20 memories for 20 years...

My life has been overflowing with blessings since I was born. Not many people get to grow up in one of the most beautiful places on earth, Hume Lake, and have a family like mine. I am now 20 years old. That is two decades gone. Holy macaroni. So much life has happened. There are so many people who have shaped who I am. So many places that have taken pieces of my heart. So many memories that I don’t know what to do with. 

20 Memories for 20 Years

1. Hume SD. One of my favorite camps of all time. This was the first time to try something new with 3 amazing people. I remember a lot of ice cream, beach time, sunshine, rec games, being allergic to the hay on stage, lot of messing around. I look back and am so glad to have spent a week with them.

2. Kenya. 2009. Need I say more? This place stole a piece of my heart. This trip secured it in my heart that overseas ministry was where I was headed. To serve alongside my family and people dearest to me was something I would never pass up. Those three weeks molded me and the people I met are fresh on my mind regularly.

3. Disneyland. I couldn’t pick my favorite trip because I love Disney so much. I love that I grew up going to this place. My dad’s idea of “going to much to make us hate it” backfired on him and I am a forever a Disneyland lover. This picture is with my siblings and cousin during spring break a few years ago. We were enjoying our dole whips in the Tiki Room. For those of you who don’t know…I love tradition. And the picture captured it. The other picture is in my top 3 favorite trips: our first sibling only trip. No parents. We got to celebrate Juju’s 17^th birthday and everything went smoothly.

4. Senior year. Of all the years in high school, senior year was the best. It was the first year I had some good friends. Formal was was the perfect dance. That year I fully felt that Fresno was home.

5. RV trip. I so wish I could go back and relive the RV trip and soak in more memories because the trip was seriously the best. 6 weeks on the road going through most of the states in the US. So fun. Too bad it was my awkward clothing style season.

6. Hume sports. We were pretty limited in the sports we could play. Soccer. There were not many sports to do at Hume growing up. Soccer was one and it was the best. Soccer was the best place to be competitive, get tamales, and run around in the mountain air. This picture is of my neighbors- 13 years with them. Swim team. I loved swimming and I was one of the fastest so it felt good to be good at something. The picture was our “big” swim meet.

7. Baptism. 2011. What a marking moment in my life. It wasn’t until I was 18 when I fully decided it was time to trust Jesus. I combined my grad party with the baptism and it was so neat to see people from all seasons of life come to support me. Boy what a journey he took me on right after. But I am so thankful for that moment.

8. Summer after graduation. What a fun summer. These girls were by my side all of senior year. Amber (left) dedicated her life to the Lord that trip up to Hume (my childhood home) It is moments like this where you are in complete awe of God’s power. This was my first friend road trip and it fun to show my friends my home.

9. Sammy’s 16^th birthday. One of my favorite trips ever. We went to see Wicked (my favorite show) and to Disneyland. We ran into a pirate and I remember we broke into a fit of laughter when he said (with a straight face) “Say Rum”.

10. Redwood Christian Camp. This was my first camp outside of Hume. And it was AMAZING. I got to go to camp with my brother one year and it was super great. The picture was taken right after Jello/Oatmeal Wars. The best, stickiest camp game ever.

11. Michael Buble Concert. 2011. Two years ago I went to my first real concert. It was the BEST. I found someone who appreciated his heavenly voice as much I did. It was a phenomenal concert.

12. Wyoming Vacation. 2011. This trip was planned by my mom and I hated on her for it for so long. Only old people go to Wyoming. Boy was I wrong. This was one of my favorite Downs vacations by far. Horseback riding on a mountain. I still don’t like horses that much but it was amazing to be on the top of a mountain with my family.

13. Snack Shop 2010. One of my favorite summers ever. I had the BEST experience at Hume. It was my first summer as a summer staffer and I was blessed with the best co-workers. It was such a growing and refreshing summer of community, hard work, and pranks.

14. Jr. High Winter Camp. 2012. I was given the privilege to counsel my 7^th graders for the weekend. I had the best time ever. Had to learn a lot about discipline but made so many memories with these girls.  They made moving away so hard.

15. Road trip to College. Not many people get to say their grandparents took them across the county, 2,100 miles. I made so many memories and bonded with some of the most giving and hilarious people I know. This trip will be forever cherished.

16. Moody Bible Institute.  My journey with them has been such a rigorous, challenging, but special adventure for me. My first year was online and my second year in Chicago. I, a Californian moving to the Midwest…what did I think I was doing? Next year I will actually be  living in a neighborhood in the city. I have grown and been blessed so much because of this school. Thank Jesus I got into my dream school.

17. Life at Hume. I don’t remember much about that night but it was full of laughter. This picture means a lot to me. It captured the joy that Mandy has brought me over the years. It captured my innocent little self, unaware of the world around me. It showed that we could entertain ourselves for hours on end at Hume. I am so proud to be a Hume Kid.

18. My family. I am such a family person. I love my family to death. I CHOOSE to be with them every chance I get. But I have been blessed parents who have a heart to love others and because of that, we opened our house to many amazing girls. There are more people not pictured who I call extended family, (Bry, Kellie, Sarah, Pj & Sheri) maybe one day we will have one big family picture.

19. Paint wars/watermelon carving. 2011. This night was just one of many fun things we did that summer.

20. Wagon Train. 10 years old. 10 years ago. I became a Christian. Slinger (Rich Baker) presented the Gospel in such a way that made me want to have a personal relationship with the Lord. And my life has never been the same.