Heyyy Ladies!! (In the Ro-Ho)

Day fifteen in our countdown. At this point and time I just can't imagine a better way than spending my summer with eleven other girls in a little place called the RoHo. Reason number 15 I am excited for camp to start-Living in the RoHo.

I bet some of you are thinking WHATTTT??!! A whole three months with eleven other girls?! That has to be awful... Well, honestly I thought the same thing the first round, but come to find out it's actually really awesome. True, we have our moments, and we all don't sit around a campfire singing Kumbaya but it's a pretty sweet deal! By living with these girls in the RoHo, I have learned how to work with a variety of people, what it means to love well, how to work together, and I have definitely learned that clothes do not belong on the couch but rather in your room. By living with these amazing girls, I have also learned that we have our differences but we have the  choice of whether living in the RoHo is going to be a positive or negative experience. I truly believe I have found my life long friends and future bridesmaids. :)

After writing this I realize that I do not tell the ladies enough how awesome they are. So, here it is:

• To the ladies who lived in the RoHo last year: You are all amazing and I love you all!! I am so glad I had the opportunity to live with ya'll! Thank you for showing me what a positive experience with eleven other girls looks like. I hope that I can be half as awesome and wonderful to the new girls as ya'll were to me. You all were such great leaders and loved me super well! Thanks for always asking how I was and meaning it.
• To the ladies living in the RoHo this year: You are all in for the summer of your life! I love you already and I can not wait to get to know you all even more! This summer will be one to remember and don't worry... Your time in the RoHo will be filled with excitement and surprises. There may be some down moments but together we will make things better. Remember: You are all wonderful and beautiful and give me confidence for the summer! I know the campers will be in good hands. :) 15 days more... 

P.S. I also learned that rain and the basement do not mix...

Til tomorrow ladies and gents! 

#cantwaitforlookup

To all the campers out there... This one's for you

SIXTEEN MORE DAYS!! SIXTEEN MORE DAYS! Wow... That's almost exactly two weeks away. The closer the day approaches I begin to doubt whether I can do round two and do it well, but then I tell myself to stop the whining  and GET EXCITED! Of course you can, silly! Is it going to be a challenge? Of course. But, that's okay! Speaking of challenges... Reason number 16 I am excited for camp-campers.

I guess this is a good thing to be excited about all the kidos since I am around them all summer, huh? Seriously though, I LOVE when we get new campers. It's always exciting, yet sometimes a challenge, to get to know and love on the kids you have been so graciously entrusted with. Even though the campers come to learn from Greg and fellow staffers, it's always amazing to see what I can learn from my campers. My campers are the reason I am in middle level education. Because of the experiences and lessons learned last summer, I decided middle school is a good fit for me. Sometimes they're awkward,silly, stinky and awesome, but hey, so am I. What can I say? I just love them kids!

Some of my best memories from last summer involve campers in some way shape or form. For example, one time a camper made me a bracelet and it was AWESOME! I don't know how they get them little rubber bands to stay together but it's pretty cool. Another time, I was able to just hang out with my kids in their room as we played mafia (and no I was never the mafia :(...). I still stay in contact with some of my campers. I love playing a part in their life and being able to see them grow and struggle in Christ. I love that we can walk the walk together because let's be honest, campers don't have it all together and neither do I! 

It always blows me away when campers think I have life figured out. In moments like this I can't help but laugh. I'm older-true. I've got a job-true. I'm walking with Christ-true. BUT, none of these things mean I have it all together because I surely don't I can promise you. I'm still trying to figure things out right along with ya. I think that is one of the things that makes the summer so exciting and challenging. As staffers, we are challenged to grow closer to Christ and work hard all at the same time, we are challenging our campers to do the same. It's just one big adventure together. 

Til Tomorrow! 

#cantwaitforlookup

P.S. In search of a picture I found one of a ultimate Frisbee camp. Yes, there is a camp for that. 

May I have SMORE please?

SEVENTEEN DAYS ARE LEFT UNTIL LOOK UP LODGE! I CAN NOT EVEN BEGIN TO CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT! The quicker the day comes for me to go back to LUL the more excited I become but I also become more nervous. True I know the logistics of the job, but things change year to year and there is always room for improvement as a summer staffer. Reason number 17 I am excited for LUL to begin-smores bars.

For those who do not know, smores bars are golden grahams, marshmallows and chocolaty goodness all mixed into one little bar. The first time I had these things I fell in love-which does not happen very often for me, and I ate mine and might have ate two or three more... Yeah, I thought they were pretty awesome. Now, I hope this summer the lovely ladies in the kitchen continue to make these wonderful creations. How disappointed would I be if they stopped you may ask? Let me put it to you this way... How sad is it when a sloth falls to their death?? Yeah. Pretty sad.

Til next time :)
#cantwaitforlookup

Just so you can see how cute these little boogers are! 

Catch up!

So... I definitely did not write reason number 19 I am excited for camp. So, today I will tell you reason number 19 AND 18 why I am excited for camp to start. Aren't you lucky?? You get a double whammy!!! To begin, WE HAVE 18 DAYS LEFT AHHH! We are already out of the twenties in our countdown.

Reason number 19 I am excited for camp to begin-The slide. The slide is always so much fun to work. My favorite part of working the slide is giving campers challenges. You'd be surprised about how many campers take these challenges seriously and full fill to the highest of their ability. Every time a camper accepts a challenge, it makes me excited! I think to myself, these kids are definitely here for a good time and embracing camp life. If you were one of these type of campers, bravo!

Reason number 18 I am excited for camp to begin-slushies. Look Up's slushies are world famous and deserve recognition for some of the best combinations. Not only can you have lemon-lime gatorade, orange crush, grape crush, or fruit punch, but you can combined the flavors. BOOM! Your minds are blown, I can just tell. Yeah, the combinations are always the best way to go and they are jam packed with sugary sweetness. Of course our fellow chaperons looove for their kidos to buy slushies at night. Slushies at night=one hyped up night. Hey, if we aren't hyping the kids up and getting them excited, then what are we supposed to do? :)

Til tomorrow when I WILL write reason number 17. SEVENTEEN!!!
Later Gator
#cantwaitforlookup

20/20 vision

It's hard to believe we are back at 20 days in our countdown already. Time flies as we countdown. As we come closer and closer to the final day, you'd think I would run out of things to be excited for but truth be told, things just keep coming! Today, I am excited for camp to begin-to see campers worship.

I LOVE seeing people coming together worshiping God. It's super powerful and moving to see fellow believers together. But, there is something even more powerful and moving when a group of little kids or teens are singing to God and you can tell they mean every word. Some campers have gone through more than anyone should experience and to see them still praising God is pretty awesome. There is no doubt that worship is a very important aspect of our everyday lives and walk with our Savior. So, to see worship in practice is crazy cool.

Well, today's little ensemble was a little bit shorter. Hope everyone has a great weekend! :)
Have fun and make wise choices!

#cantwaitforlookup

Barefoot and Crazy

There is 21 days, exactly 3 weeks, until Look Up Lodge officially begins for this ol summer staffer. AND I AM STOKED. I have decided. I am not a shoe person. Last summer I would always take my shoes off and forget where I put them. Oops. There is something about walking around barefoot and crazy. No not with me and my baby. (Song reference. Let's see who gets it.) However, I found that I can wear this one type of shoe and it seems to be close enough to no shoes you can get without having your shoes off-Wow, what a sentence! So when it comes to camp life, the thing I am highly excited about is.... Wait for it.... Chacos!

Chacos are by far the best shoes ever for obvious reasons. I'll tell you why. You can wear them in the lake, while you're running up chapel hill, when you're walking with campers, when you're on cement, when you're on the green grass, when you're inside, when you're outside, BUT NOT in the kitchen during kitchen duty. bummer. See why I love these shoes oh so much? Oh and did I mention these shoes have arch support (for all you arch junkies) and of course it's free flowing with no complete toe or foot covering. The straps are great at holding my foot secure, and I know the back strap never flops.

Chacos can also be a little complicated at times as well... One time I got the toe strap stuck-after being lazy and just slipping my foot over the toe slip, and then had to get a fellow summer staffer to come to the rescue and fix my chaco. In a way the Chacos are like the summer- each part of the chaco plays an important role, whether you're the supporter, the front and center, or behind the scenes making sure things run smoothly. However, when I first got my Chacos, I had no idea how to work them or make them comfortable. After a week or so I finally figured out which strap to pull for what and how to make them better. Same goes for the summer. When you first arrive (new staffer or old) you have to learn how to make the summer work and which area you in your life you need to pull tighter or loosen up to grow in Christ and grow comfortable with the job. Being a summer staffer is all bout adjusting and improving for your campers or even yourself. Who knew you could go so deep with Chacos? I just love em!

Peace. Love. Chacos.
#cantwaitforlookup

The Duodenum

LUL is quickly approaching and I can honestly say I am ready for camp as I sit here and read about the duodenum, a word I can't even really pronounce. 22  days are left in our countdown to camp, once again. Today as I was observing my middle school classroom, I was making a list of all the reasons I am excited for camp and let me tell ya... I was surprised at how quickly my note card filled up. (I bet some of you are wondering why I wasn't observing my classroom when I said I was observing my classroom and to answer your question: they were taking a test. I do honestly observe sometimes.) Which brings us to reason number 22 I am excited for camp to begin-There is no school!

True, at LUL I have homework, I have to study my lessons, and I work hard but hey, I'd rather do that any day than have to study a dissected pig. There is something so exciting about getting the lessons for the first time and going over them with your AP, or yourself. It's so cool knowing this is the information given to you and somehow, someway God may just use you to speak to the lives of thousands of campers. Crazy, huh??

Another good thing about having no school is you are free to have fun teaching the campers as well as hanging out and making new friends. It's almost like having the social aspect of college with no school work. But, don't get me wrong. As a summer staffer, we work our booties off day and night. Sooner than I know I will be at LUL working once again. :)

As finals approach and May comes upon us soon, I ask for your prayers. Please be praying that I finish well, and I keep my focus on God. With the hectic schedule I have now I sometimes lose that focus. If you could be praying, that would be marvelous!

Peace out girl scout!
#cantwaitforlookup

23 days!!! Wait what??

Yes. I have 23 more days til camp. Just when I thought we were getting into the teens... BUT that's okay because that means I get to tell you MORE reasons why I am excited for camp to start back at Look Up Lodge. So.. Typing 23 days seems like I went back in time. I NEED TO FOCUS. So, as I was e-mailing Mrs. Leanne (Greg's wife) or some know her as Mama B, I couldn't help but think about the amazing women I will be working under this summer at camp. So, reason number 23 (again) I am excited for camp is -Hanging out with some awesome mentors.

The ladies who are over us summer staffer girls are phenomenal. I seriously love them and can't wait to be back to just hang out and chat. These ladies truly live out what it means to be a woman of God. They are always checking in making sure things are going smoothly and they always seem to teach us a lesson or two. Last summer I was able to learn  how to be an Ezer (woman of God). It was an incredible journey that I am still on today. Through a bible study led by Mrs. Leanne and Charity, I was able to read about what an Ezer looked like. Through my leaders, I was able to see these things put into action. When I presented the Ezer information to my girls, I always hoped to be very clear and precise while teaching but more importantly I hoped that my girls could say Summer really does live out this Ezer thing. To me, the best compliment is to be working hard on becoming a Godly woman and someone to take notice.

To the summer of 2K14, I hope for more laughs, more energy, more excitement and more time with these wonderful ladies. :)

Til tomorrow.
#cantwaitforlookup

P.S. The date I report for base camp has changed. Hint. Hint. The number of days left til LUL has also changed, just in case you didn't realize why my numbers increased instead of decreased. I do know how to count... Sort of.

Dear fellow people

Dear lovely people who are reading summer staffer Summer's blog,

Hope you are having a great day. I know you are all anxiously waiting to find out what I am looking forward to today... Well, my mind is allllll over the place. Right now as I type I have thank you notes beside me, computer in front of me, and clothes I need to put away (I need to focus..). But today marks the 20th day in our countdown! YAYYYY! Folks we are almost in the teens with our countdown. All that said to bring me to reason number 20 I am excited for camp to begin-Letters from friends and campers.

There is something so simple yet AWESOME about a handwritten letter. People just don't do that sort of thing anymore. However, last summer I received a continuous supply of letters from my good friend, Ms. Amber. We were able to catch up on all things in life by simply writing back and forth. Even though I wasn't able to see her last summer I still felt like I was a part of her summer in the smallest way. Letters from campers were so full of encouragement and full of laughs. I looked forward to each letter I received, long or short, colorful or plain, from camper or friend. Letters were also a great source of encouragement from fellow staffers. I loved seeing all of us writing letters of encouragement to one another. Just to show you how awesome letters are, I'll reflect back on last summer's teen camp.. A fella would right a letter to a lady apologizing for the way men had behaved and how beautiful the lady actually was in God's eyes. In these letters written by our very own campers, they were encouraging the ladies to pursue Christ and find their worth in Christ, not a man. It was such a sweet moment seeing my girls experience it week by week. Their reactions were priceless and I might have cried a time or two.

Hopefully this summer will be another  letter filled summer. :)

Til next time...
#cantwaitforlookup

Happy Easter!

So today marks a very important day. It's Easter. For some it's a time to take pictures with a creepy bunny. For others it's a time to get all dressed up and take selfies. For others it's just another holiday. But for me it is so much more. Today marks the event that changed my life and the lives of many others forever. For those who do not know, today marks the time when Jesus rose from the grave. Wow. Even typing it seems so crazy and surreal all at the same time. It's such an incredible moment because it shows just how much God loved us.. He sent his son to die for us, be buried, and then when you think it can't get any better He rose from the grave. What an incredible way to show your love.

Which brings me to reason number 21 I am stoked for Look Up-God's love. Yes, I experience God's love everyday, but there is something unique about the camp life that sets up perfect opportunities to be loved on by God himself. On the rare occasion I was able to just sit back and watch campers screaming and chasing one another, life guards doing what they do best (guarding lives, duh), and the chaperones trying to keep up with all 27 excited middle school girls, I would think WOW. Yes, I was tired and a bit delusional but in the small moments of the chaotic day I was able to see God's love displayed so clearly through a happy camper or staffers riding the swing with their kids for the 20th time that summer. I am excited  to see all that happens this summer and look forward to seeing God's love on display.

Til tomorrow.
Which is technically now.
#cantwaitforlookup

22 ooh-ooh

I don't know about you, But I'm feeling 22 ooh-ooh!! Yup. Taylor Swift's song is perfect for today's countdown to  Look Up Lodge. For all you T-Swizzy fans out there thinking dang, now I want to watch her music video, click Here. (I just added my 1st link and I feel pretty awesome right now!) Speaking of firsts... At Look Up you experience a lot of firsts. First time working meal duty, first time leading small group, first time greeting campers, and for some, first time doing laundry. All these things are great but the moment I am looking forward to is the-FIRST time I meet my AP.

Last year I was unsure about how the whole AP thing would actually work. What if he was mean? What if we didn't get along? What if we grow tired of each other in the first week? What if, what if, what if... All these thoughts were running through my mind until the moment we met. Little did I know I was in for the summer of my life and it was partially due to the fact I had a great AP. I never knew I could laugh so much during one summer.

However, this summer holds new adventures with a new AP and I couldn't be more excited! I know whoever my AP is it will be an adventure. I am super pumped to meet my AP and will find out in 22 days.. 22!!

Til tomorrow.
#cantwaitforlookup

Whistle while you work

23 days. That's it. That's awesome. That's crazy. With all things Look Up running through my mind I find it hard to settle on just ONE thing that I am looking forward to about the summer. BUT with me being one day closer to Look Up I realize the thing I am super excited about: cleaning days. Call me crazy but I actually like cleaning up camp after campers leave. Granted, I am tired and smelly and just want to sleep for days but there's something soothing about cleaning a toilet and jamming to your favorite tune. Not to mention, when no one is around I can even bust a move or two. :) Cleaning is also a time when I think back on the camp and see what did and didn't work. It's a time to reflect and realize what you want to do next time to make sure your campers leave saying my staffers loved the mess out of me. 

Cleaning is also a time for my AP and I to share God moments that happened throughout camp. These are some of my favorite moments with my AP. (FYI I have no clue who my AP will be this year and it's driving me crazy!!!) It's always incredible to see how God works in the lives of all the campers. It's also crazy to see how God gets us through the week.

Last summer I had moments where I was worn thin and ready to sleep for days. However, with a lot of prayer, my personal worship session, a well needed jam session and of course a cleaning day or two, I was able to finish strong. I look forward to future jam sessions while cleaning this summer.

Til tomorrow.

*P.S. I miscounted the days til camp so we actually have less! Yay! Sorry, math has never been my forte.*

Tracy Elizabeth Marie Blackwell

I'm sure you are wondering... Who on Earth is Tracy Elizabeth Marie Blackwell??? Well, it just so happens she is one of my very best friends, my suite mate, my future roomie, and this summer happens to be a fellow summer staffer! Ahhh! It's crazy to think she will be joining me in working day and night, loving on kids, and sharing a common love/hate relationship with chapel hill. Although this is Tracy's first summer I know she will be a great summer staffer and give her all to her kids! I'll tell ya why she will be such a great summer staffer:

1. She has come out of her shell so much over the past two years-She started out as a shy, timid little thing but now she makes us laugh more than ever.

2. She's reliable- she ALWAYS likes to be early for events and be on time for class (even if I try to persuade her to skip class...Oops.)

3. She's silly- which will be great for entertaining kids and coming up with great skit ideas.

4. She loves kids- She has been such a great aunt to her little nephews and nieces and she is such a natural.

5. Lastly, the obvious, she loves Jesus- true she isn't perfect, but who the heck is? NO ONE. She loves Jesus and pursues him with a passion. I've have been so proud to see her walk with Jesus from the moment she gave her life to Christ (which was at LUL) to today as she continues to challenge herself in Christ.

It's obvious that she will make a great summer staffer. I only feel excited, (well I lie. I do feel a bit nervous) about what the summer will bring! Oh and by the way... 25 days til Look Up!!!! Ahhhh!! So yes, Tracy Elizabeth Marie Blackwell is reason number 25 I am so excited to be back at Look Up Lodge.

With a face like that, you know she's headed for success

Does this even need a caption?

Filling out her LUL application

Girls Night at Amelie's

Sassy sweethearts

26. That's how many days are left til I begin my summer adventure at Look Up Lodge. Wow. Mind blown! Which brings me to reason number 26 why I am excited for the summer to begin... (Drum roll please) the ladies that work so hard to prepare the sweet potato fries-the lovely ladies in the kitchen.  Day in and day out these sassy sweethearts cook and prepare our food as well as all of camps food! That's a lot of french fries, hot dogs, and hamburgers but the end of the summer. Every time I went through the lunch line the ladies would greet me with a smile and by the end of the summer they understood Summer was going to ask for a second roll (I just love bread).

 These ladies did more than keep my tummy full, they taught me a few lessons
        1. NEVER grab something off the tray with your bare hands. They will get smacked or you will be reprimanded.
        2. Always ask before letting campers in. Don't want a long line of grumbling bellies with no food to serve.
        3. Serving others during lunch is hard work.

Food seems to be a running theme for me for some reason. Any who's... Til tomorrow when there will be one less day I have to sit in class and one day closer to running around, sweating, and eating potato fries! :)

Sweet potato fries

Today, I was having lunch with a dear friend of mine and we were talking about organization, summer time, and food. What wonderful topics, right? All the while I was enjoying my sweet potato fries that were slightly under cooked. I began to think to myself, Look Up always had the best sweet potato fries... And it hit me. Reason no. 27 I am excited to go back to camp: Sweet potato fries. It may be silly, but it truly is the simple things in life. After a long day of cleaning mixed with sad good-byes, sweet potato fries always seemed to hit the spot. It's such a weird concept of something sweet mixed with a pinch of saltiness. Who knew they could be so good?! In a way the sweet potato fries resemble the summer: lots of laughs, and adventures (sweet) with a bit of drowsiness and smelly goodness (saltiness). Now, every time I eat sweet potato fries I go back to the summer of 2k13 and I just have to laugh. Stay tuned for other reasons as to why I am excited for summer 2k14 to begin at Look Up Lodge! #cantwaitforlookup

27ish awesome things about camp

So guess what... 27 MORE DAYS UNTIL CAMP LIFE BEGINS!! I know. Crazy huh? Starting tomorrow I will be detailing my top 27 reasons why I am excited for Look Up Lodge to begin. You may be thinking: Summer, can you really come up with 27 awesome things about camp? And to answer your question, Yes. Yes I can. Some people have asked why do the whole Look Up Lodge thing during the summer? Well, you shall soon find out some of the many reasons I can not get away from this place. Here's a little glimpse of some of the many awesome things I may or may not mention later in future posts. :)

Summer 2K13 ladies

Excited future staffer

Gettin Ready

So summer is right around the corner and all I can think is.... AHHHHH SUMMER 2K14!! I am super pumped and super excited. I can not believe that I will be at Look Up Lodge (LUL) for round 2. I know. Mind blowing! However, round 2 would not be possible without the constant support of my fellow family and friends! Without the prayers and contributions I would be in a rut. Thanks for always supporting me on this journey. :) With that being said, I must quickly get back to sealing support letters (which I received a fierce paper cut from earlier) and figuring out this blog for the summer. Til next time!