A Summer of Firsts

Well as we get nearer and nearer the end of the summer, for many school has already started up again, and traffic is back to horrible, yet the heat hasn't let up one tiny bit, a fact for which I am very grateful. I thought I'd share a few milestones I hit this summer since I haven't written since it began.

To start, this is my FIRST post for the summer of 2011 :)

No promises to update regularly. Sorry, I'm predictable in the fact that I probably won't keep it going.

Today marks the FIRST time I have lived in Texas for a whole YEAR!

I honestly can't believe it has been that long. It has been a year full of lots of changes, great memories, new friends, adventures, lots of laughing, lots of crying, and lots of learning. I'm definitely not doing what I thought I'd be doing, which is teaching in an Elementary school, but I love going to work everyday so I can't complain. I have especially come to appreciate my job, or rather the people I work with, in the last month or so. They keep me laughing which I always need. I do feel that the time to focus on teaching is getting closer. So I think that by next year I hope to be in a classroom full time.

July 16th - 30th was the FIRST time I went back to ARGENTINA to visit my mission!

It was an amazing 2 weeks full of lots of adventures. I got to go back with one of my favorite companions. I was able to see so many people that I love and miss so much it hurts. I was expecting to feel so different, especially not carrying the mantel and name tag of a full time missionary. But I was surprised to feel almost like I was home. They say missionaries leave a part of their heart where they served, and I guess that's true. Anyway, I'll spare you the details, or save it for another post, because I could go on gushing for hours. Suffice it to say, I love Argentina, the smell, the sidewalks, the sounds, the people, the accent, the life there. And now that I have gone back once, I think it will be significantly easier to go back another day. Maybe next year.

I stayed in a hostel for the FIRST time.

This was while I was traveling through Argentina. We stayed in 2 different Hostels, one in Rosario and one in Santa Fe. I have only heard scary things about hostels (not from anyone who has ever actually stayed in one of course) so I had my reservations. But it was quite a lovely experience both times. We met either Tricia or my husband at the first one. Cristian from Columbia. An absolutely handsome peach. We would have stayed in Rosario the entire trip if we could have. We had our own room, the place was painted with all of these really fun bright colors, and it was just a happy place. The 2nd hostel in Santa Fe was with a family, and they liked us so much they dropped the price of our stay, AFTER we had already committed to 5 nights there! We had our own beds, bedroom, and bathroom, hot water, and hot milk and facturas for breakfast for a mere $14.45 a night.

For the FIRST time I went on more than one date with a boy that I liked and that liked me back. And he became my FIRST boyfriend, which of course led to my FIRST kiss and then my FIRST break-up.

Yes yes, like I said, huge milestones were met this summer. It was quick and short lived but so fun while it lasted. I loved pretty much everything about the experience except for the break-up part. I learned a lot more from the whole thing than I was anticipating. And I cried about it after it ended more than I thought I would. The boy is very different from anyone I would have seen myself dating, a year ago, but I feel like that shows how much I have learned and grown in the last year. We are very different in a lot of ways, but surprisingly the same in a lot of other ways. He made me feel like a lady, and beautiful, not just like 'one of the guys' and that was so refreshing and so lovely.

This summer was the FIRST time I had lived in the same state as my little brother Nathan since before my mission in 2005.

He was here selling alarm systems for the summer so I got to see him sometimes once a week. It was so great having him here. I'm grateful for the relationship that I have with him. I can talk to him about pretty much everything so with all of the stuff I learned this summer, I could hash through it as he listened and actually gave me some pretty good advice sometimes.

To finish off, this is the FIRST time I have had 2 nieces!

I just adore them both. T turned 2 in June and she is so fun! She has such a fun, loving, and hilarious personality. I love her hugs, I love how she calls me "Anndi", I love how she talks and jumps and runs and laughs and rolls her eyes and dances, and I love her crazy hair and beautiful eyes, and just everything about her. I love M's vocal chords and that she is figuring out how to use them to make all kinds of noises. I love her toothless smile and her wide eyes and big lips. I love that she is content just laying on the floor watching everyone, and I especially love when she sleeps hunched over with her lips stuck out. I'm grateful that my brother and sister-in-law live in the same city so I get to see them sometimes and enjoy their little, lovely, growing family

I'm sure I missed some firsts, but those are the important ones that have made up my summer adventures.

As far as NOT firsts, this is NOT the first time I have felt like I have no idea what I'm doing with my life or where to go next. I have lived in Texas for a year and still love it here, mostly. In March my apartment contract will be up and who knows whether my roommates will still be around by then or not. Should I stay? Should I move somewhere new? Like the other side of the city? Or to a whole new state all together? Where should I be and what should I be doing are questions that seem to pop up every 6 months or so. Sometimes the questions get answered, and I feel like I should keep on keepin on right where I am. But so often I feel that itching to get out, go away to somewhere new, meet new people and have new adventures, not because I don't like where I am, just because I can only progress so far on my own. I'm still looking for that next step. And after a year, I feel like it's not here. So on to the next place? Or do I hold out here, and learn a little patience? Not sure of the answer yet. Luckily I have until March to decide.