Have you ever been camping?! Do you know all the work that goes into camping? Well, that is what Grouse Creek living is like. You pack a bag, you plan your meals, you make sure you have fabric and you have to drive with your head on the swivel to make sure you don't hit a cow/deer/antelope because they are expensive. You have to plan your meals and all the things you want to do. You have to make sure you have enough food to last you until you go to town and enough just in case you get snowed in because I am not willing to drive on a dirt road in a snow storm to go get groceries. Please don't tell me that I can leave my parents house at 5 in the evening and get to Grouse Creek by 5:30 there is no way it is 160 miles one way that is 2.5 hours that's will no stops. Don't tell me you understand until you make the commute as many times as I have. I get that my schedule isn't the best and doesn't work with the Bishops schedule and I am sorry about that. But I would rather drive in the daylight and return in one piece than be on the side of the road in a ditch somewhere with no cell service because you didn't understand where I work or the commute I make.
Camping is fun when it is only for a while but an every week occurrence is something I never thought was possible, I never even know what I am going to eat until I eat it planning meals is something else. I know that every Tuesday I am going to eat two cheese enchiladas with rice no beans. Yes, every Tuesday, lately is has been Friday or Saturday when I am in town. I am became a pro at living out of a suitcase and a cooler and now I have a place to finally hang my clothes and to put my food. I have a nice little place in the middle of nowhere. I am grateful to the foreman who can read body language and facial expressions of a girl who is like I think this is a bad idea, but my mom taught me to never quit no matter the challenge it brings. I appreciate that the foreman puts up with me even the angry crying girl because the breaker was turned off to the fridge. I am grateful that he never once made me feel like I was an idiot (even when he had every right to) even when I overreact about the little things but they are mountains to me. I am thankful for the opportunity to work out here and to be the teacher in a small town. I am learning so much about myself and how much I have grown being here. Camping is an adventure and so is living in a small town in the middle of no where.
Now, I want to tell you the sweetest story that happened. At lunch I had just returned to the lunchroom from the office because I needed to microwave my lunch. I went and sat down it was dead silent and I mean so quiet a pin could have dropped. Mind you, it is never quiet someone is always talking! One of my students said, who is going to pray we need to pray another said you pray to who and why? This students isn't of their faith and without missing a beat the other student said to Heavenly Father we always thank him for our food before we eat it. Another student said to this student, its okay buddy we will pray at dinner for our lunch to and he will understand. We sat in silence for another minute and then they started eating. The faith of little child is something so real that you know they love their father in heaven and they are willing to pray no matter where they are. My heart melted because that was a tender mercy to me to remind me that as long as you still have a little bit of faith it will grow. It reminded me that the love of a child is real and the love of Heavenly Father is real no matter how far you stray or how hard the struggles are. I hope to have has much faith as these students one day.
I am off to my next adventure! Send Coke! I mean that with all seriousness or grape crush is accepted too. 😉
When life gets hard, drink a coke. 😊 And don't forget to pray because sometimes that is all you have.
Until next time, Peace Out Cub Scout. Work hard, play harder, RUN YOUR HEART OUT! Pray a little louder! Never lose sight of the end goal! Keep the Faith! Peace and Love! Over and Out! Here is to new adventures and great things ahead!
