Be warned/disclaimed/told/duly note this: The following will be considerably more serious than the usual mallarky you find here. Feel free to stop reading now. Most of this isn't even about Ecuador...
- I turned 21 on Wednesday. I became "legal" in a country with a pretty loose (technically 18 year-old) drinking age.
- Before the el inicio del semestre I signed a life style contract saying I would "live above reproach" during my time here in Ecuador. (read: no boozin', no druggin', no sexin')
- For the second consecutive birthday, I shared the evening with two professors (here from Trinity to supervise Social Work field placements.)
- My life is absolutely amazing, bu also incredibly different than anything I ever would have pictured myself doing.
...that being said. I have at least 21 things to be thankful for.
1. I am a sinner, saved by amazing grace.
2. I was raised by two amazing, very different people. I am one hell of a woman because they love me the way they do.
2. I was raised by two amazing, very different people. I am one hell of a woman because they love me the way they do.
3. I have enjoyed relative health for the past 21 years.
4. The friends I have are a second family. Absolutely amazing, there's no other way to say it. Some have known me for 21 years, others since middle & high school,now some from college. From any segment of life, these are the people who have shaped a good part of the adult me.
5. The feeling I get every time I walk into my childhood home. It seems the same, there's usually food in the fridge and mom constantly reminds me that "i'm always welcome."
4. The friends I have are a second family. Absolutely amazing, there's no other way to say it. Some have known me for 21 years, others since middle & high school,now some from college. From any segment of life, these are the people who have shaped a good part of the adult me.
5. The feeling I get every time I walk into my childhood home. It seems the same, there's usually food in the fridge and mom constantly reminds me that "i'm always welcome."
6.Extended family- both of my parents have a great network of brothers,sisters, cousins and aunts, uncles that demonstrate the truth, “it takes a village to raise a child”. 7. Parkview Christian Church- one of my first "second homes".
8. Trinity Christian College- a great community for me to experience the college years.
9. The Social Work department at Trinity. I have been challenged and encouraged by the faculty of the department in so many ways. I have been able to connect my passion for service with a degree program that gives me so many career options. Simply stated, the department has created a wonderful, open space for me to “be me.”
10. My ever increasing ability to embrace what it means to be Elizabeth Alice Brice. With all my faults and flaws.
11. The gift of laughter.
12. Music for every occasion and friends that have the same mental soundtrack I do.
13. The Tapestry Project, Oklahoma City, Josh & Amy. A three month crash course in being a grown up and community development.
14. Coffee.
15. The experience of coming to Quito, Ecuador for a semester. I have learned so much here!
16. Books that inspire- reading Anne Lamotte has given me an outlet to feel normal about faith and being a woman who is so not a Beth Moore Bible study.
17. Every summer. The smell of the Midwest on a humid night, growing up and spending summers at Chalet on the lake/Beathwalk/Gobles/POSKIN LAKE..
18. freckles. scarves. my favorite accessories.
19. the city of Chicago.
20. I know already said this one, but seriously. The parents. Tom and Kath are really something. I love them so much.
21. The gift of memory- without this simple ability I wouldn’t be able to love and appreciate my life the way I do!
8. Trinity Christian College- a great community for me to experience the college years.
9. The Social Work department at Trinity. I have been challenged and encouraged by the faculty of the department in so many ways. I have been able to connect my passion for service with a degree program that gives me so many career options. Simply stated, the department has created a wonderful, open space for me to “be me.”
10. My ever increasing ability to embrace what it means to be Elizabeth Alice Brice. With all my faults and flaws.
11. The gift of laughter.
12. Music for every occasion and friends that have the same mental soundtrack I do.
13. The Tapestry Project, Oklahoma City, Josh & Amy. A three month crash course in being a grown up and community development.
14. Coffee.
15. The experience of coming to Quito, Ecuador for a semester. I have learned so much here!
16. Books that inspire- reading Anne Lamotte has given me an outlet to feel normal about faith and being a woman who is so not a Beth Moore Bible study.
17. Every summer. The smell of the Midwest on a humid night, growing up and spending summers at Chalet on the lake/Beathwalk/Gobles/POSKIN LAKE..
18. freckles. scarves. my favorite accessories.
19. the city of Chicago.
20. I know already said this one, but seriously. The parents. Tom and Kath are really something. I love them so much.
21. The gift of memory- without this simple ability I wouldn’t be able to love and appreciate my life the way I do!
whoop whoop! In the words of Chelsea Smith, I am now Sister-Friend-LB-21. : )
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