MY RETURN...

Hey, this is Morgan. My mom wanted me to write about my trip experience on the Gunflint Trail/Bounday Waters. Well, the actual wilderness part was rather difficult yet not as bad as expected! From the camp that we arrived on Saturday, we headed out Sunday morning. The hike out to our wilderness camp was gorgeous! Snow covered trees and stillness. We all were harnessed with our sleds and backpacks full of necessities. We trudged through the first lake, expecting to have to go through two more. However, Mr. B told us that that was as far as we were going...thanks goodness. We started building our quinzees, with freezing wet snow piling up and still coming....bad news when it comes to a stable, safe quinzee. Once the quinzees were up we waited about 4-5 hours before we could dig them out. In the meantime we ate and a few of us girls (Megan, Sarah, Becca, and I) built a snow crocodile and her baby, it was super fun. Then it was time to dig out the quinzees. I shared a quinzee with Megan and Fikir. We were pretty nervous to start out because the weather was so wet and cold and our quinzee seemed much smaller once we started digging out. After hours passing by and we still were not finished, we resorted to seeking out help from one of the guys...Nick was the lucky one...or perhaps unlucky in his case...lucky for us girls. It was so frustrating because what we (Megan, Fikir, and I) thought was going to be a nice bigger quinzee - ended up being tiny and crammed. When it came to sleeping...constant drips of snow and a space where we could barely move...as in if one person moved everyone else had to too. The next morning (Monday)we woke up and shared how everything was going...with some exciting news at the end. Mr. B said that we were going back to camp as soon as everything was packed up! The hallelujah chorus sang...aka all of us. It was too cold and dangerous to be out another night. So we packed up and headed back! Along with the good news came better news...we found out we were going to a pool, showers, and pizza!!!
The actual spiritual retreat was a blast!! We did many different activities...sled dog harnessing, rock wall climbing, polar plunging, and the sauna. Also, the teachings were really awesome! This trip overall was super powerful. I got to see my class from a deeper perspective.
I also got to experience something I do not plan on ever happening again. Although, at the time was a time I will never forget. Just to shorten up the story, 5 of us (2 teachers and 3 students)went out in the boundary waters to see a waterfall! What started out to be something super exciting, a really fun adventure...quickly changed. One of the team went off up ahead of the rest of us, dusk started to hit he still was not back with the rest of us. We were all a little freaked out because it was getting dark and we should be heading back home, yet we still had to keep moving toward the waterfall because we had to find our other member. Finally, he came and we were able to head back. Unfortunately, he was the only one of the group who saw the waterfall, but honestly that did not matter to any of us...we just wanted to be back. We hiked through 2 feet of snow across an entire lake in which we had no idea what was going to happen. A lot of praying was what kept us going. We were running out of water and energy and core body heat. Our boots had built up inches of ice that made it even more difficult to walk in. What started out to be a couple hour hike (as in 3 hrs.) ended up to be 7 hours of adventure, fear, praying, and pressing on. We finally made it back to our van safely! Once we got back to the camp...a few of us cried and shared the experience. The people back at the camp were getting nervous, and at around 8 they said they were going to find help and come looking for us... we got back to the camp at 7:50. God is so good!

Winter Wilderness Camping Anyone?

Today the Junior and Senior class of CCS, left for winter camping! Actually the first part of the trip includes winter camping, camping in the elements, no tents, no bathrooms...roughing it big time. This part of the trip is physically challenging as the kids and leaders hike into the woods of the Gunflint Trail, build quinzees (made from piling snow into a mound, letting it sit and then digging it out) to sleep in.
The second part of the trip is located at a camp, where they will stay in a cabin with no bathrooms (outhouse), no water for showers..but they will have heat!! They will also experience the polar plunge...also known as "shower/bath."
While at the camp the kids will focus more on personal spiritual growth, with teachings by CCS staff. This trip, has been a highlight for students, one that they talk about long after graduation.
We have been preparing for quite a while now, as you need to have the right clothing, the right sleeping bag, boots, hats, snowshoes, etc... So today, we sent our kids off for a week! A week we hope will be a great experience for our daughter, and all the others!

Praying for all involved in trip

Megan, Morgan getting snowshoes ready!

Getting ready to "Head Out!"

Massage

I have a "special cousin," her name is Sandy. Sandy is a rare find, she has spunk, she has drive and has been a constant encouragement to me over the years. The thing about Sandy is even though we are cousins and our families (our parents) have always been close, her and I didn't get to know each other really well until we were a little bit older. Sandy and I are 10 years apart so while she was turning into a teenager, I was a pesty little girl...as we have aged we have discovered how much we are alike and how much we have in common.... We both were married the same year, we both have 14 year old girls that have a blast together! We love to laugh together, and have been known to shed a tear or two together. Well this weekend we celebrated her daughter Libby's 14Th birthday, Corbin was able to spend two nights with them at the Mall of American, Shelby, Seble and I joined them for one night and two days of MOA. Well, let's just say, we had quite a few laughs. A highlight for me was my "first massage." I was a little reluctant, but decided what the heck...with a little prompting. We sent the girls miniature golfing and off we went. It was an experience! We started out going for the 20 minute foot massage, it soon turned to 30. I had no idea that a foot massage included, face rubbing, leg slapping, arm squeezing and many laughs and giggles. I just have to say "Thanks Sandy," and Libby too! It was a great weekend away!

oh yeah...another thing....I would love to be a fly on the wall and hear the stories these poor people have to endure all day. The guy next to us was a real "gem." He was what I would call a "guy who thinks he is the complete package.....but isn't." It brought on a few more giggles...I decided that hairdressers and masseuses hear way more than they should.

p.s. I can't wait for my next massage!

Finally Finalized!

On December 28, 2009 Araya became an official, "Doble." The judge signed and sealed the papers. While Araya has been in our home now for 1 1/2 years, and in our hearts for longer there is something that "seals the deal," when you see it on paper.
Last week we spent an afternoon at the Social Security office getting Araya registered for a social security number, while I won't bore you with the details, nothing ever goes smoothly. We are so thankful for the wonderful woman who helped us and who was willing to wait while we rummaged through our "load" of paperwork.
Cheers to "Finalization."

A Sight To See!

My parents bought a motor home last summer, they went on a few "weekend road trips," this past summer and Fall. They have been anticipating a "longer" trip, and decided to leave on Wednesday of this past week. Well, let's just say, it was not "ideal" weather to leave in....but, I think their excitement prompted them to "go for it." I am not so sure they would repeat the last 5 days that they have experienced...I will name a few....slippery roads and snow until they arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, over-nights in Wal-Mart parking lots (unable to navigate anywhere else, and nothing open for camping in a snow-storm.) Windows so full of ice, you can't see out, crying wife (my mom) wanting to turn-around. The Explorer that you are towing has become so impacted with snow, and won't start, the nice cart boy at Wal-Mart even helps...gotta love Wal-Mart! The water doesn't work in the sinks, T.V. comes in on one station and it is Spanish....my parents might be speaking Spanish when they return.I don't know but man I am glad my mom and dad are safe! I can joke about this because tonight they are at a resort, looking at the mountains in the background...they have water and they can see out the windows...not to mention it is a balmy 65 degrees...Yahoo!!
I received an e-mail from my parents yesterday the subject read: "You won't believe this," Well they were right! I will let you see for yourself! This gentlemen had been driving this down the road and had stopped in a parking lot.

A SPUR OF THE MOMENT GET AWAY!

Spur of the moment doesn't usually work for us...but when it does... it is good! On Wednesday I decided to do some checking around for a "quick family get-a-way!" I remembered that we had gone to Grandview Lodge in the Nisswa/Brainerd area about 6 years ago with family for New Years. I went on the web site, saw a link for last minute deals and was on the phone, making plans! We left Thursday afternoon when Troy got home from work...we were checked in by 5:00. It was a fun filled two days, the weather was chilly, but we jammed a lot of fun in.....ice skating, homemade pizzas, reading and sitting by the fireplace (my favorite part), whirlpool tubs, water slides, movies, shopping and games!