Dayton: Monthly recap

February: I arrived home in Dayton but didn't stay put for long. I traveled to Chicago for the long President's Day weekend to reunite with some of my JVC housemates/my cross-country road trip gals. We had a blast catching up, visiting Chicago hot-spots (although it was freezing!), and kept things simple by all sleeping in Jacqueline's studio apartment. It had been 6 months since we had seen one another and we had the best time hanging out! And then, at the end of February my college best friend, Emily came to visit Ohio and we enjoyed a relaxing weekend (prolonged due to flight changes) and played the strategic yet oh-so-fun Settlers of Catan board game more than 10 times!

March: I was settling into a state of "decompressing" at home. It was the first time in over 10 years that I had not had work or school to report to and it gave me time to process not only my time in Liberty but also the end of JVC and what I had learned at SLU. I was able to visit with family and friends in the area and then took another weekend trip to St. Louis over St. Patrick's Day to meet up with Sam (one of my Liberty co-workers). I was able to show off my favorite city and the weather was perfect for walks around Forest Park and the Arch. Also, I lead some retreats at Bergamo Center and enjoyed working with the high school juniors that came through retreats.

April: During April, I continued to work on making plans to visit Australia (the next "big chapter") while hanging out with family and friends. I was babysitting, leading a few more retreats, going to the farmer's market downtown and even spent a special evening helping one of my best friends shop for her wedding dress! Perhaps you have seen our group blog, A Whole Pan of Brownies, but we are a very close group of six from grade/high school and the first one is getting married next summer and we are all bridesmaids....dreams come true! Easter brought together my mom's side of the family and we enjoyed a delicious meal at my Grandpa's nursing home.

Kansas City: Monthly recap

November: I traveled to my favorite city, St. Louis to see a dear high school/college friend get married. The ceremony was beautiful and the reception was the first to showcase the newly renovated Union Station featuring a projection show on the ceiling! I took a few days off of work for the occasion and was able to see other friends in the city. And by the way, the $1 Megabus tickets do exist...if you are the very first one to book that specific ride; my round trip from Kansas City to St. Louis was $3.25 with tax. I enjoyed Thanksgiving with my family and probably ate more turkey than I ever have before.

December: It was such fun to be in Kansas City for December because so many birthdays happen the first few weeks including mine, my uncle, Mima, and Papa! I enjoyed celebrating birthdays and Christmas in simple ways by just being with family and friends, nothing super extravagant.

January: FAMILY! My older sister and her family came to Kansas City for a visit from Australia. This is such a big occasion that my parents and sister came in from Ohio and my brother from Arizona plus more family from Texas. We enjoyed the time together by playing cards, dominoes, watching movies, taking hikes, cooking, and laughing. This gathering happens about once every two years and we all enjoy it so much, soaking in the time and making it count for the next two years apart. Later in the month I enjoyed some quality cousin/aunt time with my gals (we traveled together to Hawaii a few years ago) and we ventured to Weston, Missouri to explore a winery and brewery that were recommended to us and included delicious tastings!

February: My time in Liberty came to a close the first full weekend in February. That last week at work I enjoyed time with the clients and my favorite life-long-friends/co-workers. A trip to the famous KC Roasterie (COFFEE!) was a must and then girl's night out was stretched out all week with evening time spent together after work. I traveled home to Ohio by driving with my aunt and cousin to St. Louis and then continued the way with my high school besties which was a wonderful time to catch up and chat.

My time in Kansas City was wonderful! It was such a blessing to work with the clients at Immacolata Manor and be inspired by their lives, independence, and successes. I am incredibly thankful to my aunt and uncle and their family for opening their home and lives to me for five months. Experience is a gift that I am always grateful to receive.

Change and Support

    I knew JVC was only for one year, starting in August and ending the following. I have tools from DisOrientation that are suggested ways of processing the year and putting lifestyle changes into practice in one's life as a FORMER Jesuit Volunteer. I have a network of FJV's that "get it" and a family that supports me. As the months continue to pass since my JVC year ended I am so grateful for that support from my family and friends as I allow for this transition to take place as it needs to.
    I loved my JVC year. I still love my community, job, and city. Daily things that remind me of some experience during my JVC year bring a smile to my face and a sense of sadness and longing for return, for time to reverse itself. Since I know I cannot return to that year or replicate any experience I had I guess it is time to move forward. And move is just what I did.
    After my road tripping gallivant across the country I went home for a bit, home to Dayton. (Side note: Please take a few moments to read this beautiful post by one of my best friends about the definition of "Home" that I completely agree with.) I spent time with my parents, sister, high school friends, and my Momma's side of the family. It was great to connect again with all that Dayton means to me and share my experience with those that asked...let's be honest, I will tell you even if you don't ask! :) After a week and a half in Dayton it was time to move.

   

 

    So here I am in Liberty, Missouri (my birthplace) just a few miles north of Kansas City. My dad's side of the family is out here in Liberty and the surrounding area so I have been coming here for every other holiday/summer my whole life. When I lived in St. Louis I would come more west towards Kansas City for some holidays rather than going home to Dayton sometimes. I am living with an aunt and uncle and three cousins and I have other cousins and grandparents just a few miles from my house. I love being in Liberty where I was born and exploring the Kansas City area a bit more.

 

 

 

     I plan on being in Liberty until the end of January (ish) and I am working at Immacolata Manor working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the day and residential programs. I have known about Immacolata for my whole life since my Momma used to work here about 25 years ago. The population that the Manor serves is a beautiful, vulnerable, and special population and I feel very blessed to be welcomed into this family. We have so much fun together; the clients and my coworkers have accepted me and helped me learn the ropes. I even enjoyed Halloween (my least favorite holiday) so I am very excited to celebrate the coming holiday season with this new community.



    Change is inevitable and I am so blessed to have the support of my family and friends as I continue to figure out just where I am called to be and what exactly I am called to do. For now, I am simply being present.