Feeling the Stress

I do not ever bombard my blog with complaining or negativity, but I just need to scream this out. Since I've been back, I have felt absolutely and incredibly in desperate need to be anywhere but Laramie. Being home for less than 36-hours was an absolute tease for me. My body, my mind, and my heart ache for the smell of the Atlantic, more home-cooked meals from my family, time with my brother, snuggle sessions with my besties, and hikes on my Ashland floodplains. I do not connect with Laramie in any way, shape, or form with how I connected with the Tetons or home. Maybe I am just stressed from the craze of the fall semester, but I am pretty much over my Year 2 (as of right now). How do TSS folk try to complete their Year 2 in such a short period of time? I want to literally slit my wrists on how stressed I am, well on how tired I am. The next 11-days cannot go by any faster. I just want to be home, be with positivity and a sense of place that I feel most 'me.' The light at the end of the tunnel is packing up my bag and flying back East to a sense of 'community' and 'place' that makes me feel like the true ChristyBel. Right now, its not Laramie, that light is back east, it is Delaware. Please, hurry up, there's no place like home.

I apologize for the word vomit. I'm just feeling the need to be home. So soon, CBel, so soon.

TheChristyBel

Delays, Delays, Delays

Oh, you know...just stuck in Denver right now, waiting for my flight to stop being delayed.

Philly, we're so close to seeing each other.

Don't lose hope!

There's no place like east coast home!

TheChristyBel

A Delaware Turkey Countdown

Just wanted to give you all an update:

9 more days until the First State and I are reunited again!

Even though it will only be for a short, short, short period of time,

I am beyond excited to finally visit a place called home!

Even more excited for the following:

Bobbies

Sushi

The Foxfire Crew

The Burtons

My Family!

and of course...

....my bed.

This will be the longest week and a half...ever.

TheChristyBel

Happy Birthday Jaclyn!

Wishing I could be home right now to spend this wonderful day with my snuggle and my best, Jaclyn!

Happy Birthday darling!

27 is definitely the year!!!

Wishing you so much luck, success, and happiness to you not just on this beautiful day, but this entire year!

Love you to bits so much!

TheChristyBel

#throwback to when we would dance the night away at Silk City!

Happy Fathers Day!

Wishing I was in Delaware right now celebrating this wonderful guy!

Supporting every highlight and obstacle since Day One!

Thanks for being such a great dad to Sean and I!

Celebrating Dad's Day From Far Away!
Throwback to My Graduation from University of Delaware in 2009

Love,

TheChristyBel

Dream Team Memorial For Jim

Being on this Forever West Adventure has been such a blessing to experience a new place, new opportunities, and to upgrade my life.  However, being away from my family, friends, and a life I left back on the East coast has been a burden as well.  Not being able to see many of my loved ones whenever I want, not being able to see the little girls I used to babysit and nanny, hearing the progress and success about my brother's job, having my feet be immersed in the ocean and laying in the sun on the shore sands, and working with all the volunteers I left back in Delaware.  It has been really hard being so isolated from everyone from back home, especially when you are missing moments with family and close friends during times for healing the heart.

Back in October, I was saddened to hear that one of my volunteers, Jim, of my favorite volunteer groups had passed away. This past week, the group that he was a member of, the Dream Team, held a memorial ceremony for him and dedicated one of their projects to him and his family.  Being across the country made it really hard to heal after hearing of Jim's passing, but it makes it also challenging to not be there, in person, for people I care about during moments of being together with each other.

November 2011 - The Dream Team was awarded the Governor's Outsanding Volunteer Award
Left to Right: Jim, Eric, Kathy, Governor Markell, Tim, Hank, and Gordon

Jim, our honored friend on the left in the above photo, was a member of this wonderful group of volunteers I had the pleasure of working with when I was the Volunteer Coordinator for the Delaware Nature Society.  His dedication and support to this team was beyond remarkable.  Every Wednesday, this group of seven volunteers consisting of education guides, teacher naturalists, and trail management volunteers would construct numerous projects that benefitted the programming and visitors that the Delaware Nature Society served at many of their sites.  

Their first two projects were constructing two remarkable replicas of Lenape Longhouses on our Ashland Nature Center property which took more than two and a half years to complete from planning to finish.

A few weeks before I left for Wyoming, I was able to have one last goodbye with my favorite group!
Kathy is missing.

The team named themselves ‘the Dream Team’ and contributed more than 5,588 hours in all weather conditions to not only the two longhouses, but to more than 14 different projects at Ashland Nature Center, Coverdale Farm, and the DuPont Environmental Education Center when I was the Volunteer Coordinator. By having these beautifully constructed projects, like the longhouses, program participants and visitors are able to have authentic and realistic experiences and serve much larger groups. 

The Dream Team was awarded the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2011 in the Environment category and was presented their award in front of a ceremony with Governor Markell.  Jim was so proud and honored of the group's accomplishment.

Jim was by far such a determined and fearless leader and member of the group.  He would always show up prompt, ready to get to work, and always kept the group on track and focused!  His knowledge, experience, stories, and personality were beyond incredible talents and qualities that made him such a wonderful and involved member of the Dream Team!

Jim's Family
Photo Provided by Eric Roberson, Member of the DNS Dream Team

This morning, Eric, another member of the Dream Team, sent me an e-mail informing me of the Memorial for Jim and provided photos of the team and the Tribute.  They dedicated the Ashland Nature Center boardwalk that leads into the floodplain and marsh to Jim with a plaque in his honor.  It made me really homesick to not be there with the team, but very comforted that they kept in the loop of this.

Wishing I was able to be with the Dream Team and Honor Jim!
Photo Provided by Eric Roberson, Member of the DNS Dream Team

To be sent photos of Jim's Memorial was really touching and comforting to know that I was there in spirit to celebrate Jim's life.  Jim was a phenomenal volunteer, friend, and colleague to work alongside with at DNS. 

Individuals like Jim are the reason why I enjoyed working with DNS as a teacher naturalist, volunteer, staff, and a former volunteer coordinator.

Forever in my heart, Jim.

TheChristyBel

Happy Birthday, Lana!

Happy Birthday to one of my bestest and dearest friends, Lana!

Can't wait to come home and celebrate your birthday with you!

Xoxo love you!

 

One of the Bestest Friends a Girl Could Ask For!

Through Thick & Thin, Dance, Guard, and 5K's!

One of My Other Halves!