Round Two!

I am back in New Jersey! YAY! I had a lovely time while I was home for the holidays. I was able to see all of my family, friends, and spend some quality time with my cat, all of which was such a blessing. I had a great birthday with my family and my best friend. My mom surprised me with tickets to the Off Broadway production of Jersey Boy (which was amazing). I also had a great time celebrating some good friend's birthdays. We had a great Thanksgiving and an AMAZING Christmas. The whole family was at our house and we ate great food, had great conversations and watched some great movies! Then we went to the Bay Area for New Years and saw fireworks in San Francisco on New Year's eve! We followed it up with more time with friends and family up until the day I had to leave. This time home was unforgettable.  

I flew into NJ on Wednesday, which was a long day of travel. I went from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Nashville before I finally made in to Newark, NJ. On my travels I met a splendid young man named Nate. Nate is probably the most talkative person I have ever met, and is painfully aware of his talkativeness. I got the feeling that he had been told many times in his life that he talks too much. At first I thought that he was just going to talk about video games for the entire FIVE HOUR FLIGHT from Los Angeles to Nashville. But the more I talked to him, the more I realized that Nate was a boy with many interests, all of which he wanted to talk about. Nate isn't only interested in video games, but he is also interested in philosophy, science, and the future... among other things. When we landed, Nate helped me get my bag from the over head storage compartment. As he handed me my bag, he told me that he appreciated me listening to him and letting him watch Harry Potter with me. He said that most people tell him that he talks too much but that it was refreshing being around someone who let him talk. As we walked off the plane together, I realized that I felt a little sorry for Nate. No one should have to feel self conscious about being themselves. Sadly, it is something that almost everyone has to go through. It may seem weird that I am spending so much time talking about a kid who I knew for a few hours, but Nate is still part of my story. As I said in a past blog post, everyone you meet has the power to impact you in some way. I see it all the time with the volunteers who I work with every week at Habitat. 

Speaking of Habitat, I am SO excited to go back! Monday will be my first day back and I can't wait to see all of my friends in the office and on the construction sites. Thank goodness for Facebook because it has made it possible for me to keep up with the progress that has been made on the houses that I had been working on before I left. The Costanza family has moved into their home since I left, which is amazing. It feels like just yesterday I was standing in the footers of her not yet built home, pumping water so that the foundation could be built. Now she is all moved in! Amazing. Barbara Durchaks's home was just a skeleton when I left and now it has been lifted, the sheetrock is up, the siding is almost done and the add on looks amazing!!! 

What it looked like before I left. 

What it looks like now!

I am SO looking forward to seeing it in person, walking through it (without having to have a face mask on!) and giving Barbara a hug! It is just too amazing. Again, this is why I am here. This is what is important. Getting these lovely people a home. Can't wait for round two of this great adventure I am on. There are so many more people to meet, houses to be built, memories to be made and lessons to learn. Glad you all are here to go along on the ride with me :)