once we were, then never the same

I've learned more and seen more in the past three years then the previous eighteen combined, [although watching a six year old play checkers with an eight year old this week, i was amazed that their brilliance, i suppose kids have equally intense strides of learning].

the more i know/see/learn, the more i know that the world is large and little do i know, therefore, my lack of blogging lately.i've begun to write a bit, but it's been hard to feel as if it was worth posting.

today though— marks a special occasion. facebook greeted me with a reminder that on this day in 2009 my status was "folk music, matches, friends, sleeping bags, volvo.... the making of a camping adventure!" and i'd like to pay tribute to that adventure, one that changed so many things in my life.

first of all, the car was full of trader-joes groceries, settlers of catan, a tent (sans a few of it's pieces.... we'd find out as we set it up), and two girls who i didn'tknow well (just a bit through teaching ESL) Nicole and Eva. It began as one of those things, "oh, let's go on a trip" that's sort of ambiguous and likely not to happen.... but it did. I was actually quite nervous, I liked chatting about it but when it came time to pack a bag and head out town with them, my excitement was smothered by anxiety and a bit of fear of the unknown.

i don't remember too many details of the trip, other than the factwe rode down in my volvo, were missing a post for the tent, had to set it up in the dark, saw some creepy crawlers and played settlers of catan, fighting against the wind who wanted to blow all of our settlements onto the ground.

looking back at where we are now, i am so grateful that we all took a bit of a risk and became friends.

the following months, through nicole-we got to know Kate better (another treasure!)
we spent much of our time that fall "studying" eva (the only onenot in school) most studious of all. while kate and nicole mostly talked of living in a van, spending time figuring out details, i.e- where will we park it? where will we shower?we'd drink tea and eat banana pancakes on the roof of kate and nicole's victorian village apartment, it was a nice time. a new chapter. new friends. new school. new life. i was content.

little did i know it would become even more communal.now, two years later i've lived with kate and nicole in the treehouse (apartment) and eva at iuka.

as i am enjoying my time in amsterdam immensely and already fear how hard it will be to leave, i have the best people to come home to. eva's chasing her dreams in chicago (so excited for her) but kate and nicole now live in my home (although we haven't all been there at the same time yet, since i left as they moved in) my other housemates are incredible as well.

they inspire me. encourage me. share with me. spoon with me. remind me. forgive me.

it's a joy living with these creative people, bringing together our ideas and hopes for life together, pushing for community and living intentionally.