Modern Math

Anna (the course manager) and I checked the tip jar at Sand Creek after work last Saturday - $25.00!  I said, "Wow!  Five of us worked today - that's five dollars each!"

Anna responded with, "But only you and I worked all day.  Everyone else worked an hour here or there.  What if we each took $10.00 and split the rest between the others?"

We went with Anna's math.  

A Night Out . . .

When people I enjoy say, "Let's get together sometime."  My response is, "Let's be intentional now."  Back at Sophie's grad party in June, Sam's co-workers set last night as the date we'd get together.  I am so glad we did!

Three teachers, a nurse, a principal and me - ribs, beans, fruit and an amazing dessert - shared stories, lots of laughter, and a very late night!  It was lovely!

Only at Sand Creek . . .

Since I was going to be in the neighborhood on Sunday (for Tim's grad party), I told our course manager, Anna, "If you're short staffed let me know.  I can pop over!"  I got the text at 12:30 p.m., "Can you come at 2:45 p.m.?"

It was great!  Large groups of fun people zipping and I just stood on platform one and sent them on their way while listening to thunder and scanning the skies for lightening!  

Happy 65th Anniversary . . .

to Sam's Aunt and Uncle, George and Lenore Durey!

This is the lovely cake Micah made for them.

We celebrated with their family Saturday evening

and had a most excellent time!

Only at Sand Creek . . .

We had a fast-paced day at Sand Creek on Saturday!  I started at 9:45 a.m. and kept going until 6 p.m. with just a few minutes to grab lunch.  The memorable moments?

• The 10:30 a.m. bridal party on the high ropes course.  As one of the larger party members was struggling up in the air and we were afraid we were going to have to belay him down, Nicole asked me, "How are we going to do it?  He weighs more than both of us put together!"  Yes, he did!  One of us would be on-belay and the other would literally be holding down the person who was belaying!  
• The same bridal party on the zip line.  Member Mike was TERRIFIED of heights and said he was too large to zip.  Truthfully, he was over our weight limit, but because he was physically fit (unlike above bridal party member!) I knew he could do it!  And he did - much to his delight!
• When we walked the bridal party up, I discovered our 1:00 p.m. zip had two girls from a Water Safety Aide Class I taught two years ago ("Margo, do you remember us?").  I delayed lunch to zip with them and just had a blast!
• Three boys who had met at church camp two years ago and had become fast friends were in our 3:15 p.m. high ropes group.  Great guys!  Best line of the day was when I told them they could carry their gear up to the top of the hill, Landon said, "You sound just like my mom.  I like you!" 
• The four men from Fargo who missed their zip time because the canoe rental company they had used to canoe the Cannon River didn't get them back in time.  They loved my hub stories - "Most Envied Man at Sand Creek".  We got some quality time in . . .

The Most Envied Man at Sand Creek . . .

Just happened to be my hub on Saturday!  For some reason on Saturday, I had down time with groups of men.  What else was there to talk about?  My husbands 24 texts from the Vikings Training Camp on Friday!  

Sam had kept me posted all day on who was coming through the gate - "Waved at Ziggy this morning", "Just saw Everson Griffen", "Had to stop Stephon Diggs", and so on!  I think every man I talked to was just a bit jealous! 

New Job!

When summer began, there was still a possibility that Sam's District would go on strike this fall.  (Since then the contract has been approved by the teachers and is currently awaiting school board approval next month.)  All teachers were encouraged to get a summer job and to do no unnecessary spending.  

Sam got a job with Whelan along with several teachers in his district working at the new Vikings Training Center in Eagan.   

He came home quite excited the first night - no papers to correct, no parents to call, no lesson plans to write!  He's liking it!  Even better, he's "guarding" the players' gate - he waves at the team daily!

The Question?

What do you do when two leaders and only one student show up for Bible Study?

Well, in today's age, you text all the other girls and make sure no one else is coming . . . then you ditch Bible Study and go to 

Dairy Queen! 

Micah said she had a blast! 

The End.

After fifteen years of having and helping our children deliver "ThisWeek" Newspaper, it's over!  Starting next week, the paper will be delivered through the Post Office.  Sam and I are in total agreement when we say, "Yes!" and "Finally!"

Guess we were done before they were!

Thankful Thursday

"And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends"

Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith

This song came to mind after talking with a not-yet-believing neighbor yesterday afternoon.  He asked about Micah's grad party and how we happened to have it at LivingWATERS Church.  I shared the story and he asked where we really were attending church.  

It was an interesting answer - Micah attends youth group and Bible study at LivingWATERS; I attend Bible study at Trinity; we're members of Trinity and just had a blast doing Vacation Bible School there; we're attending Berean weekend services.

So what am I thankful for?  That when Jesus is in the middle of your friendship, it really doesn't matter where you attend church . . .

"But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong"
Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith

International Detective Agency!

Nothing like getting the right name for Vacation Bible School!  Our room was the "Eyewitness Investigators" - the overall theme for VBS was "International Detective Agency."  

It was hard to believe that Tuesday night went better than Monday night!  So imagine how excited we were when Wednesday night with the first graders went even better than Tuesday night!

Best of all was last night - it rained on our outdoor event, so we stayed in with the second and third graders!  I have not laughed so hard!  We changed our events to relays, divided the group into four teams and off we ran - except, to keep things fair, we used "batons".  Watching the kids put on and take off Sam's extra-large t-shirts (batons) was hilarious!

How much fun did we have?   Jon and Shannon and our family worked together in our room.  We decided we'd only come back next year if we could work together again!  Glory!  

Only at Sand Creek . . .

Today did we find out AFTER we arrived, that our 2:00 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. groups cancelled - due to bad weather!  The weather hasn't arrived yet, but we did have fun sending a family reunion down the zip line at 1:00 p.m.  Unfortunately, they were lousy tippers!  

Which led to an interesting staff discussion - how do you let people know graciously without sounding like your begging - that tips are what keep the staff going?  Any thoughts . . .

Eyewitness Investigation Update!

The "lost" were not found, but replaced, last night!  We had the fourth and fifth graders and were a bit apprehensive - think attitude, but they were amazing!  They went all out.  They participated.  They did great!  We all left with smiles on our faces and the words, "That was so fun!"  To God be the glory!

Only at Sand Creek . . .

The call came while I was still five minutes away from Sand Creek.  We needed to set up the zip line equipment, the high ropes course and then tour the first group.  "Don't start early - we're still working on line three." 

Since I was in charge, I pulled up the manifest - woah!  Fifteen people zipping?  And we were going to tour?  We'd never done that before!  The numbers were a little high.  I got on the phone.  Change of plans.  No worries.  No tour.  Blessed are the flexible.

Best part of that group?  Five of them were home town folk from Spirit Lake, Iowa!  We had fun!

Then off to the high ropes course where we had the girl from Stillwater with her foreign exchange student from France (who spoke very little English), and the Yemenise Somali family who preferred speaking Arabic.  It was a hoot and a half trying to explain things!  Seven out of eight were successful on the course in spite of the language barrier and able to zip down at the end! 

All in a day's work . . .      

Eyewitness Investigators!

Earlier this spring, we were contacted by Sarah, in the Children's Ministry Department at Trinity, to see if we would be willing to come up with a "Detective Agency Training Course" for VBS (Vacation Bible School).  Not only did we say "Yes!", we also said, "If we're planning it, we're running it!"  

They let us.

Last night was our first night.  Fun beyond imagination!  We had the kindergardeners and they were wonderful!  We taught them how to "pick locks", touch "icky stuff", and work out.  Then we put it all together with the Bible story.

I e-mailed Sarah last night.  The subject line read:  "Missing in Action!"  Somehow we "lost" one padlock (but the key was still in my pocket), a variety of bugs, and a couple of magnifying glasses.  Might have been the preschoolers who came through our area on a scavenger hunt (they won't be coming through again!), might have been the fact that we had kinders with irresistable items to find, or it might have just been Monday.

We'll give it a go again tonight with fourth and fifth graders and see what happens!      

Basic Life Support

I taught Basic Life Support (formerly known as "CPR for the Professional Rescuer/First Aid/Emergency Oxygen Administration") at the Y this morning.  A lovely group of five women, four were good and one was bad - but improving!  She made it!

Sadly, one of the women is a good friend and co-worker of mine.  She stayed after class to let me know that her two year old daughter was just officially diagnosed with juvenile arthritis.  We cried, we hugged, I'm praying.  If you'd like to pray for Norah, that'd be great!  Thank you!   

Fun, Food and Fellowship!

We have a group of friends that we've known and loved for the past fifteen years or so!  At one point, we were five families in home fellowship together attending the same church.  Now, we technically attend four different churches and get together whenever we can.  And when we do, the love and laughter flow!  

Like I told the guys as I left work yesterday, not only is this the greatest group ever, but we also have the best food ever!  I took pictures to show Alan and Duane why I was ready to leave work early.  I'll share them with you, too!  

Shishkabobs - by Micah (I worked, she cooked.)

Micah's designer deviled eggs - aren't they lovely?

Jana's snowflake cake - amazing chocolate!

Jana's Broccoli Salad

Delicious Fruit Salad by Cindy

Jana's custard peach pie

Add to what you see brats, cheeseburgers, chips, dip, Lynn's baked beans and white chocolate chip cookies - no one went home hungry!

"Only at Sand Creek . . . "

I don't know about you, but there are days I go to work and just think, "Oh, my goodness . . . "  Yesterday was one of those!

Our first group of zippers included five senior citizens along a mom and her ninth grade daughter.  The mom and daughter were awesome!  Three of the senior citizens were just plain fun!  One of the remaining two warned us when she first arrived that she would be fine zipping, but she would most likely need a ride up the hill.  No problem!  Glad to do that!  

That leaves one remaining senior citizen, right?  It wasn't until we were on platform two that she informed us she had had double knee replacement and wasn't able to bend her knees at all!  Seriously, when she landed on three, I wasn't sure if I should call 911 or the other staff and make sure all was okay!  It was not a happy landing and it took a very lllooonnnggg time to get her off the line!  Getting her down three became my problem - fortunately, my legs are strong and I can do strategic planning!  Uff dah!  It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.  And yes, she needed ride up the hill!  Yikes!

That brought us to our second group of the day - two buff young men from Jordan on the high ropes course!  All I could think of as they went through the course was that old Frank Sinatra song, "I did it my way . . ." because no matter what hints or thoughts or ideas we shared with them to help them through - they did it their way!

Our last group of the day was an aunt, uncle, and niece - a lovely way to end!

And now, I'm off at Sand Creek until next week . . .

"Thankful Thursday" happens "Only at Sand Creek . . ."

"I'm zipping in the rain, just zippin' in the rain
What a glorious feeling, I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds so dark in the sky
The sun's in my heart and I'm ready to fly
Let the stormy clouds chase everyone from the place
Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face
I zip down the line with a happy refrain
Just zippin', zippin' in the rain
Zipping in the rain, I'm happy again
I'm zippin' and flying in the rain
I'm zipping and flyin' in the rain"

My apologies to Gene Kelly.  I had two choices today out at Sand Creek.  I could enjoy zipping in the rain - it really wasn't that cold.  Or not.

I'm thankful for the choice I made.  And the joke I played on Sam.  I used his truck today.  When he gets in to drive it again, he's going to find the heat on full blast!  Thankfully, I was only slightly chilled . . . 

Only at Sand Creek . . .

It was just one of those days yesterday . . .

I was positive I started work at 12:30 p.m.  I didn't even bother to check the calendar because I KNEW I started work at 12:30 p.m.  I didn't.  I started work at 1:30 p.m.  Fortunately, Anna put me to work - it wasn't mulching!  I got to pull weeds - lots of them!

Our first group of zippers arrived an hour early - from North Dakota.  The next two in their time slot had North Dakota ties.  They were having a great time chatting about their roots which was excellent because the last ones in our 2:00 zip slot were late!  And scared!  All six brave souls with North Dakota bonds zipped down fabulously, not so with our last four.  I even had Grandma Wanda crying tears - but I got them to down!

Then I found out Wanda and her group of four were doing the high ropes, along with another family.  Let's just say that when the staff thought of Wanda and fam up in the high ropes, we had one thought:  "Rescue ready." 

We had decided to send the other family first - because they looked like they could make it through the high ropes course, but Grandma Wanda was having none of that.  "I've waited long enough.  We're going to go first."  

And they did.  And they made it.  At least three out of the four in their group since one decided to not even try at the very beginning.  So on to the family . . .

The Michigan side of the family experienced great success up in the high ropes, the Minnesota side - not so much.  Then we were off to the zip line where we had another couple join us.  Once again, the Michigan side was doing great.  The couple, too.  Not so for the youngest member of the Minnesota side.  He went off platform one by himself, but he wouldn't go off of two so . . .  

We buddy zipped!  I put him in front of me, held his tether with one hand and mine with the other, (literally pushed him off the platform), and down we flew!  He was crying, "I can't hold on!  I can't hold on!" so I let go of my tether (not allowed!), held on to him and arrived safely at platform three.  (I think I was definitely  having more fun than he was!)  His mom buddy zipped with him down to platform four and I'm glad to say he was no happier going with her than he was going with me!

But now we had a problem.  This was a six zip group.  We had to go one more time down the course - and the couple had to be to the airport by 9 p.m.  It was six o'clock. 

Tim and I meshed - the guests flew - the crier played on his mom's phone and stayed up on top.  We don't know if the couple made it to the airport on time, but they left Sand Creek at 6:30 p.m. and we were done by seven.

It was an interesting day, but it all ended well!  To God be the glory!  

          

Bad Joke Week!

Somehow this week we got into pirate jokes.  Maybe because we spent a lot of time in the low ropes on the Whale Watch.  Maybe the heat had something to do with it.  Maybe it because we had so many youth groups - AAARRRGGG! 

From pirate jokes we turned to politically incorrect people jokes.  We've all told them.  It started with Bob - "What do you call a man with no arms or legs floating in the water?"  Yeah, Bob.  And we progressed from there . . .

Today, we wrote our own joke.  Are you ready?  It's pretty bad!

Me with the Graham brothers - Tim and Mark

  "What do you call a person between two Grahams?"

"A Graham-wich!"

Feel free to laugh!  We were so hot and tired, we actually did!

 

Only at Sand Creek - on a Saturday!

Today marked my sixth day in a row at Sand Creek - someone has to pay for Micah's college education, right?

It was beastly hot and the most busy day I've worked yet this year, but oh, so fun!  We started off with the groom from Perham, MN, along with his friends and family at one - the reception will be a steak dinner.  Of course, we're invited!

Group two had a young man who had gone to elementary school in Lakeville and his most favorite teacher ever just happens to be a dear friend of mine who was home and able to text me back!  He didn't want the hug she wanted me to give him, but he was willing to take a selfie with me for her!

Group three - seventeen high ropes course participants!  They came staggered.  We sent them up staggered.  It went far better than we could have ever hoped or dreamed.

Group four - the final zip of the day.  Everything was going great until it was the staff from the Minnesota Autism Center's turn to go.  Scared to death doesn't begin to describe them, but we had 100% success!    

Here's a snap of Mark, Tim and I at the end of the day - taken on the new steps to Platform One:

Only at Sand Creek - on a Friday!

As I headed toward Sand Creek, the rain began to fall.  We work rain or shine - and trust me, there was no shine from the sun today!  However, what an awesome group we had!  

"Centro Tyrone Guzman Raices ("roots") Youth Development provides a space for Latine teens to share time with peers in a culturally responsive environment. Raíces youth have a strong sense of self as multicultural, bilingual individuals who think critically and make positive decisions."  I grabbed that from their website because that's who came!

You know your group is great when they work had to work together in the pouring - and I do mean pouring - rain!  After two and a half hours of team building, we trudged through the mud to have lunch. 

The rain began to let up just as we were gearing up for the zip line.  We had heard all morning that phrase, "I'm not going to go on the zip line."  So I began gear up with my phrase, "Everyone is going to gear up.  If, after you come out on the platform ready to zip, you choose not to zip, I'll take you back down.  But no arguments - everyone will gear up."  

Glory!  Not only did everyone gear up, everyone zipped!  Another most excellent day at Sand Creek!

"Thankful Thursday!" unites once again with "Only at Sand Creek!"

It is amazing that when the heat index is over 100* and you're working outdoors at Sand Creek, you can still be thankful on a Thursday!  Here's why!

• We had guests today from Norway and Guatemala!  Imagine that!
• Even more fun - we had a a young man who was going to the "National Junior Ninja Warrior Competition"!  He also demonstrated the course when the competition was here in Minneapolis.
• We did not have to perform a rescue on the person who passed out from heat after doing the "Charlie Chaplin" on the high ropes course!  We gave her water, she was revived and she finished the course! 
• While practicing rescues, I was able to lift Mark off the line in two attempts!  Trust me, that's good!  It took me like ten attempts last week to lift Nicole and she weighs less!
• I was able to self rescue on line 2 - for the first time ever, I didn't make it in to the platform.  But neither did Mark . . . hmmm . . .

All for now - it's going to be another great day at Sand Creek! 

Only at Sand Creek - On Wednesday!

We started off with a group of fourth, fifth and sixth graders from River Bend Nature Center in Fairbault this morning into early afternoon.  They went from the high ropes course, down the zip line right after lunch and off on the giant's swing.  My only thought - it was great to have four staff working the giant's swing because it was HOT, HOT, HOT out there today and we could all take breaks.

Once they left, we had groups on the high ropes where it got HOTTER and HOTTER and HOTTER!  But the day ended most lovely with a nice cool zip with two family groups, including the teen brothers who were NOT going to zip because they were afraid.  I managed to get them both off of the first platform and by the second one, they were arguing over who was going to go first!

I spoke with the course manager at the end of the day - giving her my two complaints for this year: 

• The location of the portable toilet was moved across our parking lot and into direct sunlight this year, making it - you know the words! - HOT, HOT, HOT!!!  Almost deadly so!
• We need staff tank tops because today was HOT! HOT! HOT!  And tomorrow's going to be, too!    

Only at Sand Creek - On a Tuesday!

Seventeen staff from C.H. Robinson, a third party logistics provider offering freight transportation and logistics - I can't even make that up! - came out to the course on Tuesday for team building, high ropes and zip lining.  

We started off slow - one staff was there for the 1:00 p.m. start time, five staff had gone to Lion's Tap for lunch and were running late, one staff went to Target to buy tennis shoes, and the rest eventually filtered in.  And so we began . . .

My friends, they were amazing!  I only wish we had had more time with them!  They had excellent communication (save for that start time!), they worked well together and did an overall excellent job!  It was a fun afternoon, even with a totally lacking tip!

Only at Sand Creek . . . On a Monday!

Monday we had a group of 33 sixth through ninth graders from a Summer Stretch program out on the course.  We were pre-warned.  The ninth grade boys were already challenging their leaders because they HAD to be there in order to get "service" hours for confirmation.

We randomly divided them up into three groups, separating those dastardly ninth grade boys.  

As the bus pulled out, Scott said, "This was the worst group I have ever had!"  Mark said, "My group was okay at the beginning, but they got progressively worse."  I said, "My group was really fine."  And they were - no challenges we couldn't handle!  Maybe because I had prayed the most before hand . . . 

Mulch Madness!

Since I had Thursday, Friday and Saturday off this week, I convinced Sam it was our hearts' desire to mulch the back yard.  We started at one on Thursday (after we cleaned the house) and ended at three on Saturday (so we could go to Ethan and Grace's wedding reception!).  Check it out!

Starting on the south side (by Don & Bernice) . . .

Going down the trail from the fire pit . . .

On the north side by Tom and Nancy . . .

Heading toward the fire pit . . . 

 If you're wondering why there are no pictures of the fire pit; well, the pit itself is clean, along with rocks around it - but the rest is a disaster for another day!

"Thankful Thursday!" unites with "Only at Sand Creek"

I had the joy of working at Sand Creek the past two days (July 3 and 4).  I am so thankful for . . . 

• The team of co-workers I worked with;
• The excellent people who came;
• No complaints when our first group of zippers were rained out yesterday and our second group started thirty minutes late due to lighting;
• The new first zipline platform - way more fun than the old one!
• The opportunity to zip - always a blast!
• That I have now mastered all of our key knots - stop knot, boline, figure eight and butterfly.  That's how we got paid to work while it rained!
• Nice tips!

Eleven years ago . . .

Eleven years ago this August, we said good-bye to our dear friends, the Chapmans, aboard the m/v Africa Mercy, then stationed in Monrovia, Liberia.  

Yesterday, we said, "Hello!" again, right here in Lakeville, Minnesota!  Kristin arrived first and it was if we'd never been apart!  At 10:30 p.m. (I know - shocking to those of you who know me!), we stopped talking long enough to finally grab some sleep before we picked up her kids at their aunt's house early this morning.  Absolutely wonderful time together!  Oh, so blessed!

Lauren, Taylor, Samuel, Matt and Micah

Kristin, me and Sam

    

Then and Now . . .

In 2007, when we served with Mercy Ships in Liberia,

we took this photo:

Lauren, Anna, Micah and Taylor

 

This afternoon, had Anna not been in England, we could have done it again!

Lauren, Micah and Taylor

GREAT Grad Party!

We had the most wonderful grad party for Micah yesterday!  It actually started with livingWATERS church graciously allowing us to use their building (the air conditioning was definitely a plus!), followed by friends helping us decorate on Friday, friends helping us "man the food" and friends cleaning up yesterday!  We couldn't have done it without them!  We have been beyond blessed!  Here are a few photos from a glorious day . . . 

Lunch at Applebee's first - only Kingsley could get Matt to color!

Micah and Kennedy - the baking sisters!

Four fifths of the family - where's Lincoln?

Kim, Micah and THE cake!  If you didn't have a piece, you truly missed delicious!

Just had to add MY friend from high school who came up!  Thanks, Denise!

 

Aussie on a Beach!

This picture was NOT taken in Australia.  This picture (to the best of my knowledge) contains no Aussies, BUT . . . it just made me laugh!  

Every summer on the ship, the Aussies would cover up in sunscreen (SPF 50 or most likely higher), and put on hats with large brims before they went out in the sun BECAUSE they knew how damaging the sun's rays could be.  This was shown by a friend who will remain anonymous at Micah's grad party yesterday and all I could think was, "Aussie on a beach!"