My Glorious Time Off

This past Wednesday and late into Thursday, I took some time off. Pat was very, very, incredibly, very jealous but I know he would want to know EXACTLY how much fun I had which is why I am contructing this post.

I started out on Wednesday with two great friends in a nice, comfortable, beautifully black(matches with every outfit) Honda Civic. We drove for a few hours before coming to my cattage, which was wonderfully free of people. It was incredibly relaxing and I could do whatever I wanted without thinking the phone was going to ring. Dinner was especially and wonderfully free of phonecalls. After dinner my good friends and I had a relaxing boatride in my grandfathers boat and still the relaxing hours stretched out ahead of us. Then we played Axis and allies(actually we jumped on the trampoline but I figured if I said we played Axis and Allies, Pat would be more jealous). We continued on our night by singing songs around the fire. This gorgeous girl that Pat would really have been interested in came over from a nearby cabin to play guitar for us (really it was a cute guy... but don't tell Pat). We ate smores and other delicious foods before slipping out to our tent to play..... SLAPS! (currently Pat's favourite card game). I slept on the trampoline for half the night.... which I know Pat has been dying to do for ages. Too bad he didn't get the opportunity. The next morning we slept in as long as we could. Too bad Pat had to be up for breakfast here at camp. Then we headed out on our way to a destination that is beyond all destinations. This is the climax of the whole story, since this is what Pat would have enjoyed the most. Within the hour, we were well on our way to...... GALILEAN!!! Yes, we went to Galilean. We saw all the old sights and smelled all the old smells. It was an incredible experience. I must mention specifically seeing Ben and Randy, since I know Pat would enjoyed seeing them. Too bad he missed out. He would have loved it. Did I mention how much Pat wanted to go see Galilean? Well, it was alot, that's for sure. So we spent many a blissful hour there at Galilean before heading back to camp, having spent 33 hours doing whatever we wanted and being responsible for nothing and having no phones to answer.

So, yeah, overall it was a great trip and Pat really missed out. That's really too bad..... But here is the link to pictures from past summers so that Pat can remember all the great times and people.... and wish he could go to Galilean, too.

http://http://www.cssm.ca/galilean/photos

Summer 2006 Norland Quotes

"I've been thinking your necklace is a jellybean ALL day." - Pat

"You only play Slaps so that you can put your hand on mine." - Pat

"You are SO smart!" - Janet (to Pat)

"Ahhhhh, Ahhhh, Ahhhhhh!" -Jesse (in response to a single shadfly in the car)

"I'm Vesper Rock" - Alex

"I'm really blogged down" - Doug

"Cellphone....mashed potatoes...." - Pat

"I ate 5 chicken burgers and 4 pieces of pizza!" - Gilligan

"I'm not Canadian... I'm part Jamaican and part Torontarian." - Ty (camper)

" Just like in real soccer!" -Jesse (playing fooseball)

"That's disgusting!" - Gilligan (maintenance boy)


*Stay alert for more to come... the summer isn't over yet!

Blog (for lack of title-ing capabilities)

It's been awhile since I've written. It's not easy to have time for blogging when you're working at a camp. And then there are times when the internet just isn't available. Like when a tornado touches down 10 or 15 minutes from you and you take cover in the basement and don't have power for 3 days and run a full program with only a small generator that rotates between giving you water access and keeping your fridges cold. I could continue... but I'm more interested in a topic that has interested me lately(interestingly enough). Haha! Ok, that was a geeky sentence...

It's funny how we can read through the bible and learn something different each time or miss something that you would have thought to be significant. For example, on two different occassions lately I have heard about Paul having a "thorn". Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:7 "So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated" Read the surrounding verses to get the context, but from what I understand, Paul was afflicted with something to keep him weak and dependent on Christ. I find that so interesting because there have been so many times that I've asked God to take away my weaknesses(or my own thorns). I've thought in the past that I could do so much more for Christ if I wasn't insecure or shy or scared of new situations. There are many things about myself that I would gladly have God take from me. However, I have come to see that God made me exactly the way I am for a reason. If I wasn't scared of new situations, I would probably go into them without asking God for help. If I wasn't shy or insecure, I wouldn't see the ways God has worked in my life to put me in positions that I don't feel equipped for! And so, I would love to say, like Paul, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor 12: 9b, 10).

Shopping

It's taken me awhile to realize this. I've spent years trying on clothing. I've spent years wandering around malls looking for clothing that is cheap enough so that I wont feel guilty. I've spent years trying to be trendy and rarely ever succeeding. And I've finally come to the conclusion that guys are SOOOO lucky!! They can get away with wearing the ugliest clothes possible! They can wear the baggiest clothes and not look like they're wearing their grandfather's clothes. They can wear the same clothes for years and no one cares! Oh, to be so carefree! Haha!

Anyway, this post is for any girls that might stumble upon it and be as frustrated as I am about trying to fit into a world dominated by fashion and being "in". First of all, modesty is more important than any of us realize as girls. I could give you all the reasons about guys being visual and not making others stumble. However, I think the reason that many girls miss is that we should have more respect for ourselves and our bodies than to just flaunt them for everyone and anyone to see. Many girls long for love so badly that they'll do anything to get the attention they want. But they don't see that by dressing inappropriately they aren't really drawing the right kind of attention. Girls, don't follow the world's standards of beautiful! Here are the lyrics to a Barlow Girl song that I think is great.

Clothes

Clothes aren't what they used to be
They don't seem to fit you and me anymore
Modesty is out the door
Flaunting what we've got and more is in
Yeah it's in

They're saying
Don't ask why just wear what we say
You'll look like a model if you'll only obey
To get the attention, just do what we say

Pay so much for clothes so small
Was that shirt made for me or my doll?
Is this all I get?
I looked so hot but caught a cold
I was doing just what I was told
To fit in

We're saying let's ask why
Don't wear what they say
Don't want to be a model
They can't eat anyway
That kind of attention will fade with the day

Clothes that fit are fine
Won't show whats mine
Don't change my mind
I'll be fine

Anyway, I'm done with this for now. And by the way, this post is without a picture for very obvious reasons.

The Truth

For those of you who have read Pat Sutherland's post, you may be aware of a certain story involving a telephone call for both of us. There is Pat's version, then there's the truth. I am here to tell you what the true story is.

It all began downstairs where Pat and I had just played a game of fooseball (I believe I had won, since I usually do). Suddenly, a guy came to the door and said "Pix(my camp name), you have a phone call.... Oh, Rubix(Pat's camp name), you have one too." So, after a 2 second delay of our minds trying to figure out how we had a phone call at the same time, we both took off running. I headed the back way that started away from the direction of the phone, then up 4 "half flights" of stairs, then through the dining hall(dodging tables), then through the kitchen(not a good place for running), then through the door, before turning into the office and making my way past bulky chairs and a person. Pat, on the other hand, headed staight down the hall in the direction of the office(with no obstacles), up the 4 "half flights", through a door, reached over the desk, grabbing the phone one millisecond before myself.

And so... yes, I did lose the race in a way. But if you consider the disadvantage I had, it's entirely understandable. Plus, there's one more bit of information that Pat neglected to mention. Jen(Pat's sister) kindly asked for both of us, so as not to hurt her dear brother's feelings. But the truth is... she really called to talk to me.

The Father and the Child

The Father spoke:

And what do you know of My heart?
I know that Your heart is the only worthy destination.
How have you learned this truth?
By walking daily with You.
How are your companions, Joy and Sorrow?
Now that I have a better understanding of Your heart, I realize that Sorrow keeps me dependent on You and Joy enables me to stay on the journey.
You have learned well, My child. So you wish to continue the journey?
Oh, Father, I only pray that I remain faithful and obedient. I want no other journey - I seek no other Joy.
You will find joy in loving and serving others.
It is hard for me to love and serve. How can I do it with Joy?
By taking My yoke and learning of Me.
As long as I am yoked to You, Father, I know I can do anything.
Hold My hand tightly, My child. For this part of the journey, you must receive My rest and learn to live for all that is eternal.
Why must I hold Your hand tightly?
Because I am ready to place you as a labourer in My harvest, and I do not want you to be so busy in your service that you loosen your grip or let go.
And how do I labour in Your harvest?
By bringing Me glory.

- Cynthia Heald