Lindsay Anderson

For the Christmas Eve youth service, I had been asked by my awesome and amazing youth choir director to write a song for the choir and me to sing. I had also been asked how I would feel about singing the main verses as a solo. Feeling honored and quite in awe, I had agreed. After all, this was the first time that I was asked to write a song for my choir to learn and sing Moving back to present day, I find myself on stage singing my song that I had written. Truth be told, it was a wonderful and moving experience

Phoenix, Arizona: The first stop of Cade's and my U. S. tour. Anxious, pumped, and nervous: The perfect summary of how I am feeling at this very moment. Tonight is the kick off concert of the tour, and I am scheduled to perform first. In fact, that is how it is going to be this entire summer. During the first thirty five minutes of the show, I will perform. After the twenty minute intermission, Cade will perform. As I finish getting dressed, I take a deep breath and relax. After all, I am about to do one of the things that I love the most in the entire world.

The last time that I was a camper at Anderson Christian Camp, a Christian camp located twenty miles outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico for seventh -twelfth graders with learning disabilities, was the summer before my freshmen year of high school. This was due to the fact that I have spent the last two summers touring. This summer, however, is different. I am finally able to return to a place that I hold dear to my heart. On a different note, I am very excited Even though I have been away for years, I have stayed in touch with all of the good friends that I made at camp Finally, I will be reuniting with them once more for an awesome summer I am also really excited about finally seeing Darren After all, it has been a while since I have seen him

As I took the empty seat at the table, I tried to once again wrap my head around the fact that I was celebrating my eighteenth birthday with my best friends and parents in MAUI. Not only is the resort that we are staying at amazing (We are staying at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa), we were in one of the most amazing places in the world

As Zack, his cabin mates, and their counselor made their way to the last Wednesday open mic night of the session, he was deep in thought. Tonight during open mic night, Zack was going to sing Elton John's "Your Song." Most importantly, he was going to call Cambrie onto the stage and serenade her.

Today is a big day for my choir and me. Not only is today the 2020 National Choir Competition, but it is my last competition as a choir member and captain. Even though I am excited about graduating from high school one week from today, as well as today's competition, it was also bittersweet. Gathering my team together, I said, "Alright, guys, we are at the largest competition of the year. Let's go out there and show the judges just how powerful we are Most importantly, however, let's have some fun "

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome number 134 to the stage " The announcer said into the microphone. As the crowd clapped and cheered for me, and as I made my way onto the stage, I thought about where I was, and all that had happened today. Today, my dance team and I are competing at State. The first part of the competition had been the group dances. I am proud to say that my dance team and I came in second After the intermission, it was time for the solo part of the program. With this said, I find myself making my way onto the stage to display my solo. Getting into position, I pray that my solo wins first place. After all, I have put everything that I have into perfecting it

"Okay, Dad, we'll be there as soon as we can." I said into the phone. "I love you, too. Bye." "Is everything okay, Hals?" Shane asked, as he, Bella, Luke, and I made our way out of Elitch Gardens and to Shane's car." Yes, everything is fine." I replied, honestly and thoughtfully. "My Mom and Dad have something that they want to discuss with us.""I wonder what it could be." Luke said." I don't know, but we will find out when we get to Halsey's." Without saying anything more, the four of us got into the car and headed back to my house.

Ever since they were ten eleven years old, Halsey and her best friends had spent six weeks out of the summer at Vesper Side Church Camp, a 6th -12th grade church camp located forty five minutes outside of Houston, TexasA. During the years as campers at VSCC, Halsey, Bella, Bella's boyfriend/Halsey's best friend, Luke, and their best friend, Shane, had made a plethora of wonderful memories and lasting friendships with the counselors and fellow campers. As the girls made their way to their cabin, they could not help but feel excited After all, a fun and exciting camp term was ahead of them

On a different note, there is another reason of why I am excited Tonight is my annual end of the year sleepover Five of my closest girlfriends and me get together on the last day of school and have a big time before we go our separate ways for the summer. This has been an annual tradition since the summer before high school It is truly a tradition that I look forward to every year -Freya

"What did you wish for, sweetie?" Jesse asked, as we got our pieces of cake and made our way back to our table." Honestly? Nothing." I smiled. "After all, I could not ask for a more perfect birthday." This was, without a doubt, very true. Today had been such an amazing day. Not only had I gotten to go shopping for a party dress and get pampered with Shannon, as well as participate in an awesome photo shoot, but I was celebrating my birthday at my birthday bash. I had been looking forward to this for weeks, and now it was finally here As Jesse and I enjoyed our cake, I could not help but smile. After all, I could not help but silently thank God for today.

Two weeks ago, I had gathered up the courage and asked Cambrie, my best friend and secret love interest, to our school's homecoming. Much to my happiness, excitement, and joy, she had said yes. Two weeks later, I am standing in her family's mansion and anxiously awaiting for Cambrie to come downstairs. Moments later, Cambrie makes her way downstairs and I cannot help but be speechless. She is dressed in a gold, shimmery, strapless, sweetheart necklined, floor length gown, and is wearing a beautiful rhinestone headband. Even though I have always thought that Cambrie was beautiful, she looked especially beautiful tonight.

As I posed in my beautiful dress, I could not help but feel genuinely happy. I love doing fashion shows and photo shoots. In fact, they were my favorite parts of being a model. On a different note, there was an additional reason as to why I was feeling the way that I felt. Today was my eighteenth birthday. I had waited and anticipated for this day for awhile now, and it was finally here.

Before I had a chance to try once again to go to sleep, my phone buzzed. Picking up the phone, I noticed that I had a text from Jesse. It read: Are you as wide awake as I am? If so, and if you are up to it, meet me downstairs in five minutes for a New Year's Eve late night swim. My heart skipping a beat, I immediately got up from my bed, and went to change into my bikini. After all, someone special was waiting for me.

One of the plethora of things that I love about camp are the Thursday night dances. It is a chance for all of the high school campers to get together for a night of fun. It is also a time to get to dance with some of the cute boys here at camp As my good friends/cabinmates, best friend, awesome counselor, and I head to the dance, I cannot help but smile. After all, I predict that tonight is going to be awesome