A Year in review...

As 2009 is only hours away, I can't help but think of this past year and all that has happened in my life:

January:
Welcome 2008! The day after New Years I have to tavel back up north to Word of Life for the Winter Semester, and with the Winter semester comes SnowCamp: 8 eight weekends of no sleep, counseling teenagers ages 12-18, working outside for 40 hours in the snow and cold and on top of that, 20 hours of school every week, studying, homework and study hours....did I mention lack of sleep?....even though this seems very overwhelming, Winter semester was one of my favorites! people always say bible college students get too comfy in their surroundings but this bible college does the exact opposite during the winter semester. For 6 out of the 8 weekends I was an outdoor supervisor and the other 2 I counseled. I became good friends with a lot of my fellow classmates and Snowcamp brought us all closer as a team and as a family of God. It was at the end of January where I was one of the first to get the flu...it took me almost a month to finally get totally better.

February:
SnowCamp rolls on and my flu is just starting to disappear. The Giants go to the Superbowl and beat the "perfect regular season" Patriots. A lot of us WOLBI students watched the game on a projector in the Annex...good times...Things are going great on the Mega Tubehill....a few weeks before the end of camp, we supervisors decide to build a jump in between turn 2,3, and 4, which we affectionately call the Mega Jump....we had all gone off of it, even me, except one. we all told her she could do it and that it was fun, so she went for it....and ended up going to the hospital for a neck injury. Poor Danielle, and she was on the Collegians and they were heading for Florida for JBTM, the next day...Fortunately she recovered and was able to participate in the Easter porduction.

March:
The first weekend in March was the last weekend for Snowcamp...it was an amazing camp season...we saw 293 decisions made for Christ and hundreds, i think over a thosand, rededications....after snowcamp was over, we had one more week before going home for spring break. It was so good to relax after a busy semester. My birthday was on the 22nd...I turned 19. My Mom, Grandma, my sister and I went to a skating show like we do every year. that year a lot of my favorite skaters were there so it was extra amazing! After 10 or so days, its time to go back up to WOLBI. There's still alot of snow on the ground but you can feel spring coming...

April:
The snow begins to significantly melt and Schroon Lake begins to rise...a lot! This semester I am placed on a Ministry Team. Some of the things I did with my team was help at the Teens Involved Regionals, help out at a Father/Son Retreat on Campus, and then filled in for missing people in food services for a week.

May:
The snow is gone! Green is everywhere now! Its warming up and people are spending their free time or eating their meals outside. One weekend we have Campus Days and some of my FCG friends come! The last weekend in May is the Founders Conference. Harry Bollback, Harold Reimer, and more are present to help celebrate those who helped start WOL. Don Lough is put into the WOL Hall of Fame. Up on the stage with him is his oldest daughter, Alyssa. I had no idea that next month, I would become her discipler....The last big event of the WOLBI academic year is the Spring Banquet. It was so much fun to dress in my bridesmaids dress that i wore for Laura's wedding. During summer break, I see my cousin Scott get married to Ethel.

June:
After summer break, the summer camping season begins and so does all of the WOLBI student's "Final Exam". Of course, my desination for the summer is the Family Campground! where else?!...I, along with 3 others, am a Food Prep supervisor. The first few weeks were really rough, but after a while, the newbies began to get the hang of it. On top of being a supervisor and a discipler, I am also given the privilege of being a small group leader for the monday night meeting for the staff....Being these 3 different thing took me out of my comfort zone, but I knew it was good for me and it helped me grow spiritually.

July:
Happy Fourth of July. Schroon Lake hosts their annual 4th of July bash and all of us FCGers go to see the concert on the beach and of course, fireworks, and we all gave eachother firework personalities. Camping season goes on, and some days are better than others. It's at this point where I begin rethinking about going to 2nd year and the culinary program. The Staff has a dodgeball competition on the tennis courts. I find myself on the team called "The Porch Players". we're all dressed up in 80s garb and get this, we actually win the entire competition! Me and a bunch of my friends go to my house on our day off and relax and watch Alaadin and old staff videos...and of course, we went to Wal-mart! thats where everyone goes on their day off!

August:
Camp is almost over and graduation is closing upon all of us WOLBI students. The Staff Banquet this summer is 50s themed so all of us scramble around trying to put together costumes...thats where the Share Shop comes in! The banquet is a success and we all have a blast! There are pictures of it and the dodgeball competition on my facebook page. August 16th-Camp Ends. We say goodbye to eachother, mostly the STCers who leave that very day. its a sad day for me because I say goodbye to some of my closest friends who I wont see for a year and some, maybe never again.
The next day, I and my fellow classmates graduate. I should be estatic, but I have a cold and all I want to do after the ceremony is go home...now, don't get me wrong, I was happy that day, but when your all congested and keep blowing your nose every 10 minutes, you just want to go home. Finally, I'm home and a WOLBI graduate but I'm only home for a few days and then we're off to Gettysburg, PA. After the family trip, I start the next Monday working at the local library.

September:
As this month came, I couldnt help but think of all the students that would be traveling to WOLBI for either 1st year or 2nd year. I was still thinking about 2nd year at this time but I never bit the bullet and didnt decide in time. Laura's birthday was on the 5th. She turned 24. Grandma W. also celebrated her birthday this month as well. Dave started his Junior year. I'm enjoying working at the library. It's now that I decide to at least go back to the FCG for next summer.

October:
Many many birthday this month: my Dad, Grandpa W., Uncle Norm, Renee, Aunt Mar (I think), and now baby Ethan. I start driving to and from church on Sundays. Fall has started and we are able to go apple picking once. I help Mom make apple pies and still think about the culinary program.

November:
Me and Mom go to the United Tour that Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman performed at. Amazing! Me and Bethany Opalka hang out one Sunday and we go see Fireproof....amazing (x2)!!....I'm loving my job at the library and love the ladies I work with. They are all so funny! I finally decide that I want to go back to WOL for 2nd year and try to get into the culinary program up there!!!!! Me, Laura, Nick, Mike and Dave go to the Troy Turkey Trot. They ran but I just watched with Lauren, Mrs. Marchese, and Mr. Marchese. got some good pictures of them! me and my family spend thanksgiving at our house. Grandma and Grandpa Wallace come as so Sarah and Jeremy with Landon. It was great food and fellowship and after the meal we all looked at Black Friday deals from the paper. me and Laura go out on Black Friday, and I get lots of shopping done.

December:
Merry Christmas! what a month! busy busy busy with work parties and family parties and then of course, we all got slowed down by the Ice Storm of 2008. thanks to NYSEG for restoring the power! the ice storm showed us whats important, especially at this time of year: Family.....

2008 was crazy but it was a growing year for me, mostly spiritually.....I hope that 2009 will be even better than 2008, and I pray that all of you will have a happy and healthy new year....GOD BLESS!