This past week at our church was our VBS week. It was a lot of fun as usual, but it really got me to thinking...thinking about years past. Just to warn you...I am about to go down memory lane here. Watching the youth working in VBS, most of which were in pre-school when I was in the youth group, really got me reminiscing on when I was in the youth group years ago.
We had some of the best times and most of my favorite memories from middle school and high school involve the youth group. I made some lasting friendships too! In fact, my very best friend, Jillian and I became friends when her family started coming to the church in 2002 I believe. I was going in to 8th grade and she was going in to 10th grade. We, to this day, are still best friends! I spent summers pretty much living at her house! We were even college roommates my first year of college! The memories I have of the time spent with Jillian are some of the best and I am so thankful for East Gadsden Baptist and God for bringing us together, from her "grandma car", to camp-outs in her backyard, to being college roommates, to her wedding, to the birth of her baby boy and soon the birth of her baby girl, and in just a few short months to my wedding...just to name a few! I cannot list all the memories I have of Jillian..it would literally take me years!
Watching those girls in the youth group now made me smile. Just thinking about all the memories I had of youth trips, VBS, and just hanging out after church and on the weekends while watching those girls really warmed my heart. I sincerely hope those girls make some awesome memories with each other like I did when I was in the youth group!
Not only did memories of my best friend start flooding into my mind, but memories of boys in the youth group also. Watching those young girls and boys flirting with each other also made me smile. I met my first serious boyfriend in the youth group. I am now engaged to that boy. :-) Kip and I grew up in church together but never really hung out, mainly because he was younger than me. He didn't do a lot with the youth at our church until Bro. Allen came in 2005. Not long after Bro. Allen came, Kip and I started talking more and more. Only a few months after Bro. Allen came, Kip and I started dating! Now, we are about to get married and start a family! I am beyond thankful for our youth group and Bro. Allen and most importantly, God, for bringing Kip and I together. It is awesome to be marrying someone I have grown up with at church. We have made some awesome memories together and traveled many places on youth choir trips. What awesome memories those are!!
I hope that each and every one of those boys and girls in the East Gadsden Baptist youth group make such great memories like I did that they will carry around with them as long as they live. I hope they make lasting friendships and even relationships that lead to marriage like I did. It is awesome to see these kids growing up and making those lasting friendships and relationships. It really is one of the best times in life and I hope and pray that they stay on the right track and have Godly friendships and relationships all throughout their schooling, even college!
What awesome memories I carry with me everyday of youth trips, friendships, and relationships from my youth group!
Until Next Time,
