Wednesday, August 29, 2007

My Blog Has Been Up One Year and My Time At Camp!

(all of us at the top of the mountain)

Just over a year ago I posted my first post in blogger land. I had just come home from Camp where I was a Cabin Leader at a Teen Girls camp. See original here.

Well two weeks ago I came home from the same camp and again worked at Teen Girls. The girls in my cabin were wonderful and I made so many wonderful memories. It was a blast to go tubing with two of my campers. I've been to this camp many times before over the years but had never had a chance to take the hike up the mountain. So one day Rosalyn announced she was taking a group of girls up and we had to meet at the flag pole. My mom was also working in the kitchen and my sister was the speaker and we all thought it would be great.(view from the top)

First off, I thought I was in okay shape and thought it wouldn't be that hard. Let me tell you I was wrong. It was a grueling 45 minute hike that was fast paced and for the very fit. My sister and I took many breaks along the way while everyone else trailed ahead. My mom had no problems but my sister and I were panting out of breath and feeling like our lungs would cave in. It was a sheer test of endurance and I kept asking the Lord for strength with each step. It was up rock, tree bark, moss, bush, etc. A couple of times I told my sister I wasn't sure I could do it. I mean deep down I thought I could but at the time it seemed impossible.
(view from the top looking down at the camp)

It was a lot like life, you go through trials and tribulations but you persevere through it all and you make it one day at a time and one step at a time. When we got to the top the view was breathtaking and it was wonderful to catch my breath and enjoy it all. So I thought going down would be a piece of cake. Well no, it took a long time because there were falling rocks everywhere and I had to come down cautiously one foot in front of the other. We were blessed we had another Cabin Leader who knew the way back and was able to go slow with us. A few girls even got lost up there by taking the wrong path and the guide had to go back and get them but they make it back safely.

So this year there were no cougar sightings (unlike my post last year) and I was so thankful. Being out in the cabins the Cabin Leaders take the campers out to the washrooms at night. I still kept my cell phone handy just in case I saw or heard anything but saw nothing. I came back energized and felt like I'd had a holiday. It was hard to say good-bye to the campers as it always is but I knew I would keep in touch with them.
One of the neat crafts we did this year was make monkey's. The camp had a jungle theme this year and so it fit in perfectly. It was such a fun project and there are still things I want to fix on mine but thought I would post him up on the blog for all to see. :)

I brought my cheap automatic camera and haven't developed the photos yet so the ones of the hike are from a friend at camp. Since the mishap with my last digital camera, I didn't want to take any chances with my new one.

K. is up there right now as I type this and I know she will have many stories of her wonderful week. Just thought I better get cracking and get my post up.

Blessings to all and to all a good-night,

S.

Friday, August 03, 2007

A Lot Going On!

First hole being dug.
Eddie in the first hole.

Well as you can see two weeks ago the renovations to fix our leak started out swimmingly. The guys had to replace cracked tiles and we thought maybe just one or two needed replacing. It turned out that they to dig out the left side of our house and a big hole in our lawn. About 8 weeping tiles were replaced and a new pipe put in.

An old pipe.
A pipe that will break easily. Adam demonstrated this by throwing a rock at it.

In total it took 8 days to fix. The guys were at the house on an off for a few hours at a time. There was lots of drilling and digging happening and I realized what it must feel for people who get their house renovated for months on end. I was just happy it was all happening outside.


The side all dug up.
One of the guys inside.

It's all finished now and we are ready for a heavy rainstorm. Let is rain, let it rain. Now we just have to get the cement filled in where they filled the hole with dirt.

I'm off to camp as a counselor so will have adventures to talk about when I return. Just pray I don't see any cougars.

Till then,

:)S.