*So, I just discovered that week 2, 3, and 11 were trashed (seemingly, by me). I was able to recover week 3 and 11 partially, but week 2 is completely gone. I’m debating between trying to republish them or leaving it be. Bummed.*

This is it. My time in DC is done.

It feels strange to not be in DC anymore, yet I’m not mad about the “after”: I get to return to my two greats jobs back in Southeastern Ohio, return to my friends, return to the same state as my family, and so on.

My first goodbye came Monday when my coworker, Ling, gifted me a set of bamboo bookmarks from China “so I’d always remember her” (get this- because she saw me “reading all the time”) as a going-away gift.

The next was to EvolveAll, where I’ve been doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It was a great night and I was even given a decal as a parting gift!

After BJJ, I went over to Kristen’s for another goodbye. She was leaving for her hometown the next day, so it would be my last chance to see her before my leaving DC.

I have so enjoyed my time with her. She is passionate about life, does nothing halfway, and is great at meeting people where they are at. She is a dear friend, whose friendship I treasure and will continue to treasure in the days to come.

Tuesday, I and a new friend named Kate got to get dinner and hangout with one another. She moved out to be near the Bean’s, so it was so neat to hear her story and all that God has done in her life!

You know someone is special when you walk away with a wisdom tidbit after just one conversation!

Speaking of special women, Thursday, I got to spend an evening with several; some faces familiar and others new!

I got the honor of sharing with them “the extended edition” of how God has worked throughout my life. We had such rich conversations over delicious food (thanks, Bean’s!) and I really enjoyed myself.

I am walking away from this time with even more friendships, none perhaps more influential than with these two. Rusty and El opened their home and life to a girl they barely knew (or didn’t know at all!) and loved her well.

P.S. that girl is me and I hope to do them justice by taking what I learned from them (both explicitly and implicitly) with me moving forward.

Friday was my last day at work. My coworkers brought in some delicious treats to send me off and thus made me feel quite appreciated.

Saturday was the day. Carly and I spent the morning breakfasting at Ted’s Bulletin (surprise, surprise), then squeezing in one last game of Five Crowns with one of our other roommates, Jess, before I hit the road.

Carly is another treasure of a friend (her and Kristen were two very solid reasons for me to even consider coming back to DC in the first place!). She is incredibly hospitable, intelligent, and capable of so many interesting things! There are only a few that can compete with her in the LOTR knowledge and appreciation and she is most certainly one of my “adventure buddies”. I am so grateful to her and my other two summer roommates for allowing me to stay with them and create such a welcoming space for me to thrive in this summer!

So now, I’m back in Ohio.

Row houses have been replaced with doublewides. Blocks of streets have been replaced with curving highways and dirt roads. Monuments have been replaced with factory smokestacks. I never thought I would experience culture shock within my own country, especially between two places I’ve been before, but I have already felt its effects. Despite this, I’m glad to be back for at least the next year.

I’m satisfied with the fact that I achieved my purpose there: spend as much time with people as possible and see/do/experience what I can in the midst of that.

I’m devoting this week to renewing rhythms and creating new ones as I find myself in a new season.

Until the next adventure.

Signing off,

Lauren