I’ve said it many times but I lived and worked at camp from June through August. In the 6 months leading up to camp this year, I was preparing as much as I could. Mentally and physically. This summer put me through a lot. Many times I thought that I wasn’t going to make it, that I wasn’t doing enough for myself or my campers and I was pushing myself as much as I actually could. I came home crying a few times sadly. Actually, that wasn’t just this summer. That was this year in general. This year threw many curveballs my way that I didn’t necessarily know how to handle. I have gotten a lot closer with God this year. And hope my relationship with Him keeps growing each year!
This past year taught me so much about healing. I have had a lot of time to just step back and work on healing myself. I’m proud to say, right now I’m doing the best I have about this situation in a long time!
A quick overview and some highlights from my 2018:
In January, I went to Washington DC for my 3rd time there (4th time in a few weeks!!)
I also won free Tshirts from Sassy Frass TShirts for a year!
In February, I went to camp for the weekend. (you’ll start to notice a little bit of a trend haha) And actually the big thing that was on my heart and mind this month, was I was put into a situation that ended with a decision that I knew I had to make. I didn’t make an angry decision- I prayed for weeks about it and I realized it was finally time. I chose myself over an organization I was apart of for almost 2 years. I personally chose to be happy, instead of involved, which I can admit has been difficult in many ways since I left. But, in this situation, I wholeheartedly chose myself instead of anything else. I didn’t stay involved in something just because it was comfortable to me. I really didn’t know what the future held but I knew this is what I wanted.
In March, I took my first trip to Cincinnati and we went to Kentucky for the first time as well! I hung out with Dan & Chris the whole weekend and have wanted to go back since! I went to my first eagle eye retreat, It really was a trip that I needed.
In April, the lake house opened and I spent time there before I had to leave for camp. I also spend a lot of time with the girls I babysit and The Crew. Also in April and May, I was struggling a lot with change in my friend group. We were all still friends but I was moving away for the summer, and a lot of my friends were moving into new houses or leaving for the summer as well. I wanted to spend as much time with them in the current season we were in as much as possible.
In May, I finished sophomore year of college! I was also at the lake a bunch and then took a trip to Cedar Point with Pip and Chris. On this trip, I learned my best friends Christy and Kev were having a baby due in early December! I also got an iPhone X in May. I was convinced I would never get rid of my 6s because I loved it but it was getting really slow. I am enjoying my new phone and it was nice to know my phone would work at camp.
Then June finally came! I had 9 days to pack my suitcases, scroll through articles found on google about being a great camp counselor, take a picture and post that I was going to be at camp for the next two months, and say goodbye to my friends and family! The first week was staff training- full of learning and meeting new friends. We put our hammocks up and “hung” out all week!
This summer, I became a camp counselor for the first time to 7 different groups of 7-9 year old girls. When I got my first session of campers, I was beyond excited and that’s when my full summer at camp actually started! 20 days of camp later, Storer had its 100 year celebration. It was incredible. So many people and about 100 degrees but everyone was happy to be at camp again. It was very interesting to meet people that also love the same place I do- and have for years and hopefully many more to come!
July was just full of camp for me. I got to come home each Friday evening and had to be back early Sunday morning! I had such sweet campers but there were a lot of nights where I didn’t think I was good enough for them. The drive there and back every weekend was actually pretty nice to be able to reflect on my past week or my week that was soon to start right when my feet hit the ground. July was also the month where my mom, dad, sister and I started to love word searches. Why? I have no idea but it was something random and fun to do together!
August came and we finished with summer camp and on my birthday (August 5th), we started Camp Catch a Rainbow- which is a week-long camp for kids with cancer. The campers and their volunteers taught me so much about myself, how strong and smart they are and basically just about the world around me as well. They were amazing. This week was totally my favorite week of the summer! When CCAR was over, I got to come home for good! I was very sad I wasn’t going back to camp, just a few days later and knew I would miss my campers a lot but oh my gosh was I excited to be home!
September was the month where I was just getting back into the swing of things at home and I started my first semester of junior year! I also went to Cedar Point again for their Christian Point Fest concert- we saw Hollyn, Crowder, For King and Country and TobyMac. I loved it! Oh and The Fulton County Fair! How could I forget! I’ve been going to fair since I was less than a month old. We also watched fireworks on a random night in late September, which was hilarious!
In October, I went to the lake a few last times of the season. I also traveled back to camp and worked the CCAR Family Camp! It was so sweet to get to meet some of my camper’s families. On the last night, I sung my campers a song that is really special to the camp staff and I wanted to cry because I knew I wasn’t going to be there for another year.
In November, I went on a super fun weekend trip to Hocking Hills with the Catholic Student Association at UT. It was totally out of my comfort zone because I didn’t know many people and we hiked for a total of 5 and half hours on that Saturday. But I am so glad I went and got to experience the beauty around me that God gave us! After that trip, I got sick. I don’t even mean for a few days…. I mean for 3 and half weeks. It was really bad :(
In December, all I did was prepare Christmas presents for The Crew and my family! And go to Christmas parties. I also got to meet sweet Baby James. I can’t believe how cute he is:) I went to his baptism in late December and got to see all of my friends again. It was a really nice day!
This year was one for the books for sure. Lots of learning and growing and becoming a better version of myself. I learned how to walk away from something I loved for almost 2 years and how to walk into something I have always wanted to do. I kept moving on from things that I knew weren't going to help me in the long run, and found more things to put my mind too. I learned to wholeheartedly rely on God to get me through tough times and enjoy where I was. This summer at camp really showed me how to get creative and love the world around me. 2018 taught me how to move on and learn something totally new. I worked a lot, went to school each day of the week, tried to keep my room clean and be with my family and friends and babysat in between. It got hectic at times but I am just so blessed to be able to do so much with my life right now. I’m not sure what this next year holds but I am excited to find out!
Wholehearted: to complete with sincerity and commitment.
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