April 2012

This month was simply AMAZING!  I had very few lows, and I like it that way!

Lows:

• When my Phase 2 ended, one of the little girls actually burst into tears and ran from the room.  I know a little about her home life, and it's hard when someone comes in that she gets very attached to, and then they leave like I did.
• I pinched my finger on a Carabeaner.  I do not wish to feel that feeling again.

Highs:

• I spent half of April's weekends at home.  It is always a good feeling to go home and go horseback riding with my dad, play with Ruby, eat home cooked meals, spend time with Gramps and Grammy, go to church and fellowship with my church family, and just sleep in my bed.
• Like I said above, I got to go horseback riding a lot!  I just love that feeling of being on a horse and feeling the wind and seeing things from up high.  When we ride, Jenny usually likes to go fast when we turn towards the house, then she will STOP and Dad and Bufford always beat us to the hitching post.  Jenny and I beat them twice!  That has NEVER happened in my whole life!
• On Easter, my family was able to Skype with my sister.  This was a new experience for Gramps and Grammy.  So much so that they didn't know what to talk about, and if you know anything about my grandparents, you will know that they never run out of things to say!  It made for a few laughs!  :)
• My Phase 2 experience ended this month.  It was a great experience and I was glad it was over because I was starting to get wore out!
• I registered for fall classes, and with only a couple of bumps, I made it through and am registered for my final semester at UNI!  WHOA!!!
• I FINALLY finished a quilt that has been in the works for a couple of years now.  Between the blocks, piecing it, quilting it, and then binding it, it took quite a while!

• I got the exciting approval this month that I will be living with the Abrahamson's next spring when I complete my student teaching.  How wonderful is that?  They move away, JC has to leave for college and I need a place to live.  God's timing is incredible is it not?
• I got to go to camp two weekends in a row this month and both of them I showed up on Thursday and left on Sunday!  One weekend I helped with the horses.  The other weekend I learned so many names!
• I also started the Scratch Cupcake Tour!  I have now tried 3 new flavors with 71 flavors to get a stamp on!  :)

I had a wonderful month, and I'm looking forward to whatever May brings.  I'm looking forward to more weekends at home, weekends at camp, more cupcakes, and experiencing apartment life.  I've met a lot of new people and can only imagine who I will meet in May!

My favorite picture from April!  :)

Dippy, Dippy, Dip

Honestly, I haven't had a bad weekend in a very long time, and I would like to keep it that way!  I had a WONDERFULLY long, exhausting, encouraging, fun weekend at camp.  Thankfully, I was able to go early and work on some other things besides things for the Women and Girl's Retreat.

Jess Hanken rode with me, and we got to leave on Thursday.  What a BEAUTIFUL day it was!  We even stopped for a Scratch cupcake before we left town!  We arrived at camp early in the afternoon.  I was determined to finally make a trek up to Pulpit, so after spraying my ankles with Deep Woods OFF! I was off!  I paced myself and felt really good despite my lack of being in shape and for the first hike up to Pulpit of the season.  It was simply stunning at the top!  I breathed deep the scent of pine.  For a while, I just sat taking it all in.  I shut my eyes and just let the wind wash over me.  I spent a good amount of time praying.  Pulpit is one of those places where I can feel the most calm.  Finally, with a light, happy heart, I began my descent.  I made my way to the craft room to survey the task that I volunteered to undertake for the weekend.  It looked a little rough, but nothing I couldn't handle!  I was able to get the rockets out of there, and I got the window open!  Those two things made amazing improvements!  Peter and Katrina came to dig through some old camp shirts, and he found me my size of the superhero shirt from a few years ago!!  :)  Soon after, Jess and I moved into 602.  It's becoming like my second home!  We went down to join Daniel for supper, and then I got roped into watching The Hulk with them.  It wasn't bad, but I joked with Daniel about sticking with Disney movies, and then we had a discussion about the violent deaths of the villains.  When it came time for a shower, there was no hot water, so that didn't last long!  We were in bed early with the fact that we would have a long day on Friday.

Friday brought chilly weather, and a couple of cups of hot chocolate.  I did so much in the craft room!  One thing that made me feel so much better was to wash the paint shirts.  They needed it!  Jess and I also refilled the paint bottles and made a little bit of a mess, but I made it out of there without getting paint on my shoes!  :)  Camie, Toby, and I then worked in the camp store.  Toby helped me move the shirts, and we got everything all hung up and looking nice.  Soon, Melini came and I showed her some of the craft room stuff.  She did a lot of the scrape booking things, and I am going to use some of her ideas on some future projects.  I helped with registration and showed campers where to go.  I was also loaded up like a pack mule a few times.  Just getting geared up for the summer, I guess!  :)  I was the leader of a chapel group for the weekend, so just after worship, most of us girl staff took all the girl campers to the Dining Hall for chapel.  We sang songs, and this was a new one for us.





I'm pretty sure that it will be stuck in our heads for quite a while.  I had about 20 girls in my group of 9-11 year olds.  They were so much fun!  We played a get to know you game, and I had all their names down!  After snack time, I rode with Andrea back to our cabin.  She was only at camp for the first 2 weeks last year, so I caught her up on how the rest of the summer went.  I learned that she had one of mine and Alison's campers from Junior 2 the year before we had her.  It was such an encouraging conversation and it was so much fun to talk about how God worked last summer.  Bed time turned out to be a little bit later that night.

The next day, my alarm had gone off and naturally, I had hit the snooze.  I heard a truck pull up and grew confused.  The next thing I knew, someone was knocking on our door.  No one else heard, so I got up to answer the door.  Luke was standing there.  He had come to see where Laura was because she wasn't in the kitchen.  It was an entertaining start to the day.  When I came down to breakfast I caught up with Luke Mosiman.  Never a dull moment with that guy!  I also found out that instead of doing pony rides with him and Andi, I would be doing porcelain.  Chapel groups were again a lot of fun!  I had girls who were following along in their own Bibles as I told them the story of Naaman and his little servant girl.  We then played Dead Cow.  These girls were good!  It was hard to make them laugh!  Even if I was bummed about not doing pony rides, I had a good time in the craft room doing the porcelain.  After lunch, I grabbed up my contract that I had been waiting on!  I'm so excited to see what the summer will bring!  I headed to the trampolines with Ben and Brennan.  Honestly, I'm pretty sure I was given the job because it needed an adult.  I don't know how the trampoline works.  I know how to harness and that's it.  I harnessed the little, little girls all afternoon.  I got to know all their names too.  I'm pretty sure the moms were impressed, but I was just practicing my skills for when I'm a teachers.  I lifted so many little girls up that afternoon!  We were busy for 3 hours straight!  In the last 20 minutes, I managed to pinch my finger in the Carabeaner.  I hurt a little bit, and when we were done, I had to go get it all fixed up so I could host.  Emily and I got everything set up, and then I served ice cream!  It was so much fun!  After a while, Josiah came to help, and I think I taught him a few things about hosting...at least I hope he learned something!  Supper that night was AMAZING!  Lasagna, homemade alfredo, chicken, and garlic toast made my belly extra happy!  Chapel groups were again really great!  Camie came to sing a new song, and I told them the story of Esther.  We soon went outside to sit by the campfire, eat a S'more, and take a hayrack ride.  My voice was starting to hurt by then, so I left to get ready for bed.  I slept so wonderfully that night!

During worship in the morning, Andi and I were called up, along with some of the girls, to sing the song from above.  WE even got to sing it more than once!  It was a lot of fun!  During chapel groups, I took the story of Esther that I had told them the night before and tied in truths about God's preparation, timing, and how God uses our backgrounds.  When we headed outside to play, one of my girls gave me a picture that she colored and she had written a thank-you on the back.

How sweet is that?!  Sara managed to keep the girls pretty occupied while outside.  They chased her, she told them to chase Daniel, and then they gave her a makeover.  That is way more than I would let them get away with!

After a big brunch, most of the girls were still recovering from breakfast, it was time to say good-bye.  All the girls I met this weekend were so sweet, and it was great to catch up with the staff again!  I'm so excited to go back in a couple of weeks and then again for the summer!  I'm excited to see what will happen and what God will teach me through these experiences!  :)

Back in the saddle again

A few weeks ago, Katrina sent out an e-mail asking for volunteers to help with the horses for a couple of weekends before the summer started.  I e-mailed her back within a half an hour!  I told her I would come the weekend that it was the 4 State Men's Retreat.  Little did I know how much of a treat it would be to go then!

I was able to show up on Thursday, granted that I really want to skip my morning classes.  It rained the whole drive to camp.  That was a little bit of a downer.  When I got there, Katrina and I headed to the tack shed to go over the projects that she had in mind for the weekend.  There was a lot going on in there!  There was a new desk/counter being made, and so all the stuff from the desk was in tubs, as well as all the pieces that needed cleaned and other things that needed sorting.  We figured out a way to put name tags on the horse blankets, and we gathered some other stuff up to take to her house to work on.  I found out I was staying in Upper AC for the night, so I got all moved in before heading to Katrina's.  Peter was at a concert, so it was just Katrina and I with our own little projects.  I was working on sewing the name tags on, and Katrina worked on the tie straps to keep the horses at the hitching rail.  It was a peaceful time of work and conversation.  Katrina made a supper of rice and stuff that she used to make when they were in Africa.  It wasn't too wild and crazy, like you might be thinking.  It was a good dish though.  It made my belly happy!  :)  When I got back to camp, I settled in for a two hour Skype conversation with my best friend.  We giggled so much, and caught up on our busy lives.  It was good to talk about some big things that are happening and to tell her that it was very possible that I would be moving in with her family next spring.  She took way too many dumb pictures at bad moments, and then proceeded to post them on Facebook.  When I went to bed that night, it was still raining pretty steady.

The next morning, Patrick, Daniel, and I all sat an awkward distance apart eating breakfast.  Honestly, there is not much conversation with those two!  One of the men, Badger, said that he had already been taking his guns up to the shooting range and one of them sounded like a stick of dynamite went off.  When he said that, all I could think of was how the horses were going to react to the extra loud noise!  I met up with Katrina, and I got going on sewing the name tags on the blankets.  It was kind of chilly, so after a couple hours of sewing mixed with the chilly air, my fingers were stiff!  About the time I quit that project, Katrina came and we got Buddy and Petey saddled up and went to figure out pastures, check some fences, and see how much damage the beavers have done.  That's right.  There are beavers in the crick!  No sightings, but they have a great dam built!  Sturdy too!  It's been used as a bridge by some.  With this ride, I got so see camp from views that I hadn't before.  Before lunch, I attempted to do another blanket, but I got the needle stuck!  I even got a radio for a couple of days!  I actually got radioed as well!  Before lunch was served, I just sat journaling and listening to the men swap stories.  I was so fun to listen to!  After lunch, I borrowed Daniel's pliers to help with the sewing.  I took a few more stitches and then the needle broke.  Thus, that project was at a standstill.  Soon after, I was called to help in the kitchen for just a bit.  I finished mixing up and baking a few pans of Monster Cookies.  I then found out I was to move to 602.  602.  A cabin where I spent two wonderful weeks as a JUMP leader.  I love those early morning walks to the bath house.  I was hoping to see some deer, but no such luck this weekend.  I finished up some more organizing in the tack shed before supper.  It was a good ol' campfire with hotdogs and lemonade!  So, so good!  Many of the men kept asking about Terry Baxter.  They talked about past retreats and how his speaking had radically changed their lives.  It was so encouraging to hear.  Soon, we got to meet the Hedstrom's.  They are a great group of people, and some hard workers!  We walked around and saw the horses, and where the fence would be built.  During a time of devotion as a group, we spent a lot of time in prayer for the herd and the horse program.  I spent some time at the campfire talking to Daniel, Dakota and Jonathan before heading to bed.  The stars were so glittery in the sky that night!

The next morning, the frost had captured the dandelions in beautiful light!

After breakfast, we got the horses in, groomed, saddled, bridled, and then we got to ride!  :)  My first horse of the day was Max.  This was a new experience because he wears a hackamore, and not a bit.  He was a good horse to ride.  I also got to ride Prince.  Prince is one of the three new horses at camp.  He is HUGE!  Things went pretty well.  I can continue to feel myself gaining confidence as I continue to not only ride, but ride different horses.  After lunch was the trail rides.  I rode Scout for the first one.  He rode very well for me.  It was a BEAUTIFUL afternoon for a ride.  The wildflowers were all abloom, and the colors were stunning!  I just love to enjoy creation, but most especially, the One who created.  I again saw new places of camp.  The next trail ride, everyone went, and I stayed behind.  I got a lot more things sorted.  I also had to catch Prince who had managed to shimmy out of his halter.  We got some more things cleaned up before riding again.  I was the brave one who took on Bear.  He was a little antsy since he had been standing at the rail all day.  He liked to swing his head back pretty far, but a few minutes in, he quit that, and it ended up being a good ride in the arena.  Honestly, I love the Men's Retreat!  They have steak dinners!  :)  I had a HUG+E supper, and my belly was EXTRA happy!  Toby was beside me at the table.  What a hoot!  He refuses to remember my name.  Sam and Dani pepper me with the, "Why?" questions every time I am at camp.  After that meal, I was ready to hit the hay!

The lights went out at 9:45, and I slept until 6:45.  I walked out and it was warmer!  After breakfast, we got the horses in, groomed and saddled.  We were headed out on the trails again!  This time, I was on Tate.  Tate is one tall horse!  Today, we went up to the high trails after the low trails.  Some more new sights to behold.  Such beauty off the beaten path.  I will need to keep some spots in mind for berries this summer!  When we got back, it was time for brunch and good byes.  I couldn't leave without taking a picture with Badger though!

It was a wonderful weekend of hard work and hardy laughs.  A weekend that I won't soon forget!  :)

The 4th Grade

For the past 8 weeks, I have had a co-teaching partner, Kailynn, and we had been participating in a field experience at a school in Waterloo.  Let me tell you, the 4th grade is NOTHING like what I remembered it to be!

We spent about half of our 3 hours, 4 days a week in math.  Seriously, some of this math stretched my brain a little bit.  I was glad I worked with fractions with my 5th grader last semester!  The other half of the time was spent teaching a small group.  Our focus was literacy.

Our last day was Friday.  We were excited for the experience to be over so we could have a much needed break.  All week, the students were asking if we were done, and if we were ever coming back.  They clung to us every day begging us not to go.  Talk about a tug on the heartstrings!  We came later.  We didn't want to be a part of math on our last day!  On our way to the school, we stopped to grab some cupcakes to help celebrate.

When we got to the school, the usual secretaries weren't there, so we actually had to tell the lady our names.  When we got to our mentor teacher's room, we gave her a thank-you note before heading to the 4th grade room.  When the door opened, the kids were quietly watching Reading Rainbow.  I got excited and exclaimed, "READING RAINBOW?!"  I was doomed as soon as I opened my mouth!  They ran to us, luckily I was holding cupcakes, so they momentarily gave me time to put them down.  All I saw of Kailynn was her head as they tackled her with hugs.  Then they were on me in the same fashion.  So many hands and arms and squeezes all over.  Then they went back to Kailynn, and then back to me.  Then the cards started to come.  Each student had made a card for each of us.  Seriously, they were the sweetest things!

They had cute little questions, good lucks, animal pictures, and pleas to stay.

This one had 2 cartoon characters drawn on the front and on the inside said, "Sorry there's nothing on the back!"  How cute is that?!

Yes, I do like smoothies!  :)

This is me playing Just Dance.

One of the little girls literally burst into tears and ran out of the room when it was time for us to say good-bye.  They gave us a little bit of grief throughout the 8 weeks, but all in all, this experience was AMAZING! I learned so much and I feel as though I have grown into a more confident pre-service teacher.  I had a wonderful co-teaching partner and a great mentor teacher.  I'm excited to see what happens next semester with a similar 8 week field experience, except this one will be at the high school level.

How to eat Fried Dandelions

Thursday night:

"Dad."

"Yeah?"

"Could I take Ruby back behind with me if I were to go mushroom hunting in the morning?"

"Yeah, you won't be too close to the cows, so she shouldn't get into too much trouble."

"Okay, I'll take her with me."

Worst.idea.ever.

Friday morning:

I got up and got out the door by 8 am which is a pretty big feat for me lately.  As soon as I opened the barn door, Ruby was on me like stink on a warthog!  She was ready to go for the day!  We started out across last year's corn field and was getting ready to head into the pasture with the pond when she circled back to chase a pair of geese that were flying over head.  From then on, she was chasing songbirds, and flushing anything out that she could.

I started up a mostly dry crick bed.  We usually find plenty of mushrooms, but today, it didn't happen.  I was moving slow, but Ruby didn't want to.  She barked at EVERYTHING!  She would run ahead and then come bounding back.  She jumps like a deer, but doesn't move as quietly as one.  

About half way up the bed, I stopped to sit for a little bit to still my soul.  I brought my journal along, and it was wonderful!  I was serenaded by God, and completely surrounded by nature.  No man-made sights or sounds were present, aside from the scratching of my pen.  This was my escape...  :)

Ruby, of course, had to bound my way all covered in at least half a dozen ticks!  She also wanted to print up my journal with her paws.  Finally, we headed back, me with my empty bucket and Ruby still full of energy.  She naturally had to jump in the pond on the way back through.  She also tried to chase down some vultures in flight.  Worst mushroom hunting partner ever, but it was a refreshing morning!  :)

A few years back, I was quilting at the Historical Society with my Grammy and some of the other ladies.  Virginia Snakenburg said that she always has to have one helping of fried dandelions every spring.  When I first heard this, I stuck my tongue out in disgust, but I've been thinking about it a lot the past few days.  I decided that I would give fried dandelions a shot.  You prepare them just like Morels.  Make sure you get as much of the stem off that you can, otherwise, you can tell that you're eating a weed.  They taste pretty good, considering the texture is a little strange.  I was satisfied with my lunch!