Life at the beach has been going well so far. I have been just as busy as I figured I would be, but I am not complaining because it keeps me focused and doing something. Last weekend I played in a community kick-ball tournament. Some of the staff at the Boys &Girls Club got a team together and we played 3 games, and we won 1 and lost 2. We had a great time and I was able to meet a lot of different people. I was contemplating playing in the tournament because for 1, it was my first Saturday in Florida and I wanted to be laying on the beach, and 2, it was an hour drive from the beach house to where we would be playing. But I decided to just go ahead and play because i'll never meet anyone while I live here if I just keep to myself and stay at home. We had a blast though and my entire Saturday was spent at the Rec Park. Sunday, I went to the early church service down here, and then spent my entire day laying out on the beach...i felt like I was in Heaven. It felt so good to relax.
This past week was extra busy at work. We did staff orientation and training, we got certified for CPR/First Aid, and we spent a day cleaning the whole teen center building. We got things set up in the building and ready for the teens to start the summer programs.
Thursday was the first day of summer programs. I was so excited Wednesday night anticipating the first day of the summer programs with the teens. Thursday went really well. Since the programs started at the end of the week, there weren't any activities planned for them to start until this week so it was mostly a free day for them all day. I got to know a lot of the 13-14 year old girls. They are so sweet and I already feel so close to them. We did some arts and crafts together, and sat around and talked. Some of the girls have already began to share some personal things going on in their lives with me. I am so thankful that they feel like they can come to me and talk to me about whatever they need to. I just pray that I will have the right words to say to them whenever advice is needed. Friday was another free day for them as well.
Saturday I spent my entire day laying out on the beach again!! My family came in town late Saturday night. I waited up on them to get here because I was so ready to see them. Sunday we all stayed on the beach until 7PM. It was great having family time and I am so blessed with an amazing family. Today I was off work for Memorial Day and it was my 3rd day in a row to be on the beach. We had a lot of fun playing on the beach today. Tomorrow I go back to work, and the planned activities throughout the day begin for the teens. I am pumped for this week ahead and to spend more time with the teens and getting to know them more. I am truly blessed to be where I am right now, and continuously pray for an open-mind each day!
~Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."~
Monday, May 30, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Change
Deciding on a internship was difficult for me for a while. Starting back in November/December, I began thinking about what I would want to do for my internship/last semester as an undergrad at Auburn. At first, all I wanted to do was find somewhere in Auburn to work and complete my internship credit. I had my heart set on staying in Auburn, for several reasons, and the thought of leaving to do it somewhere else just wasn't appealing to me. I just kept telling myself that I would find somewhere in Auburn that would be fun, and I wouldn't have to leave anyone that's close to me, and I would be able to stay right where I was comfortable. After many conversations with my parents, and close friends, and lots of praying, I began to look at other options. That's when I decided that I could do my internship in Florida at the Boys and Girls Club in the Teen Center and live at our beach house for the summer. The thought of being at the beach ALL SUMMER LONG sounded great! Which leads me to where I am now...
Tuesday I left Auburn, and moved down here to Florida. Never thought leaving would be this tough. Leaving and saying goodbye to everyone close to me was very difficult. On the drive down Tuesday, I did a lot of thinking and praying. I just kept asking God to give me a peace about everything, and to comfort me while I spend my summer away. I know that there is a reason for everything, and I know God has a perfect plan for my life, but because of all the mixed feelings and emotions I was having, I just prayed that He would lead me in the right direction and just prayed that me being here in Florida was the right decision. I want to embrace this experience and this opportunity that God has given me. I know that I was placed in this city, and at this job, for a reason, and I want to get the most out of it.
Wednesday was my first day at the Boys and Girls Club. When I got there, I knew I was where I was supposed to be because of the peace I felt when I arrived. I wasn't nervous at all. As soon as I got there, I had the teens coming up to me asking if I was a new worker, and asking how old I was and where I was from. I had some of the kids telling me I sounded country, telling me that I was pretty, and that I was nice. Then I had others asking me to come play basketball, or pool, or come to the computer lab with them. I knew right away that I was where I needed to be by the way the youth had latched onto me as soon as they saw me. To feel "so loved" by total strangers was exactly what I hoped for. I want to have that presence around them where they feel comfortable enough to talk to me, to want to play in the gym with me, to just sit and share stories about their day with me. Everything about my first day went as well as I had hoped it would. Today was my second day and it was just like the first. Everything went great. The other staff members are so nice and we all get along really well. I already feel so blessed to be here and working with them.
I still have several weeks left, and I know that I will have some days that are better than others, but my daily prayer is that God will just continue to bless me and that I just stay positive and continue to embrace this experience and get the most out of it as possible!
~Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."~
Tuesday I left Auburn, and moved down here to Florida. Never thought leaving would be this tough. Leaving and saying goodbye to everyone close to me was very difficult. On the drive down Tuesday, I did a lot of thinking and praying. I just kept asking God to give me a peace about everything, and to comfort me while I spend my summer away. I know that there is a reason for everything, and I know God has a perfect plan for my life, but because of all the mixed feelings and emotions I was having, I just prayed that He would lead me in the right direction and just prayed that me being here in Florida was the right decision. I want to embrace this experience and this opportunity that God has given me. I know that I was placed in this city, and at this job, for a reason, and I want to get the most out of it.
Wednesday was my first day at the Boys and Girls Club. When I got there, I knew I was where I was supposed to be because of the peace I felt when I arrived. I wasn't nervous at all. As soon as I got there, I had the teens coming up to me asking if I was a new worker, and asking how old I was and where I was from. I had some of the kids telling me I sounded country, telling me that I was pretty, and that I was nice. Then I had others asking me to come play basketball, or pool, or come to the computer lab with them. I knew right away that I was where I needed to be by the way the youth had latched onto me as soon as they saw me. To feel "so loved" by total strangers was exactly what I hoped for. I want to have that presence around them where they feel comfortable enough to talk to me, to want to play in the gym with me, to just sit and share stories about their day with me. Everything about my first day went as well as I had hoped it would. Today was my second day and it was just like the first. Everything went great. The other staff members are so nice and we all get along really well. I already feel so blessed to be here and working with them.
I still have several weeks left, and I know that I will have some days that are better than others, but my daily prayer is that God will just continue to bless me and that I just stay positive and continue to embrace this experience and get the most out of it as possible!
~Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."~
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