Summer # 16

As my Sophomore year comes to an end an another summer has so gracefully swooped in just in time. The name for this is a bit different, but I thought as move into this summer I would blog about some of my favorite memories from this past summer!!!

#1. Mid-Summers Night Tears:
 Last summer (2011) I spent about 4 or 5 weeks volunteering at a summer camp as well as getting my CIT training (Counselor In Training). Three years ago I wrote a song named " I Don't Wanna Go," and dedicated it to the camp that has helped me grow up for 7 years. Last summer after being there for 5 years summer was coming to a close and I unfortunately had to leave a few days earlier than everyone else. In this picture I am preforming "I Don't Wanna Go," for my last time in 2011. It was much different this time though because I made so many relationships and because someone very special made me my very own guitar strap with words that said: " I don't wanna go, I don't wanna leave you..." So after singing and playing my song everyone walked back over to get ice cream and i put my guitar away I went over to my friend and fell into her arms sobbing. I will tell you I have to this day never cried so hard. We walked over to the lodge together while I was still crying and seeing everyone was coming up to me hugging me telling me they loved me and all I could do was cry. I sat down for a while but nothing was stopping the tears, not this time. One by one it seemed like everyone in that camp that night came over and talked to me. I remember very few but one I do remember is with one of my best and longest camp buds Matt. Still crying he came over and pulled me close and gave me a hug but this was the longest hug ever because he was actually talking to me whispering in my ear. All week before this I had been telling him I didn't know if I wanted to go back in 2012, he told me that I wasn't finished there because of how much I was crying. Matt if you ever read this you were the one that helped me so much that night, even after I stopped crying and we were talking on the porch. It seems like so many of my favorite summer memories have you in them because for the past 6 years you have been apart of my summer in one way or another. I also loved coming home from camp and getting calls with Matt singing Jason Maraz on random evenings. Thank you and love you lots.

#2. Lakeside Wedding:
At the end of last summer I got to see the marriage of Uncle Sam and Aunt Whitney. They were legally married before the ceremony but it was great to spend time with my family in Michigan on this beautiful lake. I got to spend time with my two adorable cousins Arlo and Magnus. I got to try many new things like tubing and water skiing and lots of new vegetarian foods (this was when I was still a vegetarian). It was great to see God work in these two people as they raise two beautiful little boys and share an undying love for each other!!

#3. Taking the Main Stage:
At the end of last summer I was asked to audition for a Christmas show but it was a bit different than other auditions. This audition was for a live audience on the Main Stage at Cantons First Friday in August. I sang 'Once Upon a Dream' from Jekyll and Hyde and was told by many people I stunned them but little do they all know that if it wouldn't have been for that audition I may have never gotten on stage again. This audition was such a blessing in SO many ways. God brought so many new people into my life and helped me reconnect to an old friend.

#4. Getting and completing my Gold Rag:
At camp I am a part of program called raggers where it focuses of bettering yourself, the world around you, others and your relationship with Christ.  I have been apart of this group for 4 years and plan to continue it as long as I can. This year I received my Gold Rag and my goal for myself was to impact the life of others through my music. I feel I have done this so I hope to go back to camp this year and get my next rag. Last years raggers ceremony was probably the most amazing I have ever been apart of, because the minute you open your eyes Gods beauty blinded you and any of you who were there know what I'm talking about. Although it was the earliest I have ever woken up at camp it was totally worth it.
Summer #15 was so incredibly amazing and if I named all the amazing moments this would be super long! I cant wait to see what Summer #16 has in store with ALIVE12 and the mission trip this summer is dedicated to my relationship with Christ and of course camp and all of my amazing friends!!! Happy Summer 2012!!!
  

Meet My Best friend

   

She's out going, I'm shy with people I don't know.

She loves sports, I love a spotlight and a microphone. 

Organization should be her middle name and disaster mine...

   On Good Friday in 2011 Jesus put someone in my life that has helped me grow more in this year than I could have ever expected. Our situations in life have varied in many different ways but gladly I am able to say we have both been able to put Christ into our friendship to help each other grow in our faith and in our selves. 

   I can honestly say If it wasn't for the our amazing savior would not have brought us together I don't think we would be as close as we are today or even friends. We met our freshman year in track, I was the quite one sitting alone and she was the crazy one talking to everyone and frankly I was scared of her. Some how in the months between March and June we became super close, and on Good Friday that year we both agreed we were kinda like best friends. 

   As summer came around we were expecting to spend a lot of time together with some of our other friends. Things changed a bit through, we both started to get involved with guys and life was making it very impossible for us to ever talk or see each other. This summer was a true test of our friendship, and it was not always easy. In one instance I was so angry with her that I just didn't even want to try anymore. I could see myself very quickly being replaced and so I chose to be angry, unforgiving even after I told her it was all okay. One night at the summer camp I was staying at I looked at everything around me and remember thinking:

   "If Christ could forgive us, then why the heck can't I forgive my best friend who has apologized so many times?"

   My best friend is one of the strongest people I have ever met. She hates showing weakness but I wish she didn't have to be so strong all the time. My best friend has been my rock this year as I fell apart this year, and I wish I could be the same for her. 

   This week we were talking about where we would be without each other and from that conversation came the inspiration to write this. I hate thinking about the past or how things could have been because you can control it and that is just me so this conversation was difficult for me and I replied with:

   "I don't want to think about it."

   Here is your answer: I don't know. Yes a popular word in my vocabulary but in this instance it is the honest truth. Without my best friend I would be so lost, probably on the floor in the fetal position scared to death. Just kidding but the point is, by being friends with her my life has been changed.  

   When our hearts our broken we look and see the beauty of the pieces and gather them and up and put them back together. When one of  our faces are covered in makeup from all of the tears, the other is whipping it off or crying just as hard. The most simple things bring tears to our eyes, and have come to the conclusion that the older we get the easier it is to get us to cry.   

   No matter where life takes us after high school I have faith that our relationship will conquer any distance or situation. The laughs and tears we have shared, the memories made and the amazing moments to come will carry us through until our paths cross again. 

   Meet Mollie. My best friend. 

"But I’m still a dreamer, A believer Oh, I lost my faith in so many things. But I still believe in You"