3-2-1.. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wait..what day is it?

Well Blog Readers, I just went back and reread the post from before my double shift. Maybe I should've titled this one, "I survived!" Let me start off by saying that I can't believe it is mid January already! Spending two weeks in the woods was quite the experience and it really distorted my concept of time. Thank everyone for the encouragement and prayers on my behalf, I am so grateful!

My life from the past two weeks (minus what I carry for work)

It was a very memorable couple weeks. I was in the same group and leading both weeks. Before Christmas we went and cut down a Roto tree and we did Secret Santa presents (wilderness style) and told stories and memories from our own lives. Most of the girls expressed some kind of gratitude at being there because they felt like the group was a family, it was kinda neat to see and experience. Christmas Eve was one of the first nights that it wasn't raining and the moon was out shinning brilliantly. As the girls were getting in bed one of them asked if she could sing Silent Night, and I knew that God was there. I mentioned that was a tradition that Willow Creek (my home church) does every Christmas, and here in the middle of the woods in North Carolina, I got to have that little tradition with me. It was very special. Later that night, after all the paperwork was done and the girls were sleeping, I stuffed stockings and my co-staff helped me hang them up. We put goodie bags under the tree and all the letters and cards they had received from their families. The next morning with santa hat on I witnessed pure excitement, joy and thankfulness. And it sent my heart soaring. The gifts were so small and yet to the girls it meant so much. We spent the morning in sleeping bags "opening" gifts and eating candy canes. There were tears but there was also laughter and gratitude. We had a special Christmas dinner with chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, annnnnd apple pie. And then, just as soon as it arrived, it left and we went on with the week.

The hardest day was the second Wednesday and then the Thursday after it. It was really hard seeing my co-staff who were only working a single shift leave. It was hard knowing that I was here for a whole other week! But I was working with a good friend and that made it a whole lot better. The second week actually went by pretty fast. We got transported out to expo and had some interesting moments. It was cold, very cold BUT it wasn't rainy. I will take freezing cold over rain ANY DAY. And the nights were clear which meant the stars were breathtaking, which was a little dangerous because the cold was also breathtaking.. soo. I also got to wake up to a unreal sunrise at least 3 mornings. I'm talking hand painted, stunning colors. So many beautiful things surrounded me, so many things for me to be grateful for.

I had brought out sparklers and popper things for NYE and we had a fun day playing games and then later playing with sparklers. Me and my co-staff saved the poppers and the next morning abruptly woke them up yelling and dancing! We got some great screams; it's the small things that keep you sane ;)

By the end of the two weeks I'd say that I knew the girls pretty well. I had some deep talks with some of them and offered up whatever help and words of wisdom I had. And by that time they had all, each one of them, had expressed deep gratitude towards me. Thanking me for making Christmas and NYE special, for showing them that I genuinely cared, for helping them. Those moments were special for me. Their words of appreciation really meant a lot to me.

These weeks were also the first time that a student wrote me a letter. She was graduating from the program and gave it to me before she left. Her and I checked in multiple times this week as she was struggling with some things. We got to talk through things and I helped her process and gave some insight on the situations. She wrote, "I am so grateful to have had you as a staff for my last two weeks. You have given me advice that I will use for the rest of my life." The letter goes on to say other things too, but that really struck me. There are so many times when I question my job and what I'm doing. There are many times when I feel like a wilderness babysitter who doesn't get paid enough. Then there are other times when I am blown away that I get paid to wake up to sunrises and lay under stars. But then there are times like these, when I get a reminder that these kids are still so young and that one way or another I am impacting their lives. Talk about powerful. My job is hard, more times than not frustrating, but it is also so incredible. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to impact the lives of these young people. And I hope that I can continue to remember that even through the hard times.

Anyway. I officially signed my papers to start working as climbing instructor! So that is exciting. And despite the chilly temperatures I still have been going out to ride! I have also received multiple cards and packages from family and friends and I just wanted to say that I am so grateful for those gifts and thoughts. It made coming back to my apartment special! I'm sure that I am leaving things out but that's all I got for now.

Until next time, do more of what makes your soul happy.