10 random thoughts:

...while waiting at my gate to fly home:

1. Einstein's bagels are really good.
   
2. I think my two carry-ons weigh more than my 48 pound checked bag.
3. It's a small miracle that my checked bag made weight.
4. I like the Denver Airport
5. I like the Denver Airport a lot more when my friends are here.
6. I bet the nice old people that dress like cowboys and say hi to people have a good life.
7. Time is a funny concept: two weeks have never gone slower and faster at the same time.
8. My plane just pulled in.  I wonder if the people arriving in Denver are more excited than the people flying back to Detroit.
9. I think I've seen more sunshine in Colorado in the last two weeks than I will the rest of winter in Detroit.
10. Just checked the weather...it's cloudy back in Michigan. 

What did you do today?

I did a lot today, including climbing a mountain.  On the mountain behind camp, past the repelling send-off, up another 150-200 feet, is a bunch of crosses sitting on the very top of the mountain.  So me and a few others decided to go check it out.  What transpired and resulted from the next 50 minutes of our life, through all the snow, ice, dirt, crawling, spontaneous snow ball fights, and hoping we don't slide down a mountain to our death, was in a word: awesome.  I'm pretty sure it's best view possible around here (although I'm hoping Property Staff tells me otherwise) and it was lots of fun making the trek.  We had great conversation and challenged our bodies in ways that none of us lazy bums have done lately.  

I didn't bring my camera cord, so you'll have to wait 10 or so more days to see them.  But it was incredible.

I hope you did something extraordinary today.  If you didn't, do it tomorrow

Second Impressions

I walk past the same view of the mountains at least 3 times a day, and every time, the look different.  I'm looking at the same view of the same mountains, yet God causes my eyes to see something new and spectacular concerning His creation.  (I'll spare you having to look at these *similar* pictures, I think it's one of those "you gotta be here" type things).

One of the things I appreciate about being here for New Staff Training is reevaluating and re-thinking several aspects of Jesus and ministry that I have previously considered "mastered" or "no longer worth long periods of thought."  God has so much out here for me and the rest of staff - that has been so abundantly obvious over these few days we've been here.

God has so much out there for us all, all the time, in every place.  That's cool.

Frontier Ranch

To the few, the proud, the...readers of my blog,

Not sure how many of you are out there still (if you are, leave a comment and say hi!).  I've been doggin' it on the blogging front as of late.  Life has been happening a lot lately and blogging about it hasn't really been the priority.  Anyways.

Right now I'm sitting in the designated computer lab at Frontier Ranch, imo the most beautiful Young Life camp there is.  There isn't a cloud in the sky and the sun really illuminates the snow-peaked mountains in the distance.  Kind of like this (going left to right):

I'm here for New Staff Training.  There's over 240 people here for a week training for new staff (thus the name).  It's great.  I'm going to try and update my blog with random stuff and pictures while I'm here.  Thus far, it's been awesome being right in the middle of such beauty, as well as awesome fellowship with 240+ like-minded people.  

Here are the top 3 (slightly) embarassing activities that resulted in me short of breath:

3. Walking up a 20 foot hill

2. Playing a game of ping-pong (though it was very competitive)

1. eating breakfast this morning (I was really hungry)