shouts of joy

Camp is too much like I know it, but not at all what it's been. I know the meetings, early mornings, cold nights, three large meals a day plus desserts that stress me to run further, lift more, ride longer, and I know the songs, the dramas, and the uniforms. I had not expected to be in a wet suit everyday, carrying skate park equipment, launching a sailboat without any kind of vehicle, setting anchors, backing up trailers, 20 minutes-a-day internet regulation, not knowing what to say to new people or feeling lonely in such a large mass. My best friends are scattered all over the west coast, I don't like walking into worship and not knowing where to sit. But it feels good to not care what anyone thinks since I don't do my hair, or makeup, or put outfits together. After 8 summers in almost every area of camp, I have nothing left to prove and it feels good. But I miss my friends, I miss the challenging conversations, but I'm enjoying spending a lot more time listening to G...

A couple of weeks ago I had Positive Life Radio playing in my car for the two minute drive from my small studio house to WWU's School of Education. They were interviewing, guest, Bob Goff who recently released his book, Love Does . When I tuned into the interview Bob was talking about this thing he does called, "quit-something-Thursday." He quits something every Thursday to simplify his life, clear out junk to do make room for the meaningful things. He was on the board of some non-profit organization and called them up one Thursday to tell them he quit because it was quit-something-Thursday. "If you're in a bad relationship call the person and tell them you're done, 'It's quit-something-Thursday and I quit you.'" The first thing I wanted to quit was school, it's stressful, time consuming, busy, never-ending, not where I want to be right now, but also not something I can quit right now. So instead I quit speeding that Thursday in hopes to ...

The sky is the limit Early morning thunder tore the sky open Rain came down in buckets Now, the sky is the limit. The sky is the limit

You only live once,  but if you do it right  once is enough. - Mae West This morning is beautiful. I'm not wearing a jacket to class, the sun is peaking through the clouds, trees are budding, the fields are turning green, flowers are being planted all over campus, people are running, biking, and walking (which I can do now too!) AND I'm leaving in two days for the UCC Teen Pathfinder rock climbing trip. Mmm. Last fall I joined the Pathfinders for their mountain biking event. I was in a pretty low valley at that point in life and I begged my friend Emily to join me. I was surprised when she agreed, but not really too surprised because it was such a last minute decision and those are the best times to make decisions - last minute - those times really count. It was most likely the funnest trip I've been on all year (plus it was so HC). And so I'm super pumped for this next trip. I like mountain biking, but I love rock climbing! Whoo! More news - I'm going back t...

You do not have to be good.                                                                          You do not have to walk on your knees   for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.   You only have to let the soft animal of your body   love what it loves.   - M. Oliver I remember talking to one of my best friends about this particular quote last year, about this time, spring quarter. We had similar, yet quite different, methods of worshiping. And this was the quote my friend used when she explained her loved opinion of worshipping. And as I grow older, I continue to have more experiences that reinforce this rich quote and make me to love it all the more. Simply: Let your body love what it loves. Today I reminded myself of this many, many times. Too many times....

I was on the phone with my mom this morning while driving around rainy Portland. She answered the phone with a scratchy voice that sounded like mine and she told me she had finished some FAFSA stuff, was working on registering my brother for his Junior year of high school, and had been in touch with insurance companies, the hospital, and Sky High (the trampoline place). When she told me she had called Sky High to get a copy of the waiver they made me sign 40 minutes before that place ruined my life I was so mad. Mad like when the blood rushes to your head and hot tears steam out your eyeballs. Mom, I said, let me call 'em. I'll give 'em a piece a my mind. And it's been 3 months since my accident, I'm still raving. I think it's about time to move on. But I should know better, that broken hearts don't heal themselves. And mine broke into a bagillion pieces that day. I hate being all mushy gushy, but honesty is powerful, and so this is straight up. On a light...

  This past week I learned a lot. Before I left the world behind me for my home away from home in the bliss of India I had a list of things I wanted to figure out, meditate on, tie up some knots and ship 'em out in the manner of prayer or however. But the list sat in my prayer journal, untouched, all week. Yes, I prayed. Probably more than I have in a long time. Last Sunday morning in India my students who were in class VI when I taught at the school there were preparing to travel home because they had just finished their class X metric exams Friday. They found me out on the porch of the guest house where WWU nursing students were soundly sleeping. I had been in the middle of my devotion thought at 6am but had wanted the girls to say goodbye to me before they left. They asked if I wanted to cross the river with them and the rest of the girls dorm, but in the middle of my devotions I told them I'd stay back, but would meet with them again someday soon.  It wasn't...