My Id-Ra-Ha-Je Summer

Well, I've been putting off writing this blog for a few weeks now for the simple fact that I'm not sure how to put in to words the absolute awesomeness of this summer. So I'll just make some bulleted points that highlighted my summer in no particular order of importance. Here it goes!

• Meeting the Narrow Way Adventure staff. Getting to know Dominique, Annie, Abi, Christine, Madison, Naomi, Summer and the boys was absolutely amazing. I had so much fun with them. They became a great support to me, especially in the hard weeks.
• Meeting Kym, Dejah, and My People (Mandy). Kym was always an amazing listening ear. She offered great advice and gave amazing hugs. Dejah, she was just like me. We have so much in common. We spent the majority of our summers at Mo Ville. She rocked my socks off with just how truly beautiful she is. My People. Mandy is an awesome girl. She and I had a unique first meeting that pretty much guaranteed that we would be friends for the summer. She was always there to encourage me and give me a famous Mandy hug.
• I got stuck in a trash can playing counselor hunt. You want to know details? Ask me another time.
• I counseled 2 full weeks and 2 half weeks. All my girls were amazing. 25 in all. I counseled weeks 3,7, and 9.
• Week 7 was the hardest week for me. I was only sleeping 3 hours a night. My mom, who had been sick since week 2 had a 3 1/2 hour MRI that monday to find out what was making her sick. That Wednesday, I had many homesick campers, and one of them ended up going home. As she was going home, I got a call from my mom and I quickly answered and told her I'd have to call her back. So after I got my camper sent home I called my mom. She then told me news that pretty much rocked my world.
• July 23, 2008 my mom was diagnosed with MS or Multiple Sclerosis. Already being emotionally and physically spent, I pretty much had a mental break down. So I talked to Jordan and he gave me the night off. Well at this point I had no idea what to do or where to go. So, I pick up my phone and called Summer. The conversation went something like this: me:"Summer, where are you?", Summer:"I'm just up at the Summitt House.", me:"I'm headed your way. I'll be there in a minute." Summer: "Umm. . . okay. Is everything alright?" Me: "No it's not." Well I took the back way up to Tepee camp from Mo Ville to get to the main road to head up to the Summitt house. As I got to the top of the hill from the path, there was someone there. At the top, Summer stood there waiting for me. She opened her arms to hug me and I just collapsed in tears again. She and I went up to the Summitt House, and I spent the evening with people who genuinely cared for me. Summer and I had a very deep talk that night. She told me things that I will remember for the rest of my life. It was wonderful to be able to have somewhere to go when I didn't know where to go. Two days later, I was still processing. By Friday night, I was in the worst mood ever. Everything was so wrong in my eyes. I felt so hateful. I was texting Dominique about it and asked if she could come talk to me. Later that evening she came and talked to me for over an hour. Just knowing that someone who had been in a similar situation was willing to listen and understood was a great feeling.
• I severely bruised my tailbone. It was painful. I sat in a floatie for 3 weeks before I got sick of it and threw it away. It got many laughs.
• I did many adventure activities, some challenge by choice, some challenge by force. I did the power pole, big zip, low rappell and the tower. I almost did high rappell, but I chickened out.
• God taught me so many things this summer. 1)I am nothing on my own. I have nothing good to offer anyone with what Christ has given me. 2)I need people in my life. I can't do much on my own. I need people to pray for me and I need to let people into my life. Even if I am scared of getting burned. 3)I am loved. Other people love me and care deeply for me.

That was some highlights from my summer. There is so much more, so if you want to know, just ask me. Last but not least, I want to close this blog with this: I've been back at school now a week, and I clean bathrooms for work scholarship. I was cleaning the other day and heard this song by Jeremy Camp called Beyond Measure. I'll leave you with the chorus. Just remember how much we have.

"I know that I've been given more than beyond measure. I come alive when, I see beyond my fears. I know that I've been given more than earthly treasure. I come alive when, I've broken down and given You control"

Until next time,

1 John 4:18