Happy Camper

I had a real aha moment the other day.  This is a sentimental post so beware. In 2002, my life pretty much changed forever. I wasn't as extremely cool and smooth back then as I am now... It was Junior year and my only friends were boys.  It is safe to say I was a tom boy and extremely shy.  My friend invited me to this thing called campaigners.  I had no idea what it was, but went anyway.  It was a bible study within Young Life and it was full of really fun people. Well, I never missed a single thing after that.  I was hooked. I scored the best leader ever, the best friends ever and I went to camp that summer and it was the best week of my life. Really. Its hard to explain what happens at camp, but its AWESOME. You are at the most beautiful place ever, with your friends and are forced to have fun 24/7. And it just so happens, that your world is rocked (in a good way). Everything is planned for you. So flash forward 12 years. Some boys I love hopped on a bus and headed to Saranac. One of my favorite people, that actually road the bus with me to Colorado in 2002, was on that same bus to Saranac.  It was the weirdest thing. I've never wanted to be back on a bus so bad. I realized just how awesome camp was for me as a kid and a leader. I wanted another round:) Actually, I just wanted to see their faces when they got there. I think it was the first time that I wanted someone else to have as great as of an experience as I did. I thought about it so much. Prayed about it so much. I wanted them to know how loved they were, to know that people were investing in them and I wanted them to see that they have the power to do all of that for other friends.  It was life changing for me and I wanted it to be as good or even better for them.  And I think it was:) I felt genuine thankfulness for what I experienced and for what they got to experience. And I hope this is just the beginning.  I happened upon some camp pics from a long long time ago..

I am forever thankful that I got invited to campaigners on a random Thursday night at the Martin's house.  And I am forever thankful and lucky to have gotten to be a part of something that I truly believe is life changing.