Today

Today I'm sitting on a dock, feet dangling in the cool lake water, watching the sun as it slowly dips down to kiss the mountain tops. 

And today I am completely content.

And that's kind of weird because if we're being honest, I've spent much of this summer frustrated. And that's kind of ruined this experience for me at times. But in thinking about that, I realized that I was the problem all along. It's my own expectations of people that lead me to frustration with them in the first place. So that's on me, and it's a thing I need to work on. And I can't let that affect the I love people or the way I serve them. That realization has done wonders for me.

Today I'm thankful that my big sister is 1 hour from me and that we get spend each weekend together. That's a bigger blessing than I can really explain.

Today I'm thankful for people who take the time to be my friend, even when I'm not the easiest to get to know. And for the times we can just sit together and spend time.

Today, I'm content with this day and what it's been for me. And most of all, today I'm hopeful because my Lord is doing bigger things than I could ever imagine.

Is it really a new week already?

Well another week is beginning today and I've been trying to think of what to tell you about last week. Last week was interesting, to say the least. But as I'm going over last week in my mind, all I really want to tell you is that I work with some truly outstanding individuals.

Seriously.

These are people who, even when exhausted from their own work, will go help out somewhere else just because they known it needs done. They're people who sacrifice free time to work so a sick coworker can stay in bed. They're people who remain joyful even through the stressful of the day to day. They're people who will ask how I'm doing and really want to know the truth. They're people who hug me when I cry. They're people who continue to try to be part of my life even though I'm hesitant to let them in. And I am just in awe of these people and feel so incredibly blessed to get to spend the summer working with them!

Last week, for the first time this summer, I really wanted to be home. It finally hit me how hard it is to be away from the people you care about, especially when you know they are hurting. Being 12 hours away and not able to simply be there for people kind of sucks. But technology is cool and I finally figured out video chatting on my phone. So that was a definite plus last week as I got to have nice long chats with some people I dearly miss.

I'm refreshed and ready for another week after spending the weekend with my sister in Albuquerque. I'm excited to have another group of campers come in this afternoon to spend the week here in this amazing place. May their hearts and minds, as well as ours, be open to what God wants to teach us this week.

So this is my life...

It's hard to believe that another week has passed. It's even harder to believe that I have been here for a whole month. Like, when did that even happen?

This week was much better than last! I actually got sleep when I finally fell into bed each night! Shout out to my awesome sister for over-nighting me ear plugs last week. Haha, but for real though.

This was the first week for Fuge, which as far as I can tell is basically a Baptist CIY type of deal. They had a small group this week so we got some room to breathe as we settled into what will be our schedule for the next 7 weeks. Days were still long as we are now opening up in the early morning for coffee and I'm also usually the closer for late night which ends at 11 or 11:30 each night. We keep busy when the coffee shop is closed because we got 6 pallets of shirts in to fold...it's so many shirts. We've made it better by also having a Harry Potter marathon while we fold :-)

I did get to do some fun things this week like the zip drop and bag jump. There's still a long list of adventures for me out here though.

Had a relaxing day off today, got to sleep in then go to church and a movie with friends. I'm connecting with the other summer staffers more these days, so that's cool.

I'm really most excited for next weekend and every weekend after because I'll get to spend time with my big sister at her new house. This is by far the closest we've been together in 3 years and I plan to soak up every minute we have together.

I miss some things about being home. Mostly having a place to myself and time to myself. Also I miss my best friend. Like, a ton. It's funny that you don't realize how much time you spend with people until you're far apart.

Thanks for all the letters, cards, and packages you've been sending! Mail always makes my day and I usually walk all the way across camp each day just to check the mail.

Sorry for a boring update. I love you people and miss you dearly.

What it's all about

Well, another week is in the books...and boy was it a week. We had our first ever campers, a group of over 1,000 that rented out the whole place. IT. WAS. INSANITY. You wouldn't think running the coffee shops would be stressful, but when you tell 1,000 kids they are free to go in there for free time, there is a line the entire time. Blenders are whirring the entire time. Kids are glaring because they want their fraps. The entire time. And when that's your whole day, from 9 am to midnight, with free time only to eat then immediately clean up dishes from 1,000 people, you get real tired real fast. And when you can't sleep due to snoring roommates, you get exhausted really fast. Add to that a boss you don't exactly see eye to eye with mist of the time and you get a very stressful situation.
But as tired as I was, there was so much good. I'm forming solid relationships with the people I work with all day everyday.  I'm work in on my patience both with kids and coworkers.
I'm learning to give up control. Many times I'm told to do things that I don't think make sense and that I would ordinarily question. I'm working on just accepting whoever is in authority over me and do what they say even if I think it's dumb. A lot of times I think it's dumb. But I try to have an attitude that at least isn't negative.
But you know what's even cooler?  1,000 kids spent all last week growing closer to God. They adventured, they formed relationships, and they heard lots of  Biblical truth. And that's what we're here for. And maybe I don't see that happening from my little corner of camp. But that's ok because I know that it's still happening. I have trouble remembering that in the thick of the week. All I want tot think about is sleep and the terrible job support staff did closing the coffee shop. This week, I'm going to strive to remember why I'm here...I'm here to serve. And that isn't always fun, easy, clean, or sleep filled. But it's not about me.
So tonight our first round of group camp shows up and tomorrow Fuge camp begins. And it's gonna be awesome. I'm going ro be tired and I might get annoyed but I will be there best servant I can be simply so that each person I come into contact with can see God's love through me. Because that's what it's all about.