Home Again Home Again, Jiggity Jig

My mom used to say that saying to me every time we would leave the house and return.  I am finally home, actually have been for about 3 hours, but I thought I would take the time to fill all of you in on a few things.

My drive home wasn't horrible, but very emotional.  I think I spend a third of the time crying, I guess you could say that I just got really attached to my family!  Three months is a long time to be away from home, but when you get to live with family that you don't really know, its amazing the bond that you can make!  I can now say that I do know my Aunt Terry and Uncle Randy, and let me be the first to tell you, I am so thankful that God put them in my life!  I love both of you and thank you for everything that you did for me this summer, we will have a lifetime of memories to share from this summer. 

The other time was spend ignoring my Garmin, the dumb thing kept telling me to get off of the interstate when I wanted to stay on it.  But o well, surprisingly I actually pretty much navigated my way by myself with out the help of the dumb technology.

I really miss Hays, but I am glad to be here at home.  I really missed my family and now I can help with mom.  I still haven't figured out the school thing yet, but we will have to see how things go from here after Monday.  My dogs look HUGE, but that is because I have been with little dogs for the past three months.  I will be starting my Scrapbook and job hunting on Monday after mom's appointment is all said and done.  I do have to get the pictures developed, not sure how much that will cost, but the memories are worth it and the fact that I am doing it with my mother is even better, we can have our little bonding time as well, that is if she is up for it.  I will also be starting my job hunting.

So that is all for now, I am going to watch the sunset, drink my breathe, watch a movie with my brother, and hit the sack...my own bed...that will be a challange

So good bye for now my faithful readers and I will see you all on the other side of sleep...

P.S...Really Really Really missing my counselors and campers!!!!!!!

Final Day

Today Is Friday.  ITS FRIDAY, FRIDAY FRIDAY!, as Richelle would say.  This was the last day of Summer Blast Day Camp.  Its sad knowing that I won't see all of my new friends for a long time, but its comforting to know that I can still talk to them from two states away!  I have made the most amazing, warm, and reliable friends out here, and I'm sure out friendship will last a lifetime.

Today was our play day, we were supposed to go to Massey park, but because of the weather we didn't make it.  So we stayed in and watched a movie.  Taylor and Richelle made rainbow cupcakes for everyone and put a smiley face on top.  We went outside when the weather allowed and played a couple of field games, just for old times sake.  We had pizza for lunch and went to the library for their end of their summer program party.  The kids were ok I guess, behavior wise.  And then the remaining counselors, Lauren Steph and I, all took the kids to get snowballs, as our thank you to the kids for a wonderful year, plus it covered up for all of the kids that didn't reach five stars.

To finish the day out we went back to the building and watched Spy Kids 3: Game Over.  We took a picture of the kids with there American Flag that we finished today, and everyone had a blast...maybe that's why its called Summer Blast!  When It came time to leave, Lauren announced that I was leaving and the whole lot of them surrounded me.  It was a tearful goodbye, and one I will remember forever, to bad I didn't get a picture of it. 

So this was my summer, and I had so much fun doing it!  I made great friends, wonderful memories, touched the lives of everyone I know from Hays and had a blast doing it.  Will I come back?  Absolutely, it only depends on what happens in the last nine months.  I love it out here in Hays, and even if I don't come back, I will plan on being here some time next summer, even if its just to visit and catch up!  I am leaving sometime in the next few days, I am packed and ready physically, emotionally I am still at camp with my new friends and campers.  It has been a blast everyone, thank you for everything that you have given me!!!!!!!  Hope to see and hear from you soon!!!!!!! 

So the next time we meet I will be in Illinois again, Home Sweet Home, Here I come!!!!

Week Ten_ Thursday

This is my final post about Summer Blast from Hays, KS about a Thursday....Kinda bittersweet.

Today was a nerve racking, but exciting day for me.  Today was the kids performance for the parents.  They performed The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, the Cha Cha Slide, the ever popular Chicken Dance and the top three winners from the talent show performed there winning performances.  We had 22 parents show up!!!!!  I was so excited.  Thee nervous part was the plays, I was kinda freaking out because of yesterdays practice, but in the end they all did really well.  The show was about a half hour long, perfect timing.  I even asked the parents to join us in the Chicken Dance, and the kids really enjoyed that!  I was the host of it all, and I thought I did a pretty decent job with announcing the performances and taking pictures and making sure the music was on at the right time, all thanks to my right hand man, Trevin.  It actually surprised me the amount of parents that showed up, but then again this is a small community and things are all about family out here, or so it seems!

After all of the parents left we took the kids into the ac and cooled them off.  We talked to them about how much we all enjoyed there performances and how well they all did.  Then my boss, Eileen told the kids that because of all of the hard work that I put into making sure that that happened today and that they got to practice and made sure that there parents were there to see there hard work, that I deserved a round of applause, and so the kids, and counselors gave me my very own round of applause.  It was a tear jerker!!!!!  Again Bittersweet moment, one that I will cherish forever.

Today was also the last day for many of our kids, and because of the attachment that happens in a small town there was some crying and long goodbyes, but its not like I won't ever see them again...(secretly I am hoping that Eileen will ask me back next summer...shhhhh, don't tell her)

Tomorrow is that last day and I am really sad about it, I have made so many friends and memories out here that everyone will be hard to leave.  Even though I really live 500+ miles away I will always have a side of me that yearns to be here.  Everyone that I have met this summer will always have a place in my heart and the best part is that with today's technology I get to take all of them back to St. Louis with me!  My mother and I are putting a scrapbook together to remember my time out here, because we all know that as time goes by names and faces fade from our memory.  With this book I will have that to also cherish for the rest of my life.  This experience has been an amazing opportunity for me and it will stay with me for a really really long time!!!!

Today was the last day for two of my camp counselors, they are Nathan and Anna, I would just like to send them a good luck with all that life has in store for you and God Bless!

That is all that I have for you now my faithful readers.  Tomorrow will be sad and then before you know it I will be on my way home again.  So get your Kleenex boxes ready and be prepared for another rendition of my wonderful life experience as Summer Blast Day Camp comes to an end.......  :~(

Week Ten_ Wednesday

This is my final post for Wednesday in Hays, Kansas about the Summer Blast camp!  Its sad to say that I only have a few more days and man are they a flyin'!!!

Today was ok I guess, we had some issues with behavior and in all actuality its only because of the talking.  They just don't stop talking.   I mean I know that they are all friends but honestly its disrespectful to the counselors.  They are getting antsy, and have a bit of an attitude problem.  Its a little exhausting to deal with it especially when your running low on patience. 

So today we had a bit of the treat for the kids.  Anna, a counselor, brought her popcorn machine and made popcorn for the kids in the morning.  They had popcorn and a movie.  Then we had our practice.  We worked on our dances which are the cha cha slide and the chicken dance.  They are really enjoying this week, not sure why, but I'm not complaining!

They also worked on there plays that they are performing for the parents tomorrow.  I'm kinda nervous about it because if it doesn't go over well its reflects badly on the counselors, and the parents may not be too happy with it.  But we will have to see what tomorrow brings....not that I'm ready for it or anything like that....

I am still in the process of packing to go home, but with each day I get closer and closer.  I wrote personal notes to the counselors about our time together this summer and gave it to them with a copy of the keepsake scrapbook that we gave to the kids, and they all seemed to enjoy what I had to say about them, which is a positive.  I really hope that after this summer and I gone and far away that we can all still be friends.  We may not all be in the same state, but I really have found friends in all of them!  So thank you guys for making my summer!

So this is all that I have for now....so until tomorrow my faithful readers

Shout out to all of my counselors that are reading this!!!  Love you guys!

Week Ten_Tuesday

Hey all this is my final post about camp for this year and my final post on a Tuesday from Hays, KS.   Today was a busy, but simple stupid day.  The kids had there talent show and that lasted for about and hour and a half.  Then Richelle and Taylor taught 5 different dances to the kids.  They learned the Cha Cha Slide, The YMCA, the Chicken Dance, the Electric Slide, and Macarena.  The kids really enjoyed that, and then we went to the pool for the afternoon.

The highlight for me during the talent show was Ryan's ode to the counselors.  The video is kinda hard to hear, but he sang to us "Thanks for Being A Friend" the theme song from the Golden Girls.  It was thoughtful and precious.  Glad I caught it on video!!!!!

Week Ten- Monday

Hey all this is the final Monday post from Hays Kansas about Summer Blast.  Today was a good day, we worked on our plays, we casted the roles as well as got our talent show line up finished.  And then we all went to the pool and a few kids stayed back and watched the pagemaster. 

I gave my boss the extra project that she wanted me to work on, and it seemed like she liked it.  Hopefully she likes it more once she goes through it.

So that is all that I have for you now, but tomorrow I will update you more!

Good Life

This is a song that is just really well written.  The artist OneRepublic has been around for a while, with a couple of hit songs.  I hope you enjoy!!!

Week Nine

Hey all.  This post marks the end of week nine.  One more to go!  I cannot believe how fast this summer has gone by.  This week was our compassion week, we made letters to send over seas to our troops.  We collected can goods to help the shelters in the area and helped each other out through out the week.  Today we went to massey park.  We also took the kids to go see Alpha and Omega.  So all in all it was a good week. 

We also took our group pictures yesterday.  I will post them at the end.  One of them you have already seen, but all the same I will add them on.

 This summer has been an amazing one.  you will all hear about it after I get home, so for now this is a teaser

Moms Health Update Number 2

Ok, so I'm sure by the that you are done reading this you will hear the excitement in my voice...words. Whatever.  So Mom called me today with her results from her time in the hospital this past weekend.  Things are looking up.  She is starting chemo again on Monday.  her blood platelets are back.  Her liver is better, but still needs a lot of work.  they put her on a diuretic to pull the fluid off her abdomen.  They are still working on her kidneys.  They also put her on heavy duty blood thinners to dissolve the two blood clots that are in her system.

So this is all good news.  For the past few days, I have been considering going home a week early, and now with this news I can breathe and finish out my summer with my new friends!

Today at camp was so much fun!  We had a boys and girls day.  The boys played poker and watched Pokemon and the girls rocked out to county, Hannah Montana, and gaga.  They did there hair and nails as well.  We also took our group photos today.  We took one of the group, one of the counselors, and one of th CIT's.  Today was a lot of fun at camp!

From left to right: Nathan, Lauren, Tyler, Ryan, Steph, Richelle, Taylor, me, Anna

Mom Health Update

So I can now inform about the drama that unfolded over this past weekend. 

My mother was admitted to the hospital on Friday night because of water retention.  She stayed until Monday afternoon.  They ran test after test after test to figure out just what was really going on. 

So far they have discovered that she liver and kidneys are not communicating to each other, not working together to get toxins out of her body.  They also found that she has two blood clots between her kidneys and liver.  She also is suffering from renal failure and also has sclerosis of the liver.  All of these particular diseases an be fatal and mixed with cancer, even more life threatening.  Right now she looks like she is nine months pregnant.  She has gained around 10 pounds in less than a week. 

So what does this all mean? Well honestly I don't really know.  I am still processing all of this information.  She is meeting up with the doctor tomorrow at 1:45 and we will get more information on where to go from here with all that has happened.  So I will inform you when I know more.  But for now this is all that I have

Hot Chelle Rae

This weeks featured artist is Hot Chelle Rae as recommended by my best friend.  This song is actually really good, and it hits home with a lot of people my age.  As we are entering out twenty's we face that heart rentching question, is there someone out there for me?  Will I ever find love? And then when we actually think we do, it all goes to hell and we have our hearts broken.  This song is all about having your heart broken and trying to pick up the pieces.  

This weekend has been a little crazy for me nothing I can't really handle and I wish I could spill my entire life out to you, but who really wants ther life out there on the net for the entire  world to read? So as I stated before my best friend Sara found this song for me for this weeks musical post so a shout out to her!!!  What's interestingly enough is since I got here in Hays, I haven't really been listening to much else other than country music, and don't get me wrong there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, I am a huge country fan.  But sometimes you just need to change it up a little, and this is the kinda song that will do it.  They are new to my life , but I'm sure that they aren't new to the world.  To the music world, according to there discography they have been around since 2009, so still pretty new but good all the same.  

I will tell you they will be on my list of new and upcoming bands to look out for.  Good luck to them.

This week has been a long one and I finished with the a day full of drama.  I love it but I hate it.  Tomorrow Aunt Terry and Uncle Randy are coming home because of the drama today.  Tomorrow is my final day of dog sitting, and Clay and I are going to go see Transformers 3...Yay a break from the ordinary and life, at least for a while.  In addition to, I only have two weeks left out here in farm country and I will admit I will miss it, Hopefully Eileen asks me to come back next summer, and maybe I can bring a friend with me for a job!  It will all depend on what God has in store for my life.  God has done so much for me, given me so many opportunities and honestly I would give it all back for a life time with my mother.  

I leave you on a happy note, this week was my grandma's 73rd birthday which was on the 13th.  And to follow my dad 57th birthday was on the 14th.  So happy birthday to the both of them

Happy Birthday Graphics

Week Eight

Its had been a while since I've taken the time to update all of you on the daily happenings of Summer Blast Camp.  So here are the highlights of the past week starting from Monday.

This weeks theme was Aquatics Week.  We played all kinds of water games with the kids from water relays to Squirt Bottle Barber.  We also Tye dyed today.  tomorrow we will finish out with more water games.  The down side to this week is as each day goes on it gets hotter and hotter.  To top it off, the ac died yesterday, so the building is like a hot box except without the sun. 

The above entry is from yesterday and I of course was so tired that I just fell asleep on my computer.  Yesterday I also started another job out here in Hays, I am now a dog sitter!!  Its actually a lot of fun, and I'm considering doing back home for a little extra cash. 

The kids Tye dye shirts turned out really cool.  Hopefully they like them just as much as we do.  This weekend is filled with cutting the grass, cleaning house, Sage and just hanging out around the house. 

Be looking out for another music post this weekend. 

Rascal Flatts

This weeks music post is about my family, particularly my parents.  This song be Rascal Flatts describes my parents entire relationship, now more than ever.  so without further ado, here is the only video that I could find.

Rascal Flatt- I Won't Let Go

Week Six _ Wednesday

A new week has started and we can begin on a new chapter.  Today wasn't really all that bad.  Honestly it has been a rough couple of days emotionally for me.  There were some issue at work and personal that have been taking a toll on my mind, and I have found that praying to God has helped tremendously. 

The activities for today included basketball skills and drills, making fireworks, and capture the flag.  Not a whole lot but just enough to get the short week started.  This week is all about basketball so the kids are learning they necessary skills and rules to got with that.

Lauren and I are ecstatic about next week. It is aquatics week and boy are we gonna have so much fun!  We have water games out the wazoo.  But you will just have to wait to here about that next week.

Tonight I have my bible study and I'm really looking forward to that and a little bit of relaxation.  I know, I know I just got off vacation, but today's heat made things go by really slowly and I have to get back into camp mode, the good thing is that its not taking too long to do that. 

I know that this post is really dry, as have been most of mine here as of late, but I've been really tired and stressed lately, so no wonder.  So for now this is goodbye my faithful readers, and we will talk again tomorrow!

Life Long Friendship

"I might not be someones first choice, but I am a great choice. I don't pretend to be someone I'm not, because I'm good at being me. I might not be proud of some of the things I've done in the past, but I'm proud of who I am today. I may not be perfect, but I don't need to be. Take me as I am, or watch me as I walk away!"

 This quote kinda describes a lot of people that I know and I thought I would share it with you.  A friend, someone that is more like an older brother to me posted this and it got me thinking, we are a lot alike me and him.  Im really gonna miss him when he moves away.  This particular person I have known almost my entire life, I played with him as a toddler, we ran around the neighborhood as kids together, and held together for high school.  This person I've known since I was two years old and the new kid on the block.  Even though he is 6 months younger, he has always looked out for me like his younger sister.  I honestly think that our friendship will last a life time.  

Yes we have had out ups and downs, our fights and make-ups, but all in all, isn't that what realy sibbings do.  

Why am I writing this?  Honestly I don't really know, I have been missing home a little more than usual and I have really been thinking about my life.  While most if it is just a blur, I have a few little things that stick out and this is one of them.  This person isn't the only one that I have a bond like this with.  The three of us would play together all the time as kids, and as time went on we found out who we are.  I still see that other person from time to time, and remember him as that little boy I used to hang out with in the neighborhood.  Every time I see his father I ask about him, and the answer is always the same...he is just fine.  

Now those two that I mentioned in this post know who you are and I would  just like to say...thank you for the life time of memories that you have given me and I hope that we can make many more.  Where ever our lives or adventures take us I hope that we can stay in contact and remain as best of friends like we were growing up!!!!!

Country Stampede Vidoes

So It took me a while, but my vids are finally here from country stampede

Joey and Rory  joeyandrory.com

Collin Raye collinraye.com

Greg Hanna greghanna.com

Sawyer Brown sawyerbrown.com

Catch-up

Hey all this will be short and sweet, promise.  Its been over a week since we last talked and that is because my life got a little hectic.  Got home from country stampede after midnight,  and turned around and got up at 616 for work. The theme this week for work was American Week, because Independence Day was just around the corner.  Monday was simple stupid, we did pretty much nothing and stayed in the building a much as possible, because on Tuesday and Wednesday, we wouldn't have the use of the building and or the shelter that we are stationed at.  Tuesday was a different story, easy day but a different story.  Tuesday we had the parents do pick up and drop off at Washington Elementary School, where we have our summer food program. Tuesday we went to the Larks Park to play baseball with the Larks, They are like our Grizzlies back home.  Really cool that they could take the time out of there really busy schedule to come out and play a little game of baseball.  the kids all got the autographs of the players that they got to play with.  That afternoon they wend swimming and to the Library.  That night however, the kid of Summer Blast Day Camp were invited down to the game to be announced on the field.  That was the highlight of the week.  Wednesday was a little more difficult.  it was really hot.  The kids made ice cream, went swimming and to the library again.  There really weren't any issues until the school kicked us off the playground because they were leaving for the night and wanted to close off the playground for safety reasons.  Good Idea, but not one for us.

Wednesday night after I got home from work we left for Colorado.  We got to Elizabeth and realized that we left all of the food back home.  reached the house around 930, and sat out on the deck with a glass of wine and watched the cop cars go up and down a hill every minute for like 4 hours.  Still can't figure out why. 

Today is July Fourth.  Independence Day. They day we celebrate our Independence from Britain.   My brother is currently in Washington DC representing the State of Illinois in the Independence Day Parade.  tonight he gets to see Josh Groban, Mathew Morrison and Little Richie in concert.  I'm so Jealous.  Good luck to them today. 

Yesterday My Aunt and Uncle took me to the mountains for the first time in my life.  it was magnificent.  I cannot fathom why more people don't live in the mountains.  It is just unbelievable, there really are no words to describe it.  If you are a friend on facebook, keep a look out I will sometime eventually post pictures. 

So this is my last day out here in Colorado for a long time, hopefully once I finish school, my best friends and I will go on a cross country road trip, and when we do we will be stopping in Castle Rock to visit and going up to the mountains.  It is so beautiful out here.  I hopefully one day want to live out here, maybe even retire, but that is not for a really long time! 

So the next time I will see you will be in hays once again, for the remainder of the Day Camp program, only three and a half weeks to go and I am home again. 

I am kinda glad to be going home.  I miss my family out there. While this has been really fun and a complete eye opener for me, I don;t think I'm quite ready to live this far away from the, at least not while my mom is still sick.  So for now, this is me signing off, my faithful readers!