Been to the Heart of the Country... now South to the Cape!

When I taught, my summer's were broken into the following categories of time.
1) Swimming lessons until the 4th of July.
2) Absolutely NOTHING. (July 3-mid August)
3) Excitement and Dread- teacher's, do you feel me?) for another school year (mid August until the moment school began).

My days were spent with little scheduling, really. Just spending as much time as possible with family and friends and myself.

Now, my summer is broken into these categories.
1) Pray!
2) Prep for summer... directing camps and chaperoning trips and teaching/leading at reunions. (end of spring-mid June)
3) Pray!
4) Look ahead to 7 weeks of ministry...
5) Pray!!! And take some nice easy breaths to relieve any anxiety felt.
6) Week 1... Jr. High/Sr. High Camp... pray!
7) Week 2... Jr. Camp... pray!
8) Week 3... Maine Reunion... pray!
9) Week 4... IYF in Independence... pray!
10) Week 5... Headed for Onset Campgrounds for Onset Reunion... pray!
11) Week 6... Plan for Jr. / Jr. High camp in Onset... pray!
12) Week 7... Camp Pastor at Onset Campgrounds... pray!
13) Where did that summer go??? ... Huge prayer of gratitude!

Is it just me that notices quite a change in my schedule? =]
I couldn't be happier!

I am in between # 9 and 10 right now... Cassy and I are finishing re-packing in Lexington, MA to head down to Onset, MA Reunion.

We just returned from IYF, International Youth Forum, in Independence.
Let's just say it was one of the most refreshing, invigorating, affirming experiences I have had in quite some time. I might go so far as to describe it as "defining" in my life/work/ministry.

Cassy and Christian were there. Check out signalkids.blogspot.com for updates and pictures coming soon from Cassy's perspective. Also, check out cofchrist.org/IYF for pictures.

We must have about 20 kids going in 2013. It's amazing! And we should have time to get that many by then... challenge, who's on board for that?

Excited for mid-summer reflection time, I am.

Peace and Hope to each and all, Trish

I am so thankful to have an assistant!

This morning, I am truly amazed. It is 9:33 am. Choice classes are beginning... origami (taught by my older sister, San!), volleyball, and cooking (taught by my Mom, graham cracker pie!)... and I have a spare moment to organize my thoughts about camp. This means that neither do I have a list 10 or 15 activities long nor am I "putting out fires" as they crop up.

But how can this be?

For the past full month, I have eaten, slept, prayed, thought about, and in all other ways shaped my life around camps and the summer camping season. This has mostly consisted of waking between 6 and 7, first thought on camp and what to do to be fully prepared. My original list was single spaced and 2 pages... if I don't write it down, it won't happen. Of course, there was lots of answering e-mails, phone calls, etc... making my list grow as I tried to make it shrink! Generally, sleep came between 11 pm and 1 am. I am thankful for the uplift of youth and prayer to get through a month of this as I generally require much more sleep.

Well, the list shrank as our first camp, Jr. High/Sr. High camp approached. That meant I was closer to ready for campers and staff to arrive. 4 trips to Camp Winni later, everything had been delivered, and I and the staff were ready for campers.

As the week progressed, I quickly realized that this camp would be an amazing blessing for my outlook on directing camps and "coordinating'' a youth program. I have to say that it truly was one of the funnest weeks of my entire 27 years. I laughed and smiled so much during this camp! BUT... sleep still seemed to elude me. Midnight, 1 am, 2 am to bed... 6 am to rise.

So, how, back in the midst of another camp, JUNIOR Camp, do I all of a sudden have a few spare moments to collect some thoughts. The answer is clear and can be described in two words.

Cassy Billings

The Youth Ministry Coordinator Summer Assistant... My Summer Assistant

I cannot tell you all how great she has been. Reporting for "duty" on night one, before campers, she appeared poised, mature, and ready to act. First question was, "What can I do to get started?" Next, "So, how can I help?" And that type of question has been repeated over and over again for the past 4 days. I speak, or we brainstorm together, and Cassy makes it happen. I am so thankful to have an assistant! And the opportunity for Cassy is pretty tremendous as well, I dare say.

My level of appreciation for Life, camp, God, Love, family, and friends is running extremely high.
Cassy rocks.

In the send-off of C.S.... God is Love.
Peace and Hope, Trish

Today, I was going to post...

Today, July 4th, I thought a lot about writing a post... My thoughts on camp, etc...
It's 11:11 am.
I'm deciding to go back to bed instead.

Peace and Hope! Trish