Mini Week

Every summer, we have a "mini week" for week 5.  The 4th of July always falls during this week, so we plan the camp week around this.  This summer, mini week was only Sunday-Tuesday since the 4th fell on a Wednesday.  During week 4, I knew that I was not going to be able to be a counselor on site during the mini week, even though there is nothing I would rather do.  I had an impending deadline for my final portfolio for my internship and I knew that I would not be able to finish if I had to be with campers 23 hours a day.  So I asked to be put on work crew.

Normally, work crew is quite a few people and it is hard manual labor for some, and office type work for the others.  This week, however, there were only three of us total.  I got to weed whack for 4 straight hours with the rest of my crew, Cami and Ryan.  That afternoon, thankfully, they needed someone to make sno-cones for the campers.  Cami and I gladly accepted the offer.  The next day, they needed someone to work with a church group that was coming in for the day, again, gladly accepted.  Each morning and evening we did our own worship with the rest of the staff members who were not counseling and we got to eat our meals with this group as well.  Work crew was great bonding time.

The best part of mini week was the fact that I was also put as the health care staff for adult campers with special needs.  Last summer, I worked at this site during mini week as a counselor and it was nothing short of incredible.   I was so happy to see so many familiar faces back at the Sjogren Center.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to not only serve on health care staff, but also to interact with all of the campers at Sjogren.  

Gosh darn it, camp just leaves me speechless.  

Week 4

Updates as promised.

Week 4: York, Nebraska.
Fan-freaking-tastic.  I sadly have no pictures to show from this week, but for a good reason I suppose.  I was so completely invested in this awesome community that I never got my phone out to snap any photos.  My host parents, Pastor Terry and Jill, were pretty darn incredible.  Once again, they were one of those couples.  It was impossible to leave their house as the same person.

They were an older couple, and their love for each other was so precious and inspiring.  Sometimes I think I know what love should look like, then I meet an incredible couple like these two who show me that I should never settle for anything less.  That I should be with someone who still looks at me the same way 50 years later.

Not only was their relationship with each other precious, but so was their relationship with God, with their congregation, and with these two strangers whom they welcomed into their home.  Every morning they would make us breakfast, and wait for us before eating so we could share our meal together and do devotions before starting our day.  They made the best breakfast too--sadly I forgot what they called this delicious creation.  It was a bowl full of dry oatmeal, plain yogurt, apple and banana slices, chopped almonds, raisins, and wheat germ.  Mmmm my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Besides Terry and Jill, I got to spend the week with a wonderful, wonderful counselor, Caitlyn.  She and I bonded a lot and worked really well together.  I am so thankful she was sent with me to York and I look forward to continuing our friendship.

Now the campers--the campers were the most polite and well-behaved children I have ever had in three years at camp.  You don't always get that at day camp.  Sometimes the kids at day camp have known each other their whole lives, they are in the same class, on the same baseball team, go to the same babysitter, etc.  So they know each other a bit too well and are sick of each other.  Not these precious children.  They got so into Bible study that we would go over time every day.  How cool is that?

One girl I will always remember is Hannah.  Hannah wears a back brace for scoliosis and was very shy at the start of camp, and couldn't participate in a few activities because of the brace.  She never said she couldn't do things because of her brace, though, she just sat there quietly and said she didn't want to play.  One day, I sat with Hannah at lunch and started asking her about her brace.  I told her that I had to wear a back brace all through high school.  As soon as I mentioned this, she broke out of her shell.  (Funny, because her friends call her a turtle--the brace being her shell.)  Let's just say she opened up.
The first things she asked me:  "Did your pants always fall down?"  "Did your mom have to tie your shoes?"  Yes and yes, kiddo.  It gets better.  The next day, her mom thanked me for making Hannah feel comfortable in her brace.  Mentally comfortable that is.  It is next to impossible for those things to be physically comfy.  Hannah even wrote a rap about her "shell" and shared it with me and we had a special little bond the rest of the week.

Overall, York was fantastic.  Too good to be true, almost.  I am so incredibly grateful for the blessing these people have been in my life.

Coming soon to a blog near you

Summer updates:
-Week 4: Day camp in York, NE
-Week 5: Mini-week at Carol Joy
-4th of July break
-Finishing my internship class
-Thoughts on the rest of the summer

Currently scrambling to finish my final portfolio that is due today.  Tonight, I plan to organize camp things, spend time with the fam, have some much needed TAWG, and finally, sleep!

Balancing act

Working in good old York, Nebraska this week.  Absolutely wonderful so far.  My host parents are fantastic, the counselor I'm working with is doing a great job, and the kids are pretty much the ideal campers.

Of course, this happens to be a 4-day session instead of the typical 5-day session.  I am so bummed that this  is the one that is cut short.

So far, the biggest pain of my summer has been my online class.  I have been using camp as my required internship and there is a class that must be taken along with it.  It has been a lot more work than I expected.  It has been really hard to find the balance between sacrificing the quality of work I put into my internship (camp) and sacrificing the quality of work I put into the class.  With the way camp works, it hasn't really been possible to put everything I have into both.  I have always chosen the internship over the class, which seems like it should be the most important part anyway, but my professor thinks otherwise.  

To sacrifice pouring my whole self into camp would be the real failure to me.  Read any post I have about camp and you will know that this place means more to me than words can explain.
I finally get to spend a few days on site next week, and I had to tell my boss to put me on work crew, when there is nothing I would rather do than counsel.  My final portfolio is due next week and if I am counseling, I won't have the time I need to finish my papers.
In the mean time, I'll be giving my all to the kiddos.  After all, that's why I'm here.

Week 3: Country livin'

Last week, I was in Cook, Nebraska.  Living the country life.  I did day camp at Cook last year, so it was really nice to go somewhere familiar.  The counselor I brought with me was great, our coordinator was wonderful, and our host families were incredible.
I loved living the country life.  It is so peaceful and beautiful and the people are all so friendly.  I've always known I could never be a "bigger than Omaha" city-girl, but I never thought I would want to be a "middle of nowhere" country-girl.
The couple I stayed with are those people you learn so much from just by being in their presence.  They're the ones who don't even know they are making a big impact on your life.  Dean took us to the farm, showed us where he grew up and told us stories from way back when.  He taught Lynnea and I how to drive a tractor and we fed the baby calves.  He also took us to work at a food bank one night.  That was a wonderful experience.  I never realized there was such a need in these teeny-tiny towns.  The food bank is open on the third Thursday of each month and they give several boxes to each family.  We served 231 people that night.  I saw some of my campers there getting food, and it was really good for me to see where they come from.  Yet another experience that makes me feel blessed beyond belief.

Hollis

My first week of day camp coordinating took me all the way to Hollis Renewal Center in Bonner Springs, Kansas.  This place is known for being basically the best day camp ever, so I was pretty excited to be sent down there.
The kids at this camp were incredibly wonderful.  Every single one.  The coordinator here always extends the invitation past the churches and into the inner city (Kansas City) transitional homes and development centers.  Many of the kids came from great families who were really involved with their churches, but the other half came from centers in KC.  At least three of the kids in my group came from a center, and I was told that they live in the most drug and crime filled neighborhood in KC.  Broke. my. heart.

Hollis has trails, worship sites and campfires, so it really wasn't that far off from my home at camp.
Instead of living with host families, we lived in a little cabin in the woods.    

I always know that I am going to miss the kids when I go home, but these kids I cannot get out of my head.  It makes me so sad knowing what they have to go home to each day.  I wanted to bring them back to Carol Joy and let them live there all summer long.
Perfect first week of my real job.

The Springs

Even though I am a day camp coordinator this summer, I had the privilege to stay on site Week 1 and work at The Springs.  (aka my favorite) It was wonderful.  

That week, I felt joy that I had not felt since being there last summer.  Camp Carol Joy stole my heart two years ago, and it's safe to say I'm a goner.
Week 1 was incredible.  I had one camper who cried and cried the first two days.  He just plain hated the outdoors and did not want to do anything but sit in air conditioning and go home.  Throughout the week, I got him to try new things.  This kid ended up loving the high ropes course, swimming, adventure hiking, and adventure canoeing.  His parents did not believe me when I told him the things he had done.  The best part is, he totally loved every minute of it.  He thanked me countless times for taking him adventure hiking. 

Awesome, awesome things happened on this hike.  This is when my group really bonded.  I had a camper who got really frustrated and upset about being hot, tired, sweaty and dirty.  During this adventure hike, she had to walk across a short log over a tiny stream.  She missed her step and went straight in the mud.  Let me tell you, I was waiting for a meltdown.  We all were.  Instead, she started giggling.  Pretty soon, my whole group was crying from laughing so hard.  

As we kept hiking, we saw a friendo (friendship bracelet to you non-camp people) hanging from a tree.  I didn't think anything of it, but one of my girls asked if it was a prayer tree.  When I told her it was not made for that purpose, she asked if we could change that.  So my little village of middle schoolers gathered around, everyone holding onto the friendo and they each prayed.  Holy moly.  I melted.  God is so great.

And then, another smartie said "You know, it's kind of like we are discovering God's Kingdom out here."  The theme for our summer is just that--"Discovering God's Kingdom".  These moments when the campers make connections like this just put me completely in awe of God.  

I could not have asked for a better way to kick off my summer than to spend the week at camp with these incredible kiddos.

Big day.

June 2nd was a triply exciting day.

 
Paisley turned 2. (Pictures to come :) )

I was the personal attendant for one of my very first friends.  We go all the way back to preschool.  The wedding was absolutely beautiful.  It was in an old church at Stuhr Museum.  Words cannot describe how great of a day this was.  Seeing Michelle so happy, seeing my old youth director, and meeting new people made for a wonderful day.

This last one is from the Nebraska Synod Assembly.  I was incredibly honored to be nominated and elected as the Young Adult At Large from Nebraska for the ELCA Churchwide Assembly.  Heading to Pennsylvania next fall!  So incredibly blessed and thankful for this amazing opportunity.  

It's Camp Season!

It's the most wonderful time of the year.  It's camp season!  Since my summer is full of new adventures this time around, I'll have a wee bit more time to document it.

This summer I am a day camp coordinator.  I go to a new church each week and lead NLOM's day camp program and bring some lovely counselors with me.

Here are some pictures starting in May.  

 Morning run

Breakfast Club

I'll document weekly once I get caught up!  This is the first week I've had real internet access. 

These pictures are from staff training in May.  A lovely two weeks of learning, leading, worshiping, and bonding.

2011 recap.

Wowza, this thing has been severely neglected! I hope to write a little more in 2012. We'll start with a 2011 recap. It was a year of mixed emotions, that's for sure.

January
-I started running.
-Continued to lead a Bible study for some lovely college ladies.
-Continued living alone in my studio apartment, which I loved. but I still have had a blast with all of my roomies.

February
-My beautiful mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through a double mastectomy less than two weeks later.
-I got a rejection from Lutheran Volunteer Corps, which was pretty devastating at the time, but now I'm glad I'm still in 'the good life'.

March
-Ran in my first 5k.

April
-I turned the big 2-1.
-Jordan and Truman get married!

May
-Ran my first 10k with my roommate, Hanna.
-Summer #2 at Carol Joy Holling began. Much different than the first, yet neither is better than the other.

June
-Lovin camp. Got to work with both high schoolers and special needs adults this time.
-Relationship with God is strengthened immensely. Discover that my joy is only complete in Him. Have I ever mentioned that I love camp?
-My cute little niece, Paisley, turned 1.

July
-Camp continues.
-Find out that my mom's brother has cancer.
-Mom has her final surgery.
-Camp ends. Best time of my life, again.

August
-Moved back into the 'Burg with new roommates, Hanna and Olivia.
-Senior year begins.
-Back at Kids First.
-Gave up internet (except what was necessary for school), tv, and movies for my Addictions & Diseases class.
-Auction at my grandparents' house in Plainview.

September
-No internet, tv and movies continues.
-Learned a lot from my first field experience from my Addictions class.
-Started up a Bible study with my camp friends.

October
-Hanna and I run another 10k. A very painful one at that.
-No internet, tv, and movies ends on Halloween. Awesome experience that I hope to post more about later.
-Second field experience for Addictions class.
-Wisdom teeth removed.
-School stressed me out more than ever.

November
-Third field experience for Addictions. That makes an AA meeting, Alanon meeting, and Overeaters Anonymous meeting that were among the options required for the class. which was really the absolute best class I have ever taken.
-Thanksgiving in Chapman at Grandma M's.

December
-Mega stress overload with school.
-Got my first 4.0 of college. I'm back, baby. and it feels so good.
-Signed up for the half marathon in May.
-Had a lovely Christmas with my family.

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Overall, 2011 was a major tweener with some major blessings in disguise.

I finally feel like the real Alyssa is on her way back--take that, thyroid (or lack thereof). I have energy. I have motivation. I believe in myself. I learned more this year than I ever have.
And only three words can really sum it all up.
Thank you, God.

update.

Staff training is over and I'm back on the island for the day. I have seen a major change in myself when comparing this year's training to last year's. Last year my first impression was that those people were a bunch of loonies. Little did I know, those loonies would become some of my closest friends and that I too would join the loony bin I love to call my fellow staff. They say that camp is for the campers, but this place has one heck of an impact on the staff as well. I feel like I write about camp a lot..so you already know how much this place means to me and how much it has changed me.
This week I am headed to Cook, Nebraska to do day camp. whoop whoop. So excited to get this summer started! I cannot wait to come back to Carol Joy and hear how the first week went for all of my new friends. Some of these newbies are going to be absolute rockstars and I cannot wait to see them in action.
In other news, ran a totally random 3k this morning with my friend, Jason. It's a pretty funny story. He had friends on a team for the race and a few had dropped out so we took their place and therefore had their names on our stuff. Jason's name was Brooke and mine was Stephanie, who couldn't run the race because she was 9 months pregnant. Hence the reason for the size large tshirt I was signed up for. good times, good times.
Today I also celebrated Paisley's 1st birthday party! My have I missed that beautiful baby. :) It was a great day with my family!
Now it's time to pack up and get some much, much, much needed sleep.

Today is the day!

Heading to camp in a few hours!
I'm so beyond excited.
I don't just want to go back. I need to go back.
Things will certainly be different this summer.
I'm no longer a newbie and the staff has changed significantly, but I'm thankful I still have a few good friends returning.

I'm not ready to return to the ginormous bugs who like to join me in my sleeping bag, the nasty humidity and heat, and most certainly not ready to get back on a horse...but it's all worth it. (Okay, not the horse--still have nightmares, but you get the gist.)

I'm so excited to see how God is going to move all these kiddos and staff, I feel so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful ministry.

Carol Joy, I'll see you soon.

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places."
-Roald Dahl

Friday's to-do list.

Pretty excited about today's to-do list. (except Jillian)
1. Bible/journal time.

2. Ripped in 30 with Jillian Michaels. Come on rain, go away, I want to run!
3. Going to the book store to get Heaven is for Real.

4. Spending as much time as possible without technology.

5. Getting stuff ready for camp. (5 days!)

6. Cleaning out my junk boxes. Man it feels good to purge and organize!

You are everything You've promised.

You guys. God is so good. It's late and I don't want to bother anyone so I'm just going to write it because I have to get it out! I've mentioned before a few precious little boys who have had a very, very rough go at life. I've been praying all year, and especially all week for today's events, and I finally got the news from a coworker just a few minutes ago.

I have a whole lot of colorful feelings for the "mom" of the boys. I have a hard time using the term "mom" for her, because, well because she's the farthest thing from what I know to be a mother. Anyway, that's not the point. The point is--she is finally giving up her rights to the boys, which means they can now be adopted! (as long as she doesn't change her mind by June 10th. prayers, please!) The best part is, there is an awesome family who has been a part of this process for a while now and they want all three boys. How wonderful is this? My goosebumps just won't go away.

The next best part? The youngest took his first steps today at work. This was much more exciting than hearing about the first steps of the other kids at the daycare. We expect those kids to all start walking once they hit a certain age, but this little guy is different. He is 18 months old and was born on meth. and he took his first steps today. I'm so excited for these boys. What a life they have to look forward to!

My problems are small today. God is so good.

It's almost summer.
One more final.

I think I can. I think I can..

dos de abril

I'm a lot behind on posting and a lot busy with life. I figure I'll just do updates in small chunks. Plus, I'm not sure if I'll ever print pictures like I think I will, so blogger is serving as a temporary photo album. Chunk #1: 21st birthday. Went to Omaha to see my friends Kristin & Katie and did some shopping. After that, made my way down i80 to see my wonderful family. It was a very low-key day spent with some of the most important people! Kristin & myself

Kris, me, Katie It was Paisley's 10 month birthday, too! :) I love this face.

Playing dress up?

I feel like I'm having my third quarter life crisis. and my face tingles now, almost constantly as a result of stress. cool, right? do you know what stresses me out more? that fact that I am fixated on my tingling face. certainly annoying. sorry guys, rant over. happy friday, everyone. enjoy that weekend!

slowest countdown ever

54 days.

I'm beginning to feel that Lincoln is just that place I live in between summers. My patience is failing me.

kid quotes

Devon: (3 yrs old): "Look at those gorillas, Miss Alyssa!" Me: "Where? I don't see any." Devon: "Look out the window!" Me: "huh?" Devon: "You know, what you hold when it's raining!" Me: "Devon, that's called an umbrella, a gorilla is a big monkey." Devon: "Nope. You use gorillas when it rains."

Reminds me of the parents/carrots mix up I had just a few weeks ago. Me: "Quinn, your parents are going to be sad when I have to tell them you were in timeout." Quinn: "Which ones?" (lots of confusing dialogue later...) Quinn: "Which ones? My orange, crunchy parents that I eat? Or my mommy and daddy?" My job is so entertaining, yet so confusing sometimes.