Let the good times roll...

This week was hecka cool (they say hecka a lot here, it takes the place of very or really, i seem to be picking up the lingo fast)

Before I get started I have to say that I have teh best, craziest, funniest, most awesome rock solid family EVERRRRRR!!!! Extended family and friends are included in that too! I have gotten so many cards, emails, and letters of support since I've been here. It's such a great feeling to know the ones I love and miss back home are thinking of me and covering me in prayer. It means so much to me. You all are the biggest blessing in my life. I couldn't do this without your support and encouragement. I'm thinking and missing and praying for all of you. I can't say this enough but Thank you SO much for encouraging and praying for me!

I can't remember where I left off in my last update but I'll start from the beginning of the week-ish. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were our intern training days. We did team building activities, had brainstorming meetings, had meetings where each of us had a chance to share our life story with the group and then we were prayed over, and we ate some delicious food. I had lamb for the first time...it was great! I thought it was steak at first haha.

On Thursday morning the intern team (minus Nikki) left for Yosemite. It was about a four hour drive and we fit 5 people, all of our luggage and most of our food for the weekend in a little honda civic :) I'm sure we looked like a bunch of clowns piling out of this tiny car, but it made for a better adventure...and gas mileage. A man that one of the interns Marcia worked with opened up his house for us to stay in for the weekend. Friday we went to the park and let me just tell you if you haven't had the chance to go to Yosemite...it's totally worth it. We saw El Capitan (there were lots of climbers going up the enormous face of it!) Bridalveil falls was GORGEOUS, Yosemite falls and just driving through the vally was really beyond description. We were pretty tired by the end of the day. Saturday we went to the park again. We saw Mariposa grove of giant sequoia trees! I can't even tell you how amazing it was to stand next to a tree so enormous! I got to fulfill one of my goals and hug one :) We saw the oldest one in the park called Giant Grizzly. The estimate that it dates back to the time of Cleopatra! It's branches alone are as big and wide as a normal tree!! I'll try to upload pictures as soon as I can get a memory card for my phone.

After the grove we drove up to Glacier point, which looks out over the entire Yosemite valley!! Talk about feeling on top of the world! We saw Half Dome and it was HECKA cool! Maybe one day I'll get to climb to the top of it. We could see out for miles and miles. The granite mountain peaks, powerful waterfalls, and deep green valleys captivated me. I was able to see God's beauty and power all mixed up together in his creation.

As I was up there I was reflecting on my life so far. It's not been a long one, but in 21 short years God has taken me on some pretty stinkin cool adventures. I've see and done a lot of really amazing things. I feel like my life has been one great adventure after another. I think that's how my whole life is going to be. And that really excites me. I feel like I am living out what Jesus came to give. "Life, and life to the full." At 21 that's a humbling and amazing feeling.

It's so good to follow him isn't it? Being abandoned to him is the best thing to ever happen to me. It's wrecked my life in the most beautiful way.