Set Apart: Update: My summer activities

It has been quite a busy summer!

The hustle and bustle began mid-June when I spent two weeks living in the home of some dear friends, taking care of the 7 children still at home, whilst the parents were tied up with a medical emergency. It was such a great experience, learning to run a household on my own, but also because of the blessing of being able to lend my help to this family in their time of need.

I departed just 2 days after I got home from that adventure and flew to New Mexico with my 10-year-old sister to help our older sister, brother-in-law, and niece in their moving process. It was a 3-day drive from Clovis, NM, to Fort Walton Beach, FL. Plus a day spent in Waco, Texas :-) just for fun! Then a quick, one-day, unpacking frenzy once we reached their new home in Florida before Beth and I flew back home.

The following two weeks were filled with summer camps! Counseling a cabin of middle-school girls the first week, and a cabin of high-school girls the second week. As well as leading worship at the morning at evening chapel sessions each day for both weeks! Summer camp is ALWAYS a highlight of my summer. At the end of each camp, I am always asked, "Will you be here next year?" And I always answer, "I sure hope so!"

Whew, I'm starting to get tired just typing all of this out!

After wrapping up summer camp on a Friday afternoon, I headed home to pack for my biggest summer adventure yet, and by the following Monday morning, I was Europe-bound ♥ Yes, EUROPE! I could hardly believe where I was headed either! Now, let me explain, at least a little, how this trip was even possible.

A friend offered to pay for my ticket in order to chaperone a younger girl, Abby (a family friend) to stay with her Aunt and Uncle that live in Germany. I was invited to stay with them for a while also. A "while" that turned into a month long stay. haha. During that time I was so thankful to become very very close to their 4 daughters, as well as become even closer to sweet Abby. I join them in a week-long summer VBS ministry in a local church, spent many lovely days just relaxing as a "family", we toured all over Germany, and visited Paris! Oh, the endless joys and blessings of my stay!! I cannot even put into words how thankful I am for the opportunity to see and experience so much! I was also fortunate to spend a great amount of time with one of my closest friends, Caleb (Abby's brother) who is stationed in Germany with the Army right now. Oh my goodness, blessing after blessing.

I think I have fallen in love with traveling. The part where you see places you've never seen, and meet people you've never met. It's like I have an insane calling to be where I am not. I know that will change with time. Such as, when God blesses me with a family of my own. But, for the time being, I think I will try to take every opportunity God gives me to see the rest of this beautiful world that he has created.

So that is what has been going on in my life lately! I am now back at home with my family, working three days a week as a nanny and cleaning, taking voice lessons, leading worship at my church on Sunday mornings, and co-coaching a bible quizzing team. Life hasn't slowed down a bit :-)

Now for all the pictures! Enjoy!