On admiration... reflections :)

OH life is so good! :)

I admire people who are not afraid to live.

People who have the confidence, the knowledge of their true strength so that they are not afraid. People who stand up and represent always, who find ways to show others what is right without preaching or thinking about it--because it is who they are. I admire greatly all of those who have the courage to follow their dreams and their vision of social justice and peace down to the smallest front. I admire, greatly--the people who make it unconsciously a priority to lift and better others.
I want to be more like that. :)

Life at Aspen Grove is beautiful. I cannot believe my "summer with no makeup" (at least after swimming!) has gone so fast. It hurts and excites me to imagine leaving such a place, a place where I have seen such growth and made such great friends. It humbles me and truly teaches me of my own insignificance and importance that the Lord would give me such an opportunity, such a stewardship. Oh, if only I could let everyone who cares about reading this know of those I have met--every one of my amazing kids, the boys who tossed me in the pool at least four times in one week, David who asked me on a date for the fall, my beginning group of four theatre girls and what conversation we had, the first time we decided to go thank-you chalking, sending a missionary out directly in the middle of our group for the MTC, every week feeling so overwhelmed and crying because I felt so humbled, completely blessed, and thankful to have had such an incredible group. Even the hard weeks--and yep, there have been hard weeks--I have learned. I feel like I learn every week, just having the chance to meet with these kids has refined and changed me so much. (and this hasn't even talked about how fun it is to interact with the families!!!) They are amazing.

Back to admiration. I am grateful that we have the chance to become more of what we admire in those around us--if it is true that the people we are with rub off on us, than I will have met huge heights by the end of the summer. :)

I am so thankful to everyone who has touched my life! :)