am so proud of you for your unfaltering desire for greatness, especially when it comes to your education. You are beautiful, perfectly weird, and will forever be: my coworker <3

All my friends and family (sorry I’m not typing out any more individual ones)—You all have seen me at some of my best moments and worst ruts of my life. Thank you for loving me through it all. I know I have a bad habit of not being in touch with hardly anyone…so please, call me out on it. I want to maintain and grow the many beautiful friendships I have developed over the years. Just because I’m a not-so-good-long-distance-friend doesn’t mean I don’t think about you or love you any less.

Okay…I think that is enough mush for one post. But let’s be real, if you want to message me…I guarantee I have something heartfelt to say to you, too. I realized that about myself this week…uplifting other people in their moments of doubt is where I get my energy. Help me help you. You are beautiful, meant to be exactly where you are, and are worthy of love. Happy Thanksgiving. What are you thankful for this year? 

October: The Beginning of Life on the Road

October was the “true” beginning of my job with AmeriCorps. My team and I found out our first deployment location….twice, we drove away from the place we all began to call our home, and we were separated from the support systems that were fostered throughout Team Leader Training and Corps Team Institute. October was the month of big changes and even bigger challenges. But October was also the month where Bayou 6 began its transformation from team to family. As always, here are the highlights of the highlights from my month. I am grateful for every last one of them.

Team Green

October was the last time I saw Team Green its entirety. The last Friday night we all had together, we threw a surprise birthday party for one of the Team Leaders. It was the most wonderful night. You can read about it here…and check out the wonderful pictures below J

Four of the wonderful women of Bayou :)

This is Doug. He lets me dance silly with him.

Team Green. Enough said.

Bayou 6

As I mentioned earlier, this is the month that my team finally began its transformation from teammates to family. Bayou 6 was thrust into the middle of Iowa…alone…in the midst of the disagreements we always found ourselves in. Anything Bayou 6 could disagree about, they did: where to eat, what kind of music to listen to, the correct temperature of the van…everything. Being the only team sent to Iowa caused a change in all of us that I could never have seen coming. Because there weren’t other friend options around, they spent time together. Instead of throwing fits about how we do grocery shopping, we sat and had a constructive conversation to come up with plausible (and successful) solutions. Instead of speaking every negative thing on our minds, we held our tongues a little bit longer. Everyone, whether they knew they were doing it or not, started respecting each other more…and it was (and still is) beautiful.

Our First Day in the Office

During Corps Training Institute, we were told to make some sort of PowerPoint or presentation to share with the office upon our arrival. Because the disasters we were assigned to were so long ago, everyone in the office was able to make time to listen to our Bayou 6 spiel. We shared with a room full of professional emergency management strangers that we are a team of individuals between the ages of 18 and 24. We told them that physical training is a part of our job, we volunteer throughout the communities we live, a huge part of our program is to plan our Life After AmeriCorps, and we shared bits about ourselves—educationally, personally, professionally. When we completed our presentation we were met with smiles and one particular comment that will always resonate with me. A woman expressed her gratitude for us giving them this presentation. She said we were about her 6^th FEMA Corps team she would be working with and that she never knew how much responsibility we have outside of our 9 to 5 emergency management gig. This presentation gave FEMA employees the opportunity to start conversations on topics we all had in common, some showed us a free exercise facility, and others started forwarding us volunteer opportunities in the area. Not only did this presentation break down a barrier that I, as a new Team Leader, did not know existed…but it also made our lives as AmeriCorps members easier. All we needed to do was start that conversation. We did and because of that…we thrived.

I was and still am so proud of my team for buckling down and doing what seemed (at the time) to be a silly presentation. I think it was the most valuable work we could have done for ourselves, for the FEMA employees, and for all future FEMA Corps teams.

Make a Difference Day

As AmeriCorps members, we are required to volunteer on National Days of Service. The day of service that occurred in October was called “Make a Difference Day”. On that day, my team and I drove two hours north to help clean up after a tornado that occurred in Belmond, IA. It was a very cold day—below freezing—when we were out picking up debris and hauling mangled refrigerators and roofing to be disposed of or recycled. The work was exhausting and cold…and unbelievably gratifying. Here is just a fraction of what we helped pick up that day. This is a picture of a little river before and after the debris removal occurred. I think it’s safe to say that Bayou 6 made an impact in Belmond, IA that day.

Pre-Halloween Weekend

The weekend before Halloween, I highly encouraged my team to make plans so we can all hang out together. We all went to a Day of the Dead festival at the Des Moines Art Center to experience a little Latino culture. We ate delicious food, listened to beautiful music, and watched an Aztecan dance group perform. Right as we left the festival, we went to a pumpkin patch where we rode in a pumpkin trolley, ran through corn mazes, tossed bean bags, and pet little sheep. It was wonderful to be outside…and to be enjoying the company of the people I am so lucky to call my team. It was a great weekend.

The Simple Serendipities

And on to my favorite part: my favorite moments of October that filled me with laughter, joy, and sometimes, extreme pride.

We went to Camp Duncan Gray Again...

The Caramel Incident

On the last Team Leader extravaganza night, something occurred that I like to call “The Caramel Incident”. That night, one of the Team Leaders asked me to heat up some caramel so that we could dip sliced apples into it. Unfortunately, the microwave downstairs didn’t work. I took the caramel upstairs to the faculty lounge to heat it up instead. After one minute, the caramel did not begin melting…at all…so of course, I put it in for more time. This time around, I walked back down to the party because I was getting a little bored waiting for the caramel to melt…it’s kind of like “a watched pot never boils”…right? I went downstairs and ended up in conversation with someone for a minute longer than I should have…

When I got upstairs there was smoke trickling out of the sides of the microwave…and it stank like charred marshmallows. I quickly ran downstairs to get the TL (Julie) who asked me to do her this favor. She bolted back with me and we were in a panic. We opened the windows and turned the fan on to blow the smoke out. That is when I had a stroke of genius: Bring the microwave outside. Julie and I unplugged the microwave, carried it outside, and then let the smoke out. It was a fool-proof solution. No fire, no smoke, no alarm…and no fire department to ruin the festivities. THANK GOODNESS. Julie and I returned the party laughing uncontrollably. While everyone else was eating cake and making toasts…Julie and I put our emergency management skills to the test. And if you ask me, I’d say that we succeeded.  

Books

Upon arriving to Iowa, there was a huge book sale. I bought 8 books for $4.25. I was in heaven. Here is heaven: 

Adult Ballet

A little bit over a year ago, I wrote this on my bucket list: “25. Get good at some type of dance”. I’m not sure that I will ever be considered “good” at dance to anyone else…but this goal has at least encouraged me to pursue dance classes in my area. When my team and I got to Urbandale, IA…we noticed a dance studio close to our office. Out of interest and curiosity, a few of my Corps Members and I attended the adult ballet class there. It was AMAZING. It wasn’t so much of a dance class as much as it was a workout…but it didn’t matter to me. I had the opportunity to set my body and mind free with the intoxicating music and movements of dance. Tuesdays in Iowa will always be my favorite.

Dad’s Marathon

My dad, Pat Five Point Oh (Pat 5.0), is awesome.  A few months ago, I wrote that I surprised him at his first half marathon (13.1 miles) in May. And now, just five months later, he has completed his first MARATHON (26.2 miles). It’s not just any marathon, either. It is the only marathon in the world that starts in one country (The United States of America) and ends in another (Canada). If there was some way that I could have surprised my dad at this event…now that would have been epic. Unfortunately, the commute was a bit further and more expensive this time. Even so, I want to make sure I take this time to express how proud I am of him. He set a goal to start running half marathons, he increased his goal to marathons, and now…he’s successfully completed both of those goals. I admire him for his perseverance, his drive, and his desire to become healthier. I am so proud of you Dad. Hopefully I’ll be running next to you in one of these races in the next year…

October was awesome...and this is only month one of deployment. Yes, this month kicked my butt. But I write in my journal and I write this blog to give myself the opportunity to look back on each month with a clear, appreciative, and positive mindset. I'm very lucky to be here. I won't be forgetting that anytime soon.

Update on right now:

My team and I arrived in Jefferson City on November 18, 2013. We are scheduled to leave (again) on Monday, November 25^th for St. Robert, MO. We will be the only team in St. Robert for about one week until another team from the Vicksburg campus will be joining us. I absolutely can’t wait.

This past week has been incredible. I got to hang out with two of my favorite Team Leaders every day…and I watched Catching Fire on the night of its premiere. It was so good…go see it! J

There's No Such Thing As Coincidence

HOLY COW YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE THIS. I was just reading through my old blog posts and came across this:

What are people from other states called? Me and my friend Ryan had quite the laugh as we tried to figure out (read: make up) the names of people from other states. Like, I am from California—I am Californian. Our favorite made-up title was for people from Iowa—Iowinians. I'm certain that's incorrect, but it gave us a good laugh. I hope I never know the actual titles of people from other states…guessing is just way too fun.

What are the chances that my team's first deployment would be to IOWA? And here, I had this funny little conversation three months before I even had an inkling of where I would be deployed to. Amazing...

Upon this discovery...and after watching entirely too many mushy movies this weekend...I am even more convinced that everything happens for a reason. Even the smallest, seemingly inconsequential conversations about silly names or a friendly smile on the street or that big huge mistake you wish that you could take back or that time you put it all on the line and told someone you loved them...it all happens for some bigger reason. Or at least that is what I have chosen to believe. 

Today, someone told me "I wish I believed in true love." My immediate response was..."Sometimes I wish I didn't." I don't know if or when this naive, childish, romantic, silly attitude will ever pay off...but I certainly hope that it will...one day. Life has its bumpy, rough moments...but all in all, I am where I am right now, I'm growing every day and I'm genuinely happy with my progress towards wholeness.

I look forward to encountering more "coincidences" in my life. No matter how trivial...because that is just who I am. I am young, naive, hopeful, and vulnerable. I am a believer in true love and I believe everything happens for a reason.

On that note..I think it's time I switch back to reading non-fiction for a while to get my rational brain working a little more than it has these past few days. Moving to Jefferson City in T minus 13 hours! OH BOY! :) 

Goodnight everyone! <3