where i'm at today

I have five tomato plants in my front yard. I have dirt under my fingernails. I have a 3 week old sunburn that faded to a tan on my shoulders. I have the beginnings of my chaco tan on my feet. I'm snacking on Wasabi pees and string cheese. My no longer reaches the top of my shoulders (but it still goes back into a ponnytail). There is an apple cake in the oven and sweet tea cooling the fridge. My feet are dirty and my soul is well.

Some of the highlights of the past month: 

- a 10 day trip to Virginia to spend time with Matt, play games board games almost every night, visit my soul-friends at the tree house in Harrisonburg and keep building my friendships in Richmond, see dear friends graduate from EMU, eat Clines ice cream, get a sun burn, and experience the hope of spring before the buds started poking out here in Rochester

- watching the transformation to spring here in Rochester and feeling the lightening of my heart as the days continue to be long and warm and the world turns green

- supporting the Ban the Box initiative that would provide my clients an opportunity to compete for employment based on their qualifications (see more about Ban the Box here ) 

- getting rained on at the Lilac Festival! 

- playing games and talking politics at the RMF games and junk food night

- watching the season finale of Marvel's Agents of SHIELD with the Stuckeys 

- reading and discussing "Living More With Less" with wonderful women from Rochester Mennonite Fellowship

- shopping at the public market for vegetables, bread, and occasionally an Easter Lily

- planting the lily, along with the tomatoes, mints, some basil, mums, a rose, morning glory, kale, etc in our small yard

- exploring Wayne County yesterday with Ket - getting free gifts, free snacks, and new sandals

- network about possible housing/employment opportunities for  when I move to Richmond

some of my goals for the three remaining months of MVS:   

- keep the garden alive and harvest my own tomatoes! 

- see a few more festivals

- be creative - and create thank you gifts for those who have supported me

- stay committed and supportive for my work and my clients 

- continue to grow relationships with people at RMF 

- walk and walk and walk

- not worry too much about the details of moving 

- read lots