I'm going to try to blog more--here's my restart...

Please take the fact that I haven't blogged all summer as proof that I have been way too busy having the most random/incredible/best summer of my life! It seriously has been the best ever--hands down!

Hmm...I'm trying to think of a good comparison explaining how drastically this summer has come/is coming to an end. I guess its like what it would feel like if you were having a jolly good time skiing down a mountain when all the sudden-oh my gosh- an avalanche falls on  you and your friends. You: A-realize your day of skiing is over B- are not sure how you'll make it out of this avalanche situation C- are not sure how your friends will make it out of this avalanche situation and when you'll see them again D- find out very fast how the impact of tons of snow can hurt E- wonder if there is a Yeti trapped in the snow right next to you and you're wishing you had your camera, because a picture with the monster would be fantastic!

I came home from vacation in Disney world (which was amazing at that) to the realization that most of my best friends were moving/moved (on account of college and life and other nonsensical things) and I won't see them for way too long. On top of that my best friend since birth (you know, the one that's attached to my hip and who knows everything about me) sat me down and told me she is out-of-the-blue moving to Boston in less than 2 weeks.

I feel like I'm the one that's moving to a new place. Most of my friends are all moving leaving me in this strange land where I have to make a fresh start on life.

To add a bit of spice to the mix, God has given me some semester-long presents which He has placed a note upon saying "I'm going to stretch you in ways you have not been stretched before and you can count on it being hard. But "never will I leave you, never will I forsake you" and you can count on that."

So, I sit down to dust off my xanga and blog about it. But silly me, before you blog you always read other's juicy blogs. In doing so I have been reading other's thoughts of apprehension and misgiving on this upcoming school year. Summer has blessed most of us so much that it's left us bitter, because we don't want it to stop. School and life tear friends apart. 

There is fear in the unknown - I have been made aware. There is a huge void ahead and I have no idea where I'm going. I have no idea when I'll see some of the most dear people in my life again. I don't know how college will change them from who I know them as. I do not know how (more) college will change me.

But, my friends, I think there is a greater fear in missing out on the excitement of the unknown if I just wallow and cry about it all. God has began a good work in all of my most dear friends and He will carry it to completion. In this I find such great joy. I don't know how, when or where we will pop out of the avalachy snow and greet each other, but it is going to be incredible to see the Good Work God is making my friends into.

I know that the ways God is going to stretch me are going to be uncomfortable, but there are so many promises in the Bible which proclaim rewards, blessing and -above all- peace to those who remain trusting in God's perfect plan and steadfast nature. I want almost nothing more than to be like Ms. Proverbs 31 who laughs at the days to come.

You guys should try it with me! You there, yes you, the one with the apprehension and misgivings. And you, the one with that where-the-heck-is-God-leading-me feeling. Let's all cast our cares upon Him and laugh at the days to come! It seems much more jolly that way!

I am so thankful that God is steadfast and knows the unknown!
I'm also so thankful for facebook and free nights and weekend minutes!

Driving home Thursday I was practically screaming in my car with glee...

I have finished school!

I am (im)patiently awaiting my grades as I pinch myself to see if it is true. Am I really living the fact that I am standing on the brink of what is to be a wonderful summer? YES! Yes I am!

Pops says, "Did you think of doing a Maymester or summermester?"
I says, "Yes, for about two seconds and those were the most foolish two seconds of my life!"

Why would I want to give up my precious summer time when in several years from now I will have summer times a real job with a real schedule of no summer breaks! booo! I selfishly thumb my nose at such an idea.

My summer to-do list is sky high while my summer reading list could reach the bottom of Lake Ray Roberts if I wished.

Speaking of Lake Ray Roberts I intend to go canoeing there with my three comrades Rachel, Ruthann and Emily if Ruthann would just get back from Iowa....

Brothers and sisters, please join in my joy for this summer! Please don't let it get away! Don't watch too much TV or gorge yourself with sleep and for heaven sakes don't you dare say "I'm bored!" If you do, I shall come and give your shins a good kick.

This summer I intend to:

• Learn many new things such as watercoloring and candlemaking and cooking.
• Traveling and going on spontaneous roadtrips
• Reading until, well, I die.
• Growing ever so much in the Lord.

I simply cannot tell you what a great feeling I have about this summer. There is this tingly consciousness that this summer is going to wield some of the best memories and set up for some of the best experiences ever!

Share in my joy, please, dear friends!

Thank you, God, for your gift of Life! Let me not waste a minute!