I remember posting at the beginning of summer last year, and to think of where I was at mentally, emotionally, spiritually at that time, I have to smile! 2011 Emily would double over in laughter if someone had told her then where she would be a mere 12 months later. I'm all for traditions, so here's the second ever year in review via blog post:
1) Loved. (Repeat of last year, yeah yeah, I know - this time it was different)
2) Learned more about myself than I could ever expect, especially second semester. Not having Lighthouse in your life gives you a lot of "me time" to think about these things! I figured out if I can't be honest with myself how I'm feeling, there's no way I can be honest with anyone else about it...sometimes ya just gotta let it out, and cry on the way home from Kroger ;)
3) Actually, truly, fully, completely discovered the meaning of the phrase "friends become family". There's never been a doubt that UD is my second home, but the people who enriched my life this year are people I can genuinely say wholeheartedly will be in my life forever, without a doubt.
4) Celebrated and experienced all that turning 21 means, surrounded by said family. (Usually at good old Milano's)
4a) Blue Flyers, Yuengling, Blue Beer Day, Dublin Pub..... #memories
5) Went gluten and dairy free! Sure, it didn't last forever, but I have practically kissed milk out of my life. Who is this girl!?
6) Stopped journaling. This makes me kind of sad, but my logic was something like this (in 20 years I'll be kicking myself for this ) - I don't want to write when things are going so well and I'm happier than I've ever been, I feel like I'll miss a minute of it or jinx it!
7) Here's a shocker: went on a different retreat, not Lighthouse. Reflected on what both meant for me, realized how different of a place I was in from one to the next. Met even more pretty cool people. One thing I didn't do at Metanoia...eat butter cake. It just looked too gross to even try. I didn't bother using a pen to cut pieces for myself or anyone else because there weren't any knives. Nope, didn't happen.
8) Traveled to and from Medina too many times to count, but always accompanied by my favorite person to spend 3 hours in the car with, or do just about anything with for that matter. I'm a lucky girl.
9) Hashtagged the heck out of everything
10) Spent considerably less time at Club Roesch, studying my life away - still had my best semester ever academically all the while going out on weeknights for a beer at Milano's, sleeping on the balc, and just generally shooting the shit with my roommates far too often (#idonthateit)
11) Celebrated half a year with a man I am pretty in love with, seriously...who would have guessed that would happen!?
12) Also spent considerably less time at the Galley, this will change come senior year - I'm back on campus baby! Flex on flex on flex! (I will never call it debit, dammit)
13) Fully experienced what community means, how hard it can be sometimes, but how worthwhile it is.
14) Set myself up for a pretty incredible senior year...
For the first time in a few years, I don't have a summer job! Well, you can count working for Papa H a job, but let's be serious, I'll be working in the basement - aka I don't have to shower, brush my teeth, or even put real clothes on (relax, I will do at least the second one of those things...). I took the first week to get readjusted to being home and make mental goals for myself of how I want my summer to look. Now that I've retaken my own room, I'm excited to unpack my junior year, set myself up at Pine Hill for the next three months, and enjoy what could potentially be my last summer at home in a way different than I have before. More focus on simplicity, more time for prayer, more listening, less talking, visits, books, music, exercise, studying hard (yeah, I'm the idiot who didn't block out academics for the summer), just being me, spending time with people I love. Oh yeah, did I mention adventuring in Alaska with my brother and sister-in-law and their precious daughter? T-minus 8 days! Bring it on, west coast!
I don't want to wish the summer away, really I don't! But at the same time, I know I have so much to look forward to in the fall: a new job as an RA and what that will look like for me, the challenges of it, the joys of it; Lay Marianist Formation - this is finally the right timing, I couldn't be more thrilled; having the incredible opportunity to co-direct Lighthouse with a very special lady in my life and get to know what is undoubtedly going to be another beautiful family of a team; all the shenanigans to be had at Stewart Street Apartments (boys, you know you'll be seeing lots of me, prepare yourselves accordingly...I call Paul's bed); cycling class with half of the (former) girls of 57 Woodland; and living the heck out of every single moment.
For now, though, I suppose it's time for sleep - just 6 more until a reunion of some of that UD family before we each go off to our own individual callings for the summer. For anyone reading, shoot up some prayers for all of those adventures we'll be going on - whether they're across the world or around this beautiful country - I have no doubt God has guided all of us to where we're supposed to be and He has such big plans for us to share His love in such unique ways this summer! Let's be serious, without a job, I'll be back to blog from Alaska sometime next week! Yay, God :)
