A Day to Last Forever

Today was a beautiful, yet sad day, all at the very same time.  Why?  Because it was the first time in a year that the entire family woke up under the same roof, yet also the day I had to say goodbye to a week at my parents.  While in some respects I was ready to go home to camp because I knew the amount of chores that needed to get done and it was time to get working on it, I knew it would be the last time we'd all be together for a while.  The boys arrived Friday night with mom as snow flakes fell to the ground.  When we awoke the next morning, a winter wonderland (again) greeted us!  David and Penny arrived mid-morning after waiting out the snow since Penny worked so late the night before.  The house that seemed so big when we were kids seemed so small with 4 adults, 4 kids, and 6 dogs.  We opened presents just before lunch and the boys were super excited with their gifts.  Little Andrew loved the hat and chaps set I got him.

After lunch and naps by nearly everyone in the house, probably including dogs, it was time to finally get the kids outside to play.  Got the boys bundled up and I put on as many clothes as I brought (Even though my jeans were poor defense against the snow) and we headed out.  There were snow angels, snow ball fights (although the snow was too dry for it), and lots of tag and tackling.  I know I was worn out!  An evening dinner of soups and some sitting on the couch doing nothing and it was time for the kids to go to bed.  David, Penny, and I stayed up late (why?) to watch the old movie Terminator (another why?).  For whatever reason, I did not sleep well that night.  I think I was in some part thinking about all that needed to be done but I was sad to go and wondered, as usual, if I could have somehow spent it better.  But really, I'm not sure if I could have.  It didn't go as planned usually, but it was good.

Sunday morning-everyone wakes up under the same roof.  I can't tell you how that feels.  A breakfast of casserole and Penny's cinnamon rolls and I spent about an hour working with mom organized the pictures and folders on their computer and how to get the pictures off the memory card and also how to upload to facebook.  Then it was mostly just sitting in the family room, talking, watching TV, falling asleep at random times.  I gathered up my things slowly and packed the truck and started clearing off all the snow.  It was a long goodbye, and an almost teary one.  As much as my family can drive me crazy and we don't always see eye to eye, they'll always be my family.

Things I'll miss....moments I wish were frozen in time

 
1.  Noah looking out the window and yelling, "Snow!" and being super excited about it every time.  His "uh-oh"s and constant turning on and off of the lights.  I remember on Friday night, keeping him calm as I carried him through the house, saying goodnight to everything and turning everything off.  Goodnight wreath.  Goodnight TV.  Goodnight kitchen.  Goodnight family room.  Goodnight Noah.  :-)

2.  Andrew read me a book.  "Brown bear" was probably memorized but it was still the best thing in the world.  I then read him a book, because it was my turn he said.  I loved watching him run around in his hat and chaps.  He's so cute but so mischievous and I can't help but laugh and love him.

3.  Snuggling with Joshua and talking about everything.  He asked me questions about everything in the world and then we watched Disney channel one morning and snuggled up together.  Joshua is a sweet and caring young man.

4.  Caleb's the oldest.  He definitely knows what he wants and isn't afraid to tell you but we share a lot more history since he still lived in Lafayette before they moved towards Crawfordsville.  Listening to him tell me everything he likes, doesn't like, and wants to do.







5.  Enough said.

I wish time could have been frozen, for just a few more hours.

Christmas at the Hunsbergers

Christmas 2012-it never goes quite like you think it should but nonetheless, it goes.....

After scurrying for days prior to leaving, attempting to make sure all was in order so I could be away for a few days, I finally left for home the 23rd.  I spent Christmas eve morning wrapping presents and the afternoon cooking.  We had our usual steak, potatoes, shrimp, and salad meal and then watched a few Christmas specials on TV.  Once the parents went to bed, I started/finished their present.  I had a personalized frame with our last name and I filled in the letters with pictures of us as a young family on up to the newest additions.  I finished at midnight and it was off to bed.  Christmas morning wasn't too exciting, especially after I'd decided that, in order to beat the incoming "blizzard", we would drive back to camp that afternoon so I could put out round bales and check on the herd.  I didn't really think we'd get that much snow but I knew they were already putting out travel advisories for Wednesday so it was probably smart.  We quickly opened up presents (I got a recliner!  Wasn't expecting that.) and got on our way. I was hoping to spend Christmas day doing nothing but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.  At least that meant that Wednesday through Saturday would be mostly calm.  Wednesday I spent doing little projects while watching an almost all day marathon of NCIS, easily my favorite show.  I got emails sent, a calendar made, and postcards written.  Wednesday night we watched It's a Wonderful Life.  Still a good movie.  Thursday we ran a few errands in Hartford City and I was able to spend some time on a great friend's overdue birthday present.  Almost done!  Went for a lovely run around the "block" and when I got home, I got to talk to three very special kids-Gavin, Reagan, and Braydn called from California.  I miss those guys.  :-(  My mom went to Darlington to watch the boys for Friday and then would bring them back Friday night for Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Dad and I watched The Avengers while mom was gone.  We made a plan to go see the early showing of Les Miserables Friday morning and it was a great idea!  That movie was amazing!  I loved going to the musical a long time ago but the movie, the characters, the music were beyond words.  Very long but very much worth it.  I would go see it again.  We ran a few more errands in Muncie then it was home to keep getting ready for the onslaught of children my mom was bringing home (mom and dad are coming after work).  So these are my last few minutes of peace.  Tomorrow will be our Christmas with the kiddos and then Sunday it's back to camp.  It'll be nice to be back home for a few quiet days before work starts up again.

A Camp Job......

It's not unlike.....

A parent-think about it, you're in charge, 24/7, of 10 kids.  You make sure they eat, shower, drink water, go to the bathroom, and get to bed.  For at least a week at a time, you're the parent.  Just a really really cool one.

A teacher-all I really need to say is clinic time.  You make lesson plans and execute those plans every morning.  Plus all those other unscripted moments where you teach them everything from how to act in social situations, making a fire, spotting deer tracks, and everything else inbetween.

A psychologist-it's late at night and your camper is homesick or a child is suddenly scared to ride a horse or climb the wall.  Just pull a little psychology book out of your back pocket, or the back of your mind, and calm them down.  No big deal.

Pastor/Counselor-Lead chapels.  Lead devotions.  Lead the little God moments every day.

A nurse-dressing those little scrapes and bumps and bruises on a daily basis gives you your nursing 101 degree.

A fireman-yep.....sometimes you got to put those out too.  Some years more than others.  This year, too many.

Any emergency personnel-anytime something comes over the radio, you got to go.  I've left many a plate uneaten.

Police-Yep, gotta keep the peace sometimes.

Team building-Survivor, Amazing Race, Teams course, anytime you have a unit activity

Horse Professional (only applies to certain camp jobs, like mine!)-you're expected to know everything and anything about the horse, what it eats, what comes out, how to ride, how to train, and, well, just everything

Handyman-self explanatory.

Wildlife/Nature Expert-cause kids expect you to know everything about the woods.

Expert at driving many different kinds of vehicles (buses, tractors, 4 wheeled all terrain anything)

And probably many more that I can't think of right now.


So to all you camp folks, counselors, full-time staff, you'll find that whenever you might make a resume, you'll have a lot of job skills to detail.  At least it makes it interesting every day!

Just wait for the good guys....

Just one week ago, the biggest concerns of 20 children were their Christmas lists, who they would play with at recess, homework, snack time, and the upcoming break.  School was always meant to be a safe haven.  While adults may skirmish, disagree, and even inflict pain on one another, children were meant to be kept safe from all of that.  An unspoken rule.  You stop talking about the world's problems or you quiet your voice during an argument when a child enters the room and do everything you can to shield children from the horrible reality of the world you live in.  Even in jail, those who harm children cannot expect any favors from other inmates.  They were supposed to be forbidden territory.  As adults, we expect to outlive our kids.  That's just the way it's supposed to be.  That wasn't the way it went on Friday.  I cannot imagine the terror, the confusion, the horrific scene that was the school on Friday morning.  I wish we could take away the memories of the kids, teachers, and first responders so that they wouldn't see those visions again, in their sleep, whenever they looked at a child.  I know in my heart of hearts that God welcomed 20 new kings and queens that morning.  Kings and Queens  They are in Heaven.  Their families will be hurting this holiday season, finding little to be merry and jolly about, and words will not heal their broken hearts.  Sometimes as Christians we tell those who are hurting to "trust God", that their kids are in a "better place" (which I do believe they are), or that this was "God's will."  How trite do those words seem just hours after their loss?  Are those words true?  Yes.  However there is a time and place for those words and it's okay to grieve.  It's only natural to hurt and question and we need to give them time.  We need to let them grieve and lament over their unexpected loss, over their empty place at the table, over the presents that will never be opened, the birthdays and graduations that will never occur, and the future that's been taken away.  I pray that God will comfort them as only God can.  He alone is the Healer, the Giver, the Prince of Peace.  Through Him alone will they heal.

There were several heroes that day.  From the teachers doing what they'd been trained to do, those who alerted the rest of the school to the danger, and the police and SWAT teams that saw horrific images and, as usual, go towards the shooting instead of away from it, there was good....and.....there were good guys that came.  I'm proud to live in a country filled with dedicated civil servants, soldiers, and citizens willing to give their all for people they don't know.

When I started thinking about it, I realized how much I've seen in my 32 years.  During my life, I've seen a lot more tragedies that I thought.  Thankfully, not much has affected me personally or hit extremely close to home (except 9/11).  The Challenger explosion, first WTC bombing, Oklahoma City bombing, Columbine, Virginia Tech, 9/11, the uni-bomber, first Gulf War (I remember watching the missiles on TV), current wars, current shootings....I call "uncle".....it's enough.  But my peace does not come from the world I live in but only in the Lord and Creator of the universe.

Some question where God was, how He could allow bad things to happen to innocent kids, and why He didn't stop it.  While it hurts and seems callous, there's evil in the world.  And the choice made so long ago (that was also blamed on another) by the first man, is what set in motion the events of the world.  
Whenever tragedies happen, we blame whoever and whatever we can.  Whether we are questioning gun control, standards and laws in place, the response of the police and EMTs, or how someone was raised, there's only one to blame.  The choice of the person involved.  Several times we refuse to take personal responsibility for our actions and we blame everything else but the choice.  It started thousands of years ago with a choice.  Unfortunately, choices we make hurt those around us.  I pray we can find solutions to help those struggling with mental illness to keep them safe and keep those around them safe. I pray that we can keep our children safe.  I pray that we don't forget the victims and remember them and their healing in the coming months and years. 

Merry Christmas to the Full Time Staff!

Tonight was the culmination of about 2 weeks and 20+ hours of work.  For the past 6 years, I've done an "end of year" video for the full time staff of Camp T.  There's so many things that happen throughout the year that we tend to forget.  Not only the big events but the little things that happen every day that are funny need to be remembered.  I always have the best intention of carrying a camera with me at all times or a pad of paper to help me remember the crazy little things.  My camera phone has been a life saver in these videos.  This year's was special.  It was emotional to make and emotional to watch.  I am a perfectionist in many ways and while watching it with a roomful of folks, I am thinking, "What are they thinking?" and "I hope they see this the way I intended."  We said a lot of goodbyes, saw a lot of "lasts", and were reminded that although there was a lot of crazy stuff, the torch did get passed on and life went on and we had fun doing our jobs.  Thank you to the entire Camp Tecumseh staff (and their spouses who also sacrifice for this ministry) for a job well done this year.  I rarely think of this as my job.  It's a lot of work but I often think of this as my ministry.  I can't imagine doing anything else right now with my life.

Staff Video 2012  This is the you tube link for the video.  The video is not public on youtube so you have to have the link to watch it.

Heaven is for Real.....Really!

I just finished a tremendous book, Heaven is for Real.  This book gave me "tinglings" and goosebumps, made me almost cry, and left me desiring to know more about what this little boy experienced that I couldn't put it down.  Now, since I want you to go read it (and please go read it!!) and experience it for yourself, I'm not going to give away too much.  However, I do need to leave you with this.  I would have to say that my "pre-camp" self, one who was very logical, black and white, and skeptical of anything that didn't seem to fit into the mold of how I was taught (while I learned a lot, I tended to put it all in a box and if it didn't fit, I threw it out) would have dismissed this account of heaven.  Obviously, you can't go to heaven unless you're dead.  Heaven isn't supposed to look like that.  Angels don't really have wings do they?  I knew that there were a few people in the Bible who did not have to experience death to go to Heaven but that was then, a long time ago, not in this day and age.  One thing that I am extremely grateful for is that my camp experience has broadened my view of so many ideas and has taken me and my God out of this box that I constrained everything into and made me ask, "Why not?" instead of "No way."  God is big.  He's huge.  And He can work however He wants to.  He doesn't need us to tell Him how to work, that there's no way He can work in the way He works.   That's one of the biggest ways I've changed since camp.  I've seen child-like faith every day.  Is our walk include about learning more about God and diving into the scriptures?  Yes, of course He wants us to learn more about Him.  But we get so caught up in our petty arguments about theories that don't change the underlying theme of God.  God is God.  God is perfect.  He loves us more than we can even fathom.  And He wants us to come to Him by knowing His Son, His perfect sacrifice.

 "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."