What do you think of when you hear those two words? I will always think of a girl's weekend, the book of Ruth, and what it means to truly follow Christ. Last weekend the girls in my youth group loaded on a bus and set out for Gatlinburg for a weekend of laughter and praise. {and more than a few odd faces}
We stayed in a huge cabin, sharing a room with anywhere from four to eight girls, which honestly can be quite chaotic and crazy, not to mention slightly dangerous. Maybe the people who built these things shouldn't have put ledges close enough to the beds to jump off of. Just saying.
We hung out and rode the bus, which I have to say is amazing. I'm pretty much in love with bus trips. Yeah, I'm weird.
We even got dressed up and went for a fancy dinner. And I did it all with my best friend and sistah, Holly. Isn't she just BEAUTIFUL! And do you like my bangs? I love them!
This has to be my favorite picture of the weekend. It's just so genuine and un-posed. It truly showed the emotion of the weekend, not to mention the beauty of these girls!
Yeah, we were weird too. And we like to "hold" people.
And all the while there's me with my camera snapping pictures at really odd times.
I love the sunflare in this picture. It makes her look like a model or something. And let me just say again that these girls are gorgeous inside and out!
And because I'm the "resident photographer" I got volunteered to take these lovely ladies' pictures. I must say it was my pleasure because they entertained me more than I did them!
And we ate, who can forget that?
Worship was so amazing. The girl who lead it had a voice that sounded like Adele's and the songs she chose really spoke deep into my heart. We sung a song called Break Every Chain and every time I heard those words;
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
To break every chain
To break every chain
To break every chain
I just wanted to forget the world and lift my hands in praise to the One who can break every chain that holds me back---all the worries and jealousy that mar my life. It was absolutely amazing to take a timeout from my chaotic life and just stand there with no distractions and thank God for the blessings He's given me and to ask him to direct my path.
The book of Ruth really spoke to me too. Ruth had gotten a taste of God during the years she had been with Naomi and her family and she wanted to know Him so bad that she was willing to leave everything comfortable and known behind her just so she could grow spiritually. I just thought that was so eye-opening. God has been changing so many things in my life lately and it's just interesting to see that He uses changes like that to show me that I need to continue growing and that if I have to get out of my comfort zone to do that, I need to.
I also really learned about being a leader in this kind of setting. On the last night it was like things just snapped for many of the girls and people just started sobbing all over the place. I felt like God was telling me just to go and hug and pray with my friends and with people I didn't even know all that well. It definitely made me think about what being a leader in the youth group really means.
{doesn't this look like a double exposure? It's really just a picture though the glass door! It's crazy awesome!}
And honestly, what's a girl's trip without a little OneDirecton? (or a lot) {and maybe a little JB?)
I'm not kidding, I had his song Boyfriend stuck in my head for days because they played in on the bus like eight(y) times! haha!
And overall, I just got to know a lot of really amazing people I had met before but never really known. I had a pretty amazing weekend. Have you had these kind of experiences before?
A few weeks ago (sorry, school has been crazy these last couple of weeks) my 9th grade class of twelve went to Camp Wesley Woods with two of our teachers and the best chapel leader ever, Sir Brett. :)
In the car my bestie, Hadley and I had to double buckle {shhhh} and when Isaiah opened the door I almost fell out! haha!
Goofing off in the car.
Checking it out.
Kaylee and Isaiah are the ones looking at the map and Andrew and Josh are the two looking at the camera!
Kaylee from California!
What the guys do to pass time---spar with really big sticks.
A team challenge we did there. We had to get everyone in order of their birthdays without talking. It was SO funny.
From right to left Courtlyn, Kaylee, Hannah, Hadley, Anna, Hope, Josh, Andrew, Me, Karlie, Isaiah.
Catch me!
Standing on Isaiah to get Andrew over "the wall."
Practicing our skills on this baby. This one was so much fun! We had to get so many people on each side to balance it out and it could only touch the ground three times. Really interesting!
Trying to somehow get Isaiah under and over the Giants Table. It didn't work....he fell...just saying. haha!
Hannah!
Walking back after hours of team building!
"THE BEASTS"
Campfires and S'mores!
Before the GIANT'S LADDER!
My partner, Hadley.
This picture doesn't even begin to show you how HIGH the Giant's Ladder was. Isaiah ended up doing it all by himself and I couldn't let a guy make it to the top and not me so...
Hadley and I made it to the second last, and with um---a little help----uh---from Hadley, I made it all the way. The only thing I've ever done more challenging than this was the Via Della Rosa. It was so much fun and I felt like a superhero after being climbed on, using muscles I never knew I had, hanging upside down, and all other manners of things to get ourselves up. I love a good physical challenge. How about you?
I'm on top of the world
Top of the world
Feeling fine
I can't promise I'll be posting anytimesoon since my weekends are booked for the rest of the month but I'll try! Cheerio!
Oh, and I got a hair feather! Finally! I wanted one before everyone else even knew what they were and I got them after everyone...but that's okay. Love it!
