something clever.

Today, Thursday May 26, 2011.

I just arrived here:

kidder creek orchard camps.

where I’ll be working this summer.

I got to stay with Kristin Hopper in Portland first.

for your viewing pleasure

here’s a little kidder creek throughout the ages…

2002.

2003.

2004.

2005.

2006.

that’s right.

the boys are back.

kcoc. 2011!

a chookie named muffin

I ran out of time to do the blog post that would do the end of this year justice.

I am home now.

To prove it I did gymnastics on this cliff with Hannah.

The last few weeks of school were full of luaus,

filming a rendition of the Iliad in the back 40,

more hiking,

tearful goodbyes to Stevie Wonder.

"La rana y el elefante son amigos."

Whitworth was a beautiful home for me this year.

Moving into Duvall was like moving into a big house

with your best friends, puppies and crazy uncle.

I think I am in the minority among my friends from home in that I actually had a fulfilling college experience. People were surprised to hear that I was sad to have left. I think more than anything people had expectations for what college was supposed to be, maybe a more amplified version of high school. Acclimating surely may have been easier overall at a school like Whitworth. Maybe I do live in a little bubble. A "pinecone" bubble to be exact. But I don't think that really means much.  What I mean is, when I think back to my list of things that I wanted to accomplish before leaving Whitworth. I can cross off just two. Before coming to Whitworth, I had a preconceived notion of the things I wanted to accomplish and be. Yet, there is no way I could compare that fictional version of the future with the year I have had.

I lived with 5 of the most down to earth and wonderful girls.

I backpacked some of the most beautiful places in the world.

I challenged myself in ways I didn't think possible.

I became part of the foundation of outdoor recreation program.

I made some of the best friends I have ever had.

I learned to stand for the vulnerable.

I took classes that all changed my life.

I danced.

I discovered passions I didn’t know were there.

All this to say, I have done a lot of growing up this year. And goodness I have so much more to go. Yet, I am more sure than ever that after the things that you are passionate about. There are some things that you just know. When we learn to relinquish these ideas of what we think is right for our own lives, we realize that God’s plan is so much better.

Sara Nicole