Danielle and everyone who has heard the story since has been very moved by this woman and the life she is living - living in these conditions, yet being positive all the same. Workcamp has had a profound effect on me...and my youth...and I hope on those we served! 

I wanted to share some photos of one of my youth, Danielle. Her resident had just lost her husband two weeks before. He had built their home years before out of scrap wood because it was all that they could afford.  

Not quite finished my workcamp tales but I realized I never explained the title of my last post. Each morning at 6:45 AM, a woman came over the intercom and said in a singsong voice, "Wakey wakey, workcampers" and then they would play some ridiculous (and long!) song like "Fishheads" or "Where is my Hairbrush" from Veggie Tales. Quite a riot.

Anyway, more workcamp tales to regale you with later. I want to post some pictures so you can get the gist of what I am talking about and that takes more mind power than I have at the moment!

Well, I survived a week at workcamp - working in the blistering hot sun, eating cafeteria food, sleeping on the floor and showering in a middle school gym.

Actually, I didn't just survive. Contrary to the thoughts of many, I thrived. I had the best time. My youth were absolutely fabulous and I think we grew closer as a group. The camp was in Ithaca, New York (this organization does them all summer across the country). We drove up on Sunday morning in about 3 hours (should have taken a BIT longer but...well, the rental minivan could really haul!)and were the first group there. The six girls and I ended up with our own room (the geography room to be precise) and the two boys and David ended up rooming with two boys and an adult from Canada. More on the Canadians later, eh?

All of my apprehension disappeared when we drove up that morning. And when we learned there was a/c in the school and hot showers...welllllllllllll, I was just set! We had lunch at the Commons in Ithaca and then headed back to settle in some and get ready for our first meeting.

We met our crews that night - you don't work with your own youth group which I think is a banner idea! So I was placed with five kids I didn't know. Two were from Maryland, two from Virginia and one from Huntingdon Valley. We did some getting to know you type activities and got our worksite assignment.

The next morning, we loaded up and headed out to Enfield. Our site address was 666 which alarmed some (!!) We pulled down an unpaved, winding driveway to find a mobile home in need of some repair. The first thing I noticed was all the animals. The family had seven dogs, at least that many cats (including an attack kitten), turkeys, hens, roosters, two horses, guinea hens (annoying creatures), geese and who know what else. But all of that made me feel better. I knew I would be missing the kitties, so seeing that just made me happy.

Our mission was to paint the entire outside of this house, fix and paint a wall inside and build skirting around one side where they just had boards lying up against the outer walls. It was dreadfully hot and I developed a gatorade addiction...but I guess THAT is a story for another time!

We haven't had rain in so long but yesterday's hit by tropical storm Cindy made me feel like it had been raining for weeks! But this morning arose with clear, sunny skies. Now for the heat and humidity to return. Yuck!

I have a very busy week ahead and may not get time to post any completely unexciting updates, so I at least wanted to drop in here and say hello to all my happy friends. I hope everyone is enjoying summer and is at least getting SOME down time to relax. I know it's hard to come by (boy, do I know!) but it is so important!!! : ) Read a book, watch a movie, or my personal favorite - take a nap!

I woke up to the news about the bombings in London this morning and can't stop thinking about it. It is such a shame what our world has come to. I was thinking perhaps I would write that I wish I was born in another time, maybe the 50s or something, thinking along the lines of pastoral scenes from Leave it to Beaver, but frankly, it seems that at no time in the history of our world have things ever been without war, strife or chaos. It just seems to keep escalating in our time. I pray for the families of those lost today and for those seriously injured or wounded. I pray for all of you, and myself, that we should never have to experience such a horrendous act ourselves.

I remember being a kid and thinking time moved so slow - the summer seemed like a year long. Now it's July 1, Fourth of July weekend, and I don't know how I got here!

Some important news...I will NOT be attending Live 8. Not that any of you really thought I would but I can't even stomach the thought of the heat, the people and the fact there they are expecting millions and only have 400 port-a-pottys. Yikes. It won't be pretty down there...or anywhere around for that matter! I am going to position myself on my couch in the a/c and watch Stevie Wonder from afar.

In other (genuinely) important news, Sarah & Joe moved yesterday. I dropped by on my way home from work and was absolutely thrilled for them. Their new place is so very cool. The previous owners did murals in several of the rooms that are just too cool to begin to describe. They have a fantastic yard and a wonderful fenced in backyard and patio - it seemed so quiet and private. I'm so happy for them! I must have told Sarah it was "fabulous" 1500 times! (Sorry, schmoop.) Now the imminent question is...when's the housewarming?!??!? : ) Just kidding...we'll let you unpack first.