Camping Ain't What It Used To Be!

Last weekend was our annual Young Adult Campout. Normally I love camping. After all, my in-laws own a lot where, while we're camping & sort of roughing it, there are showers & an indoor heated pool. However, Don's idea of roughing it is when the room service at a 3+ star hotel is late. He's convinced he's too old to go camping anymore. While he stayed in camp I braved a trip down the river with Gracelyn, Tobiah, Shawna, & Shawna's boyfriend, Chris. Chris had two boats, both of which we all took turns tipping. It was a blast, really! I even wore waterproof sunscreen. Being an extremely fair person who burns easily I figured that was the safe thing to do. However, the sunscreen didn't work all that well & apparently even with waterproof sunscreen it's important to reapply every few hours if you spend loads of time in the water. By the time we got back & had supper, my legs looked like pepto-bismol. My arms were burnt too, but not as badly.

I must be getting old, becacuse though it was still in the mid 70s, I was freezing! I couldn't get warm, even after a hot shower. Don actually thinks I may have gone into shock because I was shaking so badly that my words were coming out like this: "Ccccaaaan yyyoouuuu haaanddd mmmee thhhuuuuh hhooottt ch ch ch ch chooocc cca lllate?" When I went to bed, he smothered me in blankets. That was after I took 4 Advil & a Vicodin. Between that & my allergy medicine, I was out for the count. That is, until around 2:30 in the morning when Don had to fight 5 crazy raccoons that were ransacking the campsight. He's pretty sure that after he threw numerous objects at them, such as a marshmallow roasting stick, they went back to their little camp laughing about the crazy human with the terrible aim. He's convinced they were mocking him.

By morning I'd started talking normally & we all got ready to head home. As we lay in our own bed that night, Don looked at me and said, "I never want to go camping again." I lay there in shorts & a tank top, aloe vera slathered up and down my half white & half pink legs. I said, "Whatever, Honey. Just don't touch me."

It's definitely a trip I will remember forever. There's a reason God had me born in the century where I get to enjoy indoor plumbing and electricity. I used to be all about the adventure. I grew up camping. When I plan my next outing I think it'll include a hotel on the water where I can sip sparkling apple cider as the sun sets over the Pacific. For old time sake maybe I'll even smooth on a little waterproof sunscreen and stutter.

It's Official - I'm a Dawg

I am now registered at UW Tacoma for Fall quarter. The day that I registered happened to be freshman orientation day. Needless to say, I was walking around the campus with a bunch of teenagers and their parents. I looked like a parent and had all sorts of helpful UW staff asking me if I needed to know where to pay my student's tuition or get their parking permit. Most people were kind when I informed them that I was a student (an older student) - a junior, at that. Although I showed up on the wrong day, it turned out to be the right day. I got all kinds of stuff - a t-shirt, a water bottle (which I promptly went home & accidently melted in the dishwasher), an aluminum water bottle (still got that one), all kinds of key chains & magnets, a bag, & my favorite item - a whistle from campus security. The whistle is in case anyone tries to attack me then I can blow it & all the homeless people on Pacific Avenue can come running and save my fanny. You laugh, but seriously, the campus is small. I know they'll hear the whistle. I'm sure they can get up the long flight of cement steps that run through the middle of campus. I feel safer already.

I took it as a compliment that the Global Honors Society (because of my high grades from Pierce College) already want me to join them. They're certain I can handle the extra pressure. After all, I'm an "advanced student" (translate: "well-seasoned", "motivated", "knowledgable" - as in "older") that has "well-defined goals" and who knows what I want. After all, "Wow, Joyce! We don't have many students that come in knowing that they're going for their Doctorate right up front! That's awesome! You'll be a great mentor for all of our younger students." Why, thank you.

There is an advantage to being 41 & going for my BA. I do know what I want. I'm now in the part of my education where I'm taking classes that I hope to be teaching some day. So I am really looking forward to fall quarter. Because I know what I want, I won't be attending any underwater basket weaving or butter molding while rollerblading classes. I'm excited to see what God is going to do. Maybe I will mentor a few students. After all, my next goal is my Master's in Ed so I can teach high school. Yeah, yeah, I know. Who in their right mind would want to spend all day with teenagers? Whoever said I was in my right mind? Not to worry. If I get too stressed I'll go hang out on Pacific Avenue for a few hours. Don't worry - I'll be sure and take my whistle with me.

Moving Target a hit!

Moving Target went great! Praise God! We had 3 churches represented and over 35 in attendance. One church has volunteered to help out next year! To top that off I just graduated with honors from Pierce College with my AA. I look forward to attending UW of Tacoma in the fall.

Moving Target Promo

Check out the Moving Target Promo by copying the link below into your browser!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEskFXUbgEs

May 24th - Monday

God is awesome! In less than 2 weeks on Friday, June 4th, @ 6pm, we will have our first ever Moving Target Event. This event is the brainchild of the Young Adult group at First Baptist Church of Lakewood, WA. The purpose of Moving Target is to Empower Young Adults to join God in Liberating the Oppressed. We are God's Special forces & we are on the move! The event will include praise & worship music, guest speakers, door prizes, drama, and pizza! If you're between the ages of 18 & 30ish, please come! It will be exciting, and best of all - its FREE! We truly believe that this will go national in the same way that Acquire the Fire has for youth, Women of Faith has for women, & Promisekeepers has for men. Don't miss this exciting new venue for Young Adults! It's being held at First Baptist Church in Lakewood, 5400 112th St SW, 98499. For more info visit fbclakewood.org.