What a Day!

Mike (Friend), Allie, Nate, Me

29 September 2011 will be a day that will forever carry a special place in my heart! On that day I was giving the opportunity to welcome home a solider who had spent 13 months serving our country.  I was able to join hundreds of individuals; families, friends, and even strangers of these soldiers to Welcome them Home! I was honored to see families re-unit, children over joyed to see their mom or dad, and fathers meeting their son or daughter for the first time.

Gymnasium with families to the left

What makes this moment even greater is I never met Nate before this day but I knew his cousin.  His cousin, Allie and I were talking and she was telling me about how he was coming home without anyone to greet him.  Being the individual that I am, I could not allow that and right away told her I WAS going with her.

Soldiers when they first walked in

Allie and I met up with one of Nate's Army friends before Nate came into the gymnasium where all the families were waiting.  Nate's friend just keep laughing at me as I was over joyed and excited to welcome home a man that I have never met but because of him and the millions of other individuals I can walk down the street and not fear.

Have you Thanked a Solider today?

Best Friend is Getting Married

The Bride and I

The Ladies

One of the reason I came home was because my best friend was getting married! I could not be happier for her as she has found the man of her dreams! They complement each other well, you can feel the love in the air when they enter the room, and her hubby has a smile which could light up a room! My best friend and I have had our ups and down with men but she makes me believe in love and that my prince charming is out there waiting for me to be ready. Her wedding was as beautiful as she was, it was a pleasure to be a part of it, stand beside her as she was saying her vows and give a toast in her honor. She is my everything, my sista from another motha! I carry great honor to have been a part of her day!

Wonderful!

Just some of the little lovelies I had today:

- Sleeping in fresh and clean sheets

- Amazing workout

- Relaxing Yoga

- Laughing

- Trip to the Post Office

- Calling my sister when I need directions for the bus and her tell Austin, "One minute please, Chuckee is Lost!" (I really was not!)

- A class that continues to push my comfort level

- Fall breeze during my break

- Skyping with Mom

- Chatting on Gmail

- Productive Evening

OK... so nothing big! But today was a good day in its own way! Nothing too exciting happened and some days that is all I want!

My Visitors!

- The Ladies -

My two volleyball loves came and visited me for a long weekend! We had a BLAST and was busy from sun up to sun down! We did a lot of hiking, rafting, jumping off cliffs, eating amazing food, and lots of giggling! Maria and I were a team while rafting and it was a hot mess! But we successfully made it down the river without falling out even though one time we had to 'Pick and Roll off a Boulder" and the boys (who were our guides) were ready to rescue us!



- Team Pick and Roll -



- Showing off river crossing skills to get closer to the waterfall -



-Team PIck and Roll in action -

Flying!

I love to fly, truly I do. Every since I got back from the Peace Corps my nervous flierness went away and I just enjoy being in an airport and on the plane. It is great people watching and since I am not bothered by much even having a delay is not all that bad. My favorite time is fly is really early in the morning with all the business people or at night. It is amazing to have a window seat when you are flying into Detroit, the city just lights up. when you are flying at night and get on the correct side of the plane you can watch the sun set which I was currently doing while typing this. See pictures below!



Since I have flow with my sister, her husband, Austin, and McKenna, I love to listen to Mothers and what they tell their children because I have been there. For example: Mom "Please do jumping jacks before getting on the plane" Child: Jumping and doing somersaults while waiting for the plane! I also find myself texting my sister something funny a mom told her child because I could see my sister saying the same thing. Even though Austin and McKenna were great while we were flying, I have a better understanding of travel with children and find I am little more patience, smile a little more as a child is crying because he/she is really just trying to get comforty to sleep, or when the boys behind me kick my seat every once in a while.




I hope next time you fly, you have a little more patiences and understanding for that little home, laugh when you over hear a Mom tell her son to do somersaults to get ride of extra enegry or offer a hand to parent who is struggling with their stroller. Also, if you happen to fly Southwest, I recommend the Hot Chocolate, the stirrer will make you smile :)

Life is So Good!

She is my JOY!

Why you may ask... well let me tell you! Yes, I am always a half filled kind of lady!

Getting an amazing 7 hours of sleep... being able to Skype in one of my fav PCVs so she can see her Aunt's Wedding... being surrounded around my Denver Family... the joy they bring me... cuddle time with a little baby... the things that little ones say... being a kid again as I am jumping on a bouncing castle... beautiful sunshine... endless laughing... a friend who knows when I am fading and offers to take me home that moment... fireworks... outdoor music... friends that care... realizing it is not about aksing Why but rather Why not.... making DA food... taking a morning walk while the sun is raising... chips and salsa... party scarfs... memories going through my head that make me laugh out loud... Talking with my bestest PCV

Yes.. that was my weekend in a nutshell!

Bittersweet!

As many of you know I am now living in Denver. I am getting my Masters in Social Work out there and so far so good. I see the mountians every morning and it reminds me of Dominica, I have a core group of social work friends, I am part of the volleyball community and I have been adopted by a Peace Corps volunteer family. Life is truly good.

Why bittersweet you ask? Well, currently I am typing this on my laptop in a plane 30,000 in the air,cool huh? I have two amazing worlds I live in all the time, the life in Michigan (where I was born and raised) and the life in Colorado (where I am now developing). It is always bittersweet to leave Michigan. For the last 10 days I have been filled with so much joy, activities, laughter, time to relax, naps on my fav couches, cuddle time with McKenna, and play time with Austin. It has been amazing but it is time to go back to CO and I am ready. I have learned something about myself, I am a woman of routine, even though I like to move and shake, I need my feet planted.

It is bitter sweet because once again I am leaving my lovies, I become Skype Chucky to my Austin and McKenna, phone calls to my best friend, and a distance relative. I have chosen this life style and my family supports it but it still carries a bittersweet feeling every time I have to leave MI to go back to CO!