Ode to Summer (Part One)

This blog post is titled Ode to Summer, Part One because there will undoubtedly be more odes to summer before this next summer is over. :)

As I was getting out of my car at my apartment complex and thinking about what I wanted to "cook" for lunch (yeah right), I realized how incredibly beautiful today has turned out. Today's high is 79 and the sun couldn't be shining more if it tried. Instantly I decided that Brooklyn and I were going for a walk! That poor puppy is in her crate 8 hours a day anyway, so she could definitely use the exercise. We only walked for about 20 minutes before her tongue was about to fall out of her head, but I'm so glad we got to enjoy the sun for a bit and absorb our daily dose of Vitamin D.

While on our walk I began to day dream about the summertime. I mean, how could I not with so much sunshine surrounding me? I have compiled a list of a few reasons I LOVE the summer, living by the beach, etc. Hope you all are looking forward to the summer as much as I am!!

 {I adore this J.Crew bikini!}

Summer 2011, these are the reasons I am anxiously awaiting your arrival:

1. A girl can never own too many bikinis! I begin searching for a new one THE DAY Victoria's Secret and J.Crew put out their new summer lines.
2. Summer is one of the top reasons I love living in Corpus Christi. That and Luke. :)
3. Everything smells like coconut! Body spray, sun tan oil, and snow cones, OHMY!
4. I'm just happier. Sunshine makes me happy. I want to work out more because it's bikini season. And working out makes me happy. SO MUCH HAPPINESS!!
5. The beach. Not much more needs to be said about this one. 
6. Summer is the best season out at Zephyr! Thousands of kiddos get to learn about God's love while playing paintball, jumping on the blob, and sleeping in bunk beds. 
7. I met Luke in the summer of 2005. I will marry him in the summer of 2011.
8. I get to be tan!!
9. Flip flops and short shorts. 
10. The smell of sweat and sunscreen mixed together. I know this may sound gross, but I love the way I feel after I've been outside for an hour during the summer, no matter what I've been up to.

And these are just a few reasons. Have you started looking for your 2011 swimsuit yet?!

Here to stay

Luke asked me to drive out to Zephyr after work this afternoon because he had run out of cat food for Bibbles. I always love making a trip out to camp because I get to see people that are like family to me. This happens when you live, work, sweat, eat, and pass out with the same people day in and day out for four summers in a row, three months at a time. :) Brooklyn made the trip with me and we, as always, had a great time. However, the best part of today's trip happened once I had hit the road to head home.

You see, I've been talking to Claire, my little sister, a lot lately because she has just recently moved back to Waco and into my old house. It's weird that for the first time in four years I'm not headed back there myself. I'm a little sad, but still more excited about my new life in Corpus and all that God has planned for me here. But up until tonight, this is the most thought I'd given Baylor.

But tonight I remembered that I would have already been gone. At this point last year, or any of the last four years, I would have already moved back to Baylor. I'd be attacking Target, filling my house with new toiletries, groceries, etc. I'd be getting together with all of my Tri Delta sisters to have dinner/movies nights or headed to get coffee at Common Grounds. It almost blew my mind for a second, because I've never been at this place in my life before. I'm not gone. I didn't leave.

Leaving camp to go back to Waco was always a really tough transition for me. When I was in Waco, I was in a Waco routine. Class, afternoon nap, something Tri Delt, talk to Luke, bed, repeat. When I was at camp, I was in a camp routine. Breakfast, rec/morning worship activities, lunch, afternoon rotation, dinner, worship, evening event, bed, repeat (include spending every waking moment with Luke within a short walk's distance of me). Transitioning between the two was never easy and that drive from camp back to Waco was always full of sappy love songs and hysterical tears. Long distance relationships are tough and it was always super hard for Luke and I to separate again. I would eventually get back into my Waco routine, but that drive was rough. 

I won't make that trip this year. Or ever again. I graduated from college, Luke and I are engaged, and I now live in Corpus Christi. I don't really have any emotion about this right now, except for that it's weird. I love where I am, I miss where I've been. I'm so thankful for the last four years and I look forward to new adventures as a young adult.

Tonight I drove away from camp, but not back to my home in Waco. My home is now in Corpus Christi and it is a place Luke visits often, a 50 minute trip versus the old five hours. The transition won't happen this year. Is it weird that I almost miss it and am yet very content to be staying right where I am? I'm such a goof. :)

{My babies out at Camp Zephyr. Luke said, "I love my girls!" Ha!}

Peace = Hamburgers, Mafia, and my Zephyr Family

Its funny how after six months, nothing has changed.

At 1pm this afternoon, the summer staff of 2008 began to roll into camp after following signs that read "You're almost there! Yay!" and "Keep going! You're almost home!" As this amazing group of college students reunited, something in the air changed. It was as if the world became lighter, stress disappeard and burdens were lifted. Burgers were on the grill and, I promise you, families on the other side of the lake could hear the shriek of giddy girls as we jumped back into the arms of friends. I haven't felt peace like this since this past summer and, as if they're hugs and smile were magic, my world was peaceful once again. It literally took minutes; I was home.

This probably sounds awful because as a college student, you "go home" to your parents, siblings, etc. But when I go home, I am at Zephyr, reunited with the people that have challenged and changed me for the better. I will never be the same because of this family. The word "family" doesn't even suffice for me. I think I need to come up with something even stronger. Its a bondage I never want to be set free from. These people, these angels sent to me from God, have captured my heart and won't let go. And I'm not fighting it. I am currently sitting on a bottom bunk in Jackson, with Olivia above me and Jordan and Erika next to me on the right. I wouldn't exchange this moment for the world. I hear showers running and boys hanging out by the campfire outside. These are sounds that will stay with me forever. The girls and I will talk all night long and I will pray tonight, as I lay in my bed, that God will let the next 36 hours drag and last for as long as they possibly can.

Tonight we ate hamburgers that Stu Dog cooked for us. They were so big and juicy! After dinner, Justin and Clayton from the Justin Graves Band led worship and Trevor Carpenter brought The Word. There is nothing like having the leaders of Zephyr, the men we look up to as summer staffers, encourage and revive us through food, worship and prayer in the Lord. Afterwards we played tons of silly games like "Bibbity, Bibbity Bop" and "Mafia." I thought tonight was fun, but I know tomorrow is going to be crazy!

For now, I am going to just soak up the precious moments that surround me. Like just a few shorts months ago, Erika just told Jordan and I goodnight and that she loved us. Those words warmed my heart like no other. No truer, more real words exist. I love these girls and guys more than they will ever know. I would give everything if I knew I could stay right here, at this time in my life with these exact people. I know this is not possible, but I will not let these sweet, sweet moments pass me by. I am going to hide them in my heart knowing that they will get me through any obstacles of life that I encounter. I am more home than I can even wrap my mind around right now.

Its funny how after six months, nothing has changed.

My Soul Cometh Alive

I have been so blessed the past couple of days to have some very special people stop by my life on their way to other destinations. God knew exactly what I was going to need when I was going to need it (of course) and my soul has come alive, once again, for the people and the places I love.

Yesturday Shaune, Tyler, and Kristie drove through Waco on their way back to Zephyr from the Conclave convention in Ft. Worth. They took me to dinner at Olive Garden and the dinner conversation was so familiar and comforting. We talked about camp and the amazing things God is doing out there right now; we talked about family, friends, our lives. It was like a breath of fresh air to spend time with these people. I love my Zephyr family more than they will ever know and so much of the good in me is because of what they have taught me about God's love and His ministry.

Today, which happened to be an extrememly drizzly day, was brightened for me by the smile of a sweet little girl named Gabi Graves. The Graves family, Justin, Michelle and Gabi, were also on their way back home, but to San Antonio, from the Conclave convention and stopped to take me to lunch at Wendy's. I have missed that precious family so much! It felt as if we had never been apart. Then we went to one of the many Baylor Spirit Shops where they bought Gabi a Baylor Bears t-shirt. She calls me "Sara Poopeck" now because I taught her what her poopeck is and I love that she call me this! (If you don't know, just ask!)I loved catching up with them and talking about next summer. I'm so motivated to serve the Lord even more now because of this family's example of obedience to and love of God. Life is better because I know them.

Thank you God for the way that you re-motivate me and remind me why I do what I do. Thanks for these amazing people that you have placed in my life and for the way that they have expanded my heart to hold so much more love than I could have ever imagined. I don't know what I'd do without them and their friendships. Please bless these people as they continue to serve you and reunite us all again soon. In Jesus' name, Amen.

I miss Zephyr. I want to go home now.

'07 Winter Retreat Trailer

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It's gonna rock.

Winter Zephyr Staff Retreat

Alright, so I am pretty sure that I have shared my excitement with everyone I know. If I call Sarah Kubala or Kristie Martinez one more time and tell them how excited I am about the Winter Zephyr Staff Retreat, they probably will hang up on me. But seriously, the WINTER ZEPHYR STAFF RETREAT IS IN ELEVEN DAYS!! Do you realize how exciting this is? I'm not quite sure you do.

For those of you that have no clue what "Zephyr" is, let me catch you up. Zephyr Baptist Encampmentment is, well, a Baptist encampment. We have thousands of children, teenagers and adults visit the camp grounds during the summertime. There is an "off-season," but I'm not cool enough to work that just yet. Anyway, I've been on staff at Zephyr for two years now as a head lifeguard and program director for preteen camps. We have the the coolest, not to mention the best looking, staff ever and God continues to grow and change us every year. The term "zephyr" also means "a cool breeze" for anyone curious.

See, I LOVE my Zephyr family. It really is like having a second family. (And my biological family is big enough already!) These people will have special reserved seating directly behind the biological family in my wedding. No kidding.

But seriously, this retreat is going to be amazing. God is blessing this event already. I know, we've talked about it. I cannot wait to catch up, praise the Lord, re-fuel and just hang out with these people. The Zephyr Executive Staff have been working on finding a speaker and music leader for the retreat. I've heard that crazy games will be involved, a Zephyr must. As ridiculous as this sounds, I'm even ready for a little camp food. I NEED Mrs. Kay to bake me some cookies. I have been missing and praying for these friends that are so dear to my heart for quite some time now and I cannot wait to hear about what God has been doing in their lives and out at Zephyr over the past five months.

For those of you who know a Zephyr Staffer or have any relation to the camp at all, please be praying that God's will will continue to be sought after at Zephyr, that His praises will continue to be lifted up out at Zephyr and that those who attend the retreat over Christmas break will be blessed.

Get ready because I'm sure there will be a follow up to this post, but for now I must study for finals so that I can get to the retreat!

Blessings.