Well, I figured I should take some time and fill everyone in about what I am doing and such.
We have started our Spring season at Camp Courageous. I was really excited about this because Spring= beautiful free time. Typically we work 14 hour days, but this season we only work 8-4!! We have groups of students from area school's Special Ed Programs come and do 3-5 activities and then head back to school. It has been really cool to see the teachers and sometimes gen. ed. "buddies" see the students at a camp designed especially for their success and to see how different they are when they are succeeding at the activities we have for them. My favorite moment so far was in my first group. This group was made up of five students from the Special Education program, four "buddy" students (general education), and two teachers. We were at the Super Zip, the camp zip line, and were harnessing up to go. One of the students used a wheelchair and the teachers and buddy students figured since she uses a chair she probably wouldn't be able go down the zip line. Little did they know, when we say EVERYONE can do EVERYTHING at Camp Courageous, we mean it. We began harnessing her up and got the sling seat she would be using in place when one of the teachers asked her if she really wanted to do this. The student answered her with a grin that was undoubtedly a "heck YES!!!" We wheeled her up to the platform and I stood and watched as the Adventure Specialists hooked up the block and tackle equipment and clipped her in. I was watching the other students and teachers and couldn't help but notice one teacher's white-knuckle grip on the railing with one hand, the other over her mouth, clearly a nervous wreck. As the commands were shouted to prepare for the zip, the student let out a shriek that can only be described as pure joy and anticipation and was lowered off the platform for the ride of her life. I glanced again at the nervous teacher and saw a few tears slip out of her eyes, her nervous face replaced with one of hope and gratitude. That is why I love this job. The chance to see people watch their loved one's doing things that they never thought they would be able to do. Seeing those loved one's eyes widen with excitement, watch them achieve something they had never thought of, and that beautiful smile that never fully leaves their face, always lingering at the corners of their mouths and shining out of their eyes. I cannot express the joy that it brings me. If you're looking for something beautiful, look no further ladies and gentlemen.
While I am loving my time here, the end is approaching. This is a very bittersweet thing for me. I love Camp..so much. The people I have in my life now will always be some of my favorites. But I cannot deny my excitement for what is next! First and foremost, I will graduate from UNI May 5th with five of my best friends. I am so excited! After that I move to Aurora, Illinois on May 19th and start my 14 week internship at Fox Valley Special Recreation Association. With the exception of having a place to live there, I'm sooooo ready to go!! The next step is semi up in the air right now. There is a REALLY amazing place in Bend, Oregon that contacted me for an internship interview that I am strongly looking to go to after my internship. There is also a grad school opportunity that is absolutely too good to be true at this point. It's a two year Masters program for Human Services Management in Maryland.. In this program you go to school while working directly in the field. I would be learning how to manage a group home for people with special needs while living and working in a group home. I am looking for more information and will probably be applying soon!
I have been feeling really out of touch spiritually for the past few months and was starting to get discouraged (as seen in lack of posting). I felt like I wasn't where I was supposed to be and then had some tragic losses in my life of some pretty great people. I prayed all the time to begin to feel God's arms around me and to see how taking the people He did was more than just cruel wrath. I turned to worship music and sat with my eyes closed just listening, praying, hoping for weeks. One of my favorite bands, Needtobreathe has a song called "Garden", it is a beautiful call to Jesus to be the center and it has been on repeat in my head for a while. I still don't have the answers to those questions, but I am beginning to feel God taking my hand and leading me again. Man, does that feel great. Even as I type these words I am beginning to feel His love starting to cover me again. It feels like coming home. I'm excited to for the next season of life, and am loving living this one out to the fullest.
The title of this post comes from Gungor's "Beautiful Things" Check it out!
The title of this post comes from Gungor's "Beautiful Things" Check it out!
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