(no subject)
It is truly a gorgeous morning.
The room is filled with light-- perhaps even more so than usual due to the now blank white walls. The blinds are up and the windows are open, and I can see green trees and grass bathed in sunlight outside. Some song birds are singing-- not the usual medley of cheeping and chirping but distinguishable bird calls can be heard being exchanged back and forth. Everything from the dry wall on the ceiling to my white down comforter looks somewhat luminescent and soft.
For whatever reason, this setting that I woke up to this morning brought on a flood of memories. Everything from summers in Estes Park to the blush pink carpet that covered the stairs leading to the unfinished third floor of our old house. And I realized that I have seen a lot and heard a lot and experienced a lot in my soon to be 20 years. Sharing my life story with my floor this year--something I have never done before, with anyone-- was really a good thing. I have come to realize this more fully now. It is so interesting to hear someone's full life story...it's funny how much you don't know about a person until you hear their story, even if you have known them for a long time.
Well anyway, I was reflecting on my life story this morning, particularly the past, and wondering about the future, especially in regards to this summer. As I have started packing up my stuff, I have been trying to imagine what I should take home to make my room at Stewart my room...the two times I have come home this year I didn't know what kind of home I was returning to. It would be nice, next year, to have a consistent and stable sanctuary already awaiting my return, one that didn't need to be adjusted to or set up. But it will be okay.
I love Estes Park. I miss it. Some of my best memories are there-- getting bundled up beyond recognition for the Parade of Lights in December, going to the YMCA in the summer and staying up late into the night talking. Going hunting for purple glass. Staying in one of the cabins over Christmas and putting up gum drop lights in the living room window, spreading out the Christmas table cloth, and baking peppermint star cookies. Watching the snow sift down onto the pine trees. I hope that I can spend some time in Estes Park with my family this summer. Although it will never be quite the same as those old times...but we make do.
Anyway. This year has been so many things, in so many ways, and I have learned so much and (I think) grown so much as a person. It has been an incredible year. As Dr. Nuesch-Olver would say, God has blessed my socks off. :) I am sad to see it end, but at the same time it is necessary and I am looking towards the future with expectation and anticipation. I shall miss sitting on logs at the beach with a bonfire crackling and popping nearby, while friends sing praise and worship songs. I shall miss walking to Fremont and Gasworks and looking down at the canal, shimmering and reflecting a fiery and spectacular sunset. I shall miss going to the 24 hour Starbucks and reading Harry Potter and having long discussions. I shall miss going to Pike Place on sunny days and getting iced chai or Oranginas and watching the boats go back and forth, the pigeons and seagulls swoop and battle over crumbs, the diversity of people playing instruments, buying, selling, browsing, and lounging. I will miss our little prayer group and my small group. I shall miss it all...but most of all the friends I have made here. It has truly been a wonderful year.
But at the same time, I am looking forward to seeing long wished-for faces and family. I am looking forward to going to church and Old Town on a summer night. I am looking forward to spontaneous trips up the canyon, picnics, tea times, and lots of otter pops. I am extremely looking forward to Bible study, making music again, and reading books. I am excited to spend time with my sister and my mom. So there are lots of good things ahead.
It is time to move forward now. Lots to do. Essays to write, finals to study for, things to pack and move and re-arrange and fix before I can come home. Goodbyes to be said. But that is at is should be.
The room is filled with light-- perhaps even more so than usual due to the now blank white walls. The blinds are up and the windows are open, and I can see green trees and grass bathed in sunlight outside. Some song birds are singing-- not the usual medley of cheeping and chirping but distinguishable bird calls can be heard being exchanged back and forth. Everything from the dry wall on the ceiling to my white down comforter looks somewhat luminescent and soft.
For whatever reason, this setting that I woke up to this morning brought on a flood of memories. Everything from summers in Estes Park to the blush pink carpet that covered the stairs leading to the unfinished third floor of our old house. And I realized that I have seen a lot and heard a lot and experienced a lot in my soon to be 20 years. Sharing my life story with my floor this year--something I have never done before, with anyone-- was really a good thing. I have come to realize this more fully now. It is so interesting to hear someone's full life story...it's funny how much you don't know about a person until you hear their story, even if you have known them for a long time.
Well anyway, I was reflecting on my life story this morning, particularly the past, and wondering about the future, especially in regards to this summer. As I have started packing up my stuff, I have been trying to imagine what I should take home to make my room at Stewart my room...the two times I have come home this year I didn't know what kind of home I was returning to. It would be nice, next year, to have a consistent and stable sanctuary already awaiting my return, one that didn't need to be adjusted to or set up. But it will be okay.
I love Estes Park. I miss it. Some of my best memories are there-- getting bundled up beyond recognition for the Parade of Lights in December, going to the YMCA in the summer and staying up late into the night talking. Going hunting for purple glass. Staying in one of the cabins over Christmas and putting up gum drop lights in the living room window, spreading out the Christmas table cloth, and baking peppermint star cookies. Watching the snow sift down onto the pine trees. I hope that I can spend some time in Estes Park with my family this summer. Although it will never be quite the same as those old times...but we make do.
Anyway. This year has been so many things, in so many ways, and I have learned so much and (I think) grown so much as a person. It has been an incredible year. As Dr. Nuesch-Olver would say, God has blessed my socks off. :) I am sad to see it end, but at the same time it is necessary and I am looking towards the future with expectation and anticipation. I shall miss sitting on logs at the beach with a bonfire crackling and popping nearby, while friends sing praise and worship songs. I shall miss walking to Fremont and Gasworks and looking down at the canal, shimmering and reflecting a fiery and spectacular sunset. I shall miss going to the 24 hour Starbucks and reading Harry Potter and having long discussions. I shall miss going to Pike Place on sunny days and getting iced chai or Oranginas and watching the boats go back and forth, the pigeons and seagulls swoop and battle over crumbs, the diversity of people playing instruments, buying, selling, browsing, and lounging. I will miss our little prayer group and my small group. I shall miss it all...but most of all the friends I have made here. It has truly been a wonderful year.
But at the same time, I am looking forward to seeing long wished-for faces and family. I am looking forward to going to church and Old Town on a summer night. I am looking forward to spontaneous trips up the canyon, picnics, tea times, and lots of otter pops. I am extremely looking forward to Bible study, making music again, and reading books. I am excited to spend time with my sister and my mom. So there are lots of good things ahead.
It is time to move forward now. Lots to do. Essays to write, finals to study for, things to pack and move and re-arrange and fix before I can come home. Goodbyes to be said. But that is at is should be.