It's the truth. I hate them.
Well, hate's a strong word.
I hate hate hate hate hate loathe them, then.
I normally boycott them.
Like, will not go, sorry love you lots, boycott.

My Youth Group goes on an event called Destination Unknown every summer.
It's awesome because we're told how much money to bring and how to dress.
That's it.
Then our Youth Leaders take us wherever. It's always a trip to bond.
Last year we had a scavenger hunt at a zoo (my team won it), then took a ferry over to the Delaware beach.
We're all big kids (there's quite a few of us that are in college now), so we loved it.

This year, however, we went to Six Flags.
I brought my friend Gabbie, and I did 'enjoy' myself, but overall.. Not so much.
I sound really selfish, and I know that.
I just can't help it.
Fun fact is that my dad recently lost one of his jobs.
Sooo the money I spent to go and stand there holding bags - with the exception
of going on two rides, because two other ones everyone was too anti-height to go on with me - wasn't really money I had to waste.
I'm totally thankful for the time with everyone and that Gabbie might start coming to YG and church.
That's a huge, huge blessing!

But I was so worn out this morning, I couldn't even move to get out of bed.
Bad Elise, missed church.
I did get two pretty photos that I will share with you all.

Anyone else share in my Theme Park Boycott?

Today I spent the day with my friend Amanda at the Previglian's house. Jess and Dave P are two of our Youth Leaders and they have a three year old named Daniel and a 1.5 year old named Madison (or Maddie). I watched them a bit with Amanda before we watched Courageous - which I'm going to post about probably on Monday, STICK AROUND FOR THAT! - and went to Jenny's house for her graduation party.

It was such an interesting and lively day with Daniel. He's such a trip. For example, whenever one of us girls tries to discipline him, he holds up his hands and says "WHOA, WHOA! Relax. Stop yelling at me." (Which is hilarious frustrating.) Then today, he asked, "Is a bunny a bug?" after he spent chasing it. Then he asked me to look at him after I put on a bit of mascara, then he started CRACKING up and said "Oh my GOSH, you're eyes are just BEAUTIFUL" as he laughed. Too cute. He also calls anyone who is a Yankees fan a "foul ball." LOL.

It was so nice to spend time with him, Maddie, and Amanda. Maddie's the only baby that I like because she's quiet. It was also nice to see Jenny because I miss her and she lives quite far, so I only see her sometimes at church. Photos!

Yesterday my Youth Group surprised our friend Victor at his hotel. Victor just graduated high school and has enlisted in the U.S. Army - he leaves today to begin training.

I've known plenty of people to enlist in the military, but only one close friend Tiff left that touched my heart on a deeper note. And with how close I am to Victor, I'm really struggling. But I know that God has amazing plans for his life and will bring him home safely.

We went to the Golden Corral - WHICH IS NOT OKAY FOR VEGANS, BTW - and all spent the afternoon together and signed a Soldier's Bible for Victor to read and keep close by his side. He was really touched and there are SO many pictures with him. I only took a few but I'll steal some from my friend Alyssa and from my Youth Leader Tim, lol!



A really cool thing happened, too. Our waitress stopped our Youth Leaders and asked them about our church and for information. She was so touched at our praying together and how we treated one another that she wants to come see our church! How AWESOME is that? God is good!

Whether you pray or not, please keep Victor in your thoughts and prayers. I already miss him dearly. He was the first person from my friends AND church (beside my father and now-ex Noel who I see as family) to contact me when I left for college and we weren't even as close then. I'm going to be writing him way too much!

Today is Wednesday, which for me means it's Youth Group. This time Oscar (he's atheist) is coming with me to re-meet everyone that he met the last time he stayed in New Jersey. It's going to be at the Cunningham's house, which is always a loving environment, and it's a pool part/goodbye to graduates/message.

It brings me back, honestly. Last year the same kind of party was thrown for Jake, Amanda, and myself because we were leaving the nest. It's so crazy to think that it's been a year since I was anxiously but tearfully getting ready to leave for New York. I'd never have guessed how much my life would have changed!

I'm so excited for Mark, Victor (going into the military), Jenny, and Ashley. I'm closest with the girls, but each individual has a special place in my heart. They're all going on to better things and they're all going to glorify God in the process. It's been amazing watching them grow as people and I'm going to miss their faces.

I know it might get tiring with like, more than half of my posts mentioning God and Christianity. But hey - I'm talking very specifically about some Christian lovelies :)