It's JULY!!!

This is crazy. I can't believe it's July 1st. I remember moving into my community house on August 22nd, and wondering what would happen and how I would change and transform between then and July. There have been many moments this year where I wondered if I would even make it to July, and if my community would stick through everything together. But I can sit back and now say that I am proud of the work we've done, even if we're not quite done yet.

I'm on a retreat high because we just finished our Capuchin Outreach Program, which ran from Sunday evening until today. It turns out that I was able to stay on the retreat with some restrictions: I couldn't spend the week with my work group, I couldn't lead a theological reflection group, and I had to sleep in a private room at the retreat house at night. The last one was actually awesome, so I didn't mind that. At first, I was frustrated that I couldn't have a work group or reflection group to call my own, but I soon realized that there was work that needed to be done at the home base, and I was the person for the job.

I got to COP on Sunday night after my sister's high school graduation (!!!), which was insane because I sometimes still see my sister as a 12-year-old. Her graduation was beautiful and she looked stunning, and I literally beamed with pride when she walked across the stage. She manifested her adulthood and freedom by wasting no time and going sky-diving on Tuesday, the video of which is on facebook and it's probably the coolest thing I've ever witnessed. My sister is so awesome.

Anyway, I got to the retreat Sunday night and settled in, feeling a little out of place and useless because I wasn't really in charge of anything. But as soon as Monday dawned, there was plenty of stuff to get done. So, I spent the week running errands, buying stuff for work, and visiting the work sites as the official Picture Lady. It was a different experience than what I was expecting, and in some sense, I am lucky that I was able to see all the work sites, instead of just one. The kids seemed to get a lot out of the week, and no one wanted to leave this afternoon (well, we did...but the kids didn't seem to understand that.) This week, I learned how to go to the Home Depot and buy water sealant (a major accomplishment for me), I visited a manual work site where Habitat for Humanity was stationed and learned a very humbling lesson about my own sheltered upbringing, and I experienced a feeling of true humility by cleaning up after every meal and making sure that all the needs of the community were met.

So, it was different. But it was actually awesome. I'm feeling incredibly grateful right now: grateful for my community, grateful that I have spent a year in a place that has supported me and sustained me and given me life, grateful that God has challenged my limited understanding of service and gently pushed me towards greater boundaries. I'm grateful that teenagers told me this week that they would miss me, and that I made an impact in their lives. I'm just filled with joy and gratitude, and it's such an organic feeling that nothing can really replace or match it.

Our last day is in less than three weeks. We have one more week of office days, and then we head off to Harlan, KY for our ten-day mission trip. It's going to be difficult and tiring and smelly, but I know it's going to be incredible. So, keep us in your prayers and let the good times roll.

Literally. Because my Chinese food just arrived. Peace.