Into the Wild

WARNING: Picture heavy post!!  

I have mentioned this before, (probably more than once!) but one thing I love about working at the DHP is the way they take care of us. The DHP is all about community and supporting each other, and it’s just fantastic. It’s been such a blessing to get to experience a community like this. I truly believe it is a glimpse of Heaven!

Just recently, the entire staff got to drive up to the beautiful Frontier Ranch (a young life camp) for a week of winter camping. All I really knew before we left was that we would spend two nights solo camping. In the woods. In a tent. In the snow. and did I mention alone??

Anyways…we loaded up the car…

…and arrived at this beautiful adult lodge!

With this beautiful view. Yea. It’s amazing.

The next morning, we drove up to St. Elmo, a ghost town, to go snow shoeing.

THERE WAS SO MUCH SNOW!

But we strapped on our snowshoes and headed out through the woods.

We happened upon a tree with DALE carved in it. Cool huh?

and we just kept walking…and walking…and walking. It really was peaceful to walk through the snow covered woods. It was so quiet and clean and beautiful with the fresh powder.

Then we had to climb a HUGE hill. It was tough because of the super deep snow and the incline! But we all pulled together and helped each other make it to the top!

Day 3 of winter camping was “group camp night.” Thanks to Kevin and George for letting us have a practice round of camping with everyone before putting us out in the wilderness alone!

It appears that we are all reallllllly excited about this!

I think we all got pretty good air for having those packs on our backs!

After our photo shoot, the hike began. I was tired after about 5 minutes of walking. Those packs are HEAVY!

After about an hour we stopped for what we thought was a “lunch break.” After eating and relaxing, Kevin announced that we should find a spot to set up our tents! This was our campsite! I was sooooo happy I didn’t have to lug that pack anymore! Steph and I were sharing a tent that night, so we found the perfect spot and set it up! It was a cozy little home  

After getting our tents set up, George showed us how to make a one match fire! We each got to try! It took me two matches, but I was still pretty impressed with myself! Its all about the no-bark wood and size of the stick!

Stephanie did a great job with her fire…after a while but on solo, she really did only use one match per fire! Crazy!   (I used a whole box on solo and actually ran out!! Luckily George came by and brought me more!)

To help get warm, and see a beautiful view, we took a little hike up the mountain above our campsite! Little did I know that the cliff behind me is the one we would be rappelling down the next day!

After the hike, we came back and built a big fire to help keep us warm for the evening. It was cold, but it was cool to be with everyone around the camp fire. Jesse and Kevin fixed us some yummy mac and cheese, ramen noodles, bread, and hot chocolate for dinner and then we just spend the rest of the evening talking, laughing, and singing Salty Dog and KumBaYah! I really just love the people I work with! It was such a fun thing to be with them and have this experience together.

The next morning, on our hike back to the cabin, we stopped for a little rappelling DOWN A CLIFF!

Travis (pictured), Nik, and Ryan all went FACE first! You couldn’t pay me enough to have done that!

Annie was brave sitting on the edge of the rock! But look at the view! We would climb that mountain later in the week!

I was really scared scooting my way back to head down the mountain. Kevin was reassuring…kinda! The rope got stuck on the side of the mountain, and I thought Kevin was going to have to climb down to unstick me!

I was thrilled when I made it to the bottom. That’s the ultimate face of relief to be on solid ground!

The next day was the dreaded one…the start of solo camping! We hiked up to the generally same area where we group camped and were assigned to our own areas. I actually was looking forward to this time. I thought it would be a great time of reading, writing, and thinking. It actually proved to be kind of disappointing while I was out there. I found myself constantly having to gather more wood for my fire so I wouldn’t freeze or it would start snowing or I would have to go to the bathroom or gather more wood yet again! I felt like I was always gathering wood!! But my fire was pretty good! I was proud of myself! Below is a picture of my campsite!

Night time was the scariest part of the whole thing. It was just extremely quiet and the snow falling on my tent sounded like someone was walking around me. I really did feel the peace of Christ during this time however. I knew with all these mysterious sounds around me, I would  never fall asleep. All I wanted to do was fall asleep so I wouldn’t realize where I was. I prayed and prayed that the Lord would calm my mind and just allow me to sleep. He really did answer that prayer. It was cool to get to experience that.

I did get more out of the solo time than I realized when I was out there. I was frustrated during my time in the woods, but being able to reflect on the time (once we came inside) allowed me to recognize the ways in which the Lord did speak to me. I also learned a lot from listening to my friends talk about their experience. Yet again, I am so blessed to be surrounded by these people!

All of our activities led us up to the final day…Climbing MT. PRINCETON!!

It was a fun hike through the snow! We stopped once we made it to the T.V. towers for a little photo op

The hike was just beautiful and not too cold! Look at the view! We could even see Pikes Peak (the mountain in the Springs) from a two hour drive away! It was so clear and awesome!

We also had to scale the mountain due to the possible threat of avalanches along the actual trail.

We made it to the top!! (well kinda)

But decided to keep going…even higher, through the wind and snow!

It was a crazy hike…but we saw one of these guys!! I wish I had his feet to climb over those rocks!

We made it to the top and Kevin told Jesse to break out the celebration! To our surprise Jesse had been carrying sparkling cider all day! So fun to pass the bottle around at the top of this beautiful mountain!

In order to get down the mountain faster, we took a path known as “Hackett Hill.” It was the craziest thing ever!! It was a cut through the woods, not on any trails, through about 5 feet of snow!! It was so hard to get through!! I ended up sliding on my butt most of the time cause my feet would just go right through the 5ft of snow! I don’t think I have ever laughed that hard either. It was hilarious trying to go down and watch Stephanie!

George reminded us while we were away that Jesus often took his disciples away, out of the ordinary, into the wilderness, into solitude to refocus and be alone with him.

Winter camping was awesome. It was more than just being together with each other. It was about being together with Christ.

  I did a lot of things that I may never get the chance to do. I learned a lot about survival. I ate a lot of great food (thanks Sharon!). I stayed (most nights) in an amazingly beautiful mountain cabin. I played a lot of cards. I set up a tent by myself. I cooked myself dinner over a fire. I talked to no one for two days. I scaled down a mountain held up only by a rope. I wore the same clothes too many days in a row. I climbed a 14er. I saw a mountain goat. I slid down through lots of snow. I was encouraged by friends. I shared moments with friends. I ate with friends. I learned from George and Kevin. I spent time with people that I love so much. I got away from the normalcy of everyday life. I encountered unexpected things from Jesus.

7 MONTHS?!

WOW! That’s crazy!

Its time for my update, but I don’t have time to do it

The training staff (which includes me) is headed to 11,000 feet to go winter campaing…yes, sleeping in the snow! I have never camped in a tent, much less in the snow! We will spend one night group camping and then two nights solo camping! We also will go rappelling, snow shoeing, and hiking. Wow. Its going to be intense! But fun!

I am excited to get to spend 9 days with my co-workers and friends! They are awesome people!

We’re going to  have fun!

I’ll update when I return!

Mother of all Mothers

I really have the best mother ever. I feel lucky that I have had the chance to grow up under her love and guidance. I really hope that I can be a mother like she is a mother. The mother of all mothers.

I have recently been made super aware of how blessed I truly am. You hear about bad dads and neglectful fathers, but it is amazing the sort of mothers my primaries have grown up with.

One’s mother did and sold drugs throughout the country as he was a child. He didn’t go to school because he was in the back of a car driving drugs from FL to CO. He was eventually adopted at age 7, but his adopted mom doesn’t come by the DHP to see him, doesn’t call to check on him, doesn’t answer his calls. His biological mom is a meth addict. She is basically homeless. She doesn’t care about him, but his money and how she can use him. He texted me the other night on his new cellphone “goodnight mom.” It breaks my heart that he says that because I am no where close to his mom, but he doesn’t have a better example.

Another one of my primaries’ mothers did all sorts of drugs during her pregnancy. Then she delivered her and hated her from the start. She sold her into prostitution around the age of 6, she would set her and her sister outside in the cold so she could have sex with men inside the house. She poisoned her with different substances and my primary still suffers enormous stomach pains due to this. He mother is still on drugs and my primary wants nothing to do with her and cannot even stand the thought of being like her mother.

My final primary is so confusing that I am not even sure much about her mother. Her parents were divorced when she was young. She doesn’t hear from her biological mother. Her adopted mother has come to see her two times in 5 months. She tells my primary that her younger brother doesn’t want to see her because he is afraid of her.

See what I mean? Its insane how blessed I am. My mother always answers my calls. She always happily takes a break to talk to me. She came to visit me even when I was in a different country. She would do anything for me…and for the people I care about, which is where the pictures come in. My mother sent me such an amazing package, with super thoughtful items for me. She also sent gifts for my roommates, the secretary, and my primaries.

She spent her time (and talents!) to sew them pillow cases with their names on them and included a note. You should have seen their faces when I gave it to them on Valentine’s Day. One girl re-read the note like it was her favorite book. I so often take these notes for granted, but they have not had a mom to write them love notes. Oh man. It made me sad for them that they have not had the chance to be showered with love from a mother, but I was also thankful that I could share my mother’s love with them.

Thanks for loving me mom, and thanks for loving those I love. 

Let’s hear it for New York

I received a text message while at home over Christmas from my roommate and friend, Kallie. “Hey Abby, you wanna go to NYC?”

Well, yes, but it just didn’t seem possible or reasonable to go. Instead of saying no, I told her I would think about it.

I returned to the Springs, and she asked again. “Hey Abby, wanna go to NYC? I found cheap tickets!”

I still need to think about it.

Well, I did…and…

So that was it! Kallie and I packed our bags and headed to NEW YORK!

It was such a fun time! We took a red-eye flight, arrived in the snow-covered city around 6:30 am with about 3.5 hours of sleep under our belts, Kallie navigated the subway system, arrived at my old YoungLife teammate, Lindsay’s apartment, and then hit the road touring! 

We did allllll sorts of things! Kallie had a great trip planned out! We hit up a starbucks first (both of our names are spelled wrong!), then rode the ferry over to Staten Island so we could get a peek at that famous statue!

After that, we found the M&M heaven and FAO Schwarz!

 

Over the next few days, we visited the World Trade Center site, the Empire State building, (and pretended we were Buddy the elf and got escorted out!), Times Square, Little Italy, China Town, the financial district,…and the list goes on and on!

Check out the album for more pictures  

 

 

We also got to go to two shows,which I loved! We saw Avenue Q and Chicago! Fantastic! Shows always make me want to be on Broadway! If only I knew how to dance!

 

 

 

 

 

NYC had recently been hit with some major snow, but we didn’t let the weather stop us! That’s a bike and a car under all that snow!

 

One of my favorite parts of traveling (now, this is going to sound like my father, but…) is the food! We went to so many interesting and fun restaurants!

 

 

1.Lindsay and her boyfriend took us to a place called Kati Rolls. I wish you could see the menu better. We had the option, luckily for those who can’t read, of choosing between a picture of a chicken, a picture of an egg, or a picture of a potato. There menu wasn’t fantastic, but the food sure was!

 

 

 

 

2. Café Roma: I had never tasted cannoli’s before, but I have no idea why!! These things were delicious!

 

 

3. Prosperity Dumpling: I can’t say I felt more prosperous after this experience of Chinese Dumplings, but the visit helped me learn that I never want to eat Chinese Dumplings again!   

 

 

 

 

4. Panni II: Yes, specifically Panni II, not one of the other 3 that surround this restaurant. We had specific guidelines to chose the Panni II, the one on the upper right. There are 4 Panni’s, all of which have older gentlemen trying to persuade you into their Panni. We made a good choice, although I am glad I don’t have seizures! The ceiling of this restaurant was covered in 10000000’s of bright, ugly string lights!

 

5. The Lobster Place in Chelsea Market: Terrible smell, great soup!

 

 

 

 

6. Max Brenner (AKA CHOCOLATE HEAVEN!): This was my favorite place!! Everything was chocolate! Anything you could thing of…in chocolate! They even brought us our own mini-fire to roast the marshmallows before dipping them in chocolate fondue!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Kallie and I started with dessert at Bianca, then followed that with some super delicious Italian food!

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Kallie’s brother, Ryan, told us we HAD to go to a place called Please Don’t Tell. I am so happy he recommended it! It has no sign, in fact, it has no door to the outside. You go into a little hotdog restaurant, pick up the phone that is in the phone booth on the wall, ask if they have room, and if so, they will open the door through the backside of the phone booth into this secretive, dark, quiet bar! Its so crazy! They even have rules (and super expensive drinks!!)

 

 

 

 

9. Alice’s Tea Cup: If I was turning 6, I would want my birthday party here! So colorful, delicious, and full of tea! I am not really a tea drinker, but if I had tea like that around all the time, I might would convert!

 

10. What’s NYC without pizza?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am so grateful to Lindsay for letting us stay in her beautiful apartment! She has the most amazing view of the Queensboro Bridge! And her apartment is HUGE for NYC! Not only was it a blessing to get to stay there, but it was incredible to get to see Lindsay! She is one of the most caring, gentle, kind, God-fearing, and not to mention smartest people I know. She is getting her PHd from Rockefeller University in Neurogenetics. She is currently researching one of my biggest questions: why mosquitos bite some people more than others! Love you Linds!!

Lindsay and her awesome boy, Rudy!

Power through the Powder!

Annie (a co-worker!) and me!

 

Like I have mentioned before, the Dale House really loves to be able to give the residents opportunities to do things that they may never have had or may never have in their lives. One of those opportunities is made possible through the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC).

“The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) is a national leader in outdoor adventure education serving all people, while ensuring that the outdoor adventure is accessible to those with disabilities and special needs.” (taken from boec.org)

BOEC offers all sorts of outdoor activities (skiing, snowboarding, fishing, hiking, etc.) at super low prices to kids with disabilities and their chaperones! Even better…all of the BOEC guides are volunteers!! Pretty cool, huh?

So while the kids at the DHP aren’t technically “special needs,” we were somehow able to qualify for BOEC’s programs! Each resident that wants to go only has to pay $45 for a full day of snowboarding/skiing, rentals, and a personal instructor! What  a deal! And its awesome for me, because each resident also has to have a chaperon…which is where I come in!

I would not consider myself a skier, (I am slowly learning to not just pizza the whole way down the mountain!), but I was able to go and “chaperon” “Sarah.” I use quotes because she did NOT need me! She did so great at her first time on a snowboard! By the end of the day she was beating me down the slopes and barely even falling! Our instructor (who was from England by the way…free day of skiing with a British instructor? Yes please!) was so impressed by Sarah!

It was so much fun to get to be with Sarah and do something adventurous together. The kids really loved it too. My favorite part of the whole day I think, was the ride home. After all the talk of how great the day way, all the residents fell asleep. The car was quiet. I didn’t just like that the car was quiet, but I liked what the quiet represented. It just seemed so peaceful, like they had a great day and were able to sleep soundly after it. 

Sarah rocking it on the board!

Thankfulness

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

A few weeks ago, I did my devo on being able to praise God through things and seeing his hand in the inner workings of our lives. I felt like the Lord had really been tugging on my heart, trying to get to me to see his goodness in all the crappy things that happen to these residents and just in life in general. I had my co-workers write things where they had seen God work on little squares of paper and tape them to this canvas I had painted. It was cool for me to read them and realize just how much the Lord is working here.

I have still been thinking about that devo I did and trying to see the Lord more. Today, Ted’s devo took my thoughts a little deeper. It was really awesome.

I was super challenged by Ted’s devo. I love listening to Ted talk. He is just so passionate, genuine, and wise. I always feel encouraged and challenged by him. Today he read the verse above (1 Thessalonians 5:18). He discussed how giving thanks is God’s will for our lives. I thought that was just crazy. I often think that “doing this, or doing that” is God’s will for my life, or often pray “God, show me your will for my life,” but there it is laid out plainly in scripture: giving thanks in all circumstances is God’s will for my life.

Ted went on to talk about how being thankful in circumstances, regardless of what they might be, can really help the outlook and the attitude of the situation. Even if we are not thankful for the circumstance, we should be thankful in the circumstance. He also talked about how he wants his thankfulness to come from the Lord, not from himself. I often find myself being thankful for something because that’s how I was raised—not because my inner thankfulness is from God—or because there is something obvious that I need to be thankful for. However, I want my thankfulness to be inner and to come from the Lord regardless of the situation.

I think if I could really practice being thankful in all circumstances that my life would be totally different. I could see the good instead of the bad or the Lord instead of the trial.

That’s something I am praying for myself: that I would be able to be genuinely thankful in the circumstances that the Lord puts in my life. I pray that for you too.