"It's gonna be weird when your name isn't Sarah Wright anymore."

Highs of the day:

1. Sculpting some Kirby's with BSE and Maddie

2. After school queso with Maddie and taking on Watch Me Sculpt together

3. Weather that allows running outside again

4. Wednesday morning with Shub, Gidget, Mer, Maddie, Fudge and Cass-- "That's what it's really about-- walking life together, growing in faith, slowly over many years. We're growing mango trees, not tomatoes." @younglifepod

5. Counting down the days to the WL Lock In with 102 kids, 15 HS leaders and 6 adults-- it's going to be crazy and organized and chaos all at once

"If it has pickles it's a boy, no pickles means it's a girl." Gender Reveal Club

This was no ordinary Monday Night at Young Life. Not only was it Gender Reveal Club for Joey and Kylee Tharp, we were also on location at Chik Fil A. And pulling this whole thing off, it was our pleasure. 

Olivia King thought up the whole idea of this club weeks ago and got Kylee and Joey to give their approval. We told everyone to wear pink if they thought it was a girl and blue if they thought it was a boy-- people had some pretty intense opinions and even placed some bets. 

While you waited in line to order food you could add all of your Baby Tharp name suggestions to a poster for Kylee and Joey to take home with them. 

I loved being with all of people-- these girls who are the main characters of my life, and a whole restaurant full of our Young Life family.

First we called up Casey and Sam to do some Blindfolded Diapering because sometimes you've just got to make it happen at 2am when it's pitch black and you can't even function.

Joey and Eli did the diapering in round two and we discovered that Joey had never changed a diaper before in his life.

We did some Baby Pictionary next-- but the drawer couldn't see what they were drawing because it was up above their head. The people who called out the correct answers got to take home the masterpieces of bibs, bottles, strollers, cribs and pacifiers.

Taylor and Carter killed the baby drawing game. 

Since we were at Chik Fil A we had to do something involving Chik Fil A goodness (p.s. We talked to them about us coming ahead of time and they were pumped about it). A team captain for each grade recruited three more classmates to be on their team.

They built a tower out of two large orders of waffle fries-- some used a straw, some made a pyramid, some made three identical towers...

And then one person from each group had to devour all of the fries as fast as possible.

Earlier in the night, Morgan and I hid three baby bottles (each with a Chik Fil A coupon inside) out on the patio. One bottle was behind a trash can, one was tucked into an umbrella and one was taped under a table. 

Ryan gave another parental testimony about finding a bottle quickly in the middle of the night when the baby is crying and then sent 8 YL kids outside to find the bottles as fast as they could. It was amazing and all kinds of chaos. 

The actual gender reveal came in the form of a chicken sandwich. Olivia King, the one who came up with the idea for Gender Reveal Club, got to do the honors. If the chicken sandwich had pickles it would be a boy, no pickles meant it was a girl. IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!

Ryan played guitar right there in the middle of Chik Fil A and everyone sang along. Cass rocked her baby and made her sing a long and I laughed so hard that I cried. I love getting to hang out with these girls. 

Kylee and Joey gave the Club talk tonight as a duo. They shared, "None of you was randomly created on accident. Each of you was designed perfectly by God. He has an amazing purpose and plan for your life." Then our whole YL family got to pray for Joey, Kylee and Baby Girl Tharp at the end of the night.

"Let go of your idealism and find your best friend, the person always willing to meet you half way, marry them, and make those dreams happen together."

"What should we award Gold Medals for?" said the letter board today. These friends had some brilliant ideas of new Olympic events. 

My birthday may have been over a week ago, but tonight was my birthday date with Justin. He took me to the Meridian Restaurant which I've been wanting to go to forever. You can see the mint green house from the street but I'd never been inside.

The dark wood room was lit by candles-- we're all about the atmosphere. 

But oh man, the food-- ONE OF THE BEST MEALS EVER. Brussel salad with warm manchego cheese...

Smoked corn soup with red pepper and bacon...

Balsamic rack of lamb with feta potatoes and balsamic brussel sprouts...

And then after all of that goodness they surprised me with chocolate mouse for a birthday surprise dessert.

It was the most fun night. I would always choose special experiences in new places like this over getting a tangible gift. The things we get to do with the people we love are the things I want to hang onto.

"Jesus is the cool girl. It's a metaphor."

"Young Life is what happens between Mondays." It's showing up early on Wednesday mornings to laugh and talk and read the Bible together before school. It's delivering lists to friends about why we love them. It's volunteering together. It's sitting in the stands at a basketball game. It's sitting in a circle with girls at FBC. It's getting dinner on a normal Thursday night. 

And on this Wednesday morning, my friend Viv was a very special guest. Viv was a CILT in 2016, a DC counselor last summer and will be the Ranger Coord this summer. She lives in CA but is in IN for a couple days visiting Butler and Depauw. It was good to get to hang out even if it wasn't for very long.

Without even really meaning to do it, Cassidy took of the HSE YL Insta story today for Wyld Life. She sucked in helium and then invited kids to come to WL Campaigners tonight in a high pitched voice. Once we were at the Halkyard's she welcomed us into MTV Cribs. Cass showed us where everyone hangs out and sings at the start of the night. In our small group room she showed us her circle of girls. At the end of the night she thanked everyone for coming and hanging out at WL with her. I loved it-- I want to figure out how to do things like this more often.

"The more I let go, do without, reduce, the more I feel rich. The more I let people be who they are, instead of cramming them into what I need from them, the more surprised I am by their beauty and depth."

Things I'm just so pumped about today:

1. Starting school on a Tuesday because we're just deep diving into the week
2. Seeing DC trip kids back at school and knowing we just had this awesome adventure
3. Running OUTSIDE because it was 75 degrees today
4. Going to Taco & Burrito Place for dinner
5. Going to Taco & Burrito Place WITH ALLISON WILLIAMS and sitting and talking for two hours because we never run out of things to say and I think she's just the coolest and I'm so glad we're friends

7. Hanging out with Justin after having been away on the trip for so long
8. The WL Lock In Sign Up is live and I'm so excited about the kids who are coming and all the fun stuff we're going to do this year
9. Getting a random text from Megan Cook that made my day

"Washington DC is iconic." DC Field Trip 2018

Every February, 200 8th graders and their band of fearless chaperones fly off to Washington DC for the weekend. This year was one of the greatest. 

Friday

For the first time ever, our entire group flew out from Indy on Friday afternoon. Usually we wake up in the middle of the night for super early flights so this was a major improvement in the sleep department. Because there are so many of us, we have to split into multiple planes. My group landed in Maryland, drove to Virginia and checked into our hotel just in time for a late dinner. 

 Ain't no party like a Pizza Party with 200 of your best friends.

Saturday
Every day begins with a breakfast buffet at the hotel and unlimited coffee for the chaperones which we take full advantage of. Then we load up on the buses and head off to explore the DC area.

Our first stop Saturday morning was at the White House.
Theater Room

Library

The view of the White House lawn, down the mall to the Washington Monument and the Capital.
The Red Room

State Dining Room 

Penn Ave Entrance

African American History Smithsonian
Last year was our first time at this Museum and I only saw the top 2 floors. This year, Mrs. Hall and I got right in line downstairs to see the three lower levels. It was incredible-- I think being a museum designer/creator/curator in DC would be such a cool job. 

Interactive Luncheonette Counter

Contemplative Court

The National Cathedral-- built entirely of Indiana Limestone, the final resting place of President Woodrow Wilson, Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, 3 Rose Windows and a window featuring a moon rock.

Natural History Smithsonian and American History Smithsonian

Night Tour of the Jefferson Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam War Memorial

Sunday
For the first time since I've been chaperoning this trip, we visited Ford's Theatre where President Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth.

Derringer pistol that Booth used to shoot Lincoln from behind.

The view of the President's Box Seats in the Theatre which is still used today.

Museum and Peterson House (where Lincoln died) across the Street from Ford's.

Iconic Bus Drivers and Chaperones-- no question, they're why this trip is so great.

All group picture on the steps in front of the Capitol Building. These six students are our "runners" who will show up in the picture twice.  We couldn't have asked for better weather.

Hodgin and I are always on the bus together and this year we got to be a team with Mrs. Hall-- best Bus Luke trio that has ever existed.

FDR and MLK Memorials

Holocaust Museum

 Washington Monument and WWII Memorial

Observation Desk of the Kennedy Center (we've only ever come here at night, but coming at sunset was incredibly beautiful)

Air Force Memorial-- the first time we've ever walked right up to it-- and the Pentagon Memorial

Dinner at Chevvy's Mexican Restaurant-- still our favorite meal of the entire trip

Monday- President's Day
From our hotel, we drove to Mt. Vernon (Washington's Home) in Virginia to tour the grounds.

Washington's Tomb

Potomac Wharf

Arlington National Cemetery

Four of our students participated in a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

One of our student's found the final resting place of her Great Grandfather on the new niche wall on the exterior of Arlington.

Air and Space Smithsonian

Late Monday afternoon the majority of our group headed back to the airport in Baltimore to fly back home again. After four days of eating in food courts and airports, this Pie Five was the grand finale.

Once again, this trip was one of my favorite traditions. Of course going to all of these places is awesome, but I love getting to spend so much time with these kids outside of the classroom and getting to know them better.