It's May

It's May and I am not ready.

I'm just sayin that if it is May... that means the next 3 weeks are CRAZY CRAZY busy (with rummage sales, church family parties, youth meetings, dragon's games, brownie meetings, conflict resolution days, kayaking, climbing trees, fundraisers, meetings, etc.) In the next few weeks I have to deal with some serious issues and decisions that will take me at a break neck speed into June.

I am not ready for June.

June is summer campout and canoe. It is Vacation Bible School and Costa Rica and the Brownie troop's first campout, and a special wedding I will be missing, and baby showers and craziness. Not to mention getting into the office... and a full on dash for July.

I am not ready for July.

July is finishing up Costa Rica and visits from Russians. It is campouts and conferences and mission teams to Reynoldsburg and Memphis. It is Dragon's games and King's Island and a trip to Russia... and trying to work in the office... and falling headfirst into AUgust.

I am not ready for August.

August is big, huge, life altering decisions, and baby showers (again) and finishing another trip to Russia, and Tar Hollow, and welcoming new youth into the group, and possibly a big huge event I am not ready to share... and trying to work in the office and prepare for the fall... and crying because I am exhausted and crying because I am so blessed... and dragging my exhausted, blessed, dirty, more gray haired, dissilusioned, and enlightened self into September...

and I am NOT READY FOR SEPTEMBER.

It's May. I am not ready for May.

I just have to remember...

The sun will shine in May and I will wear my flip flops and put one foot in front of the other and remember to say... one day at a time.

Spring Break Camp Out

SO... yesterday and today I took my youthies and went on a little thing called the spring break campout at Old Man's Cave in southern Ohio.

This has become a wonderful little tradition where we hike to see Old Man's Cave and the Lower Falls, I beg everyone to hike the 3 miles to Cedar Falls (they all say no because they are lazy bums) and then we return to our campsite and proceed to make AMAZING camp food. Kim says this is because I am fearless in my camp cooking and I basically shoot fire out of my finger tips making it nearly impossible for me NOT to light a roaring campfire. I think it is because I've spent the last 25 years of my life as a girl scout and you can't last that long and NOT make a kick butt fire! Plus, all those years working at Whip Poor Will convinced me that hot dogs and pie iron pizzas are Satan's food! SO this year it was BBQ chicken, corn bread casserole, and cheesy potatoes. YUM.

Then we sat around the campfire for hours, eating doughboys, telling stories, trying to stay warm. It was funny because the things that those kids say to me are so ridiculous! I would NEVER say that stuff to my youth pastor in high school! The stories... goodness the stories... I have never laughed so hard. I love my little youthies.

It was supposed to snow overnight but it didn't and didn't rain until about 11 in the morning. Sweet! IT was SUPER cold though... but a blessing to have my first night in a tent this spring!
Here's to many more to come!

Ahhh... now i need to get some work done, but to those lovely little youthies who graced my presence this adventure... thank you... I needed that!

Christ is risen!

Christ is risen, indeed.

Ahhh... today I am SO tired. Last night I slept for 13 hours. My body hates me now. I never moved, never rolled over, never got up... I basically passed out. If anyone had come into my room they may have thought I was dead.

13 hours. I have not slept that many hours straight ... EVER.

So, this past weekend I organized and led a 37 hour prayer vigil. We had prayer stations and tons of candles and soft music. From 9 pm on Friday night until 10 am on Easter morning we read aloud continuously from the Bible. We started with Matthew 1:1 and proceeded through the entire New Testament. After Revelation we went back to Isaiah 1:1 and read through all the prophets. When we got back to Matthew we backed up and started reading the Psalms.

I thought it was cool experience and really appropriate for the time between the crucifixion and ressurection. I was excited about it. We had decent youth participation and some wonderful adults. I spent time reading aloud alone in the sanctuary at about 6 am, which was creepy but enchanting... the amazing thing is that I selfishly did it for me... but people were telling me at church on Sunday how they had such powerful experiences during their time reading and praying and what a blessing it was to them. Now my selfishness has benefited them... so maybe it wasn't selfish after all!

Anyway... over the course of the weekend... from Friday morning to Sunday night, I slept for 2 hours TOTAL. TIRED!! But on Sunday morning Kels was reading and got to Micah at about 6 am. WHen I took over reading we were in Micah 6... which I LOVE!! So, in the dark sanctuary, Kim and Kelsey sat on the floor in front of me and we took turns reading Micah and Nahum about justice and mercy and God's faithfulness and goodness as the sun rose and lit up the windows... it was SUCH an amazing time... what a blessing. It made all those hours of no sleep and listening to the scriptures come together and it was amazing.

So... Christ is risen indeed... and it had nothing to do with my little vigil, but the vigil did make it wonderful and alive for me this year.

So... off to the Spring Break Campout in the morning at Old Man's Cave. Me, Kim, 10 kids... limitless laughter... and lots of food. Plus, huddling around the campfire in the snow flurries and freezing weather.

Man my life is random!

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.