Colorado was amazing, as always. This year I ventured out by car to drive the 12 hours to Colorado Springs to spend the night with my Clemson buddy.
The drive was quite a bit different than driving I20 from Dallas to Columbia, SC. I believe I passed more cows than cars. On my way back, I wrangled my coworker into following me back so I wouldn't get stranded alone if anything had happened.
The first two weeks of Colorado were spent in Estes Park for our Rocky Mountain Getaway summer camp for the students and then, a long weekend with some other staff friends in a cabin in Beaver Creek near Vail.
The camp went very well! I helped with registration and housing and even managed to put accidentally put 8 people in a 4 person room! Thankfully everything got situated. This year five girls from Frisco came, and they each loved it! One of my highlights with them was hiking Eagle Cliff. The view was exquisite. We were able to see part of Rocky Mountain National Park. At the top of our climb I pointed out the treeline on the mountains. I explained to them what a treeline is and why it exists, that the oxygen is too thin for much vegetation. Then I compared it to the valley where everything was in full bloom. I paralleled it to their experience this summer, letting them know that summer camps and big events centered around God are amazing and like the mountain tops in life. But it's the valley where everything grows, and I reminded them that leaving camp is inevitable. That reality will hit, but their relationship with God will grow if they spend time with Him.
After camp, I headed home to the land of polos, pearls, and tiger paws...good ole south cakalaky. I spent time with mom, getting the house cleaned, repainted, doing yard work, before her mastectomy. These past seven months have really grown us closer which I have loved! To make a short story long, mom is now cancer free, and her recovery went fabulously! She will be heading out to Dallas to walk with me and some students in a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society walk (Light the Night).
After playing nurse niles (or general niles, mom calls me because I 'force' her to do everything the doctor says), I returned to Colorado for our National Staff Conference for everyone on staff with CCC. It was such a refreshing week. We heard deep, profound messages that we all needed to be reminded of. One of my favorites was Tim Keller. He reminded us that the gospel is not just the gospel. That it is the story of going from death to hope and life, and our lives are to be a response of the One who first loved us. I also enjoyed Larry Crabb's seminar and talk on communication climates, how to listen better. Made me feel quite guilty at just how self-obsessed I am!
Well, now I'm back in Tejas. I've been back for a week, and have already landed a new hobby. I find small delights in scouring WalMart and Lowe's for half dying plants for under two dollars. I buy them, bring them back home, and try a little of my own raising from the dead :) So far, I've been successful with one fern. We'll see how the other two cope the next few days. My best find was a another fern I got today for 50cents. He was a little more than half past dead. I'll keep you updated.
Sadly I was spoiled this summer with the cool weather in Colorado and shockingly mild weather in SC. Dallas has hit 100 almost everyday since I've been back for a week now. That hasn't stopped the cross country team from practicing each morning. I join them about every other day, and I'm already meeting the new freshmen.
School starts in two weeks! Continue to pray for the students at Frisco, especially the incoming freshmen. We hope to gather a lot of students who are interested in knowing more about God from this year's new class.
Ok this was my attempt to write a short summary of my summer. :) I intend on keeping this updated a little better this semester!
