an adventurous spirit.

i have kept a small piece of paper in my Bible for over a year now. i read over the words weekly and been increasingly encouraged by them:

Many people are so preoccupied with future plans and decisions that they fail to see choices they need to makes TODAY. Without any conscious awareness, they make their habitual responses. People who live this way find a dullness creeping into their lives. They sleepwalk through their days, following well-worn paths of routine.

I, the Creator of the universe, am the most creative Being imaginable. I will not leave you circling in deeply rutting paths. Instead, I will lead you along fresh trails of adventure, revealing to you things you did not know. Stay in communication with Me; follow my guiding Presence.

take away what you may. but be encouraged by God's seemingly adventurous spirit.

another day at redcloud.

quick story for you to enjoy:

as you all know, it is fall in lake city, CO. prime time for hungry bears to make their way into camp on a mad search for food. well, tonight smoky the bear decides to invite himself into MY cabin. he opens the door on his own, saunters inside, leaving his muddy pawprints on our counters, mattresses, and windows. thank you, mr. bear! he makes his way to my bunk (which is at the back of the cabin, by the way) and manages to steal my apples out of their wal-mart bag, eating half and leaving the rest on the floor! he doesn't even clean up after himself. sheesh.

all the while, kathryn is sitting on the top bunk reading. noticing it is smoky that is making a scene....and not me...she yells and screams until he saunters back outside. welcome to fall in lake city!

the times, they are a changin'.

or maybe just the leaves. my favorite thing to do at the moment: look up at the mountains and see small patches of bright yellow. this means fall in colorado is fastly approaching...and i couldn't be happier.

the pace of life has changed a bit, too, recently. outdoor ed has started and my weeks are filled with rowdy 5th graders calling me "tipper" and learning all there is to know about animals and the solar system. man, i missed out on field trips. these kids are lucky. but i love 'em.

for those of you who care: LESS than 2 months until i'm re-united with 340. oh goodness.

a beautiful world

we live in a beautiful world...yeah we do, yeah we do.

as i listen to coldplay, i am reminded of this simple truth. i do live in a beautiful world. one that God created perfectly. it is filled with beautiful people that i can learn and grow from. i sit here trying to understand the process of photosynthesis so that i can adequately teach 5th graders the mystery of plant life. and once again, i'm reminded of how beautiful and complex our world is. we are woven together in an intricate pattern, designed to be a reflector of God's glory.

so, thank you to coldplay for this beautiful reminder.

i have watched more movies in the past five days, than i have all summer. it's been wonderful. i have a new-found appreciation for the "chick-flick" and cried along with tom hanks in cast away. this week off has been restful and productive. i have had ample time to think about the summer, as well the next months ahead of me.

i began my blogging career talking about my life that was in transition. although i do believe i will always be in some form of transition, it's a great feeling to know i can settle in to life here at redcloud for the time being. and...God is good, all the time. this i will always know.

over the course of 3 months i have enjoyed life. and realized several things about myself:

- i LOVE to laugh. at anything. at any time.
- i thoroughly enjoy '80's music...and dancing.
-marmots might just be my new favorite animal.
-and i might not dislike city life as much as i admit too. in fact, sometimes miss it.

over the river and through the woods.

my life here in the mountains allows me strolls along the river and scenic hikes through, what i believe to be, some of God's most beautiful creations.

allow i often find myself fearing the river (mainly when i'm in a raft), i have grown quite fond of its constant flow and calming voice. i walked along the river for awhile last weekend and loved watching the water roll over the rocks in different patterns every time. i love that the river is constant: always flowing. i love the flowers with their small white petals that only seem to grow next to the river.

somtimes i find myself forgetting to remember the beauty that i get to see daily. my prayer is that, just like the river, i'll recognize something new about this beauty every day.

: sending some love from the rockies :

my wilderness family.

well, i have now been at redcloud for a month and a half now and wanted to introduce to you all the incredible people i get to work with. (and in no particular order)

risa: she has become a great friend and we both thoroughly enjoy raspberry truffle ice cream from the soda shop. she is passionate about people and i admire her patience.

joy: she might be small but her energy inspires me. she loves life, about as much as she loves rock climbing.

kaily: she traveled the farthest to join us from oregon and loves here state. she is disciplined and inspires me to run, and also has a great sense of humor. she's a joy to be around.

becca: probably the hardest worker i know. she loves people well, and can bake the best cookies redcloud has ever seen.

christina: she's from maine and LOVES the water. she encourages to do all things well and i admire her perseverance. anyone who has rafted the gaully (sp?) is impressive in my book.

harrison: harry is from north carolina and is quite fond of his state. he loves tupac and coffee, but his love for Jesus is evident in all he does. he's been a good friend.

matt: (otherwise known as "brew") he is probably the funniest person i have ever met. he loves to fly fish and you'll never see him without his coffee in hand. he is very wise and it's a joy to hear him talk about God's Word.

chris: the best 80's dancer i know. his sense of humor always offers a laugh and his good attitude is such an encouragement. he'll take a cheeseburger any day and has become famous off of MTV's super-sweet 16.

dannon: dannon is selfless and loves to serve others. he encourages me to do the same. he is passionate about the outdoors (and his jeep!) and loves sharing that with others.

zach: a free spirit that has shown me how to love those that are hard to love. his outlook on life is much different than mine, but is refreshing and challenging. i appreciate this.

ryan: he loves to rock climb and teach people to snowboard, and always entertains us with his sense of humor. he's a great leader, loves kids, and so fun to work with.

andy: andy always challenges me to seek God and know him more. he is wise and his heart for this ministry is contagious. he is from kansas, loves big fires, and has some of the best stories i've heard.

luke: the boss-man. he has an inspiring vision for wilderness ministry and loves speaking Truth to others. he is extremely sarcastic and shares andy's story-telling gift.

*these 11 people have quickly become family and i value each of them, all for their different gifts. they have impacted me in a way that continually challenges me and encourages me to pursue God in greater ways.

i started my journey west today, towards lake city, colorado. i drove across the open plains of texas, seeing paris and rome, and got lost in a town named after david bowie. i feel as if i got my dose of texas pride today...before i leave the state for 6 months. god bless the lone star state!

driving allows me to think, undistracted. i contemplated a lot today and admitted to myself that i am a bit nervous for the summer. i feel somewhat incompetent, but God was gracious enough to remind me that he will compensate for my inadequacy.

here's to the final leg of my journey- the great west.

life in transition.

is hard. i pulled out of my driveway at 340 holly st., drove around the JBU campus for the last time, and turned onto the open stretch of highway ahead of me. i cried as i realized how many "lasts" i had just experienced. my 4 years spent at JBU were sweet, and life-changing. i praise God for this place, for friendships, and for growth.

but today, i took one step forward. i opened a new checking account, cleaned my car, and made a trip to REI for the summer. in only 4 short days i will head out on that open road again and travel west towards colorado. i can't wait for the first glimpse of mountains. for people.

here i go. welcome to my life in transition.