So as I'm sure you've all surmised, I'm pretty sad. I left a lot behind in Alberta. I left some things, some places and people and experiences back there that I know for a fact I'll never be able to find, or replicate anywhere else. I miss them all terribly.

But one thing that this has all taught me, is how very blessed I was. And am, really. Not everyone gets to make the same kinds of friends I got to make, or experience the things I did. Not everyone gets to go to a church and be part of a parish that is so full of love and friendship. Not everyone gets to meet people who change their lives. I did. And I'm so blessed.

The friends I made at home are the forever kind. The kind you share the deepest beliefs with, who you share interests with, who you can talk to about everything with. The kind who go out of their way to show you how much they love you.

(c) Rebecca

 August and September were amazing months. Even though I couldn't help being sad, knowing that I was leaving, I still had some fantastic times.

My friends came from all over. We went on adventures, and sat around and chatted, and played ultimate frisbee in the dark, and drove out to fields to dance and look at stars, and went for late night frozen yogurt runs, and had ballroom dance parties in backyards, and went grad dress shopping at the mall, and went "grocery" shopping for picnics and last-minute parties, and went riding, and went for walks in the pitch black through the hills where I live, and hung out at McDonald's at 12:30 in the morning.
It was great, because no matter how many times I went out, or how many times I had people over, I didn't have to worry about someone doing something stupid and getting us into trouble. Sometimes we got a little loud, or sometimes one of the boys would drive a bit fast, but it was good, clean fun. And it was probably the best summer I've ever had.

I guess I'm sad because I know that I'm not going to make more friends like these. I'm sure I'll make friends at some point, but it won't be the same, and they won't be the same. But I'm also so happy, because I'm know I'm blessed.