Put On

So there is this song. Called "Put On". It is a rap song. It was played at Georgia football games for awhile, and became an essential addition to our gameday/football road trip mixes this year. And I'm sure it means something different to everyone.

But for me, this song will forever and always make me think of Athens, Georgia. Home to the University of Georgia and my home for the past four years.

Now, there are quite a few songs that make me think of good 'ol Athens. But "Put On" is definitely high up there on the list.

All it really says is "I put on for my city". What exactly does that mean?? Who knows. But somehow it just makes sense when it comes to Athens.

This weekend I am making my final move out of my apartment, doing the final cleaning of my room, and the last real "I live in Athens so let's hang out in Athens" weekend. I must say, I love this city. And the people. I really do. It has been good to me.

So, farewell, sweet Athens. I'll keep puttin' on, no worries.

Love from the Classic City,

Lauren

China?

This week, I have accepted a daunting task. A major undertaking.

Med school applications? No, no.

Planning/packing for DC? Of course not.

Reading more? Writing letters? Generally catching up with the world? How silly.

This week, my friends, I have decided.......

....to clean my room.

This may sound like a simple job for one afternoon. Think again. Since moving out to begin my freshman year at UGA, I have never been home for more than 2.5 weeks. Epworth every summer and Redcoat Bowl Games every Christmas meant that I have lived out of a suitcase when I have been home for the past four years. That also means that I have let all of my high school papers, notebooks, pictures, t-shirts, etc. stay exactly where they were for four years. And now, I have to move all of my college stuff back. And folks, that room is just not big enough for high school AND college junk. Let the cleaning begin!

Let me tell you, I have found some interesting things. Notes passed during classes. Sweet 16 birthday cards. Old journals. Letters from family. Pictures. Every piece of "come to our college" mail that I got while in high school [no, I'm not kidding].

It's official. I'm a pack rat.

I'll leave you with one find too good to not share. I came across an old journal from my late elementary/early middle school days. One entry came after hearing a message at youth group about the end of the world. My sixth grade self was, apparently, quite distraught and had a great many questions concerning this end of the world. Will it be fire or a flood, I wondered? Will I disappear before other people, or will I see people disappear? These questions led my sixth grade self to more general life questions, for instance, Is there one perfect person for everyone? What if your one perfect person dies? And then, my favorite question of all...

"What if my perfect person lives in China and I never get to see him?"

Indeed. What if?

Ah, how wise you are, my little sixth grade self. How wise you are.

Hoping he's not actually in China,

Lauren

Fallen Soldiers

.....my Chacos.

They have broken.

A moment of silence, please.

These Chacos have seen me through four summers at camp, three years at school, hiking trips, camping trips, and much, much more. They will be missed.

Here is the the tragic tale.

Saturday, my parents and I went up to camp Glisson to visit Hilary on her Parent's Day! (Ok, so it doesn't start so tragic...) It was awesome. She showed us around camp, her cabin, the cafeteria, where she works, etc. After lunch we hiked up to the high elements and Hilary went to work catching people on the end of the zip line. While my Dad and I were waiting in line to zip on down to her, I showed him how the heel riser of my Chacos (yes, I know exactly which part it is now) was fraying and said maybe we should look into getting a new pair. He told me duct tape could fix it. (thanks, Dad). But then, somehow, from the time I left the platform to the time I landed on the other side, the heel riser was no more. Came completely off of the sole. Detached. Done-zo. Godspeed, soldier.

Now, the really difficult part. I will be mailing off my old pair to get them repaired/replaced, and I get to pick a new pattern. My favorites:

Multi-Red

Aqua Zebra. Or something like that.

Opinions? Votes? Ah, the really important life decisions you have to make as a college grad.

In the meantime, farewell, old Women's ZX2 Green. You will be missed.

Love,

Lauren

Extreme Teenz

Remember when I said I might have a few pit stops on my way back to Alpharetta?

Yeah. Make that one, big, week-long pit stop. In Nashville, Georgia.

On Friday afternoon, sitting in the laundromat, I got a call from my friend Aaron. His home church in Nashville was having a youth week starting Sunday and was in need of some college aged, SGAUMC-associated workers who would not be gone on Road Rules. Well, I guess I met the requirements because I found myself driving west instead of north eeeeearly Monday morning.

In a word, the week was awesome. I loved Nashville, the youth (aka Extreme Teenz) and their youth director. Nashville (affectionately known as Nastyville or Nashvegas) is a true small Southern town. I am SO much more of a city girl than I ever realized. Examples? I am used to not knowing everyone at the [grocery store/bank/restaurant/etc.]. I cannot drive you around my hometown and tell you who lives in each house. I did not know everyone in my graduating class, or where they went to college, or what they are doing now. It was so fun to be in a town like this for a week! I got lots of tours around town and met lots and lots of genuinely kind and warm people.

By far my favorite part of the week was hanging out with the youth. I got to meet campers this summer at camp, but I was never able to have more in depth discussions with them. But this week, I got to meet some awesome kids and had a real chance to get to know them. I looooved just hanging out with them. We went bowling, swimming, had a water war, [I got dunked in ice water. perfect.] worked at a local service project, and went on a photo scavenger hunt. I got to lead worship, which was a HUGE blessing for me. Even taught a few guitar lessons to some future rock stars! Sang some karaoke. Ate a lot. And just enjoyed my time in Nashville.

The last day, we were playing a game with the youth upstairs when two or three of them went to the bathroom. It took awhile... and was oddly quiet at the bathrooms... but I didn't think much of it. Until we walked outside... and Aaron's car was TP'd. Good work, kiddies. Good work.

SO much more to update on SOON!

For now, love from the Nashvegas traveler!

Lauren

Drawing to a Close

Another beautiful Epworth sunset!

Well, my time here at Epworth is almost done. Hard to believe how quickly six weeks flew by! I am cramming all that I can into my last week (museum and craft time today!) and still working on that summer camp tan at the pool. Campers leave tomorrow, and counselors will be gradually leaving over the weekend on their Road Rules assignments. I'll head back to Alpharetta on Monday! With a few possible pit stops along the way...

My favorite camper this week: A kid who came into my office to get a band aid wearing a Texas Longhorns tshirt. I said, "Do you like the Longhorns?" and he says "Oh yeah, they are my second favorite team." I said, "Well, which team is your favorite" and he says "The Georgia Bulldogs!" as if that should be the most obvious thing in the world. I gave him a high five and told him we could be friends.

I have also become a splinter removing machine this week! Two camper now have splinter-free feet (after a lot of time, poking and proding). One of our counselors was in the hospital over the weekend with a staph infection in her leg, so I get to help her change the dressing every morning. The medical nerd in me thinks it is so cool. I told her I'm putting it on my resume. A few fevers and throw-ups here and there, but nothing terribly traumatic this week (or maybe I'm just used to it now!).

In outside of camp world news, Wendy is moving to DC!!!!!! I almost cried (happy tears) when she told me. She has a job working at NIH and we'll be a metro ride apart starting in September!! :-) I can hardly wait. We are going to bring some Georgia football spirit to DC in the fall!

So, those are my rambling updates for the week. Trying to enjoy the end of one season and looking forward to the start of another!

Lots of love from the islander,

Lauren

Deathly Hallows

Okay, I know I'm more than a few years behind on this one, but.... drum roll please.... I finished reading the Harry Potter series!! Ah-ma-zing. Sometime in high school I stopped reading in the middle of the fifth book (don't ask me why, I have no idea..) so this summer, I brought the fifth book and decided to try again. Before I knew it, I was buying the sixth book and frantically borrowing the seventh and now here we are, at the end of the series. I must say, I enjoyed the finale. I thought it was a great ending to the books, especially when many endings were possible. Now I just need to watch all the movies....

Even besides Harry Potter, I have been reading like crazy this summer. So far, I've finished: The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, A Voice in the Wind and An Echo in the Darkness (both in the Mark of the Lion series), and Harry Potter books five, six and seven. Whew. I started the Screwtape Letters this week as a summer devo for the Fellows next year, and I've picked up The Fountainhead for probably the fifth time and I'm hoping to actually finish it this time. Feel free to leave more suggestions....

We are in Elementary camp this week and having a blast! There are lots and lots of kids who are new to camp, and it is so fun to see them experiencing everything for the first time. One poor guy had to go home sick, but other than that medical catastrophes have been kept to a minimum. [Prayers this week are much needed for our counselors. They are all pretty worn out and some are starting to get sick. No good!]

This is a random, rambling post, but I promise there is just one more thing...

I have been reading in Romans lately, and I came across this passage last night and just loved it. I think it sums up the way we should act, the way we want to act, how I want to act. It's definitely my prayer for the week, and probably for many many weeks to come. So I thought I'd share it, and I hope it is as inspiring for you.

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Romans 12:9-18, 21

Lauren

Mini

We are currently in the middle of our mini-camp for the summer - 28 kids, elementary and mid high, hanging out for the weekend. It is AWESOME. Super chill and lots 'o fun. [Send up some flare prayers for health, though. We have a few issues here this weekend on the more serious side. For example, one camper walked in and proudly told me: "I've been in anaphylactic shock 11 times!" Perfect.]

The last week has been busy... but relaxing. Somehow, no time to blog in all that relaxation. Whoops. Friday kicked off Free Weekend for the team, and a few old counselor friends were in town visiting. It was so fun to see everyone! Between a spur of the moment birthday cake (no birthdays on that actual day), a trip to the Epworth pier, Parent's show and a visit to the beach, it was a great weekend.

Monday the team left for their staff retreat, so Nurse Lauren got to make her own schedule for a few days. I was a little worried at first, but I must say, it was a much needed few days. I made a trip to Valdosta to visit a few friends there Monday and Tuesday (warning: do not go to Grand Bay after the gates are supposed to close. Bad news bears.) I got to spend most of Wednesday with my friend Troy in Brunswick and lots and LOTS of time reading. And sleeping. It was grand.

And now, it's off to mini camp! Sunday after the kids leave we'll be celebrating the 4th and getting ready to do it all over again in a full camp week starting Monday. Whoop whoop, Elementary II!!!

Love from the islander!

Lauren