Weather-wise, It's Such A Gorgeous Day...

Today was the perfect day. As I was walking to work this afternoon, I thought to myself, I feel like I live in Narnia! The sky was a shade of blue I have never seen before, somewhere between teal and navy. Everything was clearer and crisper, even the mountains looked harder. God did a good thing when he created this place.

Today I learned that the lowest point in Colorado is higher than the highest point in Pennsylvania...wow. It's certainly a different life out here...something I'm reminded of everytime I walk up the steps to my room and STILL huff and puff at the top, after three weeks. It could have something to do with Jenny the Baking Goddess's flourless chocolate cake...hmm.

Tomorrow is my second day off, I'm excited to do some hiking and hang out with the guests. It's their last day, so in the morning we go to the jail for some Wrangler Eggs and cinnamon rolls...yum. Then the guest rodeo is in the afternoon which I never get to see because I'm usually working, so I'm excited for that. Oh, and sleep. I'm REALLY excited to sleep. All this at work by 6:45 and in bed by 11 makes me slightly crazy.

I have had some amazing conversations with the girls I work with and more and more every day I'm realizing that God may have brought me here for other people more than for myself. That's a stunning revelation for one of the most self focused people on the earth. I've been asked to lead a Bible Study in Philippians...YES...and I'm really excited about it. I'm also helping to organize my crew devos every day. I spent a couple hours with Haley, my crew leader (who is SUCH a blessing) brainstorming about what to focus on for this season. We decided that these girls just need to meet Jesus as He really is (sound familiar Eric? :o) so we're going to cover some topics every week from Jesus' life. I'm SO EXCITED! I keep discovering more and more how much I love discipleship and praying with these girls is giving me so much life. I love it!

Last night was a great night. I sat on a porch swing and talked with one of my crew girls about some struggles she is having. It was so cool because I really felt for the first time like God's mouthpiece. I'm learning so much about how to love these girls well without measuring them to my standards. It's hard but it's good.

I thank God every day for calling me to this wilderness and for giving me these people for this short time. But, I'm also learning the value of me time. Somewhere along the way, I've become MUCH more of an introvert...yeah, I can hear you laughing. Never thought those words would come out of my mouth! But pouring myself out in service for 10 hours a day makes me just want to live in a cave for a while! Pray that God would show me a good balance, because today especially I really felt drained...and my work hasn't even BEGUN to get crazy.

Oh! This is another thing you'll love. Karen Foster, she and her husband own the Ranch, came up to me after I had served their table at lunch and said in her sweet southern drawl, "Heidi I so appreciate your attention to detail" HAHAHAHA!!! I really almost laughed in her face...definitely NEVER thought I'd be complemented about remembering details. This job has apparently brought out my OCD side which I didn't think I had. I guess after spending 20 minutes checking to make sure all the jam line in all the jam jars is comepletely straight across with no sticky smears, anyone can become a little OCD...even me.

And the end note...I'm going to be performing in our Wednesday night program. 4 girls and I are singing Shania's "That Don't Impress Me Much" but with the words changed around so we're essentially picking on the Wranglers...who could use to be dropped a peg or two...or five or six...so it'll be fun. Betsy Saddick used to work here and she and her husband plan the programs every year for the Ranch, so she re-wrote the song. It's really funny. I'll try to get someone to video it so I can post it on youtube or something.

Aaaand....I'm done. Miss you all and love you too!