Wired Again

Or should I say wireless again...

Regardless, we have returned from our adventures teaching the Wilderness Survival emblem at SAY camp this week. It was a great week--it was our first time leading anything at a Salvation Army youth camp and it went better than we expected. We think the boys had a good time (and hopefully learned a few things too). Not exactly being the epitome of "kid-people" we were a bit anxious about the endeavor, but when the call for help came out to the officers and this one week available fit our summer schedule perfectly, we really felt like it was something that we needed to do. We're so thankful for the opportunity, and have decided to make a week-long commitment to teaching an emblem next summer.

I can see why many people are drawn to our camping ministry. It was almost an "outsider looking in" scenario to see the counselors and staff interact with the kids. I have a new admiration for those people, as it is truly a gift that they have to connect and make a difference in these children's lives. I sat there with tears yesterday as a flood of children went forward in chapel to accept Christ. Truly amazing.

Long days, and a long drive to and from--but it was a good break from the norm, and I think we needed that. It was nice to work together with my husband on something that was separate from the corps for a few days. Just spending that time together was what we needed. I'll post a couple pictures on facebook later--I took tons, but I won't post any with the kids (despite how darn adorable they are), but there's some pretty funny ones (like my husband with a display of a large number of his knives that we displayed for our equipment demo).

Kind of hard to be back...it's one of those things where you come down from the high. Lots to do here at home, and it's just blah to look at the prospect of dealing with it all. One thing at a time...one step forward. It will all get done.

Eh...not much more to say tonight. Slightly distracted at the moment, watching "The Lovely Bones" with the husband--deeply disturbing, probably not going to sleep great now.

On the Road Again...

...and this is officially IT until officers' councils!!!! (Actually, I think we have a mentor visit to Spokane the week prior) We are so tired of traveling, our suitcases haven't even been put away since the end of January. We're taking 6 days of furlough in mid-July and six days at the end of August (don't want to miss Sundays) where we intend on STAYING HOME AND DOING NOTHING! (Well, a camping romp or two, but close to home) I shouldn't complain, some of our business trips have been self-inflicted for some trainings we wanted, but the majority have been required events and meetings. Literally, one or both of us has been gone for some span of time every other week since the last week in January.

We're off to teach wilderness survival for the adventure corps boys at camp tomorrow. We're rather excited, we've never experienced a Salvation Army camp session, so it will be a learning experience too. My dad laughed at me on the phone earlier when I told him what we were teaching...I'm not sure whether to laugh along with him or be insulted! Granted, I'm no Annie Oakley or anything, but I do know the basics of what we are teaching to help them achieve their emblem requirements!

Just finishing up laundry and probably should think about bed soon...7 hour drive through the middle of no where tomorrow. Some parts are pretty, but there's a stretch going through northern NM into AZ where you don't see a single vehicle for miles ahead or behind...makes you wonder if you've been left behind. (Just kidding!)

Anyway...lots of pictures to come this weekend I'm sure. Have a safe a blessed week!

Am I Dead Yet?

WWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, husband says last night, "What should we do tomorrow?" I thought for a little while, because my pat answer of sleep in and relax on the one day of the week we have that ability is not a popular one with him...and my response ended up being, "How about we drive up around Cloudcroft and go hiking on one of the millions of trails?"

Now, we've lived here a year, and all of the trails that we've hiked have been within two square miles of our home, and we always drive by and say, "some day we need to stop here."

So, we started driving...after passing all the traffic on the way to the cherry festival (oversight on our part), we decided to head out on the road towards Weed, since we have never gone past the highway that goes to Timberon. We realized quickly that this was mostly private land, so we turned through Russia Canyon because husband was certain it came through onto the road we were used to being on. Not really a nice drive I was hoping for in my minivan--next time we take the truck. But, when we came out on the other end of Russia Canyon, right across the street was a trailhead for the Rim Trail, a 14-mile loop.

We knew we were not packed (or early enough in the day) for such a big hike, so we figured we'd hike in for a bit and turn around and go back. So, we go a few miles and take some pretty pictures, not really noting the gradual decline in elevation along the VERY narrow trail with a steep fall (picture hugging a tree for dear life to let mountain bikers go by). We take a few minutes to catch our breath (3000 feet higher in elevation than home) and have some water, and turn around to go back to van.

We quickly realize how far down we have hiked, and now our hike out is all uphill. Okay, no problem, we'll take it slow. Well...I'm on my way to being back in shape, not quite at peak performance yet. I thought the muscles in the back of my thighs and my rear end were going to leap off my body in protest! OWWW! We stopped several times for me to rest (husband played with his knives and carved a new walking stick), so it took 2-3x longer to hike out. Thank goodness my husband was patient with me...he's more of the Speedy Gonzales kind of walker/hiker.

I made him drive home because I felt awful...walked in the door and proceeded to sleep for three hours before a long jacuzzi bath with Epsom salts. Legs are pretty sore tonight and I'm beyond exhausted.

Lesson for the day: Research your trails, don't wander aimlessly and pick one that does not match your hiking ability.

Ow.

Moving Along...

Been trying to knock down the mile-long to-do list the last few days. Much of it is in progress, some completed, lots more to get done.

Husband submitted his application to start his bachelor's completion program in Bible and Theology today--hopes to start August 30. SO PROUD OF HIM! It's not the traditional online degree program that most officers in our territory are getting, so it'll take him 3 years--but it's what he wants to learn, not just to get a degree (and it builds on his masters that he has his eyes on). Once he's done with his BA comes time for my MA...not excited about the prospect of having to take the GRE because of the clash in my BA major/minor (Learning and Pedagogy, emphasis in bilingual and multicultural education and minor in music) and my ambitions for MA (Non-Profit Business Management). Suppose this is my three year notice to start studying. Have you seen the book? It's like 3x the size of the one for the SAT! Good thing I do well on standardized testing!

Had dinner with our planned giving director tonight--love him and his wife so much. Talk about people that have a heart for our mission and love helping officers in any way they can. Such a blessing!

Dentist tomorrow. YIKES!

Ministerial Association meeting tomorrow. YAY!

Teaching Wilderness Survival with hubby at camp next week. YIKES!

Got tickets for the Third Day concert next month. YAY!

Blog of zero substance--accomplished. With that, sweet dreams!

The Privilege of a Commission

"The privilege of a commission..."-My favorite phrase by ever by our retiring territorial commander.

A commission as a Salvation Army officer is priceless. There is no way to even fathom putting into words how absolutely incredible it is to be doing exactly what God has intended for you to do.

Yes, there's ups and downs.

Yes, there's bad days.

Yes, there's heartbreaks.

But...

There's blessing beyond belief.

You are part of something so much bigger than yourself that has the ability to impact individuals, families, communities, countries, and the whole world.

No day is the same as the last--life sure is interesting!

When my husband and a visitor to our worship this morning were discussing my sermon (Commandment #1 lived out through Deuteronomy 6:4-5--we're starting a sermon series on the 10 Commandments, spending some time in the Old Testament), and a hymn we sang, "Holy, Holy, Holy," they made the connection to Isaiah's commission. (Ding! Ding! Payoff for intentional worship planning!)

Isaiah chapter 6 says, "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" (vv. 1-8)

As we watched the webcast of the service of appointments of the newest commissioned and ordained lieutenants this afternoon, I was again reminded of this very important conversation.

When God asks, "Whom shall I send?"

My response is, "Here am I,send me!"

May I never have a time when that response does not freely flow from my lips!

Anger

Anger is an interesting thing.

I had a perfectly valid reason to be angry with someone today, and yet bit my tongue to avoid a further argument.

So, I let it fester, then I was mad at myself for no good reason that I could identify, and managed to give myself a migraine over it.

Then after sleeping off the migraine, I apologized to the person that I was angry at because I was angry at them--not that what they did didn't tick me off, because it did, but because I was mad at them.

Then I felt better.

What the heck?

Just once, in my humanness, I want to be angry at someone in order for it to actually make a difference in their behavior that made me upset instead of me being the one to feel guilt!

(In this particular situation, discussing the behavior that needs to modified after anger dissipates is fruitless)

In my being "so beside myself" over this today, of course, I was directed to the right passage to put me into check with how I should be behaving. Ephesians 4 says, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (vv. 2-3) "In your anger do not sin" Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (vv. 26-32)

And 2 Timothy 2:22-26: "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

Yep, turn to scripture study to try to be vindicated in my feelings, and get taught a lesson instead.

So much to learn in life...no one ever said the road to holiness was a smooth one. Some days it's an easy stroll, and others it's one step forward and two steps back.

If you can't say anything nice...

...don't say anything at all.

In a poopy mood. Completely exhausted. So much has gone on this week. Just tired and cranky. Feels like everything I've done this week has taken more effort than it has needed and I'm so far behind. Not at all happy with myself.

Anyone looking for a job? Administrative assistant with social work experience needed--salary: my undying love and gratitude.

Time to attempt to cook dinner...then sleep. Laundry can wait.