A request from Jaime Adams

Well Jaime, this video is for you! He wouldn't dance like the gummy bear while the camera was on, but he loves the song any way :-)

Pre-Birthday day

Tomorrow is my birthday and I am going to Wildwood! Super excited!! I was at work (Papa Murphy's) and practically got giddy thinking about the big day. I can't wait to be able to go fishing, hiking, horse-riding, shoot bow and arrow, arts and crafts, and speak Jesus with some kids. Just can't wait!!!!! Before I was not looking forward to my bday because I was worried about being lonely since my family and a lot of my friends aren't here, but I'm going to take the blessings that God has given me and take advantage. So excited!!!

Field Trip!!

This afternoon Augie and I took an adventure to Wildwood- what can I say, I can't resist the place! My other motivation for the field trip was that I heard that one of my favorite ranchers, Trayvon, was there. It was absolutely incredible to see the effect that Augie had on these hurting children- they wanted to be his role model, they wanted to take care of him and show him new things! I remember one boy (last year) had no desire to be at camp and was considered a 'code Gump' (runner) for the first five hours and we had to continually chase him and bring him back from the highway and today he was excited to play with Augie, and of course, Augie is receptive to all attention. He had both boys and girls aweing over him and wanting to play with him. Even grumpy Mr. Lynn (Augie called him 'Cowboy') couldn't help but smile and giggle over what Augie was doing. Mr. Lynn offered Augie to ride one of the horses but Augie told us 'not quite yet, Augie's not quite ready' I feel this means we need to make more trips down!

They were teaching Augie how to punt it!

Augie and this boy talking about the lake and the pool

Trayvon and Augie playing catch

The picture on the left is from last year, and the one on the right from today. It's amazing to me to see how much this little boy has grown, and that he remembered me!

True Story

Yesterday I took Augie to Ledges State Park with the intention of walking in the river. Before we left the house, I talked to him about this and he was very excited to walk in water! He didn't fully understand what fun was going to be had, but past experience has taught him to trust that I have fun in store for him. So, we were walking down the winding hills and I knew exactly where we're going and Augie was following. We were less than 20 feet from the river destination and all of a sudden Augie got distracted by a pile of sand. All he wanted to do was play in that measly pile of sand even though I kept reminding him about the super-fun upcoming river and I had a better plan than the sand. Eventually I was able to persuade him to start walking my way but instead of taking the paved path he wanted to walk through the grass that was taller than him. Augie ended up tripping and falling over sticks and having difficulty seeing me. We finally go to the river and he loved it! At first, while walking through the river he was having no problems staying on his feet and figuring out where the rocks were and where to step. Then it started getting deeper and rockier and Aug instinctively reached up for my hand that is always ready for him. At some parts I was there as a simple comfort- that he'll be okay- other places he was completely dependent on me to stand. When we were leaving he was so tired and physically exhausted there was no way that he could make it back up the winding hills. I picked him up and carried him through the winding hills, carrying his toy turtle, toy boat and sippy cup. Though carrying Augie was a little difficult for me, I realized that none of our trip was impossible for me. I've done it many times on my own and with others. But for Augie, without me he would have had no guidance, support or strength to figure it all out.

Thank you God for showing me how much I am like Augie in Ledges Park. Thank you God that I have Jesus there to show me the way, to wait patiently as I walk through long grass stubbornly. Thank you Jesus that you are there to hold my hand, hold me up or carry me and all of my baggage.

Pictures Blog!

Here are some pictures from my recent life:

I took Augie to Emily's fiance's farm for the day. It was a good moment because many of my childhood memories have been spent on the 4020 tractor with my dad 

Checking out the steers

At Reiman Gardens in the butterfly part

My last hangout with B before she went to camp

Ha, she got the swing AND her glove stuck on top and stubbornly asked for help

We were playing Jenga and then had a sculpture contest, of course I won! (His sculpture)

She had Kleenexes in case she got a little emotional over her loss (her sculpture)

Took Jack to Ledges and traipsed through the river

For one of my three days off I went to Wildwood and followed them around while doing staff training

Found a crawdad!

Sasha tried to jump the washout....and ALMOST made it!

One of the grossest team building activities ever- clean out the sludge from the river flooding

The beautiful sunsets at this place are one of the many reasons I love it

Blegh.

My posts have been sparse and I have little excuses.
To be completely honest, I feel that for the past few weeks (maybe month and a half?) I've been in a funk. A depressed, discontent, filled with contempt toward God funk. This past week through church, a new bible study and salt company I've realized that I'm just generally upset that I'm still in Ames and not being as busy as I would like. I'm starting to realize that although I have these obstacles and trials I shouldn't be focusing on those and complaining, my focus should be on God's awesome and mighty power. Also, God has shown me that it's not about my plan, or my desire to be busy busy busy, it's about His plan. His plan is ALWAYS better than mine and I need to trust that me being in Ames has a Godly purpose and I need to quit moping around my apartment being a lazy pile and quit bringing others down with my complaining and start truly reflecting His light.

Now, about the new bible study- I'm mostly excited about it (I'm still trying to avoid quiet time with God and using distractions...) It's called the Radical Experiment and it's all about getting to know God more because you want to out of the overflowing passion of your heart. Now some (including myself) would think, 'didn't you just write that you're upset with God and don't want to follow?" Yup, that's why I'm doing it. I want to learn about God more so that I can have a better appreciation for Him, His power, might and absolute glory. So, the challenge of it is that you read the bible in a year (which I've tried and have yet to succeed), pray for the World in a year (have never tried, and I like learning about the countries so far and am beginning to have more of a heart for the world!), give sacrificially (I can always work on that), become a crucial part of a local church (kind of hard to commit to since I'm leaving in August but.....) and to engage in a different context (like eating at Food at First with those that have less than me). I've started the bible reading and the praying for the world, still trying to figure out the logistics of the others. (That sounds like a total cop out/reason for a distraction/reason for not doing it, and it most likely is). That's that. Please pray for my heart through all of this and that God totally transform it.

No official word from Rawhide yet, their waiting to talk to my references.