Friday, December 30, 2011

Project Week

Before Christmas break there was....PROJECT WEEK.

The coldest and most dreadful week of the semester that quickly turns into a favourite. Although our project list seems miles long we are the masters of dividing and conquering and we are known to get the job done.

So, Jen, Brandy, Liz and I are on painting projects while the boys arm themselves with tools and fix up all our activity sites. We haul all the folding chairs from the craft cabin to a ravine we find behind the pump house and splatter paint to our heart’s content. One of the boys, Randy, tells everyone he can that the ravine looks like a clown car exploded. Cute. So cute.



We then paint the ping-pong and carpet ball tables that sit underneath the craft cabin so that it looks more inviting and less like a place you’d go if you want some drugs or to watch a knife fight, so needless to say it’s an improvement.

Our next project involves cleaning up an old and rarely used meeting hall. We find the world’s first piano there and decide it needs to be burned. We load it up with a bunch of rotting books and bring it out to the massive fire pit. That night we have a bonfire to end all bonfires. It sings and groans, it produces flames the color of the seas, and it heats up until it feels like we are standing next to the sun. Or like a regular summer day in Texas.

Our last memorable project involves not heat and fire but cold and water and mud. We move about a hundred tires from our pedal cart course halfway across camp to our paintball course. Throwing tires should be a new sport that, like every sport, I am terrible at. I end up swallowing more muddy water than any human ever should. And have a tree nearly crush my foot.

No big deal, it’s project week. Sharpen your knife. Don’t complain. Expect the unexpected. Wear old jeans. Try not to die.


Monday, December 19, 2011

I'll Be Home For Christmas...

And I never thought I’d say this but…there had better be snow. I have little doubt that there will be since its Minnesota. But, my mother has been reporting differently and being in the aforementioned two-season state of Texas has made me really appreciate my homeland and even wish for snow. I mean, Minnesotans get the full range of seasons, and that has been such a blessing that I didn’t understand until I left it all behind in pursuit of the endless summer.

And while the Christmas season here has been nice-singing Christmas songs at church, going to the candy-less parade (I’m not bitter), watching Elf and Home Alone, and getting to see a million or so lights decorating Camp Tejas- there is no snow, no sledding, no need for wool coats and big boots, and for a Minnesota girl it just doesn’t feel like Christmas.

So I’m excited for my two weeks of snow. Here’s hoping there is a lot of it. Enough to make at least a small army of snowmen to guard the fort.



Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Like

“I guess I just like liking things.”

This is a quote from Abed, the best character (in my opinion) on NBC’s Community. In this particular episode Abed tries to convince the rest of his study group to join the Glee Club to perform a Christmas Pageant. His best friend and sidekick, Troy, reminds him that everyone hates the Glee Club which prompts Abed’s line from above. (Watch the entire clip plus a Troy & Abed Christmas Rap here).

And it struck me.

Because I’m the same way. I’m an idealist. A dreamer.

I have to find the good moments when I’m lying in bed running through the day like a slideshow.

I have to find the good in people because, unlike some, I do believe it exists.

I have to find the good in each experience, whether it was something I enjoyed or not.

Because I just like liking things.

It’s so easy to be cynical and negative and assume that it makes you come across as a critical and realistic adult. But the best adults I know are generally joyful people with a knack for finding that something to like.

That’s the adult I’d like to be.

Now for a round-up of some things I like liking that some people like hating.

Baked Oatmeal (via http://www.lottieanddoof.com/)


Beards & Sweaters & Flannels &
Man Purse (via 
http://www.hm.com/us/)


Mugs with Pictures



Narwhals (via http://www.etsy.com)

Parks and Rec, specifically Ron Swanson
(via 
https://www.google.com/)




Wednesday, December 7, 2011

You Knew it Was Coming: A Post About Crafts

I am going to be that Mother who forces her children to have craft time. I will prompt their creativity and exploit it for my own purposes. I am going to make them decorate our house with their works of art according to the seasons, holidays, current trends, and/or my mood.

I will be an Arts and Crafts Nazi.

Ok, so that is not entirely true. I will not force my kids to do or like anything just because I do. But man, I love crafts.

There’s something about taking some wire and some rocks and making a picture holder out of it. There’s something about watching yarn become a scarf or felt become a fox mask that just makes me bloom.

You see the obvious connection here to the ultimate Maker/Creator/Crafter. We’re nothing but bits and pieces of good and bad until He gets His hands on us. Then we have purpose and goodness and beauty.

Now look at this craft.





And for my next project....