The summer comes to an end here in Tahoe..

In less than 2 weeks, my summer here in Tahoe will end. I will leave my job, leave my friends, leave Tahoe, and leave my family! I have spent 3 wonderful months at home...ups and downs included, but all times must come to an end! The list of memories that we were made this summer get longer and longer everyday and will keep going until the day I leave for Oregon! Days at the beach, hiking to the top of Castle Rock, nights at Danielle's house, $2.99, coffee talks, birthday fun, dog/house sitting (oh the stories!), spending the nights, the day at the water park, camping, movie nights, the car trips, stargazing at the beach, and just being together. This summer was one of the hardest yet....not having Danielle around to hang out with, marking the one year since Kimberly died, and all four of us together for only 3 weeks this whole summer!!

But I do know that the time we did spend together has been great!! I am sure going to miss these girls in August, for when I get back it will be time for everyone to head back to school. I am very thankful to have such a wonderful group of friends here in Tahoe and I am also very very thankful that I have my family here too!

The month of August will be the most thrilling and packed month this summer!! Why, you ask? Well, I get to go back to Salem for a week to hang out with "the gang" before me and a group of 12 others head to Mexico for a mission trip!!! This trip didn't seem like it was ever going to happen when summer started, and even now with it being 3 weeks away it doesn't seem real!! I mean I get to spend time with the youth and some adults for 10 days and see Jess!! The last time I saw Jess was in March while on Spring Break Mission Trip, so seeing her again will be wonderful. I am also very excited to see every one up in Salem too, I am glad that I get to spend an extra week up there:-) Once I come back from Mexico, its 6 days in Tahoe and then back to Salem for school...which means more time with the middle schoolers and "the gang!" Even though I had a wonderful time here at home, I am looking forward to the month of August and the memories to go along with it!

Doesn't Matter the Distance...

Thousands of miles are between me and most of my friends this summer!!

Let me start with my Tahoe friends...Danielle, Hannah and Kristin!

Danielle is spending her summer in Kenya on a mission trip! I am really sad that we only got to spend 3 weeks together for the whole summer, but I am very excited to hear about her summer when we are together again! Its been really nice to get a few email from her letting us know that she is safe and sound! I miss her like crazy, this is the furthest that we have been apart in the 18 years of knowing each other...so it will be wonderful to be back together again!!!!

Hannah and Kristin are spending their summer here in Tahoe, which is wonderful!!!! This summer marks one year since Kimberly dies. We are dealing with together, we keep each other strong! I am very excited to spend a couple more weeks with them before I head to Mexico for my mission trip! Without these 3 girls coming home wouldn't be the same! I love these girls to death :-D

Moving on to Oregon...

I would be here all night, if I named each one of my friends by name! I am going to group them into the middle schoolers and the high schoolers!

My Middle Schoolers...

Its hard to believe that it has been a year and half since I started working with you guys! You guys mean the world to me!! Its hard it think that some of you are moving on up to the high school youth group in the fall...it makes me sad to think about it:-( I am going to miss having them around each week at CW and Sunday School, but they will still be around!! You guys have been such a blessing in my life and I am so thankful that I gotten to know you!

The High Schoolers...

Where to begin?? I guess it all started in March when we went to Tecate on spring break mission trip! It was amazing time and I guess it all started there! On the trip down I didn't really know any of them, but 2 days in the vans and a week in Tecate changed all that...and I am very thankful for that!! Since Tecate we have spent many hours together doing all kinds of things like...going to the park, going to the coast, watching movies, hanging with my sister, going to Silver Falls, going to the La Perla, and of course all the inside jokes:-D You guys will never know how much you have impacted my life, there are not words!!! I am very excited to spend 10 days with some of them in Mexico on a mission trip, but I am even more excited that I get to spend an extra week in Salem before we go to Mexico!! I can't wait to see you guys...miss you like crazy! Love ya<3

Moving to Mexico...Last but not Least!

Last November we had a family from my church move to Mexico to serve as missionaries. I didn't really know the family that well, I would say that I knew Brent the most due to the fact that he was in the middle school youth group! It was a week before we were going to Mexico, and all the high schoolers were excited because someone was coming to visit! I didn't really know her, but all the excitement rubbed off on me! Once in Tecate, we found out that we so much alike! While on the mission trip we were given the nickname of "OCD Buddies!" The trip ended and Jess went back to Mexico and we went back to Salem, but the growing of our friendship had just started! It has been great getting to know Jess over the last couple of months, I am very thankful for the Internet and the phone! Jess has been such an encouragement to me and has helped me out a lot! I am very thankful that I meet Jess and very excited to see her in August...yeah!!!! I heart you OCD Buddy! I can't wait to see you...1 month and 13 days :-D

It doesn't matter the distance between us, because where ever we are we are friends! I love you guys to death and so thankful to call you all my friends!!

From Tahoe to Kenya!

As my phone went off that early Friday morning, I knew that it was going to be the toughest morning yet. Not only had I not gotten enough sleep, I had to say bye to my best friend for the summer. I knew that the tears that I had fought back the night before couldn't be contained any more. I had fought the tears all night long as Danielle had said her byes the guys. The time came for me to leave, and I lost it. As we held each other in our arms, we knew that this was going to the the toughest, but most rewarding summer in the 18 years of friendship. See Danielle is going on a 7 week mission trip to Kenya! She is spending her summer serving the Lord where He has called her. Out of the 18 years of friendship, this summer will be the first summer that we are not together, the furthest distance between us, and also the most AMAZING summer!! To make Danielle's last day in Tahoe the best we spent it at the beach with friends, and then hiked/rock climbed to the top of Castle Rock, and then spent the night together!! Hiking up to Castle Rock was a little long and then the rock climb didn't make the hike any better. But when we got up there and watched the sunset, it reminded me of how WONDERFUL God is and how He shows himself day after day. It gave me a peace about Danielle leaving for the whole summer. It gave me peace knowing that God called Danielle to Kenya and I don't need to worry about her. God is in total control and there is no need to worry. I am human, so of course I am going to worry, but not as much because I know that God is in control. And as I sat there and watched the sun fade, I sat there with a thankful heart. I was thankful that God is soo amazing! Thankful that I have such wonderful friends! Thankful that my friend is following the call of Christ. Thankful that when we get together again we are both going to have amazing stories from our mission trips!! Yes, the next 10 weeks are going to be tough without Danielle being around. But I know that this trip and this summer are going to be AMAZING for her!

This Summer

Summer has started in the land of most college students! I have been home a week already and have a job and has jumped in with both feet! As the school year came to an end, I had mixed emotions about leaving Salem. I didn't want to leave my friends and youth behind, as I spent the summer in Tahoe. So many memories were made in the last month and half, that I didn't want it to end!! I struggled with this choice day after day...after spending time in prayer God gave me the peace about coming home this summer! Yes, it was hard saying bye to everyone up there, but happy that its only for a short 3 months:-) Yes, I miss them everyday! Yes, I pray for them everyday! Yes, I am counting down the days til I go back to them!
Even though coming home was not what I wanted to do this summer, God has given me some wonderful things to do this summer! In June, I will be going to camp as a counselor for our church...I will be leading a small group, leading a activity, running media & sound, and being open to what God has in store for me! Then in August, I am going on yet another AMAZING mission trip...Autlan, Mexico!!! I get to go back up to Oregon and go on a mission trip with the church up there!! I am very excited for this trip, there are not even words to tell you how excited I am!!! Please pray for the group from the church that are going...please pray that all the funds will be raised and that God will use us in wonderful ways!
I am very thankful that my God has a plan for me, and even if its not what I want to do, I know that something WONDERFUL will happen...so I don't need to worry about this summer because its in God's hands!

Love you guys!