If I could confidently say anything, it is that I had a
God-filled staff that kept me even more in love with this ministry than before.
Every meal was a family meal…a family meal beginning with a prayer. That alone
spoke volumes to me, growing up in a home where prayer before meals was absent.
We were genuine. We were real. We had love that moved mountains, and when all
else got in the way, we put it aside and had each other. Looking back, the 17
homes we got to work on, every family member we met and over 500 volunteers we
got to see be transformed through ASP cannot be accredited to just one of us…it
was all four of us. We worked together, and we did it well. I thanked God for
every moment that could have brought tension or that I was afraid to handle,
but instead it went smoothly and took care of itself. That being said, we were a family and we had
our little riffs but when I look back at the overall picture, they hold no
significance except for the fact that it made us stronger.
It’s funny how certain memories stay with you, especially
ones that make you laugh (or cry) just as hard as if it was just happening. I
can tell you a lot of these moments happened this summer, and I continue to
find comfort and peace in reliving them , now that I’m hours away from my
summer home. The fact that I can’t look at a Monster energy drink (or any drink
in a can) and not have a sudden uAtrge to shotgun it, or hear “Wagon Wheel” and want to cry
because I don’t have anyone to jam out down the halls waking up volunteers with
our 7am voices. There are lines from movies, lyrics from songs and just silly
things said during staff meetings or during our times together that will
instantly bring a smile to my face, and sometimes I catch myself laughing out
loud and not realize it until I see others staring at me, wondering what my
problem is. There were the moments that
I found myself stepping back and watching the sweetness of the moment, like
deep conversations on the roof or in our vehicles, watching my staff grow as
they interacted with volunteers and knowing that they don’t need me to re-explain
things to them and that they have everything under control. Trust. That is one
thing I had from the get-go with my staff, but I found that it continued to
grow as we all grew closer.
At the end of the day, I’m the proudest Mama Bear that
ever was. It is bittersweet when I take time to relish on all of our memories,
but I wouldn’t trade even one second of our time together. To my staff, I want
to thank you for your love and constant patience. For putting up with me when I
clearly had no idea what I was doing. For seeing when I was taking on too much
or was stressed, and doing all you could to take care of me and make me smile.
For the random hug attacks or baby doll pranks. For the encouraging notes and
sweet treats that caught me when I needed a little reminder. For the staff
meetings that went too late because we wanted to spend all the time we could
together. For our experiments, explorations, and energy bursts. For the tears
shared and the laughter that filled the halls of Mullens Middle School. For
being everything I could have ever wanted and MORE in a staff. Y’all were the
best, a serious answer to prayer, and I cannot imagine spending the summer with
any other combination of people. I have grown in ways that I could’ve never
imagined because of you three and I know that ASP 2012 wouldn’t mean as much to
me if I didn’t spend it with y’all. Remember…square yourselves.
Our first picture as a family.
Meet the Mullens M.O.B
Oh how cute we were!
First attempt of many at shotgunning Blue Monsters before squaredancing.
Happy beginning of Week 7!
(above): My little babies Mollie and Jake
(below): Me and my Minion, Mary <3
Laughing the morning we said goodbye to our Week 7 crew (it was bittersweet).
The last picture as a family (with a few extras).
