One month later. . . .
There is such a thing as a dormant blog. Hopefully, though, this won't become one. My summer's been so crazy, though, that I really, honestly haven't had any time. Or even really been home for that matter.
Where, you ask, have I been? All over the place. Within the last twenty some days I've been up to Peachland, BC (AS IN CANADA!) for a week, down to Ocean Shores, WA for another week, and right now I'm writing this from Lincoln, OR, where I'm staying for my best friend's family reunion. Also not covered by this blog was my family's trip to Moses Lake, WA; I guess we'll start there:

Ok, Moses Lake. Arguably the last time I actually saw my family for more than 24 hours straight this summer. (I wish I could say that I was exaggerating, but I'm not!) The whole family--sans my father, who was in France for three weeks and I who was at a party-- all set off for John's state baseball tournament, in Moses Lake. But don't worry, devoted older sister that I am--shh! can you hear my siblings laughing at me--I didn't miss a game. No, the very next morning, after the party, I embarked on what was to be the first of at least 3 very long, akward roadtrips with a stranger I had never before met in my life. In this case, the stranger in question was my brother's coach, who was also departing late. A whole day after the rest of the team had left, he, his wife and I all headed out. . .
The tournament can be described pretty easily in three words: HOT, long, and. . .wonderful.
I hadn't seen my brother play it three years, so this was a suprise for me. Let me tell you, that kid is good! The highlight of the tournament was in the the second to last game where John pitched an entire game and only gave up two runs. Wow. I decided then that I did like baseball. The team ended up placing second in the state and qualifying for regionals. AND my kid brother was named State Tournament MVP. How cool is that?
The end of July's kinda a blur since that. I remember a lot of movies, sleepovers, pizza parties. My family met some of my closest friends for the first time ever, and I think that if there was any alienation, it was mutual. Several of my siblings described my friends as, 'Weird. . nice, but weird." (And my family isn't?)
And then there's been my month of August. All told, I've spent about 5 nights in my own bed this whole month. I started the month at Morning Star Bible Camp up in Canada. Talk about out of my confort zone! There I was the only American in a camp of 70+ people I had never seen before in my life. Needless to say, I made a lot of amazing friends. I had to! There was nobody familair to cling to! The week was great, lots of games, hanging out and tubing on the Okanagen.

I finally came back to the States, but not to my own home. Instead, I spent two nights with my friend Micaiah, and the day between working at the LTI company picnic. (My family was at a church camp-out.) The two of us are face-painters at the picnic, and at $15 per hour it's not a bad gig!

The day after face painting we both got on the bus for No Name, our youth group's summer camp. Ahh, good times. Except for the weather, Ocean Shores was wonderful. We camped, like in actual tents, the whole time. . . even in the rain. Night two I woke up with a river running down my back and through my sleeping bag. Uggggg

Got back late Friday, and flew into a weekend full of youth group, company and church picnics and a day at a friend's cabin. . . The only thing I can remember about last week was the fair, I was there all day on both Monday and Tuesday volunteering at a booth and then shopping, going on carnival rides and meeting tons of friends.

And here I am in Oregon. Huge house overlooking the Pacific, good weather, freezing ocean water, a huttub, amazing food, lots of quiet and board games, fast internet access, a best friend (and her wacky but wonderful family), who could ask for more? I know I can't! All told, it's been an amazing month. Sure dance, biblequzzing, babysitting,--oh! and school!--start in two weeks, but I'm not worried. God's taught me so much about myself and what He wants me to be, and he's blessed me so much this summer, I can't wait to see what he continues to do with my life. If it's like my summer--busy, people-filled, and devoted to Him-- I say bring it on!