Footprints on my Heart <3

"Some people come into our lives
and quickly go. Some stay for a while,
leave footprints on our hearts,
and we are never, ever the same.
~Flavia Weedn"

I am back from California, and can't begin to say how much fun I had! I was able to do so much in the short time I had there and made so many great memories:) I was able to work in the Capitol Ministries National office for two days, and it was really nice to get to meet everyone there and learn some of the programs I will need to know how to use in order to be able to help my dad.

Then I went to the ATI Regional Conference there in Sacramento. I got to see so many old friends(Britton, Bri, Andrew, Kitty, Rachel, Elizabeth, Melinda, Rob, Janny, Mr. Bell, Bethany, and many others!), it was so awesome to be able to catch up a little with all of them. The week flew by, and then on the closing night (Fri.) I went with Sarah's family to the Boy Scout camp (where they had been holding ALERT cadets all week) to the staff dinner they were having there. It was a nice time of getting to eat, play ultimate, and hang out with old, and new, friends:)

At the Boy Scout camp Fri. night

(Hannah and I)

After the conference was over I got to enjoy a packed week with the Ramey family. They were awesome hosts, and made my time with them so special and fun! On Saturday they took me up to Lake Tahoe and it was so gorgeous, we grilled out hamburgers and went on a bike ride down to the lake. That night we were also able to make it to a street fair in a little town near them, Colfax, CA.

The Rameys
Daniel, David, Hannah, Mr. and Mrs. Ramey, and Sarah

Me, Hannah and Sarah

Sarah and I in our matching Chicago shirts:)

Lake Tahoe

The street fair in Colfax

On Sunday, after church, we packed up and went to a nearby lake with their houseboat. A bunch of people from their church came and we played volley ball and ultimate frisbee late into the evening.

Playing volleyball by the lake. . .

Sarah, looking like a little orphan child in her wet and sandy swimsuit cover-up:)

Hannah

We stayed on the boat for two nights, and on Monday we spent the day swimming, playing volleyball, canoeing, having a mud fight, and swinging from these awesome rope swings someone had hung from the trees.

We could lay on the top deck of the boat and look at the stars when we went to bed each night. . . it was so beautiful!

On the boat

Sunburnt!

On Wednesday morning Sarah and Hannah and I rode our bikes down the mountain (in 105 degree weather, we thought we were going to die:) to this little place called Happy Apple Kitchen to have brunch. It was so adorable! It is family owned and they had some of the best home cooked food I've tasted in a long time! They grow all their own apples and peaches and they make homemade apple juice, pies and all sorts of yummy stuff, and the Rameys are actually their suppliers for all the eggs they use. We had yummy peach shakes made with fresh peaches, it was one of the best things I've ever tasted:)

Then, that afternoon we went to a nearby river that was amazing, I've never seen anything like it! I wish I had been able to take my camera with me so I could show you pictures but I was afraid it would get wet so I didn't:( We had a fun afternoon going "spelunking" in this long tunnel/cave they had blown through the mountain, and then swimming and playing in the river. I managed to get several large bruises in the process of it all but still had tons of fun!

I guess I should also mention that the Ramey's house/land was so awesome! They have turkeys, chickens, a lamb, 3 cows, a dog, a cat, and they grow all kinds of fruits and vegetables. . .pretty much my dream world:) I had told Hannah that some time while I was there I wanted to learn how to milk the cow (I had never done that before:), so Thursday morning she woke me up early and I go to help milk the cow, it was amazing!!!

Me, milking. . .*sigh of delight*

That night Sarah, Hannah, Esther (Sarah's older sister), and I got all dressed up and went out to dinner. We had so much fun! That was probably one of the most fun times I had while I was there.

Esther, Me, Sarah, Hannah

On my trip home I had a long layover in Denver so I was able to get together with a bunch of old friends for a little while.

Brittany, Sean, Krista, Matt, Siobhan, Me, Jaquie.

My time in Cali was totally amazing and I am already looking forward to my next visit, whenever that may be!

I love you Sarah!!!

"Do not be dismayed at goodbyes, a farewell is necessary before you can meet again and meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends." ~Richard Bach