Spring in the Woods... and other dramas

Ahhh... spring is possibly finally here! Last Wednesday was the official first day of spring, although Kim and I did not take our first drive in the jeep until today so I guess today is the first OFFICIAL day of spring! (It's been THAT kind of day at work!)

I am tired. I'm just sayin... I need to get some sleep soon or things could take an unfortunate turn!

This weekend we had confirmation lock-in... which is always... exhausting. On Saturday it was supposed to rain all day but instead the sun was out and I was HAPPY... and I spent the day at low challenge course facilitator training... no tree climbing, although the weather was pretty perfect for it! Now we are done training for the spring and its time to get the course open... soon, soon, soon.

OTher than spending the day at camp, my weekend was full of the usual drama and exhaustion. I went to see two different high school musicals this weekend, which pretty much makes me EXHAUSTED... but reminded that there are some pretty talented young ladies around this church. ahhhh....

In just a few minutes I will head to FaithWeavers... only one more of those after tonight. SCARY!

Ahhhh... nothing important to say... just an update.

Pictures for my twin Esther

If I have a twin in Central America... her name is Esther. My twin. Yes she is.

These pics are from Winter Camp for her.
Love ya Esther! Wish you were here!

Here they are...
1. The whole lot of us.
2. The girls resting in their "sled"
3. Drew and Rachel "sledding"
4. Nate and Meghan"sledding"
5. Charlotte posing... as always!
(Esther... more pics are under WInter Camp, scroll down)

Clifford the big red van

Here is a picture to go with this story.

In order to begin this story I must say that this is the church van. The youth and I affectionately call it "Clifford the Big Red Van."

It is not what I would refer to as a quality ride.

It is more of a pile of steel on wheels. It is a 1994 Econoline 15 passenger van. All of this is important information for understanding the story.

This fine specimen of the american auto industry recently had some repair work done, which corrected its tendency to be unable to start and also gave us heat and a defrost so we no longer have to scrape the insides of the windows. Also the back seat is finally latched to the floor. However, it did not correct the crazy noises it makes, the extreme heat if you touch the floor during an extended drive, the missing inside handle on the passenger side door or the funny odor that persists no matter how much we clean her.

Usually Clifford is used to transport the youthies and their mass amounts of STUFF on various trips and retreats plus the all important campouts. She also hauls STUFF from one campus to the other, holds up one side of the tarp on rainy campouts, and provides endless adventures and fun games... like "I bet you can't jump through the passenger window without getting stuck" and "I bet you can't get to the end of the driveway without everyting rolling forward." Traditional, quality programs and events...

Many times both youth and I have been asked by other churches, "why don't you get a better or more reliable van? Why don't you guys have something better?" Our simple reply? "We love Clifford!" We love her for all of her stinkiness and adventures and having to shut doors from the outside only. Of course, we love the fact that she is like a TANK... and she holds lots of STUFF... and she makes every trip a bit more unpredictable. We just love her. We don't want a better van, we want OUR van... with all her craziness.

This weekend, Clifford was put to use in the area of helping my parents move to their new house. SHe is a BEAST. She holds lots of STUFF. She was perfect and up for the task. Until my LAZINESS nearly did her in.

At the youth house when I don't want to carry stuff from the house, down the path, down the stairs, and to the driveway... I pull Clifford up to the door, on the lawn. This seemed a reasonable idea for unloading the back porch of my mom's house as well. Or not.

So I drove around the back of the house, stopped to back up, and GOT STUCK IN THE MUD. Like... spinning tires and all. I COULD NOT GET OUT. (This is the second time this kind of thing has happened to me. Last time the van belonged to the girl scouts!). My mom and I stood and stared for a while, we tried to do all the things that you usually do when you want to get a car unstuck... and then we had to call AAA and get them to come and TOW THE VAN OUT OF THE MUD. FER SERIOUSLY.

I am done driving the van on anything that is not cement. FOREVER.

High Challenge Course Facilitator Training.

This weekend I drove back and forth to camp 3 times. I did not once go the same way. I was trying to find new and faster ways to get to camp and back.

Sunday morning on my way to camp (about 7:45 am- which is ridiculously early for a Carly) I remembered that one of the things that I love the most about working at camp is driving there on pretty mornings with the sky turning orange and then fading into a perfect day.... just me, the Saturn, some tunes, and a nice cup of coffee... so I decided I don't really need to find a faster way to get ANYWHERE... I need to remember to enjoy the moments and not get caught up in the rush.

SO, the funny thing is that I realized this is the 6th year I have taken facilitator training at Camp Whip Poor Will. This means that I have been directly connected to WPW for longer as an adult than I was as a child (11 years as a "staff" person and 8 years as a camper). This is a very earth shaking thing for me... I am getting old.

SO... Facilitator training went something like this... (3 days... a summary)
-"This is a fully adjustable participant harness for little people" "A what?" "A fully adjustable participant harness for little people" "Do you think we should say skinny people? It might be offensive to the little people." "Uh... don't you think skinny people would be offended too?"
- "I just remembered that I really don't like soup. AT ALL." "Then why are you eating it?" "I thought it looked good."
-"If you are like Carly you just show up after everything is set up, then you don't have to worry about it."
-"He wears his helmet in the bathroom. Yesterday was St. Patrick's day. You never know."
-"You want to help demonstrate a rescue?" "OK, how are we going to do that without cutting the lobster claws?" "I am sure we can make it work" Later while Carly hangs below the log, unable to unattach her caribiner and be lowered... "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea" "A little late for that! How am I getting DOWN?!"
-"Carly can you tell us how to set up the flying squirrel? Walk us through the set up procedure?" "Carly won't know she is never here for set up." "That is true. I have no idea, usually it is set up when I get here!"
-"Are the chest harnesses Carly and Bob are modeling the right size?" "Uh... they would work" "Yeah, but the girls would never be the same!"
and finally...
-"Can we wrap this up? My youth need some Jesus and its your fault they are not getting any!".

Yes, any weekend at camp is an interesting one.
Onward.

Thoughts

Recently I have been reading the book Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation. It has been an interesting read. I would recommend it.

Anyway, in recent days and weeks (and months) things have been more and more complicated in my church/work/ministry life. On Saturday I was reading and this little tidbit was part of what I read. I wish that I could express myself this well because honestly it is EXACTLY how my heart feels right now...

"Admission. There are some days when I no longer want to be the church. I want to walk away. Call it quits.

Why the occasional urge to bail out the nearest emergency exit? Fear, grief, disappointment, anger. You name it. Even the best laid human intentions sometimes misevolve the church into a cannibalistic organization that eats its own leaders.

So, lately, I weigh the cost, wondering, “How many times will I have to watch the lives of those I love be sacrificed. Wondering, “How many times can I feel this level of grief before I lose the ability to see the cause as noble?”

And I choose to press on. Sometimes only because I know that outside of the church there lies even more devastation. That the hope she carries is our only shot. Without her, we’ve got nothing.

So I cross the line in the sand one more time and say: I will be the church. Sometimes that is all I can do."

Thanks Sara Cunningham... for saying what is on my heart.

PS. I finished the book yesterday so if you are interested in reading it... let me know! I love to pass my books on!

Nick's Birthday Cake

So, lately I have gotten a reputation around here for my mad baking skills. Truthfully, I don't bake that well... but I do have a bit of a creative streak... so this weekend was my nephew Nickolas's 5th Birthday party and I made him a dinosaur cake. I couldn't get a pan so I freehanded it. Here it is...


I KNOW... mad skills... I need to get this out of the heads of those who know it or I am going to be making cakes forever.