And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
- Kahlil Gibran

One of my favorite quotes of all time.

As I sat and watched children splashing in the warm lake water I thought to myself this is what life is all about. Looking up at the streaks of orange and blue in the sky as well as the few early stars who began to shine their light I thought to myself this is what life is all about. As the lumineers played the song Flowers in Your Hair from my laptop and I breathed in happiness i thought to myself this is what life is all about. The little things. I relish the little things.

Time. It’s such a powerful word. What is the first thing your mind jumps to when you think of the word time? Did I just remind you that you are about to be late for a doctor’s appointment? Did you think of someone and consider how long it would take to reach them? You could have also thought of Times Magazine but who knows I don’t have the ability to jump into another’s mind, (although that would be pretty neat wouldn’t it?). You could of considered how much time you have until you graduate or when that one special person in your life will finally reveal their feelings to you. Time so often passes us by. At some point in our lives when we were very young time seemed frozen. It seemed like one could be fully present as time slowly or quickly passed us by. Those moments just sitting in the grass rolling around like a kid would do, do you think in that moment you were thinking about time? Probably not. It’s something that almost starts out invisible to us and as we grow old we slowly start to recognize what time looks like. Time looks like a wrinkle on ones face. Time looks like a sun diving into the ground telling the world another day has ended and another day will soon begin.

It is so often that as we grow old we reach for time, and try to catch it. Once we’ve finally got a hold of time we try to balance, and then eventually it slips away from us again. With every day that passes by I question who I am as well as what I believe in. I critically review what has made me who I am and who has shaped me to be the woman I’ve become. And in all this pondering about where I fit into the world, it keeps spinning madly on, and time slips by yet again.

For me time teaches values and I believe this is true for others as well. Time teaches me that the longer you have it the faster it will pass, so value who you have in you life as they may slip away and be given to the hands of time. Love those who don’t have love because for them they may want time to stop altogether. Cherish those who love you for who you are because those are the ones that time ends up pushing together. If you find those people, consider yourself lucky indeed. Lastly, value those who are different from you, because they teach you things you never could have learned otherwise, those people are true gems.

Time has control over many things but don’t ever let it control you. Take this moment and hold onto it with all you have. Breathe in this air with every fiber of your being. Gaze in awe at the sunrise and the sunset and the light of the stars because those are real life miracles. And remember, if you can find who you are and be that person in a world full of people who may try to change you, time was never wasted. Find out what is important to you and stick with it. Love every moment here and spread that love along the way. And if you can manage to remain true to yourself you have seized the day my friend.

It's been a long time and I've got a lot of shout outs

I have been home for a few weeks now and Cape Town could not feel more far away. It was difficult for me to be home which I had expected already. Readjusting to American culture took awhile and I felt that I needed to get away so I drove for six hours to my family's cottage on the lake. Watching the sunset go down painting the sky all sorts of colors and the water orange I realized again how truly blessed I am. Do you ever have that feeling where you know your loved but that knowledge actually sinks into your whole being. I have the best parents in the whole world who have taught me what unconditional love really means. They have taught me that love means sacrifice as they have given it all so my siblings and I could have the best lives imaginable. I recently got to talk to my mom about my decision to possibly change my major as i have never been completely fulfilled with Special Education. That was one of the moments I actually realized how much my loves me, so much so that my heart ached to want to give back the same. Having her as my mother makes me the luckiest girl in the world and whenever I am complemented I really owe it all to the woman who has taught me to be humble, and compassionate, grateful, caring, and genuine, patient, and understanding and lastly loyal. My mom lives out all of those qualities and so much more that i can only hope to someday have. I realized how much my dad loves me and he has shown my that by letting me chase all of the crazy dreams I've had, the most recent one being my journey to Cape Town for six months. I know every night my parents worried about me, and they have always been right by my side whenever I've needed it, and even when I haven't...so shout out to Nancy Johnson and Earl Townsend...for being more then a girl could ask for.

I also recognized that the journeys I have had both near and far have allowed me to walk with and become friends and family with some of the greatest people that God has graced me with, all of whom I consider family. First I would like to start with Sarah, Nicole, Katie, Maddie, and Megan. We've stuck it out through thick and thin, been at each others sides laughed and cried together, and realized even when we are miles apart at different schools or different countries we will always be friends. Being home hasn't been easy but I've had the most amazing friends who have put up with my anti America comments as well as complaining of how I don't want to be home. You guys have been so understanding and I would expect nothing less from how amazing you all are.

This one goes out to Sim along with a few others, but Sim I need to start with. Sim you are one of the most wonderful, intriguing, caring, passionate, and genuine people I have ever met. When I first met you I thought you were crazy funny...turns out I was right. I have also learned along the way how caring you are. You graciously welcomed me into your already full flat and managed to keep me fed and take me on crazy fun adventures along the way. You are more than a sister to me and you know even miles away I've got your back and I know you have mine. And along with you comes Farai. Once again with all the people I've mentioned I feel greatly loved by each and every one, and this is one of my ways of showing love in return. Farai along with Sim, you have taken great care of me in every way possible. It's in your nature to look out for the people you care about and I have never noticed it in a person more then I've noticed it in you. You have treated me with so much respect and kept me safe in many instances where things could have gone poorly. Oceans apart, I think about you all the time, I am unbelievably happy to have met you and to get to remain so close to you now. You know my heart better then so many people in my life. I've got your back boo boo haha I mean that in all seriousness. Along with you guys comes Mandi,Talu,Nat,Nqo and Sima who made my last 2 and a half weeks in Cape Town the best I could have asked for. You guys know I love you and the Skins reunion is going to happen..it is necessary. And for all of you..know I carry your hearts with me everywhere I go...in a non creepy way haha.



And lastly to all of my faithful and amazing friends from Hope. You know who I am talking about :) I was so nervous you all would have thought I've changed so much when I was gone that I thought coming back was going to be a challenge..but you guys have shown me that you've got my back no matter what. I love that we can goof off and be serious at the same time and I am honored to be living with such amazing people this coming semester. You guys have already made coming back to Hope feel a little more like home. I love you guys :)

There are many more who I have failed to mention and I apologize for that, there are many more posts to come though :) For now I love you all...

"i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go"

I love you all with all I have. Thank you for making me a better person by being yourselves.