It snowed . . . again.

It seems to snow every single week. And not just a light dusting, but 2+ inches every time. And it can never just snow, there has to be ice and lots of wind to go with it every time. If I were a teacher, my lesson plans would have been out the window 2 months ago! It's getting dreary to have to bundle up so tightly just to go outside to get the mail and waddle like a penguin for fear of slipping on the constant layer of ice that covers the parking lots. I would hate to have to do snow removal. It would feel like the ultimate Sisyphusian Challenge! (Sisyphus is a man of a Greek legend. He is said to have been punished by the gods and condemned to spend the rest of his life pushing a boulder up a mountain, only to watch it roll down and do it all over again.)

As much as the snow is starting to get on my nerves, there are times that I feel the little child within me bubble to the surface with the hope of snow on the horizon. It's been 6 years since I've had a snow day, and still, I wait with baited breath to hear the official word on a two-hour delay or even better, cancelled! And now I get double the pleasure because I listen for my Alma Matter's delay and the local school! It's really quite exciting, even as I'm getting to go to work regardless of the snowy conditions.

This morning as I drove to work, I couldn't help but fall in love with the snow all over again. It had once again covered the earth and softened its edges. It was as if the earth itself was bubbling up with a child's joy. Bushes and shrubs were softened in the snow to look as though they were nothing more than a giant pillow to fall into. The trees glistened in the bright sunshine. The sky was big and blue and the sunshine lit it up brilliantly. Even the fields were playing along! It's as though they decided to play dress up and became the great white ocean. The drifts along the sides of the roads were waves just about to break and as the wind swept along the fields, you could see the waves gently roll in and out of the shore. If you look closely enough, the small tufts of grass in the fields turned into sea otters as they lept through the rolling waves.

I know snow can be a dangerous disaster waiting to happen, but it's also a chilly burst of joy! As a wise woman said, "I never want to be too old to play in the snow . . . life is amazing."

Hallelujah, it's rainin' men!

Get out your umbrella's folks, because it really is raining men around here! It is recruiting season for summer camp. Anyone over the age of 16 with two legs and a brain is fair game. Before I handed out applications, I prayed that God would help me to trust in Him to provide the staffing needed to make camp what He wants it to be. I know that it's often a struggle to find enough male counselors and so I said a little extra prayer for willing young men to want to work at camp. God answers prayers. I have more than enough applicants and I'm now trying to figure out how to use all of their gifts and abilities to further our mission here at camp. It's a wonderful quandry!


Over the last couple of weeks, I have been out on the road to some of the Mennonite Colleges/Universities recruiting college students to come and work at Crooked Creek. It's been an amazing experience. While I don't have the masses headed towards Iowa for the summer, it was a very productive trip. For the most part, I got to reconnect with those who already have connections to camp. I talked to some people who have been counselors and would like to do it again, and I talked to others who just came as campers. It was wonderful to see how far and wide the Friends of Camp have spread.

An unexpected joy was in the chance to meet and fellowship with other camp people. Many Mennonite camps were at each of the stops and honestly, most of our time was spent talking to each other. I got to meet other Program Directors and share trials and tribulations about our jobs. We shared ideas that worked and didn't work. I also got to meet with other Executive Directors and talk about the vision of camps and what our role is in connection with the church and the lives of those who come to us. My eyes were opened to a whole new world and it was wonderful. I was truly blessed to come in contact with so many other people who have made it their life's work to serve God through camping.

Just when I start to worry about a need or a hole in my staffing list, another application comes in the mail. I had barely even thought about who to ask to help with leading drama for a week and a letter arrived from a woman who was an arts and drama teacher. She was asking to work the very week I need a drama group leader. I'm not quite sure what God is trying to teach me, but one thing is for sure, God will provide.