Dear Blair, Lindsey, and my youth group:

Thank you.

Thank you for welcoming me into your youth group with open arms and for basically saving my life without truly knowing you did so.

Thank you for all the trips, laughs, prayers, and fun times we have had.

I can’t express how blessed I am to know such amazing people. Everyone I have met through FBI has been more than a kind spirit to hang out with every Wednesday and Sunday and days between. One of my favorite memories are by far the trips we have been on. Getting to grow closer with lovers of Christ and making new memories are always going to carry on with me in my years to come.

And how could I forget the first trip I went on with y’all, Ski Trip 2014. (or 15?) We had a blast, filled with vomit, bloody noses, falling in ditches, and running into signs. No matter what, everyone kept a huge smile on their face and truly showed me how amazing the youth group was. We read through one of my now favorite lessons, what is the gospel? “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

TO THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS:

There are no words I can use to describe how much I love y’all and will always love y’all. We have been through a lot of tears, laughs, falls, advice, boys, and finding ourselves. I wouldn’t give up or change the past 2 or more years for anything. I have found true friends that will last me forever.

I have been through two Easters with y'all...

Countless roadtrips, lock-ins, there are too many things to count but all of them hold a special place in my heart.

TO THE PERSON WHO HAS LOVED ME THROUGH MY PHASES, PUSHED ME TO GO TO CHURCH, AND HAS NEVER GIVEN UP ON ME:

Sarah Michelle Smith, Ms. Salt Packet, DJ Fuller, the mom to my toddler alter ego, I could never begin to thank you enough or repay you for how loving, caring, and persistent you have been in the past almost 5 years of knowing you. We have had our share of bratty moments where we want to kill each other, but you will always be one of my realest and truest friends. I hate being serious, so you better appreciate this…just kidding. But not really. Thanks for not leaving me when I had sharpie eyebrows, and for inviting me to Hi-Wire at our dance pictures week. God had a huge plan for me and for us, and I am so blessed to know you.

Sometimes being forgetful can be an amazing thing, and I’m happy for the one time I forgot my key and you were finally forced to hang out with me (seeing as you literally hated me).

Thank you, my youth pastor.

Blair, thank you for believing in me from the first day we met. I have found a home in the church and can forever trust in Jesus and you are the main person I can thank for that. Coming from the past I have been through, I never saw myself being able to be forgiven by God, especially when I couldn’t forgive myself. Thanks to some amazing lessons and talks with Blair. I fully committed my life to living for Jesus and believed on September 3, and was baptized on September 28, 2014. In my bible that was given to me, I wrote: “I believe that Jesus died for us and He rose for us. He. Is. Life.”

Lindsey, thank you for loving me like a big sister that I have never had. Thank you for all the advice and laughs and opening your home for all of youth and for cooking super awesome food and being an amazing role model for not just me, but for all the girls in youth. I love you more than I can say in one article. Your love for me is immeasurable and will always comfort me. By the way, we need more pictures together.

TO THE MOST AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE EVER:

I love y’all. There is no other way to say it.

Jesus has blessed me with these amazing souls. Love y’all to the moon and back to forward. Let’s keep making awesome memories.