My Other Girls.

It may just be me, but when I drive by wrought iron fenced property while driving to and from youth conference, and notice there are giant walrus and rhinos....

it becomes a necessity to stop and see what it's all about, and what kind of mischief I can create with them and my camera.

It's something you never grow out of I guess... I'm seriously wishing I had the picture of my high school friends when we wore pioneer bonnets to play pinball at the local movie theater... I'm going to have to dig that out now and add it.

This is also what happens when you have a few kindred spirit young women in you car when you decide that stop is necessary.

We pulled in and discovered it was an art museum, and we took a minute to appreciate the art, without setting a single foot inside the building.

 

As Mik would say, it just isn't youth conference until you get kicked in the butt by a rhino.

As I would say, "tough love, Mik."

You know when you're in a church meeting and a leader gets up and says something to the affect that they love everyone.  And you think, um hum, with a roll of your eyes.

Well I'm not going to say I love everyone.

But I am going to say that I love these girls.  The time spent with them has been a blast.  I've loved watching them figure out what to do with their lives, and listening to their high school stories.

I love that I got to hang out with Ballison, who's name is not Ballison, just one more time before she jets off to be a missionary in Texas.

And to listen to Gail's enthusiasm of life before she heads off to dance at college.

And to grow a little bit closer to Mik who is going to rock her senior year of high school.  I still get one more year with her and I'm thankful for that.

I wish I could have had them all there with me on those statues, laughing our heads off. Sariah, Whitney, Malone, Cassie, Toree, Mia, and Izzy who isn't mine yet, but will be soon.  And Bryanna who already grew up on me.

They make me feel shiny and happy.

I wish I could tell them how much they better my life, but I don't think I'll ever be able to express it well enough.  So for now I'll just continue to listen to their stories about school, and watch them in their talents and as they make grown up choices with their lives as they graduate.

I'll keep learning the gospel with them and cheering them on in life.

Always I'll be cheering them on in life.

And yes, I love each one of them.

bryanna and ballison

Happy birthday to Bryanna today.

And happy graduation to her too.

Because she's my girl and I love her guts.  She's pretty amazing.

You know who else is pretty amazing and also my girl?

Ballison. 

Ballison who's name really isn't Ballison, but since she calls me Bethany and my name isn't really Bethany... well, there we have it.

Ballison who dunks me in freezing cold rivers.

Bryanna who takes pictures of me that shouldn't be posted on facebook... and then are.

Ballison who falls asleep when I'm breaking down the story of Daniel in the lions den.

Bryanna who dresses up like a 70 year old lady and dances with me.

Ballison who is silly with me.

Bryanna who is silly with me.

Ballison who makes me smile.

Bryanna who makes me smile.

Happy graduation to Ballison too.

Even though I didn't get very good pictures of her.



Ballison who said I should blog about her today so I did.

Bryanna who didn't say I should blog about her today, but I did anyway.

I'm sure going to miss having these girls around.  But they're growing up and becoming big people.   

And the world will be better for having them in it.