Before we head out...

Today is the day.

Today the Counsellors and other staff arrive for the camp and tomorrow the campers arrive for three different camps! 

So I am flat out getting last minute things ready, packing, printing etc and the rest of the staff are also running around trying to get prepared for the camps to start tomorrow. The PIT team also arrive (this is a program very similar to the Super Squad program Camp Clayton used to run. I'll share more on this later as I am planning on spending a lot of time with this program as research for our new intern program back home) and there are also some volunteers that have arrived early to help with getting the place clean and ready to rock.

It's been awesome watching the staffs level of energy increase in readiness for the camps. Percy (the Director) is practically bouncing of the walls in excitement :)

I have been planning for a while to chat to you all about the reason we are here. I know a lot of you already know, you came to the dinner, or talked to us personally but I am sure there are probably a few of you out there who are regular readers who perhaps think this is just a holiday for us.

And that is certainly part of it. Alex has been working at Camp Clayton for over 11 years now and a chance to take a sabbatical, relax and enjoy a change of scenery was a big reason for coming. But the main reason is that Camp Clayton is interested in starting an Intern Program in 2014 and Crow have had two great programs running for a long time now, so we cam here to see and experience it first hand. One of those programs was COLTS, which Alex has now completed and the other is PITS, which I am hoping to learn a lot from over the summer. 

Ever since Alex and I began working at Camp Clayton and particular when we were involved with Super Squad, we have felt God give us a desire for an Intern Program. It's so exciting and humbling to see how God has woven so many lives together to bring us to this point. It's amazing how God can plant a seed over 20 years ago, and then another in our hearts 10 years ago and then bring two phenomenal people to Tasmania (Rea and Sandy) to bring the whole story together. 

Camp CLayton is holding a breakfast to share even more about this journey...

David Gates will be sharing his story of following his heart as a young man, ending up in unexpected places and discovering a passion that shaped the rest of his life.

Be inspired by what God can do if you follow the leading He places in your heart.

Also receive an update on Alex and Tamara's adventure in Canada.

Camp Clayton
July 20, 2013 - 8:00 a.m.
Full Hot Breakfast
(Toast/Muffins, Bacon, Eggs, Chipolatas, Hash Browns, Mushrooms, Baked Beans, Tea/Coffee)
$20/head or
$30/parent-child
(child under 25 years attending with a parent)
Payment at the Breakfast

RSVP - July 17, 2013
To: (03) 6425 1893
or admin@campclayton.org.au

All proceeds to the Camp Clayton Intern Program.

Please get behind this great initiative and support this breakfast :)

Well, I best get to packing, love to you all back home. We miss you.

Please pray for the girls camp we are running this week and pray I don't lose my mind from not being able to shower an do my hair everyday. :)

Jus ta few random photos we haven't yet had the chance to share yet...don't want Alex telling me this was a boring blog, LOL

Sky and Hannah hanging out at the waterslide at Steph's place

The COLTS goofing around as the basement floods :) Yes, that is water all over the floor!
(L-R Sky, Alex, Steph, Ethan and Tim)

Just hatched

Paddle boat fun

Squirrel, so cute!

Add caption

Laura and Cowboy Daddy

A little break...

 Alex has officially completed the COLTS program! Which meant that he was given a week to rest and have some time off. We started making plans….hmmm where to go? What should we see? Should we visit some friends? Calgary? Lethbridge? Fort McCloud? The ideas were endless!

That is until Alex got sick.

Typical! First real day off for two months and he comes down with a cold.

So Alex slept for two days straight while the girls and I hung around and tried to give him a chance to rest.

By Tuesday he was on the mend and we decided that we would take a daytrip to a place called Waterton National Park where we were promised beautiful scenery, waterfalls and the chance to see some bears!

See? Red barns everywhere!

We stopped at a fantastic place called driftwood lake. It was pretty breathtaking! Not only was there an amazing array of driftwood all gnarly and smooth but there was also the most beautiful rocks in all colours. Elizabeth, Hannah and I played with the rocks for ages while Alex took pictures and Miss L slept in the car (saving her energy no doubt!)

Once we arrived in Waterton we stopped to grab a map and other info about the area. There was so much to see! We drove around the town for a while noting how fancy everything looked (pricey was a better word!) and stopped off at another lake to check it out and watch the goffers! They were so cute, popping out of their holes to squeak at one another J

We drove to a nearby waterfall which was quite epic….

Then off to another Lake.  The mountains surround this lake giving it the most stunning view!

Upon arriving, the girls immediately noticed that there were people out on the lake in paddle boats, canoes and row boats. As you can imagine demands were quickly made to have a go in one so off the girls and I went to ask Daddy if we could have a go in a boat. Alex was busy taking photos of a large group of butterflies. There have been huge bunches of caterpillars all over the bushes here and I should think that these butterflies had just hatched.

Daddy was a go for a boat. We decided on a paddle boat as the girls were keen to paddle (yeah, I can see that happening, NOT.) It was a lot of fun! After about 20 minutes though Miss E had had enough so we got out and the girls and Alex went off for another go in a row boat.

We stopped in at the town in Waterton for some pizza and pasta tea and then skipped across the road to burn off some energy at the local park.

We didn’t have much of an opportunity to do much else the last few days due to all the flooding. Crow hasn’t been too badly effected although the second night of hard rain and storms caused a flood in the office basement which is used as a meeting room and is also where their rockclimbing wall is. Alex and a number of the other staff stayed up most of the night bucketing out water and setting up a pump to get the rest out. It’s been two days more and the pump is still going. The water is also off at the site although we have been lucky enough to still have water on at our home.

The lake out the front of Rea and Sandy’s thankfully didn’t flood enough to reach their house but there is an amazing amount of debris and dirty water to be seen from their windows.

Although the flooding is still bad in Calgary and other places we have been able to get out a little last night and today.

Last night I was invited to a girls night with 3 of the lovely Bryan ladies, Sandy, Ginny and Karen. We got to do a little shopping and visit an amazing chocolate shop! 

We had some really great Indian food for tea and it was an all round great evening.

Bison!

Today, we are out and about in Fernie which is about 40 mins from Crow. It’s a ski town so it’s got a lot of fun things to do such as the swimming pool which is what we are up to right now J

The girls and Alex are having an absolute ball using the waterslide and jumping around in the water. Miss E is really enjoying the water and having some great cuddle time with Dad.

So, what’s up next I hear you say? Well we have a couple more days of rest and then we are off to the Crow 2 site for the first camp of the season! I will be programming (supervising in Australian) with Sandy. We will have about 20 girls aged between 10-13 and it’s a complete tenting site. Toilets are the only luxury item here J The girls are coming with us (prayers definitely required!!!!) and Alex will be working with Rea to do Site Managing.

I would love it if you could pray for the week coming up. The camp starts on Thursday and goes to Thursday the next week. Leaders (Counsellors in Canadian) arrive the day before.

I am really looking forward to it although I am also EXTREMELY nervous! But I am thankful for the opportunity. The theme for the week is SHINE. The studies (speaker and chapel time in Canadian) are going to be centred on looking inside yourself and bringing your inner beauty/talents/gifts out to shine for God. Looking to God to find your worth instead of listening to what the world tell these girls they need to be to be interesting and worthy of acceptance and love. I can’t wait!

Look forward to sharing more with you soon. It will probably be after the camp unless I can finally get Alex to stop for five minutes and chat to you about COLTS. J LOL

Talk soon!

Alex and Joshua up another mountain :)

Here are a couple of Alex's latest photos...amazing hey?

The big 30....I feel so old!

I have to admit, I woke up the morning of my birthday incredibly moody and sullen. As if turning 30 wasn’t bad enough, I was feeling homesick and sorry for myself. Alex kept asking me what I’d like to do for my birthday and I had no answer for him, instead I would bite the inside of my lip to stop the tears as I thought about how much I wanted to be home with my friends and family doing all the things I love on my birthday.

Besides the obvious homesickness I was also unhappy that Alex was going to be leaving me and heading out on his Solo Trip that morning. We knew before we even left  Australia that my birthday and his Solo was going to coincide but it wasn’t until the last few days before my birthday that I realised how upset I was about it.

But there was nothing to be done about it. I was going to have to suck it up. Ginny had organised for me to come golfing with her that morning and the girls were going to be looked by some friends. I wasn’t sure how if I wasn’t looking forward to this or not as although I had enjoyed golf once upon a time, it was before the girls were born and I am not (as you all know) very athletic (bit of an understatement I know!) it wasn’t something I would normally choose to do on my birthday and Ginny is like seriously awesome at golf and I didn’t know if looking like an idiot was a great way to spend my special day, no matter how nice Ginny would be about me and my incredible lack of sport skills.

Alex had mentioned that morning that he thought Rea was going to join Ginny and me for golf, I frowned and said “Really? Ginny didn’t mention it. Although I had originally thought when we had planned to go golfing that it would be the four of us. I’m very good at golf and Ginny is amazing at it. I am going to look like a dork!”

In typical Alex fashion he replied with “It’ll be fine”.

Anyway, over breakfast Alex was given all the details about his trip out and Daniel told him about how he was going to be blindfolded and taken to a drop off point where he would have to figure out how to get to his camping spot and then get back home in time to be picked up the following day. He was all packed and ready to go. I could see him bouncing with excitement.  So off he went, wishing me happy birthday with a quick kiss.

Ginny picked me up and off we went to go golfing, as we were about to leave we saw Rea driving off the van. Hmmm, suspicious me thinks!

 As we dropped the girls off, I noticed Ginny was getting a tonne of texts, and I thought to myself “Even more suspicious!” When I asked her if Rea was joining us she had said that she didn’t think so. But the look on her face seemed more guilty then uncertain.

When we arrived at the Course, we immediately noticed Rea’s car and as we climbed the stairs we could see him practicing his putting. LOL, typical Rea I thought, getting here early to pay for us! As I looked out at the course I began to feel a bit better at heading out. I decided that I would get Ginny to give me some lessons so I wouldn’t look so silly when Alex and I came on to play.

The three of us chatted while we waiting for our turn to start. When lo and behold, Alex wanders up the stairs, backpack on, with a huge bouquet of flowers! “I am so sorry, I think I seem to be lost! I am supposed to be climbing a mountain but I can’t seem to find my way!” He exclaims! J

I was so shocked and surprised I started crying there on the spot.

Turns out he had planned the whole thing and had thought it was so funny how moody and crabby I had been about him not being there.

So we had a great time playing and I surprised myself by really enjoying the game. I had forgotten how much I like golf!

Later that night we trooped over to Rea and Sandy’s house. They were having a birthday party for Andrew, their son in law who also happens to have his birthday on a most auspicious day.  Sadly, he was only turning 28 which reminded me how old I am. L But the very very large vase of chocolates in all my favourite flavours from Rea, Sandy and Ginny more than made up for it. LOL

We had a wiener roast and Ginny made me a fabulous Ferro Rocher cake, wow was it amazing!!! Sandy also presented me with some photos of friends and family from home all cut up into a number 30. Mum had apparently asked if she could do that for me. It was so nice to see those familiar faces I did begin to feel a little homesick again but recovered after eating some more cake and ice cream J

I also received some amazing flowers from David and Jo…. Thanks guys J

The next day Marla made a fabulous meal and a very decadent chocolate birthday cake for me.

I have been spoilt rotten and I am so glad that I was able to share my birthday with so many new and amazing friends.

All in all it was a pretty good birthday! Thanks to all of you who wished me a happy birthday on facebook/email etc. I will reply soon but it may take a while.

Talk soon!

Here are some other happy snaps for you to enjoy...

Out to lunch at the Run Runner - a local pub. 

Yep, that is exactly what you think it is! Proof that their is definitely bears out and about over here.

Ok, I'll admit this isn't much of a happy snap but Hannah has been bragging everywhere about getting a tick and how brave she was while we got it out. I think I was freaking out a lot more then her! EW EW EW!!!

The girls have the A&W restaurant a big thumbs up for lunch today :) I was pretty impressed too!

Suit Up!

So I have been waiting for Alex to process some photos for this blog, sorry it’s been slow! This is an account of Last week. I’ll update you tomorrow on my birthday J

Alex and the rest of the COLTS arrived back from their major out trip on Tuesday, in the afternoon. Ginny, Tim, Daniel and I had organised a fabulous “Elegant Country” themed dinner for them. Ginny and I cooked up a storm (for all the camp staff reading this, I stole your two moon soup recipe, which they all thought was very cool!) and Daniel and Tim served the food, made drinks (from what I can tell, Tim made most of the drinks up from a random selection each time, most were drinkable though!) that had to be paid for in the currency of either a bad joke, a really sad pick up line, a random dance move or something equally hilarious. During the dinner the COLTS had the opportunity to debrief after the big out trip.

Alex and Ethan surveying the awesomeness

The COLTS were also presented with their COLT jackets (they wear them like lettermen jackets over here, it’s a big deal!) After the dinner we came back to the Lodge at Crow and had Chocolate fondue and fruit for supper with the rest of the staff. YUM! And watched a hilarious movie and Tim and Daniel made – a silent western movie to go with the theme. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time!

The next day the COLTS and the girls and I were invited to go to Stephanie’s home (she is one of the COLTS). She and her family have a fabulous home out Lethbridge way. She lives right in the coolies (which are kinda like valleys and gullies, it’s a bit hard to explain) and her family and home are just lovely! We had a great time getting to know her everyone and hanging out there. I also got to meet Ethan’s Mum in person! Yah!

The girls hanging out at Steph's House

A big red barn! Told you they are everywhere!

Alex and the COLTS also went out Paintballing down in the gully and many of them came back with seriously awful bruises and welts from being hit. Alex managed to get hit in the neck and it looks embarrassingly like a hickey J The girls had a great time too, they really enjoyed the families cubby house and Hannah loved playing with their two dogs and cats.

Down in the Coulie playing Paintball

In the words of Barney...SUIT UP!
L/R - Daniel, Alex, Ethan, Daniel, Sky, Yin, Robyn, Stephanie's brother (Sorry I have forgotten his name!) and Stephanie

Joshua and Hannah

Playing COLTS, a game they all made up. It was pretty fun!

Next up??? The best part of the week!!! Alex took me to Lethbridge for a shopping spree for my birthday coming up, as he will be away on his Solo Trip. I had so much fun!!! Check out all the goodies I brought….

Ahh, it is such a relief to have more than the same 5 shirts to wear that I brought over with me. I was so over wearing them J

SO pretty....

After shopping till we dropped, we stopped in at Pinchers Creek on the way home to get some tea and went to Bostons Pizza. Which is another of Canada’s really great eating establishments. We were really impressed as their food was great and they had an awesome selection. J The girls loved their little activity packs that came in pizza boxes, so cute. J

Alex had one day back at camp and then left again for another outtrip. This weekend the COLTS are taking the local Youth Group on a hike for two nights. He will be back this afternoon, can’t wait!

Out with the Youth Group....Devo time

He will then be at camp for a couple of nights and then out for his Solo trip.

The COLTS and the Leaders.... On the Major Outtrip
L/R - Yin (Leader), Stephanie, RObyn (Leader), Sky, Alex and Ethan

Oh! I forgot to tell you that I made scones for all the staff yesterday J They make something similar over here but they call them biscuits (so confusing!) and they usually eat them with soup. So yesterday I made them proper scones with jam and whipped cream. Sadly the oven was a little too hot and they were a bit crunchy but I think I’ll try again maybe next week so I get them right! Everyone liked them though.

I also forgot to tell you last blog about a funny incident with Rea and Sandy and the Blessings Society. Rea and Sandy were planning on putting their car (the one we have been using) in for a service. Alex and I had already decided that we were going to go down and pay some money towards the service fee to bless them and thank them for letting us use the car. So the day before the car was due to go in, Alex and I went into town and went to the shop they were going to put the car into and asked if we could pay a certain amount off the bill, only to be informed that Rea had already told them that they were not to accept ANY money from someone trying to pay the bill!!! Alex came back and told me and I laughed and said you need to send Rea a text saying “touché!”  He did and received a response from Rea “You are playing on my home turf Alex”.

Hmmm, Rea and Sandy have certainly been playing the game longer then we have, we obviously need to think outside the box and surprise them I think! Please feel free to email me your ideas!! simplygreygd@gmail.com

In other news, Ginny has asked me to help Program (Supervise in Canadian) a camp for 10-13 year old girls at the end of this month (which is the start of their summer and the start of holiday camps) with Sandy. I am really excited and we had our first planning meeting today. I would really love your prayers for this since, as yet, we do not have any counsellors which may mean the camp cannot go ahead. Also, please pray for me….the camp is an actual tent camping camp, like outside….like, no showers or toilets….like outside with the bugs and stuff….so please pray!!!! I know most of you know how little I like the outdoors and would much prefer to “rough it” in a 3 star hotel then in a tent J

Talk soon!