You know, I feel like this is something that you would always say at the end of every summer, but who cares, I’m going to say it anyways.
This was the best summer ever.
And yes, it’s a repetitive thing to hear I feel like, but just having those two months away from school, can do a lot. School is important, and we need it to learn things, but summer is a great time for that too. We aren’t learning in a classroom, therefore, we are learning things about the things around us constantly, well that’s how it is for me at least. Honestly, I love summer as I am sure all of you do too, but I have been blessed by this summer in particular for more reasons then just one.
Our family kicked off summer with a weekend trip to Dallas, where we stayed at a hotel with a water resort. It was super fun to just relax with my family and have a blast together. Even though it was so hot, I mean what would you expect from Texas, we still made the most of every moment we had together. Whether that was going on the 1 mile art walk, getting hit by firework debris, or going to mass at this really cool little church, we had the best of times as a family. Together.
After a trip to the DMV with no computer problems this time, hours of singing, and adventure walks to the park, it came time for Prayer and Action. I was really blessed to be able to attend this summer as I had only heard amazing things about it before. That week, I truly learned so much more as to what it truly meant to serve others and be able to see the impact it made in their life. Also, with doing activities such as saying the rosary, daily mass, Collatio, deep talks, adoration, and night prayer, I felt that I really grew in relationship with the Lord. Just having that time everyday I was there to truly reflect on my life, and grow closer to Him ultimately, was just an amazing thing that I was very thankful to get to be able to experience.
As the summer continued by so fast, I hit what my parents would call “my superbowl month.” I mean honestly though, they weren’t wrong it was about to begin and I couldn’t wait.
July started off with my mom, sister, and I going on a day trip (our birthday present) to Chicago to see Hamilton. We were so blessed to be able to go, and it was one of the best things I have ever seen. The cast musical abilities were outstanding and I may or may not have cried. But truly just spending that day with the two of them was really fun, and a great bonding time.
The day we got back, we went straight into garage sale mode. The Gotta Have Hope garage sale has become such an important part of my life, and as this summer marked our 5th time being there, I was so pumped. That meant we got to see our best friends again, and when I saw them, no joke, I ran down the hallway as fast as I could. Being with them and so many others that feel so much like family to me made for an incredible two days, and I left wanting it to never end.
The next weekend, we had family camp which was a blast this year as well. We made our trip out to the train bridge again, had another soccer game, but most importantly we grew closer as a family and with the other families there as well. Whether that was through endless rounds of HeartAce pickup, taking the dare of eating the kiwi snow cone, good conversation, singing songs like crazy, laughing more in bible study then actually contributing, or all being united in the love of the Lord, we all benefited in our own unique way from the time.
I was home for a few more days, before I left again for camp. Yes, I already wrote about camp. You must be thinking, what else could she possibly need to say after 10 full pages. Well the answer to that is so much more, but the time I spent there and all the different emotions I felt were completely indescribable. I could never explain in words just how much it means that I have been so blessed with the opportunity to be able to go to camp. I could sit here and list everything that this place has helped me to understand and examples of it in my life, but I will spare that from you because that is very offtopic. But what I can tell you for sure, is that even though my camp experience was different that I would have planned it to go this summer, God had the plan for it all along. Everything that happened was all apart of His book, the story He has written uniquely for me. And whether or not I wanted it to occur or not, it was going to anyway, and some of the best friendships, and memories have come out of it honestly. I thank God everyday for the blessing of this camp, and the immense impact in has made on me and so many others. I am just one person that feels this way about camp. Just one. There are so many more out there, and being able to be apart of it is amazing. There is truly no way to put it into words. Camp is incredible and is changing hearts and lives as it continues to do so to mine every summer, but being there this summer in particular was something I needed more I than I was aware of.
Yesterday, ending out the summer we were going to watch the meteor shower, and were so excited. After driving around trying to find somewhere to look at the sky we finally stopped and laid there in the grass staring at the sky. It was at that moment when I really soaked in everything from this summer. Looking directly up at only one element of all the truth, beauty, and goodness the Lord has placed in our daily lives I was just in awe and in complete realization. The Lord had a grand plan for me this summer. He wanted to show me His abounding and infinite love. He wanted to show me that He was always there in every moment and never ceases in exist. He wanted to show me that no matter what is going on, there is always good. He wanted to show me that there are good people surrounding me, and it’s not always easy to find them right away. He wanted to show me that I am His and am I beautiful daughter of the King. Staring up at the sky tonight experiencing the last hours of my summer, He was ultimately showing me the person I am. The person He created me to be. To be me, Be myself because I was created in that way for a reason, a purpose. Not to ultimately become photocopies of one another, but to live out my call. Not someone else’s. He created me for a reason just as He did you too. He was showing me how important I am. How important it is that I am alive. I am here for a reason, as everyone else is here on this earth. I have a purpose, a mission, a life of sainthood to live out in His holy name just as you do. Looking up, I didn’t see the littleness I was, I saw how big I was and how important we all our to the Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Even though summer is over now for me and QT 49 cent ice cream cones will be ending soon, I have many memories to hold on to from another wondrous two months. It’s off to a brand new adventure called high school. It will be a change, for sure, but I cannot wait to write to you about the many new things I experience. So here’s to a new adventure, seeking Him in every moment.
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Pray for Us.
-Anna Zacharias
Leave a Reply