happy memorial day!

now back to business.

my world grew over the weekend. actually, it's been getting bigger and bigger all the time. I mean, at this time last year it was "oswegoland area." now it's "oswegoland & naperville & ottawa."

I now know that there is life out there. taking the first road trip by myself really showed that to me. sure, and hour may not seem like a very long road trip, but when you're by yourself? you start making decisions on your own. you start seeing the big picture. you start seeing things in your own way. you feel like an adult.

I know I did.

once I got to ottawa, I met people. I saw my cousin Kasey, of course, but then I met the rest of her family. I met people at her church (not to mention the date). some people knew me from somewhere already, but I didn't know who they were. I figured out later that they had seen me at YW camp, waltzing around as my crazy self as I always am whenever boys are out of the question. (lol; I'm the hyper one at camp. it's my rep.)

after I drove home by myself, I arrived to an empty house. I remember thinking to myself, so this is what it's like to be grown up. making decisions on your own, coming home and doing what you'd like.

then I realized how much I've grown through out my entire life. how much I've grown because of my friends. how much my testimony of the gospel and Christ has grown. how much better a person I am now than I ever was. how much more I understand now because I'm here, and not in sheltered little Lisle.

in light of that, I must take this time to thank you all. for helping me become the person I was always meant to be. for helping me uncover my light. for showing me what I am. for showing me what I have yet to do and accomplish.

so thank you.