A blogging virgin

Yep, first blog post ever. Well, not quite true, I tried once before but forgot my password and kept not being able to log in so I gave up.
I figure my memory is failing these days (yeah, getting old... almost 25.5) so I should start archiving my experiences for the world to see. (or me when I forget what's happened recently).

So this last weekend was the big Sr. High retreat for south calgary. We had folks from Lethbridge and Okotoks show too, so its growing! The drive out was an adventure. We left Holy Spirit at like 12:30, but we didn't get to Camp Chamisall until like 6 pm. We got stuck 5 times, the last being the fatal, needed to get towed out of the ditch by Brad on his Gator. Alison (poor girl was freezing) and Erin walked the last couple hundred yards to the camp while I helped get her car unstuck and stuff. It was good times.

The retreat was great. Not as emotional as in the past, but it felt just right to me. I think the Spirit was leading us to a more relaxing retreat. It was awesome working with the team we had too... one of the best groups of leaders of all time. EXTREMELY varied team, which made training important, but everyone was the bomb when the day came. Me and Erin and Natalie collaborated on the program itself this year, which was really cool. It was tough, and it took long, but I think the product was improved over last year because of it. We collaborated then too, but not as much. It was cool too, cuz it left me a little more free to do music on the retreat, and I was totally in the zone. I mean, dropped chords and made mistakes and stuff, but I was just in a groove on my guitar and I think it came out in the sound and sincerity of it. If nothing else, the kids sang lots, so that was great.

My talk was tough to give... unusual for me, but I made it fairly personal, and it was current, which is also unusual for me. I usually give back in the day I did this and this it how it affected me talks. They're easier cuz you're emotionally more detached from them and you can analyse the experience more. But it was good... I think everyone was paying attention, and I was pretty funny too, so that's good.

My highlight was definitely campfire though... It was like the full depth of who I want to be came out for half an hour while I led the music, and everyone joined in. It was really really good... left me feeling energized. I know it was just God making me transparent and lifting out my true self, but it makes me want to live as that person all the time

One last note, the kids were awesome... if any of you find this, I love you all and its a gift for me to be able to serve you! Thanks be to God for the weekend!

I also got to spend the night with Erin (not youth minister Erin... Erin Fitz Erin... hmm, note to self, need a naming convention for them to avoid confusion). It was great... usually after retreats Im VERY introverted and wanna be alone and go through a week of vocational crisis, but not this time. I could just relax with her and watch TV (or fall asleep watching TV ;) She was a little hyper, so it was even funnier being halfway to a coma.

All round... amazing weekend... wouldn't change a thing (except I'd be wearing boots instead of skate shoes while unstucking the car).

See y'all around