Adios Winter Blues!

There are no words to express how much I love the summer!

I love the warmth from the sunshine! I love the return of dear friends from college! I love flip flops! I love camping trips! I love my tan and ultra-blonde hair! I love frisbee in the park! I love all the wedding cake! I love picnics! I love swimming! I love the memories!

Here are some of my favorite memories from summers gone by:

These are extremely old school shots from high school! (Wow....)

Haha, great trip to Worlds of Fun!

If I remember correctly, we went to some museum and then stopped at a Golden Corral on the way back where I stole an entire bag of gummy bears!

Senior Trip to Washington, D.C.!!

Exactly 2 years and 3 days ago, I got Black Betty!!!

Liberty, indeed!


Some of my favorite memories: Choir tour!!

Uncle Phil really IS our hero!! (This was from my very last concert. *Tear*)

At Dick's Last Resort in San Antonio!
(My hat says "Will Poot for 25¢ - that's probably true...)

This picture captures our personalities perfectly.

One of my all-time favorite pics!
Choir with both my brothers was one of the greatest blessings of my life.

But the best Choir tour: AUSTRALIA!!

Look! There it is!!

Group shot with Sydney Opera House backdrop! (Nope, the REAL Sydney Opera House!!)

The best host family (and packing partner) EVER!

Great times with Hawks for Christ:

We practically LIVED at Clinton Lake in the summer of '06!

Don't worry, I got him back.

That's one hardcore lookin softball team!

You know I can't talk about summer without mentioning CAMP!!

My Princesses from last year. Awww!

Counselors are such great role models.

The Chicky-chicky mail call hour!

Ultimate Frisbee in the pouring rain!!

And some randoms:

Caribbean cruise Summer '05!!

What's summer without America's favorite sport? The Royals!!

Or the T-bones!! (Me and Sizzle get down!)

The Head-On Collision filled up last summer for me with lots of concerts.
One more summer before the break up! ='(

My favorite cousin and his best friend stop by on their annual motorcycle trip to buy me a drink or two.
(Or three...) =)

Lots of hot summer days have been spent getting Tallgrass ready!

(That tree is much heavier than it looks.)

Still the greatest birthday party I've ever thrown! I love it when he's happy. =)

But who wouldn't be happy with Enrique EnGROSSious at your party?!

Cheap, plastic, glow-in-the-dark jewelry + fake Transformers tattoos = Happy Fourth of July!!

Oh yeah! There was this one time that I graduated. =)

I wasn't really there for this pic but I love it and think it's a great summer pic!
It even made the LCU Calendar!!

And now: Hurray for Summer '08!! I can't wait!!

Love you all! Get some sun!

Mandy

PS - Please prove to me that I don't have to write something controversial just to get comments... =)

Revamp!

Well we all know this isn't gonna be short, so let's get started! =)

First of all, thank you to everyone who commented on my last post. I really appreciate ALL the feedback I got. I know I caused some grief with it and I apologize for that but I hope things will soon be resolved. One thing I will say: Please don't EVER be afraid to tell me how you truly feel about me or something I've said, either here or in person. My best friends are the ones that tell me to my face when I'm off my rocker about stuff. Even if they're wrong. =p But seriously, don't hold back if you feel like giving your opinion. What kind of person would I be if I told you mine and didn't listen to yours? Plus, if you're holding back, I can tell. And that feeling absolutely sucks. We don't always have to agree (and we probably won't) but we should always feel we can be honest with each other. Especially if we are a family. Don't avoid me, talk to me.

Ok, so now that that's out, let's get on with life! I have a load of stuff to update you beautiful people on!!

New Beginnings

I am in love with that subtitle. Those of you who know me really well know how much I love change. Well...change is coming! I mentioned in the last post that I'll be moving at the end of May. Well, now I have a place to move to! Audra, Sawyer and I found place to live and signed all the paperwork for it last Saturday! We're so excited! The best part is, it's about 4 blocks from where I'm living now. Haha! Isn't that great?! I can't wait!! If you're not busy on May 31, come help me lift that huge entertainment center! =)

As evident by the beautiful weather we're having, the summer is quickly approaching. Hallelujah! I love summer so very very much! And what a great summer it's gonna be! Here's a quick glance at my summer calendar:

June (as always) is mostly the month of birthdays:
  3 - Jeremy
  7 - Jackson
  12 - Mandy
  17 - Daddy
  17 - Mandy hits the 6-month mark in her new position at W&R. This could mean 1 of 2 things:
    1) Mandy gets canned (Yikes!) or;
    2) Mandy get's a raise! (Hurray!)
  21 - Mindy and Vern get hitched! Holy cow!!
  22 - Gramma Smith

July is going to be busy busy but oh so very much fun!
  2 - Warped Tour!! I just love music. =)
  4 - Independence Day! (Hurray for America, hot dogs and fireworks!)
 13-20 - The week to end all weeks!! I'm going to TEXAS!!!
  18 - Mandy & Michael get hitched! HURRAY!!!
 19 - Heather & Luke get hitched! HURRAY!!!
  22 - Jason's Birthday
  26 - Jeni & Kyle get hitched!
  31 - Mom's Birthday

Whew! That's gonna be one heck of a great summer if you ask me! =)

Sacrifices

So, if you've been paying really good attention, perhaps you noticed that something quite important was missing from that summer schedule: Camp. Yes, well...

Unfortunately due to the timing of everything and my lack of desire to put my job at risk, I had to forego my dream of co-directing Camp Tallgrass/Chihowa this year. Trust me, this was not an overnight decision and it was the most difficult one I've had to make in awhile. But I truly believe it'll be for the best. I want to be able to commit as much time and assistance as I can to Heather and Mandy because they both deserve it more than anyone else I know and, as such, am taking off quite a bit of time from work to do so. If I was to take off the necessary amount for camp as well, that would leave me working less than half the month of July and using all my vacation time. In my position, not only is that not a good idea, but it is dangerous. Taking off such a large block of time would be detrimental to my bosses and, therefore, me.

I am still praying everyday for the success of Tallgrass '08 and am hoping to help as much as possible with any preliminary work that I can. I just can't imagine making it through the year without being involved at all. But, fear not, my babies! Mandy plans to make a glorious return for the grand opening of the real Tallgrass in '09!! Just try and stop me! =)

Endings

I attended Taylors graduation last Saturday and it was extremely bittersweet. I couldn't be more proud of him but I am going to miss him like crazy when he leaves to attend York in the fall.

Other friends have or are getting ready to embark in their "real-life" journies, too: Heather, Nathan, Mandy & Michael, all of the other THOC boys, and some of my favorites from the OP Youth Group.

We had a going away party last Saturday for a CABB friend who is leaving at the end of this week to pursue his career. One of my favorites and one of the greatest men I've ever met. That friendship that was way, way too short.

Jason is leaving in about a month to return to Lubbock for grad school at Texas Tech. I'm so proud of him and know he really needs it but what am I going to do without one of my best friends?

My LL made a big life decision to forego his "classroom" education and pursue life instead. I couldn't be more terrified and excited for him. I'm so proud of his reasoning but can't help but worry about him and his future. But the once-long-lost happiness I've been hearing in his voice recently helps and maybe this means I'll get to see him more!

I just received word that a very dear friend lost his job today. I know that sounds horrible and, in a sense, is. But, it's also a blessing. That job has been bringing him down for quite some time, especially the last few weeks and I'm glad he finally has an excuse to pursue something that will really make him happy. He sees it the same way. Since it's not public knowledge yet, I'm not going to tell you his name but will ask for prayers for him in his search. That's a tough road that's never pleasant for anyone.

So I have to admit that, while I am thrilled beyond words for all of these things and the joy they are bringing to people that I love, I can't help but feel a little...left behind. Even though there are a lot of good things on the horizon and even though I really do love change, I can't help but feel the tiniest bit of grief for these things that are blossoming into new stages of life. It simply feels so odd to not have something really big currently planned for some time in the future. Normally, when I start to feel this way, I create a big change. I move to another state, I find a new job, I take on a new project. But, unfortunately, all I could pull off was 4 measely blocks. Not even a zip code change...

But I'm trying really hard to count my blessings: I'm not moving because I love where I live. I'm not getting a new job because I love my job and this company. And I got rid of my one project because I love my sisters very much and want more than anything to be a part of one of the biggest days of their lives. When I put it all in that perspective, I don't really need change, huh? When things don't feel right, you change. Or you should. But what about any of that didn't sound all kinds of right to you?

I love you all so dearly. And I can't wait to hug you! Yes, even you. =)

-Your Mandy-

"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed,
but of those who believe and are saved." -Hebrews 10:39