Hi Friends! I'm about to begin another summer working in Glacier National Park at the Park Cafe and with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. I'm going to attempt (based on internet availability) to blog my summer. From bear interactions and other good hiking anecdotes to where I'll end up after my summer in Glacier, to spiritual devotionals and sermon tidbits, to hopes and dreams and probably frustrations with how poorly the Cubs will be doing come the All-Star break. A few big points that will provide a timeline for my summer:
First ACMNP Worship Service: June 1
Opening of Going To The Sun Road (Anticipated June 15)
Flying back to Ohio to counsel at Sports Camp! (June 22-29)
Mid-Summer rant about the Cubs- Expected anytime really
Figuring out where I will be come September/October (End of July-Beginning-Mid August)
End of Summer at the Park Cafe
Sisters Wedding- September 21
So with that out of the way, here are some reflections on my birthday, and where I've been on my birthday the past few years.
In 2011, 2012, and now here in 2013, I have spent my birthday preparing for, on the way to, or arriving at a National Park to spend the summer in working and volunteering with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. In 2011 I arrived at the Park Cafe on my birthday, into an amazing community that is hard to remember as awkward those first few days, because within a week it felt like an instant family/community to be welcomed home to and be part of throughout the summer. In 2012 I spent my birthday driving from somewhere in Nebraska to Twin Falls, Idaho. I found a campground in Twin Falls and went in search of a steak and a beer and found a really bad steak and a watered down beer at the Applebees in Twin Falls. That day, even though my phone helped me get some birthday messages from Facebook, and a couple of voicemails, and phone calls from family and friends, I felt very alone. Today, I am at home in Troy, OH, and got to spend my birthday with my Mom and Grandma, I got to play golf at the public course here in Troy, that I grew up playing, and haven't played in years (I shot 79...fairly impressed with myself about the score!) My mom baked a lemon cake, and it was a really great day, yet I've got the remnants of the past three years in St. Louis surrounding me in the garage of my parents house, which I'm sorting through and repacking to begin my trek back to Montana for another summer at the Park Cafe with ACMNP. I know where I'm going, physically, for the next few months, yet I have no idea where I will end up after my summer in Glacier. I have just completed course work at Eden Seminary but I have one remaining unit of Contextual Education to finish to earn my M.Div. Along with all these physical realities come the emotions of turning 27 and having no idea where my life is going. That comes into reality really quick when I realize my sister is getting married and buying a house! I couldn't be happier for her, and her fiance is an amazing guy that I'm proud and excited to welcome to the family, yet I still am left wandering. I know my journey is just a little longer and a little less direct than many others my age, and I know I'll find my way, I just have to let myself experience all that happens along the way. That will be a struggle this summer, one that I hope to share and work through by sharing some of my thoughts with anyone who wants to read my ramblings!
I heard a fascinating quote today listening to Garrison Keillor on the Writer's Almanac on NPR this afternoon. I didn't realize I shared a birthday with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but it's fun to know that. The quote Keillor offered from Sir Arthur was this : "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth".
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