"Sometimes I'm really impressed with the way my thigh muscles look in pictures."

Friday started early with Cold Tangerines at Elise's house. The girls ate donuts while we talked about friendship and living out God's love. I'm so encouraged by this group and the ways that they love one another.

After school Audrey and I drove over to the HS to pick up Grace, Hope and Katy P to hang out. We were ready to fill up our Friday with fun. Each of us picked something to do that afternoon including getting ice-cream and hunting through Goodwill aisles for the perfect find.

I'm pretty positive I'd have fun with this group no matter what we were doing. Grace constantly rolled out her legs, Katy was our DJ, Audrey tells stories, Hope has the best commentary.

We dropped off Hope at home so she could go to her family's birthday dinner for Cecilia. We got to see the Birthday Queen herself for a little bit and we attempted to do a should stand. It didn't really happen, but I'm thankful she didn't pee her pants while she was on my shoulders.

We feasted at Olive Garden so Grace could carbo load before her big meet tomorrow. Everyone took turn asking meal questions-- Who is your current friend crush? If you had to get married today who would you pick? What's one of your regrets in the last month? What's something you're really proud of and something you wish you were better at? At the end of dinner I pulled out new bracelets for Grace and Katy because their old ones are fraying and they still religiously wear them every day. They're the best.

Don't you just love how Fridays hold so much potential for the whole weekend ahead?

Varsity Friendship Braceleters

Six years ago I started Friendship Bracelet Club. I wanted a way to get to know students in my building and teaching them to make the bracelets I had learned at Tecumseh seemed perfect. From the beginning any one could join. It didn't matter, and still doesn't matter, if you're good at making bracelets or not. The kids who come to FBC usually have no idea what they're doing when they first start. But if they stick with it and keep trying they end up getting really good at everything from chevrons to 5-braids.

Once a year I order Friendship Bracelet Club sweatshirts. If every sport and club gets apparel then of course FBC should have some too. FBC sweatshirts have always been open to everyone that I know. The more you order, the cheaper they cost. So I offered FBC sweatshirts to old CILTs, Tecumseh counselors, Young Life girls and friends. Every year more and more people buy them. You don't have to go to HSE or make bracelets to be part of Friendship Bracelet Club. You're just in. 

In the past few years friendship bracelet making has been taken to the next level. A handful of friends at HSJH and Tecumseh had really stepped up their game as they learned complicated patterns and cranked out a mass amount of bracelets. FBC girls had apps on their phones to learn patterns with up to 28 strings at a time. Camp Tecumseh bracelet makers come to camp with rings or bags or binders full of bracelets that they made in advance to pass out. Bracelet making became a really big deal.

We started thinking, what if their was an Advanced FBC like there is Advanced Friendship Bracelet clinic at camp? What if it was a team... a Varsity team? We started making a list of who would be part of this elite group. I asked the best bracelet makers I could think of who they would include in the group. Slowly, we formed the roster for the first ever Varsity Friendship Braceleters.

HSJH: Lulu Black, Elise Ruby, Cecilia Vigren, Maggie Lorenz, Elissa Hart, Maddie Halkyard, Jules Kort, Audrey Andritsch, Sophie Sams, Lily Betner

Camp T: Hallie Roth, Julia Plant, Lauren Johnson, Taylor Fischl, Tara Andrews, Shannon Flynn, Cara Geoghegan, Lucy Welch, Lexie Parrott, Sydney Sabbagha (and Nicole Burjek-- the co-founder of FBC at her school), Ellyn Hessong, Megan and Mallory Happ

Young Life: Maddy Martin, Natalie Brosius, Hope Vigren, Katy Puzzella, Natalie Willman, Julia Dewolf, Allison and Matt Williams, Audrey Renshaw

My HSJH girls decided that if they're a Varsity team then that makes me Coach Wright. 

The shirts for friends that live far away are in the mail, but everyone in HSE got to wear their shirt to school today for Friendship Bracelet Club after school. Many people were confused about how we could be Varsity and many people asked if they could join. Anyone will be able to get the sweatshirts in a month or two, but this Varsity group will stay elite.

I had a meeting of the Varsity girls during SLT since it was the only time I would get to see them all day. FBC ended up meeting in the Library this afternoon and I was thrilled when Julia, Katy P and Hope showed up. They car pooled over from the HS to surprise me. If there was a Varsity starting line up they'd be on it.

Sometimes I still can't believe that FBC has become this totally legit thing. When I first asked my principal if I could start a Club for making bracelets I worried she would think it was silly. Thank goodness I gave it a chance and that so many people have jumped on the band wagon.

I loved seeing HSE girls post pictures on Instagram in their Varsity shirts all day long. Make sure you check out the captions and comments.

I'll have to post a Varsity post part 2 when the rest of the team gets their shirts. Until then we'll be busy with earthquakes, 5-braids, kaleidoscopes, diamonds, squares, spiral knots, railroads and 3-braids.

"I THOUGH SOMETHING DRASTIC HAPPENED LIKE YOUR PHONE EXPLODED OR SOMEONE STOLE ALL OF YOUR CAMP PICTURES. whatta relief."

During the school year I'm a strict follower of the rule No Pants Wednesday. But this week Cecilia asked me to revert back to summer camp rules with her for Wolf Shirt Wednesday. I obliged and dressed up my Timber Wolf Lake shirt with a cardigan to make it school acceptable. Oh how I love a good wolf shirt. I miss seeing the rest of the Wolf Pack and CILT Pack every week. 

I went back to Daily Odd Compliment today to find a couple compliments for a friend of mine and ended up finding so many perfect ones. I love the weirdness and wish that we gave people compliments like these all the time.

Tonight I got to cheer on cross country runners, football players and cheerleaders at HSJH-- these kids rock. I don't know if I'll ever end up actually coaching a sport but I love getting to be their cheerleader.

The HS Tecumseh counselors met tonight for training-- only two and a half weeks till we're up at Camp! Oh my baked oatmeal I can't wait. I'm pumped for 4-team-Capture-The-Flag, seeing the students in their study groups, rec time after lunch, skits at night, the Just Dance Competition, hanging out with teachers, being with the HS counselors and getting to be back with some of the Tecumseh staff.

Today's Lists

Highs of the Day:

1. People's #tecumsehtuesday posts
2. Passing out something special that will be unveiled on Thursday
3. Getting a bday party invite to Sky Zone from a really sweet camper
4. Seeing Katie, Linc and Red one more time before they headed out of town
5. Lily running over to see me when she spotted me before her race
6. Walking around the course with Elissa, Sarah Platt and Lucy
7. Having dinner with Emily and Rachel 

Top 10 Favorite YL Events of the Year:

1. All City Club
2. One on Ones at Camp
3. The Opera at Young Life Camp
4. The first Club at Camp
5. Wyld Life Lock Out
6. Winter/Fall Weekend
7. Love Tank Campaigners
8. Dance Party Club
9. Summit weekend with leaders from IN and KY
10. Cabin reunions 

10 Things On A Counselor's Bucket List At Tecumseh:

1. Ride in the horse parade
2. Be a counselor for every unit
3. Get voted for Walk The Plank
4. Sleep out at Ghost Cabin
5. Win a weekly award from the pool/lake/CAC
6. Be a coordinator
7. Earn your 3rd Year Green Jacket
8. Be Buffalo Queen
9. Be a Y-M C-A cheerleader at Opening or Closing Campfire
10. Teach a clinic that performs at Closing Campfire

10 People That Have Taught Me About Living Life To The Full

1. Taylor Porter
2. Annie Fazzio
3. Lani Pickard
4. Kelly Wentland
5. Grace Andritsch
6. Julia Plant
7. Sarah Mooney
8. Maggie Shadid
9. Sarah Battaglia
10. Allison Stamer

Young Life Community

I flashed back to my middle school youth group days tonight at Young Life. Once a large number of kids arrived, Ryan had us all circle up to play Little Sally Walker. Oh. My. Goodness. I wish I could have videotaped some of these kids' and leaders' dance moves. Most of the time we talk about serious stuff at Campaigners, but sometimes you've got to make time for silly. 

I loved watching people play this game together. You had the handful of people that were totally stoked and ready to jump right out there and be the center of attention. Karl was fantastic, Conner busted out the moonwalk and Ryan did his signature dance move. Sometimes you just have to go for it even if you risk being seen as a little bit silly right?

I love seeing all of these friends at the start of every week. I'll get to see some of them through out the week at games or dinner dates-- but this is the place where we all meet up, recharge and get filled. I love this time together. There's a group chat with our Junior and Senior HS Wyld Life leaders that is blowing up my phone every day. Tonight they were all saying some pretty profound things...

Thanks for accepting me so quickly. It took me so long to join because I was afraid I was a bad role model for the kids and I thought I didn't know enough about Christ to lead kids to him. But you guys have been nothing but awesome and it is strengthening my faith so much.

I love you all and respect you so much.

I love doing life with you guys. I'm so blessed to call you guys my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Blessed to have been slapped in this group with y'all. Thanks for welcoming me into the YL family so well. I feel at home with you guys and I know I'm supposed to be here.

Playing with Katie, Linc and Red

When Nick had a conference in Indy, Katie, Linc and Red came down to visit Aunt Sarah! Usually I see my family in Michigan or when we're at Tecumseh so this was an extra special treat. I loved getting to see my nephews, the cutest kids I know, and spend some quality time with my sister. 

The boys love playgrounds--running, crawling, climbing, sliding and laughing. I think they would have stayed at either of the playgrounds we took them to all day long if we'd let them. Lincoln especially loves Curious George and the man with the yellow hat. We let them watch one episode before their nap and they were mesmerized. Both of them will pick fruit or yogurt over cookies. They're sweet and helpful and we just love them so much. 

I love that Linc sits in his car seat with his legs crossed and that he likes to "pretend" shop with me. Being an aunt is one of my favorite things so time with Linc and Red is really special. Can't wait till I see them again in a few weeks at their birthday party!

"Oh wow, cross country is so artsy."

Meeting with 25 junior high girls at 6:30am is one of the craziest things that I do. It's nuts but I'm so thankful for this opportunity. This morning we talked about friendship and loving one another. I think that 8th grade and freshmen year are two of the craziest for girls in terms of figuring out who their friends are and who they want to spend time with. This group of 25 girls is awesome, but there is no way all of them can hang out all the time. 

We may not be able to have a 25 girl sleepover every weekend, but we can be kind to everyone. I want them to care about things like being trustworthy, being loyal, making sure others feel included, building people up, following through on promises, not talking behind each other's backs and having genuine fun together.

Friday nights in the Fall mean football. But tonight was arguably the biggest game of the season-- HSE v the cross town rivals Fishers. I love seeing a bazillion and a half people in the stadium each year at this event. But before kickoff, there is tailgating. This year iTown invited YL to join them at their tailgate. But when I got to the parking lot I heard the Senior tail gate before I even saw it. A DJ had volunteered to come play music and there was a huge dance party happening.

I spotted so many of our YL upperclassman that I had to go get KCraig and Ryan to witness this. Of course they were both all over this Senior Tailgate and jumped right in. Our kids were excited to see us and welcomed us right in like it was totally normal that we were there with them-- I love that.

AC, the host of Operation Tailgate in Indy, came to get video footage of their tailgate. Little did he know that he would end up on top of the van and then crowd surfing over the upperclassman. I've never seen anything like it.

Eventually we did make it to the actual game but I have to admit I didn't pay much attention to what was happening on the field. I hung out with freshmen on the very top row, talked to Juniors and Seniors at the bottom of the stands, found a mob of my kids in the Junior High barricade by the concession stands and talked to a handful of parents. So many people at once. It was awesome.

Saturday morning Julia Plant and I drove to a cross country meet at Ben Davis to watch Session 2 CILT girls run. Chloe Lachmund was the only one competing today but we got to spend lots of quality time hanging out with Kristen and Lauren Johnson.

Julia had never been to a meet before so we got to explain all sorts of fun things to her like a PR, run out, timing chips, team tents, a meet v. match and how to cheer on runners. Bless her soul, she picks things up quickly.

It was a beautiful day and thankfully warmed up while we were there. We got to take the Johnson girls to lunch before we all headed home which was really fun. Maybe we'll be able to see them run at State later this Fall!

I invited my parents Dave and Beth to come to our YL banquet on Saturday night so they stayed with me this weekend. Saturday afternoon we adventured around Fishers and I got to give them a tour of the Devoe's barn where YL meets. That evening we headed to the Community Center for the Banquet. I'm so thankful that I have parents that love and support me the way that mine do.

Once a year, we get to bring together parents, community members, leaders and YL kids that care about the mission and purpose of Young Life in HSE. It's a celebration of where we've been and we get to ask people to help us prayerfully and financially as we move forward. I feel so honored to get to be part of this community and can't imagine not knowing these friends. I love that so many HS kids like Lauren Pidgeon, Olivia and Julia, Audrey and more Wyld Life leaders came tonight to greet guests and help with the program. They are invested.

Hands down, the coolest part of the night was when HS kids and a handful of leaders shared their cardboard testimonies. We did this activity on Monday night at Campaigners and invited everyone to share their story tonight. It was incredibly powerful. I can't think of any other way to share how God is at work here so succinctly and beautifully.

I can't wait to see what will happen this year in the things we expect--clubs, campaigners, lock outs, bible studies-- and the things we can't predict. I pray that more kids and leaders would feel welcome as they join this community and that above all God would be glorified in all that we do.