Sky of Blue, Sea of Green: What a Service-y Week

Okay, I have a lot to say about last week. It started out wonderfully with my dear Lauren's birthday.I am so lucky to have her as one of my besties!

We celebrated at Jack's Pizza Oven...and I wrapped Lauren's present in coloring pages. That's true friendship.

Later that night there was a surprise party for Lauren at the Fun Center. Because she is 21 now and super mature. I took Lauren to a bar afterwards because, well, she's 21, but that's another story.

Party every day.

The service-y part started on Wednesday when Alexa and I made our regular trip to Williamsburg retirement home to hang out with our elderly friends. We had a storytelling night and stayed for a looong time listening to life stories. This is a sign that hangs in Williamsburg and it is definitely what I have learned from the amazing people there.

On Thursday Utah State University hosted Eva Kor, a Holocaust survivor who was experimented on with other twins in Auschwitz. I feel so blessed that I got to meet someone like her!

Below is a picture I took right after meeting Eva when I was exploring this old abandoned building with a friend. (I know, my life is random.) I was thinking about how lucky I was to have this big beautiful world to explore and to not have anyone telling me where to go and where to stay. Eva inspired me so much to forgive and let go of things that are heavy. She said something that has stuck with me this week: "People always ask me, 'Do you really think the Nazis deserve forgiveness?' and I say, 'Of course not. But don't you think I deserve to be free of them?'"

Forgive...you deserve it.

Later that night we had a service trip reunion at Pizza Pie Cafe during karaoke night. We ate for about three hours, karaoked, and then they said, "Hey, we're about to close and we still have all this pizza so fill these boxes with it and take it home." This was McKenna's face. We have the luckiest life.

On Friday, it was finally time for Walk a Mile in Her Shoes! I have been helping put together walk-a-mile for four years now. I wasn't able to do as much this year as in previous years, which was sad, but it is always such a great day and something I feel strongly about.

That night was my first time doing Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society. We camped out in the fieldhouse from 6:30pm - 6:30am. I put this luminaria on the track in honor of my Uncle Mark who passed away a few years ago. My extended family has been affected by cancer multiple times. I really liked talking with my team after the remembrance walk about those we had lost to cancer.