November 9, 2011
Where does time fly off to? I'm sure it flies to Neverland. Really, I am thinking it should take me with it. This treadmill called college just seems to be getting faster and I'm having a harder time keeping up! "College is a marathon. Don't stop until you're done." These wise words of my chemistry teacher are often in the back of my mind.
Oh to go back to the childhood days where the biggest challenge of the day was bringing in the firewood not studying for tests or writing 10 page papers!
This school year has really been a learning experience for me in more ways than one. There are still plenty more lessons for me to learn along with a few reminders of things learned in the past.
A Few Lessons...
1. If you want to succeed, you MUST CHOOSE to succeed.
2. Time management is key. (I still haven't mastered this one)
3. Multi-tasking is key for survival in college.
4. Procrastination is not just the thief of time, it's the nightmare of your life.
5. Extra baggage does more damage than you think.
6. Don't try to carry more than you can hold. You just end up dropping everything.
7. Backpacks shouldn't be made to hold everything you own. (Mine kills my back every day!)
8. Crock pots. Amazing. Everyone should use them.
9. Always leave for school more than five minutes early.
10. Sleep is precious. Early to bed early to rise is more than just an old wives tale... use this advice. A lot. (Even on the weekend)
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Camp: Week 3
What an awesome week of campers!
Tween camp has been by far my favorite week of camp. I was just a little worried when I met a couple of my campers, but it turned out that they were my absolutely favorite cabin by far. I was having so much fun with them that I worried I just might be missing something!
The week was off to an eventful start...and yup, the trend continued. The nurses have started to become my best friends among the staff, I think I see them more than I see most of the other staff now! First day one of my girls was riding on a tube behind the boat and twisted her ankle. Sure enough, it swelled up and walking around camp became a little bit more of an adventure, and the walks from place to place took a little longer.
I finally got to go on the tube behind the boat too! It was such a blast and the girls loved it that I had fun with them too. By Tuesday afternoon it was coming up for my day off and I had been having so much fun I didn't even remember that my day off was the next day! (Even though I still was happy for a day off)
There were still some dragging feet and a little homesickness, but with some encouragement and love, everyone was having fun and did the activities with enthusiasm. The weather was a lot better for most of the week, but I have to say that tubing down the river for 20 minutes in the 55 degree weather was an adventure! I was so excited. All the girls had agreed they didn't want to go tubing down the river with it being so cold, but if one person wanted to go, then everyone had to go. Fingers crossed I waited....but alas, ONE girl (oh yes, the one on crutches) decided that she wanted to go tubing down the river still. There went my nice ideas of a warm shower and hot chocolate......*sigh* The camp attitude came out and I put on my swimsuit and we all went down the river...I have to say, I kept as much out of the water as I could, but still had a lot of fun!!!!! It's true that when you decide you're going to have fun...you will. :)
Tween camp has been by far my favorite week of camp. I was just a little worried when I met a couple of my campers, but it turned out that they were my absolutely favorite cabin by far. I was having so much fun with them that I worried I just might be missing something!
The week was off to an eventful start...and yup, the trend continued. The nurses have started to become my best friends among the staff, I think I see them more than I see most of the other staff now! First day one of my girls was riding on a tube behind the boat and twisted her ankle. Sure enough, it swelled up and walking around camp became a little bit more of an adventure, and the walks from place to place took a little longer.
I finally got to go on the tube behind the boat too! It was such a blast and the girls loved it that I had fun with them too. By Tuesday afternoon it was coming up for my day off and I had been having so much fun I didn't even remember that my day off was the next day! (Even though I still was happy for a day off)
There were still some dragging feet and a little homesickness, but with some encouragement and love, everyone was having fun and did the activities with enthusiasm. The weather was a lot better for most of the week, but I have to say that tubing down the river for 20 minutes in the 55 degree weather was an adventure! I was so excited. All the girls had agreed they didn't want to go tubing down the river with it being so cold, but if one person wanted to go, then everyone had to go. Fingers crossed I waited....but alas, ONE girl (oh yes, the one on crutches) decided that she wanted to go tubing down the river still. There went my nice ideas of a warm shower and hot chocolate......*sigh* The camp attitude came out and I put on my swimsuit and we all went down the river...I have to say, I kept as much out of the water as I could, but still had a lot of fun!!!!! It's true that when you decide you're going to have fun...you will. :)
Camp: Week 2
Character building week to the max.
Nothing like having seven non-Adventist girls in your cabin that have no respect for anything or anyone added a whole new level to my counseling experience. By the first day I was dying...by the second day, I was ready to give up being a counselor forever, thankfully the third day was a day off, and after that, I just kept looking forward to Sunday. Not that they were horrible girls, but just completely disrespectful and obviously not well-disciplined at home. I found myself looking back at the challenging week before and thinking that was a breeze compared to these girls.
Thankfully the one Adventist girl helped me keep my sanity and she was a sweetie. It's amazing the difference I could tell in her language, education, and manners. I felt bad that she was influenced by the others, but hopefully the influence I had on her was stronger. Every single day was a challenge. First of all, it rained....and rained...and rained...pretty much every day, all day!
For nearly every activity, I had girls, one or the other, or all saying they weren't going to do something. I had to be very firm and positive about it all, and in the end, I won out :) Every girl, did or at least tried every activity...and surprise of surprises.... had FUN at it too :P
When it came to the canoe trip I was ready for the girls to paddle for two and a half hours. While the other counselors and staff were not to excited about canoeing in the rain, I was definitely ready for it. I needed something to drain them of their energy, and the canoe trip would do just that. The canoe trip ended up being a lot of fun for me at least! I loved it! It was pouring down rain, a little thunder, a leech, and it wasn't too cold. Best of all, the girls were exhausted by the end :)
The rest of week flew by quickly, but I was ready for a new cabin of girls. Crossed my fingers and hoped God would be merciful to give me an easier cabin for the next week!
Oh, and the highlight of the week? i was the bandaid lady....I hardly ever was far from bandaids. There was a seemingly unlimited number of scratches, bug bites, cuts, scrapes, and anything else that could bleed from all the girls! I think theres's starting to be a trend in my cabin....hmmmmmm
Nothing like having seven non-Adventist girls in your cabin that have no respect for anything or anyone added a whole new level to my counseling experience. By the first day I was dying...by the second day, I was ready to give up being a counselor forever, thankfully the third day was a day off, and after that, I just kept looking forward to Sunday. Not that they were horrible girls, but just completely disrespectful and obviously not well-disciplined at home. I found myself looking back at the challenging week before and thinking that was a breeze compared to these girls.
Thankfully the one Adventist girl helped me keep my sanity and she was a sweetie. It's amazing the difference I could tell in her language, education, and manners. I felt bad that she was influenced by the others, but hopefully the influence I had on her was stronger. Every single day was a challenge. First of all, it rained....and rained...and rained...pretty much every day, all day!
For nearly every activity, I had girls, one or the other, or all saying they weren't going to do something. I had to be very firm and positive about it all, and in the end, I won out :) Every girl, did or at least tried every activity...and surprise of surprises.... had FUN at it too :P
When it came to the canoe trip I was ready for the girls to paddle for two and a half hours. While the other counselors and staff were not to excited about canoeing in the rain, I was definitely ready for it. I needed something to drain them of their energy, and the canoe trip would do just that. The canoe trip ended up being a lot of fun for me at least! I loved it! It was pouring down rain, a little thunder, a leech, and it wasn't too cold. Best of all, the girls were exhausted by the end :)
The rest of week flew by quickly, but I was ready for a new cabin of girls. Crossed my fingers and hoped God would be merciful to give me an easier cabin for the next week!
Oh, and the highlight of the week? i was the bandaid lady....I hardly ever was far from bandaids. There was a seemingly unlimited number of scratches, bug bites, cuts, scrapes, and anything else that could bleed from all the girls! I think theres's starting to be a trend in my cabin....hmmmmmm
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Camp: Week 1
"There's nothing like children to develop your character."
The first week of camp flew by with wings. Sometimes it felt like the minutes were dragging, but almost before I knew it the week was over and all seven of my little hazards had survived the week and I was waving goodbye to them as they packed up their things and left with their parents. With each one that left there was a little piece of sadness and a little piece of relief.
Being a counselor is hard work. At the same time it's rewarding work. Going from college sophomore to "mom" of seven was a shocker. I don't think any amount of orientation can really get you mentally prepared for all the challenges that come with being in charge of children. Especially seven of them from all different backgrounds, homes, and families.
My amazing friend and cabinmate Kelsey gave adventure campers the nickname of being "little hazards" and it's oh so true. My littlest "hazard" used up all my bandaids within three days. I felt so sorry for her always hurting herself, but she was a trooper and always kept her chin up despite her many scrapes and bruises.
OH! An example of hazards.....The Sabbath afternoon activity this year at camp has been an "End Times" scenario where you run and hide in the woods and have "soldiers" driving all around or chasing the group, the counselor is "kidnapped" and taken away for standing up for their belief in the Sabbath, and the whole thing takes about two hours. Well, lucky for me, I was kidnapped after the third station and headed back to the cool auditorium for some R&R while they finished the activity. About halfway through I see my girls in the lobby and wonder what's going on, but didn't worry because they were still with their leader. Later I get to the place where everyone meets after the program and everyone starts talking at once. No one cares that I survived the kidnapping...the top news was that two of my girls had passed out on the activity. Way to stop my heart. I guess they had overheated or something and one passed out, and within five minutes the other one passed out and a third one looked like she was ready to do the same. Later that night one of them kept running around excitedly saying...I can't believe I passed out! That's so awesome! I can't believe I passed out ....literally every 5-10 minutes. Every time she said it a little groan came from my heart. I now know why people that have kids age faster!
The first week of camp flew by with wings. Sometimes it felt like the minutes were dragging, but almost before I knew it the week was over and all seven of my little hazards had survived the week and I was waving goodbye to them as they packed up their things and left with their parents. With each one that left there was a little piece of sadness and a little piece of relief.
Being a counselor is hard work. At the same time it's rewarding work. Going from college sophomore to "mom" of seven was a shocker. I don't think any amount of orientation can really get you mentally prepared for all the challenges that come with being in charge of children. Especially seven of them from all different backgrounds, homes, and families.
My amazing friend and cabinmate Kelsey gave adventure campers the nickname of being "little hazards" and it's oh so true. My littlest "hazard" used up all my bandaids within three days. I felt so sorry for her always hurting herself, but she was a trooper and always kept her chin up despite her many scrapes and bruises.
OH! An example of hazards.....The Sabbath afternoon activity this year at camp has been an "End Times" scenario where you run and hide in the woods and have "soldiers" driving all around or chasing the group, the counselor is "kidnapped" and taken away for standing up for their belief in the Sabbath, and the whole thing takes about two hours. Well, lucky for me, I was kidnapped after the third station and headed back to the cool auditorium for some R&R while they finished the activity. About halfway through I see my girls in the lobby and wonder what's going on, but didn't worry because they were still with their leader. Later I get to the place where everyone meets after the program and everyone starts talking at once. No one cares that I survived the kidnapping...the top news was that two of my girls had passed out on the activity. Way to stop my heart. I guess they had overheated or something and one passed out, and within five minutes the other one passed out and a third one looked like she was ready to do the same. Later that night one of them kept running around excitedly saying...I can't believe I passed out! That's so awesome! I can't believe I passed out ....literally every 5-10 minutes. Every time she said it a little groan came from my heart. I now know why people that have kids age faster!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Getting Ready for the Little People
I can't believe it's been almost a full three weeks since I arrived here at Camp Au Sable. The first week I spent most of the day out at High Adventure getting training for certification. Soon all the counselors arrived for our orientation and the busyness began. We spent quite a few hours reading and talking about the ins and outs of being a counselor....I definitely felt like I was getting a crash course in parenting! There was time for fun too and on Saturday night all the counselors headed out to the Fort for a fun-filled evening. Marshmallow War with Capture the Flag sent mini marshmallows flying around the fort until everyone slowly ran out of..or ate their ammo.
Orientation week was full of icebreakers ranging from many games with golf balls to having to sit on a random strangers lap! Definitely not my favorite way to meet someone, but it's a quick way to get to know someone fast when you have to sit on them!
I am going to be a candle making teacher for two weeks so I spent a bit of learning about the art of candlemaking! I still have a lot to learn, but found some pretty cool ideas :)
Soon it was Agape Feast on Friday night, Communion, Church, Sabbath School, and the last bit of peace before the campers arrived on Sunday!
It has been an exciting time for sure! More about my very first campers to come soon :)
Orientation week was full of icebreakers ranging from many games with golf balls to having to sit on a random strangers lap! Definitely not my favorite way to meet someone, but it's a quick way to get to know someone fast when you have to sit on them!
I am going to be a candle making teacher for two weeks so I spent a bit of learning about the art of candlemaking! I still have a lot to learn, but found some pretty cool ideas :)
Soon it was Agape Feast on Friday night, Communion, Church, Sabbath School, and the last bit of peace before the campers arrived on Sunday!
It has been an exciting time for sure! More about my very first campers to come soon :)
Friday, April 15, 2011
It's the Little Things
It's the diamonds in big, black sky
It's never having to say goodbye
It's the big, full moon
It's the bright sun at noon
It's the sound of laughter
It's the wind blowing through your hair
It's the smell of spring
It's the little joys we share
It's the sound of happy birds
It's the voice of a friend
It's the strength in a gentle hug
It's the God on whom you can depend
It's the good morning with a smile
It's the friend who goes the extra mile
It's the sunset on the horizon
It's the sound of waves crashing on a shore
It's the sound of pouring rain
It's the smell of a cup of tea
It's the warm, cuddly blanket
It's the shade of a big leafy tree
It's the inside jokes with my best friends
It's the peaceful moments you wish wouldn't end
It's the long walks on the beach
It's the taste of a juicy peach
It's the comfort of a homecooked meal
It's the fun of finding a good deal
It's the glimmer of hope, when you thought all was lost
It's the painted wonder of Jack Frost
It's the big fluffy snowflakes
It's the sight of beautiful lakes
It's the love of a pet
It's the moments you'll never forget
It's the candle with a dancing flame
It's the excitement of a package that finally came
It's the freedom you feel when you're laying on the grass
It's the exciting adventures you just can't pass
The big picture of life is made up of the little things that sometimes are overlooked or unappreciated. But never underestimate the power of something small, it's the little things that make this life worth living.
It's never having to say goodbye
It's the big, full moon
It's the bright sun at noon
It's the sound of laughter
It's the wind blowing through your hair
It's the smell of spring
It's the little joys we share
It's the sound of happy birds
It's the voice of a friend
It's the strength in a gentle hug
It's the God on whom you can depend
It's the good morning with a smile
It's the friend who goes the extra mile
It's the sunset on the horizon
It's the sound of waves crashing on a shore
It's the sound of pouring rain
It's the smell of a cup of tea
It's the warm, cuddly blanket
It's the shade of a big leafy tree
It's the inside jokes with my best friends
It's the peaceful moments you wish wouldn't end
It's the long walks on the beach
It's the taste of a juicy peach
It's the comfort of a homecooked meal
It's the fun of finding a good deal
It's the glimmer of hope, when you thought all was lost
It's the painted wonder of Jack Frost
It's the big fluffy snowflakes
It's the sight of beautiful lakes
It's the love of a pet
It's the moments you'll never forget
It's the candle with a dancing flame
It's the excitement of a package that finally came
It's the freedom you feel when you're laying on the grass
It's the exciting adventures you just can't pass
The big picture of life is made up of the little things that sometimes are overlooked or unappreciated. But never underestimate the power of something small, it's the little things that make this life worth living.
Friday, September 10, 2010
College:
Week 1: Registration: AKA...taking your picture, spending the most money you have ever spent in your ENTIRE life (of your own), meeting lots of new people, getting a card with your picture on it (that is pretty much the key to your new life), being thrust out of your comfort zone, lugging your stuff up the dorm stairs mostly by yourself, sitting in meetings, meeting with your advisor, meeting the most amazing family group ever (SUIT UP!!!), going bowling, changing your major, and...I'm sure there was something else, but that was the jist. :)
Weekend 1: Driving about two hours away to an amazing camp with all the Freshman girls to listen to different seminars and worship together. It was beautiful and Lake Michigan is awesome. :)
Week 2: Getting lost in the dorm, trying to figure out which building is which. The building where English is ...is not "The English Building, it's Nethery Hall", walking around with a map totally looking lost, almost going into the wrong nutrition class, barely able to make it to communications on time because you can't figure out what room it's supposed to be in, being terrified by your Nutrition teacher who says he has given out only 10 A's out of a Hundred students last semester, and...best of all, looking forward to the weekend and SABBATH!!! :)
Weekend 2: Hanging out at the beach on Sabbath afternoon and going on a bike ride with Christophe! I am addicted. It's as fun and more fun than I ever imagined it would be!!! :D Sunday...more beachy-ness :) I LOVE THE BEACH!!! AND THE SUNSHINE!!!!
Week 3: Getting all settled into classes, looking forward to Labor Day!! WHOO HOO!!! Last three years..or pretty much my entire life I think I still had school on Labor Day! Loving classes and just moving along ...and of course...looking forward to the weekend! ESPECIALLY since friends from Union were coming!! YAY!!
Weekend 3: Church, Lunch, Beach, Dinner, BOWLING!!! :) and...getting sick :( Sunday: SIX FLAGS!!! :) The roller coasters were awesome..but I was getting tired towards the end of the day for sure...It was Renee's first time ever being on a roller coaster and by the end of the second one she was hooked! :) She looked at me with a big grin on her face and said "YAY! let's do it again!!" First time I ever did the drop tower...it looks scarier than it is...and the anticipation was worse than the drop!!! :) Actually, I got sick on a little swinging boat...how lame is that. I didn't feel good for hours after that one! OLIVE GARDEN was an amazing supper of SOUP and breadsticks! Cheap...but delicious! :) And we had to zip back in time for curfew...we made it. Barely.
Week 4: Studying and panicking for my first EXAM! Yeah, not cool when your book is lost in the mail. Cram, cram, cram the night before = not a very good grade. At least I passed and was in the average pool...but I don't like the average!~ I want to be ABOVE average!!! Realizing that next week..I have TWO exams (nutrition and intro to psych) and an english paper (collage) due. Wow. This weekend is going to include some studying. That's for sure. Tonight (friday) was Fusion! The sermon was really good.It was Me vs. Me. and how sometimes we get so focused on the ins and outs, that we forget to let God lead and we are just fighting against ourselves instead of letting God do the change in us. Romans 8 - NOTHING will separate us from the love of God. AMEN!!!!The music gets too loud, but if you leave early after the sermon, well you get out easier, and you can go to bed earlier!
So..this was super long...but the words were just coming...ta ta...morning comes and the clock doesn't wait for a sick, tired, half-asian freshman girl who is hungry!
:) - ME
Happy Sabbath!
Weekend 1: Driving about two hours away to an amazing camp with all the Freshman girls to listen to different seminars and worship together. It was beautiful and Lake Michigan is awesome. :)
Week 2: Getting lost in the dorm, trying to figure out which building is which. The building where English is ...is not "The English Building, it's Nethery Hall", walking around with a map totally looking lost, almost going into the wrong nutrition class, barely able to make it to communications on time because you can't figure out what room it's supposed to be in, being terrified by your Nutrition teacher who says he has given out only 10 A's out of a Hundred students last semester, and...best of all, looking forward to the weekend and SABBATH!!! :)
Weekend 2: Hanging out at the beach on Sabbath afternoon and going on a bike ride with Christophe! I am addicted. It's as fun and more fun than I ever imagined it would be!!! :D Sunday...more beachy-ness :) I LOVE THE BEACH!!! AND THE SUNSHINE!!!!
Week 3: Getting all settled into classes, looking forward to Labor Day!! WHOO HOO!!! Last three years..or pretty much my entire life I think I still had school on Labor Day! Loving classes and just moving along ...and of course...looking forward to the weekend! ESPECIALLY since friends from Union were coming!! YAY!!
Weekend 3: Church, Lunch, Beach, Dinner, BOWLING!!! :) and...getting sick :( Sunday: SIX FLAGS!!! :) The roller coasters were awesome..but I was getting tired towards the end of the day for sure...It was Renee's first time ever being on a roller coaster and by the end of the second one she was hooked! :) She looked at me with a big grin on her face and said "YAY! let's do it again!!" First time I ever did the drop tower...it looks scarier than it is...and the anticipation was worse than the drop!!! :) Actually, I got sick on a little swinging boat...how lame is that. I didn't feel good for hours after that one! OLIVE GARDEN was an amazing supper of SOUP and breadsticks! Cheap...but delicious! :) And we had to zip back in time for curfew...we made it. Barely.
Week 4: Studying and panicking for my first EXAM! Yeah, not cool when your book is lost in the mail. Cram, cram, cram the night before = not a very good grade. At least I passed and was in the average pool...but I don't like the average!~ I want to be ABOVE average!!! Realizing that next week..I have TWO exams (nutrition and intro to psych) and an english paper (collage) due. Wow. This weekend is going to include some studying. That's for sure. Tonight (friday) was Fusion! The sermon was really good.It was Me vs. Me. and how sometimes we get so focused on the ins and outs, that we forget to let God lead and we are just fighting against ourselves instead of letting God do the change in us. Romans 8 - NOTHING will separate us from the love of God. AMEN!!!!The music gets too loud, but if you leave early after the sermon, well you get out easier, and you can go to bed earlier!
So..this was super long...but the words were just coming...ta ta...morning comes and the clock doesn't wait for a sick, tired, half-asian freshman girl who is hungry!
:) - ME
Happy Sabbath!
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