Stars and Freezing Feet

I can with confidence say that missing homecoming for this weekend was one of the better decisions of my life.

It wasn't just the fact that the place was like an overload of the most perfect-looking, brilliantly-colored, trance-inducing trees and mountains and air EVER.

Or the zipline going at car-speeds into a freezing lake.

Or the hugest sky you've ever seen completely and utterly filled with stars, just for staring at for twenty minutes at night while you bask in God.

Or the hot, sweaty, energy-filled, screaming worship sessions that literally cost you your vocal chords by the end of 3 days.

Or the laughing, smiling, most amazing and connectable people you've ever met and can't believe you haven't met before. 

It was all of it together.

I loved every minute. 

The pounding on the tables as the food was brought out at every meal. The jumping up and down as we belted Bon Jovi whether or not we knew all the words, and then clinging to each other's shoulders and swaying back and forth to Tenth Avenue North the next moment. 

The hysteric screaming as we plunged into the freezing lake at midnight, only to dash madly right back to the hot tub to thaw and start a dance circle right there and then. 

The masses of people who stood up to receive Jesus, and the completely unexpected tears that came when I heard all my new friends profess that they had turned a corner.

Everything. 

I'm sad it's over. 

But summer camp will be epic.

Please don't fight these hands that are holding you....