Good-bye Spring, Hello Summer

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

As one season comes to an end, a new one begins.  Spring is over and summer is almost here. Every spring I work at a living history camp (Rock-N-Water). At this camp I pretend I'm from 1854 and teach kids about the Gold Rush.  This year was my fourth year working at this amazing place.  To me Rock-N-Water is a ministry because each day I am able to teach others about God and serve God in such a fun and unique way.

Even though I'm sad the camp is over, I'm choosing to be happy for all the fun I had and all the lessons I learned.   Memories are an amazing thing and I choose to treasure them. There's a huge smile on my face because I know that God is so good to me and He has blessed me so much through this camp.

Now as the green grass slowly fades to brown, and the temperatures begin to rise, I'm reminded that summer is here again.  To be honest with you all, summer isn't my favorite season, mainly because of the heat.  Who enjoys the heat?  I'd rather have cold weather.  But there is nothing I can do, summer has arrived once again.  

Do I have any summer plans?  I wish I could give you a list of things I am planning to accomplish this summer, but I don't. And, you know what, that's okay.  Each day comes and I'm learning to trust God in the uncertainty of the future.  I'm learning to live my life day by day, step by step.  The truth is that it's okay to not have a long list of summer plans and accomplishments.  I know God has great plans for me and I can't wait to see what He will teach me this summer!

Do you have any fun plans for summer?  

For Everything There is a Season

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven," Ecclesiastes 3:1

I am saddened to think that the short season when my family works for Rock-N-Water, a christian living history camp, has come to an end.  But looking back on these past few months I am filled with only good memories.  Memories that make me laugh, and memories that will always bring a smile to my face, even when I know that I may not have been able to smile when that memory was being made.

I have learned so much through working at this special place.  Not only have I grown in more ways than one over these past two months, but I have made so many wonderful friendships that I know will last forever.

Below are some of the highlights from the last month of Rock-N-Water (May).

 We dressed up as Indians for the Maidu trip

Setting up stations for the Maidu trip 

 

 Taking a break after a day of hard, but fun, work

This was my attempt to create an outfit that was half Indian and half pioneer

 Cutting leather for one of the stations

Lots of hands helping to restock the gold vials for gold panning

My brother all ready for his trip

My brother being silly, no actually, he's just being himself

 

Doing candle station with my group

My dear friend Sarah on the Indian grinding rock 

I'm going to miss all of these wonderful people

I'm so thankful for the wonderful season we had at Rock-N-Water these last two months. Now that it has come to and end, I am looking forward to an even better season next year!

If any of my Rock-N-Water family sees this post I just want to tell you all thanks so much for an AMAZING year!  

Finally, Another Post!

I have been so busy working at Rock-N-Water,  a living History camp my family works at during the spring. I'm sorry that it has been weeks since my last post. I just haven't found the time to sit down and write a new post.  But I have found the time to edit some pictures that my mom has taken at Rock-N-Water. I thought I would share some of the pictures.  Below are some highlights of the first month at Rock-N-Water.  

 My brother and I working in the kitchen

Camp cleanup, many hands make the work light

My Siblings and I (I'm in the middle)

Filling up the water gott

Having fun at Campfire

 Staying warm by the fire after a long day 

Who says work can't be fun

We played the craziest game of jump rope at the staff party.  I'm not very good at jump rope so I took pictures.

And that is a peek into why I have been so busy the past month and will still be busy this next month.  I'm so blessed to have found a place to belong at this place and with these amazing people.  Rock-N-Water truly is a special place.

It's That Time of Year Again!

I'm so excited and I just can't keep it to myself!  If you remember in many of my previous posts, I refer to a camp my family works at during the spring called Rock-N-Water.  Well, spring is here, and we are busy preparing for the next two months which will be very busy.

Rock-N-Water is a camp where 4th Graders come to learn about the Gold Rush.  Not only do these kids get to learn about the Gold Rush, they get to travel back in time.  As a guide at Rock-N-Water I get to dress up as a character from the Gold Rush and tell these  kids about "my time" (1854).  

One of my habits has always been to keep a journal to record the highlights of my life.   I don't write in it everyday (who does).  I probably write in my journal about twice a month.  A few days ago I was reading some of my writing from last year while I worked at Rock-N-Water. I thought I would share a bit!

April 12, 2015
I love Rock-N-Water so much! I love being at camp and getting to know all the other guides.  I love the feeling of being a part of the Rock-N-Water family.  Below I'm going to list the reasons why I love this place so much.

1. I get to share God's love with others and make a difference in the lives of others by working there.
2. The staff is Amazing! I love being a part of the Rock-N-Water family.
3. I love history and I LOVE dressing up.  There is something magical about dressing up and traveling back to the past to teach the 4th graders about the Gold Rush.
4. I get to work alongside my family.  Often times my mother and brother will be on the same trip as me.
5. It forces me out of my comfort zone.  It's true! I don't feel shy when I'm at Rock-N-Water.  I feel like a different person.
6. I've come to realize I love to work with kids and teach them about history.

And I could keep going on and on...

(the above picture is my brother and I at Rock-N-Water in Spring 2014)

May 2, 2015
I've never laughed so hard in my life! Being one of the staff at Rock-N-Water is truly one of the most wonderful things.  I'm starting to get to know a lot of the other staff at Rock-N-Water and form new friendships.  Rock-N-Water is the best thing ever...

May 27, 2015
Yesterday I had so much fun! We were at Rock-N-Water and there were so many staff at camp.  We all loaded up into the vans and went out to get frozen yogurt.  Afterwords we had tons of camp clean-up to work on, but I've never had so much fun while working...

May 31, 2015
The end of Season party was today.  It was fun but bittersweet. The worst part was saying goodbye. I can't wait for next year's season...

And now Rock-N-Water is here again.  I'm looking forward to seeing my friends from last year and making new friends. But most importantly, I can't wait to serve the Lord and share God's truth with others!