MB

It’s been a minute haha. Life has been wild as I’m sure you’re well familiar with. As you can see from the title I am writing this as an update on where I’m at in hopes of picking up blogging again.  From the last post-the end of the school year (May 2019), nothing much has changed. This summer served as a cornerstone of my life, something that has made a tremendous impact on who I am. While there are things that I just won’t be able to cover in this I’m writing in hopes to show a glimpse of what God has done and is continuing to do in my life from May to now. Oh boyyyy…

Last year I was taking pre-reqs at Austin Community College with the intention to transfer to Texas A&M, major in economics BA for pre-law, then go on to law school. I had my apartment picked out, my weekly meal plan down to the detail, and the route I’d be walking every day for classes. I full sent this plan to say the least and I was so confident in it. A&M has and will always feel like home to me. The traditions, memories, and friendships it has built since I was a baby have made major impacts on my life and I wholeheartedly felt that I belonged there.

A week before Spring semester was over I applied to Laity Lodge Family Camp. Laity Lodge holds extreme sentiment in my heart. I went with my best friend and her awesome family in high school and have never forgotten the memories and fun we had. For the longest time I had wanted to apply but something would always come up. When I had submitted my application I was 100% sure I would never get an offer. They had these positions filled in December and people got turned down then. But I did it anyways. At this time, I was waiting to send A&M my transcript and working as a Veterinary Assistant (best job EVER with the best people EVER). I was exhausted from school and I was super stressed over the wait to know if I got in or not. I was drained.

A couple days later I got a call from Laity Lodge. They had an open position to be a cook! When I told my mom I got a very similar reaction to when I told her I wanted to be a cheerleader when I was 15 (picture: a very very shy Macayla who HATES to be the center of attention and in crowds). It was a joke. I had never cooked before. The best I could do was a grilled cheese. But it was the place I had always dreamed of working at. And I was reassured that I didn’t need any experience to start so I was sold.

In the span of 6 days I took 3 final exams, packed a crate of stuff to live off of over the summer, and moved from my familiar room to Leakey Texas (pronounced Lake-y). My parents dropped me off and it was our first actual goodbye. There was no cell service out there and I didn’t have a car so I was prepared to not talk to them for the summer unless it was by mail.

In the first week alone I fell in love with it out there. It was beautiful.

Now disclaimer: there was a lot that happened. God grew me in ways completely unexpected, and while some parts were painful, I am so so thankful for those opportunities. The first week was lifeguard training, the next week was staff week where we would get familiar with the camp, meet others, and learn what our unique roles were to the camp. I was a cook with 4 amazing ladies. Family Camp’s kitchen is unbeatable. Like seriously. Not only do we make the best food, we have the best full-timers.  I also expanded my cooking abilities going from grill cheese master to frozen burrito heater-upper while I was there.

Camp brought me best friends, late night star gazing conversations, and early morning cold brew appreciation. It was a place where I grew, healed, found a LOT about myself and also learned to be vulnerable. About half way through I learned that I had not been accepted into A&M. I was so convinced that this was my time to shine. I had the grades, I most definitely had the drive for it, heck I even gave up everything familiar to be serving families at camp. This seed was not a pretty one and it was snatched out fast but the hurt behind it lingered. And let me tell you!!!! I am the biggest poopy pants when things don’t go the way I wanted them to go. I get angry at God and can’t see over the mountain in front of me. And so I held on to my hurt for a minute. That minute wasn’t pretty. But He redeems and makes all things new (Isaiah 43:18).

My mindset started to shift. God put the desire in my heart to work at Laity Lodge, it took some years to get there but here I was, sitting outside the kitchen in awe of the river and mountain in front of me. He has perfect timing (Ecclesiastes 3:1). And with that I grew to love the letter- being intentional in where I was IN the moment, rather than where I want to be. And I rested in this.

Now fast forward a lil bit.

Post camp sadness, summer, and halfway season of Fall semester. I thought I had a plan but it’s funny how that works. I applied to Texas A&M, ‘one last heartbreak’ I told myself when I submitted it. I knew that this final no would be the answer to a door shut. This would be my 3rd time applying, and it never got easier to hear the answer that I fought so hard against. As cheesy as it sounds, Texas A&M felt like home- I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else.

And then I got it. The letter. I remember bracing myself for the all too familiar words. My mom was next to me and my dad was on speaker phone, right my by side as I read. But the beginning didn’t match the “We’re sorry to inform you…” lines as it had before. WHAT! I cannot begin to describe how I felt. No amount of words can bring to light that feeling. My parents were (and still are) my biggest cheerleaders- I think an equal amount of happy tears were shed between us haha.

So, that brings us to now. Still euphoric as heck. I am so excited to announce that I am a proud, Ag Econ class of ’22, Fighting Texas Aggie.

-m