Goodnight, Sleep Tight, Don't Let The Bears Bite

The result of last night's late night visitor

Tonight's Revenge

In place of our welcome mat

We screwed this board in front of our door, so we don't expect any visitors tonight, bear or human.

Ethan attempting to make his own bear board

Just a note to those of you who are worried about the bear's health, we don't intend to hurt it, just keep it out of our house.

Still here!

I just wanted you to know that I haven't forgotten about my blog. We have just had company for the last 10 days and will still have a house full for another week. Ethan turned 5 this last week and John turned 34 today. Needless to say we have been celebrating a lot. In 2 days my mom, who is visiting right now, has a birthday and I have a birthday in a week!!!! Whew! Just wanted you to know that I fully intend to continue to keep you updated, it may just be another week before I get back to it. Oh yeah... I also planned and put on a wedding on the 14th. I was the florist, decorator and caterer... (sigh).

Ahhh...

Last night was the end of summer camp. We celebrated with a large banquet and a time of sharing. I love to sit and hear stories from the summer and the lives that were changed. But today is quiet, peaceful and void of voices. One thing you get used to during the summer is the hum in the air. Voices of children and over-excited teenagers fill the night and day alike. Laughter, cars, squealing, footsteps on the gravel, army trucks, camp vans, work trucks, guitars and slamming doors, have all ceased (at least for today). Most of the 70+ summer staff are in planes and automobiles headed home. As sad as this day may sound to you, I love this day. I feel for an instant that we ARE in the middle of nowhere (which is the case, but with the uniqueness of living at a youth camp, you forget). It is a sign of seasons changing. There is a hint of fall in the air. I am not sure if I think that because it is quiet or if I actually detect fall. The last 3 nights have produced a light fost on some of the roofs. My favorite thing that Fall brings, though, is a sense of family. In the 12 summer weeks of organized chaos, you will find a couple close relationships out of the 70+ staff members. But fall only brings about 12 seasonal staff. They all become part of our lives and families. It is a sweet time of fellowship. So just for today, before Monday comes and camp springs back to life, I am going to imagine I am smack dab in the middle of fall and put on a cozy sweater. I know I am slightly crazy since it IS only the 11th of August, but I did notice one, lone tree turning yellow in a sea of green on the mountain side today. For some reason that tree put me in the mood I am today. Peaceful, happy and sleepy.

Staff housing

Here are a few pictures of house #1's basement walls. They arrive on an eighteen wheeler in large pre-fabricated panels and are assembled at the job site using a 40 ton crane to lift them into place. You can see the window and door already cut into the walls and as well as the factory-installed insulation. A type of caulk/sealant is used join the panels and then seal the inside and outside seam. It is a very cool process and done in a day. Now cement will be poured inside the basement for a floor and bring it all together. Tuesday the second basement will be built. The last picture shows a seam and the bolts that will connect the logs to the basement.

I'm Radioactive

I was not sure how I would get radioactive, but I was sure I wouldn't like it. My stomach was in knots during the 2 hour drive to Montrose. I was starving and bought a bagel sandwich but was never able to tolorate more than a couple bites. I am not that afraid of needles but when it comes to sticking them into an organ, spine, face or neck, then I am. Arms are meant for needles, buttocks are meant for needles. I was not sure if it was going to be my neck or my arm and I was pulling for the latter. When I finally got escorted to Nuclear Medicine and my escort was seriously wondering if I would get a radioactive sticker to wear the rest of the day, I was sure I was in some movie. A few minutes in the waiting room and I was whisked away down another hall towards a door with a large "RADIOACTIVE" sign on it. I knew that door was for me and then I started wondering if they WERE going to make me wear a sticker. Behind the door was a very normal, sterile room with lots of huge scanners and contraptions. Before me was a surgical type tray, laden with the blue sterile paper. I started looking for the needle that wasn't there and I honestly don't remember what else was on the tray. My eyes were searching for only one thing. And as he was talking about something, my eyes fixed on a large, solid cylinder that resembled the bullet proof glass/plastic windows found at a bank. There was something in the middle of it. Next thing I know he headed towards me with what I can only imagine was a protective cylinder that was only protecting him. I was going to have whatever was in that container coursing through my veins. Well in turned out it went through my stomach first. They were only pills. Radioactive pills nonetheless. I don't know if I let out a sigh of relief or not, but relief flooded my body. PILLS!! I can take a pill and come back in 6 hours. I could eat anything I wanted, do whatever I wanted for 6 hours WITHOUT a sticker. I am not sure if Wal-mart would have let me in if I had that sticker. I had a wonderful day shopping in stores I had never seen, eating a 2 hour meal just me and my magazine! The scan I wan't worried about. When I arrived at 5:00 that evening for my scan, I was wondering what the big deal was about the MRIs and such. You just lie there and stay still. So he lays me on the table and says, "I'm not going to smoosh you in here, just get close. He lowers this large panel close to my face and chest. "Not too bad" I was thinking, I have like a foot of wiggle room. He gets it all in place and then says, "ok we are going to start the scan." The panel starts closing in and the next thing I know, it is about an inch away from my face. It wasn't touching me but I stupidly started wondering what people panic about. The machine falling on me? A fire and not being able to squeeze out of there? Ok, Now my blood pressure is starting to rise. What if I DID need to get out of there quick? So I closed my eyes and fell asleep for the next 15 minutes. That was much better. I ended up not establishing an irrational fear that day (not that those of you who fear those types of things are crazy, I almost had myself there). The next morning I did a second scan in which I closed my eyes imediately and took another nap. Then I got blood drawn and I was on my way. That was so simple and I got a mini vacation. Later in the afternoon, all of my tests came back normal. No thyroid cancer and all my bloodwork was normal. I still don't feel normal so we still need to explore some other possiblilities. So please continue to pray for me and the doctors. I am exhausted among many other things. But for now my only question is, am I still glowing inside?

Today's the day.... so is tomorrow

When you read this, I will be either on my way to or in Montrose for some tests regarding my thyroid. Instead of the biopsy right of the bat, they are going to do a Iodine injection and scan. It is a two day process, so I will be staying the night on Wednesday at a friend's house in Montrose. I will write more later about the procedure and results, but I wanted to let you know what was happening.

An update on the missing man... they found him dead. I cannot share details right now since they have not been released to the public, but please be praying for his family and all involved. The situation is VERY complicated and the authorities are going to need wisdom.

On a more positive note, the foundations of the 2 staff houses being built, are being poured in the next couple of days. VERY EXCITING! John will be involved with this along with his many other projects he is overseeing.

Here are some pictures from the staff housing work site.

Search and Rescue, I am hoping and praying

John is on a search and rescue call right now and it doesnt look good. Most likely it will be a search and recovery. A 65 year old man has been camping near one of the peaks for about a month and the last time he checked in with anyone was July 19th. Three days ago, a friend was supposed to meet him at his camp site; However, she arrived to find his truck, atv, clothes, keys and spoiling food. They searched yesterday with no sign of him and resumed searching today at 5 a.m. Please be praying that God would lead the searchers to him. I think about his family, and my heart aches. I can't imagine waiting and then never finding him. I would want closure. I am also praying for all the searchers. I can imagine their hearts are heavy right now. I know John was anxious to get out there and find him but probably not looking forward to what he might find. There are at least 7 people from Camp on the search and rescue team and I am praying that this will provide an opportunity for them to share God's truth with the unbelievers from town.

So was it worth it?

Yesterday was grocery day. I know that no matter where you are, grocery shopping borders on torturous. So I decided to put a little joy back in your grocery day, even if it is at MY expense.

My first option for groceries is Lake city (for those of you that have experienced our country store, you may go ahead and skip to option 2). Food is probably at least twice the price as option 2 grocery store. I will give you an example. On thursday, I needed 2 sticks of glue for VBS and bought them at the country store for $2. Yesterday I bought the same ones for $.20. A box of cereal is around $5-$6. The country store is also our meat market, local gun emporium, tax services, movie rental and girl scout cookie distributer. ( I am sure I missed one or two things) It contains 5 isles that prove to be a problem if you would happen to be in the store at the same time as anyone else. Similar to the 4X4 jeep, shelf roads we have around here, one party must back up until they reach a "safe" place to turn around. This will first include an attempt to go around one another (especially if the other party is a tourist, who seems to find this amusing), in which turning your cart sideways only empties the contents of your basket, including any children you may have inside. If the store posted "one way" signs, this encounter could be avoided outside of tourist season. Needless to say, the country store is only an option when you are snowed into Lake City or you are on your way to the church potluck your husband neglected to tell you about. Let me note that option 1 is not always even an option being 20 minutes a way. Usually you call all of your neighbors first, to raid their pantries.

Option 2 is Gunnison. It has a great City Market and the Nations smallest Walmart. An simple shout in our Walmart and you can get the attention of a person on the complete opposite end of the store. And you can most likely even carry on a converstion from that distance. If you actually find what you are looking for, you will probably only have one or two choices. Non of those fun, Target look alike items. Just the plain white or black basics. I do understand what a Super Walmart does to small town, because I shop for most thing in the downtown boutiques. Now, City Market proves to have most of what I need except the prices I want. It is also a hour and a half drive (one way) over 2 mountain passes. Despite the drive, most of our shopping is done in Gunnison. Always a full day.

Option 3. Montrose. 2 hours away and 4 mountain passes later, we arrive in a normal size town. This town offers all I need (not all I want) in a super Walmart, Home Depot, cold stone creamery, Chilis, Starbucks, Papa Murphys and coming soon... a Target and JC Penneys!!! Beth, it is finally happening!!!! Now I know you are wondering why I don't go there all of the time instead of messing with Gunnison. At least that is what I ask myself this question all of the time. But it is an extra hour and a half round trip. And, if you thought that Gunnison was an all day trip, Montrose is a marathon. To actually accomplish all of the little stops, in a town that believes every corner needs a stop light, is a talent in it's self. You can go and hit Walmart for one stop shopping, Chilis and Home Depot across the street, But the question is, "was it worth it to come all this way and only go to Walmart?" So in yesterday's excursion, we left at 7:30 a.m. with plans of being back in time to thow frozen pizzas in the oven for dinner. What I forgot to mention earlier is that you rarely make a trip by yourself. Car pooling is the most economical choice with gas at $3.69 a gallon and driving the gas hogging, 4wd vehicle these mountains require. No one, besides myself, has less than 2 kiddos which leaves you with numerous car seats to buckle, hands to hold, behinds to wipe, mouths to feed, naps to avoid or achieve and fights to break up. And, of course, they never all need the same thing at the same time. Yesterday was no exception (I wish I could say it was). I rode with my next door neighbor who has 3 kids ages 3, 1 and 5 months.

We pile in the suburban at 7:30, make 2 potty stops and make it to Montrose in good time. Great start to the day. We make our first stop at the speech therapy center for the 3 year old and 2 of the 4 kids are screaming with Ethan to follow moments later when he slams a hand in the door. I am on the phone with my doctor discussing my fat needle biopsy when this occurs. So now I have 3 screaming kids (sarah and her son are inside) and blood going everywhere. Next we go to the first store and the 1 year old has a blow out diaper. I mean everywhere. So now we are searching for clothes for the little girl who is in her diaper. eventually we end up going to walmart, finding clothes and going to the park for lunch. We thought this would be great for the kids, however, no one wants to play due to the 90 plus degree weather and they are all complaining instead. More nursing, bottom wiping and crying happens here. We finally make it to Walmart where we notice the 3 year old has a total blow out diaper too. (notice the trend?) Obviously there is a bug going through the truck and the question is who is going to get it next? 2 hours, a massive headache and several trips to the bathroom later, we make it out of there with intentions of hitting starbucks and going home. In time for supper right? We get our starbucks and find the kids hungry. Start heading to Mc Donalds and Malachi is about to throw up. We stop for dramamine, Papa Murphy's for supper and then waiting in line at McDonald's drive thru when my doctor calls back. Now we are up for ordering but I am on the phone. We pull out of line, go back in when the call is done, order food. Ethan has to go to the bathroom and upon returning, Sarah says her kids need changing. It is at this point decide we are just going to go in. A quick run through the drive thru turns into an hour event of diapers, nursing and playing. At 6:45 PM our visit to Montrose is over as we pull out of town. 2 hours more and we are finally back home with a kitchen full of groceries to unpack. Actually when I look back at it, 13 hours for groceries isn't too bad. It HAS been worse!!!

It's the waiting that will get you

I went to the doctor today (yes on sunday. the clinic runs 7 days a week. Crazy for a small town that only has one restaurant open through the winter and most aren't open on the weekends). But yes I went to my doctor today because that was when he had an opening. Back in March he found a spot on my thyroid that he wanted me to get biopsied, but as the summer got busier and busier, I put it off. To save you from all of the intimate details, I decided it was time to revisit my thyroid and find out what was happening. Of course I am always a complex puzzle that my doctor stands in awe of. There is never an easy answer for me. I am not a text book patient by any stretch of the imagination (but I suppose most of us are not). Although I feel like I have heard "Wow... I haven't seen anything like that before" more than one person should ever have to. Just once I would like to hear "oh you fit perfectly into this page in my text book. I was just reading up on your condition and it is SOOOO easy to fix." So anyways, back to my appointment. He really thinks all my symptoms are thyroid related but they could all easily fall under some other category with a totally different treatment! An ultrasound revealed that the questionable area had spread and my right thyroid also has a very small spot that wasn't there in March. Even though I have had all of the blood work done in the past, they are going to run several more tests, along with repeating my previous tests. Then Dr. Durmon is going to set up an appointment for a fine needle biopsy of the area. But I have seen those "fine" needles before and they look FAT to me. And I don't feel "fine" about them sticking that into my neck! ARG! I want to know what is going on with my body yet I am nervous about getting there and discouraged that we aren't getting there fast enough, all at the same time.

Here we go...

I always said that I would never do this... "WHO HAS TIME?!" But here I am posting my first blog. Crazy I tell you! John and I wanted to have a place for people (who are interested) to log on and see what is happening in our lives and Camp Redcloud's ministry between newsletters. There is so much going on, we can't fit it all into our newsletters and also, so much more that you can be praying for.


The summer camping programs have about 3 weeks left! I can't believe that it has gone by so fast. I am not sure what we did, but I know we were busy. I tend to be babysitting most days (just call me brookie's day care). I don't know how that happened (I am learning that the word "no" doesn't come out of my mouth very often) but I guess I don't mind it too much. However, it will have to change quite a bit as fall comes along. I need to be schooling Ethan and focusing on my wifely duties around the house. Oh how I want to be a Proverbs 31 woman and I am praying that God will teach me more and more about his will for me as a wife to John and mom to Ethan.

This summer has brought it's share of challenges and trials. Staff that we have been cultivating relationships are struggling with life changing choices and situations. They have all been BIG things, too sensitive to share, yet we are feeling inadequate to deal with them. My heart aches one moment and is furious the next. However, I do believe God has placed these young adults in our lives purposefully. So I know that he will give us the wisdom to share His Truth. God is so faithful to us. I love to rest in the knowledge that he is in control and that he knows EXACTLY what he is doing. PRAISE GOD!

Fourth of July in Lake City