Well, I wasn't going to post anything this weekend, cause I just don't have a lot to say. Or rather, I do, but couldn't ever put it all down in words. But I ran across this quote and thought I'd throw it in here:

"I have loved the feel of the green grass under my feet, and the sound of the running stream by my side, and the face of the fields has often comforted me more than the faces of men."
-John Burroughs, philosopher

Perhaps intended to be a bit depressing, but I see it as the fact that sometimes we can't explain everything that we feel and the only thing we can do is sit in the presense of God's creation and marvel that He is much bigger than everything going on. So from that viewpoint, I sorta like it.

Much going on this week. Last week of Camp of the Hills. 120 kids booked. Tired and ready to be finished, knowing it's time to move on. Last crucifixion, praise the Lord. Much transition ahead. And my best friends to say goodbye to, as well as this place. It's going to be tough. Many more stories from the summer to come, but for now, I believe I'll go do some marveling at the stars. After all, they serve no true purpose, God merely blessed us with their beauty because He loves us so much.

High school week is now complete, 67 campers have come and gone. The week went by relatively smoothly, as far as high school weeks have gone in the past. I was blessed in seeing campers that I've gotten to watch change and grow over the past three summers, some even longer as with the Impact kids. Having older kids can be a much greater challenge as they are more hardened to their world than the younger ones, everything is bigger-including the kids themselves!, and everything is much more dramatic; however, more blessings come from deeper conversations than with the younger kids, and I was certainly able to be apart of that this week. Those of us who have been out here for several summers were reminded of our purpose and great task in this place as Alexis Nicole Biggers stepped out of the van. Two summers ago Alexis was one crazy girl, constantly in trouble, frequently yelling some interesting choice words, not wanting to do anything that was asked of her. Last summer I had Alexis in my cabin and she was much improved, though certainly still had her moments and went on contract a time or two. This summer Alexis got off her van and proceeded to hug counselors that she knew and began to tell me about the new girls in her foster home and how her year had gone. I believe Alexis had a great week this summer, and it's been amazing to see her growth and maturity over the years. There are many stories like that that I wish I could share. Getting to see Zeke from Impact, whom I've known since he was around 8 years old...Autumn crying on Saturday morning, knowing what a safe place this is...Zephyr's letter of finding a place to belong...some unexpected events in the middle of the night early, early Saturday morning. I wish there was time to recount it all. But the moment that touched me most this week came from one of my girls, 16 year-old Heather. She was from the same home as Alexis, and we had many great conversations throughout the week. But Thursday night I walked into the cabin and she said, "Gretchen, will you adopt me? You're old enough to do that, right? Cause I need someone who will love me all the time, every day." Words can't really respond to that, but my heart sure did.

A few more pictures:

*week 5 is complete
*57 campers, only one sent home
*3 more weeks to go
*high schoolers coming this week, whole new ballgame
*trying to get over the perpetual sickness and hacking cough
*enjoyed a great match of soccer with 20 other counselors this afternoon
*DM and Em having a baby boy!
*working out living arrangements for August
*soaking up being around 40 friends/people my age...it's quickly coming to an end...
*learning to be patient...and finding out how frustrating that can be
*praying for Kirby, his Mom, and their family
*praising God for so many blessings, more than I can count

Well, believe it or not, I actually have somewhat of a plan after camp. Hard to fathom, I know. But I will be moving to Dallas (anyone know of good apartments/someone who needs a roomie?) and working at Fossil as a design intern. Yea! 3 months minimum, but we'll see what happens from there. I start on the 14th of August, so that'll be pretty soon after our last kids leave. It's time for reality...

Off week has been great, lots of time to rest, get sick, rest some more, family time, rest, and hang out with some pretty amazing people...


Here are some interesting comments on our crucifixion re-enactment at camp and here are some pictures from 1st half; hopefully there will be more to come...

I will never fail to be amazed at how quickly things can change in a single moment of time. I will never understand why things happen as they do. I will never understand the concept of 'bad things happening to good people.' I only understand that my worries and fears pale in comparison to those of others. And perhaps that's all I need to understand right now, to be humbled in my thinking and perspective. To know that I have nothing to complain about, no reason to not see how blessed I am. To remember that there is so much better than what this current life has to offer. To be reminded that God holds the future and that that is good enough for now.

370 campers have come and gone...Hard to believe the summer is halfway over! But praise God for off week, a time to rest, relax, and get filled back up for second half. Week 4 was the best by far, as we had 98 elementary kids and many more discipline problems than the previous weeks. Like Chris said on Saturday morning, it's the tough weeks that make it all worthwhile because the "good" kids could go to any other camp and do equally as well. It's the tough kids who would be kicked out the first day from other places that are able to find refuge at Camp of the Hills, and that's why we do what we do. That's what makes every moment, good or bad, worthwhile.

A friend asked me the other day what my favorite part was about COTH. It's the little moments, the meals you share with campers amazed to have so much food in front of them, the soccer game last Friday when everyone played so hard, watching faces light up at being able to fish and canoe for the first time, random hysterical comments that only a child could come up with, cardtricks and oragami for the weekly talent show, the times when campers open up to you and share their home lives, the time you look across the group at worship to find the child you least expected singing his heart out.

This last week I had a camper in my cabin named Ayisha, whom we called NaNa all week as her twin sister across the breezeway was named Aysha. NaNa was the typical 8 year old with a lot of energy and a little bit of whine mixed in. But she amazed me every day in Bible Study time at her knowledge of Bible stories and concepts well beyond her years. Thursday night after crucifixion as we discussed the events of the last hour, she continued to impress me as she related the entire story of Jesus on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection. And though the very next minute she merely wanted to know if "Jesus had bones," I was reminded of the innocence of these children, of what a huge opportunity and task we have been given in teaching them.

More stories to come, but for now it's off to Canyon for a few days to see the family. Blessings~