"Finding Pleasure In All Their Simple Joys, Remembering Her Own Child-Life, And The Happy Summer Days...”

Tonight I turned on my favorite country station and began to pack my bags to head back to Kentucky. Tomorrow is my last day in Colorado and I can't help but think how fast time has gone since I have been here. I folded up my Spartan Finisher shirt and smiled, thinking back to my very first Sunday in the Springs, and held the medals in my hand that I had won that day...traces of dried mud still remained. It's a bittersweet feeling.  I came out to Colorado accomplishing so much. I learned new things about myself and built a stronger relationship with God and my sister and her beautiful family. As my time here comes to an end I feel thankful and blessed along with so many other emotions.

Today as Diana recovers from getting her wisdom teeth taken out, I had a 'Jo Jo and girls' day with Sarah and Carolyn. I surprised them and took them to a magic show, then took them to play in the fountain at the park and ended our little girls day with ice cream from Cold Stone. Needless to say, they were two pretty happy girls.

Since we were young Diana and I have always been partners in crime. I think that my favorite part about my trip to Colorado is that I have grown and become a better person because of my older sister. As we get older we have friends who come and go. Old friends, new friends, coworkers, the guy whose cubicle is right next to yours, the woman who says hi to you every morning at Starbucks...every person we meet in our life has an impact on us. However, there is no kind of impact, like the one from a sister. A sister who has seen me at my worst, and now at my best...she has been by my side no matter what and has always reassured me that things do in fact get better. She hasn't guided me wrong yet.

I have used a lot of Alice in Wonderland quotes in this blog series because I feel like we can all relate to Alice in one way or another. Just as her life is full of good and bad choices, so are ours. However, as the story goes Alice learns her lesson and ultimately becomes a better person. I want everyone to take the challenge that I did. I want you to take chances, make choices whether they are good or bad and learn from them. I challenge you to dust off your moral compass and go for an adventure. Find pleasure in the simple things and be thankful for the times you get to spend with your family, friends and yourself.

See you soon, Kentucky. :)

Jeremiah 29:11

Happiness.

Some people have it, others spend their whole lives looking for it. Happiness isn't hard to obtain, you just have to have faith.

Today my eyes filled with tears as I watched my oldest niece put all of her trust in God. Today, Sarah was baptized. She climbed into the baptismal with a smile on her face, and as she was emerged under water the church in unison said, "Bye Sarah!" When brought back above water, smiling ear to ear, she was glowing with happiness. I was proud of her for making such a big decision at a young age, but I think I was more proud of the fact that she could tell you exactly why she wanted to get baptized. After church Carolyn went up to Sarah and said "I am so proud of you." 

There is one thing that I pride myself and Diana for and that is if there is ever anything negative to happen, we see it as an opportunity to make it into something positive. This morning we woke up as we have for the past month to attend our 8 a.m. yoga class. When we got to the gym, the instructor had forgot her key, which meant we wouldn't have been able to do yoga in the room that we usually practice in. Diana and I exchanged looks and proposed an outdoor yoga class in the America The Beautiful Park. Instead of going on with our day without a yoga class, we ended up having one of the best yoga classes I have experienced. With fresh air, a cool breeze and pretty much mastering our arm balances, we walked out of the park this morning radiating nothing but happiness.

 

The other day Diana and I were talking about everything that we have learned from each other since I got out here. Coming into my last week in Colorado Springs, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I think that not only will I come out of this a better person, but also someone that is no longer scared to try new things. I started thinking earlier about this whole "finding myself in my twenties" thing. When I decided to come to Colorado a couple of months ago I was set out to figure out what exactly I wanted in life, who exactly I was. Exactly a month later, I have decided that I don't really want to be 'found.' In the past month I have stepped completely out of my comfort zone and have done things I never thought I would do. When you play hide and seek, the thrill of this simple game is searching. Once you are found, the game is over. I have decided that I am in love with the thrill of seeking. I will no longer hide from things that I am scared of but keep on searching because God has a plan for me. He has plans to prosper me and not harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future. As long as I believe that, as long as I have faith in him, happiness will prevail.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."