I'm still alive, I promise!

Hello!

I realize that I’ve abandoned my blog for over two weeks now, with absolutely no explanation. To the very [very] few who read it, I’m sorry. I have nothing important to say right now, but just to reassure you that I am, in fact, living and breathing, here is a lovely little bullet list I compiled this morning:

·         I went on vacation! To Arizona! To visit my wonderful Grandparents! (Ask me about their story some time; it’s truly a testimony to God’s faithfulness, even in light of human faithlessness.) Proof:

We stopped at Carlsbad Caverns on the way up. On our last visit, some five or six years ago, I spent most of my time being terrified. Now I LOVE it! It's seriously one of the most incredible places on earth, a testimony to God's creative design. Walking through the caverns, you can't doubt that a Designer's hand was in it all. None of the pictures did justice to the cave's majesty, but they were all stunning anyways...I couldn't decide which to post, so you'll just have to settle for me in "Fairyland". It's not exactly what I expected :P

Arizona Skyline

Dessert! (Ursula is a fabulous cook, as Ryan's smile testifies.)

Ringtoss aftermath. I just love this picture of Sean; for some reason, it seems to describe him perfectly.

Ursula also has wonderful wall decor, including this sword.

Ethan FINALLY got his Porsche ride! This is a moment he's been waiting for since...whenver he became obsessed with cars. In honor of the occasion, he went to Wal Mart with the SPECIFIC purpose of finding a blue Porsche Hot Wheels car thingy.

·         I learned to sew, sort of. Charity taught me. I feel that the venture was a success, because my black-and-white scraps of cloth mysteriously transformed into a purse. Also, it was wonderful spending time with Charity and the other girls. I received several encouraging compliments from Bethany which will probably carry me through the week, including “Aubrey, if we all woke up this morning and you were dead, it’d be kind of sad.” (Thanks, Bethany.)

·         Last time I babysat at the Franklin’s house, the kids and I made up stories. How it works: they all pick characters, and I build stories around those characters. Micah is always a lion, Hannah usually settles for nothing less than Queen, and with the other four, you never can tell. Bethel likes wise old _____ (insert some obscure fantasy creature here) and Laurel adores unicorns. David picks the most interesting characters I’ve ever heard of, including “stairs”. Trust me, he regretted that choice. Did I mention you have to act your character out? Anyways, I’m thinking some of these stories might turn into picture books in the near future. ;)

·         I finished the Mistborn series on vacation, and promptly ran into the bathroom sobbing. I’ll say nothing more about the ending, I swear. But I highly recommend them, if you’re over 13. I also ended Count of Monte Cristo and an assortment of books from Mrs. Brock. Now I’ve begun Mockingjay and Manalive…I think I’m going to like Manalive much better…

Thank you if you are still reading my blog. It means a great deal to me. :)

They say you never know what you've got 'til it's gone...

Sorry this post is so long-delayed...

I went camping this weekend! With my J-Hi group, for the very last time. This camping trip is an annual tradition; my year won't feel the same without it.

I'm going to miss staying up 'til four o'clock, talking about everything from shoes to guys to the Rapture to insecurities. I'm going to miss playing Mafia everywhere-midnight on the rocks, aroudn the campfire, during youth group, cramped inside those big white vans. Some of the best j-hi memories center around this violent card game. Occasionally, I wonder what people think when they see a group of teenagers with Bibles on their laps screaming "HANG ____! He's the mafia! Hang him!".

I'll miss Stef a lot. She's 100% the best. I've learned so much from her, and had so much fun, too.

(see Annaleah's eyes in the background?)

Of course, I'm not going to stop pestering her, even though I won't be in J-Hi anymore ;)

I'm going to miss Mr. Troyer's drawings of the end times, and singing solos because I forget that Mr. Robinson likes to add new pauses to old worship songs. I'll miss my prayer group and harmonizing with Megan and laughing at Cat and rapping Lecrae with Annaleah and learning Spanish from Juan.

There's a lot I'll miss.

Junior High has been truly amazing. But I can't help but feel that I wasted so much of my eighth grade year. See, seventh grade was absolutely phenomenal. Kalvin was [is] on fire for God and got the rest of us inspired. We were constantly evangelizing, having amazing discussions, praying, and encouraging eachother. And Flo was with me! That makes everything awesome.



Then the eighth graders moved to high school. Suddenly, I was one of the oldest. I felt so deserted. And I moped. I moped all summer and all year long. Not in front of anyone (excpet Flo and my parents and Stef), but inside I was wallowing in a sticky pool of self-pity.

I waited for high school, and it felt like it would never come. I cried when my closest friends and Ryan went to a week-long summer camp, leaving me at home. I pouted because the high schoolers had more fellowships and activities.

I didn't build the relationships I could have. I didn't take the opportunities to encourage the struggling, or to be encouraged. I didn't enjoy what I had because I didn't realize I had it. Until now.

Nothing is perfect. Youth group wasn't, and neither was the camping trip. But they came pretty darn close.

Thankfully, those people aren't going away just because I made a mistake. God is so good! I still have high school, and my eighth grade class. The 6th and 7th graders will be moving up soon. I'm pumped for summer camp! And, we'll all be together at winter camp every year.

We look kinda like this: