Goodbye, Summer!

I am ashamed to realize that I haven't posted since August 7th. I guess my good intentions for this thing called blogging isn't working, yet I press on.

School started this past week. I am really excited about my classes, teachers, and the fact that I am now a Senior in high school, but I just don't know if I'm ready for the school year. I guess I will be ready whether I like it or not! I can't believe I'm a Senior. Being a Senior(like being able to drive, getting married) is just one of those things that I never thought would happen when I was younger. It seemed so wonderful, but I thought it was so far away that it would never happen. Don't worry... I don't even know what I'm talking about. My mind does weird things. I just can't fathom the fact that I only have one year of high school left! Most people(okay... everyone except me) seem to think its crazy, but they get over it, whereas I can not! I just can't wrap my brain around it! I'm getting old! Well... not literally(obviously). I'm just growing up faster than I thought I could. It boggles my mind. Did I mention how crazy it is that I'm a Senior? :-)

This semester I'm taking three "outside" classes, and I'm doing math(two years in one, yuck!), Health, and a Dave-Ramsey-something-or-other-financial-thing-my-mom-asked-me-to-do. I'm taking Psychology and American Sign Language at the community college, and my incredible World View class(the third, and final, one). I know it's not going to be an easy year by any means, but I know it will be good. I am actually looking forward to having a schedule again though, I'm not gonna lie. During the summer every week is so different, and I love knowing what's going on. I just have to work on getting that routine down now!

I know that the worst part of this year is coming to terms with the fact that I won't get to see a lot of my friends nearly as much. This summer has been wonderful for me relationally, and, specifically my grade at church, has grown incredibly close, and I know I'll miss them. In fact, this week I missed all of them so much and I couldn't do anything about it! Come on, it hadn't even been a week! I am so thankful for every single one of them though. Earlier today we got to get together for some lunch, and it was good to see them. Yes, I'll see them on Sundays at church and afterwards most days, but compared to seeing them at least a few times a week, it just isn't the same. I hope and pray we can find a way to stay in touch through all the busyness of our lives.

One last random thing... I have become obsessed with Kari Jobe over the summer. I heard a song of hers on a CD someone gave me, and then I liked it so much I decided to buy her album. I can listen to it over and over again. At the moment my favorites are probably Singing Over Me and You Are For Me, although I truly love every single one.

That's all, Folks! Back to the school-year routine!

Bean Soup

Wow... it's been over a month since I've updated! Yes, I'm still alive over here.

Just to let you know, right now my little brother is watching TV, and I'm actually pulled in by the commercial about space bags. Is that ridiculous or what? Don't worry, I'm not really buying them(yet!).

I will be coming back SOON, so for now I'll finally tell you about VBS (that was at the end of June! It's been a month and a half now!).

So, the group I was in was 2nd grade Purple. My job was to take care of an 8-year-old girl named Claire. I've known Claire for about 5 years or so now, and I go to her house to babysit her(and her siblings), and just help her mom with all that needs to be done to take care of a child with special needs. Yes, she actually has a lot of special needs. For the most part, sweet Claire can not walk, talk, or even feed herself. She is confined to a wheelchair for most of the day(well... not at home so much, but that's beside the point), but honestly one of the sweetest little girls I've ever met. While, honestly, I would have preferred to be helping as a "Shepherd"(what our church calls a leader of a group, eg. 2nd Purple), I was a true servant and acted as Claire's buddy for the week(they wanted me because I know a lot about how to care for her and love on her in the ways she needs).

The group we were in was a hoot though.

Justin, an 8y.o. soon-to-be 3rd grader, was quite fond of my BFF Kara. She was one of the hand motion girls on stage, and her 5'4, 100lb, size ZERO body with blonde hair just about won him over. The fact that she is a real ballet dancer thrilled him as well. He didn't even know I knew her until I went into the Adult Break Room to grab a quick bite, and he peeked in(even though he wasn't supposed to) and saw me talking to her. This is how our conversation went:

Justin: "You know her?!"

Me: "What?"

Justin: *while pointing to Kara* "You know her? The girl that's on stage?"

Me:(not knowing the fact that he liked her... or the extent of his infatuation) "Yeah! That's my friend Kara. We're like this *fingers crossed*"

Justin: "Kara?"

Me: "Yeah. Kara."

Justin: "Oh... I like her." (with a BIG shy smile on his adorable little face)

Me: "Ohhhhhh... Really?"

Justin: "Yep."(with those little eyes that won't look at you because of the "embarrassment".)

... and that was just the start of many conversations that entire week about Kara. I'm just SO glad he didn't go around telling everyone that he loved Kara. Liking I can handle, loving is a bit too far in my(humble) opinion.

The next day when I told him I had spent the night at her house, he was just about floored. He ended up giving her a note on a pink notecard that read: "Kara. I like you. *heart* Justin". Although the only gift she received from him was a bag with bean soup(well... beans and seasonings that was supposed to be given to someone who needed food...it was part of our outreach. so much for that!), she knew about his liking of her.

It was probably the highlight of my week. I told Kara that if she ever had any doubts about anyone thinking of her as beautiful, she could just think back to the week that Justin was head over heels inlove like her.