Sunset Hike

Someone (no name) had the brilliant idea to hike to the top of the ridge across the ravine from the camp to see the sunset. What a great idea! The sunset would be breathtaking from that vantage point! Four of us left camp at 7:30. We were all gung-ho as we set out. By the time we crossed the valley and headed up the mountain, we didn't think it was such a good idea anymore. The grade was terribly steep. What was once a burnt wasteland was now full of undergrowth, hiding the remnants of the tiny trees that had once been there. so that every step was a possible trap. No trail guided us. We simply went up. Each ridge displayed another ridge.
Finally, we climbed a rock that offered a view of the valley hidden by clouds, the orange line above the clouds, the observatory, the meadow below, and the mountain we'd just climbed. It was breathtaking.
There was another ridge. And another. We stopped, figuring we'd make it down to Escondido before long. We headed back in the dark. We nearly got lost. Thankfully, I was not leading and we found our way back.
We arrived back in camp at 9:50. It was fun because of the company and a hard work out. However, I do not plan on hiking up that way any time soon.

Training week is almost over. I could tell you about the ropes course and barn day and CPR/first aide training and orientation. However, I received an email from Katie tonight and, frankly, her week is more exciting than mine.
Hey everybody,
We went up to Lasu yesturday were we are doing the VBS. Kev, Pastor Simon, and myself. It was a very bumpy road!! The roads here are very very bumpy and some parts you can't even tell if they are roads. You never get bored on these roads though so they are pretty fun. They remind me of The Ghost Rider and Indiana Jones ride mixed except for a few hours instead of a few minutes. But like I said never boring :) We are kind of putting the final touches on VBS today and we will start on Monday. I am very excited to be spending time with the kids. We went to the IDP camp yeserday and saw some of them and they are so very cute. I'm excited to share God's love with them!! Please keep the prayers coming (I know you will be :))

6:00 a.m. Friday to 12:30 a.m. Sunda

Early Friday morning we dropped Katie off at the airport. I found myself terribly excited for her. I was surprised at the extent of my excitement for her, but excitement is much preferable to worry, so I went with it. As soon as we had said good bye and were certain that she made it through security, we hopped in the car again and drove from L.A. to San Luis Obispo for the graduation of two of my cousins.
It was two days loaded with fun! We were going non-stop from six o'clock Friday morning to 12:30 Sunday morning.
When we arrived in SLO we went to the beach house that my aunts and uncles had rented for the occasion. My cousin is a chef and he made delicious fajitas! After dinner we went to a concert at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. All of the band members are really good friends of my cousins. They are also amazing musicians (in some opinions)! The band is The Pat Little Band (you should check them out on youtube or iTunes). After the concert we went back to the house, had some dessert, told some funny stories about the two graduates, and then returned to the hotel to go to bed. Katie called about 1:30, but I was asleep and didn't realize it until the next morning.
The graduation started at 9:00, so we were at Cal Poly at 8:30. Personally, I can't stand graduations. Hours of sitting in the sun listening to people speak who say they won't speak very long, but then extend their speech until it seems endless. There was one particular man who wasn't on the program. He stood up at the end and said something like "I just briefly wanted to say..." half an hour later he was still going.
There were so many graduates, that after the speeches and the official "graduating" of the class, they split up into colleges and received their diplomas. My cousins were in separate colleges so our family split. I quickly found out which college was smaller and attended that one (how does one choose between equally beloved cousins?).
On our way back to the house from the graduation we stopped at Madonna Inn. It was like stepping into a live fairytale castle. The walls were huge stone, the decorations all shades of red and pink, a huge fireplace with a giant wing-backed chair beside it, the staircases are spiral with intricate designs etched into the wood. Each room is themed. We weren't able to tour any of the rooms. The closest we were able to get was the bathroom, which was also charmingly decorated as if it were a royal vanity.
A barbecue and lots of visiting followed the arrival of everyone at the house. Once they had finished eating, Brian and Alan (the graduates) brought out their guitars and presented the first part of a two part concert (we missed the second part because we had to leave). They are both very good musicians and they can both sing. Those who knew the songs sang along with them.
It was very sad when we had to say good bye. I haven't seen my family from Northern California for a year. There's such a huge age difference between myself and some of them, that I've always been one of the babies. Now that I'm growing up it's easier to have conversations with them all. The age difference doesn't seem so big any more.

Alan is in this picture, I promise. He's facing the camera about half an inch from the green spot that is really someone's decorated cap. You won't be able to see him. I had to zoom up really close on my camera to see him.

Brian is the one waving with the sunglasses on.

Someone from Africa was graduated. His/her family had the most beautiful, fabric. The styles of the dresses were a little odd. They had huge poofs and giant turbans, but the fabric was amazing.

My cousin's son (another cousin) is twenty months. He's here with his grandpa. He was fascinated with the orange cones (Tucker, not his grandpa). I was very sneaky and was able get a couple of shots without either of them noticing.

We saw this car on the freeway on our way home. We were trying to figure out if it was legal.

Katie Goes to Africa

Katie goes to Africa today. We're leaving in five hours to head to the airport. She's all packed and gone to bed. A duffle the size of a body bag and a box full of VBS materials wait to accompany her on her journey. I'm not sure how well she'll sleep tonight. She is so excited. We're all excited for her too, although I know my parents are worried sick.
I am looking forward to all of the stories and experiences that Katie will bring back and the hours of 50 mph talking once she returns. My friend put her picture on a tiny doll to send with Katie so that she can "be in Africa" with Katie.
I know that all of you are, but please pray that Katie will have a safe trip from start to finish. Also, please pray that my mom will be able to sleep during the three weeks that Katie is gone. Thank you.

Teaching Instructors to Teach

CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) is a program which teaches riding instructors how to teach. Every summer before camp starts we host a CHA clinic at Palomar so that our wranglers can get some training in instructing the girls for the summer. The clinic is open to the public so we have people come from all over to get trained and certified. Five days full of mock lessens, critiques, stress, and wells of information. Clinics are high in stress because every lessen one teaches is critiqued by all of the participants and the two clinicians.
Because I am already certified, I am hosting the clinic this year, so I gain all of the education that is being fed during the clinic and avoid all of the stress of having to plan and teach lessens that are really just oral tests. It's a lot of fun to gain new ideas for lessens and pick the brains of all the professional instructors who have been riding and teaching for years.

All the days that I was freezing in Salem, I kept dreaming of coming home and laying out on the beach. I'm not one who loves to spend hours on the beach just lying there. However, the prospect of the sun warming me through to where the artificial warmth of a heater couldn't get was so inviting. The first couple weeks that I was home we made several trips to the beach while we were waiting for Katie to get out of school. I now have a pretty respectable tan (thought not quite to my usual tan).
One day, I grew tired of laying in the sun. My mom was taking a nap, so I went for a walk and took some pictures. The pier is one of the most interesting places. All sorts of people can be found there. There are many who are fishing or on their way to Ruby's which sits on the end of the pier (I would post some pictures of the people that I saw, but I feel a little creepy posting pictures of people I don't know). There are also creatures such as gutted fish and a pelican that roosts on the rail while passers-by gaulk at him. I was informed later that only the tourists take pictures of it. Woops!

Fondue and Tea Parties

What could be more fun than playing with your food? That's really what fondue is, right? You stab a bite-sized piece of bread with a long metal fork and dip it into a communal pot full of dipping cheese sauce or chocolate sauce. Thursday night, my mom, Katie and I met the Miller women and Katie Miller's future mother-in-law at "The Melting Pot" in Temecula. They were having a special "girls' night." $22 for two cheese dips and two (possibly three) dessert dips. The spinach and artichoke cheese dip was amazing! The cheddar cheese dip was a little on the not-so-good side. The beer taste was very prevalent. I'm not a big fan of the taste or smell of beer. We ordered three dessert dips: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and bananas foster. My favorite was the dark chocolate. What about you? What sort of chocolate do you savor until the last taste is gone?



Look at that delectable selection.

Saturday morning the Morrishes and Millers and Mikey's mom drove from Murrieta to Santa Barbara for a tea party, bridal shower for Katie. The hostesses did an excellent job: food was delicious, the games fun, and the weather - well, not what I expected (windy and overcast and freezing!) but tons of fun anyways. Katie received a lot of gifts that made me think to myself "hmmm, maybe I should get married."
I haven't really seen either Katie or Sarah since I got home and it was fun to spend so much time with them.

The June tea cup for the wedding month; the pink flower and table cloth for the bride's favorite color!