camping: part 2

We camped in Colville National Forest right by a beautiful little lake that we pretty much had to ourselves. It was great to be out in nature with no computer, cell phone, or running water. TJ and I were so thankful for Becca and Sam. They knew exactly what to bring, where to go, and really made it a lot of fun for us. These are some of my highlights from the trip:

-I accidently knocked over TJ's beer with my roasting stick and it happened to spill directly into a bag of chips. Seriously, no beer touched the ground. So TJ poked a hole in the bottom of the bag to drain out the beer, and ate them anyway. I hadn't laughed that hard in a long time.

-Squeezing 4 of us into a canoe. It must have looked ridiculous

-Bacon and pancakes cooked over a campfire. I'm pretty sure that's how it was meant to be done.

-Cliff jumping. It took some prompting, but I did it!

-Sam's 'Indiana Jones-like' appearance. That hat was awesome.

-Becca's art supplies and creativity. She's so talented and I felt blessed to be around her this weekend

-Watching TJ doing manly things like stoking a fire and chopping wood. I could just see him come alive

-Deep conversations about life around the campfire. And smores

-The stars were amazing. I can't remember a time where I've seen so many

I guess that sums up our camping trip in a nut shell. I'm so glad I went. It was just what I needed before my work marathon begins! In exactly 3 hours...

camping inspirations

I survived my very first camping trip. In fact, I more than survived it, I experienced it. I faced a few of my fears this weekend and it felt good. And it made me think. And I felt inspired.

In the past, I've really stuck myself inside of a box. A very small one. With not very many air holes. Not much room for growth. Or life.

I guess I feel like the type of life God wants me to live will have some risk, some uncertainty, and might push me out of my comfort zone. And in order for me to follow Him and live that way, I will have to leave my box.

So little by little, I want to remove the box around me, and start trying new things and put myself out there knowing that some will reject me, and I will fail at times. That I not live my life worrying about what others might think or say. Because there is only One that I answer to. And that One, does not give me a "spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and self-discipline."

So who knew I would get this out of camping?

camping.

I've never gone before. My summers growing up were spent playing softball and working.

I am very excited to go.

But I just wanted to say 'good-bye' in case I get eaten by a wild animal.

the short and fast road to burnout

I am a planner. And when I plan things, I usually think that I have more time than I do. Back when I was in college (instantly feeling old...) I would make to-do lists with probably 20 items to complete in like 5 hours. Of course I would never really finish more than 6 things, but while making the list, I felt like 5 hours was an eternity.

The difference between that situation, and the one I currently find myself in, is that while making those t0-do lists, I was completely aware of my time frame. I knew I had just 5 hours.

I'm going to do my best to explain this situation. It's a little confusing, so try to stay with me...

Today is July 25.

On August 5, I leave for Wisconsin... (YAY)

On August 7, I am in my dear friend, Jenny's, wedding...(double YAY!)

And I'm not returning for 2 weeks...(triple YAY!)

Because of the nature of my work, it's really stressful when someone takes vacation. So my boss had to schedule me the three days before I leave (sunday-aug. 2, monday-aug.3, tuesday-aug.4). And in those three days, I am scheduled 40 hours. And I'm cool with that. Granted I won't be able to do anything the days before I leave since I'm scheduled from 6AM-10PM, but that just means I have to be on top of things.

And then TJ and I had planned a camping trip with Becca and Sam for the last weekend in July. Which is this weekend (Friday-Sunday). We had to shift the dates to Saturday-Monday, because last minute TJ's boss required him to work Saturday morning. Now I typically work Monday-Friday with weekends off, but one of my coworkers was able to switch shifts, so I have Monday off, but now I have to work Saturday.

So earlier this week, when I was switching shifts and thinking about my schedule, I thought I had 3 weeks until I left. So in my head, I was thinking that I would work this week, Tuesday-Saturday, have Sunday off like usual, go into my Monday-Friday work week, have Saturday off, and then work my 40 hours, Sunday-Tuesday, and leave on Wednesday.

Obviously I was wrong. Since I only leave in 2 weeks (make that 11 days) my schedule looks something like this.

Camping: Saturday-Monday

Working: Tuesday-Tuesday. 80 hours in 8 days.

Leaving: Wednesday.

So I have a bazillion things to try and squeeze in before leaving -alterations for dress, hair cut, packing - and one less week to do it than I had thought.

I will be SO ready for vacation... =)

a day outside

Yesterday, it felt like summer. Becca and I drove to Coeur d'Alene and rented a canoe and spent the morning out on the water. 

We paddled into a wildlife reserve where we we saw ospreys, a family of ducks, and even an otter! Not to mention the backdrop was just beautiful.

TJ and Sam joined us in the afternoon after they got done with their morning hike. They canoed while Becca and I spent some time in the water and on the beach. You know, just catching some rays. 

It was so nice to get outside and do something just a little out of the ordinary with a couple of really great friends. Whenever I do something like this I always wonder why I don't do it more often. 

Meet Ingrid...

Our new addition to the family.

some etsy love

(photos taken from here)

I made my very first etsy purchase. And I love it. It is exactly what I was looking for in a journal - small enough to fit in my bag, binding that isn't stiff, blank pages with no lines, super cute... 

So I thought I'd give a little shout out to Joliet, and her shop - Broken Glass and Papercuts. 

more questions

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you." ~ 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Lately when I've been reading scripture things that I've never in my life thought to question have been popping out at me. All of a sudden, nothing seems simple anymore. I find myself often kind of frustrated because I'm struggling to understand things that seem so basic. Concepts I thought I mastered in 2nd grade... 

I read that passage in 1 Thessalonians last night and I couldn't help but ask, what does it means to love? How did God intend us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ? What does it look like to love everyone? It's just not black and white to me. 

So I am asking you. What is love? How do you interpret this? How do you differentiate between what our society says love is, and what God says love is? 

I would really appreciate your thoughts! What else is the body for, if not to work together to try and seek after God and understand what he desires from us.

dinner

I've been a little careless with my grocery shopping lately. So after the last time I went, I ended up having 2 1/2 dozen eggs and 5 peppers in my fridge, 2 loafs of bread, and 6+ pounds of ground beef. 

Thankfully the bread and meat we can freeze, but we needed to find something to do with the eggs and peppers. So TJ had the brilliant idea of making an egg bake. And the best part about it, was that he did it. And I got a little nap... (still adjusting to work!) 

And actually, it was pretty awesome. What can I say? My husband can make a mean egg bake. =)