Just About Recovered

(Home sweet home, this is Superwoman or Hannah whatever sounds cooler, I loved this little pumpkin so much!)

Like I said in the previous post, I embarked on the last winter trip for the season this past weekend. Woweee...I am still so tired, sore, and my voice is still funky. The ride up there was honestly one of the awesomest bus rides of my life. (keep in mind, I have been on a bus at least a hundred fifty three times or something like that) We sang songs for almost the majority of the ride. There were several songs the kids wanted to do over and over in different accents, voices, and dialects. My voice began to squeak like a poor thirteen year old boy before we even pulled up the camp. Seriously, the singing was so much fun. I tried my song, for those of you that are wondering, and it went well. It didn't totally click but that's okay. We did "We will rock you" amazing grace style and that went very well. Some of the louder boys wanted me to stop with the singing so they could talk. After awhile, I listened to their requests and went to socialize with various girls.

As the drive wore on, I had pretty much all the girls ask if they could be in my cabin. (keep in mind, we only could have five in each to evenly distrubute the girls) I had eleven girls begging me to let them in my cabin. Two of them were in my cabin last year and probably will be in mine next year at the Ignite retreat. I told the girls that whatever cabin they end up at, it will equal the same fun, and that we'll hang out all together. That put their little minds at ease. So we played a few games and I had several of them use me as a pillow as they fought to keep their eyes open.

We got there to find we were in the artic. Ice casted a heavy blanket every where. The trip instantly changed it's name from White Out to Wipe Out. The kids and leaders enjoyed taking numerous spills. I actually did okay, leaving the kids to recongize Rachel was a good person to hold onto so they wouldnt fall (I know what youre thinking, I was surprised too) One time all the girls were holding to me while we walked to lunch and one fell causing me to go tumbling after as well. Anywhoo, the trip was tons of fun for the kids and well, me too.

The kids learned from three different speakers that they could worship God in other ways then just worship on Sunday. I-Worship was the theme, through obidience, humility, and suffering. It was a great challenage and reminder.

Tubing was fun activity had by all. We truly had a blast! The kids loved sayin, "Rachel I want to die come, come tubing with me!" Well how could I pass up the chance with that motivation? I had one kid tell me, he was determined to fall off the tube mid ride. Reminded me of a younger girl that was determined to kill herself on a tube. Her freshman year she was successful and landed herself in the hosptial for a concussion. Anywhoo, I told the kid, if he came with me he would be sure to fall off. So instantly he jumped on my lap and we flew down the hill. Like I had promised,

he flew off. He was so happy! I was accused by Brien Brough that I pushed him. I can be evil, but not that evil.

I believe we only had one major tubing accident the entire weekend. Two of my girls went down and one fell off somehow in front of the tube, got ran over, and her face got slashed by ice. I looked over at her to see her face bleeding. Upon seeing blood coming from her face, she screamed. The guy from the camp overseeing the bottom part of the hill, told her it was only bleeding like if you popped a zit. I just thought it was utterly hilarious at this man's attempt to calm the screaming girl. : ) Anywhoo, Slash turned out to be alright. Just a good slash under her eye leading it to be all swollen. Tough chicka, I tell ya...

The stomach issues I had been facing all were not really an issue at all. There was a point after posting my last post, where I highly considered not going because of how terrible I felt. I went and found myself so busy taking care of kids, that I didn't even have to time to realize if I felt sick. I was so busy with kids. I really respect mothers to a whole new level now. Kids really don't care if you're tired, if they want you- somehow they're gonna get you. On the way home I lied my pillow on the window and tired to muster some kind of sleep. I really didn't want to sleep period because this was my time with the kids but I could barely keep my eyes open. I told Emily to wake me up in half an hour. I was just getting to that deep sleep part when my girls started to pull my shoes and socks off fifteen minutes later. Meanwhile they let another leader sleep for the majority of the ride home. That wasn't fair. Oh well...I woke up and watched exhaustedly all the fun shannigans Jim Lowe did for the remainder of the trip.

We got home at like five o'clock, I came home hung with my parents for a bit. I shot over to the Huteks house for a bible study. My voice sounded absolutely horrible. Everyone kept making fun of it asking me speak louder so they could hear me. I was actually full of energy in the beginning but on several occassions, I almost fell asleep as one of the girls opened their arms for me to lie in. I was ttiiiiirrrrrreeedddd. Luckily, I didn't have to work the next day till 3,I know a leader who a thirteen hour day the next day. Ughhhh. Anywhoo, that about sums up the trip. That trip ends Rachel's desire for winter to stay, now she eagerly anticpates spring. : )