Torchbearers

At the end of closing campfire the Torchbearers, campers that can no longer return as regular campers, are recognized. They are comissioned to go out into the world bearing this torch, the light of Tecumseh, the light of Christ. I think that message doesn't just hold true for these crying boys from Arapaho and girls from Teton but for all of us. Tecumseh family and everyone everywhere. We need to spread light and joy wherever we go. Really, when we have that option why would we choose to do something else?

Last night we finished the summer of 2010 at the staff banquet. It's a celebration of the hard-work of counselors and staff and of how God has worked in campers lives. It is bittersweet for sure. I'm thankful for everything that has happened in the past 10 weeks and so sad that it has come to an end. I don't think that I can be anything but a mix of happy and sad in this transition.

Scott left us with these wise words that reminded me of the Torchbearers.

Be well.
Do good work.
Stay in touch.

Today

Today I'm thankful for...

past students that come talk to me in the hallway.
new students that already make me laugh and smile.
splatter painting in my classroom.
sunshine.
friends to go tandem biking and blading with.
conversation about how we have changed and what lies ahead.
a good dinner with a great friend.
fresh strawberries.
the excitement of what lies ahead-for tomorrow, next week, and even next summer.

wohoo- first day of school!

Today school began in Hamilton Southeastern. At 7:30 this morning the bell rang and 1,000 students poured into the halls to navigate the up and down stairs, sneak past the grim reaper, brave the lights turning off during lunch, figure out locker combinations and find a friend among the numerous faces.
It felt so different than the first day did last year. The greatest blessing today was seeing all my students, the big, bold 8th graders, in the halls. Kids actually stopped to say "Hi" and tell me about their summer and show me that they learned to finger whistle "Crazy Horse" by Train and count to 20 in Japanese and even wrote me a note.
I have 122 students in 6 periods. I have too many Abbys, Sarahs, Rachels, and Jacks to count. I have gymnasts, soccer players, singers, and world travelers. It's going to be a great year.

To be loved, be lovable.

Thank goodness college starts weeks after the rest of the educational world in August. This means that for a few weeks I can see these Young Life girls before they head off to Holland, Bloomington, and Dayton.



Susan, Allison, Taylor, and Dom were such a huge part of my first year here and it'll be so strange to not see them all the time. So I'm thankful that I got to eat dinner with Suz and Al yesterday. I'm thankful they wanted to come help me make posters in my classroom today and that when they got there Taylor popped out from behind a car to surprise me. I'm thankful that they know how to be great friends that take care of each other and have good fun and live for life. I'm thankful for them.



The reunions continued...


I was beyond thrilled to see these girls. They were some of the main characters of my summer and have helped shape who I am. I love them for their joy and laughter and kindness and faith and love. Yes, these have all those great things in heaps and mounds.



They like to sit and talk in circles about life in grass, even if the only grass around is in the middle of a round-a-bout.
They sing their CILT cheers everywhere they go.
They help each other be better people.
They can pray popcorn or one-word style.
While still at camp Annie and I talked about how Tecumseh taught us to really love others and be loved in friendship and community like God designed. How convenient that idea was put on a fortune for us to find.



Tonight we one word prayed:
fulfilled
blessed
heaven
hyper
deep breath
incredible
bittersweet
overlapping
exuberant

the greatest treasure of all

At closing campfire we sing "Tecumseh" every week. On my last night as a counselor of 2010 I was thinking about the verse, "but the greatest treasure of all is the glow that we feel, when a child reflects our love in his face. A family we are in the hands of the Lord, we all feel his presence in this place."

These faces are some of the reasons that I love being a counselor. These kids have become a part of my family.

Mary Claire

Logan

Rachel

Soaps and Molly

Eileen

Bridget

Kiersten

Ellyn and Keefer

Carolyn

Olivia

Henry

Haley

WOMEN OF THE RIVER

We are River Women. We live by the River.

We are River Women. We live by the River.

WE ARE THE WOMEN OF THE RIVER, WOMEN OF THE RIVER HUH HUH

The River...

BAM! alright

Castaway

This past week I got to go to Young Life camp in Minnesota. 86 of us took a 15 hour bus ride from Carmel, IN to Detroit Lakes, MI to spend 8 days together at Castaway Club.

Shauna, my partner, and I got to hang out with these 8 girls. Together we parasailed, banana boated, screamed songs at club, played psychiatrist and signs, and talked about real things going on in our lives. I'm excited to keep getting to know them better this year.


I went sailing without a sail with a bunch of british pirates- hook digit, dancing tulip, celery, geometry, floppy, and fading tatt to name a few.


Scottie too Hottie and Molly too Cool were for sure our favorite people at camp- I'm sure you can figure out who they are here.


(L-R)
Sarah Briggs inspires me. I've only know her for a year but I feel like it's been so much longer. It was awesome to just watch her be at Castaway, a home away from home for her, and see her pouring into her girls that she loves so much. Sarah is dedicated to this and God is using her in these kids' lives.
Allison was one of my YL girls last year and has become one of my close friends. I didn't know she was coming on this trip until right before we left and I flipped out. I never got to go to camp with her in my cabin but this week was pretty close. We sang and laughed and made bandana bracelets and had the best dance party ever and ate birthday cake ice-cream cones often and made lists and talked with accents.
I've kind of known Riley all year but really got to know her better this week. I love learning more about her story and seeing her as a leader now who loves Young Life. She is fun and positive and I love being around her.


A Tecumseh-er my whole life, I liked seeing this other camp in action for a week and being a part of it. It's the conversations with the girls during cabin time and the work crew cardboard testimonies are going to stick with me. I loved the honesty and vulnerability as people shared how Christ has absolutely transformed their lives. He doesn't make life perfect but he gives us hope and allows us to live life connected to God.