Hello Mother . . . Hello Father (Noel Goes to Camp!)

Last week, Park Avenue took 103 kids and 40 some adults and highschool leaders to Silver Birch Ranch in Northern Wisconsin for a week of Camp. I was surprised when I asked Noel to be a cabin leader and he said yes.

Noel took a leap of faith and, together with his High School co-councelor Jordan, he led a group of 3rd - 5th grade boys in canoeing, archery, tubing, horse back riding, bible study and other exciting adventure camp things. Noel did a great job with the boys and really enjoyed it. Our goal is to get both Noel and Theresa there from the week. next year. Here's some highlights:

Kyle, Sarah, Elise and Tahnea show us how sad it was for Peter and the other disciples after Jesus died.

Kids got to try lots of new rec. activities including horseback riding, tubing and canoeing.

One of our goals is to give kids connections with caring adults. I was touched when I saw the boys of Louis' cabin during the first chapel time with their arms around each other singing and swaying.

Does this clutter help us love our neighbors? (or Wanda Cleans the Garage and Basement)

I went to the central library a few weeks ago with no list, no idea even what book I would get, I ended up picking (ok, I'm embarassed to say it) . . . Does this Clutter Make my Butt Look Fat?

It was an easy read, not very life changing or inspiring, but the main idea is that you need to make the same kinds of choices over the foods you put in your body and the clutter you keep in your house.

Well, if there's one thing our house has, besides the love of Jesus, a lot of cool books, great roommates and some good dinners . . . it's clutter. Neat and tidy we are not.

So when Wanda started cleaning the garage a couple weeks ago I was so happy!!!!!!! No longer do I have to take a strange combination of giant steps and baby steps to grab my bike or the lawn mower out of there.

But then we were doubly blessed!

Wanda put a bunch of stuff from the garage and the porch out on the front lawn with a sign marked free. We met so many neighbors and had conversations. A woman came by to look at some of the stuff we were giving away and Wanda mentioned to her that we had an extra bed in the basement. She came back a few hours later and picked up the bed (at least 5 people have moved into or out of the house since the bed's owner was using it).

Here's Wanda getting one last nap in the garden before the bed goes away.

We have so much in our house, we are blessed and not lacking for anything. As a household of 4 people we currently own 4 cars, 5 computers, and 5 beds. Our fridge is almost always full of food, and when it's not it's because we haven't made it to the store, not because we're financially not able to go. We have an entire room just for games and books, there are three different options for rooms where we can watch tv, we can invite dozens of people over without feeling crowded.

It was fun to see how getting rid of some of our stuff could bless not only the people who took it but us as well.

I met Betsy Bowen!

I think that this is a common story for anglo college students starting to get interested in Racial Reconcilliation, but by my senior year of college I hated being white, we're the oppressors, we're neurotic about time and organization, we can't dance and even our worship is boring.

But then. . . my mom bought me two books by Betsy Bowen, Gathering: A Northwoods Counting Book and Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet Year for my birthday. The woodblock prints in this book are beautiful and reflected my growing up camping and visiting grandparents in northern minnesota. For the first time as an adult I saw the beauty in being a woman from Northern, MN.

Later I heard a sermon by Alex Gee an African American Pastor from Madison, WI. He talked about God not making mistakes, about God not saying when I came out of the womb, "OH shoot, another white baby, what are we gonna do?!?!?!?!" My culture and my skin color are both good things. I think seeing Betsy's prepared me for this sermon and nurtured my soul.

Today, my mom and I went to the Powderhorn Art Fair, and low and behold, who's art did I see, but THE Betsy Bowen! The pictures are so great, and then I saw a woman with a Betsy name tag. I was super gushy, shook her hand and told her how her art really helped me with my ethnic-emotional development. She was very nice and while I think I may have been more enthusiastic than her typical customer she was happy to talk to me and here my story.

So, this afternoon was lovely, my mom bought some cool art, plus some lunch for me, she's the best.