So before I close this blog, I wanted to share some of the sporadic memories and blessings of the summer, so let's take a trip down memory lane together, shall we?
- Ted Yeats and his giant sign meeting me at the airport, kissing me on the cheek before I stepped into this crazy bubble that would challenge me in so many ways
- Sharing prayer requests with Christa, Dan and Tim, praying for each other's anxieties - we were all collectively bound in uncertainty about the summer. We had no idea what we were in for :)
- Eating at Chipotle after orientation, having my photographic memory tested...I failed, but I'm pretty sure the test was biased.
- Shan, Jonah and I moving in and sharing our stories on the couch in 309
- Being convinced that Jonah didn't like me for a full 3 weeks, and then being overjoyed one morning when things changed...I still don't know what changed...but I'm so glad they did.
- Having my boss tell me that the #1 rule in this town is that you do what you have to in order to get ahead. Rule #2 is that cabbies can do whatever they want.
- The Presidents Dinner - how prestigious and honored I felt to be in charge of watching the volunteer room :)
- Stephen and I going out for a burrito randomly after work one night and having awesome conversations
- Katers, Christa and I buying matching green Georgetown hoodies
- Drew, Stephen and I going out to Uno's for dinner, talking about the "Republicans" and "Democrats" benches, deciding that, collectively, we are Nancy Pelosi. I also drank a lot of soda. Then we went to a movie...Evan Almighty? I saw so many movies this summer...Stephen's fault.
- Watching The Office on the projector in 309 and knowing that we are united by the humor of Michael Scott.
- Every time I ever ate lunch with Jenna...we must've gone out to lunch...a lot.
- Stuffing envelopes at work, papercuts galore
- Talking to angry immigration constituents who thought I was someone important
- Walking to the White House one evening, playing in the fountain outside the International Monetary Fund (until we were asked to leave), ringing the doorbell to the White House, seeing W's dog (well, we're pretty sure that's what it was...or a large squirrel)
- Going to Friendship Heights for my birthday - Jonah planning out a wonderfully beautiful dinner at the Cheesecake Factory complete with a candle and singing, Tim planning an adventure to a karaoke bar that I will haunt my dreams for years to come, loving every minute of the whole celebration
- Random birthday trip to...Wheaton, Maryland?! Who does that? Just to play guitar at Chuck Levin's: Everything in Music?!? It may have been completely crazy...but I think it's my favorite memory from the whole summer.
- Tim's random Metro connections that led to an East Wing Tour (times yelled at = 3)
- Dinner with Drew and Tim at Tortilla Coast, not sure how I ended up there...but it was fun
- How we always ended up together at Starbucks on Sunday, finishing up our Bible Studies
- Ahmed, such a good guy, and his guitar which was like manna from heaven (sacrelig)
- Dinners with Jonah, talking about God and life - some of my most treasured conversations
- Team dinners with the (room) 207 boys, we never had that popscicle eating contest, but then again we gotta have something to do when we have our reunion
- "What's THAT supposed to mean?!?"
- DELAWARE DELAWARE DELAWARE
- Karey Yeats telling us the most romantic story ever to be written on the hearts of humankind
- "You know what they say..."
- Everything Trip ever said
- My family visiting, staying at the Watergate and taking me out to dinner
- Touring the Washington Monument, Archives, and the Capitol with the 'rents and friends
- Taking long walks by myself to the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Georgetown, etc. just to try and listen to what God was trying to tell me
- Night tour of the Memorials with Zach, Drew and Dan, getting a picture with Abe himself
- Night tour of Marine Corps Memorial, having fun in Rosslyn, running through weird rows of lights, Smeltzer and his camera, the mean Burger King lady who squashed Dan's milkshake hopes
- All the lilies, they were everywhere and gorgeous (Song of Sol. 2:2)
- Crying to Christa, Joy, Jonah, Amy and Tara and being comforted without reservation
- Beautiful roses from secret admirers, though I know who mine was from ;)
- Roommate talks that lasted well into the morning hours
- Pentagon tour, seeing the 9/11 Memorial, everything becoming very real
- Wearing flip flops everyday at work
- Dinner at Buca's, yelling all the way down the table, using our Italian manners
- Learning to love the Metro, beginning to hate escalators
- Jonah throwing herself in the way of the doors on the Metro one morning, sacrificing herself in order to maintain the continuity of the group
- Smeltzer pulling a Superman at the Dunn-Loring Metro stop, halting the train by sheer demonstation of strength
- Seeing how God brought each of these people into my life for a reason, sometimes for many reasons, and understanding how He uses them to show me His love
- Hearing God talk to me as though He were as close as my own heart
- Having the privilege to love people, especially when my heart breaks for them
- Having the privilege of sharing Truth with many and having God use me as an instrument of His will in their lives
- Being completely open and honest with others, and never having to feel ashamed of wanting to love people
- Weeping almost the whole flight home, thinking about all God has taught me and how He has used others to teach me as well, overflowing with thankfulness and praise
To my beloved teammates - I miss you already. Before I arrived in DC this summer, I asked God to help me to be open with all of you, regardless of the outcome. He has proven faithful once again! Guarding your heart is important, yes, but I don't want it to ever stop me from moving toward others in love. And it hurts not having you guys here with me right now - I feel like I've given pieces of my heart away. And some would say that's dangerous and reckless, but it is where I believe God has called me to be at this point in my life.
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." ~ Romans 12:9-11
I have so much hope for you in how God will lead you for the rest of your lives. You are all very special to me, and I will treasure those pieces of you that I've acquired over the summer. Thank you so very much for leading when it was difficult and loving when it was most needed. God's goodness shines through all of you - thank you for offering up your lives to serve Him, thereby laying down your lives for your brothers and sisters.
See you in Stephen's cube in a year or two :) And I'll bring the popscicles.
I love you guys.
Jess