New Year Camping

Since Kyle had New Year's eve and New Year's day off, we decided to go on a little camping trip overnight. We went to Mother Neff State Park, the oldest state park in Texas apparently. We knew it would be cold but Kyle built a nice fire that we kept going for a while. Luna was pretty confused at first, but also excited and very vigilant. We let her run off into the woods a few times once we knew she would come back. She spent a lot of time on the lookout, it almost seemed like she was guarding our campsite. We all slept in the tent (well I didn't do much sleeping) and got up with the sun and ate Dinosaur egg oatmeal and hot chocolate. I wish we could have been celebrating with friends and my siblings in Boston, but this low key form of celebration suits us, and we got home in time to watch the Winter Classic and Baylor game (after giving Luna a bath, of course). :)

^^too cute, right?^^

^^L just sitting and watching and waiting^^

Happy New Year, friends!

- S

Another Year

This year I...

I learned that every month, every day can be a struggle for me. Happiness, real, genuine, internally-driven happiness, has not come naturally to me for many years now, and I struggle to find and cultivate it. Some days are better than others of course, some days are very dark. On average, on a scale of 1 :( to 10 :) I'd say I'm a 4.

I learned that there is so much that we think but do not say. I voice probably 30 to 40 percent of my thoughts and feelings, even to the people I am closest to. We are like icebergs, aren't we. I think this is probably both good and bad, and what makes social work so difficult sometimes.

I learned a lot about hunger in America, and policy, and community organizing, and federal benefits, and social work. I became comfortable leading groups and holding individual therapy sessions with kiddos and adults at the mental health hospital I worked at. I attended a couple conferences and I still love to learn.

I learned what it takes to start to love a place- a town, a city, a state, a region. This summer gave me the perfect opportunity for this. I finally had some time to get to know Waco a bit, and when you learn a place though exploring its faults and challenges and thinking of ways to improve upon them, the love comes so readily and unexpectedly. It also helps when you get to a point where you don't need a GPS to drive anywhere/everywhere.

I learned that friendship can be found in unexpected places from unexpected persons. And it doesn't have to be more complicated than that.

I learned that it is much easier to act on caring for others than yourself.

I remembered that I need the outdoor air.

I decided to be tougher. I found being warm to be both the easiest thing and the most difficult thing at times.

I got to lead often.

I learned that to believe what others tell me about myself, I have to first believe it for myself.

I learned that I need more people in my life than only my husband (and that's OK).

I realized that Snapchat is actually awesome and not stupid and pointless like I thought when I was first introduced to it.

I learned (in theory) how to kill a chicken from my Kenyan friend.

I got to take trips to Boston (twice) and DC and remembered how much I love travel and that I should try to do more of it. Also my love and appreciation for metro systems in big cities was solidified.

I drove many many miles.

I learned that not all small dogs are yippy and annoying.

I still have issues with my hair.

- S