Wet, wild & wonderful!

This will probably not do my recent backpacking trip report justice but that's ok. It was a quality time. Mindy, Eric, Daniel and I blocked out our schedules and scampered to the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area in West Virginia. That is a great state. I think I could live there but then I realize that no, its better to just go there for adventures. :) Friday it rained and we did so many wet stream crossings that we just gave up hiking in boots and doned the Chacos which are awesome. [See blog about canoe] I wasn't sure about hiking in sandals with a pack on but it went alright and there really wasn't much choice. It was a chilly weekend but it stopped raining once we had our campsite set up and Saturday was a beautiful, mostly clear day. The route we were going to hike required crossing a "creek" that is probably normally a creek and knee height at most but the roaring river would easily have come up to my waist. We changed our plans. :) We ended up hiking about 20 miles instead of the intended 15. According to Eric's GPS our stoppage time was at least an hour more than the time we were on the move which proves we knew how to enjoy pretty views, take munch breaks and soak in the sun - limited as it was. We did cross the river at a lower point Saturday morning (so cold!) and had to recross it Sunday on our way out. It was a fight of the will to put our sandals back on, roll up the pants as high as possible and just to make it more memorable, it started to pour as we stepped in. We just smiled, shook our heads and got to the other side as quick as possible. With all the rain everything was so lush and just smelled good! I tried to imagine I was hiking in a rain forest in south america. Highlights were experienceing West Virginia culture (country music, oh yeah!) at a pizza place prior to hitting the trail - also home of the most valuable bus boy EVER!, baking blueberry muffins in orange peels in the fire, hours around the warm campfire, tent time with Mindy and the scenery.
It was so enjoyable I felt like I wasn't really there and couldn't take it all in. Good job God and thanks for a sweet weekend.
- -In other news... another fav passtime of mine is the wonderful game of soccer. I must love it for all the driving I do. My awesome co-ed team played an extremely wet & muddy game - we're talking standing puddles on the field that were ankle deep. Its good for the inner child though to play in the mud every so often. This was the Championship game against the other division. Finally, a competitive game and in ideal conditions! (it rained and then the clouds put on a nice show). To prove the point that this was one of our few competitive games, guess who was the female scoring champion of the league.... yup, Kendra the defender who Never tops out on any scoring records. Cherry picking proved effective as I averaged about a goal a game in season. I even got a trophy. Yes, its cheesy but yeah... i'm kinda tickled. The top male scoring champ was Nate, second guy standing on the left. We went down a goal first half but managed to tie it up in the second - not by either scoring champ and I was even playing defense. 5 minute OT no goals. Down to PKs. I had flashbacks of my season ending shan back in college against Va Weslyen... and opted to let others shine under pressure. All 3 of our guys missed but 2 out of 3 gals made it. The opposition also made 2. Next reserve guy on their team - blocked! Joe steps up - having missed a wide open shot in OT and puts it away. RELIEF! VICTORY! He got a big hug for that one because I would have been the next one to go. Note: I'm making this sound so competitive and serious but we just have a ton of fun together. Ok, all for now... your champ (but not when it counts). ;)

you can look but you better not touch... poison ivy

Spring has sprung and it is wonderful. My African violet has violeted and the lil lettuce seeds are sprouting in my teeny tiny patch of soil. Its so exciting!! The pansy patch I found in our fridge leftover from I don't even know how many tenants previous to Becca & myself, hasn't faired quite as impressively. The meadow tea from Grandma on the other hand is already making my mouth salivate for summer refreshment! Be sure to stop by for a visit and I'll treat you to a spot o' iced tea.

Its not just pretty flowers and goodies for tasting that grow though. My arch enemy poison ivy (or sumac or oak, I just call it all ivy) has also reared its ugly head. After taking test runs on our new zipline we realized some nasty briars were a-growin and needed to be addressed. Happy to be outside doing 'manual' labor I started clipping away at the pricklers. It was a slow process since I had on short sleeves and no gloves (to my credit though I did have on boots and long pants and tried not to touch the ivy). I started to notice other vines growing on the ground and got the overwhelming sense of paranoia that takes over when I'm in dangerous proximity of coming in contact with this despicable creation. Dan came by to take over and I hurried myself away with a furrowed brow whilst comments of '... I need to go wash...' The moral of the story is, foaming handsoap, while convenient and useful for those of us who are too bothered to lather up, is not an effective cleanser for poison oils. Green soap (which is actually orange) is the only way to go. Too bad I didn't have any on hand. My arm suffered a few weeks and is finally looking better. (Apologies for those who are weak in the stomach... its gross). It was close to comparison of the outbreak on my leg from two years ago. That was from one of the famed canoe trips. All in all though... if getting a case of the weepy reaction means I get to be outside enjoying this beautiful world, I guess it can all equal itself out. :)

good weekend = chaco tan

God provided a really cool job for me here at Camp Hebron. As with any job I certainly have those days where I lack motivation or feel like I'm just not living up to my potential. One of the best aspects though is that it is so much more than a job. Its a ministry, at times its a lifestyle, its its own culture (oft times that culture is a big ole bubble that I need to get out of). I know this too shall pass so that alone is reason to praise loudly on the days that I just LOVE what is my job for the day. Today I was walking up the Breezewood hill to lead some low ropes/cooperative games with a bunch of 5th grade girls. I gathered up potentially needed tools that included a foam noodle, some beanie babies, a giant bubble wand, and some kush balls and it hit me... this is so fun, I love what I have to do some days. Its "work" for me to play games with kids, be outside, be goofy. Thanks God!

This weekend was another such experience. I was getting PAID to lead a canoe trip, a Father-Daughter adventure. Don't get me wrong... it is a lot of work. If I had a hat for each role I played they would have required their own dry bag... Driver, River guide, Historian, First aid consultant, Preacher, Cook, Entertainer, etc. But let's face it, it was Awesome! [I'd prefer if you read that last sentence with a New Zealand accent.]
A good weekend can be shown off with a chaco tan. Not just anyone can wear sandals to work (am I making you green with envy yet?). We paddled under blue skies & puffy white clouds - all the while waiting to see what would come of the '80% of thunderstorms' weather forecast. The pictures here record the tan in process, the result (my pride), my canoe partner Bekah (no I didn't take my dad. He came with 2 yrs ago but I'm not sure the non-swimmer/afraid of water combination went so well), and campsite activity.
Speaking of awesome -- that sums up Bekah. I had a tough time finding someone to come with me but finally called up one of my fav families and asked if 12 yr old Bekah Ford could come. Her parents were more than happy to grant her permission, guess it pays off to have straight A+. So she skipped a day and a half of school and got some good life experiences. She learned how to set up a tent by herself, fry up some tasty sausages on the Coleman stove, and steer a canoe. I really can't believe she's only 12. If she's not already taller than me she will be soon. Her maturity and initiative to jump right in and help me and everyone else out was a huge help. As if that wasn't enough, I asked her what she would do with $50 thinking to myself 'I bet she's going to say she'd donate it to charity'. Ding! She flippin' did. Unbelievable. She said that or buy clothes. That's more like it. Her parents were so glad to have her spend time with me and go on this adventure but I'm not so sure who was influencing whom. Hats off the Bekah! You're awesome F-150 (that was her river name).

This is Special K signing off. <><