Happy Birthday Carolyn!!

Today is my best friends 24th birthday. What a day. We have been friends for about 12years and last night jokingly I told her I was going to write her a book on all the awkward moments in life we have gone through and I was basically threatened not to post any pictures of our youth. Because, it is her birthday I won't, but beware Carl the day is coming when I will.


We have to give thanks to our brothers, because of them we got to be friends...


We have had a lot of goofy times together, but some that no matter how old I get I will never forget:

-gram running the stop signs
-riding the bike through the water up to our waste
-you stopping traffic on broadway to let me cross the street
-eating for an hour straight in the kitchen
-dawn's workouts ( i have never been so fit)
-talking for hours on the phone
-"the bowl" cut
-running into the tree
-letters, letters, and more letters
-trying to get your engraved message out of the cubby hole
-playing sisters in the sms christmas play
-riding your bike 7 miles to my house

As you got older I saw you become a great aunt to your nephews, an amazing sister, and daughter and one of the fiercest jesus warriors out there. I hope when I finally grow up I have alittle bit of you in me. You rock, Carl!!



As we have gotten older many people think it is crazy we are still such great friends, but I am not surprised at all. We graduated high school, where we were late to our own graduation practice and went to different schools, but we still talked, and talked, and talked! Some things never change. As we got older we started traveling (coming up with crazy ways to make money. i.e ironing pillow cases and the spa)...woohoo....oh our travels







NY, Louisiana, Mississippi, Colorado road trip, Vegas & Florida.....however one of the best traveling we ever did was.....IH 35







College was one of the funnest times in my life and I am fairly certain it was because we lived so close and got to hang out and go through the "college" life together.

Now it wasn't all happy times we have been there through many of life's struggles and heartaches and I know we will always be. Thank goodness for speed dial and the silence that is okay, because we just understand.

Even though we are both "adults" now it feels like we are still the same twelve year old girls who constantly got lost, got in trouble for being loud in the kithen, and who still talk till gosh knows what time. I hope these things never change.Carolyn, I can't imagine me without you. Who would be number 4 on the speed dial. Sorry the units have to come in before. I can't wait till we get to be little old ladies on the front porch laughing and giggling like we always have. Happy Birthday Dear Friend and many many more.

Hey It's Okay

It has been a very long time since my last post and I must confess alot has happened in my life. All good! So, I figured with my long absence I would start off with one of my favorite editorials from one of my favorite magazines....The editorial is called Hey It's Okayand basically all it is is things that are ok...even if others don't agree or maybe it is taboo. So with no further ado, here is my


Hey It's Okay

to have a diet coke and shortly there after need a coffee
to "go off of the radar" for a few hours
to make decisions based on your heart and gut and not on brains and logic
to wonder if college is really all it is cracked up to be
to believe the real learning happens in everyday life
to believe in mr. right, prince charming, big, or the fairy tale man 
to not want to get out of your bed no matter what the time

Adirondacks

These are pictures from our amazing canoe trip. We spent three days in the
Adirondacks. It was completely breathtaking. I had the most amazing time with these boys.

Canoeing to campsite---3 hours
Number of campers--18
Numbers of counselors--20
Number of days in God's country---3
Hanging out with the most amazing kids in the world.....priceless

Do you hear what I hear?

au·tism –noun
1. Psychiatry. a pervasive developmental disorder of children, characterized by impaired communication, excessive rigidity, and emotional detachment.
2. a tendency to view life in terms of one's own needs and desires

By the dictionary standards this is what autism is and what it looks like. A child who doesn't talk or does not hug or love, but to me this is what autism looks like. A singalong to a Disney song, because they know all the words. It is a high five or a screech of excitement, because they have made their bed or caught a ball. It is seeing you in a crowd and running up to you and nearly knocking you over because that is how they show you love. It is grabbing your hand and holding on for dear life, because that is their way of saying I love you and I am glad you are here. Words are becoming superficial. Expressions and hand movements are becoming key. A moment in which I have realized that just because I can talk does not necessarily mean I am saying anything. Just because I can say I love you when it is the right time does not mean as much as that hug at the end of the day or that high five when something is accomplished. The dictionary defines what autism is, but these kids are breaking those definitions and they are talking and they are loving. Are we listening? Are we ready for everything they know? We have so much to learn and all we have to do is watch and enjoy the small things that deserve big applause.

these are just a few pictures of my camp experience thus far. some of them are sideways and i really don't know what is going on with that, but i figured my life is out of control why can't my pictures be as well. love to all. maggie

Where I am living for the next 6 weeks....yes, it is indeed a tent.

A teambuilding exercise on the sunshine towers followed by a 30 foot jump. The bravest thing I have ever done in my life.

Woodstock. One of the coolest places I have been. Peace and love were flowing everywhere.
One of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. This was on the last night we had with our first session kids. We were all sitting outside talking about our last two weeks and we had the most amazing background.
Hey everyone. Things are well up in Rhinebeck. The first session has already ended and we are on a day intercession. A much needed intercession. This is one of the most trying experiences of my life. 18 hour days followed by little sleep just to get up and do it everyday, however it is absolutely worth it when you see the kids. Most of our kids are non verbal and that proves to be really heart wrenching and emotionally trying, because you want them to talk to you so bad. It is amazing though how they communicate to you and how they let you know how they feel. Never in my life have I felt that this is where I belong. My life and my meaning in life has taken a whole new turn.
I hope everything is going well wherever you are. I can't wait to hear from everyone.

Love,
Maggie

New York, Baby

Hey guys!!! So, I have made it to NY. It is absolutely beautiful up here and wonderful weather. I can't wait for the kids. Training is going great. Everyone is awesome and best of all I live in a TENT!!! The reception for cell phones is really bad, but we have the internet. So I will try and post pictures and keep people updated.

Love to Texas,
Maggie