Respect the World Around You

Misconceptions about horses and animals in general that I see day in and day out in my job:

Despite what Hollywood portrays, horses go not go faster simply because you flip the reins up and down.  Think about what the reins are attached to...a metal bit in their mouth.  Would you go faster if someone put a spoon in your mouth then flipped it up and down so that it hit the roof of your mouth?  Well, you might because you're now mad and in pain!  Think about your actions and the effect they can have on the animal.  The bit in the horses mouth is to control where you go and how fast you get there.  Use it wisely and only as needed, otherwise the horse will become dull to your aids or will resent the hands on the other end of those reins.

Animals are not vindictive, they don't go around thinking, "How can I get them today?", and don't plan out anything.  They don't try to knock you off going under a branch or "take out your knee" by getting too close to the fence post.  They don't understand where you are in space relative to them.  Much the same way that if you were to put a toddler on your back and then start to go through a doorway, you have to stop, think about how tall you now are, then compensate.  Animals don't think that way.  If they fit, they go through.  If their belly doesn't rub on the fence post, then they think they fit.  Or if you stick your hand out and get bit, it's not the animal's fault.  You reached out to them, they are used to people feeding them, so use some sense and don't stick your fingers in their mouths.  Please don't say that my horses are "out to get you."  It's up to you to be the logical one in the relationship

But I digress from the subject of this post which is......respect

How would you like it if you were penned up and others came by and tried to scare you, made fun of you, or taunted you?  How respectful is it to the animals that God has given to us, entrusted to us, if we lord our supposed "superiority" over them?  We were not meant to trample over the creation that God gave us, but rather use it to our benefit, be a good steward of it, and be respectful and thankful for it.  I'm all for eating meat and using the products that animals can give us, but I also take care of the animals I have been entrusted with, I don't tease, scare, or mock them, and I respect them.  Probably the animals have no idea that they are being mocked or teased, but if we have that attitude with them, we probably have it with others around us and they will know when they are being put down.  To those that we think we are better than.  We take our superior attitude and are cocky, arrogant, and demeaning.  It's fun to have animals around and they certainly provide a laugh now and again and it's quite alright to laugh at them.  But respect them just like you would all of God's creation.  Hopefully you respect the earth and it's resources and more importantly, you respect those around you and the God who created it all.  He gave us a beautiful gift called Creation.  I wish I could have seen the original, unblemished Creation because the sin-tarnished one we have now is pretty incredible.  So my parting words will be part of the creed of the Sagamore Council which every Tecumseh camper will hear during Friday night devotions: "I will respect the world around me- the plants, the wild things, the people and their ideas; and each day will bring new adventures."

Week 9 at Last

Here we sit, at the end of the circus.  11 weeks ago, 7 counselors and 3 barn assistant entered the fellowship room not knowing what adventure they were going to be embarking on.  Fresh faced, wondering eyes, and with no tans would soon be transformed into the tanned, tired faces of professional counselors.  What a summer we've had together.  We swept numerous strokes with the broom, groomed and tacked the horses hundreds of times, answered countless questions, and sweated buckets of sweat.  We've had our frustrating, annoying, and dramatic moments with campers and horses that don't cooperate.  There's been drama within and around us.  Adventurous moments on trail rides with horse flies that attack without cause, turtles that block the path, deer that crash through the forest, and campers that are convinced that their horse is "Outta control" while walking down the path.  I've graded hundreds of tests with answers that make me laugh, make me shake my head, and answers I couldn't even read. Ridden onstage on stick horses to hand out awards while nearly passing out due to the heat.  Carried over 200 bags of feed down the barn aisle to feed horses day in and day out.  Filled the water troughs that seemed to never stay filled.  Gotten up before everyone else at camp to go run in the horses for yet another early morning trail ride, with a low fog still covering the ground and dew on the grass.

Yet, throughout it all, we're still smiling!  Counselors are tired and worn out, sick and barely standing, but they don't want to leave this place that has become home.  What does camp do to us that puts us through the most tiresome weeks of our lives but leaves us wanting more?  I'm ready to move on to the fall, to put the 14 hour days behind me, and get back to my life again.  It's been a good summer.  Full of laughs.  Full of the little moments that transform our lives.  Thanks to my counselors for a great 2011 summer.  I hope some of them come back for 2012.  I know they will go home different from when they came.  They came in shy and soft spoken and most have found a side of them they never knew they had.  They grew as people, grew in their faith, grew in their character.  Remember to take a piece of camp with you wherever you go.

I'm Third.

Camp Tecumseh News » Early Morning Trail Ride

Camp Tecumseh News » Early Morning Trail Ride

Summer!

Here we sit, at the end of a successful week of camp.  We've had 3 successful weeks thus far.  That is not to say that they have been without challenges.  Each week has presented with unique yet equally challenging circumstances that have been placed in our way, most of which cannot be discussed.  Each day provided us with the opportunity....the opportunity to make a choice.  What attitude would we face the day with?  Would we allow ourselves to get bogged down in the enormity of tasks that needed to be completed by the end of the day?  Would we worry about what new challenges may come?  Would we grumble and complain about the circumstances we were currently in?  Personally, I can say that I have not always been successful in my choices.  I have allowed myself to break down under the weight of "all the things I have to do" or allowed frustration to take over in moments of weakness.  I've worked long and hard days, some lasting from 6 am to 8 pm. Sometimes feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and sleep deprived.  Then God comes along and reminds me of why I do my job and who I do it for.

I "get" the privilege of waking up earlier than most of camp three mornings a week to lead out early morning trail rides for our equestrian cabins.  This week, the sunrises were absolutely beautiful.  I wished I'd had my camera the first morning but I was blessed with a second beautiful sunrise.  There was a fog laying just above the ground and the sun peeking out just above that.  You can't tell, but as I had just rounded this corner, the horses were headed down the fence line in the fog mist.  A herd of 40 completely obscured from sight, but not from sound.  Absolutely gorgeous.  I work, every day, right in the middle of God's Creation, still broken by sin but absolutely amazing still.  Thanks!


Other times, I'm reminded of the campers and how much of an impact I make in their lives.  Sometimes they are tiring, ask endless questions, and never seem to stop saying my name in the barn aisle.  But when they race to see me, hug me tightly when they leave, and chant my name, I am still amazed of the impact we can have on these kids.  All I do is do my job.  I take care of the horses, I back up my counselors so they can do their jobs, and I pay attention to the kids who may or may not have someone at home who listens and pays attention to them.  I see them grow up over their time here.  Perhaps they go from a selfish bratty girl to the young lady who ends up earning our "Character Counts" award at the barn.  Or they're a shy withdrawn boy who grows up to be a man in front of me.  Or a young man who barely rides but with hard work and determination at camp (partially thanks to one determined instructor ;-) )  goes home with the Jr. Wrangler bolo in his last year and comes back to help when camp is no longer an option.  And countless other stories.  It's truly why we do the job.....to show the love of God to the kids.  And it's only through Him that we can continue to do the work we do, have the patience we have to have, and the ability to show love to those who aren't lovely.  Here's to another 6 weeks of crazy hours, hot and sweaty conditions, and whatever else God decides to allow in our path.  Things haven't been easy and I pray that no other circumstances are to be placed in front of us but one thing we know is that nothing is too great for our God to handle and I'm blessed to work with a staff that works together and has the right focus.  Until 12:30 pm tomorrow, it's movies, sleep, and relaxation.  After that, it's go-go mode!

With a Grieving and Heavy Heart

As I was sitting down to play euchre last Friday night, I began to see facebook posts show up on my phone concerning an old friend from high school.  I couldn't tell at first what had happened but I could tell that it was more than likely a grave and serious situation.  I searched online trying to find news and was shocked when I read on the Muncie Star's website that my former classmate, Nettie Peterson, just one year ahead of me in school, had been murdered.  Shocked....stunned....definitely two words that describe that Friday night.  I went home and began to read through the facebook news feed as I could tell that more and more of my former classmates were hearing of the tragic news and I felt like we were reaching out to one another through those posts.  We were a very small school (I think my class of 24 is still the largest to date!) and most of us grew up together, knowing each other from kindergarden on.  A lot of us had older brothers or sisters who knew each other, played ball with each other, or hung out together.  Usually, the younger brother or sister had to tag along on those outings so, as I said, you practically knew everyone and their family.  While we may not have been the best of friends with everyone in school, you knew everyone by name, you knew who their brother or sister was, and more than likely, your parents knew each other.  From concessions, Country Fairs, craft bazaars, and anything else that took place outside of school hours, you were likely to see everyone from school there.  We were our own community,family.  I knew Nettie coming up through school.   I had been to her house, knew her sisters, my brother knew her sisters, knew her mom, we played volleyball a few years together, sang in choir together, and the list goes on.  A short 32 years on this earth.  So when the news of her tragic death began to hit me, I was hit with such a heavy heart, one that hurt.  It's been 4 days since I learned of Nettie and I was still crying this morning.  I haven't had a chance to grieve myself, being in the midst of staff training here at camp and having others depend on me, so it comes out in stages.  Tears at the seemingly most random times when downtime allows a moment to think of what happened, a facebook post from another classmate pops up, or a random memory comes to mind. (I think of Camp Crosley and her getting stung on the lip by a bee because the bee had gotten down into her coke can. :-)  )  Then I think of her children, their lives ripped apart.  I think of her sisters, her mother, her friends and pray for a peace that surpasses all understanding.   My heart hurts and doesn't feel strong anymore.  I think of the lyrics from the song "Strong Enough".  "I give up, I'm not strong enough. Right now I'm asking You to be strong enough for the both of us."  So I give it all to Him, all the hurt, the sorrow, and let Him heal.  The Master Healer.  It was a life taken too soon, too violently, but now safe in the arms of God.  Someday Nettie, we'll see you again.  Until then, save a place for us.

31 Years and Counting

As I write this, the day of my 31st birthday is coming to a close.  It was a pretty ordinary day, much like most others during this time of year.  Except of course for the tremendous outpouring of love via facebook :-) and text messaging!  I rode a few horses, loaded up some hay, worked on summer games, and fed the animals.  After work consisted of Gavin's baseball game (they lost :-( ) and, being the birthday girl, I got to pick where we were going to eat.  Being that it was Delphi and later in the evening, options were limited so I went with Dairy Queen where I could get my famously unhealthy indulgence food.....chili cheese dog!!!  I do love those things and I don't know why.  A reeses blizzard, The Office, and Grey's Anatomy pretty much ended my evening.  Nothing too spectacular but I'm fairly content.  My parents sent me a beautiful arrangement of flowers that I was not expecting and, of course, no birthday is complete without a singing of the happy birthday song by David and family.  Those little voices wishing me a happy birthday never fails to bring a smile to my face.  Tomorrow's the 20th, much like the day after Christmas.  All week leads up to your birthday as you start to get greetings both via facebook and in person and then, after your big day, much like after Christmas, it all stops.  Not being dramatic, just an observation that makes me laugh.  :-)  Am I where I thought I'd be at 31?  In a word....no.  Am I okay with where I am at 31 years of age.....yes.  Sure, I thought that I'd have at least a couple of kids, a husband, and all that jazz.  I also thought I'd just have a job that made me some money and only hoped it'd make me happy.  Instead, I'm in a ministry, serving God, impacting kids lives and, by the world's standards, alone intimately.  I'm far from that.  I have a wonderful and loving family and great friends right by my side.  Yeah, I do come home to a mostly empty house but, for the most part, I'm okay with that.  I couldn't do what I do with a family waiting for me at home.  So, no, I'm not where I wanted to be but I sure am where I am supposed to be and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Just want to say thanks, on my birthday, to those who shaped me, brought me into this world, and support me in all I do.....Mom and Dad.  My mom always jokes that on my birthday, she should get presents for spending 6 weeks on her back to keep her pregnancy going.  She's probably not too far off.  So my present to them is to make them proud, to do what God wants me to do, and put them in a good retirement home......and no joke, my mom says that last part to me ALL THE TIME!!  So don't think I came up with that.  :-)  I say goodnight and goodbye to the last 30 years and here's hoping I'm not where I think I'll be in 30 more.....if you get my drift.  His plan is so much better than ours.....

April...Prepping for the Circus

Sorry it's been a while.  Life goes on hold once April hits around camp and will continue to be on hold till August.  Thoughts turn to the upcoming summer and the need for anti-anxiety meds increases. (No joke) Stress levels rise as we begin to think of all the things that need to be done before summer camp and that list is long.  On the outside, it may not appear to be much as everything is already here, but the nitty gritty details of camp are huge and can feel extremely overwhelming (kind of how I'm feeling right now).  Earlier in April, I spent two weeks manning the ship by myself as Amie went on a few trips, one to Texas, one to New York.  Those trips away from family and those responsibilities are much needed for her and she comes back ready to tackle the world again.  That is also good for me but keeping both work afloat and helping Ben with family is very tiring.  It's hard to not be anxious, but I keep a mantra going on in my head, "Be anxious for nothing, be anxious for nothing...."  In the end, the kids will come, some things may not get done, but we'll give them the best experience ever.

It's been mostly work but I did get the opportunity to take Braydn to the Indy Children's Museum last week to see the exhibits.  Of particular interest to him, of course, was the huge Bumblebee statue.  I remember spending a day each spring break as a kid going to the museum with my parents.  I loved going there and seeing that pendulum clock go back and forth.  Braydn keeps talking about going back.  Perhaps another tradition in the making.  Then on Easter, I went down to my brother's to spend the day with family.  Those four nephews are a handful!  Great church service at David's church and good food and good time with family....good Easter.

Maybe I should be praying, "Stop raining, stop raining, stop raining."  When the mud is almost up to your knees, the flood waters are across the roads in some places, and it's forecasted to keep raining until next week, you know it's too much rain.  Very tiring to work in the mud and everything's a wreck which only adds to the nerves.  Please stop raining!

What's keeping me going right now?  The fact that I am getting away from this place for a whole week.  Starting next Sunday, Amie, crew, and I are headed to Disney World.  We had the most awesome relaxing time back in 2009 and are looking forward to another awesome vacation this time.  We are staying at the Animal Kingdom lodge which will add to the magical experience.  There's a lot to go through before we leave, including a full camp that weekend, but it will all be worth it.  I'll get away, not think about camp or horses, spend a week not being muddy, and relax with some very special folks in my life.  And it'll rejuvanate the spirit, enabling me to come back ready to conquer the next 3 weeks that will have a lot to get done in that time.  So with that, I sign off for now.  Until the next post....