Where art thou smmer?

Summer 2010 has come and gone in a matter of time that I truly saw flash before my eyes. It was a time of my life that feels like it was just yesterday, with also a sense of being years ago. My summer had a variety of events that literally made it the best one yet. Let's start with the usual... SOFTBALL.

With Iowa being the one of few states (not sure how many others there are... google it if your really interested) that plays high school softball during the summer, it makes summertime very busy, and it's kind of hard to have a social life. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE the sport, but there are times where I wish that we could be like other states and play high school softball in the Spring. Our coach is awesome, but being the teenage girls that we are, some of the rules kill us, especially since it's SUMMERTIME. Example One: we have a 10 o'clock curfew on game nights. Okay, YES this is smart, but it means no bonfires, late movies, or even sleepovers with friends. Example Two: No being out in the sun on a game day. Well crap...this means that those weeks where we have games literally every day, we have to stay inside... allll dayy! Well that's enough complaining about the rules. I understand them, but jeez, i sure do like to bake in the sun on a wonderful summer day ;] no worries, we found time! (see picture to the right)

Okay, so ever since I went on my missions trip to Galveston, TX, missionary work has always been on my mind. After that trip I decided that I was done planning out my life and I was just going to go with the flow..ya know.. let the Big Guy be in control. ;] Well since I have softball literally all summer, thoughts of going on a missions trip were not even in my thought process until I started talking to Lauren Meyer about the trip that she was thinking about going on later in the summer. South Africa. She told me that she was leaving the 24th of July. Knowing that last years State Tournament ended the 24th last year, I thought there was absolutely no way that I would be able to go, but to my surprise the State Tournament was ending one day earlier this year. (now if that isn't God's work, I don't know what is...) so of course... this experience was the BEST thing that has EVER happened to me. Changed me in ways that I can't even begin to describe. I'm thinking about my future a lot more now. There are so many different options that I want to do with my life, but that's a whole different story ;] Oh, how I miss Africa and all the people I got soooo close to.... I can NOT wait for more opportunities in my life to start flashing before my eyes. Bring.It.On. :D