Hey y'all!!!!! This blog was such a good idea because I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts so far! I'd like to think this post will be as catchy as the Jay Sean playing in the background, but it's going to be very random, reflecting the randomness of my summer so far:D Prior to sitting down to writing this, I was doing the dinner dishes to the beat of top 40 hits such as Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" and Justin Beiber in the background. I attempted some suave dance moves in between the sink and the dishwasher, but I probably just looked really clumsy. (My parents were at a funeral while all of this was happening). One of my favorite things to do lately has been laying on the floor and cuddling with my dog:) She goes along with it for a minute or so before she starts squirming, BUT if I give her a nice neck scratch or belly rub while cuddling, then she'll just lay there gazing into my eyes as if she's in heaven. We call her the ADD dog because the smallest noise will break her attention span.

Since I've been home for almost three weeks now, all of the graduation festivities have died down, and it's only my brother and I and my parents. My brother had his end-of-the-year choral performance, which was 50's theme, and they sang songs like "We Go Together" (from Grease) and "Purple People Eater!" It was so exciting for us to see my brother really getting into the music and having such a good time; I think I was tapping my foot the whole time! Let's see, one day I went to a ballet performance, one day I went to a tea party, kayaking/boating on a lake, hiking in the Blue Ridge mountains, AND I planned and hosted a birthday dinner for a good friend from high school. I like to think that you guys inspired me to plan this because of the sense of community/friendship I have gotten from you all. These were all friends I hadn't seen for two years, but it was just like high school, which is good and bad:)

As for the summer job, I was supposed to work for a lawyer as a kind of assistant, but I'm not sure that he is very dependable. In the meantime, my parents have temporarily "hired" me to plan our vacation out west. I figure it's a good learning experience. I've also been helping my mom with our big gardening project, which has totally transformed our backyard into a nice edible landscape. I have enjoyed reaping the benefits of the crops and society class, from my new-found understanding of the value of the soil to my greater appreciation for plants in general. I'm sure you guys can testify to how La Vida reinforces this in how you are living in such intimacy with nature out in the solitude of the mountains. There is something about nature that draws you into greater intimacy with Jesus Christ, and particularly in experiencing an inexplicable joy and peace of mind that overflows in abundance:)

Ashley, I am so encouraged by how you have been transformed through the La Vida experience, and how both you and Sarah are focused on living each day very intentionally this summer. I aspire to follow your examples, as I am learning how to be more open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and not so much my own agenda. I am in full agreement with you, Sarah, that the key is letting the Holy Spirit speak. I have a great opportunity to share with my friend Montana, who, after returning from studying Italian at a convent in Italy, wants to become a nun, possibly. I'm not quite sure she is serious, but I hope we can have more intentional conversations about this, with the Holy Spirit's guidance. I love you Ashley, Sarah and Hannah dearly, and I look forward to hearing more about La Vida and all of your crazy summer adventures, as well as prayer needs too.

~Genny