Summer Camp 2009

Sorry about the lack of updates recently. And to think, I used to do daft things like blog three days a week. I think I’ve had more on my plate recently, which cuts both ways in the good/bad department. Anyway, even though I don’t think I’ve mentioned this in the blog yet, I know I’ve spoken about this with a good number of folks in the last few months. So here you go my adoring readers.

There is a little preface involved so let’s do that first…which makes sense because it IS a preface, after all. Anyway…back when I was working on my BA, I took four summers (1995-98) to work up at Arrowhead Lutheran Camp with the first summer working in the kitchen and the remaining summers as a senior counselor. Most of my memories of camp are really good ones and earlier this year during an exercise in a course I was taking through Mosaic, I commented that it was at camp where I felt the most impact I’ve had in terms of reaching out to a large number of people in ways both big and small. Through all the different experiences from the Chief camps sleeping in a tipi, to Sports Bonanza, Horsemanship, Ice Skating, Mountain Biking, Junior High Adventure, Archery, and the lot not only did I have a lot of experiences but was able to have many opportunities to have a positive affect on the lives of young people. It was also the place where I first learned to play guitar, which prepared me for what I do now in leading worship in my small group and being a part of music ministry at church. Of course I also remember that in each of the three summers I was a counselor I went through some “lady drama” as tends to happen at camp which resulted in a fair amount of heartache for me but that’s been kind of par for the course in my life but I think I learned much about myself through those experiences.

So fast forward to earlier this year, Seth informed me that camp, for the first time in a loooooong time was not going to have a summer program due to financial reasons and that he was working my friend Susie (who was a former Program Director) to put together a week of summer camp this summer. My immediate reaction was, “Well sign me up!” and was a total no brainer. I have those moments every once in awhile where something comes along where the answer on how to proceed is such a no brainer that doing anything else would be ridiculous and I seem to have a had a few instances like that this year. Kind of weird. Anyway, we had a few meetings during the spring to cover logistics, fund raisers were held, and in the course of all of this over 100 kids have been registered and camp will be next week.

With all that said, I have taken a week off from work and will be leaving on Saturday to work at camp for the first time since 1998. As far as I know, I will be doing Junior High Adventure and am really looking forward to it. The staff is mostly made up of former ALC counselors, including a good number of ones I worked with all those years ago, and I can’t imagine a better way to spend a week away from work. I’ll be sure to report back on how things went, although in the meantime I just ask for prayer that things run smoothly and that this proves not only fruitful next week but it can be a springboard for summers, and campers, to come.

A completely unbiased list of things that make Josh quite the catch

So I made a sandwich last night. Yeah, no biggie. I do it most nights before a work day but it’s funny how that sandwich has lead me to a blog post. You see I had my friends Josh and Dane, who I met at camp years ago, over at the place as they are from central coastal California and they needed a place to stay for the night as they were to catch a flight out of LAX today. Anyway, I was making a nice turkey sandwich and Dana said something along the lines of, “You should marry a teacher. They’ll appreciate your sandwich making abilities” This then prompted a conversation on all the other aspects that not only make me a good roommate now but will make for a good husband down the road. I then posted this quote as a part of my status update on Facebook and got a few comments back and one (from Anastasia) of them suggested I maybe put all these things down and have it ready, like some kind of resume, for future use. Hey and why not? I suppose it wouldn’t hurt so here goes…


A completely unbiased list of things that make Josh quite the catch

Domestic division

I take out the trash
I do my own laundry
I do the dishes
I can cook if given a recipe
I make a mean sandwich
I leave the toilet seat down

General “Life” division

I have a stable career and high level of responsibility
I’ve been at the same job for almost 4 years
I actually like what I do, which only adds to the aforementioned
I actually budget my money and allocate appropriately
I keep a nice balanced life and always have something going on without being overwhelmed.
I seek community and connection
I’m a cat owner. Doesn’t that count for something (no snarky comments)?

Spiritual division

I get into scripture every day
I’m an active member of two different church bodies
I have a healthy prayer life and keep a dialog with God going often
I use my gifts towards meeting His call from music to service to everything in-between
I ultimately will follow wherever God leads, regardless of what that looks like, and strongly believe we are to live a life open to His calling.


Personality division

I’m ridiculously committed and loyal to those who come into my life
I hear I’m funny
This guy knows a good song or 6,000
I have a heart the size of Texas which I’ve seen come out directly in the past month
I have a wide array of interests which means I have a lot of information going on in my noggin which means I’m not a total bore.
I’m quirky…in a good way.
Even though I have a schedule and a certain routine to my life, I can be flexible and will fully “roll with the punches” if anything out of left field comes my way.
I care about the stuff that matters. I want to make the world a better place than how I found it and I want to be plugged into finding solutions and how I can be a part of the answers and not just the questions.

Anyway, I don’t want to get toooooo self absorbed but that’s a good list, no? Of course I then ask myself, “What‘s MY problem?” or “What is the problem of every woman I’ve wanted to be with?” So I’m not sure if it’s a positive of a negative that I realize this about myself. Now I’m not a perfect guy either and I have my faults like everyone (no list to follow. HA!) but at the end of the day, you’re not going to find a more solid and grounded guy who is plugged in, active and earnestly trying to follow God wherever, safe in the knowledge that he won’t be ultimately let down. Now I just need to figure out what the deal is because I’ll be really right one day for someone and I’m a little sick of feeling like I’m ready but with no buyers…so buy me…please. I’m not scary. I don’t bite. I might be a bit shy but it’s cool…I’ll open up soon enough. You won’t be disappointed.