Russia.

My trip was amazing! I love volunteer work.
Tyler and I broke up right before I left. Like, 7 hours before I left. My heart just... broke. So it was a hard trip, too. But it helped me focus, and I learned a lot. I am so grateful for the life I live and for my family. So many kids just straight up don't have a family... that was the hardest thing for me to see on this trip. I met so many amazing people, so many new friends. I've tried so many new foods and learned so much about myself. (Who knew that I just love a hot cup of tea?!) Anyways, even though I've been home almost two weeks, I'm still having a hard time sleeping - so I'll keep this short and end with a video of the highlights of the trip.. Make sure to watch through the end! :)




The photo is from one of the five orphanages we visited. We also visited 2 juvenile delinquent homes, a foster home, a homeless shelter and three schools, as well as throwing a concert/drama performance at the end of the week.

First Love.

Lately I've been thinking about how much I love Tyler. Yes, love. Teenage love. I think it exists, but, I am a teenager afterall. Tyler and I have been together for 13 mo straight / 19 mo total, and I know a year is nothing compared to couples married for 50, 60 years, but I can't imagine being with anyone else but him. Not even when I didn't get to talk to him for 12 days. No one else seems right, no one else seems to fit, and I have no desire to look for anyone else.
Maybe someday this will end. Maybe someday he'll be a story I tell my children, my children with someone else. Maybe someday this will all be memories, memories of my first love. But for now, it's amazing, its wonderful, it feels great. For now I'm content knowing tomorrow his locker will be next to mine and we'll hold hands. For now it's nice to know that he's there to listen to me and hold me. That we love eachother like nothing else. The possibility that we maybe, someday will be forever, lurking on the horizon will be ignored for now. The possibility that someday we will be with other people, completely ignored for today. For now I'm satisfied to be in love. I'm happy where I am, and I wouldn't change it for the world.

"If I could turn back time, I'd choose you all over again."