The Unexpected.

On this date 5 yrs. ago, a girl who had recently moved to the beautiful, snowy North spent her day doing things around Camp. She also went out walking down some trails, writing words in the snow, & enjoying the beauty around her. Not knowing what later that day held in store. She remembers talking to her family & telling them that they were planning to go sledding that night. Go sledding they did & it was so much fun! During that time one of the guys hooked up a tube to a skidoo and offered rides. She had never been on a ride like that before, so hey why not try it? So a friend and her jumped on and off they went. The snow was blowing hard and stinging her face. She thought that since there's a lot of snow she'd be okay to roll off. So she half rolled/fell off and in that process (only God knows how it happened) she heard a crack. She lay there in the snow knowing her leg was broken. Her foot felt like a dead fish in her boot. As she lay there tears started falling. Partly from the pain and partly from knowing they were already short on staff. So there she lay until they discovered she wasn't coming back. Thankfully it wasn't long. When her friend came back he didn't believe her at first. Once convinced he went for help. So they gathered up the strong men, put her on a sled and pulled her to the office. Once inside she lay there shaking, one of them gave her their gloves. She doesn't remember all the conversation that happened, but somewhere in there they made a splint out of cardboard. They once again carried her, placing her in the van, and off they went. The brave director driving in the snowy night and her friend who she was grateful to have along. They made it safely to the hospital where they wheeled her in, and placed her on a bed. They took her boot off and then took her back for x-rays. She looked down at her ankle once and decided that was enough. You see not only had she broken a bone, she had dislocated the other one as well. Surprisingly she remembered her Mom's cell phone number and a call was made informing them of what happened. Somewhere in there they put her under to put her leg in a cast until the operation. During that time she remembers being in a long white tunnel and wondering if this is how it feels to die. No worries, she has no recollection of what was happening in reality during that time, and the world was spinning when she came to. They weren't able to operate in that small town hospital so they were making plans to fly her to a bigger one. She never did get that plane ride due to the snowy weather.

The next morning her friends came into visit before she once again got loaded in the van. This time it was two dear friends who gave of their time to drive her 4 hrs. for an "emergency" surgery. The hospital was crowded when they arrived. They took them to a room to wait where they could see the "Sleeping Giant". Eventually they got things underway for the surgery. She now knows what it's like to be wheeled into the OR. Once on the table she got a little concerned when they asked her which leg to operate on.😳 She remembers counting to 3 and the next thing she knew she was waking up with tears streaming down her face. They gave her pain meds that they said should help in about an hour, meanwhile it was raw pain. She now had a metal plate, 7 screws, and 19 staples in her leg. Little did she know of the recovery journey ahead. They soon let her friends come and before long they were leaving the hospital. They spent the night in a motel room where her friends were amused by the affect pain meds had on her. The next morning found them heading home. There was a welcoming party in the office where she once again brought amusent by the giddiness that the meds brought. Thus began the journey of learning to walk with crutches, doctor visits (in -30) physical therapy and learning to rest. To find her worth in Christ and not in what she could and could not do. She was surrounded by many dear people who walked with her when she couldn't. She will always be grateful to God for the lessons he taught her in this, for the gift of healing He brought, and for the joy of being able to run and walk again  In case you're wondering...this story is true.

A quote from someone.

"When you do something, you do it all the way." 

Yeah, pretty much.🙈

So today as she remembers this part of her story, she smiles and is thankful that even though life brings the unexpected nothing takes Him by surprise. 

Til next time, the girl who hasn't been on a snow tube pulled by a skidoo since.😏

In everything give thanks:

 for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thes. 5:18

  Yeah, about that. At one point that had been my life theme and almost became as natural as breathing, but lately I've realized that a lot of my frustrations and struggles have been because I've not been grateful. I've gotten overwhelmed & exasperated because I wasn't trusting & I wasn't giving thanks. I've gotten impatient because giving thanks while waiting is hard and I have failed miserably at that recently.

 Being grateful for the good things: yes.  For everything: not so much.
 Grateful for the pain: really?
 Grateful for the lingering and unanswered questionings: hah.
 Grateful for the bills that need to be paid. ouch.
 Grateful for a closed door when you were praying that it would be an open one: just plain hard.   Grateful for the student who tries your patience day in and day: not always.


    So you see I still have a lot to learn in this whole giving thanks lesson of life. Along with that giving thanks comes trusting that God is good. When we believe (truly) that God is working all things together for good then it's not as hard to give Him thanks in all things. He truly does deserve our thanks & He is the One we must trust at all times if we desire to fully thrive. "We love others best when we love God most." I'd venture to say we trust others better when we trust God the most.

   & I'll leave ya'll with the challenge to truly give God thanks. (in everything 😊)


          So a lil bit of Novemember News & Pics:

It felt like a traveling kind of month & it's not even over yet.

PA one weekend. Got to celebrate my sister's Birthday & catch up with friends.

 NYC that Monday. (Riding in the backseat of a 15 passenger van with 7th grade boys is an adventure in itself with topics ranging from cars, Sept. 11th, & the mark of the beast) I must say it was one of my favorite Honor Roll trips & I had a grand time exploring  Ellis & Liberty Island with "my" 3 boys.

The following weekend found me in a car with my traveling friend headed south. Where I was able to catch up with a close friend & suprise my friends/co-workers at Gospel Express.(really good to see them & catch up =) It felt so good to be "home" for a few days. That's the joy of living all over, you have a home many places. Not to mention getting to breathe that fresh mountain air, see the beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway & make memories adventuring through Asheville. 

 Oh & we got to celebrate Ms. Martin. (we're now the same age =) I could write a book about her & our friendship so I'll spare y'all.

May you find joy in giving thanks today. & Happy Thanksgiving!

til next time, Ms. Rhonda

I got my ticket...

     For the long way round with the prettiest of views, it's got castles, it's got rivers,
     It's got sights that'll give you shivers & it sure will be adventurous with you.

               

#backwhen2014

#bringonJune2020

        Ever since I was 14 and got to see an aeriel view of London as we came in for landing at the Heathrow airport I've been wanting to return. {Yay, for layovers in European airports. =)}  At the beginning of this month Jess and I did what we've been talking about for a long time and bought tickets to London. We have plans not only to see London, but Ireland (pinch me) along with Scotland. We may just decide to stay... 😉

    October certainly has been an exciting month so far. School has been busy with, a Fall Party, (hay ride anyone? =) a visit from the Fire Company, an unexpected flood in the basement, Picture Day, and just the everyday trying to keep up with all that teaching brings. (prep for Art/Bible class etc. =) 

  Along with a weekend in PA. (it's always special to catch up with family & friends) motorcycle adventures. (my 1st motorcycle roadtrip is now history) Church Camp. (that had some unexpected occurences as well, such as playing v-ball (someone else signed me up) and then the I was on the team that ended up winning the tournament 😮) I was quite shocked and pretty pumped since it was the 1st time ever winning one of those. I think it was worth the sore muscles. 🙈 

       To everything there is a season... and sometimes I get overwhelmed by the incredible gifts from God that I get to experience and be a part of in this one. I don't deserve what all I've been given, but I am so grateful for this rich and full life I get to live. Is it perfect? Definitely no. Is it always easy? Again no. Is it full of beauty and redemption? Yes. absolutely. 

          "I'm so glad I get to live in a world where there are Octobers."  -L.M. Montgomery

                                         

                                              Waking up to a new sunrise....

In the middle of the night I look up to the sky,

I can hear YOU singing over me...

It wouldn't quite seem like Fall without a hayride. 

Or playing in the leaves. 😃

Meet the Top Mop Team. 😀

#gratefulforthem

It's Stop. Drop. & Roll time.

One of my favorite ways

to view the world.

#backofabike

      I hope you enjoyed the window into what God is doing in this corner of the world. Thank-you also to y'all who pray for us, it makes a difference. Teaching certainly isn't easy, yet what a joy it is. (most of the time =) &  I love that I get to be a part of what God is doing here at CCS.

                   til next time, Ms. Rhonda

        

            

             
           

Soul Searching September

   

   It's a beautiful, Fall, Saturday morning. The leaves are changing color, and there's harvest taking place all across the countryside. Apparently my body decided that I needed more rest or is not a fan of Fall. Either way I have some "down time" due to not feeling 100%. Yet I know, this too shall pass. =)

 
       
         So Semptember is going so swiftly past it's hard for me to grasp that Summer is now gone and Fall is upon us. We've started the 5th week of school (which means we're already about halfway through the 1st qtr. How even?) It's been a special month filled with many sweet memories, along with some sad ones.  It's been a good month of just taking time to reflect, to pray, to process, and starting to see things in a way I haven't seen them before. Teaching is always a good, yet hard challenge.  God is showing me through it things that He longs to refine. With Jess being gone most weekends this month it's given me a lot of solo time. Time to spend alone with God and experience more of Who He is and glimpses of what He is doing. Not only in my life, but in the lives of those around me. Which is pretty awesome!

          I also have the joy and honor of teaching 7th grade Bible Class this year. I've always taught the younger grades before, so this is a new challenge for me. I'm excited about what we're studying. It's called "Wise Up" and we'll be learning from the book of Proverbs. They all have their own work books so that's pretty cool as well. Although it means more study and prep time for me, I'm looking forward to learning along with them.

Highlights of this month:
Jess's friend (now my friend also =) coming to visit.

Nutkin. (who has brought a lot of joy to our house & classroom)

My sisters coming to visit. =)

1st Air Show

Woodland Beach with the school

Starry night skies, beautiful misty mornings, walks through corn fields, & glorious sunsets

Walks on the beach with a blue sunny sky

       I don't know what September was like for you. Maybe you  lost someone you loved, maybe you faced one of your biggest fears, maybe you feel like you're hanging onto hope by a thread, maybe you're waiting & wondering what God is up to, maybe you've experienced joy in ways like you've never known, or maybe you've had your world turned "upside down." Yet in the middle of whatever part of the journey you find yourself on I pray that you will somehow know & see the love of your Heavenly Father. He really does care. (even about the little everyday things) That's one thing I pray I can help my students to see & know. That God really does care about them, about how they're struggling with Math, or getting along with someone. That He cares about what's going on inside of their hearts and minds, their fears, their joys, along with their tears. So I guess the challenge for me is: Do I live in a way that shows I really believe that God cares? May you sense God's great love & care for you today & always.
                                     til next time, a livin in the country girl who goes by the name Ms. Rhonda

Life sometimes is a TDA.

   

So if you've ever been Summer Staff at BLC you know all too well what at TDA is. =) For those of you who don't know, it stands for Team Development Activity. (A.K.A. doing really hard & intense activites to make individuals become a team) I had/have a like/dislike relationship with TDA's. In other words I like the results that they bring, just not the "blood, sweat, & tears" it takes to get to that place. So even though it's been a few years since I've participated in an official TDA, life has a way of doing just that. I find myself doing "TDA's" without even realizing that I am.
   Like this past week for example. Spending a week with around 400 some teachers from all over the U.S. & elsewhere was definitely a really good, yet sometimes challenging TDA. Learning how to find my way to class included getting help from others. Making conversation and getting to know complete strangers took getting out of my comfort zone. Not being afraid to ask questions was a necessary part of learning. Of course there were times of debriefing and processing what was being learned as well. =) Along with lifting my voice in song to our awesome God with the great big chorus was an inspiring "TDA."
   Also going on adventures to another country, (my feet have once again walked on Canadian soil =) and the beautiful PA Grand Canyon. That in itself is a TDA. (stay away from rattlesnakes 101 =) (make sure to not lose your friend in the crowd) (take the road less traveled) (it's the "little" things... that make the world more beautiful. Like loons, fresh baked bread, a shooting star, a black squirrel & making memories while on the road =)
   I know the TDA's will continue to come. The times where I'll have to learn to trust more. Surrender more. Press on more. Fight harder. Stay committed. Choose to see the good in the hard. Cheer on those around me. Lean on God & others. I don't know about you, but as hard as they can be I'm grateful for Life's TDA's. For they remind me that I can't do this on my own.

         Here are some pictures of the highlights of last week...

How could I say there is no God? When all around Creation calls!

Riding the boat up to the Falls was just an incredible experience!

On our way back to the car we heard the excited cries of a child.. "A rainbow! A rainbow!" =)

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur...

Mr. Rattler himself... ↓

So just a week ago when we left it was definitely summer & now it's already beginning to feel like fall. Summer always goes by so swiftly! The countdown til school has begun, & in the meantime I'll try to enjoy each day as it comes. 

til next time, God's adventurer =)