Wow

Today I experienced one of those moments. A wow moment. A moment of clarity where all of a sudden someone says the perfect thing and you just go "oh my gosh, wow." It happened in third period in the library. I sat and listened to veterans of the Vietnam War share their experiences in combat and how they felt and each of their own stories. What I got out of it though was so much more than war stories or a glimpse of history.

As I listened to the second veteran that spoke's story of battle I couldn't help but be moved. He showed the group his battle wound on his arm where he had been shot. That sight alone was enough to give me chills, let alone the stories he had to go with it. He shared a story about how he got one of his wounds, and how he had to watch several of the other men in his group die, right there in front of him. Someone asked how it felt, coming out of a war like that, with plenty of wounds but unlike so many others a full life ahead of him. "I don't feel guilty for the lives lost. I can't. To feel guilty about it would be to go against God's will. God had a plan for me- I should have died." Wow.

This really amazed me. I was sitting there listening to a man who had seen absolute horrors. The worst sights and experiences anyone could imagine, and after all that his belief in God and His plan was strengthened- reaffirmed. Wow. I feel like wars and tragedies and anything bad that happens immediately makes people question. Makes people doubt. And here is this veteran who came out of one of the worst wars in history with an even stronger assurance that God has a plan for him and that he knows he lived for a reason and a purpose. So cool.

Throughout all the speakers I was continually amazed at the amount of passion and dedication these men have to their country and to God. The really believe in what they did and what they fought for, and that is so inspiring to me.

Dear Team CILT,

Today Sar and I colored.

We met at Huddles, got our yogurt, and got down to business.

There are a lot of things we really miss.

We miss livin the dream.

We miss Theta Kappa Lambda (sis koom bah)

We miss sleeping on the tennis courts.

We miss the porch.

We miss sitting in the devotion circle.

most of all we miss all of Team CILT.

Love, Molls

The Julian Center

Yesterday I had the opportunity to drive downtown to the Julian Center, a local shelter for women and children who have suffered domestic violence. Along with a few other members of the AFC, I got to spend the afternoon with some of the kids at the center.

As soon as we arrived we were directed into the multi-purpose room of the center. We hid colorful Easter eggs full of jelly beans all over the room, and laid out giant Toy Story 3 coloring pages and markers. The front desk made the announcement that kids at North Central were at the center, and to come to the multi-purpose room with your kids for some games and activities. Slowly the kids and their moms trickled in. A little shy at first, but eager to start coloring. When we had gotten all the kids we thought we would we filled them in on the Easter egg hunt, and sent them off to see who could find the most eggs. Before the hunt had even started Marie had spotted one of the eggs. While the official hunt was going on, I stayed behind with Marie, probably too young to really understand the concept of the Easter egg hunt, and clapped and laughed with her as she ate each jelly bean inside her yellow egg. Marie and I instantly bonded, and once she asked me to hold her it took me a while to convince her that putting her down would not be a reason to cry. So as I held Marie, we walked around and looked at everyone coloring and decorating stickers and eating all the jelly beans they found.

One of my favorite moments of the day was when I met Kiri. She had so much energy and loved to share her jelly beans and chocolate and color stickers to put all over her outfit. As I lifted her up, Kiri looked at me and then my hair. She stroked it really softly and said, "I looove your hair". After telling her that I loved hers too, I asked if she would possibly have time to do my hair, and make it really pretty. She agreed and got busy giving me a stylish do.

Throughout the day, I couldn't help but feel really overcome with emotion. Here are these kids, after having been dealt a pretty unfair hand in life, smiling and laughing and playing just as much as kids who have everything and more. Kids who's faces lit up when one of us picked them up, or colored with them. Kids who were so appreciative of everything, and eager to be our friends. Its kids like these who give me hope. Hope that everything will be okay, and hope that even when life's not fair and things haven't gone your way, there is still so much to smile about.

(All names were changed in this post for the protection/ privacy of the kids at the center)

Falling Behind: April in a nutshell

I feel so overwhelmed with things I could've posted about, but didn't get around to that I don't quite know where to begin. Its kinda been one of those months. One of those we're so close to the end of May so why can't it just get here already months. One of those do I really have to do my homework months. One of those I just want it to be warm all the time and to go to camp already months.

The week after I arrived home from Florida (I still miss it) was a frenzy of final preparations for Net Night at my school. Net Night was April 8. At school there are so so so so so many opportunities to become involved and do things you love. What I love is kids. So, naturally, my favorite club/organization at NC is All For Children. AFC spends the school year working on local and global projects to help all kinds of kids in all kinds of situations. This year was AFC's second annual net night, and I had the opportunity of helping to plan it. It was a huge success.

Net Night is a basketball tournament and carnival held in our school gyms. All the proceeds from the night go towards buying bed nights to send to Africa to prevent kids from getting Malaria, a disease caused by mosquitoes.

Hayley and I ran the concession stand filled with donated pizza, burritos, cookies, and soda. All night people stopped by and bought food after a hard-fought basketball game or just some intense cheering. It was a community effort for a good cause- and as the gym filled with adults, teenagers, and children I couldn't help but feel like I was apart of something special- apart of something big.

At the end of the night the current president of AFC, Elise, told me something really exciting.
Elise, who is a senior and will graduate next month, said to me:
"So, are you excited to do all of this again next year??"
Feeling extremely exhausted from the night I answered, "Oh yeah!" in a not too enthusiastic tone
"Well people all night have been asking who's going to be the one to take over for me next year... and I didn't want to say anything, but..."
"But...." I replied this time with excitement.
"Well, I think you'll make a great president of the club next year Molly" Elise said with a smile.
I was overjoyed. I hugged Elise tight and jumped up and down. I can't wait to add my ideas to the club, run the meetings, expand student memberships, and help kids all year long. The opportunities with this new responsibility feel endless.

Last weekend, on April 16th, was Junior Prom. I got to wear a pretty dress, sport a Tswift up-do, and hang out with my friends all night. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the night:

  

After a long night of prom, I woke up the next morning, showered, and hopped in Col's Car to head to Sarah's. We were going to the Day Camp Open house! It was my first experience as a real live official counselor, and I loved every second of it. I spent the afternoon sending campers down the Black Hole, meeting other counselors, talking in a British accent, and playing an intense game of Catch Phrase (where I may or may not have yelled a whole lot... out of excitement of course) If anything, last Sunday made me more excited for this Summer than ever. The long days of running around with little kids, pool time, the black hole, pop stop, the lake, friendship bracelets, the Day Camp cheer, campfires and some of my best friends cannot come soon enough.

Tonight

Tonight I went to Mcallister's with Sar, Emily, Nikki, Avery, and Carly.

Tonight I laughed a whole lot.

Tonight I listened to stories about everyone's spring break.

Tonight Emily made me laugh as she told weird stories about putting her feet in the sink and sitting on her stairs staring at the wall for 45 minutes straight.

Tonight I posed for jumping pictures and smiling ones.

Tonight I went to Huddles with Sar and Nikki.

Tonight I met a new friend named Katie.

Tonight I jumped out of my chair and tried to steal Sar's phone when Mags called her.

Tonight I walked around Target with Sar and Katie.

Tonight I purchased a new skirt (goes great with a camp T staff shirt) and a Cubs t shirt which i tried on in the middle of the store.

Tonight I skyped with Annie.

Tonight I talked with Mags.

Tonight I lived well.

First Day Back

Rather than writing a depressing post about how much I miss being in Florida or not having to go to school or do real life things, I've decided to share my favorite things about my first day back at school after break.

1. In first period I got my English term paper back- I got an A. Woo!

2. I was reunited with my best friend Melanie after not having seen her in over a week. She was so tan and California-like. I loved running and giving her a big hug.

3. All the times people said "You are sooo tan!"

4. Finishing the sweetest friendship bracelet I think I've ever made in Chemistry

5. Picking up my prom dress from alterations and discovering it fits- hooray!

6. My sister coming and sitting on my bed and talking to me for a little bit. She was extra talkative and concerned about me today, and it was kinda nice. I love her.

7. I had pizza for dinner. YAY!

8. Skyping with Mags and meeting her boyfriend Brad. They made up a handshake on the spot. Thats a true connection if I've ever seen one.

9. Watching the Butler game right now- Go Dawgs!

"Thats just how your dad rolls"

This past week was spent on white sandy beaches, with 3 of my best friends, the 2 greatest parents ever, and lots and lots of nothing to do. So great.

I've been going to Florida for spring break as long as I can remember. Every year starting after Christmas break I count down the days until I'm free again, with nothing to worry about, and tan skin. When I was younger this meant Sanibel Island, where my mom loved to shell and my sister and all her friends went for their high school break. For the last 2 years, Siesta Key was the destination. The shelling was swapped for the whitest sand ever, and Mckenzie's friends for mine.

On Friday afternoon, me, Gabby, and Emma left school early and headed to the airport for the start of our long awaited vacation. The plane ride there consisted of friendship braceleting, Harry Potter, iPods, and a nap. An hour and a half later, we stepped off the plane into 79 degree Florida air. Perf.

The rest of the week was filled with laying on the beach, more Harry Potter, swapping bathing suits, lots and lots of sunscreen, a golf cart ride, meeting new people, meeting more new people the next night, yummy dinners, cases and cases of sprites and dt. cokes, 3 monsoons, Jeff's crazy driving, Mindy being more popular than me, oreos and peanut butter, bagels every morning, lots of "wah"ing, and laughing a whole lot.

At the beginning of the week Gabby starting saying "wah" every time she was sad or someone complained or just when their was a silence. By the end of the week everyone was doing it (except Dan who for some reason was meowing instead). Now I may or may not say it every 5 minutes.

Coming home from such a high is always hard. It almost feels like the vacation never happened. Its a weird feeling coming home to the place you usually go to everyday after school after being gone for a long period of time. Its bittersweet. My own bed- sweet. Having a great tan to show off at school- sweet. The actual going back to school- bitter. Not waking up for the sole purpose of laying on the beach in 10 minutes- bitter. Soon I will go  back through the everyday motions of homework and classes and stress. It will be like Spring Break never happened. This year I want to take something away from Spring Break though. This week I was grateful. Grateful for really really awesome parents. Grateful for friends I can spend the week with and come out loving them even more. Grateful for the opportunity to even get a break. When I wake up for school tomorrow, I won't be waking up to a beach. But I will be waking up to all those people who made my week so great- sweet.