Every year my Papou writes a letter to all his friends and family about our family. It is a lovely recap of what we've all accomplished in the year and a reminder of how blessed we all are. This is going to be my attempt at that for myself.
I started 2016 wisdom tooth-less on a flight to Kansas City. Aubrey picked me up at the airport and we spent the weekend celebrating my dear friends, Sydney and Jacob, getting married. We then headed to Indy to see the rest of the consultants before heading on our final semester of travel. I checked a few more states off my list, between consultant visits, work at APO and vacation I was able to see Oklahoma, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee and Virginia.
My last week with the consultants in April was one I will never forget. I started working for ASA with my best friend Jessi and ended it with 6 more friends for life.
My month at home was filled with fun as well. I spent the majority of it saying goodbye and see ya laters to all my friends and family while attempting to fit my entire 23 years of existence into a Ford Focus. Not an easy task. I took 4 trips to the Good Will. Filled up a few trash bags and bargained with Yaya and myself about what I should and could take. Leaving Idaho was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but so far, one of the most rewarding. The 20 hour drive was not as terrible as it sounds. Yaya and I broke it up into four days, enjoying our time together. Exploring Kansas City with her was so wonderful and I cannot wait until the next time she visits.
Summer in Kansas City was something I was not prepared for. HUMIDITY IS THE WORST. 2016 was the sweatiest year of my life. BLEH. Working as a server after working all day kept me busy and kept me hitting my step goal.
My first semester of grad school was great. I enjoyed my classes and meeting my cohort. It has been a little different than I would like since I don't live in Warrensburg and almost all my cohort does. Even though I do not get to spend much time with everyone I have made some friends and I am thankful for that.
Fall in general was VERY busy for me. Out of the 16 weeks of class in the semester I was out of town for seven of them. I had visitors in town for three of them, and I had work/class obligations for two others. It was insane but awesome. Between working full time, reading and writing papers for class every week and trying to have a social life/sleep I honestly do not know how I made it through so well. Towards the middle I felt like I was due for some sort of panic attack/life crisis but it never came. I guess I am more capable of everything than I give myself credit for, and for that I am glad.
Living alone has been such a learning experience. I am really good at carrying all of my groceries in at once, I always know it is me who made a mess, and I know how to put out a kitchen fire. All is well at Casa de Taryn.
Even though I've known since this summer that I would not be going home for Christmas, I cannot help but feel really sad when I think about all the things I'm missing. While it is impossible to ignore, I have tried very hard to think of the positive things about not going home. I have received a bunch of packages and mail which is very fun for me. I have a job I love, doing something I am good at, where I am needed. I get to travel which is something I love to do and I get to spend time with my staff that I love hanging out with. Hard to be sad when you have so many things to be grateful for.
2016 has been a great year. Between the friends I've made, the experiences I've had, and the lessons I've learned, I can say that I am truly thankful for everything that has happened in 2016, good or bad. I am excited for 2017, the chance for growth and learning, and hopefully many more adventures.
Thank you to everyone who made my 2016 special, extra big thanks to my family members and friends who make the effort to call/facetime/text/email me constantly.
Here are some of my favorite pics for 2016
I started 2016 wisdom tooth-less on a flight to Kansas City. Aubrey picked me up at the airport and we spent the weekend celebrating my dear friends, Sydney and Jacob, getting married. We then headed to Indy to see the rest of the consultants before heading on our final semester of travel. I checked a few more states off my list, between consultant visits, work at APO and vacation I was able to see Oklahoma, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee and Virginia.
My last week with the consultants in April was one I will never forget. I started working for ASA with my best friend Jessi and ended it with 6 more friends for life.
My month at home was filled with fun as well. I spent the majority of it saying goodbye and see ya laters to all my friends and family while attempting to fit my entire 23 years of existence into a Ford Focus. Not an easy task. I took 4 trips to the Good Will. Filled up a few trash bags and bargained with Yaya and myself about what I should and could take. Leaving Idaho was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but so far, one of the most rewarding. The 20 hour drive was not as terrible as it sounds. Yaya and I broke it up into four days, enjoying our time together. Exploring Kansas City with her was so wonderful and I cannot wait until the next time she visits.
Summer in Kansas City was something I was not prepared for. HUMIDITY IS THE WORST. 2016 was the sweatiest year of my life. BLEH. Working as a server after working all day kept me busy and kept me hitting my step goal.
My first semester of grad school was great. I enjoyed my classes and meeting my cohort. It has been a little different than I would like since I don't live in Warrensburg and almost all my cohort does. Even though I do not get to spend much time with everyone I have made some friends and I am thankful for that.
Fall in general was VERY busy for me. Out of the 16 weeks of class in the semester I was out of town for seven of them. I had visitors in town for three of them, and I had work/class obligations for two others. It was insane but awesome. Between working full time, reading and writing papers for class every week and trying to have a social life/sleep I honestly do not know how I made it through so well. Towards the middle I felt like I was due for some sort of panic attack/life crisis but it never came. I guess I am more capable of everything than I give myself credit for, and for that I am glad.
Living alone has been such a learning experience. I am really good at carrying all of my groceries in at once, I always know it is me who made a mess, and I know how to put out a kitchen fire. All is well at Casa de Taryn.
Even though I've known since this summer that I would not be going home for Christmas, I cannot help but feel really sad when I think about all the things I'm missing. While it is impossible to ignore, I have tried very hard to think of the positive things about not going home. I have received a bunch of packages and mail which is very fun for me. I have a job I love, doing something I am good at, where I am needed. I get to travel which is something I love to do and I get to spend time with my staff that I love hanging out with. Hard to be sad when you have so many things to be grateful for.
2016 has been a great year. Between the friends I've made, the experiences I've had, and the lessons I've learned, I can say that I am truly thankful for everything that has happened in 2016, good or bad. I am excited for 2017, the chance for growth and learning, and hopefully many more adventures.
Thank you to everyone who made my 2016 special, extra big thanks to my family members and friends who make the effort to call/facetime/text/email me constantly.
Here are some of my favorite pics for 2016
See ya in 2017!!
Ciao, ciao for now!
xoxo
Taryn
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