where they're at

My roommate for this summer, Mary Leslie, was big on "meeting people where they're at". There were countless mornings where she would wake up super early to run with one of the ACITs. Even though we didn't have to be up for about two more hours, she would wake up and run with this girl. They would pray over camp, over staff, and over campers. While it was a sacrifice for ML, it meant a lot to this ACIT.

There's this athletic field at camp where we play lots of our big group games. At one end of the field, there's this huge hill. Whenever Day Camp has their slip 'n slide, they set it up here, so you go down the hill. At the top of the hill is a building where there are bathrooms, and it's common for campers to go up to the top of the hill and roll down.

On Monday nights, we had dinner out on this field, and like at many meals, I was sitting next to my tiny BFF for the summer, Anna. As we're finishing our food, campers are rolling down the hill a little more than usual, and it caught Anna's attention. She looked at me and said, "Will you roll down the hill with me?" I'd just eaten a cheeseburger, baked beans, and chips, and I could already feel my stomach reacting to camp food like it did daily. But, how could you say no to this sweet face?

So, I headed about halfway up the hill with Anna, and we started rolling. We only rolled a few times, but I knew it was something she'd remember for a while. We got all itchy and scratchy from the grass, and more than once I thought I was going to throw up. But, I met her where she was at. While she's only four, I was able to see the sacrifice in my heart and do something to show love to this sweet girl. 

Jesus met people where they were at all the time. Whether that meant healing them in that moment or feeding them or meeting whatever need it was, Jesus was there to meet them. He got on their level, he loved them, and he met them where they were. He showed them that He wasn't too prideful or too important to get down in the trenches where they were at and do something with them at that moment that was important to them.

It was beyond easy to meet Anna where she was. She's absolutely adorable, and she's just so lovable. My small sacrifices were nothing compared to those that other people sacrifice on a daily basis. But, it was a learning moment for me. I try to meet my friends where they're at, but there are plenty of times that I don't do that. Not only am I convicted to meet my friends where they're at, I'm convicted to meet my classmates where they're at. I spend literally all day with a group of 15 or so girls on Mondays and Wednesdays, and I'll spend the rest of my college career with them. I know a lot about them, even after only a few days of class. How can I meet them where they're at and show them the love of Jesus?

How can you meet the people in your life where they're at? How can you show them the love of Jesus? How can you say no to your pride and get down on their level? I hope that God will show you how and who you can do that to this week!  

Dear Maggie,

I've literally watched you grow up. I remember the days where you were this young. It seems like just yesterday you were in middle school tagging along with all of us as we headed to Chelsea's house or to the movies or out to eat. I can't believe you're going to college. 

Times spent with you have always been fun. Whether it's been sleepovers or church events or just random hangouts like going to Bruster's one night, we've always had a blast. You've never ceased to make me laugh!

I can barely remember going to any church thing without you being there. Whether it was Bible studies that I led or summer camp or any of the other numerous events we went to, you were there. So many of my favorite memories from youth group include you, and for that I'm so grateful!

Probably some of my favorite memories include our constant trips to Moe's and Starbucks. I always loved catching up on your life when we would go there, and I loved getting to spend that time with you. Whatever the latest dilemma was, we would talk it out there. If only those walls in Moe's and Starbucks could talk...

Another of my favorite memories would be all of the football games that we would go to. We'd either all pile in the Browns car or your parents would drive one and we'd be in the other. One of the best of those weekends was the weekend we all stayed in Hilton Head and spent Saturday at the beach. 

Senior year was a blast for me, because I got to watch you experience the first of all the things I was experiencing the last of. Homecoming was one of those times, and of course we all had a blast! And who can forget all of our talks by our lockers? Only the Lord could've planned that out!

Since Drew was going through all of the stuff I was going through, you got to be at all of the fun moments of senior year. You made it all the more fun, and you were always excited for me and for what the future held!

The summer after my senior year was sort of hard for me because I knew I would never get to experience some of my favorite years of high school with you. After plenty of years of spending time with you, I had to trust that the Lord was going to watch over you, and that He definitely did. 

Over the past three years, it has been wonderful to get to see God work in you in some really cool ways. You have grown up to be such a beautiful, loving woman of the Lord. A woman that I am proud to be able to call a friend. 

We spent a lot of your senior year talking through what would happen next. We both loved our senior years at ACS, and the idea of doing something different scared us both to death. But, I lived through it and have enjoyed it and so will you!

We also spent a lot of your senior year having sleepovers with Jamie, going on road trips, and talking about boys...wait, we've been doing that for years!!! I was able to watch you become confident in who you were in Christ, and what a blessing that was for me!

There were plenty of crazy, ridiculous times during your senior year as well. From the fireworks on New Year's Eve to all of the beaver adventures to countless other things, it's been a blast. 

During this year, I've gone through a lot, but you've been the most supportive "little sister" I could ever ask for. You've listened, and I've listened. Our relationship has turned into more of a friendship instead of me being the older one and you being the younger one. 

I'm so glad I got to spend the night before you left town helping you pack up. I cannot wait to see all that God does in and through you during your first semester in college. Mags, you are the sweetest and one of my favorite blessings in life! Love you so much!

fab couple of weeks

It's been a wonderful two weeks of just hanging out, catching up, and sleeping way more than I ever did at camp. Classes start on Monday, and while I'm not looking forward to taking 18 hours, I am excited about getting to be in the program and focus more on my major. I'll get to be in the classroom a lot more, and that makes me excited about school! And even though Mondays and Wednesdays will be some looooooong days, I'll have some sweet four days weekends :)

I got to hang out with sweet Jamie before she headed off to UGA! She's now an Alpha Gam, and I'm so excited for her!

I've also spent some time with my sweet Mags. I can't believe she'll be a freshman in college in just a few short weeks. Thankfully I'll get to see her a little bit more before she heads off to Carollton!

Spent the afternoon with my favorite boys!

It took a few attempts to get a good picture...

...getting there...

...finally!

Had dinner with these guys + a few more for our "once a year dinner" (we really see each other more than that), and it was so good to catch up! 

I've also spent some time with some more people, catching up, grabbing lunch, registering for classes, and even a little bit of shopping. I'm excited to see what this semester brings, and I'm looking forward to a few road trips. I'm heading back to camp this weekend to work the Augusta Christian senior retreat, which makes me so happy. I can't wait to see some of my favorite camp friends + some of my favorite ACS staff/teachers. Happy Thursday, friends!

end of camp

Whether we wanted it to end or not, camp has officially come to an end. My time in Asheville has finished, and I'm back in the land of heat and humidity. I could not have asked for a better summer, and I'm so grateful for the relationships that I made. The last week of camp is known as "Epic Week", and we definitely made that true. It was an epic week, and we went all out every day. It was fantastic, despite how tired we all were (and still are). 

Last Thursday night Waffle House run with Senior Staff. It was the first time we ALL went!

We took the ACITs to the Overlook. What a beautiful view!

Abby (my supervisor) and I matched on the last day of camp!

Two of the sweetest friends in the world, y'all. 

Everyone needs a Kasey in their life. She's fantastic and such a blessing.

Fishy faces with my tiny BFF. 

The best senior staff you ever could ask for (but, I may be just a little biased). 

Kasey and I spent one day last week with this as our view. It was the perfect way to decompress and relax after camp!

I spent one last time under this thing on Saturday, taking campers off the high ropes course swing. It was a cool moment for me, because I realized then how great of a summer I had. I worked with some incredible people, I saw God do big things in the lives of staff and campers, and I made new, incredible relationships with wonderful people. I could not have asked for a better summer! And the best part about saying goodbye on Sunday? I'm heading back next Friday to work the ACS Senior Retreat! 

sovereignty.

After EIGHT crazy weeks of Senior Staff Training, Staff Training, and Camp, the summer at Camp Cedar Cliff has officially ended. At the beginning of the summer, the staff wrote these "Letters to God" where we just basically poured our hearts out to the Lord for the summer. We prayed for the summer and asked God to do certain things in our lives, in the lives of campers, and in the lives of other staff throughout the summer. One thing that I asked was that God would do something totally unexpected. And He did.

During my sophomore year of college, I walked through some pretty hard stuff, mainly having to do with some really long friendships ending. I won't go into too much detail here, but basically I'm no longer friends with some people whom I'd been friends with for over a decade. Many times during that process, I would ask God, "Why?". "Why are you letting me go through this stuff? This isn't good." And I never got an answer. Never once did the Lord say, "I'm letting you walk through this for this reason." Not until this summer.

This summer, I supervised and mentored fourteen 15-17 year olds. I specifically spent time with three of the girls, and I got to know them and their hearts pretty well. About halfway through the summer, two of them came to me with stories so similar to mine that I had to laugh. I thought, "This is crazy. There is no way they are dealing with some of the same things I dealt with." But they were. And I was able to walk with them through some really hard stuff, I was able to give them advice since I'd literally been in the same spot they were in just a couple of years earlier, and I was able to pray with them that God would be sovereign in this area.

It didn't really hit me until Saturday at just how sovereign God had been in that area of my life, really in all areas of my life. None of this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't broken my ankle in 2011. Knowing that God used that awful summer to affect, greatly, this summer pretty much blew me away. I never would've guessed that the lessons I learned then would be applicable to some high schoolers this summer. But that's how sovereign He is.



We sang this song a LOT this summer, and I absolutely love it. I'll let it speak for itself.