summer 2012 in a nutshell . frontier ranch

It seems that "real life" has officially started. During my last "semester" at Davidson, when I wasn't even a student anymore, it didn't hit me. When official graduation rolled around in May, it didn't hit me. But now that I've adventured out west for the summer and come back to a completely unfamiliar new reality, I do believe it is starting to sink in. I live in a new apartment in Charlotte which, despite its proximity to Davidson, is so foreign to me. I know three people in this city very well, and that is all.
At this point, I've had a few weeks to process the time I spent at Frontier Ranch {a Young Life camp in Colorado} as a "ropes" intern this summer. It was a ridiculously hard summer, physically and emotionally, but one that grew me and showed me who God is more than anything ever. Being on the ropes team was both more work and a bigger blessing than I could've imagined. Leading three sessions of summer staff and actually facilitating ropes rides both were jobs that I thoroughly enjoyed. Going on adventurous hikes to waterfalls, lakes, and 14,000 ft. summits, or simply pulling off on the side of the road to climb boulders brought my heart more joy than anything. I found rest sitting alone on a high rock by the river or in the middle of a wide open field with my journal.
I miss the mountains and being able to see the whole sky. I miss the freedom I had from feeling like I had to have my life figured out. I miss everyday rainbows over the valley, and not being hesitant to walk in the rain. I want to choose adventure here, everyday, but I'm scared that I'll never figure out how. I want to take lessons I learned about contentment and gratitude and actually apply them, with the knowledge that I'm exactly where the Lord wants me to be, doing exactly what I was asking him to let me do this time last year. Here's to new seasons, new friends, new cities, huge prayers and an adventurous, whimsical life of joy.