Summer Blues

 Hello love. It's been a while since I've updated this blog, not for lack of things to write about... It's been one of the busiest seasons of our lives, as we have watched Mariah graduate, and then her open house, and now school is officially out, and summer has begun. 

Things are weird without Mariah here with us on the weekends. Admittedly, she usually came with ideas and energy and was super talkative with lots of stories. She was your best friend, and without her, it's so quiet. You are here, but often on your phone with Jacob, or you're too tired to want to do anything. There's also a sense of loss,  or sadness, in your eyes. I thought it was because Mariah had graduated and she's transitioning to college... but it's more than that. I realize now that you're struggling to feel accepted in your circle of friends at school. Even Emma has seemed distant. 

Last week we went to our favorite place on earth: Laketown Beach. But you had spent most of the day trying to hang out with a few of your friends. When you found out that four of them went to the beach without inviting you (intentionally!?) it broke your heart. You were so sad. So we walked all the way down the beach to the end and back, and I talked with you. I told you that I knew how you felt, because I was once the kid that got left out of the parties. I was always "outside the circle, looking in." 

Then we began to recall your blessings: You have the greatest family on earth. You live in the most desirable nation in the world. You live a mile from Lake Michigan, and people would kill to have access to fresh water, which you can drink from and swim in daily. You have a great boyfriend who treats you like a queen. You are physically beautiful, in excellent health, mentally superior to 95% of your classmates, and you have a Savior who has redeemed you for His glory! On our way back from the beach you decided to flip the switch from sadness to gladness! We had to stop on the way home to get ice cream at Captain Sundae! 

Then the next day, you packed up all of your things and loaded up into a bus and headed to Camp Castaway (Young Life) in Minnesota! A fourteen hour bus ride with all of your friends, deep into the forest. Jacob was going to be joining you as well. 

I'm praying for two things: 

`1. That Jacob will choose Jesus, and grow in his newfound faith.

2. That Ambria will feel at home in the circle of trusted friends who love her. 

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