I love Boise!!! I am home in Boise, Idaho for a little over 3 months, and I don't want to waste a day.
Even though I lived in Boise for the majority of my life, 12 years, there are still so many things I have never done. So, I have created a BOISE BUCKET LIST!
Here is what is on the list so far:
Bruneau Sand Dunes
Shoshone Ice Caves
Craters of the Moon
Kirkham Hot Springs
Skinny Dipper Hot Springs
Shoshone Falls
Soda Springs
Hike Table Rock
Silver City
City of Rocks
Old Idaho State Penitentiary
Hull's Gulch Nature Trail
Eat at Big Juds
Basque Museum and Cultural Center
BSU Football Game on the Blue (I went in elementary school, but I'm not counting it)
I'm sure my list will continue to grow. Please feel free to suggest additions!
May the adventures begin!!!
I learned many, many lessons in Africa. Some were very
obvious; however I am just now beginning to understand and grasp others.
During my time in South Africa I attempted to learn some
Afrikaans. “Attempted” would be the key word in that sentence.
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language. It is a daughter
language to Dutch… I have NO experience with German or Dutch so the language
sounded very foreign to me. I tried to learn at least one word each day. Paula
and Pieter were great tutors, but I’m not sure I was the best student. I think
everyone got a kick out of listening to me try though.
The dust has settled, the bags unpacked, the last load of
laundry folded and put away, and all the pictures uploaded. The last effects of
jetlag are finally gone. It’s official. I am home.
However, what is ‘home’ really? One of the 13th
Floor students asked me an intriguing question that had me thinking for several
hours…What is home to you?
I’m at the interesting transition period in every college
graduates life. Essentially, I don’t have a permanent home right now. I don’t
know where I will be this fall. I don’t know where I will be this next stage of
my life. During my travels so many people asked me where is home, and I never
knew what to say. “Well, I grew up in Boise, Idaho. I have been in Minnesota
the last four years for school, and now…I have no idea.” But, the more I
pondered what really defines home the more I realized a truth.
For me, home is defined by a sense of belonging and
community, a place where I have people to love me and at the same time keep me
accountable; equally, I invest back into people’s lives, take risks, and grow
in relationships.
This summer I experienced many homes: Young Life’s property
Creekside at Washington Family Ranch, the touring team of 13th Floor
in Pretoria, South Africa, Morning Star Ranch in Matopo, and of course, my
family home in Boise.Although
travel weary, I never felt displaced.Each temporary home provided me a place of connectedness and placement.I feel blessed in getting to experience
a summer of “new” families and homes.