Dreamers

A song lyric popped into my head just now. "Godspeed, dreamers. You're the best of us." Kind of a true statement when you think about it. Where would we be as a world without dreamers? I consider myself a dreamer. I have so many things I want to achieve, places I want to go. It's what drives me. Sometimes I see people my age and I can't believe how they act. They don't know what they want to do with their lives. They are just wasting away, not even trying to change. I want to ask them, What are your dreams? Don't you have something to hold on to? That one thing that you would give anything to accomplish? Don't just sit there! Pursue it! Do not live in vain! Break the cycle! It hurts me to know that some people will never chase their dreams. Some people may not even have any. They don't think they can reach them. I want to reach mine. None of us want to feel like our lives never amounted to anything. But in God's eyes, our lives are worth more than gold. Everyone's life is a story. He cherishes our triumphs, is sad along with us during our downfalls, and through it all loves us in a way we will never fully understand. I'm amazed every day how much God loves me. It fills me with so much joy knowing that he's with me all the time. I know that I'll be able to reach my dreams with Him by my side.

Reconstruction

Last night I got together with everyone that went on the Ecuador trip. It was so wonderful seeing everyone again. During our post trip debrief, Rick asked us how God changed us as a person. Everyone said different things. Learning to rely on God more. Not letting our fears control us. Realizing God's plan for us. For me, everything about the trip changed me. God broke me to pieces and reconstructed me in a different way. I discovered things about myself I never knew before. Coming back to my life after Ecuador hasn't been easy. I keep catching myself starting to fall into the old habits I had before. When that happens, I remember how God has rebuilt me. I'm a new person for a reason. God wants me to reach my full potential. I'm trying to keep that in mind every day. Hanging out and talking with everyone helped me start to get back on track. I don't know how many of you guys read my blog, but if you do, thanks. You mean the world to me.

Memories

Today I finally finished my scrapbook of my trip to Ecuador. Going through all the photos brought back so many wonderful memories of everything I did there. It was also a little bittersweet. I miss Ecuador. I miss waking up in the morning and going up on the roof to read my Bible. I miss hearing the propane truck beep its horn to alert customers to come and buy. Smelling the bread baking in Arenas, the bakery next to my aunt and uncle's apartment. Having everyone you pass on the street say good morning or good afternoon to you with a smile on their face. Life in Ecuador is different from life in America. It's simple. It's uncomplicated. People hold their relationships in high regard. It's been almost 2 months since I've gotten back. I've been feeling the pressures of life lately. School, sports, not to mention all the political stuff going on right now. It can really bring a person down. Everytime I start to get stressed, I remember that my life doesn't have to be controlled by this. Only God controls my life. He knows what's best for me. It's not politics, it's not school projects. Politics cause a bunch of problems that I don't want to get involved with. God is fully involved in my life all the time. He knows everything that's going on. I may not understand some things, but I know that God understands and that I don't need to be afraid. He has big plans for me.

Surprises

I love acting. I'm quite a bit of a theatre dork sometimes. So naturally I'm taking two theatre classes this year. I love getting into a character and putting my all out on stage. This semester my theatre class has been given a major oppurtunity. My teacher couldn't tell us what it was at first, only that it was going to be in the newspaper and it's on October 12th and it has something to do with the Great Lakes Theatre Festival. So this past Sunday my sister Elizabeth and I ripped through the paper. We couldn't find anything. We looked at it forwards and backwards, upside down and sideways. Nothing. So Monday came and we were basically dying of anticipation. My theatre teacher stopped us in the hallway, thrust the day's paper in our hands, and told us to read the headline. We freaked out. Because...are you ready for this?...WE GET TO MEET TOM HANKS! Tom Hanks got his start in the Great Lakes Theatre Festival in the 70s. He's coming back to do a fundraiser for them. During the day he's holding a master's workshop for 5 local schools' theatre classes and my school was one of the schools chosen. Only 100 spots were open and we got in! Oh, and it's also going to be filmed for PBS and we get to ask questions at the end. Maybe I'll see myself on TV! This is going to be the most amazing field trip ever!

A New Year

This past week was the start of my senior year of high school. My first day was Thursday(who starts school on a thursday anyway?). So far I think it's going to be a good year. A lot of things have changed this year. One thing about my schedule for this year is that my lunc hperiod is very late in the day, as in 10th period, which basically is at one in the afternoon. Now, normally 10th period lunch has pretty much all freshman in it. The senior commons, which is where the upperclassmen eat, is closed during 10th period lunch. So any seniors who have lunch then have to eat in the main cafeteria. I walked into the cafeteria the first day, and I recongnized nobody. It was all freshmen. Little, immature freshman that think they know everythiing because they're in high school now. But then a group of kids from my grade found me and we all congregated at a big table in the back. I kid you not, we are the only seniors in there. Now, the people I sit with are people that I've been through middle school and all of high school with, but we aren't great friends by any means. Sitting with them made me realize how much all of us have changed. A couple of years ago, these people probably wouldn't have given me the time of day. But now, we all talk and laugh together. Everybody is nice to each other. It doesn't matter anymore who is the most popular. We've all matured so much. I finally feel like I know who I am this year. I'm comfortable in my skin. It doesn't matter what other people think. I 'm proud of who I am and what I stand for.

Too Much Stuff

I have a tendency to think about things too much sometimes. I worry about what's going to happen to me in the future. What someone thinks about me. Jumping to conclusions. Overanalyzing something until I can't get it out of my head. This evening I had way too many things smashed into my mind. What am I going to do about college? Why is my golf team split up at different courses now? School starts next week. The list goes way on after that. I decided to clear my head and take my dog for a walk. It was such a nice quiet night. It was starting to cool down and the crickets were warming up for a concert. I didn't see a lot of people on my walk, and I was able to reflect on some things. Number One: I've done a lot of things this summer. Going to Ecuador was hands down the highlight. Number Two: I'm going back to school a different person than I was at the begining of the summer. Number Three: I should stop stressing over things because God is in control and loves me more than I will ever know. After realizing this, my walk became much more enjoyable. I didn't want to go back home right away, so I just kind of wandered around my neighborhood. I walked past places from my childhood. The culdesac where I learned how to ride a bike. The house that some friends of mine used to live in. I would go fishing in their lake. I talked to my next door neighbor for a few minutes. I don't think I, or anyone in my family has exchanged pleasantries with them since I was young. She was shocked that my sisters and I were going to be seniors and told me what her daughter was doing these days. I walked into my yard with a renewed soul and a clear head. Everything was going to be just fine.

Life's A Climb

I watched the Hannah Montana Movie last night with my sisters. Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It's pretty well done for the most part. I'm not a big fan of Miley Cyrus. After all of the rumors that have circulated about her, I just don't know what to think anymore. I would like to think that she really is a strong Christian. I would like to think that all the pressures of her career have just brought her down and she doesn't know what to do. I know that she has made some mistakes, we all do. Hers unfortunately had to be in the public eye. It is my hope and prayer that she is able to remember what is important in life, like in the movie. And I hope that we can all remember that in our lives as well.