SURPRISE!

Little did I know, my birthday wasn’t over when I wrote that last blog post.  My two friends had been waiting on me to finish up my blog post.  About ten minutes before I finished the entire rec center cleared out and it was just us 3…I didn’t think much of it…One of my friends suggested heading to one of the dining halls to grab a snack before bed & I said I’d go along with her.  The 3 of us lolly-gagged on over to the dining hall & went in the back entrance…I thought twice about the fact we were using the back (kitchen) entrance, but figured, “Eh. Whatever.”  We walked into pitch black & I immediately heard voices.  

ME: “Is that a dude’s voice!?”
FRIEND: “Nah, I think it was just the light turning on.”
ME:  ”No. That is DEFINITELY a guy talking.”

The lights flashed on & all of my summer staffer friends were hanging from the rafters (literally), hiding behind tables, or jumping out to say, “Happy Birthdayyy!!!”

And then we danced.

***

The next day at lunch, I thought all the excitement was over.  But I was wrong.  After staff had eaten lunch three of my friends came out of the kitchen singing the Happy Birthday song holding 2 huge sheet cakes that read, “Happy Birthday Sarah!” :)  Thanks Momma & Daddy-o.  So we ate, drank, & were very merry.

***

This past week has been easy, restful, & wonderful.  Here are some pictures:

// After church in the park. //

// This is our barn hummingbird that I fondly named, “Theresa.”  She has a friend named, “Bill.” //

// Pray for Colorado.  Those aren’t low hanging clouds.  That’s smoke.//

// Evening 2.5 mile run down the mountain with some friends. //

// This was one of my most favorite afternoons yet. //

It’s my birthday today!

// Woke up to notes on the mirrors and things hanging around the apt //

// Spent a quiet morning with the horsies //

// Checked my mail & got some notes from friends <3 //

// Was treated to lunch by a new friend //

// Played frisbee & botchy ball in the park //

// Got this snap chat (& others…& texts & phone calls & FB notifications) //

// Went to dinner with a bunch of summer staffers & was treated to a meal //

Spent some time in the pool this afternoon too (see the video below…it was really funny, but maybe you had to be there).

Overall a great birthday :) and who would have thought I’d be spending my 23rd birthday on a mountain in CO with a barn full of horses and so many new friends.  Funny, exciting, & a little bit nerve wracking (but awesome!) how God works life out.  Thankful for 23 healthy, full, challenging, and awfully fun years.  (A little disappointed that I won’t be able to sing 22 by Taylor Swift with the same kind of passion now…but I think I’ll get over it somehow…)

“Synchronized swimming” with Stuart.

I’m very sleepy today and feeling pretty mellow.  I’m hoping I’m not fighting off a sickness.  Horn Creek staff has been hit pretty hard with a stomach bug and nasty head cold.  I think it’s passing now, but you never know…I spent my afternoon with the horses up at the barn, watching them and petting them and just being with them.  It struck me, for the first time, the kind of humility it requires for a horse to allow man to lead or ride him.  A horse could kill a human with one swift movement, and instead they allow for relationship.  And I am SO thankful when they do.  There’s one horse at our barn that has not allowed that, however.  His name is Kingston.  He’s one of the most beautiful horses I’ve seen and he’s very kind on the ground.  But get on his back and he refuses to listen.  He’s dangerous.  He rears and runs and has even laid down (with a rider on him) in his meanest temper tantrums.  What you have to understand, is that horses are not usually this way on their own.  This kind of malicious behavior usually is created by wrong-doing or mishandling by a human being.  Kingston was a rescue horse.  We aren’t sure of his background, but chances are he was not always well-treated.  Today we sent him back.  The reality is, is that he will probably meet the glue factory.  And I don’t say that as a joke.  (Let me be clear: if it were my horse, he wouldn’t be going to the slaughter house, but out here it’s just how the farmers handle “problem animals.”  I have no control over it.)  It makes me sad.  What a waste of life.  And so I was humbled this afternoon, by the idea that such powerful animals are so gentle with humans when we more often than not do not deserve that kind of respect.  And convicted, by God-breathed life wasted.

I love the people I’m meeting here.  It’s both refreshing and challenging the hearts they have for Jesus and for serving Him.  They’re also hysterical.  I’m laughing a majority of the time here.  Very often I find myself in a room full of my new friends saying prayers of thanks for them.

In other news, today marks 2 weeks.  It feels like 2 months.  I’ve loved every second of my time here, but it feels like forever since I’ve been in little town OH.  I miss friends and the comforts of home, but I know already that I’m not going to want to leave this place.

There’s a lot that I’ve done since I’ve blogged last, but maybe I’ll update about those things later on.  For now, I think I’m gonna go back to my room and relax.  Dinner in a half hour.

A Day Off - One Week Down

// This is Rocky the pony.//

// He thinks he’s all that. //

//I may never get over these.//

// Bishop Castle—Sketchiest place on earth.//

//Beneath that little bit of wire is a million foot drop (or it looked that way)//

//Not okay with heights//

//Jim Bishop loves the government//

//PATCHES!//

Friday was our day off and it was awesommmme.  We went to this sketchy castle on a cliff.  This dude named Jim Bishop decided to build a castle and now lets people come walk around in it.  Only thing is some walls aren’t there and balconies don’t have railings or if they do they’re made of chicken wire and steps have fallen through and the towers rock in the wind and walkways end with a drop off.  If you look at the pictures you can tell that I’m terrified.  Not only do I not love heights, I don’t love heights that sway in the wind.  But don’t worry, Mom…It’s safe kinda.  Only one person’s died there that I know of.

After Bishop Castle we boogied our way right on over to Florence (CO, not Italy, but don’t worry, I called it Italy all day), the antique capital of Colorado.  Then found a Goodwill nestled along the streets of Canon City.  Holler!  Got a 3x men’s sweatshirt & a comforter & the sweetest pair of riding jeans. (OH! We also rolled up on a Colorado yard sale and I bought a blue mason jar, a vase thing, and two tea cup mug things…none of which I needed, & more importantly none of which I know how I’m actually going to get home.  But whatever.  Life is best lived on the edge.  Oley!)

After Goodwill came dinner.  Noms. I had a beggin’ chee-boigah (translation: bacon cheese burger) and it was delicious.  The other half is in my fridge and now I want to eat it. Thanks.

I’m a little burnt.  Sorry, Dad!  But I have 110 SPF sun screen.  Yea, I think that should do the trick.

Also, I missed Sam McLeod’s wedding today.  To think!  He’s a married man now & I missed it :( 

In other news, I want to buy a hammock.  It’s the thing to do around here and it’s awesome and I want to. (Helpful Hint: My birthday is June 8.)

In other other news, all the wranglers were assigned horses.  Mine is Patches :) pictured above.  He’s awesome & tall & spotty…patchy…if you will.  But he’s a little jumpy, so yay for a quirk to work out!

If you care to mail me snail mail style (PLEASSSEEEE!?) you can reach me at:

My name
Horn Creek
6758 County Rd 130
Westcliffe, CO 81252

So, now that I’ve divulged a good deal of private information, see ya lata! :)

Patience.

// ROOMMATE Brittany :) perfect living buddy //

// Frisbee - I was REALLY thankful for those many Thursday nights of Ultimate games in high school! //

// Cackled my way right through this game //

// Boss lady - straight up Western //

// Join up //

// Horse training - this is called “spaghetti head” (or at least that’s what we call it); the goal is to get the horse to tolerate the ropes wrapped around his face while walking.  This helps to prepare the horse for trail riding where so many things can spook a him. It makes me giggle EVERY time //

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc7iJjPdIXo <— a video the photographers made for the woman that hired us all. It’s mostly waving, but gives you an idea of the activities offered at Horn Creek & the people I’ll be working with this summer. And ya might just catch a glimpse of yours truly ;)

***

It’s been obvious—even in just the past two and a half days—that this summer is going to be a lesson on patience.  It’s been tough catching up on sleep, adjusting to a new normal, altitude is still a jerk, training horses is exhausting and time consuming, and a million other little things.  My boss has encouraged us to draw parallels between our work with the horses and our relationships with Christ.  The most glaringly obvious is my huge need to learn patience.  I’ve posted just a few pictures of our horse training, but what you don’t see is just how long it takes.  Join up is the process of gaining a horse’s respect.  You get them to move forward (walk, trot, canter) along the rail of the circle pen and look for cues that they are submitting (blinking eyes, dropping head, chewing lips, inside ear turned toward you), then you relax in the center of the ring and turn your back to them.  The goal is that they will stop running, turn in towards you & follow you around the ring.  This means they understand that you are boss—they are submitted to you.  I’ve read about this process in books and watched videos of horse experts doing it.  These past two days I’ve successfully done it with 2 different horses.  It’s an amazing experience.  The process is not cruel in any way and it leaves you and the horse with a new bond—then you start training.  With some horses this process is very simple.  The 2 horses I’ve joined up with (the one I worked with today is pictured in the last photo.  His name is Jasper.  He’s my new fave.) have taken no time at all, maybe 5 or 10 minutes.  But the horse in the second to last photo, Dolly, is very willful and still hardly turning in towards whoever is working with her.  It’s very frustrating even to watch and requires a lot of patience.

And that’s just ONE of the several issues that are requiring me to really practice patience.  And let’s face it, I can be patient for a little while & then I crack like an egg.  Don’t get me wrong…I’m loving my time here and I’m very excited about this summer! :)  But I know I’ll be learning patience in many areas…if you think of it…pray for me maybe?

First Impressions

//Best way to make new friends: pile into a car with strangers & let them sit on your lap//

//SOOO excited & thankful for these new friendships//

//View from the barn//

Day One of Orientation.

I’m exhausted, but content.  I’m making new friends and giggling a lot.  Those are both very good things.  Right now I’m sitting in the rec center (the only place we have wifi).  A few of my new friends are chatting and laughing to my right and there are a few people playing basketball on the court to my left.  Today we had orientation.  We took a tour, learned about some basic camp stuff—yadda yadda…I’ve been thinking for hours about what I might say once I had the chance to blog my first official blog, but now that I’m here my head’s shutting down and I’m sleepy.  But I’ll give it my best shot.  Here are a couple tidbits:

1. The altitude here’s a real jerk.  When I arrived yesterday afternoon I didn’t notice it right away.  And then my head started to hurt and my stomach got a little queasy and my lips were instantly chapped.  When I walk around I end up panting and feeling like a real lazy bum, but I run just fine in OH…so, what the heck Colorado?

2. Last night I was a little unsure.  I was exhausted, running on 2.5 hours of sleep 18 hours into the day not to mention I was a little uncomfortable due to the altitude, and feeling very introverted, withdrawn, and quiet.  One night’s sleep and I’m like a new woman! Look out!

3. I’ve made friends :) And I’m still making them.  And I’m so excited for 3 whole months with these people.

4. Today we horse proofed the barn.  Repaired things.  Picked up debris  HORSES COME TOMORROW!

5. If you think OH weather is unpredictable, come to CO.  Today I was standing in the sun sweating and it started to snow.  Riddle me THAT.

6. The mountains here? …Breathtaking.  I posted a few pix on Instagram/Facebook.  I promise I’m trying to be self-controlled and not post evvverything, but seriously.  Sometimes I find myself just staring at them in awe.  This little East Coaster is in shock.  I feel like I’m in a movie. Or a dream.  It’s amazing.  I wish you could all be here to see them.  Or maybe you’ve already seen them.  Either way…I wish you were here.

7.  My roommate is a red headed singer from West Chester, PA :) One of my co-workers knows some people I know from college/high school.  My other co-worker is a vocal music major.  My OTHER co-worker reminds me exactly of a friend I graduated with.  Thank Jesus for a little piece of home in one way or another.

8. I miss you guys.

Surprise to me!

Tonight, a few friends—some new, some old—gathered around for a little surprise going away party.  And my little heart couldn’t be any more full.  It’s always been through the people that I love that God moves me.  Sometimes he reveals to me a little something about who He is.  Sometimes He shows me just how selfish or shallow I am—just how desperately I need Him. Today, Abba Father reminded me just how much He loves me through the love and support of my friends.  I am not a person prone to loneliness, but this first year of post-grad life has been tricky to adjust to.  It’s not so terrible!  I’ve enjoyed much of it!  There are a lot of new mini-adventures I’ve been tackling.  But it’s been impossible not to notice that my dearest friends are living lives all over the world and this new adulthood thing has, at times, seemed designed to be extra lonely.  But tonight, as I sat amongst new friends in the cozy little small town coffee shop that I work at, I couldn’t help but feel like Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) was right there too, laughing and loving on me along with my friends.  Tonight, He’s reminding me how much He loves & cares & provides.  Not just today, but yesterday too.  And He will continue  tomorrow.  

My words don’t say it quite right.  But friends who were there, please know that you gave me a little glimpse of Christ tonight.  I love and will be missing you all.

Here I come Colorado—in 4 days (heart palpitation)—supported & well loved.

6 Days

In less than a week I’ll be chillin’ in the Rockies.  Where did the time go?  I’m pretty sure it was February yesterday…

I’d been pining for some kind of adventure.  I love little Cedarville, but I wanted to GO somewhere.  Live somewhere outside of my comfort zone.  Do something I love.  And so, when I was approached about living in Colorado for a summer training and riding horses it seemed like a great idea!  And, well, the closer it gets the more “outside of my comfort zone” it feels.  I don’t know anyone who will be there.  I don’t know where I’ll be living.  I only have a small idea of what I’ll actually be doing every day.  I’ll be missing 3 very important weddings.  My living situation in OH is pretty much undefined come August (and I’ll still be in CO, so I won’t be able to take care of it).  And there was no one to sublet my apartment anyway, so I’m out half my pay from Horn Creek.

Deep Breath.

I know it will be fine.  I’m excited to make new friends.  I’m excited for adventure.  I’m excited and hopeful for a real heart change this summer. And as He’s always been, I know God will be faithful with all the loose ends.  He answered my prayers for something new and different by placing Horn Creek in my lap.  I trust He will take care of the rest.

God is faithful. God is good.

//1 Thessalonians 5:16-18//
16 Rejoice always,
17 Pray without ceasing,
18 Give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

It’s been sinking in lately—as my college graduation date feels increasingly distant and as this first year of post-grad life wraps itself up—I appreciate my life.  With all of its quirks and stressors and inconsistencies and spontaneity and mystery and anxiety and boredom and smiles and aches.  It’s all good—every bit of it.  I’ve been in denial a good long time that I’m an adult (don’t let me fool you, I’m still in denial).  I like to sign checks to pay the bills and pretend that I’m just practicing my signature until the day it really counts—until I’m grown up or famous or signing a hall pass (because let’s be realistic).  Just kidding, I don’t do that.

But I’ve been reminded recently, that it’s the small things everyday.  Like a slow jog at dusk with a new album playing on your iPhone (which I’m still not sure how I’m paying for…Mom will remind me).  Or freshly brewed coffee.  Or a snuggly, oversized pup.  Or the haunt of the first storm of the season rolling in.  Or a cool breeze and a rest on the door step.  Or a freshly cut apple.  Or re-discovering life through a little one.  Or the excited “Hi Miss Thompson!!” and hug from a student.  Or just rest.  It’s all good stuff.  I just have to remember to take the time to notice it.

And yes, I’d love to be living in a city.  I’d love to be out of the five mile radius (it’s bigger than that, but is it really?) of this little college town.  I’d love to be working full-time instead of pretending like three part-time jobs are what I went to school for.  I’d love to shake off that nagging little brick in my gut that leaves me squirming, thinking I might be wasting “the best years of my life.”  I’d love to be living on one street with all of my favorite people, having picnics and parties and barbecues and bonfires and weird adventures that surely only my group of friends could ever find enjoyable and wreaking all kinds of havoc like old times.  But here I am in my small college town, working all kinds of part-time jobs and waiting for chapter 2 (or 23, depending on how you’re counting) and I’m okay with it.  In fact, I’m very content with it.  There are moments here and there when I look around and don’t feel so tickled about it all, but today is one of those days when reality sets in—and this is reality—it’s all really quite good.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer // Psalm 19:14