one step at a time

As I write this I'm sitting outside on the back steps of the staff house looking up at a host of stars. Wish I could see this many stars everywhere I go. I've been trying to remember all the constellations I memorized for astronomy but only a few have been sticking out. Alas.

At any rate, the past couple of weeks have been very full and very fun. I traded out card games for cops & robbers, and coffee-drinking excursions for karaoke. That's another way of saying I'm not working with the teens anymore. Tweens are a blast but definitely keep ya on your toes. Wouldn't trade it for anything, though. Every week I get to run around the ranch catching goats, screaming "Get him!" toward the work crew guys as the kids go running to tickle them, and assist in the lassoing of housekeepers (highlights of the photo scavenger hunt). This last week in particular had a great group of kids (super sweet), and I definitely teared up when I had to say goodbye. I can't tell you how many times they asked me if I'd be back next year so they could see me again; warmed my heart. I'd love to come back but we'll see what happens; one step at a time. It's awesome, too, how we not only had a blast doing all the crazy things that the tweens end up doing but how we also had some really good lesson times (our one serious moment of each morning) that they seemed to really understand and I hope sticks more than who won what game.

In addition to having fantastic tweens, I've had a few neat surprises:
Surprise #1: I finally saw the elk! I'd been waiting and waiting to see the elk I'd heard so much about, and one morning I was sitting outside where I'm at now and look up to see 2 elk in the woods. Beautiful moment.
Surprise #2: On Wednesday I was extremely blessed to go white water rafting with one of the families who had two boys in the tweens group. Long story of how I got to go, but I was so very thankful for the opportunity. I got my fair share of freezing water, but it was well worth it. And I got a neat object lesson out of it, too, which I'll share in a minute.
Surprise #3: On Saturday I went hiking with some people up to a place called Ouzel Falls. Almost went for a nap that afternoon, but I'm glad I didn't because the hike was just what I needed. And guess what we found at the top past the falls? SNOW! In late July, just chilling there. Really cool.

So, while I was rafting I noticed something: We paddlers had no idea what we were doing. The guide sat in the back yelling out instructions and we compliantly obeyed. We obeyed because we trusted that he knew what he was doing and we didn't. And also because we didn't want to end up trashing around in the water with all those rocks around. There were times when honestly his instructions didn't make sense to me. But if we'd ignored what he said and done what we thought was the right thing to do we'd have landed ourselves in the water for sure. Translate this experience into another scenario: I don't know what life's gonna look like for me, and I don't know the way I ought to go to get there (wherever "there" is). That's why being obedient to God is so important. Just like with that rafting guide, I've got to obey even when it seems crazy to me. Otherwise I'm gonna land myself in a bad situation (it may not be wet and cold but it sure won't be best for me). And most of the time we don't get a gameplan or map in advance. We just have to listen and obey, taking one step at a time. That's why I said earlier that I don't know if I'll be back out here next summer. As much as I'd love to (gosh, I'd love to do something like this for the rest of my life - especially in the beauty of Colorado), we'll just have to see what happens. And it's like that with everything. I don't know what next semester or next month or even tomorrow is gonna be like - what joys and what troubles I'll face - but my Guide does and I trust Him to lead me safely.