Camp: the beginning

On Tuesday, June 12th, Caeli and I left for Mount Hermon Kidder Creek to start our summer at camp!
Here is our road trip journey in pictures:

all packed up and ready to leave Corvallis

Stopped for ice cream at the K&R Diner in Rice Hill, OR

We made it to CALIFORNIA! and ate really yummy huckleberry lollipops!

We arrived at camp around 8pm on Tuesday night and we dropped off our stuff in our cabin and went down to Ranch Camp for campfire.

Later in the week, we learned how to belay on the high ropes course. It was fun to all train together and belay on each other. My favorite part was when I would fly up in the air trying to belay Morgan and Caeli.

Alysaa, me, Caeli, and Morgan

Later that evening, we got to watch the other counselors lead a campfire for their campers. We enjoyed silly songs, hilarious skits, and I pretty much almost peed my pants. Campfire's are one of my favorite things about camp! After campfire, we had smores and broke out into impromptu worship. It was beautiful.

One afternoon later that week, Caeli and I didn't have much to do so we went to help pick up some bikes for the Marble Mountain Marathon happening that weekend.

 Kyle, Alyssa, Caeli, myself, and David all came along. We stopped at Dotty's for ice cream! YUM.

We played "Hot Seat" which is a game that allows you to ask someone anything you want for 5 minutes while they are in the hot seat. I really enjoyed it! It allowed us to learn more about each other and get to know each other on a different level. Later that evening, I introduced some staff chaotic, which is pretty much the best card game ever. Every round, the winner was in the hot seat.

We had a relaxing weekend, and then prepared for campers that arrived on Sunday June 17th! This place is beautiful. The nature is breath-taking. God is clearly at work here and He is changing lives. I'm so excited to see what this summer is going to hold.

Blessed

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard"

I leave Corvallis tomorrow morning for camp in California. This is a bittersweet moment. I love camp, everything about it, but I am absolutely saddened to leave what I have God has developed here. I am blessed with tremendous people in my life. And I wouldn't change a thing.

For my last evening in Corvallis, I had a dinner with some bible study girls. We laughed, we shared our hearts, cried much needed tears, prayed together, and gave very tearful goodbyes as we all depart for summer.

Then I spent the evening with Greg. :) We hopped on his BMW motorcycle and whizzed through country roads with beautiful views of mountains and trees. I enjoyed holding on tightly as we rode. I started singing worship to God, the whole thing was absolutely beautiful. We stopped at a park, went for a little walk along the Willamette River, and then watched the sunset. I really like this guy. :)

What a great way to spend my last night in the town that has become home. 

I am beyond blessed. 

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12

In flight

On Saturday, I got up early and made the drive to my dear friend Emily's house, where I parked my car and got a ride to Portland Airport. Then I waited in lines, went through security, and found my gate. I read about 1/4 of Captivating while waiting in the airport. (such a great book by the way!) Then I landed in Las Vegas, NV and had a bit of a layover. I then read more of Captivating. I boarded my next plane and sat next to the most precious Grandma ever.

Her name was Diana. She went on and on about her grandchildren and how proud she is of them. Through talking, we found out we were both believers. We went on to talk about faith and how too many Christians and people within the church get so bent up on differences of beliefs, when all that matters is believing in the Son. I went on to tell her what I'm studying in school and what I hope to do with it. She must have been an angel, if not, God definately used her as some encouragement. She told me that she can just tell from my spirit that God is going to use me and I am going to make a big impact with my future career. That was so heart-warming and it really meant a lot to me! In the end, that is my desire. To be used by God. So funny how little tiny things like that stay with you.

While on the plane, I also got to see the sun setting from above the clouds. The sky was a masterpiece of beautiful and rich reds, oranges, and yellows. God is so amazing.

Beauty. Traveling. Oxymoron?

Sorry to my few followers who have been looking for something from me lately. I have too many thoughts to make them public on my blog, so please excuse my absence.

On the plane home to California, I wrote this.

I'm on an airplane. This is beautiful. Watching the sunset from above the clouds. Love it. The chatter of busy people all around me. The screams of children, the quiet calm words of loving parents. The hum of the plane. the therapeutic writing I've done this flight. I'm really ready to let go. That's how it always works. You live, you learn, you let go. I feel like God is always asking me to let go of something. My Father wants nothing to keep me from him and his love. Beauty.

My time at home in California was wonderful. I loved seeing my family (Mom, Dad, Brother, and his wife). It's been a long time. I guess it hasn't been that long, but I've been really missing them. Thursday night when I first got in, I went over to my friend Angela's house and we watched So You Think You Can Dance, just like old times. I love how when life changes all around you, some things stay the same. :) 

My parents have been remodeling the house, so it was cool to come back and see how different it was! It looks great and almost like a completely different house! It was lovely to see the California sun. I don't see the sun much in the rainy state of Oregon. I love it though. On Sunday, I attended a wedding of a long time family friend. It was very beautiful. It still amazes me how fast the time went by while I was there. I also got to share some yummy recipes I love with my family. I greatly enjoyed cooking for people! I've gotten very used to cooking for one.

Monday afternoon eventually came, although I had been dreading it. Both of my parents drove me to the airport. What a treat that was! We shared heartfelt goodbyes and kind words. I really miss them. I am blessed with such a great relationship with my parents. In the airport, I was incredibly early for my flight, but I made from friends with two other OSU students flying back. 

I absolutely loved my drive back from the Portland Airport.

This was my view coming back from the Airport. I was almost shocked how green Oregon was. Silly of me. I love the Northwest. I love my home. I enjoyed listening to Gungor while I drove (You should listen to them, AMAZING). Very soon, I was greeted with the greatest comfort of all for a North westerner.

It was a good drive. :)

Home

Tonight I get to take a plane and visit home for 5 days! I am so excited to be in California, see my family, and enjoy just being home. :) Not to mention, California definitely has better weather than Oregon.

While I'm there, I also get to attend a wedding for a girl I went to high school with who has been a great family friend. I love weddings, they are so happy and colorful. I am excited!