Fall Bucket List

 

Linking up with Erica to publicly declare my monthly goals!

 

I'm combining my September goals with my Fall Bucket List. I'm really not sure what the next few months have in store for me which means some of my goals may not be fully attainable but between September & December I'm sure I will be able to accomplish them! Goals with a * are ones that are for sure September goals. The others are less time sensitive. 

 

1. Cut & Donate my hair.  I've always wanted to donate my hair to an organization that makes wigs for cancer patients. My hair is pretty long right now and I'm ready for a change so I need to do a bit of research to make sure I have enough to donate and then make it happen!

2. BLOG! There are some fun blog challenges and link ups happening in September and I really fell off the blogging wagon during camp so I'm jumping back on! *

3. Find a Guide Unit I really want to stay involved with Girl Guides even if I can't commit to taking on a unit for the full year. *

4. Read! Again, something that got neglected over the summer! But I want to read at least 12 books between now and December 1st.

5. Complete a Bible Study it's been far too long since I did a study start to finish! I don't have any in mind so recommendations are welcome!

Five on Friday!

Now that I'm home from camp I'm working on getting back into a routine, which includes regular blogging! Today I'm liking up with Five on Friday

{one} I came across this quote a while ago but recently rediscovered it and I love it to bits.

 “I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.” I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou

{two} Today is my first full day back in the real world. Instead of being productive by working on my end of summer report or unpacking I made the executive decision to take the day off. So I'm going to sit on my couch with my laptop, watching TV and only leaving to visit the fridge. Tomorrow I will return to productivity!

{three} I got an e-mail this morning asking me to be a Brownie leader again this year. This is a tough one because I love being involved with Girl Guides but the unit I was with last year is a 45 minute drive away. I spent more time driving to the meetings and events than I did at the actual events. I'm hoping there is a unit closer to my house that needs a leader. There's also the possibility that a job opportunity is going to mean I will be moving to the city in a few weeks. The job is dependent on funding though so nothing is set in stone.

{four} I have over 300 pictures from this summer and I can't wait to get back into scrapbooking! Scrapbooking is going to be one of my fall goals, I have so many pictures just sitting in boxes and drawers overflowing with scrapbooking supplies begging to be used. More on that goal tomorrow though!

{five} I am obsessed with www.thoughtcatalog.com I could spend hours reading through articles and thinking about the words, situations and the people who wrote them. If you happen to have some spare time in your day or need something to scroll through while you enjoy coffee at your desk be sure to check it out!

You're My Summer Jam

You and Me we're like a simple song
Yeah so damn easy to sing along,
I don't need a guitar or a band,
Cause baby you're my Summer Jam

- Jake Owen, Summer Jam

***

  

  I feel a lot of obligation to write a detailed and meaningful reflection about camp now that it's official over...but I have no idea where to start or where to end. I wish those Facebook survey/questionnaires were still a thing, copying/pasting 100 questions to answer about my favourite/least favourite summer moments, songs, food, smells, everything and anything that will forever remind me of this summer. (maybe they are still a thing? I'm out of the loop.)

I had so many great moments this summer. And I am thankful for every millisecond of each moment.

What I miss most about camp in the off season tends to be the nuisances of the summer; plaid shorts & tie-dye t-shirts, soup, 'Heart of Gold',  Bob's guy... It's funny because the things I miss the most are the ones that are guaranteed to be different next summer.  The staff will change, some of us (potentially even myself) will move on to other places and other jobs. There will be new campers and campers who won't return. We won't listen to the same songs or laugh about the same things. 

The hardest part about the transition back into the real world is going from spending literally every minute of everyday and night surrounded by people who you love to going months without seeing them. And although I am confident it won't be too long before I see H. & R. there are others who have the best intentions of keeping in touch but I may never cross paths with again outside of Birthday greetings on Facebook.

The moral of the story is I am so happy with how this summer played out. 

It was the answer to prayers that I didn't expect to be answered in 1000 years.

Sneakin' out late, tappin' on your window

Last week was full of all the best things about camp - quality time with friends, late night conversations, stomach aches from a combination of eating too much junk food and laughing too hard and stargazing with a summer romance. 

During session break I spent one night sitting around a bonfire, listening to country on the radio, making s'mores, discussing life's big questions and drinking wine with three of my favourite people who over the last year have transcended the line between 'camp friends' and 'friends who I met at camp'. 

Yesterday was the start of our last camp session, it's hard to believe the summer is so close to being over. As far as goals go I have really been focusing on staying in the moment, appreciating the little things and even in chaos remembering that come January I will miss even the most stressful parts of camp. 

The Days Come Easy and the Moments Pass Slow

In an attempt to keep up with my blog 3 times a week goal I've set a timer for fifteen minutes to write a quick post even though today has been one of the most ridiculous days at camp all summer.

In the last 24 hours I've found out that a major program isn't going to happen this week because somebody backed out at the last minute which left me searching Kijiji for alternative special guests that are equally as exciting and equally as free. So far no luck, but it's still on my to do list. Ten minutes before boating was supposed it happen it started pouring rain...and then thundering. This morning right before swim was about to happen the guy who cleans the pool showed up to do that...all things that need solutions now. At the same time cabin lists need to be made for next week and there are campers on a waiting list for next week that we need to contact.

...

Okay so I started writing this yesterday and then things happened and I got way distracted with camper issues and then by the time I had a chance to get back to it I was ready to eat cookies and spend some quality time with some people who in a few weeks I won't have the pleasure of seeing everyday. So, for the sake of argument, my defence is that aside from blogging three times a week I also really want to focus on 'being in the moment', and last night I was most definitely in the moment. Last night after campers had gone to bed counsellors who weren't sleeping in the cabin just sat around a table in the dining hall and chatted and laughed until late. 

I've realized that my two goals are pretty contradicting of each other, it's hard to be in the moment when I'm also supposed to be in front of a computer blogging! But everything is about balance and I'm slowly figuring out how to make it all happen!

Show Us Your Life - Favourite Apps

Linking Up with Kelly's Korner today to post about my favourite apps!

The most efficient way is to make a list of my Top 5!

1. Twitter by far the app I use the most! I follow a lot of news sites and it's so convenient and quick to scroll through my feed and stay updated with the world. 

2. YouVersion I really like this Bible App! I love that it gives you a verse of the day to read and has so many studies about different topics. Again, with being convenient, not always practical to carry around a Bible but I always have my phone on me and sometimes you just need to take 10-15 to read a verse and get a fresh perspective. 

3. Sleep Cycle Such a cool app! It tracks your REM sleep cycles during the night and the alarm is set for a 30 minute time frame so instead of potentially waking you up from a deep sleep it goes off during a light sleep. Which apparently is a lot healthier for you and makes you less tired during the day. It could just be the placebo affect but I do think it helps!

4. Instagram It took me awhile to get on board with Instagram but now that I have I totally love it! 

5. SkyBurger My favourite game! It's pretty simple but it's a good distraction when I just need something to pass the time for a few minutes! 

Goals!

I've spent this morning drinking my coffee and catching up with all of the blogs I haven't been reading while at camp. I will fully confess that I was relieved to see so many posts about other people feeling a little uninspired and stuck in a bit of a blogging rut. I've been feeling the same way. There are so many stories I want to shareI but I can never seem to find time to write them all down. And when I do set aside some time for blogging I end up staring at a blank screen for 15 minutes, making myself write something down, deleting it and finding something else to do. 

A blogger I've followed since I started this blog, Erica Ashley is hosting a Monthly Goal Link-Up which I am super excited about joining! I'm really going to commit to following through with some things this month and do my best to make August wonderful!

Blog 3x A Week

I may have a hectic and unpredictable schedule during the week but I know that if I really make it a priority I can find the time to post three times during the week! 

Be in the Moment

I'm going to break the rules and be a little vague about this one. I will say that September and the end of camp shouldn't be a big dark grey cloud looming over every moment of August. I need to enjoy the present and not worry about September. I can be realistic and manage my expectations but just because something is going to end doesn't mean I can't appreciate it now while it's happening.

The sun keeps settin', the days go fast

This past week was our kids session at camp, campers 6-13 with disabilities ranging from mild Autism to the rarest of progressive neurological disorders. It was so full of highs and lows that I'm not even sure how to process the week in general. 

It's that time of the summer when things are starting to wind down, even if there is still a full month left of camp when you factor in breaks there are only two full sessions. September seems a lot closer than it did in May. I'm still figuring out what my post-camp plans are right now there are a few options, but I have mixed feelings about all of them. 

I originally had a lot of stuff I wanted to write about in an attempt to process it all but right now the more appealing option is to climb into bed, get a good nights sleep and go from there.