finally!

So it's been a while since I've written anything on here...

Today is my last full day here in Virginia before I head back home to Iowa. It has been a good summer - difficult at times - but I have had a good time.

Each morning after my aunt's school got out, we went waterskiing at 7am and then I got to go to Mass at 9am! Such a great way to start the morning! I learned to ski on two skis, then I learned to ski with another person at the same time, and this week (after trying for three days) I was able to get up on one ski! (see photo below!) I think I've found my favorite sport of all time! ;)

Last weekend I also got to drive up to Long Island to visit one of my NET teammates, Annie. That was a really good time! We went to a beach by her house on the Long Island Sound and collected a lot of beach glass, which was nice. We also took a ferry up to Connecticut on Sunday so that we could get there (where she lives now - her parents live in Long Island) in time for church and youth group. (She's the youth minister/DRE at her church.) I also made tortillas for her! That was great as it has never been successful for me before.

Then a couple of days later, my aunt and I drove out to Fenwick Island, DE to visit my second cousins at their beach houses. We only stayed one night, but it was long enough for us to go to the boardwalk in Ocean City, MD. It brought back many fun childhood memories as this is where my family went each summer when I was growing up and these were the cousins I spent my time with.

Hmmm... what else? Oh yes! I had my 21st birthday and my family flew out to celebrate with me! That was really wonderful. When they were here we also took a daytrip down to Virginia Beach. It was fun because they had these "no profanity" signs that were like the "no parking" red circle with "@#%$&*" inside of it. I thought it was cute. They had them all over.

Well, with that I am going to get going. I hope that you have a wonderful day! God bless you all!

Jesus, thank you for this wonderful summer, full of its joys and trials. I pray that you would help me to take from it what You want me to learn and help me to follow You more faithfully each day. You're the best ever!