2.40 The one where I talk about movies... and randomly meeting people.

Today went well. I followed the plan except for the going to a bookstore part.

I started out by going to pacific rim. Now, before I tell you what I think of this one.. let me give you a bit of context. I like robots... I think they're awesome. As a kid I was a bit obsessed with Battletech and Mechwarrior. That having been said... I really enjoyed this movie. I went in expecting a special effects action movie and was not disappointed, I also appreciated the storyline that they threaded into it. If you see it and don't like it... s'fine, but if you see it and do... we're in agreement :)

after I was done seeing that movie I went and retrieved maverick and moved on to the next thing on our list... The Lone Ranger. I also very much enjoyed this movie, it was totally different than Pac-Rim but it was quite good as well. The style of storytelling was quirky and engaging, the craziness mixed with the silliness of a Johnny Depp performance. It was fun.

Also as we were leaving the movies the second time we ran into some former (and future) campers! it's always nice to see campers out in the real world and know that the island that is camp isn't just a fairy tale land.

Tomorrow we do a few lil errands before heading back to camp to start a week of Junior High camp... Unfortunately the bookstores here in Casper are all closed on Sunday so I'll have to leave that particular thing until another weekend... 4 weeks left.

2.39 the one with lots of food and such

We arrived in casper safely after a few hours of yelling children in the van... I'd always assumed that the tired kiddos would sleep on the way home... but I guess that the combination of naps in the schedule, an earlier bedtime, and ineffective AC in Chad-Moe (our van) caused them to stay awake the entire way home... It also didn't stop my copilot from falling asleep incredibly quickly after we left camp...

After arriving in casper we fetched some tasty food at a chinese buffet, and continued on into a very relaxing evening and returned to our apartment for the weekend.

breakfast this morning was great (even though my copilot is terrible at staying awake he was great at scrounging for leftovers before we left) biscuits and gravy, and with the last of my mountain dew... twas great.

Today I plan on seeing a movie or two (the lone ranger, and either pacific rim or man of steel) puttering around a bookstore, and maybe a nap or two. We'll see what happens.. but that's the master plan :)

2.38 the one with a psalm inside

I missed another day...

Today it's Friday and in a few short hours the wee ones will be heading home for the week.

An update on the blessing thing referenced in the last post.. I decided that rather than doing a pay it forward sorta thing I'd just take every opportunity I could to blues those around me. I doubt I did a very good job but I tried at least...

Also a day at the pool netted me a minor sunburn, only the second of the summer but still annoying.

Thursday was our best day riding all week, I was blessed by challenging my Wranglers to do the devotion and the safety demo for the rides, they really did well and it was fun to sit and listen to the kids interact with them.

Today I head to Casper to deliver a van and spend a few relatively quiet days before we start again Sunday afternoon. Another junior high week is upon us and is one of only four remaining in the summer...

I've been a bit grumpy a few times over the last week and yesterday had one odd those times... But I caught it fairly early and headed out on a walk with some great scenery and Matt Redmond.

Desperate for a devotion topic for the meeting I had been asked to lead I fell back on psalm 23. The same psalm that pastor Paul read just before dads service, the same psalm we used to talk about when we wrangled at rainbow. The psalm that becomes more full and rich as the years go by....

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

2.36 the one before pool day

Today is pool day! (not to be confused with lake day). The advantages of pool day over lake day are professional lifeguards that we didn't have to bring with us, and being able to keep an eye on the wee ones through something relatively clear instead of mud and bugs n such. (I'm actually kind of excited, can you tell?)

Yesterday was pretty great, I had so much fun that my voice decided that it wasn't going to operate at 100% this morning. Which is kind of fun too.

As I crawled out of bed this morn I was greeted with the great news that the chores I was not looking forward to had already been done and that we shouldn't let the blessings end with us. I tell you this not to make the one who did it look better (although he does look pretty good right now) but to force myself to tell you how it went tomorrow.

Until then continue to pray for an exuberance as we try to keep up with the little guys and gals. Pay for health and strength in physical, mental, and spiritual things.

And last but certainly not least in my mind, please pray for me and school rapidly approaching in the fall. It's coming quick and I'm trying hard not to worry about it, but I fear I'm just stacking up worry in a big pile that'll Fall on my head at an inconvenient time.

-Nick

2.35 the one where I'm contemplative

Monday Monday Monday... It's amazing how quick you can burn through a week of rest, not that I'm down to pre-break levels of energy but I do groan my way through the wakeup process again...

I had a good day yesterday, it was nice to see the team again and everyone seemed like a lot of life had happened in a week (for good or not).

Also it is an annoying thing to be in a position of leadership and have the luxury of taking a break removed from you, not because it's not something you need but because when others see you taking a break it's ok for them to drop their stuff and take a break too.

Not that this is not a bad thing for people to follow their leaders to rest as well as struggle... But it does make it difficult to be part of the vanguard.

I also feel the frustration of knowing the fullness of camp and then being banished back to my pile of dirt down the road...

Suffice it to say I'm glad that I'm here and I love what I'm doing, but there are parts of the job this year that I'm not doing well... And I have yet to figure out how to fix that.

-Nick

2.34 The one where I"m a bit nostalgic.

Yesterday was super chill as predicted. Movies were observed via netflix, naps were experienced in the half-awake half-dreaming sort of way, and the overall opinion seemed to be that it's time to get back to normal.

An opinion that seemed to be shared by the car full of gals who were attempting to get to camp when they had the third flat tire of the week. They did make it most of the way, and they're here now so it all worked out.

This morning involved church, and lunch at subway. The next week of camp (3rd and 4th graders) begins in a few short hours....

and now for a bunny trail!

This morning we sang be thou my vision and I was particularly struck by the following verse

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

And I was reminded that I love being the heir of an incredible inheritance, not only my parents but my grandparents are titans of the faith, and epitomize what I think of when I think of faithfulness and walking a lifetime in service to our Lord. Beyond that though I am also an heir of a different legacy, one that I've been intimidated by when I was directing, and one that I'm grateful for during board meetings. The Legacy that I'm referring to is that of some incredible people who founded these ministries. From Rimrock to ACK to Rainbow, Incredibly dedicated people have given a lifetime of service to this... and that is just incredible to think about.