Not really ketchup.
Well guys, it has been a truly amazing break. It may not have been exactly what I had expected, but what was there to expect anyway? My time spent with friends and family has been so valuable and my time spent alone, mostly in the first week and again here in the last week or so, has been much needed and valued as well. Before I get to the exciting stuff I just want to briefly touch on that.
I am so thankful for the rest that I have been blessed with over this break. I am thankful for the chance I have had to think about the important things, where I would like to see myself, and most importantly, time spent seeking God and his plan. It has been so peaceful.
Christmas was great. I got to spend so much time with family, both the Swift/Hankins side and the Trost/Mayfield/Dinges/Kennedy side. (P.S. To any of my friends who ever receive random comments on facebook from anyone with these last names, it's just my family.)
New Years was pretty awesome as well. I had the privilege of spending it with a lot of new friends this year. After a full night of celebrating Daniel's birthday, cake on faces, cake on boots, bubbly all over just about everything I owned, being compared to Kelly Clarkson's music, and more, I decided I was fully ready to welcome in the new year. Even still, I can say that I am so excited and looking forward to what this year has in store.
If you follow me at all on facebook I am sure you know all of this already, but I'll fill everyone on some details that facebook may not give insight to. As most of you have seen, I did travel to Chicago with my dearest friends Brooke and Jordan to visit my favorite Chicagoan (is that right?), Morgan. It was quite a swell time, let me tell you! I experienced many firsts including:
My first train ride! And many of them after that.
My first Portillo's hot dog!
Which actually doesn't have any ketchup, coincidentally...
My first reflective picture at The Bean.
My first time in the 2nd tallest building in the world.
My first time making chocolate cupcakes with cookie dough icing.
It was such a great trip. My only regret was not taking a bus to the corner of Canal and Bowery and standing next to him.
...
It's a song reference, if you don't get it, dont worry about it.
Really.
There is one more regret too, and that would be not asking if we could sit in a different car on the train ride back to St. Louis. Big mistake. I am much more... Cultured now, you could say.
Alright, so there is something I wanted to leave for the end. One of my favorite nights of break was my night spent with my friends who have been there for me for many years now. A big group of Ash Grove graduates, plus Tayler :) got together to celebrate both Jadon's and Josh's decision to leave for the military this month. Jadon, on the right, left for Texas to join the Air Force on January 2nd. Josh, on the left, left for California this week where he is going through boot camp to be a Marine. These are honestly two of the nicest guys I grew up with, and I wish them the best of luck in everything they do!
I will be heading back to Columbia this week to start classes next Tuesday. I am so excited to be back with my Rock family, but I will be missing my real one here in The Grove as well. It is going to be a challenging semester, but I am looking forward to all of the challenges and lessons it brings. Love you guys, thanks for reading :).
