My english teacher introduced a new project to my class today, The Senior Memory Book. Over the next twelve weeks we will write a chapter a week. This is my first chapter and its all about who I am. I felt as if I need to to share it because many people may know me but do they know exactly who I am.

 

WHO AM I???

I am a daughter.

On November 23, 1998 in Lewisville Texas, I was born to Ron and Becky Brandenburger on their 2nd anniversary. They have helped me become who I am today. I am like them in many ways. 

 

I am a sister. 

June 15, 2000 was the day I became a big sister to Haddie. November 22, 2004 was the day I became a big sister to Beau, the first boy of the family. August 13, 2006 was the day Hall was born, God knew I would be his sister, yet I had no clue. February 28 2008 was the day my parents and Aunt Ashley stepped off the plane after spending time in Guatemala. But instead of coming home alone they had my newest brother Hall in their arms. 

 

I am a host sister.

My family has had an exchange student two different times since I was in middle school. They are both my older sisters now. (the only older siblings I have) I also consider them some of my favorite people. Esther was here my eighth grade year. She was in her sophomore year and from Germany. Ellie was here my sophomore year. She was in her junior year and also from Germany. Right now we are looking to host again next year.

 

I am a mermaid.

 Just kidding, I just really love water. If it was warm all the time and I didn’t have school I would most likely be in the water. The Comal River, Cedar Creek Lake and the beaches of Seaside Florida is where I would swim for hours. Frontier Ranch is where I learned to swim over the course of a month.

 

I am an animal lover. 

Dogs, horses, cats, rabbits, chickens, pigs, sheep, cows, dolphins, turtles and more. I love all animals….well besides snakes. I want a new animal about every week. I’ve had around eleven dogs, five cats, four miniature turtles, two chickens, one rabbit, multiple hamsters, countless fish and many more.

 

 I am an ordinary teenager.

I have the same problems of spending to much time on my phone. I don’t want to spend all my time at home, and I can’t wait to get out of this town. I spend my time scrolling through Instagram and Twitter instead of my bible. I think of and spend my money on gas, food,and clothes instead of saving it. 

 

 I am a Young Life staff kid.

As a kid I was a staff kid and still am today. Spending a month at camp almost every summer and skipping a week of school every May to go to Work Week was normal for me. I sat in the back of the club room and watched as hundreds of kids over the three or four weeks I was there stood up and gave their life to God. I sat there and wished to felt what they felt. 

 

I am a Young Life camper.

I wasn’t sitting in the back of the club room anymore. I was sitting front and center, sitting there listening to the speaker who I had heard speak when I was a kid. I had heard what he has saying and didn’t take it in. I was there as I saw my friends stand up giving their life to Christ and not feeling what they were feeling. 

 

I am a survivor of Wilderness.

Wilderness is a YoungLife backpacking trip over the course of five nights and six days in the San Jaun mountains of Colorado. I didn’t want to be there until solo night. I was sitting by myself next to Reagan Lake watching the sunset and reading Psalm 23 when it all clicked. Even though I had accepted God into my life at a young age I didn’t have a relationship with him. That night changed me. I decided to rebuild my foundation so I could build a solid house with him.

 

I am apart of the 2016 session 3 Carolina Point Work Crew.

Instead of being in the back of the room or front in center I was on the stage. The first time for work crew night were we sang, introduced ourselves and two of us shared our stories. The second time I sat there and watched as every single girl in the cabin I shared my story with stood up and gave their life to Christ. I scrubbed toilets, showers, sinks and mirrors for three weeks so people could experience camp like I had two years before. I was apart of the first and last things they saw when entering and leaving camp.

 

I am a Future World racer.

In September at the Lindsey Lee BootScoot I felt pulled towards the stage to listen who the traveling scholarships where given to and where they were going. The families of Sam Jones and Lauren Tysdal got on stage and shared that they were on this 9 month trip called World Race Gap Year. This is what I felt called to do. A day or two later I had finished my application and interview, a couple weeks after that I was accepted. Thailand, Cambodia, Honduras, Guatemala and Ethiopia will be my homes next school year.

 

I am Grateful for what I have.

Next year is going to be a shock for me. Going from having my family around me to not around me at all. Going from Chick-Fil-A and Whataburger down the street to limited foods. Going from my super comfy bed and soft comforter to a blow up mat and a sleeping bag. Going from a solid roof above my head to a mesh tent. I will not be able to talk to my friends or family every day like I’m used too. I often take advantage of what I have and am not grateful for it. 

 

I am Saved.

I am the daughter of an amazing king. I am a servant of the Lord almighty. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I am a woman of God. I am loved by the creator. I am who I am because God made me this way. I was lost but now I am found.