Year 4

4th Year! Who would have thought? I know I didn't. I had a plan - I would live in the DC metro area for 2 years, say I did it. Feel cool that I had lived in an east coast city and then I would go back home to Boise. Shortly after being here for a year, I did commit to the cousins that I would stay until at least 3 years. Then in 2016, the cousins and I signed a 2 year extension on our lease until June of 2018 and then I accepted a new job and I realized I had to be out here until at least the fall of 2019 cause even though I contribute to my 401(k) my Fidelity tracker basically says I suck at it, so I have to be vested before I can even think of leaving. I remember a few other things I had planned in my head. I knew this area was expensive - duh, it's on the east coast and it's a city. So, my plan was always to live with the cousins, plus I am a chicken and never could I live alone in this area - what if someone broke in? I also remember saying I would never live in DC proper, because I couldn't afford it the areas that I could, I wouldn't feel safe - so I knew I would always be in the burbs with the cousins. Funny how life doesn't always go as planned. And sometimes it is amazing to think how far I have come in the 4 years. As we all know, I have lived in DC proper for 6 months now and I live alone (but I live in a complex of probably around 1000 people and I feel safe in my 7th floor apartment (plus there is no way any one could break in through the windows - they don't even open high enough for Princess to jump out, but I digressed). All that to say that I am not sure what year 4 is going to bring. I have some hopes, but if I'm honest I don't know if they will happen or not, so for now I pray and confide in the people who love me and are praying for me. Year 3 had ups and downs and if I am honest, the last few months have been hard and one of the reasons I haven't blogged. I blog in chronological order while I have done some fun traveling this summer to Idaho, New Mexico and Texas, I have also had to deal with some inner demons and I'm not sure I am willing to share those. But, I do hope to pick up blogging again because I have so many pictures to share and I have more travels coming up with a trip to Boston in a week and a few visitors coming this fall.

For the customary recap of what year 3 encompassed:

• August: Tuf's Birthday; First time at an ACS National Meeting; Trip to Northern Ireland 
• September: Mark and Karen visit DC; Karen and I go to Virginia Beach for the night; new boss at work 
• October: Blue October Concert  
• November: Trip to Idaho; Hosted Thanksgiving Dinner: Cousin Tattoo! 
• December: Found my DC apartment; All things DC Christmas related (DC does an amazing job of decorating and there are so many fun trees to see); a once in a lifetime trip to New York City with the cousin on Christmas Eve that involved going to a Hillsong Church, seeing the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, the tree at Rockefeller Center, window displays on 5th Avenue
• January: Blue October Concert; Cousin moves back to Texas (lot of tears)
• February: Cousin comes back to help me move to DC
• March: Started DC Bucket List (exploring the non touristy side of DC) with an awesome friend Stephanie; niece is born - welcome Raelynn Nicole you are loved; Karen visits; crazy weather - wild wind storm and the only snow of the season
• April: More bucket list items checked off the list; Cherry Blossom walk (alone); 3rd time going to the sunrise service at the Lincoln Memorial; on a different note found a new church in Alexandria that I like; Lori visited; Mere being brave
• May: A relationship ended with no closure (ghosting sucks - don't do it, it's cruel), another relationship was on the verge of ending and would actually end in June at my decision; May was extremely hard; joined a book club in hopes of meeting new people; Concert on the west lawn of the US Capitol 
• June: Spontaneous but much needed trip to Idaho to be reminded I am loved and have good relationships and then onto New Mexico to see the fam including a my aunt and uncle from Australia and a nephew and niece I had never met 
• July: 4th of July parade (way too hot!); Trip to Texas to meet Sophia (Kimberley and Marco's adorable daughter), spending a day with the cousin 

Year 3 was quiet at times, a lot harder than I would have ever thought it could be and a lot of tears were shed. But that is not all that happened. A lot of awesome memories were made and I am so thankful for all the time I had with the cousins. And through all of the trials I am stronger and I am proud of myself for being out here, living alone in DC. I honestly don't know what the next year and a half hold, but what I do know is I am not alone. I have awesome friends and family that will always love and support me. God is with me, He has always been there, even when I have pushed Him away because I thought I knew better. I am so very thankful that I have my faith and that I have found a church. This season is another growing season for Mere. I am being intentional about relationships. I have been so afraid to be alone out here that I have let people in that were not the best for me, I don't regret letting them in - I just wish they would have valued our relationship as much as I did. When I finally realized they did not, I had to remove myself. I have to value and love myself. And through that process I have had to get outside of my comfort zone and I have made a couple new friends! 

Welcome Year 4!