Friends are fun.

It's been about two weeks since school got out, and I have to say I was somewhat disappointed when my life didn't improve drastically the hour that blessed school bus rolled away. I have to admit that a huge part of me felt that this break would somehow solve all my problems--cure my heartache, heal my wounds, and miraculously present hope in a perfectly wrapped box. Mostly, I think I thought that time alone and journaling and praying would renew me instantaneously. Well, after a whole week and one half of talking to no one but myself and the Kardashians (yes, on television), I realized that I need to go. I didn't know where, I didn't know for what--I just knew that my mental and emotional health depended on it.

So I packed up my car and visited some friends. First it was Fredericksburg to see my small group/YL friends. These girls are my truth tellers. They are beautiful and unique and fierce, all in one. They know the Lord in a genuine way, and have a special gift in bringing out the best in people. Visiting them was like finding a part of myself again--a part of me that I had forgotten about and was unable to recall. They reminded me that I was beautiful and unique too. That I have things to offer that are special to who I am as a person, that God has a very specific purpose for my life that cannot be carried out by anyone else. I am so thankful for time with them and for the blessing that their lives are to me. There is no other group of women that I admire more, and I am continuously humbled by their love.

Next, I went to see my dear friend Christin, who is getting ready to be a missionary abroad. Another beautiful heart selflessly going into the world to serve others. I had the honor of attending her goodbye party, and it was so fun to see how many lives have been loved by her. She is so steady in her acceptance of all people, and I know that as she moves into a new culture, she is bound to profoundly impact people by her presence. Few people are as peaceful as her, and the gentle spirit she embodies is sure to heal hearts. She has taught me that love is found in graceful approach of the human-ness in all of us.

Finally, I traveled up to Nova to spend some time with my dodgeball team. Love. Them. Made up of my old SoupBowl housemates and our fun guy friends, any amount of time with them lately has been filled with laughter and tears. Tears usually because I am laughing so hard I am crying. They are the purest hearts and the biggest jokesters. I have been so well loved by them in the past five years, and they have been with me through everything. I don't know anyone else that would have stuck with me through thick and thin, and who so easily accept the things about me that are hard to live with. I often look back at our time together and feel unworthy of their grace--but so thankful for their persistence. If love is an action they embody it, and the community they have built up around me is one that has slowly taught me to trust in family again.

So, as you can see, I am finding more healing in community than I thought was possible, and my goal is to keep moving toward it even when it becomes financially difficult to do so. I am convinced that we need other people to be whole, and especially at this time in my life, I need people to remind me who I am again. To remind me that crying from laughter is possible and relationships that aren't broken are just a phone call again. To find out that I am--that life is--totally worth it. That there really is hope for community and hope for me. I'm going to live for these moments this summer, being thankful for the ways that God has brought me himself through my closest friends.