so much fun!!!

I worked an adventure group over the weekend at camp. IT WAS SOOOOO MUCH FUN!!! It was a family retreat, 50-60 people, all from one church, ages 5 to probably 70. We pushed the tables back in the dining room to make enough room. The first game was Rock, Paper, Scissors baseball...and wouldn't you know there were adults who'd never played rock, paper, scissors before!!! We also played "Scoot your Buns" and "Have You Ever" both along the lines of musical chairs. And I can't leave out "Look Up, Look Down" a game that takes no skill...other than screaming. The hour we spent together was more fun than I have had in months. To see grown adults not just playing these silly games but loving them was incredible. I especially loved overhearing the grandparent-types reliving the games over breakfast the next morning.
I also had a great experience with this group on the "Pamper Jump." It's called pamper b/c you're held up by your pampers:) I belayed for 11 adults half of which were NOT going until their friends coerced them. Their faces were all priceless as they reached the platform and realized they were jumping off a platform 20ft in the air...that felt like 40 or 50.
My time spent with this group is a highlight of my 10+ years facilitating adventure education!!! Thanks Beulah Pres.!!!

And there was much rejoicing!!!

Today the good news is that I found a job...temporary and not exactly the ideal I had hoped for but a significant step in the right direction. In a few weeks, I will be moving to Indiana, ~30 miles south of Indianapolis, to a place called Bradford Woods. Throughout the year they host adventure education and environmental education groups. On top of that during the summer they run camps for kids with special needs. All of their ropes courses and climbing tower are handicap accessible to a certain degree, something I have never dealt with before. I will be working directly with the adventure and environmental education groups facilitating and teaching. I spent more of my time at Ligonier in the office and supervising than actually facilitating groups so this will give me the opportunity to brush up on rusty skills. Honestly, I'm not exactly sure what to expect, and I am trying to keep it that way. Training starts Feb 16.

It Is Well With My Soul

Since I can remember I have been singing the hymn It is Well with My Soul by Ho­ra­tio G. Spaf­ford. I have always found solace in the words and especially enjoyed belting it out in a cafeteria packed with college students who felt the same way. But yesterday was different. The words I have loved so many years actually registered in my brain.
You see, singing these words has helped me put things behind me. Not exactly a turning point, but the opportunity to consciously decide to let go of stupid hurts I'd been holding on to and forget them. I always thought the song was just about moving on after painful experiences.
But yesterday I couldn't get the words "whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul" out of my head. "My lot" has varied over the years sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes ever changing but regardless it has been well with my soul. God's sovereignty has not fluctuated with my roller coaster. He is constant. At the beginning, middle, and end of every part of my life.
So now when I sing this beloved hymn it won't just be time to put something behind me. It will be a reminder of God's constant sovereignty and the fact that deep down even if I don't feel it, it is well with my soul.

big huge ugh!

I had a face-to-face interview last week. I wasn't sure what they thought of me but I was really excited...about the place, the facilities, the people, the chance to work outside the Christian bubble again, and most of all the job description. I felt like they wrote it for me. Driving home I felt peace. I tried so hard not to get too excited because well, employment just hasn't gone in my favor lately. Today I found out it didn't exactly go my way. I got an offer...just not for the job I wanted. Now I have so many more unanswered questions than when I started this whole job hunt last summer. Have I been searching for the wrong thing all along?

Psalm 119:28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

Wilderness First Aid training

If you ever think about going into the wilderness...STAY HOME! No just kidding, but that's kind of how I felt while my brain was being overloaded with information about how to care for injured people in the wilderness. I think the hardest concept to grasp was that I may actually need to use this information to safely evac someone and maybe save someone's life. I did very well on my multiple choice test but it was just sooooo much info to take in. Most of us wanted concrete instructions, unfortunately or maybe fortunately, they weren't to be given. The most popular answer to all of our questions was "it depends" because there are so many variables to take into consideration.

The pictures are our attempts at splinting a knee. We decided mine was too short so we tried Mark's. His didn't turn out to well either but we processed a ton of good ideas and things I wouldn't have picked up on had we gotten it perfect right away.
Jim started the class by stating that 'once you have the knowledge expect God to use you.' Overall, I'm a bit anxious about using my new knowledge. But I also know that God won't throw something my way He can't handle through me. That's when I take a deep breath:)