First Day. Good or not good. That is the question.

Dear World,

The fist day is over, and honestly, I'm a little relieved. Sambica is so different this year. I mean, there are a lot of Elites that aren't coming till next session, and that's fine, but I just miss them. I am excited to get to know the mentors better. The camp has changed a lot. The work is different and so were the people. Sometimes it's just hard when there was something you loved so much, and you set very high standards, and then you may even make them higher, just because of excitement and expectation, and when things fall short, it's a little disappointing. But the good thing is it's just the first day, and there is so much to do from here. So much to experience, so much to learn, and so much to love.

I must say, Elites never fail to try to have a good time. When one is down, the others try to pick them back up. And there were others who felt the same way I did, but even amongst us who were a little disappointed was a lot of encouragement, and now we're all excited for the rest of this session and the summer.

It never ceases to surprise me how instantaneously we are all there for each other. I can't wait to see how my relationship with the Elites grows and matures this year.

So the theme of this post, not a great first day, but definitely excited for all the days to come.

In Him,
Maddie Rose

Reunions

Dear World,

I was waiting 9 months for tonight, and I'm so happy to be back! When I was driving up to camp, I was so excited, so nervous, and a little scared. So much changes in all that time. I already knew there were going to be different mentors, and I knew there would be some new ELITEs, and they would have probably made some changes to the camp, and heck, some people were probably going to not even look the same! So, yes. I was very nervous.

But you know what changed that? Hearing my name being screamed from inside the building, and having my mentor from last year, flat out running to get to me. Remember L4D? Yep, it was her. And then, being knocked over, and rolling around on the ground with my friend Delaney. Being snuck up on by some, and ridiculed by others for walking by them and not noticing them, but I didn't care, I was so happy to see them all.

Whatever happens this year, whether good or bad, whether I like it or not, it was good to know I've already got people who love me and have accepted me. I could care less what these new people think... Ok, maybe I care a little bit. ;)

In Him,
Maddie

Churches vs. The Church

Dear World,

The thing about the church I go to, well, it freakin rules. I love the teaching, the worship is pretty legit, and the people there are like my family. I call it my church. But then again, I've called many churches in the past "my church". One from a long time ago, I call my home church. I always return to it. It's always been a part of the picture. But then there is my childhood church, that I haven't been back to since I was probably 8 or 9, and I called it "my church". Basically what I'm trying to get at is, what does it mean to claim a church as your own?

Well, it's not yours. It's God's.

But what about the fact that I'm trying to re-adjust to a different church here in Washington. Just the fact that I need to 're-adjust' has something wrong in and of itself. I do acknowledge the retorts to this that, yes, people tend to go to one church and claim it as theirs because it's the one that they go to every week and the one that has people they know, music they love, and preaching that strikes them. But what I think is wrong and what people should realize is, there isn't anything wrong with other churches. Just because you choose not to go to them doesn't mean that they are bad because of that. Other people go to them, and that's good enough.

But also, there is no such thing as other churches, or my church, or their church. We are ALL the church. A community of believers spreading the gospel. Together, we make up the church. Not separately. It would just be a little chaotic if we all tried to gather in the same place at the same time.

At the end of the day, we're just people who meet in a structure with 4 walls to talk about the one we love the most. And that's all it should ever be.

In Him,
Maddie Rose

Back to the Same-old

Dear World,


I'm back in Washington! And this time, it's for SAMBICA as well. I'm so excited. Especially when I walk into the kitchen where I made Cap'n Crunch every morning before I left. And when I walk up the staircase I descended dozens of times, sleepy eyed, ready for another day at camp. But nothing got to me like seeing the room where I was broken, encouraged, desperate, hurting, and where I spent hundreds of hours reading my Bible, preparing for camp, and writing these posts.


To see the ghost of my past summer has made me so ready and excited for this summer. These last 10 months have been torture. Waiting and waiting and waiting to come back. To see everyone. To hug them. To smell the flowers as I walk up to the upper forum. To feel the itchy grass when I lie on my back at the water front. And to hear the screams of excited kids, ready for the greatest time of their lives. It's been hard to wait, but here I am. So close. And I only have a few more days to get through, and then it'll all start again. But it's not going to be the same. It can't. Because everything is different now. The same thing never happens twice, but maybe, this time it'll be even more of an adventure. This time, my summer will be marked by experiences and memories of it's own, making it another summer to remember for the rest of my life.


With excitement and love,
In Him,
Maddie Rose

Baptized!

Dear World,

Sambica 2011 is approaching fast! I'm so excited to go back, but I've also been contemplating over the last year. Last June to this May. So much has changed. Other than everything around me feeling like it's been thrown into a blender on high, I know that I have become almost a different person. I'm not the same shy, quiet, and timid person I once was. I now have my identity in Christ. Today I was baptized and now I only wish to embody the Holy Spirit and when people look at me, I can only hope that they will see it in me. That's all I wish for this next year. In my life, my years have been dated according to the beginning of each summer. This last year has radically changed my life forever! But I'm also so excited for this next year. Because from this day forward, He will be everything I do, speak, and believe. There will be nothing that comes between me and the Father. He is not only my life, but my world. He is more precious to me than anything. There's nothing I wouldn't give up for Him. I've been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and all 3 of them will be with me for every single day of my life, till the day I die, and I get to go and live with Him in his kingdom. :)

I love you so much Lord! And even if no one understands this, You do, and that's all that will ever matter to me. Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for everything you've done in my life!

In Him,
Maddie Rose

Long Distances Don't Break the Friendship!

Dear World,

Something just hit me. I'm going back to sambica in almost a month. I was thinking about all the people I met there last year, and then I thought, they treat me like such a big part of their lives, and I am so far away. I can only see them every few months, and sometimes, not even that. I haven't seen most of them since November. And yet, they treat me like I'm such a ginormous part of their life. I don't really have a whole lot I want to share in this post, just that, even though we're separated by almost 2,000 miles we're still the best friends we've got.

Aaaaanddd, I'm really excited to be seeing them in 7 weeks!

In Him,
Maddie Rose

Generation Love

Dear World,

This post is mostly directed towards my generation. And no, that does not mean people 15 years and younger. That includes EVERYONE in my generation. Those about 22 years and younger. People have a very strange view as to how the generations are separated. Just because I'm a freshmen and your a senior doesn't make you in a completely different generation then me. That just make you two years older than me.

My generation is the one that is going to set the course of things in this world. Just think about it. We're practically the first generation to have grown up using technology from birth. We've known nothing else. People don't give us enough credit. They say we're obsessed with technology, but come on? That is HOW the world runs now a-days. Everything is technological. There isn't many alternatives. Communication, entertainment, recreation... It's all we know because that's all we've been raised to know. What are we going to do with it?

My generation has also been through much too much. The biggest thing we face is being the children of divorce. Do people really understand how much this kills a child's life? They almost have no time to be a child. They are forced to grow up so quickly. It's heart breaking. And many of their view's of what a relationship is supposed to look like is corrupt. 50% of marriages in the United States end in divorce. Those kind of rates are bound to effect a child's view of a relationship.

My generation is also fighting some of the toughest things imaginable, more than anyone else in the world ever has had to before. Things like suicide, depression, drugs, alcohol, bullying, addictions, bulimia, or anorexia. These things are very, VERY real!!! And not only that, but it happens to kids in my generation so much more often then people even know. Maybe look in the mirror. You might see one of those struggling teens looking at you.

But you know what? We WILL be set apart from the generations before us. And it's not going to be any of these things above that is going to define us. It will be our strength. Our strength to get through all of these terrible things. Our strength that keeps us going because we know that it gets better. And not only that, but our love. The love that brings us together as a generation. Maybe not because we get along, or even particularly enjoy one another, but because we understand one another. We understand each other so much better than anyone else could. Because, not only are a lot of us dealing with this at the same time, or even particularly dealing with the same thing, but we understand the pain. And the fact that we can come together as one body and one people, and leave all background anger and bitterness between one another behind, is what is going to set us apart from the other generations.

Be proud of yourself. You are strong, and loved.

In Him,
Maddie Rose

Teen Suicides

Dear World,

I love God. He's pretty much my main man. And I've promised to listen to him when he's calling me to do something. And right now, he's wanting me to write this post. But seriously? It is so freaking late. Don't worry, I'll write the post, but just to let you all know, you're not always going to be willing to do what God wants you to do. Even if that means staying up late when you are already tired to write a blog post you've been neglecting writing for a long time.

Lately, there have been a lot of reports of teen suicides. In this past year, teenage suicide has increased by 10 percent. Each year, at least 8,000 teens in the U.S. commit suicide. It is the second leading cause of death in teenagers. There is this thing circling around asking people, teens mostly, to draw a heart on their wrist in order to support the prevention of teen suicides.

Teen suicide is an awful thing. People tend to underestimate how many people struggle with suicidal thoughts or fantasies. So many of the people in even your everyday lives could be struggling with it. It's such an overpowering thing that many people fall prone to it. But it's not unbeatable. Sometimes, it just means caring. Which can include a lot of things. A hug. Some love. The simple act of showing you care can go a long way in the prevention of a teen suicide.

It's something you absolutely can not ignore. Every one of those teens, every one of those human lives, is a future ended. It's potential, ended. It could have been a difference that never came, or a revolution that could not have happened.

And you can reverse that. Just take a step of faith. Ask that one person if they are alright. Talk to somebody new at school. Try to do one extra kind thing a day. You never know. You could save a life.

All for Him,
Maddie Rose

Taking Off the Mask

Dear World,

So what is this post about? Well, let's just say that in the past two weeks, I feel as though I've come down off of my "high", aka, my crazy love for God that's kept me going for the past 7 months. It's kind of hard to explain. Everything nowadays is too complicated to even think about. But basically, I feel as though I'm falling away. Maybe it's because I've gone back over to the youth a couple times in the past few weeks. But I know I'm having trouble focusing on God.

I don't like hiding. I don't like putting on faces. Don't get me wrong, being silly with little kids, hanging with my friends, making people laugh... that's all really good for me. It keeps me from being so serious all the time... But sometimes, I just need to let my guard down, be vulnerable, and ask for help. Which is pretty hard for me. I always hate asking people for help. I'm a "do it myself" kind of person. And that's usually just because I hate feeling like a burden to people. I set very, very, strict boundaries for myself so I wouldn't start to be a burden to the person I may be asking for help.

But really, I'm just having a hard time holding on to that fire I've had. The fire to be with God, learn about Him, read about Him, love Him... And I know I need to take my face of "let's have fun and make jokes" off because all it does is put up walls. And I end up putting off my problems and emotional needs until they build up and build up and build up and eventually explode over into other areas of my life.

But, now how do I wrap this post up? Weeeellll..... how about, when I need help, I'll ask. And if I know I'm putting on an appearance for people because I don't want to burden them with what's eating away at me, I'll take off the mask.

I'll just reverse my natural tendencies for the past 15 years. Yea, no big deal.
In Him,
Maddie Rose

Love God, Love Others..

Dear World,

This morning I read something interesting on facebook. My church runs this Faith Internet Church for people around the world, and they'll usually put out some little tidbit of what their next session was going to be about. This was what it said-

"Loving the unlovable. Jesus summed up all the commandments into four simple words 'love God, love others.' Sounds simple, but not so easy to live out is it? Does Jesus mean love the rapist, child molester, murderer? How about someone who makes rude and slanderous remarks about you?"

As soon as I had read the first 3 words, I was reminded of one of the big lessons we learned at SAMBICA over the summer. To love the unlovable. This lesson that we learned was put into practice almost immediately after the sessions we talked about it, because at that camp, there were certain people that would be considered "unlovable". When I was at camp, I do believe that I succeeded in retaining and putting this particular thing into practice. 

But coming home is a whole other story. I think that I learned to just love the unlovable that were put before me at camp. Not necessarily the people I didn't want to love at home, or those I met in my day-to-day life. If you go back to August, you can see the posts I made of how hard it had been to come home. There were some big adjustments I had to make, and along with that I forgot about some of the life changing things that had effected me so much at SAMBICA. Loving the unlovable was one of them.


Love God, love others... It does sound pretty simple. But the hardest of things usually do appear easy at first. But that doesn't mean we can't do it. He'll give us the strength. As long as we ask for it. With his faithful right hand he'll touch us and fill us with what we need to get through the tasks that seem impossible.


In Him,
Maddie Rose

Stressed

Dear World,

Don't ask me why, I couldn't give you an answer. Don't ask how long, I wouldn't remember. Don't ask me when, where, or how it started, because I just don't know. But I do know one thing. I am, completely, and totally, melting. I don't know if it's stress really. I don't have much to be stressed about. Actually, that's not true, I have more to stress about than your average teenager. I'm just very good at, not stressing. But for some reason, I'm having a lot of anxiety and stress over I don't know what! I don't have a lot to be doing in school at the moment. Yea, I'm a little behind, but I can catch that up in one night. It's not really friends, because I'm getting along well with all my friends. Yea, my family stresses me out, but like I said, I'm really good at not letting that get to me.

Maybe my pent up stress from the past few months is just pouring over? I know how I work. Sometimes I'm really really good, and other times I'm really really bad. I don't think my time of stressing and anxiety over load is going to last that long. I've been feeling the anxiety and stress coming on for the past two weeks, but now it's here with full force. I think it's just going to last through to next week, but for right now, I just need to cool down, do my school, then go to bed.

In Him,
Maddie Rose

Who is your Valentine?

Dear World,

IT'S VALENTINE'S DAY! And guess what? You're single, and on the market. So stop moping around. Love will find it's way into your heart.

Hey, did you know, you don't have to have a boyfriend or girlfriend to have that wonderful love you're longing for this valentine's day? This love is so much deeper. And so much more intimate and powerful and fulfilling than any love you could ever find. It's the love that saved you. The love that redeemed you. The love that sacrificed everything for your soul. A love that took the weight of the whole world upon itself, because it cared so much for your eternal soul it subjected itself to torment and agonizing physical pain.
Here is a letter from your true Valentine.

My Princess Bride,

You have captured my heart, My Princess.

I will always love you. From the moment I

dreamed you up, I loved and adored you. This

love I have for you is never ending and ever

present. My heartfelt desire is for you to walk 

through all your days knowing you are truly

the love of My life. I never want you to feel

you have to earn My affection; nothing you

have said or done can or will ever change the

way I feel about you. I have chosen you to be

My precious Bride. If you allow your soul to

settle into Mine and become one with Me,

you will never doubt that I am forever and

always devoted to you.

Love,

Your Prince Jesus

who can't stop loving you

People say, I love you more than life itself. This man meant it more than them all. He actually gave up His life, FOR YOU. So if you're having trouble this Valentine's Day, feeling alone and un-loved, think again. There is one person who will always, and forever, love you, no matter what you do or say. Always.

Happy Valentine's Day,
Maddie

Goodbye 2010 Bitter-Sweet

Dear World,

2010 is gone, and 2011 is here. Well first off, I'm unfortunately sick this New Years. Me being sick kept me from going to my youth groups New Year's Party. I wouldn't have been upset about not going at all, but they have this thing called the Polar Plunge, where you have to stay in the pool the longest and you win 50$. I needed that money to go to SAMBICA next summer. I only had about 100$, but I spent a lot of that on Christmas, and now I'm down to about 60$. So, instead of only having to raise 250 after this New Years, I have to, somehow, get 350$ by April. (Donations Accepted!! :D )

I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I have a pretty cool God who can make anything happen. He'll provide me with a way to go.

Anyway, this New Years has been very bitter sweet. This year has been insane. From the transition to high school, to SAMBICA, family struggles, closed friendships, and new ones to take their place. I'm not really saying goodbye to anything. Only hello. I can only move forward from here. I've made wonderful friends from my summer camp. There's a fantastic support system for my family at church. And as much as I want to kill them sometimes, my friends here in the Coachella Valley are amazing, and I know they'll be there for me, no matter how much of a pain in their side I can be. Even though sometimes I can hurt them, break their hearts, lash out, ignore, and down right misstreat them. Through this past year, I've figured out who my TRUE friends, REALLY are.


Dear 2011,

I'm ready for all you have to offer me. I know there are big plans in store for me. I also know that this may be the hardest year of my life. But I'm just here to say, bring it on. Jesus is my rock, and He will get me through whatever you throw my way.

I'm ready. Are you?
Maddie Rose

NOT JUNK!

Dear World,

It's been a while since I've done this. A lot has happened in the past month. Thank God I have this blog. Oh man, I have missed it. :)

There is a lot going on in my life right now. I'm a straight A teenage girl with family, friend, and life issues... but then again, what teenage girl doesn't have those "general" problems. But amongst all those problems, I have 3 to 4 different opinions about myself being made as well as people trying to help me fix what they feel are my problems. I love their help. I love help. But it's miss judged and I'm not getting the right help, but I also have all these false images that I have to change, and fix, and work on getting passed people. There's a lot about my personal self that I need to work on, but it's very stressful to have a couple of teenagers trying to point out my problems and "help me." A lot of times I just want to say, I'm sure you have enough problems of your own to deal with, why don't you work on some of those. But the thing is, I listen to people's judgement's of me. And sometimes I completely listen to them and believe that I actually do have those problems, but then I hear from someone else that they were wrong. And I'm just spinning in circles and am extremely confused.

The only person's judgement that I truly trust is my mom's.

But I have been feeling lately that everything is being focused around fixing my "problems". And I've started convincing myself that I was this absolutely awful person and there was nothing attractive or likable about me... aaaannnndddd, that tends to happen when all your focused on 24/7 is fixing/fine-tuning everything that's wrong with you.

But it's not. Don't believe it. Don't give in to that. Forget it. It's a lie. Stop thinking that. Those are evil thoughts. And you know where they're from? The Devil himself. Do-Not-Play-Into-It!!!!!!! You are a wonderfully, perfect creation of God's. Everything He made was, perfect. God doesn't make junk. You are here for a purpose. We all have our little things that we struggle with. But those do NOT define us.

God loved you so much that out of the millions of people on earth, he intricately crafted and designed you to be exactly the way you are. You're not junk.

Thanking Him because of how He made me,
Maddie Rose

Snow

Dear World,

I experienced God in a different way yesterday. A beautiful, breath taking, wonderful way. That way can be explained in one word: Snow.

Now some people think snow came from the devil himself, but I don't. I'd never been in real snow before yesterday. It fell in my hair, on my shoulders, in my hands, on my tongue, in my eyelashes... and it fell extremely gently. It floated down from heaven, onto the pure face of my two year old cousin. It caught in her bleach blond eyelashes, and her wispy hair. And the whole time, it was completely and totally, silent. There was no noise but the occasionally joyful laugh of my cousin.

And now today, every surface of this colonial themed house's backyard is covered with 3" of pure white snow. Sitting... peacefully. Covering every surface it could possibly reach, but not hurting a thing. Just, sitting. Waiting.

It's absolutely wonderful. I can't believe this beauty. It's unlike anything I've ever experienced.

Thank you Father for this!

Now please let me go back to my California sun. Where I can tan in december and where shorts and a tank top all year long.

In Him,
Maddie

Washington vs. California

Dear World,

Washington has become my absolute favorite place to be. But through being here, I've learned the significance of the phrase too much of a good thing, can be a bad thing.

I've only been here twice since my fantastic summer. My first time was about 3 weeks ago for the SAMBICA thing called Refuge. This time, I've been here for about 11 days, housesitting for our cousins who were in Hawaii. On this trip, I tried to keep it pretty family centered. If I had really tried to see a lot of people, then I probably would have been gone every day. But while being here I only spent, Tuesday night with my friend Jessica, Saturday with Kasey and Pluto,  a party at my aunt and uncle's house on Sunday with some ELITE friends, and then the Bible Study Mondey night at SAMBICA camp with Liz aka Happy Feet. I love being here soo much, but also, I love my other home, back in Cali as well. I can't help but deeply miss my friends there...

Two of my closest friends from home, Codi and Courtney, have been the ones on my mind the most. I miss them a lot. I see Codi about 2 times a week and Courtney only once, but I can't ask for more, because I'm home-schooled. One of my most desperately prayed prayers from the summer were answered over the past couple weeks. I started finding friends who were not un-like the ones from camp. Extremely set upon their faith. Working everyday to do things for God. and Mind you, these are teenagers. Codi, Courtney, and my new close friend, Tyler. It's a small group. Incomparable to the two dozen people from the summer. But our friendships are in little, to no danger of being broken apart. That's why I love these specific people so much. Hopefully, my group of special, close friends, will grow. Not to a drastic size. But a trusting group of friends. Ones at my California home that I can truly trust with anything.

I think the reason I don't just have 1 best friend (not that I have maannnyyy best friends) if because I opporate in groups. Maybe not collectively, together, groups. But groups none the less. I put my trust in specific people's hands. Not just one. If one person flakes out, or disappoints me, I have others behind me. I've seen it many times with other close friends. Their "best friend" treats them like crap, and they don't have anyone to fall back on. (that's how I've gotten close to a couple of my friends) Other friends have done it to me. And the only reason I don't shut down is because I have other close friends who hold me up.

I'm so greatful that the Lord is answering my prayer for "SAMBICA like" friends at home. It's making me start to really miss my home when I leave.

but...

Don't take that to mean that I've gotten over Washington. Dear me, no. That's not what it means at all. I still love Washington greeaatly. And my wish for trips back up here has not faltered. :)

In Him,
Maddie

My Name

Dear World,

Most people don't know it, but my name is Madison Rose Chaney. I have always introduced myself as Maddie Rose. Rarely people learn of my full name, and when they do, I'm hounded with questions as to why I don't introduce myself with that name. After all, it is very pretty. I know it is. Madison Rose is a very pretty name. My friend's mom has always called me that, and she is the only person that i allow to call me that. It was my great grandmother's name. But I always feel as though it's extremely common. I know sooo many Madisons, and have met EVEN MORE. I don't sign, write, or put my name down on applications as my full name because I don't want people calling my by it.

I don't hate my name. But it's my choice to go by Maddie Rose. Deal with it.

In Him,
Maddie

Best Friends

Dear World,

I have a numerous amount of friends. More than i care to count. Go to my facebook and look at my friends list, then double that. I have a lot of friends. I would estimate that if i divided the number of facebook friends that i have by 3, then that would give you approximately the number if friends i hang out with. Divide that number by two and that would give you the number of people i actually genuinely care about and try to keep up with. divide that by about 5 and that will give you about the number of people who genuinely care about me.

So, facebook friends rounded=300
Friends i hang out with=100
People i care about=50
People who care about me=10

Out of these hundreds of people, I do find myself more closer to some rather than others, but I, however, do not have a "best friend." I do believe that i will, someday, have a best friend, but i don't right now. My friend Courtney Harrison is about as close as a best friend, but not really. There are a few people from SAMBICA that I would love to call my best friend, but it makes it hard when we live on opposite sides of the country. I love, love, love my friends. But, I just don't feel like i have a best friend.

Today I found a friend,
Who knew everything I felt.
She knew my every weakness,
And the problems I've been dealt.  

She understood my wonders,

And listened to my dreams. 

She listened to how I felt about life and love,

And knew what it all means.

Not once did she interrupt me,
Or tell me I was wrong.
She understood what I was going through,
And promised she'd stay long

I reached out to this friend
To show her that i care
To pull her close and let her know
How much I need her there

I don't have a friend like this. I'm not sad about it. I look forward to the day that there is that one person who i know is going to always and forever be there for me, and be at my house in about ten seconds if i need her. But I don't have that person right now, and to be honest, i wish i did. Because I could really use them. But I'm ok about it. I know the Lord is holding out on me for someone awesome. He brings people in and out of my life, but I know there's that one person that He's waiting for me to meet that I'll be closer to than fingers and a keyboard. ;)

In Him,

Maddie

Too Much

Dear World,

I’ve been having one of the worst days of my life. I slept in, and I’ve been absolutely exhausted all day because crying really makes you tired. There’s a sinking, empty feeling in the pit of my stomach that has to do with worry, sadness, and complete incapability to operate properly. I keep bursting into tears at random times. It's overwhelming. Tonight I have to go and deal with a ton of uncooperative band members, and try and make them realize that WE ARE WORKING OUR FLIPPIN BUTTS OFF AND THEIR NOT DOING A DAMN THING! If I could just collapse on my bed and become a shell to existence, I would have no objections what so ever. Can someone please just hug me and not ask questions as to why I can barely breath from constant sobbing? One good thing from today, my soul sister is at book study tonight, and she doesn’t need to understand. I can just cry and she wouldn’t say anything till I told her I was ready to find an answer.

I hate being a teenager...

Maddie

Finally Home

Dear World,

This weekend I've taken a trip to Washington to visit some elites and go to REFUGE on Sunday. (an elite worship and hang time in the evening)

So here's what's happening this weekend. I got picked up from the airport by Brooke McPherson, aka, awesomest driver IN THE WORLD! Never fails to get us from point A to point B as easily as if she had the way mapped out in her head before hand. I'm chilling with my family, then going to lunch with the one, the only, PLUTO! Out of everything that's going on this weekend, I'm mostly excited to see her! Sunday morning I'm going to church with Jessica, then spending the whole rest of the day with Natalie Anderson, which will consist of a fashion show, deep conversations about life and what it means to live, and, of course, slug hunting in the backyard. Then, Natalie and I are going to REFUGE that evening where I'm going to see MOST of the ELITE's from the summer... All the ones that matter. ;D

I'm so excited for everything. I'm also really glad that I'm not feeling like I can only be close to God when I'm up here. It's not the case. At ALL! But I must say, I feel very much at home and comfy here. I can't express my love for this state and environment. I love it so much. I can't wait to be back up here again next month for thanksgiving. Me and the family are here for a whole week then!! :D

In Him,
Maddie