EFY has currently...

...taken over my life.

Which is fine with me since I love it so much.

I've only been here for 5 days, but it has already consumed me.

Everything I do revolves around one goal:

Making sure EFY is running smooth so the youth can have the best experience possible while gaining a stronger testimony, building healthy and lifelong relationships, and drawing closer to Christ.

That is my ultimate goal every day I put on the polo.

And that, my friends, is such a great goal to have every single day for 5 weeks straight.

Since this is my last EFY, I better make it worth it!

So if I'm a little absent, I do apologize.

:)

the things you remember while in the shower.

So tonight while I was preparing myself to leave for EFY, showering was on the to-do list.

So off I went.

I have no idea why, but I had a memory pop in my head from when I was like 12 or 13 when I practiced kissing in the shower. Yep, you read right. Kissing. Just me and the shower wall. Not every time I showered, but every once in awhile. I was just so frightened some boy would try to smooch me and I wasn't going to be ready...so I took some practice out on the shower wall. I'm hoping I looked like this, but I most likely did not. (bummer.)

Tonight when I thought about it I started laughing. Out loud. To myself. In the shower. It was a great memory to think about. Well...no boy tried to steal a kiss from me until I was 17 years old, but I guess that shower practicing paid off because this boy below seems to enjoy my kisses.

And I couldn't be happier I get to smooch his face the rest of my life.

New to the Haven, what?

So it's no secret that I love this place called New Haven.

No secret at all.

Cause I do.

I really really do.

This job literally changed my life.

Ok, maybe not my LIFE because I'm still the same person.

But it has changed the way I look at obstacles in my life, the way I look at relationships in my life, and how I view teenage girls.

I am more understanding of other's circumstances.

I am more loving in my relationships and I am better able to see when people are struggling.

I am in no means a therapist or an expert, but after working there I have learned so much about the human brain, meaning in your life, relationships, and what makes you do the things you do.

I don't even know if any of that made sense.

It's really hard to explain exactly what you do when you work at New Haven.

It's easy to say you're a therapist.

It's easy to say you're a teacher at the school.

It's easy to say you're the cook or the HR director.

But to say you're a "Health Care Assistant" (or just get called "staff") is a whole 'nother story.

Cause yeah...we take them to the movies, we eat with them, we make sure they do their homework, we go on hikes with them, we go out on the swings with them, we pluck their eyebrows, we rub their heads, etc.

However, it's much more than that.

We are responsible for their safety physically, emotionally, mentally, and physiologically.

We're their therapeutic friend / mentor basically.

If they're in their room isolating, get them out.

If they're on their way to running down the street, stop them.

If they're crying after a bad therapy session, sit with them and let them cry in your lap.

If they wont eat their food, drop them to safety. (5 feet from staff at all times)

If they're being belligerent and rude, find out what's REALLY going on and talk them through it.

If they're having a power struggle with you, break down those barriers.

If they want to self harm, help them understand the necessity of self respect.

All that and much much more.

And really...I can't explain it.

You just have to work there.

When I told the girls I was leaving New Haven I thought I was going to get bombarded with the drama queens bawling hysterically and the rest ignoring me because they were angry.

But instead, I got so much understanding and excitement for the events going on in my life.

They had so much maturity.

Sure, there were some definite tears, but my little girls were so great.

My last 2 weeks was full of hugs, conversations, quality time, some of the best compliments I've ever received, and love.

This is what they did for me on my last day...made me a cake.

This is only half the girls cause the other half were off with their parents for graduation weekend.

Aren't they so adorable!?

They're so dang cute and I can't even describe the amount of love I have for them.

Then we took them to a talent show in Springville.

I seriously had the GREATEST co-workers in the world!

Mari is in the middle and she is only one of the best people I know!

I miiiisss her!

Well...I could seriously go on and on and on about how much I love New Haven.

I get easily attached any way, but especially while I was working at the treatment center.

I saw so many of these girls come in scared, angry, hurt, lonely, confused, and literally hating themselves.

Through the process of their treatment I saw them become happy, loving, understanding, accepting, mature, and courageous.

It's the most amazing thing to witness and so rewarding!

I knew I needed to leave for the summer to work and get married so I have no regrets, but I do miss those babies a TON!

I cried on Tuesday since I was not there with them.

I have a bunch of letters to write because I promised quite a few of them that I would write soon!

On the up side...our HR lady called me and said they were so sad I had to leave and that they wanted me to apply at the other campus (which is closer to SLC) when I come back after the wedding. She just said that they did not want to lose a good employee and that they really want me to consider coming back. I was SOOOO happy to hear that so I probably will!

Well anyways...I've gone on enough...if you've even read this far!

NEW HAVEN ROCKS MY WORLD!

Auntie Kaycie.

So I have a confession.

I am slightly obsessed with this baby...

...but how could you NOT be?!

She is SO stinkin cute!

I remember thinking my friends that had nieces/nephews were a tad ridiculous, but I just didn't understand. I TOTALLY get it now.

Instead of exercising or going to the beach, I played with her all morning, again after her morning nap, again after her afternoon nap, and then again before bath time and bed.

She is the most entertaining little bundle.

She is seriously the funniest baby...she cracks me up.

I guess my exercise was my abs working so much from her being so dang funny.

Oh, I love my happy Laela Carolina.

Tomorrow I shall try to be more productive, but it is going to be hard as this little one pulls on my heart strings so.

In other news...

I did NOT get the bear or the dolphin on my flight from Denver to Atlanta.

Dumb.

I got Freedom, the eagle.

One day I will get the animals I long for!

4 Truths & A Lie

Truth: I had to say goodbye to my best friend/fiance this morning as he dropped me off at the SLC airport curb. It was sad. He had trouble letting me go. (literally. He would not let me out of his arms.) When I saw a Quiznos in the airport (Alex's fav sandwich place) I teared up because I already missed him so. Pathetic? Perhaps. Do I care that it was perhapsly (is that a word?) pathetic? NOPE.

Truth: I just paid far too much for my lunch. Dang you, airports and your ridiculous rates!

Truth: I am grateful airports are now getting with the program and offering free WiFi.

Truth: I am SOOOO excited to be in the South for the next 2 months!!!

Lie: I won $1,000 for doing a Wal-Mart survey.

But gosh darn it...I wish I did! I keep doing those dang surveys in hopes I will one day be the winner! Every time a receipt of mine says a survey and you perchance could be a winner of a gift card, money, etc I do it! Target, Wal-Mart, Panda Express, IHOP, Walgreens...you name it. I'm a sucker and I do it. I'm hoping my efforts are not in vain and I will one day be the winner!

Ta Ta for now...they're about to board my plane from Denver to Atlanta.

I'm flying Frontier. I REALLY hope I get the bear or the dolphin on the tail of my plane for this flight.

From SLC to Denver I had the parrot.

His name was Carmen.