If there’s one thing that shows me how much God loves me, it is the people He has put into my life. Here is my thanks to each of you for giving me the courage to leave for 9 months to serve others (while making it oh so hard to leave you at the same time).
Rachael: If it weren’t for you and your willingness to step into something so completely different than what you’d ever done before just because you felt the Lord leading you to, I probably would have never heard about The World Race. Reading about your growth, hardships, and adventures gave me so much courage to go after this crazy adventure!
Ryan: The way you live your life has always been such an inspiration to me. You’ve never been afraid to do the things that bring you the most joy in life. I honestly believe the world would be a better place if there were more people like you who found what they love to do and refused to give it up. Your love of adventure has opened my eyes to my own desire and love for adventure.
Melissa: You have taught me so much about how important it is to love yourself. People lose sight of themselves too easily by trying to please others in this life, and you’ve done it too. But instead of letting your happiness and identity get away, you took it back. Along the way you showed me how to love and fight for myself and my own happiness.
Mom and Dad: Most parents’ worst nightmare is their child coming to them asking if they can come home from college after 1 semester and take a year off, but you were both nothing but supportive. You’ve always supported all of us kids to go after what we want, asking the hard questions to help us along the way (even if it wasn’t what you had in mind for us). Your unconditional love has allowed me to follow my heart.
Karli: As my life-twin and soul sister you have shown me again and again that no matter how much life sucks sometimes, there is always something to be thankful for. The joy you have for everything you do is infectious in a way that it is impossible to not be happy around you. You’ve taught me to enjoy every little detail of life, good or bad.
Alexa: People you love are probably loved deeper than any other person because of your heart for them. It is so evident how much you want the ones you love to know the greatest love there is, Jesus. Your ability to empathize with people is amazing. It is such a privilege to be loved and cared for by you. To love as deeply as you do will always be something I will strive to achieve.
Parisa: Your love and guidance over the past 5 years led me to pursuing this journey in so many ways. Your obedience to what God has asked you to do for so many years, no matter how hard it would be, has shown me just how much better life is when you’re truly following the Lord.
Alyssa: You are the biggest dreamer I know and I have no doubt that you will go after every single one of them. Seeing the excitement and joy you get from finding a dream and making it a reality has shown me how possible it is to do anything you want to. Your joy and excitement doesn’t stop at you, though. You have so much joy and excitement for everyone and everything in your life, encouraging so many along the way without even knowing it.
