Nothing Gets Crossed Out

If you want something done right, You have to do it yourself, my lesson for the week. So a couple of us went to Victoria Gardens last night to eat and watch a movie. We had our music up pretty loud in the car only attempting to drown out the, what sounded like a bird underneath my tires. Every time we used the brakes on my car a very loud and obvious chirp, squeak was coming from them. As you know on the mountain, going down you tend to use them about every turn. So I guess the firstborn it cost me to get them fixed wasn't enough to get the job done correctly. I need to start applying to go to a mechanic school, then I would just be able to take care of this, next time my car has any trouble.
Wow I have been here almost 2 months now. Time has flown so fast I don't want this summer to end. I have met so many good people, and friends that I don't want to lose. This summer has been incredible.
It's funny what we worry ourselves about, in hinsight they seem so trivial, but in the moment, you feel like you could ruin your life if you screw up a decision. It's good to know God has a plan and there is a reason for everything, we just might not know what it is at the time.

Dre-e-e-eam DreamDreamDream

I had a pretty scary dream. Not like any monsters or creepy people who wanted to kill me. So last night Deb and I were babysitting for Aaron, when we finally got Leah to go to sleep I fell asleep to the mystery movie "Charade", starring Audrey Hepburn and Walter Mathauw...I dont know how to spell his name. I remember thinking in a scene while Audrey was puffing so gracefully on her cigarette, that she can really pull off smoking and looks good. So I had a dream that I was a camp counselor and it was juniors week. My job was to make sure a car full of kids got to Dan Skippers House so I guess I couldn't wait to light up a cigarette (probably inspired by Audrey) and I smoked a cigarette in the car, full of campers then for some crazy reason my conscience spoke up and made me realize that I wasn't supposed to smoke in front of campers. When we arrived at the House Dan was set up with some goofy games for the kids to play, while I had to think of some way I could apologize to him, one for breaking the code of conduct here at camp, and two for doing it infront of campers. I woke up to the relief that I had not done any of those things, but I was seriously sweating it in my dream.

7-20-05

Today amidst the hustle and bustle of the office, a package came for me, it was the mysterious cell phone, that I had Overnighted. I was a Bit worried because I looked up on the internet, to see what it looked like, and I thought I had ordered that big Yellow walky talky looking one. Which would have been fine, just different than what I am used to. To my relief it was a similar one to my late phone.
I got my brake pads finally changed today it only cost my first born, but I guess, knowing that my brakes will not go out while I am racing down a mountain, it's worth it.
I am heading to Brawley this weekend to hang out, which should be.....HOT, so I hear. But I am excited to get off the mountain for a few days. It poured down rain today, it cooled everything down. I got a feeling like I was back in MO for a second....(sigh)... And I am over it.
I am not going to lie, I miss my friends, so here's to all you out there who aren't here. Heather, Stacey, Cody, Jeff, Sarah, Lee, Kim, Jackie, you are missed.

Things Just Getting Good

It's so amazing, when God completely shows himself, he has just given me more than 8 hugs this week. Sometimes I overlook how much he really does care for us. Thank goodness he isn't an unjust God, waiting for us to screw up. Without getting into too many boring details, my life seriously fell apart in a 24 hour period. Not really but it was one thing after another. God sent just about every person my way to help me get through it and it just makes me smile. He really does have everything in control. Why do I always think I can do it on my own? You don't have to answer that.
Today was another good day in the office, you all will be happy to know all the pencils Mr. J could need are sharp. Another failed attempt to get my brake pads changed they were too busy. Cassandra, Debbie and I went to Target to get our pics developed, but first Debbie and I got in a fist fight, noone was seriously injured only our pride.

"Peace Train is Sounding Louder"

Sharpening boxes of pencils, and sorting mail for Camp Winataka. That is what is filling my time here at camp. I can't forget the 101 degree weather and the unsolved issue of how to get 600 flies out of the bathroom, they just showed up today, I don't know why. It's pretty relaxing, knowing that I don't have to be running any games this week, The campers, (mostly counselors) are pretty different this week, they have made up a chant or song to sing for everything, literally everything. As soon as the campers got here they had them practicing a dance in the lodge. They have code names like "Princess He Man She Ra" but lets face it, it doesn't compare to a name like "Borus the alpha male", or Quantishfa Casanova".
I am waiting for Tyrone (the Copy Machine Repair Man ) right now, and Terri, better known as Spandex, just visited me she couldn't stay long. I am listening to Rilo Kiley and trying to think if there is anything else i could update you on. Well try to stay cool out there

"God bless the daylight"

It was a week to remember, there were so many kids running around like maniacs. It was fun though, probably one my favorite weeks. Everyone was pretty friendly in general I got to actually connect with a couple of campers, which is rare for me in my position this summer. It feels good to know your work is appreciated, and I was encouraged in more ways than one this week. The week went fast and on Friday I was ready for this break. We went to Oceanside to stay at a beach house, but before we could arrive there God wanted to mess with us a little bit. Through a fender bender, and overheating 3-4 times, waiting at a Mcdonalds for it to cool down and not one person asking us if we needed help, 7 sad faces were trying to cheer up by playing the guitar. Which it did help, on the way to get more water to pour into the car, I realized that I was being bummed out because I was going to be later than I expected to a beach house, are you serious, how spoiled am I really. If that is all it takes, I am afraid if something actually tragic happened to me. So it was a good learning experience for everyone involved.
We arrived in Oceanside 7 hours later, and ate at Colima's, Walked on the beach and enjoyed the company. Once again, we relaxed all weekend, and I think we all really needed it.
I got a chance to talk to some people that I usually don't get a chance to, and that is why I love the weekends. Stacey and Jeff, and Stacey's sister Melissa came in and she was cool to get to meet. Cody's sister Katie came down for the barbecue on the beach, I always enjoy talking with her and listening to her. We all enjoyed the brief company of Dan, the random drunk man who walked up to us thinking we were his friends, so he decided to serenade us with a song he just made up right there on the spot, it was a bit weird.
Staying there for a couple days is making me seriously consider living there, I couldn't help but try to think of some way I could possibly afford something like that. We ended our journey in Oceanside at Alber Tacos, where we said our goodbyes to those who do not have to work this week. One sad note before I go, I completely broke my entire phone, when we arrived here at camp, I was holding my purse with the same hand as the one I shut the car door with lost grip and flung my purse into a rock where my phone was snapped in half and I haven't been able to get it to turn on.

Sugar on the asphalt

Sitting on the top of the zipline tower sippn' some lemonade and I realize.... this is my summer job. I take so much for granted sometimes. How cool is it to hang out with a bunch of friends and play games all day, not to mention an incredible worship time 5 days a week. This place is such a blessing to me.

"Did you know right from the start when you first held me in your arms that you would always hold my heart?"

So I just recently recieved a card from my mother and I can't explain how much I love her. She has shown me so much about how to love and how to make sacrifices for others, she is continually surprising me with her generosity.
This weekend was wonderful, I stayed around camp with a few friends and we did nothing, literally, and I loved every minute. We did make one journey well 2 we saw the Fantastic Four, on Saturday night, and before that we drove to see if the mechanic could change my brake pads but they are closed on weekends.
Just for the record I wrote an unusually large blog on Saturday and before I could publish it I got kicked off the internet, I was pretty sad. So to make up for that
I would like to dedicate this next segment to a girl I like to call my good friend Debbie Martinez
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to Debbie, Happy Birthday to you!"
This Sunday I did have a brush with "Death" Yep Death itself, we almost met. So there I was riding shotgun in my friend Heather's car on the way to church, going down the winding mountain in San Bernadino National Forest, when all the sudden the very calm voice of Heather said "Yeah, um my brakes are not working," as she literally had the pedal to the metal I started to panic, luckily we had just came to the part where we were on the highway, so she used her emergency brake to stop on the side of the road and the smell of burnt rubber filled the car.
Bumbudddadahh! Nurse Kyle came to the rescue, He and Nikki came up told us to park at Walmart, and we could ride with them. It turned out good, so while we were still on a down hill slope the car proceeded to pick up speed even on the off ramp where we had a red light she had nothing at all that would slow the car down. Thanks to Cody who helped Heather and guided the speeding bullet into safety we took a 90 degree angle at about 45 mph and another one into the parking lot. and pushed the car into an empty spot. The ride to church was pretty quiet, because we all had pooped our pants.
Today was first day of camp for 260 Junior Highers. I must say it is refreshing to see so many bright faces around, and at the same time exhausting.
I have just started to watch the first season of "The OC" and everyone is right so far, I am addicted and I can't wait to watch the next episode. I usually don't get to watch an entire season of anything, so it is a new experience.
Have you ever noticed how your whole life people encourage you to be sure of yourself, get some confidence, make your own mind up, yet I read in Proverbs the other day to lean Not on my own understanding. That is one I have to be reminded of just about as much as I have to remind myself I am not in control.
Just one more plug before I go, I want to encourage my roomy Nikki, I can't even count on one hand how much your words of wisdom have comforted me. I love you very much and I appreciate you.

"Is it Wicked to Smile Even When You Feel Like Crying?"

Day after the Fourth, it made me a bit sad when I realized my childhood memories of fireworks, the Lake, lots of food, and huge family, would not be comforting me this year. It's funny what you realize you miss when you don't have them. Although when I am here in CA, I don't really miss very much from back home, Don't get me wrong, I am not a cold hearted snake, but this place seems to keep me busy, or distracted, or something, that I occasionally get homesick, but I count that as a blessing, not a curse. I wouldn't want to be miserably homesick for the sake of looking like I cared.
So these past few weeks have been alot of fun, and alot of work, and my emotions are running crazy, and I am learning some about myself. I have recently come to the conclusion, that I can be incredibly selfish. That is definitely something I want to work on. This morning in chapel, Keith pointed out that in order to be a disciple of Christ, my relationship with my family, friends, and even my relationship with myself, has to seem like hatred, compared to my love relationship with Christ. I have to show my love towards Christ that much more than I do to myself. Wow. that put me in my place, Just take a moment to reflect on all the things that you do for yourself, than compare it to what you are doing for Christ and to show your love for him. I have a big project ahead of me.