So, I went back to high school this weekend. To be more exact, I felt like I was back in high school this weekend, and I was the happiest I have been in like... a while.
If you knew me in my good ol' high school days, you should know that I lived at live local shows or at The House of Blues trying to sneak backstage or trying to find the line of vans that all my favorite bands practically lived in. I was a "band groupie," without all of the inappropriate-ness of being a groupie. I was in love with band boys. Obsessed in love. Specifically, the skinny, greasy-haired boys of The Maine. So I totally had a huge fangirl moment this Friday when I got the chance to see my old favorite band for the first time in five years.
My friend Kate and I chose last minute to go to South By So What in Grande Prairie, the knock-off Dallas version of SXSW. Not quite as cool but hey, it was totally worth saving the gas money and the HUGE amounts of money I know we would spend in Austin. So we spent our day at the Quicktrip baseball stadium filled with black hoodied, blue hair'd, way too much eyeliner'd people that we definitely did not fit in with. Kate in her pink flannel and me in my black jeans and crochet top with my flannel around my waist. Rockin' our Vans. We tried at least. But we made the best of it, considering it was sprinkling/raining all day, we just sipped some beers and listened to good music we had never even heard of before. The best part of the day by far was getting to by the meet and greet for The Maine and embarrass myself with how excited I got and my stutter-filled story of how my best friends and I used to be in love with them. They just laughed at me and told me to enjoy the show and my beer. So I did. I loved the whole set, even though I only knew the two old songs they sang. I havent kept up with their new stuff. I was jumping singing along in the rain, I was in high school Gable heaven.
I like high school Gable and the things that made her happy. She was so simple. Good friends, good music, good vibes. You know, there's just something giddy about the atmosphere and the sounds and the people that make these things fun and exciting. It's just different/ what I loved years ago, I just forgot. I want to keep this thing going, soooooo Edgefest (cough cough EScott)?!?!
Riga, Latvia. Really anywhere in Latvia. The cities, the countrysides, the people, the food, the culture, the music, the language, the weather, the all around feeling I start to get when I am even a week away from knowing I will soon be in the land of potatoes and dill. It all began five summers ago, when I went over with a group of youth from my church, and ever since, I would say I am obsessed. Why Latvia? Honestly, I can't even explain it. It's just like when you say you fall in love with somebody at first sight, I fell in love with this country at first step off the plane.
The past five summers have been filled with experiences, friendships, lessons, joy, tears, laughter, days I thought I would literally die, days I thought I never ever wanted to leave, and days that will never be erased from my memory no matter how old I grow. I could talk about Latvia forever, seriously, so I will try to keep this as short as I can.
Year one, I went to Latvia thinking it was in Africa just a week before our plane took off. No joke. For those of you that don't know, Latvia is located on the Baltic Sea in Eastern Europe.
We ended up going to an absolutely beautiful campsite in Ergli, Latvia with a group of youth from Vilandes Church, my hometown church's sister church in Riga (our connection to this random country). This campsite is where I realized that I couldn't not come back. The second to last night of camp, the night's message was translated from Latvian to our American group. I remember hearing the words from the man speaking, talking about the forgiveness and mercy of God, and that even though we are all sinners and have all done wrong, our Lord loves us endlessly. A few months before, I had made some decisions that I regretted, and lost friendships that I was somehow lucky enough to regain years later. I had been at an all time low, and I felt joy just being in this country, at this camp, and that night as a huge rain storm rolled in, and as we were singing songs of worship squished under a tent, I could literally feel the rain and something deeper than that washing me clean, like I was forgiven. It was the coolest feeling I had ever experienced, and I fell in love with it.
Every summer since, we have been going back to Riga and helping our friends at Vilandes run multiple camps for children and youth. Year two was a 30 mile hike camp on the beaches of Latvia (see video below). Years three and four, we began a program called Ceribu Iela (Street of Hope). We held a three day day-time sports camp for children that lived in an area of Riga that was known as dangerous, and these kids were known as street kids. Just loving on them and having fun with them, we saw them beginning to change. Year five, this past summer, we were able to take these Street of Hope kids to a campsite for three days, and really get to know them better, and help them get to know Jesus. It is really something amazing to see a child who can't even speak your language, or has never even heard of Jesus, come to know Christ. Some of these campers at Street of Hope, I have known for three years now. I get to watch them grow up and learn about loving others, loving themselves, and the love of Christ, and it's basically what encourages me everyday. These kids encourage me everyday.
I have a passion for Latvia. I have dreams about bringing my friends and family there and introducing them to the places and the people I love. That place, especially Vilandes church, is another home to me, and my Latvian friends are my family. Latvia is and will always be a part of me.
Today, I was bored. I woke up and there was snow everywhere and the office was closed, so I made the call that I would make today a lazy day. Lazy day meaning watching eight episodes of Always Sunny, some design work for my parents, and a little design work for fun. I ended up spending my time on this geometric design from a picture of my sister that I took a few months ago. I think it ended up pretty sweet.
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