Halfway There

I realize that it has actually been about three months since I have updated this page, but let's just say that I have had a hell of a lot of living and breathing to do and this blog was not my top priority (or even in the list of priorities for that matter). However, we just got back from our mid-year winter retreat and in exactly 5 months I will be completing my final day as a volunteer SO I have been feeling reflective and sentimental and now feel like writing about it.

So here we go.

There are many things about next year that I am looking forward to including:

• Living with Bridget and adopting a cat (Ralph) and a dog (Willy)
• Reinstating my spotify premium account (and Netflix and Hulu accounts)
• Having an income and using that income
• Having the ability to buy whatever food I want aka farmer's market veg and co-op bread
• Having more freedom to travel
• Not being so new to the city of Chicago
• Potentially a new job either at Mercy Home or elsewhere

Yes - I have thought of a few things and I am sure that I can think of more. While I often contemplate my future in the city, I still am rather attached to what I have now and cannot help, but think about what I will miss and what I will never get back including:

• My 14 remarkable roommates who teach me something new everyday
• Being a volunteer and everything that comes with it - 10 boxes of expired chewy bars and all
• The apartment where we find something everyday like a loving quote on the white board or moon shoes
• Having Katie and Emily at my beck and call whenever I am in the midst of trouble - work related and not or whenever I need someone to celebrate with
• Birthday door signs and birthday bottles
• Fruitful discussions about faith at bible study
• Challenging conversations about the state of our world and what we can do about it
• Community nights where I learn about myself, my house, and the world I live in
• Wednesday nights at Beer Bistro
• Working with the young men in Sheil Home - especially my advocatees
• Sharing laughter and tears with my roommates
• Random game nights
• Having 14 people to fall on when I get knocked down
• Having 14 people to lift up when they need me to
• Constant reminders to make myself the best person that I can be

It sounds cheesy, but it is true. Since retreat this is what I have been contemplating. It can be a challenge to look back at how much I have grown and learned while still in the midst of this bizarre experience, but I would never change it for anything.

I am so grateful that I said yes to the phenomenal opportunity that is MercyWorks and I hope to make these next 5 months count.