My summer joys.

So, this may be the first post I have ever written that is not driven by my incomparable comedic timing and eccentric, and let's admit it- thrilling- story-telling ability. Seriously. All I want to do is to share with those that follow my blog, and those that occasional creep on it, some experiences from my summer that have made such a deep imprint on my heart that it is highly likely they will never fade. Extremely likely, in fact. Strike that, never is a much better adjective. They will never fade.

 Now, you could attribute my dramatic word use to the fact that I am a girl- a fairly emotional one at that- and being the zealous person that I am I like, and tend to exaggerate.  And to some degree you'd be right. But that crazy-emotional talk is rooted in a much deeper pocket of my heart. So much so, that it will be hard to completely convey in words. Because how does one express clearly the call that God has put on their lives. Really, truly express it.  But I'll try.

I love kids. Tweens, more specifically.  I truly believe that my life road will be one loaded with kids.  Teaching them, talking with them, loving them. I have never been happier doing anything else. The desire to do it is intrinsic, so deeply instinctive. It is simply part of who I am. Like breathing.  That being said, it's probably pretty obvious that the experiences I am going to share with you are in some way, shape or form related to middle schoolers.  Otherwise this tangent would be really awkward. So I'll get on with it.

Today was the first day this summer that I did not work at CPY, or Community Partners with Youth- a non-profit organization that runs after-school and summer programs for the children of New Brighton. For almost the last 2 years I have been employed as a middle school staff member, working with the 6-8 graders that walk through our doors.  This was my second summer working there, and I was one of four staff in charge of fifty 10 to 14 year-olds.  Needless to say, craziness was always a large part of each day.

 Our week was scheduled as follows:

Monday: Programming Day- consists of cooking projects, crafts, group games, and free time. 
Tuesday: Beach Day- Chilling at Lake Johanna, trying to escape the death grip of middle school boys trying to dunk you.
Wednesday: Team Competition Day- Each staff member led a team of kids and participated in numerous activities ex. olympics, cook-off, talent show, etc.
Thursday: Field Trip! Ex: Metrodome Tour, Sky Zone, Canoeing/ Archery, Science Museum, Water Park of America & Valleyfair.

Needless to Thursdays were the BEST DAY EVER.  And it always seemed that the funniest things happened on those days. I'm not going to go into detail about those hilarious moments, because let's be real, they are SO much better told in person! So ask me about them :)

CPY is a 2-session summer program and unfortunately my schedule did not allow me to work in August. Now I know it sounds a tad pathetic, but is has only been one day and I am already missing my kids. Truly. I had the time of my life this summer with those crazies, staff and kids included! My co-workers are fantastic and an endless source of laughter. Like the gut-wrenching, tear-inducing kind. And I miss it all.

So, to cap this post off, I'm going to include a bunch of pictures. No names, no captions, just lovely faces. Faces that will remain in my memory forever, and memories that even now, make me laugh out loud as I sit here writing this. So here they are, the best parts of my summer. All dripping in swagger.

I love roller coasters.

I love roller coasters. I know, this statement is redundant. Shake it off. Now, this twice-emphasized comment is is a funny truth for two reasons: 1. Because my dad would ask me why in the world I would pay to have the crap scared out of me and 2. Because I get severely motion-sick.  Like so bad sick that if I read or sometimes-even text in a moving car I will literally throw up. Classy right? But despite the sickness and my haterade-sipping dad, I absolutely love them.  I could spend hours at any theme park riding those world-turning machines for hours and enjoy every minute of it.  [As long as I am packed full of Dramamine of course- because nothing ruins your day faster then throwing up a funnel cake.]

However, when the roller coaster ride you simply can’t seem to get off of is actually your life, it sort puts a negative downspin on your own personal “fun-o-meter.”  Because really, riding for your life on a machine that insists on throwing you in every direction possible at 60 miles an hour can only be entertaining for so long- especially if you started your day with a batch of pre-coaster chili cheese fries and the Dramamine is taking its own sweet time to kick in.  Top those delicious suckers off with one heck of a crazy-busy year, college graduation, homelessness, joblessness and the impending financial responsibilities that come after insisting on attending a private college for four years and you definitely have one zesty and heart-burn happy treat.

So that’s where I’m at.  Some pre-coaster chili cheese fries, a stomachache and the inability to move forward in any stable, linear motion, as I have a crazy case of “growing-up” induced vertigo.  Now, if I had written this all down two weeks ago, the vibe of this roller-coaster themed musing would have been much more unbearably depressing, a little self-deprecating and at the very least, a whole lot of WHINING.  Basically, you would have received an E-vite to a Liz-themed pity party- with “RSVP, ASAP and bring your own comfort food” stamped at the bottom. Sounds like a fun sort of shindig, right? 

But curiously enough, I find as I continue to write out my inner most feelings while listening to OneRepublic’s “Good Life” on repeat, in a my new little nook of home, at 2 in the morning, that I am not so depressed. Or sad. Or even stressed.  Yes, I have a lot to figure out in the coming months. Yes, I am awaiting the results of some state-mandated tests that could determine whether I get a job teaching this fall. And yes, I don’t have a whole lot of money.  Very little in fact. But I have a new little nook of home with one of my best friends for the next two months. And I have a job for the summer hanging with some middle school kids that, even at the risk of sounding like I stepped out of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, “totally rock my world, dude.”  And I get to be in a wedding, fish with my family, thrift it up, consume the seasonal key lime pie at Famous Daves, and [hopefully] camp with my friends. So really, what’s not to love? 

I’ll admit, the “life-is-a-rollercoaster” phenomenon has its uncomfortable moments – like when the Dramamine hasn’t kicked in completely and your lunch threatens to make an unwanted reappearance.  Or you are too dizzy to figure out how to move forward.  Or you simply have no idea where to go or what to do next.  But don’t forget, you’re not the one operating the ride.  Now forgive me for using such a cheesy metaphor to illustrate a very simple concept: I am not in control, but God is.  He knows what He is doing, and I can be confident that He is guiding me every step of the way. The ride may be crazy, thrilling and even scary at times, but take heart, for we have one heck of a Father at the controls. 

So breathe. Pray. Feast on truth that will ease the hunger pains of your heart. And turn your eyes to a God who knows you. Sees you. And loves you deeply.

P.S. If you really want the whole “this is so uplifting, Liz is so funny and clever, and life is totes great” effect, then I would suggest listening to OneRepublic’s “Good Life” while reading through this post a second time.  It really seals the deal.  Just saying.