lasts.

Yesterday was a day of lasts, but also of new beginnings, I guess.
It started in the morning when I attended The INN's annual brunch for graduating seniors. (The INN is a Christian ministry directed towards college students). There, we had an awesome brunch, all paid for by The INN. Along with the food, Jim, the director of The INN, talked to us about all the wonderful and amazing things which we, as graduating college seniors, will accomplish someday....haha.
Actually....he told us that he wanted to be honest with us about what is to come in life. He said that some of us will find life to be relatively positive, yet some of us will find it to be quite difficult. He said that as we grow and somewhat figure out our paths, there will be moments of complete pain and moments of complete beauty. He told us to be excited for what is to come, and to trust in the Lord's plan for us. It's not like we can do anything to change it anyway....so mine as well trust that it will all work out, right? It was a great breakfast, but it was the start to a day which I knew would be a little hard to get through.
After the brunch, my sister Steph, some of my roommates and I headed off to a lake nearby where some of us were baptized. It was an amazing moment. I was happy to have experienced being baptized again, (I was also baptized when I was a baby) and to know that this time, it was my choice (and I can actually remember this one :). I was able to be in the water with Steph while she was baptized and vis versa. It was a beautiful sunny day, and i felt God's love and light shining down on us, happy that we were making the decision to re-dedicate and re-commit our lives to Christ with a public declaration in front of his children, our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

Right before I got dunked :)  Steph on my right side and Jim, Director of The INN, on my left

 

Right before Steph got dunked :)  (Talia, her best friend and I at her side)

 

Right after Steph and I were baptized. Smiles all around :)

 

Two of my very best friends who were also baptized. Maddie (left), Danielle (middle) 

After the baptisms, Stephanie dropped me back off at my house and I hugged her for the last time this summer. In a few days, she is off to Chicago for the summer for an internship with a mission organization called "Experience Missions." I am so proud of her; but I will miss her and our lazy summer nights sitting out on the deck under the stars or watching Jane Austen movies until we're blue in the face. ;)
After our goodbyes, I ran home and showered off the lake water and went for the last time over to the house where I babysit 3 of the most awesome boys ever. At the beginning of my junior year, I began watching them on a pretty regular basis. They are now 3, 6 and 8 and I would give anything to someday have 3 boys just like them.
When I put them to sleep for the very last time, the 3 year old, Zack, kissed me on the cheek and said "night night." He is way too cute, and also too young to realize that I probably wouldn't be coming back for a long time. The 6 year old, Nick (whom I bonded with the most over these last 2 years...I think it was the middle child thing :) wrapped his arms and legs around me and wouldn't let me go. I felt overwhelmed with happiness yet sadness at the same time. I will sure miss his hugs and all the times he would come running to answer the door when I arrived. Jacob, the 8 year old is kinda the "cool kid," so he just said, "goodnight" (though he knew full well this was my last time watching them). It's ok though, his parents said he would remember me and probably ask about me in the future. ;)

 

Our "now everyone smile" picture (Nick (6) on the left, Zach (3) in the middle, Jacob (8) on the right)

 

Our "ok now a goofy picture" picture. I told their parents that I don't usually hold their youngest child like this

As I drove home that night after babysitting, I was listening to a single which Coldplay recently released, titled "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall." Of course I love any and all songs Coldplay makes and I was semi rocking out in my car. But the strangest thing happened. It's almost like one minute I was rocking out and loving my music, then the next minute, I just burst into tears. I cannot remember the last time I cried this hard. For about 5 minutes, tears were pouring down my cheeks. I think it was all just really hitting me that the INN would no longer be a part of my life, that I wouldn't see or be able to talk face to face with my little sister for a long time, that it could be years before I ever see these boys again, and that this would be the last Saturday night where I would be driving back home to a house full of my best friends.
Every good thing has to come to an end I guess.
But I have faith that more good things are to come.
T minus 6 days until graduation.

Zack and I :)

Nick and I :) 

Jacob and I :)