HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hello everyone.

I deeply, truly, genuinely apologize for not writing in ages! I just got so busy! Or not really busy. But the last month or so I never really had much down time. I got really close with my host family, and it seemed like I never was sitting alone on the computer for more than a few minutes.

What has happened since I last written?

Amazing tractor and sled rides- if you want to see a video, check out my facebook. It was GREAT!!!

Christmas- thank you to EVERYONE who sent me gifts and letters! I'm not going to name all of you, but you know who you are, and I know who you are, and I really appreciate it!!! It was great being with my host family, I love them very much and it was very enjoyable.

New Years- I went my friend Manon's house. There were twenty of us, and we made the dinner ourselves (fondue!!) and celebrated a wonderful new years!! Special thanks to Manon, Geraldine, and Aymeric pour tout que vous avez fait pour moi... <3

Thennnnn my family came. Lots of amazing times. It was great to see them and show them around my European life. We had some issues with the car (snow, getting lost, the usual), but in the end I hope that they had a great time, I know I did!

And now... it's a new year.

A new year, and I am in a new host family.

I switched today. My new room is set up. Packing was CRAZY. It took the three suitcases I brought with me, the suitcase my parents left me, a huge bag (full of shoes), a crate full of food (thanks mom and dad) and a few smaller bags. But, I managed!! Don't ask me how I'm ever going to make it back to the United States, I have no idea.

Tonight I am very reflective on how TRULY lucky I am.

 I have an amazing family. Seeing my parents and Abbey was incredible. I missed them so much, and it was great having them here.

 And I had a great first host family. I was unpacking my suitcase today and I found a journal in it that did not belong to me. I opened it up, and it was full of pictures that Geraldine put together, with writing and stories illustrating the four months I spent at her house. It definitely choked me up. She was a wonderful host sister, and although I know I'm going to see her frequently even now that I'm gone, it'll be hard not being able to spend time with her every night like before. If it wasn't for her my life here would have been VERY different. And not necessarily in a good way. And Charlotte and Charles-Antoine as well were great. It was just such a fun house, and I had great times with all of them. My host mom, Catherine, made very sure that I know the door there is always open. She kept telling me how hard it was for them that I was leaving, they had all grown very attached to me. It was sweet. In all, I had a wonderful experience at that house.

And my new host house is great too. It's different, of course, but I like it. My host parents are very kind and fun and my host sisters all seem to be great as well. I'll keep you all posted :)

And as long as I talked about the other two, my third host family is great as well! I have passed lots of time there and although it's a bit crazy, I know I will have a lot of fun there.

SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS (in no particular order):

Joe Larson, the best friend anyone could ever ask for... I miss you terribly. It kills me knowing that I have to go another six or seven months without seeing you. Seriously, it's unbearable. Your Christmas letter was AMAZING and I am going to save the cardboard cut out of your head FOREVER!

Kaylinn Marie the bumble bee... you goofy, goofy, goofer. I hope that you are enjoying your life. I enjoy our passings of texts from last night or stumble upons. I am expecting a cardboard head of you... just saying.

Might as well put on here too, that Bill Bezenar is AMAZING for thinking to send me an ugly sweater. It is great and lovely and I am SO happy to have it!!

Grete Miller... keep your chin up girly, you look BEAUTIFUL with your new bangs :) and ditto to the cardboard head statement, I'm waiting......

Aymeric Dessart, because I know you will be reading this soon: Je vais parler de les crocodiles et les étoiles pour toi!! Les crocodiles sont incroyables (tu sais, il y a un grosse crocodile- un faux, évidemment- dans ma nouvelle chambre), et les étoiles ici en Belgique sont les plus belles du monde!! Merci pour tout que t'as fait pour moi le nouvel an.. vraiment, t'es le meilleur!

Géraldine, je ne sais pas si tu jamais lis mon blog, mais tu me manque déjà!! MERCI MERCI MERCI POUR TOUT, a toi et TOUT TA FAMILLE!!!

To Emma and Mikayla and Eduardo: Thank you for putting up with me this year. I'm so glad that I have you guys at school with me. Not going to lie, we're pretty much the greatest :D

A quick little bit to Charlie Richard Manzoni a well, thank you for still talking to me after how awful I was over the summer. Abbey Saville as well, that goes to you too. I'm glad you've both forgiven me :)


Tyler Leslie: I've been listening to the mix CD's you made me all day as I got my new room ready. Thanks for them, and the wonderful day in Minneapolis before I left. It was really great! :) And hey, tell your parents, I'm wearing the bracelet they gave me for graduation, I LOVE it!


Marie and Bernard: vous êtes les meilleures!! merci beaucoup pour le message pour le nouvel an, c'était trop mignon!  Béné a me dit que vous toujours lisez mon blog, et alors désolé que je n'ai pas écrit depuis si longtemps!!! Je vous aime!


Grandma Joan and Joe: Again, thank you for the package. I miss you both A LOT and I really appreciate all of the presents! I love you!!!


Chad and Jamie: Also, thank you for the package. If you look at the pictures my mother posted on facebook, I'm wearing the scarf and head warmer!! I'm wearing the socks AND the slippers right now :)


Grandma Paulette and Grandpa Lloyd: Let me just tell you that ALL of my friends think the chocolate carmel brownie squares are INCREDIBLE (I mean, come on, they have a good point...)!!! You'll have to send me the recipe, because EVERYONE is asking for it. I love you guys!!!


Melissa, Steve, Josh, Faith: If you notice, in my new years pictures I'm wearing the sweater you guys gave me. I'm not sure if you know this, but I think it is one of the cutest sweaters I have ever seen!!


Jennifer and Kyle: the bracelet you guys got me is SO beautiful! Thank you so much, I love it!! Whenever I wear it I will think of you!


Also, a special thank you to my parents. They AMAZINGLY brought suitcases full of all the things I asked for, and they are just overall amazing!! Thank you SO much for everything, I love you guys so much, and I really do have the most amazing family in the world :)


Béné: Seeing you was so great. I KNOW that we will see each other again before I leave. Thank you for EVERYTHING. I had a really wonderful time :)

And for anyone who is interested in seeing how wonderfully I used to speak French (when I was 15 years old)... merci Béné :)

To everyone else, thank you SO much for reading my blog. I promise I will do my best to keep writing more frequently!!! <3

today I appreciate: how lucky I really am