Fair warning: This is going to be messy J
Currently my laptop is spazzing out. It does not like
scrolling of any kind. Which I suppose may be God answering my prayer to keep
me from bad Facebook habits. It is 9:30 PM now and it’s beginning to get dark.
We’re all sitting around blogging. I’m supposed to tell you everything since we
last posted. Wow. How?
I think it got up to about 85 today which was pretty warm
but then it cooled off tonight—I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at 9:00
AM yesterday. Jessica had just gotten there. She was trying to get person A to
do X and person B to do Y and she went left and right trying to get everything
taken care of. We left a little after 12:30 PM. Car situation was awesome. I
got in Jessica’s van with Jose, Brooke and Zane. We each could have had a row to
ourselves but they opted to sit beside each other. I got my own bench which was
nice.
We made PB&J before we left. I ate the sandwich while we
waited and I had time to call my grandma for our daily bible study. AND I got
to watch the worship at the end of the sermon for church. They tried going live
for the first time yesterday, Sunday June 9, 2017. I think it looks like I’m
going to miss the next two weeks of church and Joe’s Bible Study. But I’ve got
headphones, so I’m intending to sit in on it all. Schedule on this side
allowing.
I’m really getting to know Jose. He’ll read this and freak
out probably. Afraid I’m going to learn all his secrets. We were the first two
here yesterday so we helped get people set up. And then it worked out that he
rode in the same van. We didn’t talk much ‘cause he was in shot-gun and I was
in the back seat. But we chilled a little at the Safeway stop and he’s been
offering me food because I told him I left my wallet at home but I found it.
I’m trying to lead up to the good stuff. He’s never been camping, he doesn’t
swim. He’s never been for a hike either. I’m really happy that he gets to
experience all this for the first time. This morning we were getting hot cocoa
and tea. He asked how it worked. I thought it was going to be a simple
explanation. I got him a cup and filled it with cocoa, I gave it to him and
told him to wait by the hot water for someone to help him. Now, I wasn’t
looking, but I heard a guffaw as people were surprised and hysterical.
Apparently, he poured his cocoa into the hot water pot for everyone to share.
9:30 PM— 7/11/17
So this is not going to work out. I cannot focus. I’m
surrounded my new amigos.
… I guess I’m making a promise now to finish each days
events today. SO today I need to update you on 7/10 Monday and 7/11 Today
(Wednesday). We went to Lava Butte and a
off-highway vehicle program director, civil engineer, fire ecologist, public
relations official, and recreation manager. After that, they ran us to the top
of the volcano. We had a total of ten minutes so we rushed very quickly. Me,
Christy, and Mike got permission to stay up for another while. We walked the
loop and it was really nice to get a view that no one else from our crew got. We got back and saw the lunch that they
provided. They made us hot dogs but what was really special was the cookies.
That shows effort and closeness and I just really appreciate that demonstration
of affection from the forest service. They were great.
We got
back and did some “geo-cashing”. It was a GPS race. We tied for second with two
bags of candy. They got some pictures of me deep in concentration trying to
find them before anyone else could. Mike, Jose, and Robyn were on my team.
After that we ate dinner. I think I fit a phone call in to
grandma before that. And before that we went to take showers somewhere nearby.
Me and Diane jumped off the dock that said “no swimming”. It was glorious. We
got some good pictures. I’m happy that people are taking pictures of me without
my attention. I like spontaneous pictures.
While we were eating, I sat with the high schoolers. I hadn’t
bonded with them much at all by that point so it was uncomfortable. Christy
stood up and said, “Our table was talking about this idea. “And so now we’re
all standing up at dinner and sharing about our day.” Jay, sitting next to me
said, “I am not standing up to talk.” She hoped that our table wouldn’t have to
do it. Joel, I think is more confident and even he didn’t seem entirely game to
do so. It came to our table, I briefly encouraged them. I see a light in each
of the high schoolers. They are all so unique. I don’t think they’ll read this
but I’m not going to share further until later in the trip.
Today
We woke freezing! Jessica didn’t skip me today. Instead she
stomped up to my tent quickly and scared the heck out me. She knew I was awake by
my scream. She giggled mercilessly as she walked away. I shouted after her, “You
suck Jessica.” It was too early to filter. But it was a good demonstration of
our relationship. I really like her and I feel comfortable with her. I almost
thought about hugging her today. I’ll get to that later though. I asked them to
burn my hand with water and they did. I just needed to get warm.
We were ready to leave by 8 but didn’t need to leave until 9
so Christy started a game. “I’m going to Outer Space and I’m bringing… Cookies.”
I thought it was a different game … the alphabet road trip game. But I was
wrong. I joined in because practically everyone was playing. We had an hour to
kill. I think myself, Joel, and Christy as well as one other person had the
game figured out when we started. Then they arrived.
We went to Sparks Lake (Soda Creek) and Tom Walker, a fish
biologist got us to work right away. Jose, Joel and I seem to gravitate to each
other. So we started pulling out fence posts and fencing out of the creek side. Joel is super strong. So is Jose.
That is one thing that always conflicts me. Doing manual labor with guys. They
can do things that women can’t. I really love to work and work hard and work
with my hands. I wonder if I should work harder instead of asking for help.
Next we drove to North Twin Lake to cut up the vegetation on
the side of the trail. Again, Jose and Joel and I gravitated. And after that, I
ran to the water. Jose can’t swim so myself and Joel tried to help him. No one
else got in the water with us. We wondered how deep it was. I said I’d swim out
a ways and then Joel said, “Let’s go.” Man, I hadn’t completely expected that.
So then we were swimming really coordinately. I don’t think he was trying very
hard, but I struggled to keep the even pace. I could’ve swam faster but it
wouldn’t have been pretty.
We showered after that and Jessica left us to the other van.
It was great! They ride with the windows down which is super legit and I was so
happy. I hate air conditioning which is something that almost no one
understands.
I want to write about Christina. I
want to write about the cards that we played and ninja. Christina is really
good at ninja! And maybe not so good at cards? She kept switching the sixes and
nines. And putting down a king when she meant to put down a queen or something.
It was really entertaining. That was her shout-out. But back to the card game specifically. It
started after I spent some time praying by the river and talking with Grandma
about the reading. Leviticus 14-16 (Christina is pleased <3 )
I came and talked with Taylor who was sitting … it’s 10:44
PM. They’re saying we have to go to sleep by 11 PM. He was sitting alone. We
talked a little last night. He began to tell me some really personal things and
they told us lights out. Bummed me out. I was glad I got to sit and talk with
him a little. We didn’t talk too much but I just sat in his presence. I think
he needed it.
I came back and sat with the high schoolers who were playing
cards. I feel super attached to them as a group. Because I know they have
stories that they want to share. And
I want to listen so desperately. I
want to be their friends and I think the desire is mutual. It’s pretty special,
what’s happening. I want to go into crazy detail. I could just talk and talk
about them. Like Jay is the very first one that I met on
Sunday when we got to school. She has since gotten quieter. But … I don’t know.
At the same time she’s more talkative. Like playing BS with her, it was
unbelievably hard to read her! She started letting us in with little tell-tale
signs like I saw a single smile when she lied once. I think I lost that game.
And I lost OG too. Then we played Ninja and I won my first game ever! Okay,
most of the high schoolers are gone. I’m going to call it a night too! Peace
(10:52 PM)
We are going to be up at 6 AM again and we’re going to be
out of here by 8:30. We must pack up fast. Haven’t given myself much time… Good
night. I’m loving all these guys.
They played a really good song called “How to be loved” by
Mark Wagner… not Mark Twain.
Dinner was awesome. We stood and talked again and everyone
was more willing to share. It was really nice because Sadonia pointed out that
she got to spend more time with me today. I really appreciated that she
appreciated that time like I did. And the time with Christina was nice too. And
Jay said “good morning” today so she’s really starting to open up. It’s
awesome. They’re all so awesome.
My peeps from Heritage are cool too J Been spending tons of time with
Jose.
This morning we’ve basically just run around a ton. We
stopped at the museum and that was legit. I saw a bald eagle like twenty feet
from me in a display (alive!) a golden eagle and porcupine as well as a bobcat!
I’m trying to write fast because I’m being rushed. My pastor sent me a sermon
on living uniquely as Christ has called us each to be our own part of the body.
Some are called to be the hands, others the feet, and on and on. More to come J Hopefully this is
kinda pretty and fun to read. I’m going to upload pictures.
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Problem 1 of Trip |
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Eating Lunch when we thought we were leaving at 8 AM |
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Strategic Cutting in a Forest. Good or Bad? |
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My van crew-- Marshmallow |
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Mountain... with snow!! |
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Every view of water is beautiful |
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An impromtu of me :D |
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Longhorn beetle species ... I think |
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Our first dinner <3 |
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The Dock me and Diane jumped off |
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The water where snakes are... Leeches weren't enough to scare her. |
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Chilling while reading
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Where the brave ones go |
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Jose |
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A meal prepared by the forest service <3 With love. |
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The view from Lava Butte |
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We went around the loop |
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Into the crater |
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Into the crater again :) |
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Flowers by the river |
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River by the campground |
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The result of fires |
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Breakfast |
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Hot cocoa for our hands |
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Dishwashing the first night |
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Moving the tables to a more convenient place |
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My tent |
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Wetlands! |
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Pandora Moth |
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Listening to the Forest Service |
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Jose sleeping |
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Mummy sleeping bags are awesome |
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Blogging |
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Jose at Sparks Lake |
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Volunteering at Sparks Lake |
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Jose hiding behind fence posts |
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Team lift, really getting into their work |
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Trail clearing at Northern Twin Lakes |
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Fish in pond at the Museum |
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WINDOWS DOWN |
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Motorcycle! |
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Jose looking pretty |
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Ninja |
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Ninja |
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OJ and BS |
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Robyn's Rock |
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Windows Down, So awesome :) |
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Northern Twin Lakes Hike |
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