Memories are interesting.

They can be pleasant reminders of good experiences or terrible remembrances of old pain. Old or new, fuzzy or vivid, there is no doubt that they are very powerful. They play a pretty big part in shaping people into the unique and wonderfully made individuals that God created them to be.

Since my grandmother has moved in with my parents, our family converted her cabin up in the north Georgia mountains into a rental property. Her cabin was built by my grandfather, and they’ve lived there all my life, so I’ve made a lot of treasured memories there. We’ve had family gatherings, Easter egg hunts, birthday parties, a week in summer with my cousins, and the list goes on and on.

These memories of spending days at the cabin with my grandparents are wonderful, but it’s not all rainbows and unicorns either. I have great memories at the cabin, but also some sad ones. I’m reminded that this is where my grandfather spent his remaining days battling cancer. There is a little bit of sorrow mixed in with the good times.

Thinking back on these old memories has stirred some feelings of nostalgia for me. It got me thinking about simpler times when I was a kid and when I didn’t have so much stuff to worry about. I know I probably sound like every other twenty-something blogger out there, but it’s true when I say that I sometimes wish I didn’t have bills, or work, or school deadlines. It’s definitely bittersweet.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love where I’m at in life and I know I’ve got exciting things to come, but parts of me just want to be a kid again sometimes, and I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.

It’s been really interesting to see how the old memories I have of growing up at the cabin compare to the new memories I’m making there as an adult. It used to be a place to hang out with my grandparents, but since it’s been turned into a rental, it’s become a different, but still special place for me.

I’ve used it to take my own personal 4 day vacation to hike, read, watch movies, and just relax. I’ve spent a weekend hanging out with my siblings and my cousins when we were all home for Christmas. And now, I got the chance to take my high school guys there for a weekend getaway.

We did the usual mountain stuff: hiking, s’mores, board games, and all that good stuff. Of course we also played Super Smash Bros. and a few party video games. I wouldn’t force a bunch of teenage guys to spend a entire weekend without video games… I mean, I’m not a monster. We had an absolute blast and they can’t wait to do it again. Neither can I.

So now I get to add this weekend to my memories at the cabin. It’s fun to see how parts of my life are intertwining with my newfound role in youth ministry. Never in a million years would I have thought that my grandparents’ cabin, where I’ve made so many childhood memories, would serve as a place where I am making new memories doing one of my most favorite things in the world: hanging out with my high school guys.

I will forever hold this weekend as a cherished memory, and as an incredible example of God’s attention to detail and intricacies in my life. It’s a great reminder of my beginnings in youth ministry, and how much I love doing it. I can’t wait to make some more.