Staff Training Week

So! Last week (Sunday evening through this afternoon) was a long, full week of staff training at Bethany Camp. It was a week full of class sessions, games of mafia, trying to win freezy pops, learning how to play tons of different games,  and meeting lots of cool people. Sadly, I have no pictures, so you'll just have to use your imagination.

For the most part, Monday through Thursday was split between class sessions and games. We had a staff handbook that we read through and Joel the program director added on and led class discussion and stuff. And then there was a big, long list of activities that they offer, so we had to learn how to play those. Then on Friday and this morning, we did a lot of camp clean up and other projects because we had run out of staff handbook to go over. I drove a cub cadet (no...that's not a little mini cadet person; it's like a 4 wheeler. Actually, it does have 4 wheels. I have no idea what the difference is between a cub cadet, a gator, a rhino, and a 4 wheeler. Perhaps nobody does. Perhaps it doesn't matter in the slightest.) and moved a lot of chairs. Now my arm muscles hurt.

I stayed in a cabin with all the other girls. The guys technically stayed in the same cabin, but it was totally separate sides and I didn't even know they were there till like Thursday or Friday. So no wonder we had hot water issues in the morning...so glad I shower at night :P I have to go back to camp tomorrow by 9 pm, and I'll be working in the kitchen. It's senior high week, and they don't need all the counselors, so I'll be learning the camp ropes from a slightly less stressful position.

Speaking of ropes, I really do need to get a picture of the super tall and long zip line they have, and their scary swing. Some of you know how bad I am with guesstimating (whoa, spellcheck even says that's a word) height and depth and length and stuff, so I'll just say that they were both really tall. And I screamed both times.

But it was a good time...very fun and all that. I hope to be able to write a blog post during my free time (unless I decide to, like, sleep) and then mail it home for a sibling (hello, Annetta!) to type in. And perhaps pictures will appear at some point this summer. Thanks for reading!

Summer Schedule

Howdy, folks! This blog post shall contain my estimated schedule for the summer, so that interested parties will be able to keep track of what I'll be hopefully doing. I will be working at Bethany Camp, besides heading off to the NYWG encampment for a week and a half. While at both, I don't anticipate having any computer or cell phone access. I imagine I'll be able to send and receive letters (at least at camp), so I'm sorta hoping that I can write a blog post every now and then and just mail it to Annetta and have her type it in. (Oh yeah...because I won't be needing my phone, I may lend it out to people in need so that I don't have to pay my uncle $22/month for nothing, so if you call or text me, be aware that although I'd love to talk to you, I might not answer or respond.) I'd love your prayers as this will be an interesting summer :) and I will be praying for all you as well, hoping that you have a successful summer!

Ok, the dates.
17 June- 23 June: This Sunday through the next Saturday is staff training week.
24-30 June: first week of camp. I have to be at camp by like 9 or 10 Sunday night, and I'm done around 2 on Saturday. And repeat all summer :)
1-7 July: second camp week (family camp)
8-14 July: third camp week, also the first official youth week. I will be responsible for munchkins...eek! :P
19-28 July: Encampment staff dates. The 19th is a Thursday, and I don't know if I will be trying to work like in the kitchen for Mon, Tues, and Wed of that week, or if I'll just take that off. But if I have time off this summer, that'll be when.
29 July-4 August: family camp again
5-11 Aug: third family camp
12-18 Aug: fourth family camp

If I manage to get myself accepted to SUNY Fredonia, classes will be starting (I think) on the 27th, so I will have a little over a week to crash :)

Ok, so for what it's worth, there it is!

Home Life Update

Life continues to happen, here at our house (and presumably at yours too, although there is little blog activity to support this broad assumption of mine :) ). I shall now contrive to give a general catch up, and then move into some pictures.

Topic One: Grandpa is now living at our house. So a little timeline is on March first, he went to the hospital. He then moved to another hospital, and then was transferred to a nursing home nearby. Then on Tuesday (May 29th), he came here to our house. We have converted the second downstairs bedroom from a school room back to a bedroom, and that's where he is. So far, he has done about 90 % of the dishes for us, so we're happy, haha. An occupational therapist named Steve came today to evaluate him, and their goal is to get him back to his home, living relatively independently.

 Jessica is currently waiting for some important people someplace to decide to have her as an intern for someone important someplace. Apparently, someone important needs an intern (a paid intern) someplace nearby, and so Jessica was recommended and she applied for the job and now they just have to say yes. In a nutshell.

I'm working a few hours per week at the local library, waiting for camp to start. On June 17th, I'll be going to staff training, and then I'll be gone pretty much completely until August 18th. I was informed  not too long ago that management at the Comfort Inn had decided to let me go (cause that sounds better than fired), so I basically don't have a life. I'm excited about this upcoming week, though: on Tuesday, I'll be job shadowing an occupational therapist, on Wednesday I'll be driving Annetta to a job interview at Bethany Camp (which we're so hoping she'll get!), and then on Saturday, a good friend of ours is having a highschool graduation party which we are all looking forward to! As far as college goes for me, Patrick Henry College did accept me, but due to changes in their financial aid policies, I'm looking to attend SUNY Fredonia this fall.

Okay...moving on to the pictures! Last Sunday, Jessica, Annetta, Rachel, and I went on a beachside picnic. Except...it sorta rained for a while, so we picnicked in the car, and then strolled leisurely along the scenic beach, enjoying the beautiful view, that is the part of the view that we could see past the large clothespins clamped firmly on our noses because Lake Erie stinks. Anyhow, on the picnic, we had brownie cheesecake, and it was very delicious. I'm sure that Annetta and Rachel won't mind me sharing these pictures with you of them eating said cheesecake.

 After our picnic, Rachel's family sporadically decided to go see Avengers at the theater, and we sporadically decided to go along. So we did and it was fun!

Moving on to Monday, which we all remember was Memorial Day... We watched a parade with our relatives, and then we had a picnic with those relatives. The next 4 pictures are from the cousins beanbag toss game. Victoria and I were on one team, and Annetta and Jess were on the other.

  Observe my facial expression here, and compare it with Victoria's in the next.

 It must be the genetics. I mean, look at those identical expressions! We're obviously related.

 And then we got a shot of the cousins. Awww....look at us being all related and stuff!

 My mom celebrated the day by reading in the shade.

  So did Hosanna. Like mother like daughter. Also, Hosanna is presiding over her Memorial Day Parade loot...the kids always go prepared with large plastic bags to carry all their candy.

We now move on to Monday evening, which was Katrina's 6th birthday celebration time.

 We invited our neighbors over, especially because Reuben happens to have the same birthdate too...just 13 years apart. 

 And I think that catches us all up!Thanks for reading!