Freshman Retreat

Well, this happened last Wednesday and I really don't feel like talking about it a week or so later. But, I know this is what memories are made of and since my memory is sorta lame, I'll write it down. Briefly.

As soon as we got there I was a little bummed since we all (meaning me, Dawn, and Larry) got different colored folders, meaning different groups. But after I found out I was with Ms. Stover, all my grief eased.

Then there was a short little prayer ceremony and the theme this year was "Fingerprints of God". Then they played some song by the same name. The song was, well, I liked the lyrics. It said something about being a beautiful masterpiece and nature was silently applauding you. The lyrics were wicked cool. As cool as any Christian song can be.

I don't have anything against gospel music or anything, but most of the stuff I've heard (from The Fish radio station) involving God was kinda crappy. Aside from saying they loved God and Jesus, there wasn't any meat. It didn't move me much at all. Yeah, pretty melody and sounds, nice tune and lyrics that get crammed in your head, enough to the point that a die-hard atheist would be singing and proclaiming love for God. But the point is, they all sound cheap and cheery and well, not my cup of tea. Or hot chocolate, since I'm not really a tea fan.

Where was I? Oh yeah! After that prayer service thing there was a nature hike. I guess I should mention the retreat took place on this campground called Camp Cheerful. It's a camp for kids with special needs (I don't like the way 'special needs' sounds...) to come have a camping experience. Anyway, the hike was kind of bitter sweet. I mean, the good side was I figured out that I really enjoyed nature and movement and being outside and being around other human beings (sorta, I'm still on the fence about the other human beings part) but the bad part was that I noticed how out of shape I was and how out of it I just generally was with other people. That hike was just yet another "Dude, I need to leave my house more." moment. But the great thing is, the sweet parts of the hike definitely outweighed the bitter parts. At least, in my mind they did.

After the hike...I forgot what we did....Well, I guess after that we went inside to listen to this lady, Mrs. Beers, speak. She was a great speaker. She spoke about the heart and normally her husband (who's completely paralyzed) would of come with her but he died in December, I think. But, she was just an all around awesome speaker. She made me think about the world around me and God in a new light. Slowly that whole day changed my relationship with God, but Ms. Beers was incredible. In short, her life sucked, but she was so cheery and happy and thankful! It was amazing, like a breath of cool, fresh air, to have her speak about all the bad things with a smile on her face. How she survived all the crap itself is amazing. I just can't explain it, I was near tears after her words.

Then lunch came, and that was uneventful as usual. I came out and said I wanted to be and English and History teacher, something I'd been hinting at since I was what, born? A little part of me knew I would want to be a teacher, but it wasn't solid. I would always think of how my classmates would treat my teacher and I knew I'd never survive the treatment. But now, I think I would be able to survive (surviving meaning crying in the privacy of a locked classroom door, alone) and move on. The only thing that worries me about becoming a teacher is my laziness. I'm pretty damn lazy.

Ness, here I am rambling, my greatest trait! After lunch we played outside (like recess, which was nice) and then we played this game in our groups where you throw a beach ball to someone and then whoever had the tennis ball would give compliments to the beach ball holder. I actually worked on my compliments since I always hated whenever my class would do activities like that one and I'd get generic, copied-from-someone-else comments. When my turn came around everyone threw in nice and smart but I was surprised about the other things people were saying. Ms. Stover then told me about my humor and how it was dry, sarcastic, and mean. I laughed at that! She knows me too well. That exercise made me feel good.

Then we went to silently reflect on our day or something like that. Suddenly this kid in my classes, Mutuus, fainted and we went inside for more reflecting. This time we made little magnets about all the good things about us. Mine is really cute if I do say so myself! Then after that we went outside and showed our magnets to our group. After that there was a final prayer service type thing were we listened to the "Fingerprints of God" song again and put all our magnets on the board (this was the second group of freshman, not the whole class, so they fit). After that it was playtime! Then we left the place (late, two cabs left without all the students that were supposed to have, ten minutes was spent cramming kids in the other cabs) and went home.

Yep, there's the Freshman Retreat for ya. Not very brief I see...

I hope to write soon Ness, I really do enjoy our time together. (Ha! It's like I'm talking to a human being! But Ness, you are like a human being to me! A nice, calm, caring human being that isn't afraid to associate himself (yes, you're a dude) with a crazy girl like me. Go you Ness, go you!)