SSP

I just realized that it's 12:30 AM. I guess I'll be getting my recommended eight hours of sleep. Oh well...
I'm really excited. Why, you may ask? Well, I'll tell you why!
I'm going to SSP on Friday!!!
And not you may be thinking..."uhh...what is SSP?"

Sierra Service Project (SSP) is an organization (mainly in the Methodist faith, but everyone from different religions come) that help people in need around the Sierra Mountain area. There are 5 or 6 different sites, mainly rural Indian reservations and one urban LA site. Each site is run by a group of staff members who welcome campers with warmth and embrace. For six weeks, different church youth groups come and work, which includes fixing roofs, building wheelchair ramps, and even painting a house. Throughout the week, there are little devotionals and time to spend with your church as well as the friends you make along the way. It is a great experience that I am blessed to go on for the fifth year in a row.

The organization was originally for high schoolers, but the past couple of years they've been adding jr. high sites, which I wish they did when I was that age. I would have definitely gone.

I've attended this for the past five years, starting the summer before Freshmen year. And since it's high schoolers only, this year is my fifth and final year, which I'm kinda bummed about, because each experience has been so great.

This year, we are heading up to Loleta, California (North of San Francisco) to the Indian Reservation. I really don't know what to expect, because the only sites we've ever been to was the Navajo Nation in Northern Arizona and LA, so this is a new experience for all of us, and we're really excited.

As I mentioned before, it'll be my last year. Luckily, that means I can join staff!! So, a week after I come home, I will be heading back to SSP, only this time to Northern Arizona, where I'll be a staffer in training with the greatest site director, Nate. He's been my site director my two times in LA and I'm excited to have him again for the third time. And, since we already know each other, it's gonna be easier to open up, I think, since I'm generally a shy person.

There's gonna be so much to learn, like what I'm gonna do, which could be a cook, construction coordinator, or a spiritual leader coordinator. So many options, I just don't know what to do!! Luckily, that week will be how I figure that stuff out.

I'm really excited for the next couple of weeks, and I'll be sure to post anything and everything that happens!!
As for now, it's time for bed.
Good night all :)

Love,
Brittany Lauren

New year, new me.

Okay, so you may be thinking, "What is she talking about, it's not a new year." WRONG! It is. Because I'm a whole year older.
That's right, I just had my birthday. The big 18 to be exact!
So many things have happened so for such as...
I got a tattoo!!
It's really cute, right?
I got it the day after my birthday, so, on Father's Day.
SHOUT OUT TO PAUL! (The tattoo guy)
He did such and AMAZING job, I'm seriously in love with it.
I also went an saw Toy Story 3.
I find it kind of fitting that Disney/Pixar would make that movie now.
Because....
1. Andy's all grown up/I'm all grown up
2. Andy's leaving for college/I'm leaving for college.

Weird, huh?
Toy Story was also one of my absolute favorite movies growing up as a kid.
I always walked around with my little Woody everywhere I went, and I would watch the movies at least five times a day.
Enough of this...

Also on my birthday, I got a MacBook!! SCORE!
Well, I technically didn't get it on my birthday, I got it the day before.

You see, I went to orientation for the school I'm going to in the fall. NAU :)
And they had this Apple Store in their bookstore (WHAT?!?!) with a pretty awesome discount.
Their $100 cheaper than in regular stores, and they're also doing the free iTouch with a purchase.
But here's the best part...
You buy a MacBook, and if you buy the protection plan with it, you get an HP all-in-one printer...FOR A PENNY
Talk about a good deal man!!
And my first, my parents were totally against getting a MacBook, because they're sooo expensive, even though I would be paying for half of it.
As soon as they heard about this deal, they were all for it!
So now, here I am, typing away...

I really don't know what else to say...except that I'm so excited for this next year.
Okay, bye!

Love,
Brittany Lauren