"what ignites your heart?"

So what does ignite your heart? it was the question that was posed to me via a card I received in the mail this morning!



It was a question I pondered as I kayaked through the morning mist and amazing sunrise on the Lake at Lackawanna State Park!




The air temp was about 56 degrees when I started my morning adventure ... the sky and lake all a blaze in the auburn hues of the morning sun! I was all alone ... well I mean just me, God, and nature singing its song! There were no geese moving about this morning as I have seen in my afternoon treks ... no fishermen as of yet ... although two sets in fishing boats joined me on the water by the time I left! ... it was a beautiful morning ... my only visitor was a turtle that surfaced just to say hello and I think maybe bask in the glory of the morning sun a little bit himself! it was a brief encounter ... one I wish I could of had my camera ready for! but alas he was gone into the depths of the seaweed infested lake! I did see what I think might of been a loon ... but it could of just been a wood duck ... but she was off in the far distance ... I enjoyed my time just thinking ... praying ... and being in awe ... I am soooo finite ... but yet I question so much!?! the book I started reading yesterday pops in to my mind ... its called "Surrendered" I wonder if I really am or if I am just playing some game?! ... Then I go back to the ...what ignites my heart? ... I try to think of it in terms of things for God and not the girl I wish it was! ... I paddle some more only to be at the end of the lake where the buoy markers are blocking the dam ... I sit ...


... I take some pictures of the fallen and misty buoy's
... then decide to travel on ... back to the the dock, the shore, the truck, back to reality, back to this day that is in front of me!
... I believe it is going to be an amazing day! ... at least the start of it was!

on Empty

So this is just an example of how run raged I have been lately ...
I have been somewhat sick with some freaky cold/cough thingy! it comes and goes ... one day I feel seemingly fine .. the next horrible!
Plus I have all these responsibilities with my new job and some days I am not sure which way is up!
I have been at TLC this week during the main session times and they have been wonderful!!! but I have been coming back to the office to do work in the afternoons until the evening session starts!
Well today it was pouring down rain when I pulled into the work parking lot! ... now usually ... if I am not having to go to conferences or run errands in DC ... I am riding my bike to work!
but today since I went to BBC for TLC I drove! so I came back from TLC and its pouring down rain ... I grabbed my stuff ... and ran into the building as fast as I could ... now the other part that was making me hurry was that Ben was waiting for me because he had locked his keys in the office! :) ... so needles to say in my hast and absent mindedness I left my truck running for at least 4 hours in the parking lot today!!!
Nice huh ... anyone want to donate to the wasted fuel fund?! :)

I guess I maybe need to get some rest?!

Micah's Birthday Party!

My little buddy Micah Wilhite had his BIG 2 birthday party tonight! He is such a little boy! all energy and always on the go! :)


Micah blowing the candles out!

Micah eating the cake face first!


finger lickin' good!

I got to play photographer for the night ... which is fun ... I haven't got to do that since I was at one Abe & Jessie's kids birthday parties! ...those were the days! :)

we had fun ... and I got some pretty decent shots even though I was having camera issues at the beginning of the evening! some setting deep and I mean deep with in the menu settings got messed with ... It was me ... but wish I could blame it on someone else! :)

Ben act'n all cool! :) ...Jeni is like what are you doing?! :)

Caedon being all tough!

Micah opening up a card with a lot of help!


opening presents ...

Playing with new toy with dad!

Caedon's webkinz "poodle"

right now as I type I am waiting for a select few of the 300 I took to upload to Flckr so you will have to check those out there! but I will post a few of my favs here for you to enjoy!

No for some outdoors fun!!!


Micah and Grandpa on the swings!


Caedon running from the camera ... he was a little camera shy at first!


Caedon all cool


Down Hill Big Wheelin'


Caedon with his Big Wheel


Mom watchin' over everyone!


Gabbi & Caedon racin down he drive!


Micah on his Big Little Wheel! :)

Micah!


Caedon going dare devil!

Thanks for stopping by ...and as always comments are encouraged! :)
Have a wonderful weekend!

Canada w/ my "old" Youth Group!

So I traveled up to Canada to help lead a Wilderness trip with my Best Friend Abe and his Youth Group from Saylorville ...
I used to be one of the youth leaders for the Saylorville Youth Group ... which I miss very much!

We had a great trip through the Algonquin Provincial Park in Northern Ontario Canada!

I will just leave you with some of my favorite pictures the rest are on the photo side!

ENJOY! :)


The group before we hit the water!


A cool lily pad shot with the "Prince"


Lone Yellow Flower


Lily pads for as far as you can see!


Abe & Nathan paddling through the Lily pads!


Nathan checking out the map


The Gang around the fire pit!


Abe's Feet ... I love this picture ... just wish his head was pokin' thru between his feet a little more! :)


Me Jumping off the Rock!


Me, Hor-Hay, Abe, & Ben takin' a swim & hanging out in Big Trout Lake


The whole Gang in the Water Fall

Canada trip #2 of the summer

So I leave for Canada on our countries birthday! seems kind of odd to leave the great USofA on the 4th of July but I guess if that is when a group wants to do a wilderness trip, and they really want me to be the leader of it, then I guess that is when you go! :)

The funny thing for me is this will be the third year in a row that I have not been in the US for the 4th of July! Which also means this will be the 3rd year in a row that I have not been home for my Birthday ... which happens to be July 8th for all of you out there that would like to send me presents, or cold hard cash, or just plain well wishes! :)

The process of being gone for over a week presents a new and different challenge now that I have a different job, and live in a different state! The days of frantically getting everything ready at the last minute because I have been stressing out, and working till all hours of the night getting the Gallery ready for me to be gone, and it to be on auto pilot while gone are over, and actually I am very thankful for that!! :) ... however the new area of trying to get everything ready for me to be gone, and getting everything ready to go up to Canada because that is part of my job now! and then try and figure out what gear I need to take with me and which box I actually packed it all in, and if it is unpacked or just where in the heck is all of it!?!? so well yes ... it is all a very fun, new and wild adventure for me! :)

I am excited!! ... because once I get everything loaded up, and I am headed on the road, and arrive at base camp in Kearney, Ontario, Canada ... I get to spend a week of adventure, challenge, laughter, crying, spiritual awaking, relaxation, clean air, relational bonding, God's creation and His creatures! and I get to do all of this in the woods of Algonquin, but even better with some of the best youth kids in the world! I love my "old" youth group kids from Saylorville !!!


Yep thats a picture of the gang on the way up to Canada! :)

I am super excited about the privilege, and great opportunity I have to spend yet another week with 10 of them, and to be able to in some small way impact there lives to live in such a way and lead others in such a way that honors God !! What an awesome responsibility and great privilege! If you think about it you can pray for us!! ...thank you! :)

So now that I have filled you in on my weekend and week to come ... I shall leave you now and will report back in a week or so with some pictures and tall tales of Moose and Black Bears, spiders and mosquito's, waterfalls and raging rapids, beautiful sunsets and misty sunrises! oh it is amazingly beautiful in Algonquin Provincial Park ... you should take an adventure there someday! and if your lucky I just might be your guide! :)


Cheers to all, and Happy Fourth of July!!