Graduation

The last few days of the internship were spent getting ready for camp and cleaning up and moving out of our houses. It was very bitter-sweet! Matt planned a nice graduation dinner for us that we invited our families to and we all had a great time fellowshiping with ranch family and friends. It was very special. I have come to understand how much I love the people here and how much they have influenced my life. I have learned from them, laughed with them, ached with them, sweat with them, froze with them, joined with them in serving others, been served by them and served them. They have been a blessing to me and I hope I have been a blessing to them.

Matt and the interns have been all this and more. We have watched each other learn, helped each other grow, relied on one another's strengths and picked up where there were weaknesses. The fights, the tears, the laughter, the sweat, the blood, the prayers, the stories and the jokes were real and were shared by all. Together we went from being unsure and confused to confident and only slightly confused. I have made memories, acquired skills, formed friendships, built character and gained knowledge that will be with me for the rest of my life.

The internship is over, But summer camp is about to begin! I can't wait to watch RVR come alive with kids! I am excited about using my skills and new insight this summer as I minister to the campers. I also look forward to seeing the other interns thrive in the positions we have been preparing for.

It was a great 9 months! These last three will be even better! Boomstang!

Bleach in....Bleach out

So we have been doing a lot to 1.) get ready to finish up the internship and 2.) get ready for camp. For the last few days that has meant cleaning. We were up at Fort Roller all day yesterday mowing, weed whacking, sweeping, raking, power washing, scrubbing, assembling, re-arranging and disinfecting. Today we detailed all of Frontier Town and then went back up to Fort Roller to finish up some things. After that we moved over to Arrowhead woods and did the same thing. Things are really starting to look good! They were looking pretty bad. We had the privilege of cleaning some bathrooms that have been locked since end of last summer. You would think they would be clean... but no. One word...Mold. We pretty much doused each bathroom with bleach and then power washed them. Then we sprayed them down with bleach again and let them sit over night. We power washed them again today and then gave them a really good cleaning! They look good now! However, we got nasty. We also stirred up a lot of dust while we were sweeping and pollen while the guys were working on the grounds. So my allergies were not happy yesterday. We were all nasty and tired after both day's work but the place really does look good and it helped that we were all working together. Plus it is fun to see camp start coming together. I have been slowly getting stuff together around the house. Most of it is packed now. Just sitting in the closet all sad.... We all had exit interview with Matt today. It just feels so weird that all this is ending. Ohh well, at least I am going out the same way I came in.... scrubbing everything with bleach! haha

Since our internship trip we have been working like crazy! I hosted TNT for a retreat the weekend we got back and then had a nice day off before we got busy cleaning and getting RVR ready for camp. I have been doing a lot of programing lately, to get super sleuth ready! We had an over-night Outdoor Ed. group in this week that we ran meals and activities for. Then we had several groups in over this past weekend that we needed to clean for. Those groups have come and gone and now we are once again enjoying a much needed day off.

The weekend seems to have scattered the interns! Beth has been on vacation in Italy for the last week. Dessa went home for her parent's anniversary. Ryan was on a recruiting trip and then went home. Bill worked paintball for the retreat on Saturday and then disappeared, we aren't sure where he went. Taco hosted the retreats this weekend and I helped with activities and some programing stuff. Today there really isn't anyone around. It is kinda rainy. After church Taco and I went to Gettysburg to do some shopping and then to see a movie! We also got in 9 holes of disc golf! It was a pretty great afternoon!

We are facing the beginning of our last full week as interns.... the feeling is bitter-sweet. This summer is promising to be amazing! but I am going to miss my life as an intern. And I have no idea what comes next.......

spring trip

New look!

Cutest Blog on the Block! Free blog backrounds and banners! Check it out!

Here is what I did this week besides giving my blog a face lift!

Monday: Taco and I went to Shady Maple smorgasbord in Lancaster with the CTI team! Then we played pickle ball and practiced throwing discs at a park. Later that evening we met up with some more ranch people at the Philly stadium to see the Philly/St. Louis game! St. Louis won! There were a lot of great plays and home runs! It was awesome to see the pros play! It was dollar dog night so that was a bonus! Also, a fan hopped the fence and was running around the field. It was kinda funny watching him run around and dodge the security guys... Until he got taized! then it was hilarious!!!!!!!
Tuesday: All staff deep clean day #2! We spent the day cleaning! Then, after work we went canoeing to practice for our trip next week! We had a nice packed dinner by the water!
Wednesday: We have an Outdoor Ed. spending two nights this week. We served them meals and worked on the grounds up at Fort Roller and then wrote a paper!
Thursday: Meals, activities, gathering gear for our trip!

Tomorrow I am getting up early and going to a home school convention in PA to recruit campers! I will be there all day Friday and then again on Saturday! Early Sunday morning we will be hitting the road for our 5 day intern trip! We are going to Assateague island for a few days of back woods camping! We will be canoeing out to our camp spot! Then we are going to spend one night in Great Falls and do some climbing! Please pray for our safety and that we will have a great time! I will be sure to take lots of pictures and post all about it when I get back!

BBC, Blessings in DC, Barnstormers and Benches....

I spent Tuesday and Wednesday on a recruiting trip in PA at BBC with the Merson family, May and Dessa! It was fun times goofing off at the booth, playing with Lilah and spending time with Michelle and May's college friends. The part that was not so fun was that it was 20 degrees colder at BBC than it was at RVR. We were not prepared for the snow flurries that we had in PA!

On Thursday we had an outdoor edd. group in! I teamed up with Matt to lead initiatives. After lunch Taco and I had taken the rest of the day off to go see his CTI friends who were in DC. They were playing at a mission so we went to volunteer a bit and watch them play. They were great! After their concert we all went to the Mall to walk around and see the sights. They are great people and are doing wonderful things in their ministry! I was really blessed to be able to spend the evening with them!

On Friday we helped out some more with the group and then cleaned for the next one! It was beautiful outside! It has been all week! After work a group of us went to Lancaster to watch a Barnstormers minor league game! It was fun sitting in the lawn seats, hanging out, watching the game! Our tickets included all you could eat at the concession stands! That was a bonus for all of us! After the game there were fireworks!

Saturday I spent the day with Matt and a volunteer group fixing and painting benches. It was hot out there under the sun all day and I have the sun burn to prove it! By the end of the day I was tired, but the benches looked great! Then I went to babysit at the Zeigenfuses! It was just what I needed! I love playing and then snuggling with those cute little boys and sweet Abby! It was good for my soul!

Unfortunately at some point during the week I must have developed an immunity to my allergy meds. The occasional sore throat and sometimes stuffy and other times runny nose that had been off and on all week climaxed late last night. Probably because I was so tired! After a hot shower I went to bed only to toss and turn and eventually end up on the couch where I could actually breath because I was propped up higher. This morning I took another hot shower because that seems to be the only thing that helps and opted to watch Church on the computer on the couch in my comfy clothes with a roll of toilet paper. (because I don't have tissues) I do feel a bit better though... aside from needing to be attached to the toilet paper. (for my nose) I think I am going to take it easy today....laundry and the race!

Another busy weekend...

On Wednesday we cleaned and worked on program stuff.

On Thursday we finally had a day off! After sleeping in I went to Lancaster with Taco to play disc golf. We also went to Friendly's for lunch and ice cream and to the batting cages! It was a good day with a great friend!

On Friday Beth and I cleaned out the program shed at Fort Roller, then we helped with dinner! We had a group of girl scouts in for a retreat that Dess was hosting, a group of about 70 RVR alumni that were in for a reunion and two Tnt ers that were in to help. So I helped in the kitchen and the snack shop Friday night.

Early Saturday morning I was in the kitchen to help set up a small breakfast snack in the wagon wheel for the early- risers in the alumni group, and to get breakfast ready for the girl scouts. Then we played the divide and conquer game. Some workers stayed in the kitchen to serve breakfast to the girl scouts and some of us, me included, dressed up in our cowboy/cowgirl gear and went up the hill to Chuck wagon to serve breakfast the the alumni group like they did in the olden days. It was so much fun. We spent the morning cooking away over an open fire and then the alumni showed up on horse back or in the hay wagon looking cute all decked out in their cowboy gear. We served them cowboy coffee, scrambled or fried eggs, bacon, potatoes and cowboy doughnuts! It was all soo good! Then some people shared about that the Ranch meant to them and what roll it had played in their lives. It was really great to see that the Ranch had made such lasting impressions. It was also great to meet some of the people who had actually built the ranch! When breakfast was over we loaded everything up and took it down the hill to the kitchen where they were getting lunch ready! We were all working hard to get things cleaned up and lunch out for the girl scouts at 12 and the work crew that was in at 12:30, when Tina asked if we could open the store for the alumni. We were supposed to open it at 1 for the girl scouts so Doug sent me over there early for the alumni. So I ran the store for both groups and then got back to the kitchen in time to help with the clean up efforts! By the time everything was finished it was 2:30! I worked on program stuff the rest of the afternoon and then helped with dinner!

On Sunday I watched the Zig kids for about 30 min. and then helped with breakfast clean up. We went to church and then to the Dutch because Chris Fournier was visiting! After lunch Dess and I watch survivor on the computer while I kept checking the updates of the race. We went to Brad's to watch the last 50 laps! What a race! Then I had a lazy Sunday evening!

53 hours in 4 1/2 days.....

I hosted the youth group that was on grounds for a retreat this weekend. They were a small group but they stayed through Sun. afternoon and the interns were in the kitchen instead of bringing in TnT workers. Then we had a two day Outdoor Ed. group and a work group in the beginning of the week. So we have been pretty busy. We work tomorrow too... but that should just be cleaning and such things. Our day off this week is Thursday and then we have a group in this weekend again.

I counted it all up, (there is no exaggeration at all in this blog, I promise. haha) In the last 102 1/2 hours I have worked 53 of those hours. That pretty much means I have worked for the last 4 1/2 days. Here is what has occurred in my life in that time frame.....

• 12 hour work days
  
• 11 meals served
  
• 10 sessions of zip line.
  
• 9 ladies dancing... ohh sorry i mean 9 cookies eaten. (Doug's cookies are that good)
  
• 8 splinters (thanks for getting them out Dess)
  
• 7 episodes of "Boy Meets World" watched on-line. (it's what we do cuz we don't have tv)
  
• 6 hour average of sleep per night (not too bad)
  
• 5 Allergy pills taken
  
• 4 broken nails (3 fingers and 1 toe)
  
• 3 layers of "Sarah you got some sun today." (thanks to all the zip line sessions)
  
• 2 bonfires set up (hence the splinters)
  
• 1 shower (yes, i am an intern)

And that is just a taste of it! I have never felt so exhausted and so fulfilled at the same time.....

You know you're an RVR intern if....

Here they are, the top 10 ways to know if you're an RVR intern.


10. You might be an RVR intern if you are developing skills as a bee fighter.

9. If you have ever been cheese touched by a Zeigenfuse, you might be an RVR intern.

8. If you are an RVR intern you should know where the housekeeping supply closet key is hidden.

7. If you go to bed secretly wishing you were Mike Czaja, you might need therapy, but you would be an RVR intern.

6. If you shower fewer times a week than a normal person should and shave less often than that, you are hopefully an RVR intern and not just a crazy hippy.

5. If your house is falling apart, leaning in three different directions or there is poo in your yard on a regular basis, you might be an RVR intern.

4. If you treat Chick-Fil-A Coupons like currency, you are probably an intern at RVR.

3. You might be an RVR intern if you are secretly forming a plan to touch the bison.

2. If you find yourself saying," Nobody dies today!" on a daily basis, you might be an intern at RVR.

And the number 1 way to know if you are an RVR intern...

1. If everyday you look around and say to yourself in disbelief... "This is my job! I get paid to do this!"... then you just might be an RVR intern.

getting back in gear

So this week at the ranch has been a busy one. Tuesday was our first day back at the ranch from our Easter break. We deep cleaned the ranch with the full time staff. It took the whole full time staff all day to clean the ranch. But boy did it look good! We also worked on spring trip stuff and summer programing. We had our bible classes as well. There was a group in this weekend and so we ran adventure elements for them. They were a great group and lots of fun! There was a second open house on Sunday, it was a great day of meeting new people and showing off the ranch. We were in charge of food and fellowship for the Monday morning devotions so we worked Monday and now we have off today!

On a side note...
There are some decisions that I need to make in the near future concerning my future. Please pray with me that God will lead me into the ministry that He wants and needs me to serve Him in! And that I will have a peace about the waiting and eventually the decision.

Spring Break!

Sunday after the Open house Taco and I jumped into my already packed up truck and hit the road. We made it to my house in 5 hours exactly! We spent the next week watching tv, sleeping, eating, spending time with loads of my family and friends, playing with my puppies, eating some more and watching movies.

The awesome week also included....

• Helping my sister and the rest of the WEC staff get ready for Easter! We labeled post cards to remind volunteers what time to arrive, sorted, packed and loaded up toys to be taken to the rented facility for the Wee World rooms and then helped set everything up in the temporary Wee World rooms.
• Dinner and an evening at Granny's with David and Maize who were in town for a few days!
• A cookout on our deck with Granny and Grandpa and then an evening visiting with Bob and two of his girls. They loved Taco! Addy giggled and said "His name is Taco Bell!" then she told him he looked like a rooster!
  
• Several meals and evenings spent at Granny's with Lisa and her girls and some of their friends.
  
• Disc golf at Newport News park!
• A trip to WCRC to show Taco around, visit special people and tour the new youth facility!
  
• Lunch with Amanda and Megan and Aaron! And then a dinner at the Whaley apartment followed by a walk through colonial Williamsburg and dessert at The Corner Pocket.
  
• A day out on the town with my sister, shopping and eating and getting a hair cut!
  
• Sunrise service at Providence then the earlier service with Waters Edge followed by the regular service at Providence. (Taco helped mom and I with praise songs!)
• Lunch and talking and blowing stuff up at Grandma's all afternoon and into the evening!!

Another lunch at Granny's and a quick tune up of the truck and we were headed back to the ranch, fat and happy! It was a great week and a very good Easter!

Open house

Us girls made it back from Ocean City in time for the open house at the ranch. We spent the last few weeks cleaning out the cabins at Fort Roller and the Tp's at Arrowhead Woods and then Sunday afternoon showing people around. It was good times!

Funniest Question asked me:
Man standing inside the tp with me and his family: "Do these Tp's have lightning rods? I mean I am sure they do because I assuming you wouldn't have big metal poles standing up in the air without some kind of protection."
Me, kinda confused about where that question came from and a little shocked that someone who would know enough to ask a question like that couldn't figure out the answer by just looking around...: "Well, these are wooden poles and they go into the ground... plus they are surrounded by tall trees.... so... I am pretty sure they are safe. I can ask my boss and get a more official answer for you if you'd like?"
Man who is now actually looking around at the tp and seeing the WOODEN poles..:" Nahh, I was just curious."

Ocean City!

Barb took the girl interns to Ocean City, MD for a weekend of recruiting! We set off in the Subaru loaded to the max with stuff for the RVR booth and as much stuff as any four women would need for a weekend away! The 3 hour road trip to the Youth convention was filled with unashamedly singing along with the ipod and girl talk. Naturally. Once we got there we set up the booth in the convention hall, got some chines for dinner and checked into our nice, big room at the Sea Breeze hotel! We spent the evenings and Sat. morning in the RVR booth, mostly keeping people from dying on the indo board, but we also passed out some info and got some Youth Leader contacts. We also hung out a bit with Ashes Remain, mostly because we are that cool, also because they wanted to try the indo board. I must say that having four women (and good looking women at that!) in the booth all weekend was one of RVR's better decisions! We did a mighty fine job. (!) On Sat. afternoon we went to the board walk and shopped a bit. It was cold and windy but fun! We also spent some time in the room just relaxing, watching tv and talking. We ate at some fun places with great food! Barb knows all the hook ups! We packed up the booth late Sat. night so we could head out early Sun. morning. The ride home consisted of Duncan Doughnuts and snuggling in the back seat with Dessa as we napped! It was a great weekend! Barb rocks!

Funny things that happened in OC:
* Barb, after asking Kevin about a particular restaurant that we wanted to eat at: "He said to lick your arm pit before you eat there and then tell him which one you think tastes better." (we all burst out laughing, needless to say we did not eat there!)
*Beth, as we are walking down the board walk "Ohh dip'n dots Dess!"
Dessa, who is walking in front of Beth turns around and says in a disgusted voice: "I hate dip'n dots."
*Beth's souvenir for Stephen and what we did to get it! (wink)

Black lung, Fail Tuesday and Charlie...

• We have been cleaning and having classes like usual. The cleaning was expanded to Fort Roller. We have been "deep cleaning" the cabins up there for the open house that we will be having there at the end of the month. The dust is unreal. We make it fun and laugh about the amount of dust that we are bathing in and breathing in. It is dirty work! Hopefully the "black lung" that we all joke about getting doesn't actually happen!
• On Tuesday Matt and Michelle took us to the inner harbor for the day! It was a beautiful day and we were all very excited to get away from the ranch and spend some time together! The first place Matt took us to was the Washington Memorial. We were going to climb up in it but it was closed on Tuesdays. So we just looked at it and then went to the next place, an Art Museum. It was grand looking from the outside and Matt's excitement for showing it to us was getting us all interested. When we found the door locked we read the sign that said it was closed Tuesdays as well. So we went to the third place Matt wanted to show us! A basilica! We wandered around in it for a few minutes before our tour started! It was very interesting, and beautiful! We were all teasing Matt about it actually being open! Because the other activities were closed we wandered around the harbor for a while. We got some bubble tea and then we headed back towards the ranch so we could stop at REI! I love that store! I can't afford anything in it....but it is fun to look and dream! A stop at Chick-fil-a and our day was complete! Not really a fail at all! But we all teased Matt about it being lame anyway! haha
• We had a great week of normal work! Detailing, programing, classes.... The weather has been glorious all week!
  
• We had our last Winter Meltdown! (The one that was rescheduled due to the massive amounts of snow!) It went great! We also had an Outdoor Ed. group in for the day on Sat. so things were pretty busy! Everything ran smoothly and right on time! The two groups had great times at the activities and the staff loved being outside all day even if it was exhausting! On Saturday evening after the service a boy named Charlie was lurking around the back of the OTM, it looked like he was waiting to hand in the cards that the kids filled out as part of the service and so I asked him if he would like me to take it for him. That turned into a conversation about how confused he was. Long story short... Charlie decided to live for Christ! When the conversation ended I could tell that Charlie was still unsure about some things. With him now in the capable hands of his youth leader I trust that Charlie will figure things out and come to understand more fully about the decision he made. It just breaks my heart to see kids so lost.....
• On Sunday after all the Winter Meltdown had ended Taco and I went disc golfing and then headed to Brad's to watch the rest of the race. We couldn't find it, so was watched a movie then brad came home and flipped right to the race channel just in time for me to see the Jimmie Johnson had won the race!!!!!!!! Then we put a bunch of songs on my ipod! good day! Great weekend!
  

Catch up!

The last week has looked a lot like this....

• Detailing
• Classes
  
• Chick-fil-a opening number 3! about 17 rvr related people went! there was a raffle and we all got in! the weather was great and it was a fun time!
• We have started planning our spring trip! it is going to be a blast
• speaking of blast..... Baltimore blast recruiting! fun times handing out brochures at an indoor soccer game/ Hawk Nelson concert!
  
• The snow is melting! it is pretty much gone! we have had some great weather! and even pulled out the short sleeves for a day or two! We took a hike one afternoon in the great weather.
• Then it started raining. Now all the snow is melting plus it is pouring. So not only is there inches of mud but now "the puddles have currents" and are running down hill to the river that is swollen! on the bright side, the grass is turning green again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  

My Birthday Weekend!

• On Thursday after work I was instructed to go into the snack shop and open a birthday present! It was a big box that was moving a little and I was nervous about opening it! I am glad I did because inside the box was my sister! She came to spend the weekend with me for my birthday! She brought with her a box of baked goods (Yummmmmm) and cards from home!!!!!!!
  
• We went to Panera for dinner. (Yummmmm)
  
• We went to the Cline's to watch The Office. There, everyone surprised me with a birthday party! We had brownies (Yummmmm), and Rita's (Yummmmmm) and I got some great gifts!
  
• Friday I worked and my sister tagged along with me!
• Taco made me my favorite sandwich for lunch! (Yummmmmmmm)
• Joleen Zeigenfuse made rolls and told me to come by and get one after lunch for my birthday! (Yummmmmmm)
  
• My sister and I rode the zip line together!!!!
• I got to run the entrance tree on the ropes course!!
  
• Beth and I went to see Valentine's Day in theaters!
• The weather has been wonderful! (and the snow is disappearing!!!!!)
  
• I got to go to church for the first time in a long while!
• I am watching the race! The first one I have been able to see all season!
  

Recruiting Trip

As part of the internship we all get to go along on a recruiting trip! I was scheduled to go to EMU with Zig and Brad a few week ago but we canceled that trip because of all the snow we were getting. So they decided to send me to PBU on Thursday with Matt and Brad. Because of the now that was falling on Wednesday night we canceled that one as well. I ended up going to Salisbury University with Dan and Zach Thursday afternoon. It was a good trip. We met up with some past RVR staff and had dinner with them. Then we set up our banner outside of a campus crusade meeting! It was a great meeting and we had fun talking with the students afterward. I stayed the night with some former staff and then met up with Zach and Dan for some breakfast and two morning interviews. After the interviews we drove back to the ranch!

Some fun things that happened on the trip:

• Dan telling me his theory on driving.... "to live is Christ to die is gain, I don't mind dieing." (and that is exactly how he drives!!!!! haha I should know, I was sitting in the back next to the banner poles, the TV stand and this big black case that all shifted towards me when he merged or turned. There were several moments I thought everything would come down on top of me and several times they almost did. Luckily I was able to hold things in place for the most part. That or he whipped back fast enough that the stuff shifted the other way before it hit me! hahah jk.... kindda)
• Dan taught me how to play some chords on the piano!
• We had some pretty good conversations in the car and while we were waiting for various things. They are pretty cool guys!
  
• Zach and Dan stayed with a pretty interesting character! I am very thankful for the girls that took me in. Their house was much nicer!
  
• We stopped at Guitar Center on the way home! Zach and Dan ran around like little kids in a toy store! It was quite amusing!
• The lady behind the counter at Hardey's. She was a hoot and Zach and I were greatly entertained while trying to place our order!
  

Hay is for Horses....

Today we started our version of what I guess the medical profession would call a clinical rotation! We are going to be spending a few days working with specific programs here at the ranch to get a feel for how they run and to gain some new knowledge and experiences in different areas of camp! Today we started this process of obtaining a well-rounded education in the barn! We had a great day working with Biz and Morgan and the horses up in the Ramuda. Of course this experience didn't come without some fun and a trail ride through the snow! Besides a few basic, hands-on lessons in grooming and handling of a horse we also mucked out stalls and watched the farrier shoe some horses. Over all it was a very productive day! A special thanks to Chester and Ember for letting me ride on them today!

Break it down....

Lets break down this last week.....

• Cleaning, lots of good Bible classes, more tubing (we built a jump! it was pretty sweet!)
• Also, this week we went to see Kutless and Casting Crowns in concert! WRBS was sponsoring the concert and gave a bunch of us tickets! So we hopped on the Metro and went to the city to see them! It was great! So much fun! Have I mentioned that I love my job?! 'Cuz I do!
• Winter Meltdown was awesome! It ran pretty smoothly!
  
• We haven't gotten any more snow!!!!!!!! And the snow that is still everywhere has started to slowly melt away! (Leaving mud everywhere!)
• Taco and I took a road trip to PA. to see some of his CTI friends! While we were there we did some sightseeing! We went by some of the places where my family and I used to go on vacation! We bought whoopie pies at the Bird in Hand bakery, drove past some of my favorite campgrounds, and drove through the Sight and Sound parking lot! It was a pretty great day!
• Our kitchen got a face lift! Every thing moved out. Our fridge moved into the snack shop, our microwave moved upstairs along with all the dry goods and the dishes, and our sink, cabinets and oven went on a vacation too. So the food situation was interesting for a few days! All this so we could get a new hardwood, kitchen floor, (no more hole!!!!!) new tile walls and a paint job! (among many other things) They moved the big appliances back in today and the kitchen looks brighter and has a lot more room. We haven't moved everything back into the cabinets yet but we are looking forward to the day when we can cook out of a functioning kitchen again. (if you can call what we do cooking!) Also, if you find a slightly used jar of creamy peanut butter, an individually wrapped baby sweet potato, and a kitchen table.....they are ours. We miss them and would like them back! (i don't know how we lost them in that whole process! but we did!)

Snow, Valentines and Home improvements!

OK, so on top of the 30 inches of snow that was already on the ground we got another 18! And all the shoveling and salting and sledding that had been done was done all over again! (i am currently looking on amazon for a new back to replace the one that i broke while shoveling all that snow! jk) One day after a morning of shoveling, Dessa and I were sent out to assess a shoveling situation. They wanted us to shovel out a path to the x-barn, in that path was a mountain of snow that the plow had pushed up while it was clearing the parking lot and all the snow that had fallen off the roof of the x-barn! The snow was 6 -8 feet deep and packed, we had a hard enough time scrambling up it to see if we could get to the bard doors! The problem was that with every step you never knew if you would stay on top of the snow mountain or fall in to your waist and have to climb out! It was kindda pathetic and after helping each other out of several holes Dessa and I were laughing pretty hard. Our assessment...."You can't move the snow if you can't move through the snow." They got the tractor to dig out the path!
As Dessa so humorously pointed out on her facebook page..."How is a girl that is just over 5 feet tall supposed to walk through snow that is 4 feet deep?" Needless to say it was hard! (i am currently looking on amazon for new legs to replace the ones that i wore out trudging through all that snow! jk) Over all it was a pretty good week!

The RVR staff and their families got together one night in the snack shop for a pot luck! It was great to fellowship with every one outside of work. Especially since the snow had kept most of the families inside!

Winter Meltdown was awesome this weekend! We couldn't run most of the activities because of the snow. So we had a winter carnival instead. All the shoveling and snow packing was worth it after seeing the kids play in it! On the hill between the pool and the zip line we had our tubing tracks, on the frozen pool was broom ball, in the field across from the pool was a snowman making contest and in the clean snow just outside of the horse pasture we had a "make your own snow cone station"! It was a blast!

Sunday was Valentines Day. In the evening the interns and Steven (Beth's boyfriend) got all dressed up and went to Outback for dinner! When we got there we found there was a three hour wait, so we went to IHOP instead! haha It was a great evening! Many laughs and lots of stories were shared! After dinner we joined some other RVR staff for ice cream and some Olympic sport watching! It was a great night!

In other news:
Over the last few week or so our house has gone through some much needed changes! Our door frame was replaced! We now have a door that latches, a door knob that must turn to open the door and a frame that seals out the cold! Also, the brave maintenance boys made many trips into our basement with 5 gallon buckets and removed all the water, muck, mold, and the pet octopus! As I am typing this men are in my kitchen formulating a plan of action for fixing the hole that is in the floor by the sink! Soon there will be no more hole and no more plywood covering up the hole!

Also, they are calling for 7 more inches of snow today....... This is getting ridiculous!