For the visual learners.

I LIKE FUN.

Here are some pictures of the fun I have had.

We are an interesting bunch.

all da single ladies looking presentable at the staff Christmas Party

our blossoming art wall.

Food poisoning happened soon after this photo was taken.

Learning to skateboard= worth a groin injury.

Really exciting and informative blog! Plus lots of fun pictures, funny stories and an life changing announcement.

I am hanging my head in shame. How could I be such a careless and lazy blogger? OK, it might have something to do with my questionable Internet connection/inability to get online for more than 7 minutes at a time...but regardless, I am sorry if my lack of blogging has affected your lives in any way.

To recap:

Yesterday was Christmas! ( I got to spend it with my awesome family, in a awesome beach house in beautiful Cannon Beach!)

I've been at the ranch for almost 3 months.

I spend my Wed-Fridays scrubbing toilets, folding fitted sheets, removing urinal algae, mopping floors and folding cute little triangles on the ends of toilet papers and stamping them with a little Young Life logo. Depending on the day you might find 6 girls giddy with laughter and happy spirits, or, well, girls who are removing urinal algae. Housekeeping has truly been a lesson in physical and emotional endurance, and has shown me how a positive attitude can transform any situation.

My Fridays-Sundays are spent in the dining hall; coordinating my volunteer work crews and attempting to set, serve, buss, and re-set in a timely and calm manner. A true test in patience and perfection, I am learning to love it (the sweet police-esque radio I get to sport is a big factor in the growing affection)! I also have my own office--some might confuse it for a utility closet with a desk, but I know it's true organizational potential. I am already anticipating the craziness of summer and the entire dining room full of 800 hungry kids 3 times a day, 6 days a week. I am very lucky to have made a friend in last years dining hall intern who is graciously giving me all her acquired wisdom and calming my pre-mature nerves.

My fellow interns are stupendous. We are quite the motley crew hailing from all over the US and filled with such different stories, growing up experiences, passions and personalities. I wish you could meet them all, but for now I am too lazy to introduce them via blogspot. I have connected beautifully with some--laughing continuously, sharing my usually stoic heart and random thoughts/opinions, and have already begun to make plans for our friendship futures. I am happy to have met all of them, and know that some will be "honest to goodness" friends for life.

I wish I could describe life at the ranch in an eloquent, understandable way...but the truth is, I can't. When you live, work, and play all in the same place...things get complicated... I'm still trying to figure it out. I am surrounded by the beauty of the earth--in fact that song has been playing in my head for the past 90 days or so! I live in a community where you know every one's names, their kids names and their dogs name. Sometimes you want to crawl under a rock to avoid the nights' activities, and others you can't wait for the special dinner a random camp family has prepared for you. I am usually ok with wearing a sweatsuit every day of the week...but then the next day all I want to do is shave my legs and wear a dress. Going to town 2 hours away is still a treat, and I have learned to survive without PBS, wine, movie theaters and caribou coffee! Some days I love it, but many times I ask myself and God why the heck I am in the middle of nowhere. What a strange and wonderful opportunity to think and learn about myself, huh?

Are you overwhelmed with information? I am overwhelmed trying to overwhelm you with it. Thanks for being interested in my life, and thanks again to those of you who have supported me.

I am thankful for you!

Here is a poor quality photo of my fellow interns. One day I promise something better, but for now squint your eyes and try to pick out the cute ones

Hello from the 97001!

Greetings earthlings, from somewhere almost as far away as outer space. I'm sorry for my tardy blogging, but getting settled into my new life here in Oregon has consumed most of my free time.

First of all, a big thank you to everyone who has supported me financially or in some other way (poems, cookies for the road, a bump-it to aid with my thin hair...). Tears started flowin' when I checked my mailbox and saw the response to the letter I was so nervous to send out. I am so lucky (and thankful) to have such great people in my life who I know are interested in me, and care about where I am and what I'm doing. I still have some funding left to raise, but I am ready to trust that my needs will be taken care of. 

My extreme road trip with mom and friend Katie was great, uncomfortable, hot, boring and hilarious all wrapped together in one trusty Saturn. Life lesson learned: sometimes, it's better just to stick your arm out the window and use hand signals for 4 days that it is to spend 4 hours at O'riley's Auto Parts on a Sunday hoping someone can help you fix your blown emergency flashers spark plug. 

We saw many beautiful things, met some memorable people, and made some unfortunate memories wearing some not-so-beautiful Target sale swimsuits.

Arriving at the Ranch was pretty surreal...and terrifying. I knew it was far out from civilization....but as the "11 mile road" (I'm convinced its at least 1oo miles) kept going and going, my leg started shaking and I had to force myself to stop asking Katie "where am i going? what am i doing???" When I finally got to the main camp though, those fears subsided and I was filled with a totally different feeling...one I'm not sure I can describe totally.  Its a crazy beautiful property, filled with wonderful people, awesome buildings and just an amazing sense of "home"...even though I am so far away from the real thing. 

The past week has been intense--meeting the staff and families who work here, getting to know my fellow interns, figuring out dynamics and schedules, not to mention getting used to not having text messaging available at all hours! I've been overwhelmed, sleep deprived, exhausted and physically sore...but also excited for the challenges of my work here, and for the adventures that await us all.

My placement for the year will be in the dining hall. Naively, I thought that it seemed like a pretty easy gig-- Au contraire! Pretty much every staff member I have met has felt the need to tell me that "dining hall is the hardest intern job. you are going to be so stretched this year!"...but they also never fail to tell me that can be one of the most rewarding jobs too. Unlike some of the other jobs, I will be working in close contact with 30 kids for a month at a time. This will bring opportunities to be available as someone who pushes for excellence, shares the importance of service and the chance to see lives changed because of those things. I have a feeling that even the smallest positive, will make all the stress and overwhelming feelings worth it.

As far as the community goes here, let's just say I have been blown away. When we moved into our condos the staff had left welcoming notes, treats and invitations to come to their homes for dinner. Last years dining hall intern took time to come back down to the canyon to train me for 3 days in the ways of the dining hall. My supervisor, who loves Neil diamond, has encouraged me perfectly after my first chaotic stint in the dining hall. My fellow interns have been so fun to laugh with, and have made me feel free to be my silly, strange self.

Tonight was an especially tough night for me, finding out my very special Auntie had died. I am heartbroken and homesick, but am also overwhelmed with the love I have felt from the ladies around me. My low spirits have been lifted by their kindness. I think its very rare to feel such care and compassion from people you have known for only a week and it is a comfort to know I am in a place where that exists. 

Tomorrow holds another long work day, and it's past my new bedtime (10!) Thanks for being interested in me, and hopefully I can keep you up to date on what I am seeing, doing and learning here!

  

30 days and counting!

Welcome to my blog! I hope you'll check this out from time to time to check in on me and make sure I'm not causing too much trouble so far from home.

Most of you know I was selected to participate in the year-long internship program through Young Life. I will be living at the Washington Family Ranch in Antelope, Oregon for the next year starting October 1st! If you don't know anything about Young Life, I encourage you to check out their website. If you don't know anything about the "cultish" history of Antetelope, OR (which, why would you?)-- make sure to check that out too!

While at camp I will be working along with other full-time staff to serve the kids and various guest groups that come to camp year round. I just found out my placement for the year--the dining hall (my first choice!) I'm super excited because that was my favorite part of camp when I went as a sophomore in High School--the servers and the fun atmosphere...not to mention the fantastic food served! Lots of people keep asking me why i would ever want to work at a camp all year--and it's hard for me to explain why. It will be strange, and probably sometimes sad to be in the middle of nowhere with no movie theaters, targets or coffee shops near by...but nevertheless, I'm excited to have such a unique job, and for all the fun people I'm soon to meet. If you've ever been to a Young Life camp, you should know what I mean. It's not a normal camp experience...it's different!

Besides all the work, the internship is built to be a mentornship, of sorts. I will be meeting weekly with small groups and a personal mentor as we try to figure out just what I was meant to be doing in this life and so on.

The camper fees at WFR will cover the majority of my expenses and salary, but each intern is asked to raise a moderate amount of money to help make this program possible (aka pay for our health insurance). I am already being challenged as it is hard for me to ask for support, espessially in economic times like these. My boss and "wise old sages" in my life are encouraging me that fund raising is not just asking for money, but giving people the opportunity to serve and bless others in a different way than going into ministry. I'm trying to keep that in mind, but i'm sure I will wince at least once when I drop my letters in the mail.

I hit the road September 25th. Pray for me, or send good vibes my way if you think of it. As with all major transitions, this is a little scary and fairly stressful! I promise I will return the favor later.


Hopefully I can keep this little guy updated enough...even if Chuck is the only one reading it. Ciao for now!

Washington Family Ranch--where I will be nestled for the year!