Best Decision Ever

So I almost didn't go to the Spring CILT reunion... THANK GOD (literally) I DID! It was so great.
I arrived at Camp T a couple hours after the official start, and was greeted by old and new friends I hadn't seen in a while, and a couple from home. The whole drive down I was overflowing with anticipation and excitement. I can't wait to make that drive several more times over the summer.

Something so great about camp is no matter what time of year it is or what CILTS could make it there, it is always a place where I feel 100% comfortable and hopeful and joyful and excited. I can't think of any other place that makes me feel so alive.

Seeing CILTS I don't get so see a lot (and miss a WHOLE lot) was so so so wonderful. We always say how much we wished we lived in the same place, but at the same time, living so far apart makes the chances we get to see each other that much more special, and myself that much more thankful.

Theme dinner was "Remember When This Was Cool?" and filled with clothes and songs of the past (well the past like 17 years at least) I love dressing up and being silly and dancing on my chair and having impromptu dance parties and laughing and when Mags spit out her water on me because Emily's dance moves, and screaming songs as loud as you can, and adding laughter to Our Song, and sitting in circles. Camp meals are the best.

What was super great about this weekend, is it gave everyone a great opportunity to get away from real life, talk to some great people about not so great things that might be happening or that they are dealing with, and knowing that everyone in the circle on the CAC floor is there for you. They all love you. They all want you to be happy. They all want you to be and feel loved. Looking around the circle at devotions Saturday night, I saw tears and vulnerability and friendship. I saw hugs and hands holding. I saw so much love. God had us all there together this weekend for a reason. The CILTS are part of my plan, and I can't thank God enough for putting these people in my life.

"TURN AROUND THAT SAYS 18!"

Last night I had the pleasure of attending Gabby's annual birthday scavenger hunt. Its the third year she's had this tradition and its safe to say its one of my favorite nights of the year.

Gabby's older sister made the groups and the list. Each group sported a different theme so show off as the participated in the hunt. This year there were superheros, animals, 80s, ninjas, and pirates. I was a member of team animal as a black cat- this year i was in it to win it.

Before the hunt, all the groups gather at Gabby's. Its a rush of excitement and dancing and loud chatter in anticipation of the night. I like seeing everyones costumes, and participating in light hearted trash talk as means of intimidation.

At approximately 8:31 the hunt began. Our mission was to get the most points we could, and be back by 9:59. Failure to do so would result in disqualification.

Team animal sprinted to Keeley's car, and I spurted off all the things on the list as fast as I could. We sped down 86th st. to Steak and Shake to begin our adventure. Steak and Shake presented us with so much oppertunity.

Take a picture with a parent and their 4 children- check.

Sing Do Re Me in the middle of SnS along with choreography- check.

Make a human totem pole and hold for 30 seconds- check.

We left Steak n Shake with several fans, and tons of applause. 

Our next stop was Anna's house in search for a full box of Girl Scout Cookies.

One member of your group eat an entire box of gsc's- Check.

As Cece ate her Do-si-dos, we made our way over to Walmart, aka Land of the Massive Amounts of Points. So many things to accomplish here! We ran into the superstore ready for buisness.

Go behind the glass in the frozen food section- Check.

Read an entire book to a child under the age of 8- Check.

Twerk on a Wal-Mart greeter- check.

Get a senior citizen to slap a group member's behind- check.

2 group members have a jousting fight in Wal-Mart wheel chairs- Check.

Entire group make a dogpile in front of the check out lanes- check.

The animals left Wal-Mart in high spirits. We ran through the parking lot when what do you know- the lights at Great Clips were still on. The animal team used our charming people skills to get the hairdressers to let us in after hours.

Have a group member get a haircut- Check.

After leaving Great Clips, we headed to Kona Jacks in search of some sushi. Mission Accomplished.

Make a roll of sushi in a Japanese restaurant- Check.

Cece and Keeley thought that was really interesting.

Team animal was now in search of either a house with Christmas lights still up or a speed limit marker that didn't end in 0 or 5. I called Sar to ask if she knew of anyplace we could find either. As I was talking to her out of the corner of my eye I spotted the prize. IT WAS AN 18!!! WHO KNEW?! Keeley quick made a U-Turn and we found that speed limit sign in record time!

Take a picture with a speed limit sign less not ending in a 0 or a 5- Check.

My team congradulated me on my keen eye, and we piled back into the car.

Next stop was Keeley's house, in search of some cinnemon.

Have 2 group members complete the cinnemon challenge- check.

We then proceeded to find a stranger....

Get a stranger to do the challenge- check. (Thank goodness Keeley's cousins had company we didn't know over)

We sped back over to Gabby's house, and circled the neighborhood to find a house with Christmmas lights... WE FOUND ONE.

Take a picture in front of a house with Christmas lights still on- Check.

We made it back to Gabby's with a few minutes to spare. Gabby's dad tallied up the results, as all the teams waited in anticipation.

THE ANIMALS CAME OUT ON TOP. Here's to a great night with great fun and great friends!

Here's Why I Liked Today...

I've been terrible about posting lately, please forgive me. (if anyone is even reading this)

Top 10 favorite parts of my day:

1. In English first period when Mrs. Lyday finally said "Its Thursday! Why do we love Thursday's? Because it's almost Friday!" She says something about the day of the week every morning. This is always her Thursday statement. Today she was a little frazzled when class first started, and didn't say anything regaurding the day right away. I was immediately concerned and said to Linda, "Why hasn't she told us happy Thursday yet?" A few seconds later... she did. Awesome.

2. My AP U.S. History teacher stopped his lecture about 5 minutes before class ended. I just love when that happens.

3. I think I did really well on my pre-cal test! One less thing to worry about! woo!

4. In chemistry we got time to review for our test tomorrow. While reviewing I sat and talked to Nat and Caroline. I love when I get the opportunity to do this. Nat is really funny and he always says something that makes me laugh (or roll my eyes). I'm glad I met him this year.

5. I got to leave school after 8th period!! It was to go to the doctor... and I ended up getting a shot....and I hate shots. But its okay because a) I didn't have to go to Spanish b) the nurse gave me a super cool neon pink band aid and c) I have all my shots now in order to have the greatest summer of my life

6. I was really productive as soon as I got home from my appointment, and I finished my term paper tonight! YAY! This is so exciting I cannot even tell you. Just some editing and I'm free... for now.

7. I ate Mellow Mushroom for dinner. Best. Pizza. Ever. seriously...

8. I got to hang out with Alli and Sar!!! I love them, and its the first time its been just the three of us all together in 2011!! So great. I loved talking about the upcoming CILT reunion and me and Sar being so excited about it we passed Alli's house. Its gonna be really fun.

9. I finished all my homework before 8:30. Enough said.

10. NOW I GET TO GO READ HARRY POTTER!

Today was a good day.

Happy Birthday Kitty!

Today was one of my best friend Gabby's 17th birthday. Even though the going to school part stinks, I always like when my birthdays on a school day because you get to see all of your friends and be told happy birthday they whole day. I love that. I think birthdays are awesome. I love the fact that for one day of the year each person gets their day, and I think you should try to make it as special as you can for them. Some might say this is obnoxious, I am not one of those some. Here's some of my favorite pictures of me and Gab aka Kitty:

Me, Melanie, Maddie, and Hayley went into school early and decorated her locker with signs that said things like "Happy Birthday Gab!" and "17" and "We Love You!". Then, when she got to school we were all standing at her locker and yelled happy birthday when she was still half way down the hall. I love birthdays. (Picture of the locker to come)

I got to have 1st period with Gabby so naturally as we walked into Mrs. Liday's class together I made a loud announcement to the whole room about what an important day it was. This was followed with a chorus of "happy birthday Gabby!"'s. I love birthdays. Later on in the day we had a choir field trip to sing at my church right down the street from school. When we got back on the bus afterwards Mrs.Wiehe, the director, said "Good job ladies... and happy birthday Gabby!". This was really funny. 

Since we have school tomorrow we couldn't exactly do anything big tonight. So Gabby went home and ate dinner with her family and opened presents. I felt like something else needed to happen. Her birthday couldn't just end! She texted me and said her day was just going "okay". This was not "okay" with me. So, I texted Emma and we scurried over to CVS and found all the fun stuff in the store that we could. This included: a cup with a bunny on it that you turn back the ears so the straw pops out, a Barbie (she played that role in Junior Spec), a princess tiara, an "It's a girl!" balloon, a bracelet that says "heart breaker", a Hello Kitty coloring book, and a card with a cat on it that meow's the birthday song. We put it all in a "grab & go" gift bag and headed over to Gab's to surprise her!

Our phone conversation before we got there went like this:

Gabby: Hey Mol

Me: Hey.. umm where are you?

Gabby: My house...

Me: Would that be your mom's or your dad's?

Gabby: My moms... what are you doing Molly

Me: Okay, cool... bye!

Then we pulled into the driveway and went into her house and yelled HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABBY! and she was very excited and she saw the bag of presents and got even more excited and we all ran to her room to watch her open. I think she really loved it. I really loved it also.

The thing about birthday's is, I really love when it's my birthday, but I also really love making other people's birthdays as special as I can. Everyone deserves to have a fun day, and I'm so glad I got to spend time with Gab on her's! I love birthdays.