Only at Sand Creek . . .

Back in early September, when Duane approached us about having an after prom party on March 31, we all laughed.  Wasn't it dark, cold and snowy out then?  Seriously?  Well, he set it up and at 6:30 a.m. this morning as the sun was coming up over the horizon, Duane, Anna, Julian, Ethan, Sam and I were at work.

It was an entire high school of roughly fifty-five people from just west of Mitchell, South Dakota.  Every four years they have an after prom party with the all of the students and this year, we got to party with them!

My place of party from 7:00-10:15 a.m. was "The Giants Ladder" where eight students helped belay two students who were working together to reach the top of the ladder.  I managed to grab a couple of shots of different groups helping each other up as the sun was rising . . .

As they left, we all agreed we had actually had an awesome time.  We were exhausted, but happy because they had been so fun and polite.  We were even more happy when we found out that they had left us each a $30.00 tip!

Back at Sand Creek . . .

Yesterday we returned to Sand Creek Adventures for the start of our 2019 season!  Imagine my surprise when I met Lauren, a new staff who told us she had been hired to work with the team builds, finding out their needs and working with them.  

Wait!  I thought I was the "Team Build Coordinator".  That sounded very much like my job!     

The thought that kept running through my mind was, "Unoffended, unoffended, unoffended."  Had Anna, our course manager, not been trying to meet with me for the past two weeks and it just hadn't worked out?  Something was up, but before I jumped to any conclusions, "Unoffended, unoffended, unoffended . . ."  

And yes, Anna and I were meeting at the end of the day . . .

The first words out of her mouth when we met were, "You did a great job as the Team Build Coordinator last year and we still want you to do that."  

Did you all hear my sigh of relief? 

"But we want to up our game this year.  Lauren's background is conflict mediation.  She's working with us and Raksa's program to contact team builds before they arrive to see what they hope to get out of their time at both locations.  Her job will be to communicate our information with you and then you two will develop a plan and work with our other staff."

Insert "happy dance". 

"Of course, what I'd like you to do . . . "

Oh, here it comes!

". . . Is read these four books with me and we can come up with ideas that we can do with staff to help them with their team builds.  And I'd also like to come up with a file of ideas so that when groups come . . . "

I'm SO in!  I'll be putting in a lot of hours between now and May 15 (our tentative due date), coming up with a file and reading four books, fortunately my body can be home while I work at Sand Creek where it's always a great day!

Thankful Thursday!

I'm running a day late, but what I was thankful for yesterday still brings a smile to my face today!

Remember that Water Safety Aide Class I taught over at Black Hawk this week?  How it had started out as what I thought would be a class of two?  So I prayed for at least four to six students?  But God gave me "four plus six students" for a total of ten?

In all the years I have been teaching this class, I have never had such a fun, cohesive group.  We actually recommended every fourteen and fifteen year old for hire - and trust me!  That has never happened before!  There are just not enough good things to say about them and I am ever thankful for the time I got to spend with them!  

Eight. Or Ten out of Eleven.

That would be my work schedule.  If you start with last Thursday, I'm working ten out of eleven days.  I did have Saturday off.  If you start with yesterday, I'm working a total of eight days in a row - the Y, ISD 196, ISD 196 and the Y, ISD 196, ISD 196, the Y and Sand Creek, Sand Creek and Sand Creek.  Note:  two doubles in there!   So if you don't hear from me for a while, assume I am exhausted beyond all reasonable belief!  Or having a really good time! 

And then there were ten . . .

I've been praying for almost a month now for the Water Safety Aide Class I'm teaching at Black Hawk this week.  Last I had heard, I had two - only two! - students in the class.  Believe me, a class of two just isn't enough.  I needed more students!

So I asked God for students, telling Him four students would be good, six would be better.  My God is awesome at math - 4 + 6 = 10 - and I currently have ten students in class, three guys, seven gals!  And a good bunch to boot!

The Things You Shouldn't See . . .

I was walking Annie yesterday up Jaguar Path and happened to look over at one of our neighbor's homes.  It was 48º and sunny.  I was in a spring jacket even though there was snow all around and he was LAYING OUT!  Seriously.  With only his shorts on . . .  Think older and overweight.  Not a pleasant sight.  

I saw his neighbor, Matt, in his garage.  I stopped by and said with total disbelief, "Did you see . . . ?"  And he said, "That's why I'm  hiding in the garage."  We chatted a bit and then Annie and I took off.

A little while later we ran into Bob and Chris.  I had to ask again, "Did you see . . . ?"  "Yup," said Bob.  "He was drinking a beer."  Well, gee, I missed that!

Thankful Thursday

Today's "Thankful Thursday" is going to take a bit of a twist because what I'm thankful for today may or may not be a good thing, but I'm hoping it's a God thing.  

Earlier this year, Matt bought a second car which we certainly don't have room for in our driveway/garage because it was his "dream car".  Definitely APA - "against parental approval", but he is of age and he chose not to listen to us.  

Today - just a total freak "opps" - he locked his key in the trunk and he couldn't get it to open.  The locksmith was able to open a door, but it couldn't be shut again because there was no way to open it again.  Something to do with the electronics. 

The locksmith's supervisor came out and made a second key for Matt - to the tune of $166.00 more or less for both opening and key.  He also missed worked today because he wouldn't take my car and his (male) supervisor agreed it was more important to get the keys out.  What?!?

I'm thankful for two things - he struggled with the APA car and he was able to get back in.  In one of his more frustrated moments he acknowledged the waste of money today.  I'm thankful he saw that, too.