So Much Wonder

This quote has never been so true! I have not the words to explain what the last three weeks of my life have been. But I shall attempt it. 

My life has been fun because camp was fun! We played so many games and laughed and sang til we lost our voices. I think the staff has more fun than the campers, honestly. We get to watch the campers play some ridiculous games and cheer them on.

My life has been wonderful because God is good. He showed me that in numerous ways while I was at camp. First, in the lives of the staff, who were all there just to serve God. Some of them get "payed" but most, like myself, were only there because God called us to be. Second, I saw it in the lives of the campers. They praised with all their heart and soul and reminded me what it was like to be a child of faith again.

My life has been awe-inspiring because I saw the work of the Lord on so many levels. Five of the campers gave their lives to the Lord. I personally got the honor of leading a girl to Christ. She was so excited, I could see the light in her eyes and it made me cry. Even now when I think about it I can hardly breathe. 

My life has been deep. So deep. So filled with learning, searching, and finding. I know why I am here now. I feel like I finally understand why my life was spared. I am here to touch others. I am here to make a difference. And I am doing that already.

I never expected to find myself when I left home. But I think I did. I think I learned that home is where the heart is, for when I got home my heart ached for the people there, and that place became home. 

I didn't want to admit the fact that I was scared of the idea of leaving for college. However, camp taught me that as long as I have people around me who love me, I don't need to worry. People are what make it home, not places.

So my new normal has taught me that I am ready to leave home because while home is feels safe, it is not the only place that I can feel at home.

-Rachael

Camp Time

This post will be short. I know I have mentioned camp at least once, but I think I forgot to mention the fact that I will be away from internet connection for the next two and one half weeks.

I will miss writing but I know I will have wonderful tales to tell. Ones filled with the grace and goodness of God.

So I will leave with this picture and quote from one of my favorite people. I often find it hard to remember that I am not a side character, I am not even a costar, in my life story. I am the Leading Lady.

Step aside world. Here I come!

-Rachael

Endings

So here we are. Another ending in my life. First, I finished community college, then I ended cancer treatments, and now I prepare for my last day at work. I have worked at the job for five years on and off. The off times came when I was too sick to be there. Yet the job always welcomed me back.

I have been thinking about all the endings in my life. People often think about endings as bad, but they are not all that way. Some are quite good. 

The best part of an ending, though? The realization that if there is an ending to one thing, there must be a beginning of another. Endings don't stop things, they start new things! As in, I stopped ignoring the call to run and I started running in May of this year. I stopped chemo and started a weird new life that is my new normal. 

And now I end my time at a job that I have both loved and hated. Loved because the people who work there are quite wonderful. Hated because the people who shop there aren't always. But through ups and down's I have learned a lot at this job, which was also my first job. I got it just one month after turning 16. Gosh, I was so young.

So I guess this is sort of another lesson cancer has taught me. Endings can be good. Though it doesn't turn out anything like I thought it would. Who could have guessed I would be leaving this job to work at a camp for 2 and a half weeks and then off to a college so great I could never have picked it for myself? Only God. 

So yes, things must come to an end. I am more thank okay with that. In fact, I am excited about that. Endings for me will always remind me of new beginnings, fresh starts, and beautiful mornings. 

Cancer taught me that nothing should be taken for granted. Not even endings.

-Rachael