Children, Children EVERYWHERE!

A glimpse into my work-life in the Summertime:::

Here's the "light green" team at Boy Scout Camp! These kids were awesome - i was very impressed with their behavior, well, there's one pouter in the front row in camo - but oh well, you can't make everyone happy. We did a lot of walking and skills training ( We learned some specialized knots, which we could use to make a "lean to" or a raft to float away on). We slept in hard-corp-flapping-in-the-crazy-night-wind-army-tents-on-planks and watched the flag go up and down at dusk and dawn each day. I wish I had taken a picture of the tents - it was a crazy indistinguishable maze of tents and the kids were always getting confused and turned around, which was hilarious.

playing with the i-phone

one of the Loves of my life

playing in the creek is a common event

one can never spend too much time playing with the sand

S-A-S-H-E-T = Tonight I'm Tender

At House Church sometimes we do this thing to transition or kick off our time where we go around the circle and "check in" with a brief description of where we're at, how we're feeling, using the acronym:::  S-A-S-H-E-T (pro. "sa-shay")  

S - sad

A - angry

S - scared

H - happy 

E - excited

T - tender

And tonight I'm TENDER -- I'm constantly exhausted at the end of the day - partly I should take my Iron supplements and drink lots of water but partly it's inevitable with my current work situation.  I'm exhausted from thinking/dreaming/not-planning about what Matt and I are going to do in OCTOBER!  I'm exhausted with the poor way that I am dealing with my frustration of not having a plan...  I can usually always muster up something positive from deep within -- but I'm drained and it feels good to write it down - now maybe I can go back to sleep.  Feel free to share how you're doing.  =)

Memoirs and Biographies

FIVE STARS!!
The Glass Castle is a superb memoir, very well written, hard to put down. The little stories throughout the book are sometimes so crazy, tragic and eccentric it's almost unbelievable, a rare combination of personalities, dreams and illusions which emerge into hopes, gratefulness and simple wonders --- this book gets 5 stars from me. (which is rare and I have only ever given to Poisonwood Bible)







FOUR STARS!
The Heavenly Man is another remarkable true story about Brother Yun, a house church leader in China. This story is about the POWER of God as seen through the life of a man of EXTREME faith. I think every Christian should read this book. The way his experiences [being imprisoned and brutally tortured numerous times and seeing miraculous demonstrations of God's love and provision] bring scripture to life is priceless. He uses familiar Bible verses in this totally high stakes "God's-gotta-come-through-or-I'm-toast" kind of manner that is really challenging and inspiring for someone wanting to follow Jesus more closely.





THREE STARS
Look Me in the Eyes is a fascinating memoir written by a man with Asperger's syndrome, on the Autism spectrum. No one ever understood him, growing up before Asperger's syndrome was diagnosed. He was mostly perceived to be a rebel or a misfit, preferring machines over people. His perspective shines a light on the humanity and humor that lie behind the awkward social interactions.

IDAHO, who knew you were so lovely??

IDAHO

Roadside Bucket o' Hot Springs

Quintessential Idaho experience - they have a lot of geothermal activity underground and spewing over

Our first campsite down by the river.
there's so much more water in Idaho and it's wonderful!
pouring down from the Sawtooth Range

The marina at Redfish Lake - I finally got to go paddle boating after years of longing.

Hanging out at the beach, it was really that warm and such an unsuspecting treat at such a high elevation.




the most scenic lakeside camping spot ever!!



taking a swim in the lake


Redfish Lake in Sawtooth National Rec. Area!!
we dream of making this destination a summer tradition



Welcome to Stanley, Idaho just north of the Sawtooth Rec. Area
the quintessential Wild West completely remote, rustic Mountain village
a total "spinning around, sound of music" feel for sure




more of Stanley, Idaho

playing boccie ball at the Teton Brewery in Victor, Idaho




The back of the Tetons around Grand Targhee ski mountain in Driggs, Idaho

Wild West Roadtrip

Matt and I just got back from our second annual :::
Wild West Roadtrip!!
We visited Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming again!

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We started out at our dear friend, Scotty's, cabin in the middle of a ranch in Big Piney, Wyoming (the first building built in Sublette County - which is an hour South of Jackson)

First thing after waking up and sipping coffee - we were invited to "shoot guns" right outside - so wanting to fully embrace and experiment with the local culture - Matt aimed the gun (no idea what kind of gun?!) at the clavicle bone of an deceased cow resting on the old, faded fence post.








a glance inside the wonderfully rustic, cozy Wild West cabin















A lovely isolated (Wyoming is the least populated state with only 500,000 people!!!) river bend with a wonderful husband / road-trip-mate.

Later in the day the boys went Fly Fishing while I laid around and enjoyed the big, open sky.

one of the desires of Matt's heart

Here we are trying to hang on to the rusty-metal-bull

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Here we are lying flat on our backs - a bit shocked that it went by so fast.




the lonely, muddy road in and out of town.