And the rains came down...

Well, last week was definitely an adventure. We finally had rain for the first time in two months and when I say rain I mean raaaaaiiiiin! I was sitting reading on my front porch swing when I noticed some foreboading clouds moving our way. I literally sat there for about 20 minutes and watched a curtain of rain slowly move its way over the mountains and onto the ranch. It started with just a soft rain but quickly moved to driving rain mixed with pea sized hail. All of a sudden, the entire maintenance crew and several kitchen guys converged on the front lawn and began throwing sandbags at a furious speed. I looked at my friend Haley and quickly knew what we'd be doing for the rest of the afternoon! I quick threw on a sweatshirt and my sneakers and we ran outside to help with shoring up the ranch for a flood. So, there we were, eventually about 30 of us...staff and guests...were out throwing sandbags and making walls to direct the creek if it decided to overflow. For about 45 minutes-ish I stood in soaking grass with rain and hail pounding down on me throwing sand-bags. I definitely will not win an award for my bag throwing skills...but I will say it was one of the best and most memorable days off that I've had on the ranch.

Starting this week, we start losing people in droves. Some of the staff that has been here for over a year and a half are leaving...and it feels like an institution is departing or something. I mean, when I think of the ranch, I think of these people. It's a little nerve wracking to think of the slack all of us who are staying are going to have to be picking up. It's exciting too...you know how I feel about change and new things...I'm REALLY looking forward to this change. It's hard watching people come and go, but it's exciting to think about what God is going to do here with a brand new staff. This week, I'll be taking over more responsibilities, and then next week I will be the official head waitress....AHHHH!!! I'm frightened, but getting a little bit more excited about it too.

God is so good! When I thought about 13 weeks at the beginning of the summer...I almost died. But now that I look back, I can't believe how fast time has flown. I"m so excited for the Fall and the community that comes with it. I can't wait to have time to actually get to know the staff that will still be here. It's hard because I don't really feel that connected to many people who are leaving, so I'm not that sad. But I'm excited to finally be able to dig deeper with the ones who are staying.

Well, that's all for now, I need to take a shower...Love to everyone!