Nebraska Livin'

Aw Nebraska!  It was good to see you again.  My trip last year was amazing, therapeutic, and refreshing.  If there's one thing that I can say about being out there is that there just seems to be less noise.  I'm not just saying that it's quieter out there, although it is, but it's just less.....less.  I know, makes no sense.  You are out in the middle of nowhere (45 minutes off the main road, several thousands of acres, and neighbors miles apart) and there's little physical noise.  I don't have to listen to my cell phone go off, feel the pressure of checking email, and I go to bed early and sleep long and hard.  And there's less stimulus.  Seems like it's hard to get that at home.  There's noise from camp, noise from phones and TV and the distraction of always feeling like I need to do something.  So it's definitely refreshing and a great change of pace.

We left for NE Sunday afternoon and were able to drive Ben's car which meant incredible gas mileage compared to the truck which we took last time.  We arrived at 5:30 am our time and slept on the couch for about 2 hours and then were up and at 'em for the branding (100+ calves first site, 259 calves second site).  We didn't have any particular job this time but it was so fun to watch as usual.  My regret?  Not bringing my camera!  There were a bunch of kids there this time because of fall break and these guys are definitely little cowboys.  They are a different sort of kids, but not in a weird way.  This is their life.  They have no fear walking in and out of the cows at 5 or 6 years of age where other parents would be whisking them out of the way, their parents are watchful but have taught their kids to listen well and when they tell them to move, there is no hesitation.  They seem to be the most responsible kids you'll meet.  But, of course, they were having loads of  fun too.  They were practicing their roping, picking up the testicles from when after the cowboys castrated the bull calves and throwing them around (totally a boy thing!), and making a fort out of branches in the pasture.  At one point, they wandered into the pen from where the cowboys were dragging out the calves and caught themselves a calf and it took 6 kids to drag that calf in.  Best kodak moment ever!  Another good meal after the branding and we make it home by 5 pm.  It was a long dusty day and a shower couldn't come soon enough.  A quick dinner and I was in bed by 8:45 and slept for 12 straight hours.  The next day, we help a bit around the house, go with Trevor to pick up a washing machine from a friend and then pick up fence, and then Amie and I get to go ride.  She rode Bob and I rode Romeo.  It was quite the adventure as we just headed out, following fence lines and attempting to circle around it all but the sun decided to go down and, well, there's a lot of land to cover out there.  We did pass 3 cows who were dead and gone.  Two were piles of bones and one was obviously still food for the coyotes.  Makes sense to leave them out there when they die.  Food for something.  Then it was back home and time for dinner.  A wind advisory was in effect from 11pm that night on and, right on cue, two hours after I'd gone to bed, that wind came.  It was incredibly gusty (50mph) and the house whistled and things banged all night along.

The next day was still windy and about mid morning we got the chance to move calves.  It was about 49 degrees and a constant wind of about 35 mph and still gusting up to 50.  We bundle up, saddle up, and canter on out to the field where the cows are.  We are bringing them to a closer field for the branding in a few days.  They come in pretty well and then we wait for a long 20-30 minutes in the wind for them to "pair up" again, meaning the moms and calves find each other again.  We go looking for a couple more pairs and herd them back and it was back to the trailer, back to the barn, then back out of the wind.  A good hot meal later and we spent the rest of the day inside playing with Amber's kids and taking naps and reading books.  Trevor had to go out and fight a ferocious grass fire that was probably started from a lit cigarette thrown from a car (cmon folks, really?  If you're going to have a disgusting habit, take care of it!) and with the recent drought and high wind, it was a recipe for disaster.  About 6 miles of land were burnt and although I heard of some evacuations, I have no idea how many homes were affected.  Even if no homes were harmed, it can still be devastating because these fine folks live off the land.  Anything (drought, fire, etc) that can harm the land will harm the people.  They got the fire under control and had to fight a small one the next day.                                      Small video to show the wind that day.  

Thursday was very lazy and the wind continued so we stayed inside and mostly talked and laid on the couch.  A good day spent doing nothing.  The plan was to leave Friday morning to make it back by Saturday trail rides.  All in all, it was a good trip.

The Nebraska cowboy of the Sandhills is a creature of contradictions.  He's a tough man, fighting the elements from atop his steed, working day in and day out in the roughest of weather.  Fixing fence, moving cows, getting up at night during calving, and taking care of everything and everyone when any help is miles and miles away.  There's lots of work to do and not many folk to help him.  His family and his cattle depend on him.  Yet he works on the most fragile of lands, the Sandhills.  He has to be a tough and patient man to take care of tender, gentle ground, but they work together and take care of one another so that both can survive.  He is the Nebraska cowboy.

In a minute, but not yet....

I swear I say that SO many times on a Saturday......

So while I have a great post in the works on my recent trip to Nebraska, I feel as though a few comments about my weekend are in order.  First off, after driving back yesterday and arriving early this morning, Amie and I hit the ground running with trail rides.  It started off a little slow but the girls finally started arriving at camp for time with their dads.  I had quite a few dads recognize me and comment how long I must have been working here.  Some remember me from when their oldest daughter had started the princess program.  Honestly, about 12,000 retreat guests come through here (on top of 36,000 other guests) and while I do remember a few of them (Chris from Illinois, I remember you and your family better be coming to Family Camp!), they certainly remember me more than I can remember them.  But it's fun to be pointed out like that.  Also, the dads this weekend seemed SO appreciative, whether it's of the ride, the horses, the extra time we might take to smile or make small talk with them and pay attention to just them for that one moment.  And sometimes, it's hard for these dads to stop and slow down and I think a weekend of camp is just what the doctor orders for them.  While we go through all the work of making sure they get on and around safely, they get to sit back and enjoy a quiet ride through the Pine Forest with it's tall pines reaching for the bright fall day.  It's a give and take but we certainly get a lot out of it too.  

Also, it's been fun recently because we've had an awesome young man, Alex, join our crew.  He's brought life back to working a long day of rides and Amie and I can't stop singing his praises.  He may not be the most skilled in working with the horses, but he's a hard worker, watches Amie and I and then puts it into practice, and has a most fantastic attitude.

And a few moments of humor that need to be recorded before they are lost.  Last weekend, during breakfast as I was passing around a napkin to get everyone's snack orders, one of our long time amazing workers Abby wasn't going to let Brandon (a young worker who we had told to come in later in the day) write down his snack because she thought he was working retreats and not with the horses because, "I didn't see you tacking up with me."  He's pretty particular about getting his snack and she wasn't going to let him have the napkin.  Soon Franki joined in and poor Brandon wasn't going to get to write down his order.  He looked like a puppy dog who'd just been beat.  Once I stopped laughing, I let him write it down.  I had never laughed so much at breakfast.  Then today, as Alex was having a little trouble getting Arden bridled, Franki comes in and asks if she can help. She slips the bridle on Arden then looks over at Alex and says, "See, it wasn't that hard." and walks away all sassy like.  Poor Alex.  As he walked away, I told him that when she had started working with us, she was quiet and shy.  Alex remarks, "Well, something happened."  I told him he was allowed to hit her for her next sassy comment....we almost had a WWF contest after lunch.  These guys make me laugh!

So that was my Saturday.  Sunday is going to be CRAZY with 2 girl scout troops coming in but I have faith in my crew.  Trail ride days are hard physically and just can get monotonous and be rough.  I'm reminded that a lot of it is in my attitude and then I try to meet the day head on.  Then I get to meet some cool dads and be a small part of their lives and also be a part of my worker's lives.  So all in all, not a bad day's work.

Interesting Reads

Experiences that Last a Lifetime

What Summer Camp Can Do

What Parents Don't Get About Camp

Can Counselors "Out-Parent" Parents?

Counselor vs Intern

In Praise of Summer Camp

While it may seem as though those who work at camp (full time or as a summer counselor) don't have a "real job", aren't "professional", and folks may just think that you play all day, what we do shapes lives in ways that no other "institution" can.  Plus we add the "C" of the YMCA into our program so our reach is that much more powerful.  Pretty interesting stuff!

Looking for Real

As I sat in a women's Bible study this past Thursday, I started thinking about how awkward it seemed to be.  The leader asking questions, hardly anyone responding or the same people responding, some sharing and some not.  This wouldn't be my first choice for a study, but it's a video series by Joyce Meyer and the topic is on the Promises of God.  I had been invited by a friend who has since moved away.  It's a study during the week which makes it more convenient for me.  I used to go to an awesome church.  I grew so much, learned so much, and developed a love of serving.  Unfortunately, some events occurred and I no longer go there and there are still .  I wish I could go back.  I wish it could all be the same again.  I know that church is no longer the same and neither am I.  And it would be too uncomfortable to go back, some feelings hurt too much to go back.  But maybe in a way, it's good to not go back.  I'm not the same.  While I learned a lot and grew so much, I also realize now how judgmental I could be.  Whether it was because of someone who didn't go to church on Sunday morning or maybe didn't "look" like a Christian, I'm sure I judged them before I'd even met them and gotten to know their story.  I think it was awesome for me to come to camp and to broaden my view, my scope, to not put Christianity in a box.  I took what I learned at church and really applied it.  Loving on the kids, discussing questions as deep as, "What will happen if I don't believe in God?" and "Is there absolute truth?", and showing the love of Christ everywhere I could.  So if sometimes things (friends, situations, etc) are only for a season and for a reason, then I believe that the church I was involved with prepared me for the next phase of life.

While this doesn't mean that you don't need to be growing and learning and be involved in a church, I have found it extremely hard to find another church.  First off, I work every Sunday so that's one difficulty.  Also, it's hard to find one that teaches good solid scripture and doesn't gloss over the "hard" stuff.  Not that I'm looking for doom and gloom, but I want a challenge.  And I also want real.  I don't want it to be full of fake, full of awkward, but with people who are the same every single day.  Not pious on Sunday and selfish and lacking love Monday through Saturday.  One where folks are sincere, genuine, not putting on an act, and you feel as though they care.  Obviously, no church is perfect.  No person is perfect.  Nothing will be perfect until He comes back again.  I know that there are real folks out there.  I work with a lot of them. :-)

My September

And in a blink, September's gone!  Where did the time go?  Let's see, September started off with.....Labor Day.  Amie went to NY with the kids and I had the weekend to myself.  Not truly to myself with a full Family Camp.  It was however the wettest day of trail rides we'd ever had with a torrential downpour over lunchtime.  The horses, saddles, pads, and workers were all quite wet by the end of the day.  After rides were over, I started the drying process that would surely take several days.  Sunday was a very lazy day.  I got the chores done and then went on an amazing almost 4 mile run in the rain.  I ran the entire time and it felt amazing!

Dad made me this!

September has been full of work but I did get the chance to go home for 3 days to see my childhood friend and go to her baby shower.  It's always fun to make surprise appearances, especially when you haven't been home for a while.  It was good to see some folks whom I haven't seen in a long while and as a bonus, got to see my nephews for a few hours.  After a few lazy days at home, it was back to work.

I've gotten to take a few riding lessons this month and my last one was amazing.  Instead of riding Anthony, who we are trying to sell, I rode Keeghan and had an awesome lesson where I truly experienced "sit and lift" and bringing the power with each rise of the trot and how the canter is like dribbling a basketball, up and down.

I had one of the worst days of trail rides I've ever had happen in September.  It started off with 2 people calling in, unable to work.  This was going to be a 25 horse weekend and it was necessary to have those extra people.  We struggled through the morning with the horses acting the worst they have ever been partly due to the cold and wind and a recent trimming by the farrier which made them sore on the rides.  I'm sure my blood pressure was through the roof as I practically held my breath each ride that went out.  Amie had been in Nebraska for the week and was getting ready to drive back.  I called her up just to hear her comforting voice on the other end as I was ready to cancel rides for the day because it didn't feel safe and I was so shorthanded.  I ended up finding Josiah and Annie and they came in to help me finish the day.  Whew!

After that crazy weekend, Amie and I left at 3:30 am that Monday to head to Michigan for a conference.  That is way way too early to be up in the morning.  :-)  It was a CHA conference at Camp Innisfree in Howell, MI.  We picked up some good tidbits here and there and thankfully settled into our hotel beds that night.  We left around 5 pm on Tuesday and headed back home and I was so excited to see the NCIS premiere that night.  Yeah!

Last Friday, I was invited to go to Braydn's school for grandparent/family day.  It was so much fun to see his reaction when I walked in to the classroom, then hear him talk all about the different things in his room and what he was learning about.  Then we got to work on a project together and he left school with me and we got to hang out for the afternoon.  Memories!




September was busy, full of ups and downs, good and bad.  But I'm so excited that fall is here.  The crispness of the air, changing of the colors, and the dark nights that come earlier (makes me want to curl up on the couch and relax!).  October is here which has to be one of the best months of the year!

3,000!!

On August 30,2012, my blog hit 3,000 views!!  Awesome!  Thanks for reading folks.  Got a few more posts in the works.  :-)

Week 9 at last!

Whew!  What a week 9.  It was hellish at times, frustrating, and just plain hard while also providing those moments of awesomeness.  When staff come together during a hard time and bond over the difficulties that have been placed before them always inspires an awe.

It's Week 9!

Sunday started off like any other Sunday check-in until I got a call while at the pool from Rebecca for help for a nervous camper.  Little did I know what was ahead of me.  This camper refused to get out of the van, refused to talk to me, or even make eye contact.  The mom was adamant that she stay and receive the experience that being at camp for a week would provide.  I tried talking to her, her soon-to-be counselors talked to her, and I finally called up Scott who said that it was up to mom to get her out of the van but we would be willing to walk her around and let her see the place.  After about an hour, the girl was finally out of the van but not willing to go anywhere.  We finally convinced her to go see the barn and the facilities and I thought that maybe we'd made a breakthrough so I left them together until dinner as I had to go and at least get some of my duties taken care of like taking up the EQ girls and finishing interviews and beginning schedules.  I chatted with Scott again about our special camper and got some more insight as to what to do.  After I dropped off the EQ campers at Scheumann, I noticed the camper and mom arguing again and the camper being resistant and I decided that it was now or never time.  She had to either leave her with us or take her with her back home.  The mom appeared to give up and I thought that was the end of that.  I found out at dinner that she was back and the girl was in the cabin.  Decided to leave it at that and hopefully that was the end of that.  Got done with the schedules and it was off to bed.  By that time next week, I would have done nothing that whole Sunday.  Good feeling.

I'm going to miss him

Monday morning it was so quiet with only 19 campers.  I started the clean up process, tearing down the english tack room and washing brushes and such.  My "friend" makes it through the morning but, by lunch, tells her mom no more.  So she left.  We make it through the first afternoon of activities with Steven and me rocking out vaulting.  There would be no more medieval games, clipping/braiding, vaulting, or race relay for 2012.  After my last evening on duty putting out round bales, leaf blowing the EQ center hay loft, and eating McDonalds that Amie was so kind to bring to me, it was time for Olympics!  Tuesday morning was Cayuga's trail ride and we made it, keeping my friend Maggie right behind me so I could keep an eye on her.  I continue working on projects in the morning and have to work through lunch to get ready for the afternoon where I'm teaching driving as Amie is headed to Kokomo with her mom.  She helps me get the ponies ready after I'd read a scathing email from a mom who was upset that I'd given her daughter a test and they weren't prepared for it.  By now, I'm feeling that I'm destined to make people mad at me this week.  Turns out, I wasn't done.  As I was preparing for the afternoon, after juggling the schedule so that Sarah would help me, Steven would help bareback, and Josiah would help with trail rides, Sarah comes up to tell me that our other staff was quitting.  She was fed up and was leaving.  Mind you, there are 3 days left and if you stay the entire summer, you get a fantastic bonus.  You can do anything for 3 days, right?  Nope.  Rachel went down to try to talk her out of it while we tried to keep our heads in the game to keep the show going for the kids.  We juggle staff back and forth to make sure that all bases are covered and this is when a good staff shows itself.  In the hard times.  When they have to come together to make it work.  And my staff did.  Everyone was understanding.  Everyone did their job and more without complaint.  We rewarded ourselves with a home cooked meal by Sara and then relaxed for the evening.

After a night continuing to watch the Olympics, it was off to bed for ONE MORE TRAIL RIDE!!  haha  After waking up 15 minutes before the campers were even supposed to be there, I rushed around and had them mostly ready to go by the time they got there.  First time ever I've overslept.  I had Sara come up and help me as I had a young, very distracted girl in Crow and 3 Warrior boys so one more set of eyes would be appreciated.  We made it through the ride (barely) and I was done.  26 mornings I woke up early.  26 mornings of getting a cabin group out the door.  And 26 safe trail rides.  Whew!  Hashtag Boom!  We made it through yet another morning of lessons and I spent that afternoon working on the EC, continuing to work on scrubbing buckets.  Sara brought me a nice drink as I was working and decorated it all nice.  I head off to go to Walmart to pick up supplies for my gifts for the end of the summer and pick up Amie's kids.  I was also planning on making breakfast for the crew the next morning since I didn't have trail rides and we needed a pick-me-up.  I work on putting the casseroles together and Sara works on her awesome desserts.  Some fun time in the kitchen later and more Olympics and it was off to bed.

Thursday morning, I made breakfast and we dashed off to take our "dream team" picture and then our counselor picture.  After lessons and lunch, it was time to work on the main stables.  Did some work on the tack room and lots of work elsewhere and it was time to head on up for dinner.  I had to vent and spill some emotions from the week.  Personally, I was done.  DONE.  Fed up with everyone being mad at me for something I didn't do and just tired.  So tired.  I could no longer control my emotions.  Erin and April showed up for a riding lesson that I'd kept pushing off and at that point in time, there was no way my head was in it.  We ate some yummy dinner and then a storm went through that forced everyone into storm shelters.  The tornado had stopped around Brookston and we barely got the rain.  I conked out on the couch for 2 straight hours and was already feeling better by the time I woke up to go home.

Friday morning we made it.  The last person got off the last horse and we'd had a very safe summer.  Relief.  Off to Pizza Hut we went to celebrate!  We get back and continue to work on tearing down the stables.  By the time dinner comes, it's definitely bittersweet.  We're done.  That's for sure.  But it'll be sad to say goodbye, to see campers leave, and to settle back into the routine of trail rides.  After dinner, my crew takes care of the last horse parade while I try to grade as many tests as I can.  We were all planning on going to campfire as it will be Dave's last one and we were planning a tribute.  Right as the horses were coming by, 3 stray dogs (not nice) came running through camp so true to form as to how week 9 has gone for us.  Just one crazy thing after another.  We chase 2 out of the 3 dogs out and tie the other one up and it was off to campfire.  I handed out green jackets to Sara, Rachel, and Steven and settled in for the campfire.  A lot of tributes to Dave.  After campfire, we tried walking the long dog back to the bend but he never indicated which one might be home so he spent the night in the barn.  I headed back home where everyone was there working on certificates.

Bye!

Saturday morning, I slightly sprained my back picking up what would be the last sack of grain I'd even need for the summer.  Of course.  Just how everything's been going lately.  But I got done what I could, found my back belt, and got done lots and lots of chores.  One more lunch at RV with the staff and we were off and running to get the barn cleaned in 2 1/2 hours.  We get done, say goodbye, and then I was trying to finish thank you cards (how do you express 12 weeks in a 3x5 space?) before it was home to take a shower and get ready for the banquet.  Yummy food.  Good people.  Saying goodbye to lots of folks.  Seeing some of them finally get "it", the magic of camp, now that they are leaving, they know what they are leaving behind.  Our staff was awesome.  We made it.  It was hot.  It was dry.  There were no hobo dinners.  No float trips.  Some drama.  BUT the kids loved it.  We made a difference in their lives.  God used us in amazing ways.  But for now, that was done.  No more for 2012.  In 9 short months, we'll be back at it.  Until then, we'll sleep a little, do nothing for a bit, and relax.  We'll pick ourselves back up, work on chores, get back into the swing of trail rides, and wait for those winter winds to be upon us.  So, to my campers of 2012, thanks for a great summer.  Thanks for joining us.  I hope to see you again.  Know that the two people below are already thinking of you and your 2013 experience.