Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Woah...

It's been about 2 months since I've written....and I need to fix that! I may feel this way right now as I'm procrastinating on my counseling final action plan that is due in a few days..... :)

A lot has happened within the last two months. Here's a glimpse:

Dad started chemo and radiation. Drove 2.5 hours every day to treatments for 30 days. Sang in car with my parents to "I'll Fly Away" every morning. Homework. Lots of homework for online classes. Read the Shack out loud to my parents. Got used to living in Sheldon again. Visited the Twin Cities. Saw Tyrone Wells, Drew Holcomb, and Dave Barnes in Twin Cities. Ate at Pizza Luce multiple times. Celebrated with Amy & Noah on their engagement. Spent time with quality friends. Analyzed Educational Philosophy. Read whole Advanced Psych book (I never do this....). Took many walks with my mom. Walked on the river (on the ice). Started jogging on treadmill. Cooked. Cleaned. Shoveled lots of snow. Learned how to plow driveway with the tractor. Prayed with my parents every night. Spent a lot of time with kids. Loved being a part of Sheldon Church of Christ again. Shopped. Made 4 mixed CD's. Got addicted to iTunes. Got new glasses. Had a surgery. Reconnected with old friends. Made new friends. Made a necklace. Scanned old pictures. Read Wide Awake to parents. Memorized new Bible verses. Had a small group. Loved having Tati visit from Brazil, Danine visit from Colorado, and Erin & Lena visit from California. Roadtripped to Chicago and celebrated with Colleen & Danny. Celebrated the end of dad's first round of treatments. Explored the woods. Watched the ice go out of the river. Played in the mud. Cried a lot. Laughed a lot. Hugged a lot. Saw many turkeys, raccoons, birds and other fun wildlife. Made new recipes. Danced with my mom in the living room. Had family get togethers. Learned from professors and classmates. Learned from family and friends. Learned from God.

I'm going back to California in less than 2 weeks, and have mixed feelings. I am so excited to go back because I miss my friends and "new family" there, but I know leaving my family in Wisconsin will hurt my heart. I know I've changed. I've grown. I'm broken in some areas. I feel like I've aged many years in the last 4 months. I know that my life must go on, and it is in California now. But leaving here is going to be tough. I am SO glad I have an amazing community in California, and God has taken care of me this far, so why won't He continue to, right? :) I can honestly say, I couldn't have done this without my Lord.

With only two weeks left in Wisconsin, I still have much to do....including: finish final counseling action plan; go to Flambeau High School Musical; celebrate with Caramy & Bryce's bridal shower; see family; play piano in church; spend time my grandparents; read more to my parents; clean out the woods with mom; spend some time at the cabin; have deep & real conversations with my dad; see friends; get hugs from my 'little guy' Henry; play cards with my mom; pack; and prepare my heart for ending my time in Wisconsin, and beginning again in California. Life is not dull, it is such an adventure, and I'm so thankful for the people God has placed in my life. :)