Week Three- Day Four

So this marks the end of day four and the end of the first day of the second week.  Today it seems that everything fell apart.  There we some communication errors and don't get me wrong we were all to blame.  But it is something that can cause issues.  Almost all of our schedule was scrapped again, but again its because of a communication error.

Considering what happened today I think we all handled it well.  Tomorrow we called for a staff meeting in the morning to address a few things that need to be taken care of and hopefully that will fix things. 

Lauren and I finish planning through next week, and we are going to try to stay a week ahead of everything, just to make things easy.  Which is perfectly fine with me.. So hopefully we will see what happens after tomorrow, I'm sure your all dying to know, right?

A little family update, Today was my grandfathers birthday, so Happy Birthday Grandpa!  And apparently my entire family ended up sick over the weekend...interesting in know, I not just talking mom and dad, but grandma grandpa aunt and uncle all ended up sick....weird, considering that they don't really see each other all that often.  So that is how my week started, and I am going to do everything in my power to make it better by Friday. 

I had time to mull over a lot of ideas today while my aunt and I walked tonight, so hopefully my operator will like them and take then into consideration...

until the next time...

Normalville

Today was a pretty normal day considering that I'm so far away from home.  I got to sleep in, which is good, considering the week that I had not that it was bad, just long.  Ironically due to the fact that I did sleep in, I got breakfast in bed consisting of toast and omelet with mushrooms onions sausage and chili's I think and coffee black of course.  I know. gross drinking coffee black believe me I know, but until you have actually tired black coffee from this house you can't really say gross.  Its is actually really good.  So thank you Uncle Randy!

So after breakfast we got to work outside thinning out the peach trees.  basically you go through the branches and pull off the teeny tiny ones that wont develop as well as take off ones that are going to weigh down the branches.  Not doing this will ultimately damage the trees.  So I basically spent the morning raking up really small peaches and scooting across the grass to get the stubborn ones.  So then we went for coffee at Moka's which is the cheapest place in town to get coffee, and its really good, better than Starbucks.  And from there we went to the movies to go see Bridesmaids.  Not to bad, probably the most interesting movie I've seen in a while...I don't really know what to think about it actually....not the best movie to be honest.

We went back home and hung out for a while before we left for dinner.  We decided to go to this place called Boondocks in a small town McCracken about 30 minutes from where we are at.  Food wasn't too bad, came home and watched Justin Bieber's Never Say Never.  I have a new respect for the guy I really do.  I liked his music but now I actually like him.  I didn't really know just how talented he was...I definitely recommend his movie.  And then we watched The Mechanic.  Again a really good movie.

So that was my day.  It is Memorial Day Weekend and I'm spending it at my home away from home.  The 3st is my grandfather's birthday. I'm sad that I won't be there, but I'm glad that I have this opportunity.  So hopefully this weekend I will be able to give you a book and a music recommendation...we will just have to see what happens....

Until then... Happy Memorial Day and be safe

Day Three- end of Week One

So this marks the end of of day three and the end of the first week of camp.  I'm sitting in my room writing to all of you and going over the days events in my head.  And I don't want to sound conceded, but I am really proud of myself.  I have managed to plan and basically run a summer camp which not too many people are quite cut out for. I am really proud of my team of counselors as well.  I came it to this as the underdog, especially because I'm not from the area or really know anyone, and they have all taken to me and my scheduling like glue!  We work really well together, no judgment no nothing, a little business and a whole lot of fun.  I wouldn't have been able to pull any of this week of without them.  And my amazing, wonderful, understand boss!!!  Eileen you are amazing!

So today's activities included actually playing no tackle football, capture the flag (no surprise there), going to the library (just a short walk away), a lot of free time, and Kung Fu Panda of course.  The weather wasn't really ideal in the morning, but around lunch time it got warmer, and I believe it actually reached the predicted temperature.

So God has given me a talent, I can actually do this job that He has so graciously given me to handle.  I am forever grateful and thankful to Him.  I never had a doubt in my mind that I could handle this amazing opportunity

I am glad that the week is over with, now I can relax a little and finish planning for the next week.  So until next time....

Day Two

So this officially marks the end of the second day of camp here in Hays.  And let me tell you, today went SOOOOOO much better than yesterday.  Scheduling went almost perfectly and the weather cooperated very well with me for today.

Today's particular activities included more football skills, Seek and Go Hide aka Sardines, Telephone aka Gossip, a nature walk for some, home made play dough for others, and Capture the Flag, which coincidentally seems to be everyone's favorite game thus far.

I am so ecstatic about today's progress and how well things went that I don't have anything that really needs to be changed other than to find some activities other than sports for the older kids.

So Tonight My Aunt Terry and I Went out for dinner at the local Applebee's went to Wal-Mart and printed out some photos, ran into old friends, and played around with these amazing little rubber balls.  I have to admit, I've never seen that side of my Aunt, and I liked it...reminds me of a kid in a candy store.  To end the day we even got to play a little game of cat and mouse with the millers in the house.  Millers in case you are wondering are like moths, just really annoying and they are everywhere, they are attracted to light.

So all in all a good day.  I got to talk to my family back home, and heard that my fishy's are doing well.  I am glad that this day is over with because I am tired, but also kinda sad because I almost don't want it to end.

Tomorrow marks a new day and a new schedule, we are going to attempt to go off site and walk to the library! YAY Books!!!!

So Until the next time...Good night

A Mom Update

Hey all, Its been a while since Ive updated you on my moms battle with cancer.  Yesterday we finally got her results of her latest CT Scan...not good news Im afraid...

The tumor on her liver has grown, past the limit of the study.  Why is that Significant?  Well she is no longer in the study, so now she is meeting with her doctors to figure out the best course of action...

Ill keep you all updated as I find out more information.

Please Keep us in your prayers!

First Day of Camp

OK, so the first day of camp really wasn't all that bad.  It was rough to start, but as the day progressed and I got more comfortable with my job and it got easier.  We pretty much scrapped my entire plan of events but that has a lot to do with the weather the past couple of days. 

The bad thing about today was the weather. It was freezing outside, not what we planned at all.  All of the camper's weren't really dressed for the weather and neither were the counselors.  Needless to say we spent most of the day in our wonderful new building...well not new, but new to us. 

I am tired, but its nothing that I'm not used to.  The more I get into this summer, the easier things will be.

Today's events included football basics, Despicable Me, and a ton of tag games.  One of the male counselors even resulted in play Little Sally Walker, and it was probably the funniest thing I've witnessed in a long time.  I love my team of counselors, they are probably the best group of people that I've worked with in a while, Sorry to all my lifeguard co-workers at home...  the best part of our team is that no one is afraid to ask questions or get down to the kids level.  So amazing!

All in all I think things went pretty well, considering what we had to work with.  Now hopefully things will look up from this point on. Now that we know what will work an hopefully was doesn't there is no way to look but up!

So until next time my friends....

the Beginning

Hey all, Today is my first day as Camp Director.  Hopefully I will look like I know what I'm doing.  I am nervous, but confident that I can do this job.  Camp starts at 7:30.  I got up really early to make sure that I'm up and awake.  So I decided to write an opening blog post for the days activities.


Today's activities will include, football rules, amoeba tag, home made play dough, free time, telephone, and depending on time and weather maybe a movie.  Hopefully I don't end up with too much extra free time.

So be expecting another post tonight, hopefully I won't be too tired...

Until then...

Glee Infatuation

So, some of you know that I am a HUGE Glee fan, and why wouldn't I be?  I mean great music, real social and political views are pointed out as great acting. 

I think my favorite part about the show is all of the music.  The cast and writers cover just about every genre.  From Rock to Classical, Indie to Country, Jazz to Contemporary.  They do it all, and its sad to say but sometimes they even do it better than the original artists. Here lately they have been doing original songs, and more power to them.  Its not easy to write your own songs, believe me I'm still trying to hash out a decent one. 

So as I sit her and watch this amazing program, I can't help but wonder if I will ever be able to sing as well as they do in public.  I am a singer, as many of you know and I have a slight problem with stage fright.  and for good reason, My senior year in high school, I blacked out on my way backstage for my fist solo performance In front of a decent sized audience and ended up twisting my ankle...ouch....needless to say I have stage fright and hopefully one day I will be able to get over it and rise up above all others and sing my heart out in front of my fans!

Until next time...

Thursday Latelies

Hello readers.  So last week I missed my Thursday Latelies and I know that its really early in the week but Im not sure I'm gonna get the chance this thursday so here it is, my make up for last thursday and my latlies for this thursday. 

I am thankful for my family.  Without my family none of this trip would be possible.  My Grandfathers Birthday is next week and Im gonna miss it unfortunatly.  Happy Early Birthday Papa!

I am greatful for this opportunity that I have been given.  This will open so many doors for me. 

I am greatful for people like Glenn Beck, because of what he is trying to do for this country.  I will miss him when he is no longer on TV.  His information is so overwhelming that its hard not to listen and believe in.  I love his show and what he is doing for us.  I wish I had the money to go to Israel and participate in the Restoring Courage Campaign.

I am thankful for God, Without him, nothing would be possible. 

I am starting my new job on Wednesday, and I will try to keep this updated as often as I can...until next time


Love Ya

Finally!

Hey all just thought I would stop in and say that I am here in Hays and sorry that it took so long!  I ended up going to Colorado for the weekend and didnt bring my computer.  But Im here, unpacked and ready to start this amazing new job!

Final Moments

As I spend these last few hours here at home I look back on all of my recent memories of this place.  Its kinda sad and stupid at the same time.  Its sad because I love this place, its my childhood, my memories, my family.   Its stupid because I'm only going to be gone for the summer.  Now many of you that read this are like wtf, its not that long of a time to be gone, but if you look at who I am, family is everything to me.  This will be the longest I have been away from home, especially since my mom got sick.  This is also the farest I have ever driven by myself.  I know silly, but still

I will miss everyone while I'm away.  My co-workers, my boss, my best friends Sara and Shawn, my family especially my doggies, my room, my bed...

I cried on the way home from work this morning.  I finished my last shift for 2 1/2 months and it was an emotional one.  Many of my regular swimmers wished my a farewell and a good luck.  I got thanked for doing my job by another swimmer because he loves that I have a good attitude and always have a smile on my face.  I received many hugs from my co-workers and farewells from them too.  I have visited almost all of my local family members, went to lunch and shopping with grandma on Wednesday, visited my great grandma and great-great aunt in the nursing home, talked to my uncle Mike and aunt Susie.  And tonight I'm spending some much needed bonding time with the family unit before I leave and in the morning we are having a family breakfast.  I think I'm going to miss my doggies and fishy's the most.  I can't really talk to them on the phone so that is going to be the hard part.  I went out last weekend as a last get together with my two bestest friends in the whole wide world.  We went to see a movie, then got dinner at Applebee's, granted there was some drama at the end of the night but it wouldn't have been complete without it. 

Let me tell you a little about this trip.  Last summer I interviewed with Eileen Vincent in a small town in Hays, Kansas.  Eileen runs the summer camp in town.  She chose me to be her Camp Director for this summer.  Why am I going out to Kansas?  Because this is a life changing experience, I will get the experience of being in a leadership role outside of high school.  In addition too,this is a resume builder for me.  Who knows, I may just find what I'm looking for out there. 

Only God knows what is in store for my life, and maybe this is it...who knows.  I will miss everyone and everything while I am away, but I'll will always be a phone call or chat away.

The next time you will here from me will be from Kansas, or maybe Colorado, We'll have to see.  Please keep in touch... See you on the other side

Thursday Latelies

OK, so the fashion blogger community does this thing called the Thursday Latelies and basically what they do is tell you what they are thankful for during that week.  So I decided to do that as well, but instead of doing it in video format I decided that because this is a blog about books and music, I will write it out instead.

So here it goes

This week, I am especially grateful for my job as a lifeguard.  I love my job and I love the people that I get to work with everyday.  With out my job I wouldn't be able to afford the things that I can afford, like school and gas, especially with these gas prices.

I am really grateful for my family.  They have been my rock my entire life, I am really going to miss them this summer.  Especially my mother, with everything that she has to go through, she is still there to talk to me at the end of the day.

I am grateful for all of my friends.  My friends are like my lifeline, without you all, I dint think that I would have made it this far in anything

He Always Prevails

God, it seems has come through for me again.  I was really worried about my school situation and now I know what I am meant to do.  I am still meant to teach children, which was good and I still want to open up my own summer camp but maybe its too early to even consider that dream.  But it seems that God does have a plan for me.  This summer will be the ultimate test of my faith.  What is my faith you ask?

I believe in God, tremendously, you can't live my life and not believe in him.  Do I go to church?  No, I believe that I don't need someone to talk to God for me.  I don't need a pastor or reverend or anything of that sort.  God to me is within us, in our hearts, our every decision, every move that we make, he is with us.

This summer will be my ultimate test.  I am leaving home on Saturday for the entire summer to work a summer job in a small town in the Northwest corner in Kansas.  What am I doing in a little bitty town?  I will be the Director of a Summer Camp called Summer Blast Kids.  The Ultimate test?  I will be living with my Aunt and Uncle in a somewhat familiar house, in a somewhat unfamiliar town where I don't really know anyone.  See the test yet?  I will be leaving behind my home, my family, my pets and fish, my friends all for a job.  Althought I do some people, so maybe it won't be as bad as I think...

What is the upside of all of this?  Well this job will help me with my resume as well as open up other job opportunities back here at home. 

I am not really looking forward to the 10 hour drive out there, but its what is needed to be done.  At this point I am almost completely packed and almost finished with my shopping and car maintenance.  This is going to be a fun summer and I am really excited...well mostly.  I am not really thrilled that I am leaving my mother behind to fight her battle with cancer without me.  But the greatest thing about this day and age, we have technology that connects us to  each other.  So while I won't get to see my family for 2 months I will still get to talk to them as often as I want. 

So many negatives and so many positives...but I will only be able to wreak the results when its all said and done.  This may be my last post for a few days so I will leave you with this message. 

Always follow your heart and never look back, the past is the past and the only thing you can to about the past is learn from it.  Count your blessings because you never know, one day you may not have them...

Graduation

Today is a bittersweet day  for me.  Why you ak?  Well today is the day that most of my college friends will be leaving me, they are all graduating. Now for someone who graduated high school in 2007 this is they year to graduate from college.  '

When I got my acceptance letter in the mail in October of 2006, I thought that this is great, I get to follow my dreams of becoming a teacher! Graduation came and went and I started out really great my first semester my gpa was a 3.5.  Not to shabby!  then the dame broke and all hell broke loose my mom got cancer, some of my best friends died...my world came crashing down

So here I am selling roses to this years college graduates at SIUE, selling roses to my friends and still stuck in school, going nowhere in my life...I wonder if I will ever get there?

And to top it all off i cant afford my next semester and I want to change my major...and when you have parents like mine who want for you what they never accomplished, its really hard to tell them what is really going on with you... any suggestions?


until next time...

Mother's Day

This weekend is mother's day and I have to tell you, I am so thankful that I have my mother here with me. She is diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.  And I am so thankful to have her here with me to celebrate another Mother's day! 

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers out there

Latest Music Obsession

So by now I'm sure that many of you have heard of Sara Bareilles. As it turns out she is one on my favorite singers. I don't know if its because it the type of style of music that I sing or if its just that we sound alike in many ways, whatever the reason I love her music!

Her first major CD Little Voice is outstanding. Most of the songs are easy to relate to as well as sing along with. I have to admit I don't have a favorite song from that album because they are all fantastic!

Her latest album Kaleidoscope Heart is just as wonderful as Little Voice.

As She grows into her voice I think more and more people will like her even more. Check her out! You won't regret it!

CHS Band performance

So last night was the senior concert for the CHS band, and man was it amazing. it featured both the Symphonic Band amd Wind Ensable as well as the Brass Choir. Symphonic performed two songs as well as the wind ensamble.

The brass choir perfomed an original composition by CHS's own Laz Richerson. Is was an amazing performance on everyones behalf. The senior video was really heart warming too!

Congrats to the Graduating Class of 2011!!!!