camp and more camp…

so camp has been my life for the last 12 weeks!  it’s been fun, but it’s to the point where a night in my own bed would be extremely encouraging.  we have started our 11th camp today, and we still have two more after this one: one in Georgia and the last one in Pennsylvania.  it’s so easy to become cynical and too comfortable where you just simply go through the motions day after day, but God calls us to strive for excellence and to work with all of our hearts (Col 3:23).  my family had the opportunity to visit, and it was very comforting.  we had a nice meal at Sticky Fingers and even had a chance to check out the Chattanooga Ducks.  it’s hard to describe the experience, but just think about riding in a floating, camouflage, old school bus missing the top that roams the streets of downtown Chattanooga and scoots at an unbelievable speed of 6.5 mph on the Tennessee River!

cincinnati…

A few days ago, we [Student Life team] made our way through the interesting city of Cincinnati where we strolled across the Purple People Bridge and experienced the Cadillac Ranch restaurant.  We had a few days off so we were able to enjoy Kings Island, Ohio’s premier theme park north of Cincinnati.  And the following day, we had the opportunity to see the Reds play… my face in the photo is an exaggeration of my joy for the Reds pulling out the win in the bottom of the ninth inning.  It’s very interesting that the team was wearing camouflage jerseys… what is baseball coming to?  I haven’t been to a baseball game in years, but camouflage… seriously?

Thank you Alison Wilks and Jill Casey for the photos.

 

duncan…

So I now have a Duncan yo-yo.  At Student Life, we have Secret Encouragers (better known as a SE).  Basically, names are drawn at the beginning of the summer and then gifts are secretly given to staff members to encourage them.  Gifts can be anything… literally anything!  I have received anything from a gold fish to Pokémon cards.  Although an itunes gift card is always one of the best ways of encouragement (I hope my SE reads this), a Duncan yo-yo is awesome!  It takes me right back to elementary school when that yo-yo pro came and showed off his made “walk-the-dog” skills.  I haven’t quite mastered “around the world,” but it’s been fun pulling out the “baby’s cradle” in times of awkward social gatherings…

thank you SE.

1, nothing’s wrong with me…

 

wow.