Iowa City. Again.

Holly got home from Japan and came to visit/pick up her sister and Alex was in town for the weekend so I joined them for a little indoor camping. I brought Riley to teach her how to camp so she's ready for summer.

I got to hang out with Holly and see pictures and ask questions about Japan. Liz stopped by and we just sat and talked for a little bit. It really hit me that I've found true community with these people. Some people have lived their whole lives craving the kind of relationships that I have taken for granted these past few years and I'm newly thankful for them.

Moving away really has been an adjustment. I realized on my way there this weekend that I was missing my brother's Cabaret thing at his school. He'd been preparing for it for weeks and I felt really bad missing it. It was so strange to process the regret I felt about missing something like that. A year ago it would have been assumed that I wouldn't be there. In fact, I probably wouldn't even have known it was going on. It was strange feeling like I should have re-scheduled some things, that 24-7 with my friends wasn't as important as being there for Luke's thing. Being in a family again is weird.

This weekend I realized how much I've been putting off starting my life in Cedar Falls. I'd much rather keep hiding behind a constant cycle of packing and laundry, but I think it's time to just deal with it. There will always be a reason for me to go to Iowa City for the weekend and I need to learn how to miss out on the things that don't really matter in order to focus on the things that are a priority now.

Stupid life lessons.

Here are some pictures.

holly's home! post 24-7 milkshakes

action shot of riley and alex. i dig the blur.

blogging at hoa while rachel does perspectives homework

eiffert throwing food at me while i take a picture

deedee's failed s'more. it was chewy.


riley = xtreme