keep on keepin' on

I'm on my way!

Tyler Morgan (recent transfer to Southern and fellow MiVodenite) and I left at 9:00 this morning and are in the middle of Wyoming right now. Last time I came through Wyoming Emily and I hated it so much that we wrote a poem about it. I should post it sometime. Anyway, Tyler drove THE WHOLE WAY today. The man is a beast. I offered, but he never got tired...so I crocheted, watched a movie, and was in control of the ipod.

Right now I'm sitting in good ol' Motel 6 enjoying a nice bed and wireless internet. Tyler's parents insisted we get a hotel room. The clerk tonight said to the other clerk, "Let's get a room for the young couple." That was weird. Tyler just winked at me.

We have themes for each day of the road trip. And they are as follows...

Friday: Have to say "Meow" or add a question mark on the end of every phrase when interacting with anyone beside each other.

Saturday: Tyler has to get a girls number, I have to give mine. (I don't even know how I would go about doing this....)

Sunday: Make as many memories as possible. This may include getting in a big fight at a gas station and getting proposed to, quite possibly at the same one.

Let me just say, I am absolutely STOKED to see every one of you that are going to be in Tennessee. And for those of you who aren't, come visit. Seriously.

Much Love!


P.S. This goes out to my soccer loving friends

oh camp...

Sammy, this nerdy character adored by all, is all about safety. All week long he makes up X-treme challenges for staff and campers to do, while being sure that all participants are taking the necessary safety precautions. Because, as he always says, "Sammy loves Safety."

One week Ben Foote was sitting with Nick and said, "What if there was an actual character named Safety that came onto the show." Genius.

That's where I came in. On Thursday morning Sammy and Safety quickly fall in love while "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" plays over the speakers and they start awkwardly walking towards each other, lost in each others eyes. The first time Nick and I acted it, we walked off the stage after we were done and almost fell down the stairs cause we were laughing so hard.

I love laughing like that. There's something really freeing about being on stage and having the capability to act as ridiculous as possible. Anything nerdy, awkward, or embarrassing that you do...just makes things that much better. Ah camp, It's the one time a year that I can really just be as silly as I want and let go of all that craziness that gets cooped up while I'm in school. I love camp. Love it. It was a good summer. Real good.

heartburn

I hate it.

I hate reading about it, thinking about it, trying to comprehend it. I read some stories about sex trafficking tonight. When I read stories about these children, these children who are taken from their homes and sold into sex slavery my eyes start to sting, and my hands start to clench into fists. Why? Why is this happening? I don't understand how someone could look at an innocent child with lust, dehumanize them, and then leave without feeling any remorse for what they've just done. For what they've just taken. My heart hurts, my head spins, and yet my body stays...frozen...

I hate this.

Oh God, please come soon.

streeeetch

"The potter takes the clay and molds it according to his will. He kneads it and works it. He tears it apart and presses it together. He wets it and then dries it. He lets it lie for a while without touching it. When it is perfectly pliable, he continues the work of making of it a vessel. He forms it into shape and on the wheel trims and polishes it. He dries it in the sun and bakes it in the oven. Thus it becomes a vessel fit for use. So the great Master Worker desires to mold and fashion us. And as the clay is in the hands of the potter, so are we to be in His hands. We are not to try to do the work of the potter. Our part is to yield ourselves to be molded by the Master Worker."

-Ellen G. White

*Sigh* I'm thinkin that that day when I become a "vessel fit for use" isn't gonna be for a long time. Amanda Durham and I were observing that there's not a whole lot of fun stuff in there for the clay, it's mostly painful. But, hey, I'm no potter. So...bring on the molding?

"G3!" "That's what's up!"

"G3 we're here to be
the very best
beeetter than the rest
so look to your left and look to your right
our counselor is out of sight"

Tara (from the other side of the caf): "A little bit louder now!"

"What what turn it up?
ta ta ta ta tara ta ta ta tara
Ta Ta Ta Ta Tara Ta Ta Ta Tara
TA TA TA TARA TA TA TA TARA"

"Now that we're complete"
Tara: "Say what!?"
"Listen to us stomp our feet"
(insert awesome stomp routine)
"What!"



The first day of teen week was a little sketch. I had 4 girls that I knew from previous years, 3 that had been in the cabin across from me last year, and one who was staying for her 2nd week. 8 girls, all different, all reluctant to bend, all expecting an amazing week. But by day 2....man....we were a family. I came back from my day off and they had already made up that cheer, learned it, practiced it, and were ready for when we were announced for kitchen duty the next morning. And, the most beautiful thing about it was that they had done it together. I watched all week as time after time they uplifted and supported each other, regardless of how different they were. And trust me, they were different. To be honest, there were times when I actually had a hard time connecting with every one, but not my girls. If one person wasn't playing around in the lake, everyone would yell their name until finally they'd throw all care of their hair to the wind, and dive in. I know that I'm supposed to be showing an example of Christ to my kids, but...this week...I feel like it may have been the other way around. Ah camp, what an amazing opportunity to reach kids...and be reached.

MiVoden Update

It's been awhile since I posted...I feel a bit ashamed about that. It seems like everyone has found a bit of time to post during their busy camp schedule...accept for me...and maybe Nate?

I'm on my day off right now...and currently taking a break from my online driving school that I'm taking as a result of my speeding ticket this summer. Lame sauce. LAME SAUCE.

Here are some fun facts about this summer:

• I counseled teen week last week. I've had some of those girls for four years. They're my favorite. I loved it.
  
• My new job is awesome. It's all about cultivating relationships between staff and campers, and staff and staff. Right up my alley. Love it.
• Nick peed his pants.
  
• I've made some amazing new friends. Two of which are Rob and Amanda Durham. Amanda and I have decided that it's a tragedy that we didn't know each other at Southern. Jerrod worked with Rob all year, and didn't introduce us. Now they're moving to Colorado. Great.
• Staff beach volleyball warms my soul. I'm a bit rusty...but the serve is coming back.
• My tan is coming along...*ahem* nate dubs...
• We had Tiff's "pajama party" (as Richard kept calling it) a couple weekends ago. It was so awesome to see her and Chels. I can't wait till next year!
• I'm growing a lot, learning tons about myself and the things I need to work on. It's so good for me.
• Have I mentioned how AMAZING it is to have Ben, Nick, Gimbel, Graves, and Sarah here? It is. It's amazing. It's like a little piece of Southern livin' is with me everywhere I turn. I can't tell you how nice that's been to have this summer.
• I haven't wakeboarded yet. But I will. I promise.

I wonder what it's going to be like when this is not my home during the summer anymore. 5 years is a long time to invest yourself into one place. I can't imagine having it any other way. God is so good. So SO good.

Miss you friends. Wish you were all here.

the countdown

9 days.

9 days until I get to smell those smells. Those smells that will only ever belong to camp.
9 days until I start feeling so tired that I could literally fall asleep anywhere.
9 days until I get to unleash all the excitement/energy/silliness that gets bottled up during the school year.
9 days until I get to wear my silly hats, and my crazy glasses.
9 days until I probably get thrown in the lake.
9 days until I get to eat homemade granola with soy and raisins.
9 days until Sammy asks me about the my love life.
9 days until I get to sit on the dock and watch the sun set over Hayden Lake.
9 days until I move into my room...then immediately start to scrounge for a dresser that has more than one working drawer.
9 days until I'm in a room filled with people striving for the same things, working towards the same goal.
9 days until I get to sing praise music at the top of my lungs, not worrying if people can hear me because everyone is singing at the top of their lungs.
9 days until I become part of a ministry that is bigger than myself.
9 days until camp.
9 days until I'm home for the summer.
9 days.

I can't even wait.