The trouble with long-distance relationships

June 2013; this picture is my favorite <3 td="">

Jake left again for San Diego after church today. When people find out that we're long-distancing it, they always tell me things like, "Wow, that must be so hard." or "I would never be able to do that." as if long-distance relationships are the cause of some unbearable burden. My response usually goes something like, "Yeah, it's hard but we're good communicators and we make it work."

The truth is, long-distance relationships are hard, but not because they require work. Any relationship requires work. They're hard because you're constantly forcing yourselves to say goodbye. At the end of every visit, every break, every skype conversation, every phone call.... The rational part of me knows there will be many good-byes ahead of us; and I can't get hung up over each one.

You'll see him again soon.

I know, but this is my heart speaking--and goodbyes still hard. My throat still clenches, when I watch him drive away. I damn up my tears, priding myself too much on my ability to "keep it all together." But they always come out in the end and this time was no different. You'd think with time and practice, goodbyes would become easier, but I guess there are some things that never change and saying goodbye is one of them.

Gungor Concert

Jake and I saw Gungor perform at club Congress last Thursday night. They were so incredible! I honestly don't know how to describe the experience except in fragments:

an over-packed club * standing room only * tech guys flit acros the stage * the crowd is a tremor of anticipation * openers: loud and bass-y * I'm wishing we weren't so close to the speakers * my heartbeat synchs up with the thud thud thud of the kick * garbled lyrics but I like her moves * then... Gungor!!! * blinding lights blocked by someone's head * insane guitar riffs *crowd whoops * flawless harmonies * synthesizer * "We don't believe in genre." * wailing guitar * a hundred people lost in the pull, the ebb and tide of their music * last song feels as if the world is ending * band members drop out of the instrumental and exit one-by-one * stage goes black * it's...over?? * mass confusion and disorientation * just kidding there's still the encore * "Beautiful Things" * beautiful concert.

I think I just witnessed some of the best Christian musicians in the world.

Words are inadequate.

New Stats

It's been a few weeks since I posted any stats, but here they are!

average bedtime: 12:30 am
brain power: medium-high
energy: medium-low
days until Jake leaves: 2
reading: how to write the winning thesis or dissertation
writing: chapter 1 of my THESIS PROJECT!!!
learning: I am really passionate about the importance of having and knowing one's identity
feeling: bummed about Jake leaving
listening to: Gungor 
highlights: coffee with Kirstie, Maffia/couples' night at the Coffins' (and hanging at IHOP afterwards), Gungor concert, and all the time spent with Jake

Update from Break:

I will have to save the details of my thesis project for another post all on its own. But I can tell you, I am very excited about it as all the pieces start gel-ing together! In other news, it has been an eventful week crammin' in as much time with Jake as possible before he leaves again for San Diego. I'm a little bummed about him leaving again as it's always difficult to say goodbye, but there will be a many more goodbyes that need to be said so I can't let myself get too hung up over it. Plus, I will be seeing him again shortly when I go to visit him on the 6th.

Coffee and Fries

                                             

Keepin it classy at the only place where you can have coffee AND french fries! We heard through Spotify that mcDonalds is giving out free coffee...Say what?? Well, it's true. And what college student doesn't like free stuff (especially free coffee)? We are definitely not breaking any stereotypes here!

Goals > Resolutions

Things are Happenin' in 2014:

• Blog a couple times per week (failing so far, but that's okay!) 
• Edit Gyver's Shack
• Start an IRA 
• Graduate College!
• Possible teaching opportunity at an elementary school
• Take an art class
• Go on a road trip
• Join a soccer league
• Travel: San Diego (Feb), Houston (Feb), Huntsville? (May), San Diego (June), South Tucson? (July), Flagstaff? (July/Aug), Trenton (Sept)

I am a firm believer in "goals are greater than resolutions," so I took some time to jot down a few goals for 2014. It's not a long list and some of these things will be happening without any particularly strenuous effort on my part, but that's okay! Looking at my list, I am already getting the unshakable feeling that 2014 is going to be a grand adventure!

More Winter Camp Pictures

Jumping off Iron Horse

 The above photo was for a photo scavenger hunt. These are all the girls that were in our cabin (and on the trip.) Including staff, there were about fifteen of us in the room, but there was ample space for all of us.

Staffers looking at Katrina's photos

 Meals were "family style" with YL staff serving us our food, freeing us up for conversations with the students. I liked it better than meals at Hume, because you didn't have to deal with that awkward cafeteria-where-do-I-sit feeling. And YL kept a curb on the loud "antics" that frequent Hume's meal times--dares and yelling and rowdy games and whatnot. It was nice! And Rob made a rule that we had to sit by someone different for every meal so we could get to know each other. As a result, the students grew really close, even the newer ones.

Me and Kirstie

All the Staff

Group Photo

Photo credit: Chris O'Neill one of the guys' staffers for the trip. (But I may or may not have stolen half of these pictures from Facebook... Thanks Chris!)

Jam-Packed Winter Camp

It appears that my previous problems with Blogger have been resolved. I don't know what I did but whatever it was fixed it!

This past weekend I went up to Lost Canyon YL Camp in Williams, AZ with the highschool girls and it was such a blast! Two and a half days of intense Young Life fun going to bed way past midnight and waking up at seven; it doesn't get any better than that!

me and the freshies!

The campus was so beautiful! But it was quite cold and there was just a little bit of snow on the ground. It was enough for me though.

A bunch of us girls

The schedule was so tight I hardly had time to pee. Between leader meetings and meals, we sang pop songs, played silly games, danced like crazy, watched funny videos and skits (one of which I acted in!) hung out and talked a LOT. I got to bond with so many of the girls over the course of the weekend. A few of them were unused to what I call "Young Life style" so I got to talk about my experiences with Young Life and the reasons behind what they do.

The Lady Staffers

A lot of great God-talks were happenin' up in Williams this weekend and it was so awesome! I came home and talked it over with Mom and Jake for several hours and I feel that for our first year up, it was a grand success!