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An Open Letter To My Home Church

-High School Retreats, Girls Bible Studies, Bordines, Worship Services, Huddles, Girls Retreat, and Wyoming Mission Trip-

Emily Wagner

Apr 27, 2017

General Contributor

Dear Westover,

THANK YOU. Thank you for being the constant and support system in my life for the past 8 years. Through the ups and downs the people in this church community gave me support, hugs, conversations, and guidance. You were way more than a church to me, you were my safe place. You led me to understand my faith and express it without fear. You brought me to know people who love God with all their hearts and who constantly showed me the unconditional love of God. Thank you Westover for giving me Huddles, without Wednesday nights there is no way I would have made it through the struggles life threw at me. To my huddle leaders and the people in my huddle: y'all will never understand how much you all shaped my life. You guys helped me find my self worth and made me feel like I had a purpose. Through the lessons we were taught, huddle retreats, and late night talks in our huddle room I knew I was never alone in this world. Huddles changed me for the better and is something I will always cherish. Thank you Westover for introducing me to what I now call my favorite place aka Lander, Wyoming. The work we did there and the nature we saw made me fall in love with the world again. Wyoming is a place where I am the happiest; the memories I made there are beyond my favorite. That trip changed my life and is something that can never be replaced. Thank you Westover for giving me a youth group that was full of my best friends. All the van rides and trips we went on together will never be forgotten. I love this youth group and this church more than anything in the world. THANK YOU

To the kids currently in youth group... Do not take this for granted. These are some of the best times in your life, these are the moments you will never get back, and these are the friendships that will last you a life time. Do everything, go to everything. Homework isn't an excuse. Once you graduate and move to college, it will never be the same. Yes when you visit people will be there with open arms ready to hear all about your life (the good and the bad).... but you won't get the inside jokes everyone seems to think is hilarious, if the youth group has a new favorite song chances are you won't know it. But nevertheless this church will always be your home.

Westover you are amazing and I pray you are able to touch and change many more lives.

With all the love in the world,

a former member of the youth group.

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An Open Letter To My Home Church

​-High School Retreats, Girls Bible Studies, Bordines, Worship Services, Huddles, Girls Retreat, and Wyoming Mission Trip​-

Subscribe to our Newsletter

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

1. You feel like an elder.

2. You may feel lonely.

3. Senioritis is more real than ever.

4. You may feel a little down sometimes.

5. Fear of missing out won't be as real.

6. You are a college pro.

7. You'll have more free time.

8. You're happy you're still in school.

9. You feel like a guru.

10. You continue to grow.

"I don't want to do things. I want to do not things."

1. When your advisor tells you that you should declare a major soon.

2. Seeing the lost and confused freshmen and remembering that was you a short year ago, and now being grateful you know the ins and outs of the campus.

3. Going to the involvement fair to sign up for more clubs knowing that you are already too involved.

4. When you actually do the reading required for the first class.

5. Seeing your friends for the first time since last semester.

6. When you're already drowning in homework during syllabus week.

7. Realizing you don't have the same excitement for classes as you did as a freshman.

8. Going home and seeing people from high school gets weirder the older you get.

9. You've already established your de-stress routine.

10. Wondering where all the new freshman came from.

11. But ultimately being glad that you have a lot more knowledge than you did a year ago.

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Exams are worth way more than participation points

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Moms are super heroes dressed in yesterday's clothing and they deserve an award for that.

1. For all of the endless hugs and kisses you always seem to smother me in.

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3. For teaching me some of the best "mom dance moves"

4. For pushing through all of the sleepless nights and still being super mom.

5. For not killing me every time you found me cutting my own bangs.

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9 For giving us a taste of our own medicine when we needed it.

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12. For being the best host to all of the weird friends I would bring over.

13. And for standing up for me when those weird friends stabbed me in the back.

14. For listening when I needed to vent and always giving the best advice possible.

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16. For answering every single phone call and the millions of questions that I always have.

17. For letting me form my own identity and encouraging me along the way.

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19. For rolling the windows down and singing along to the music with me.

20. And for being the best mom possible. I love you!

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