Winter Retreat
Normally right now I would be packing to leave for Winter Retreat with my youth group tomorrow. But this year, for the first time in as long as I can remember, I am not going. With that being said, Winter Retreat 2012/2013 was definitely a top 10 moment of my year. We kicked the year off in a common room with the entire youth group. A room full of the people I spend all of my time with and love more than they could ever know. I sat between Deedra and Trevor as we continually checked our phones and when it turned midnight, the room erupted. Everyone was up, hugging one another and genuinely enjoying the time away and with one another. Aside from being with my friends as 2013 began, we spent the first several days worshiping the Lord and preparing our hearts for trials to come throughout the year. Trips like this are always my favorite because of the renewal it brings to old friendships and new bonds with blooming ones. While I find myself extremely sad I am not joining the hooligans on the church vans in the morning, I know there will come a time when I can be a counselor and minister to a new group of youth kids and I will create new memories worthy of a top 10 of that year.
Anna Kate
My precious bundle of joy niece turned two this year! It blows my mind how much she has grown over the course of this year. I find myself counting moments by gauging what words AK was saying at that time or what she may have been calling me. Over the course of this year I have evolved from "Reyssshhhhh" to full-blown "Aunt Reychel". That voice is the sweetest thing I've ever heard in my life. Elizabeth calls me a sucker, but I am totally okay with that title. During a conversation with Heather this weekend, she also accused me of being obsessed with her. I realize though....it's definitely an accurate statement. I never knew I could love the way I love her. Being privileged to witness many moments of her life this year only makes my heart swell with joy. AK is my little bitty best friend! I cannot wait to see what 2014 brings in AK jokes and firsts!
FRBC Youth & Summer Camp
In addition to attending my last winter retreat at the beginning of this year, I also attended my last summer camp for a while. I was a counselor and my mom wasn't there which were both strange conditions for me. I was technically a counselor, being 21, but I still felt like a camper in a lot of ways. First of all, the boys just used me as a "counselor" so they were allowed to walk up to the bluff by themselves, cause when we got there the staff member didn't believe I was a counselor! It was quite funny, and Deedra wasn't far behind us so it all was fine. (No one was injured haha) It was extremely bittersweet going to camp, being a counselor, and then coming home to do my last camp night. Going into camp I knew I would only be in the Youth until the end of July so it was important to me to make the most of my time with those that were not moving out with me. Memories were made, burdens were lifted, broken hearts mended. It was the perfect high note to leave on. It was difficult for me to finally step out of the youth because my heart has been in it for so long, but I have seen God show me it was the correct decision over the last few months. The youth has new members and is building its new group and I'm happy to witness it from the outside. God is working through Bro. Nick and Ashley to prepare this youth to do great things!
Cruise!
This is one of my most exciting and fun moments from this year, going on my first cruise! Brittany and I made the decision to do something awesome for Spring Break and we took a cruise to Belize and Cozumel together. The boat was beautiful, we made fun friends at the dinner table, and did some shopping and exploring while we were at each stop. It is a memory I wouldn't have wanted to share with anyone else. There's not many people I could spend 11 hours straight in a car with driving from Fort Lauderdale to home with ;). I'm thankful God has allowed our friendship to prosper through college and 2014 looks promising for bigger and better adventures with her!
Girls Day Out/Pumpkin Patch
During summer camp this year, I meshed an old girls group with a new one and somehow came up with a foursome that has brought me more laughs, comfort, and happiness than I expected. Destiny, Casey, Victoria and I make a silly little group. But we sure do love each other! Before school started back in the fall, we all went on a girls day to the new outlets in Woodstock and shopped, laughed, and made memories. In November, we took another day trip to the Pumpkin Patch and the Apple Festival, this time accompanied by Matthew! We had the best time. I love these girls with all my heart. I can't imagine sharing girls nights with anyone else. Although we aren't all the same, we all have different quirks that make it work somehow. What makes it even better is I can honestly say I have a close, cherished friendship with each individual in addition to be a collective group of friends. I know these are bonds that will last a lifetime. We're going to end up like our moms all spending time together away from our future husbands at least once a month or something, I can see it now :)
No comments:
Post a Comment