recent happenings

Oh what's up Friday night! Having a "real job" is real funny because at night all I want to do is just sit around and then go to sleep! It feels so great to have productive days though.

On Tuesday-Thursday, I was in Pensacola, FL with the 7th through 9th graders. Super quick trip (1 full day at the beach) but so much fun! I haven't been to Florida since my freshman year in high school and I forgot how fun it is. I can't count the number of remarks from parents and my youth ministers about how I must be comparing it to Malibu (the joke of the summer is that I am a snob...please) but in reality, Florida beaches are great (soft white sand and WARM water that you can swim around in all day if you want). Whatever, obviously I love California, but Florida was great. And, luckily we made it there and left before the oil spill reached. It is so so sad and I can't even imagine its implications for the next several years.

Anyway, the middle schoolers are hilarious! Oh man. I have seriously written so many stories down that I'll have to tell y'all in person or over the phone. They say the funniest things, have a really big faith, are incredibly innocent, and, for the most part, treat each other really well. I spent most of my time with the girls- getting to know guys in the youth group who I didn't already know (or whose siblings I didn't already know) might be one of my big challenges. But the girls are super fun, especially the new 7th graders. I had a really weird moment of realization one day at lunch when I was sitting at a table with 5 7th graders and they all ordered off the kids' menu, which was for kids 12 and under, and they totally could, because they were 12. TWELVE. They aren't teenagers. The weird thing: Neither am I!!!!!! What??? It was a really weird moment. Think of all the things we have done (realized, experienced, been hurt, learned from mistakes, gained, etc) in ages 13-19? I can't help but laugh when I think about it!! What a JOKE!! They're not quite sure what to do with me (pretty sure there was at least one "yes ma'am") but it is pretty fun to try to relate to them. There is never an awkward silence because they all love to talk and tell stories about anything and everything. A few 9th graders were checking out my wallet and looking at my license, saw that it expired when I turn 21, and the conversation quickly turned to them asking me if I am going to drink when I turn 21. Ha! Oh hey spotlight/pedestal, no pressure or anything.

I do love those moments when I feel like I can connect with the girls though, remind them that they are beautiful, let them be their crazy selves, and encourage them that boyfriends aren't everything and other various things! I see parts of myself in each of them, the ones who stay behind and have conversations when everyone else goes in the hall to rave/have a dance party - the ones who are super into their classes and middle school choir - the ones who are a little insecure - the ones who love themselves ;) - the younger siblings. It's cool slash scary.

On Wednesday night, we had a devo at the beach and a dad who came on the trip spoke. So, the middle school girls obviously always talk about the boys they like in the youth group, and they are always the guys who are seniors or just graduated! haha!! aka the ones I consider in my age range. Oops. Weird. But at least they are super amazing, solid Christian leaders who they are so interested in. The older guys, and girls, in the youth group are so solid. Anyway, the dad who spoke kind of took a spin off of that and asked the girls to say some names of older guys in the youth group who they thought the jr. high guys should try to be like. He asked the guys the same thing about the older girls. It was so cool to hear their answers.

So today (and most days lately) in the office we were super busy doing little administrative tasks like printing off and organizing maps for Memphis Workcamp next week, making calls, planning events, making lists, etc., which is like totally my comfort zone. I would totally be a secretary for the rest of my life! Ha! I love it. It's about to get crazy though! Next week is Workcamp.

I also found out today that on Sunday mornings for the rest of the summer I am going to be TEACHING 8TH GRADERS ABOUT THE BOOK OF JAMES. This is like one of the scariest things I've done, but the conditions could NOT be more perfect!!!! For a big portion of my middle and high school years, I seriously wanted to teach 8th grade, principally because I am fascinated! / obsessed with middle school culture. It is so interesting to me. So that will be interesting. AND, additionally, I probably know the book of James better than any other book. In January 2006, I started a big push with two of my best friends, Annaleigh and Anna, to read my Bible every day, and we started with the book of James. That definitely changed, shaped, and stabilized me as a Christian teenager.

I am going to need a lot of help in executing a smooth-running, non-awkward class, but if nothing else, I can see this opportunity being one of my biggest learning experiences of the summer.

On another note, I am missing my college friends so much! Most of them are together in California, and I am actually so much more jealous of them right now, than I even was this past year when they were overseas! It's very strange but it's a comfort to know that this is God's place for me right now. Junior year is just getting that much more exciting! :)

Love to all of you!