Cathedral Pines Camp

As we are on a journey of transition with Jeff’s work injuries, we decided to go and help with a kids camp in the Idaho Sawtooth Mountains. No point in moping around when there are things we cannot change. Might as well be helpful in some way.

We have been reconnecting with family as we’ve driven across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. A pleasant interlude with our son Joshua and cousins allowed us to attend a cousins wedding on a ranch in southwest Idaho. The hospitality was outstanding! We enjoyed good food and dancing as well as entertaining conversation. From there, we said good bye to our son and started the drive across Idaho to go up to the Sawtooth mountains. The days have been warm without being too hot on this trip. The vistas are broad with changing colors across the landscape. The wind blows with little to get in its way. It is fun to go 80 mph on the interstate with no repercussions.

As we drive, I remember some stories my grandmother told of her trip from Allen, Nebraska to move to Greenleaf, Idaho. She said that her mother was worried they would not be able to make it over the mountains at Mountain Home, Idaho. It makes me think that maybe worry is part of our family DNA. I’m sure there was a sense of relief to see that Mountain Home was pretty flat comparatively speaking. Jeff and I stopped at the historic sign and read that the area was originally called “Rattlesnake”. Someone decided they needed to change the name to make it more appealing to settlement.

This is where we left the interstate and started towards the mountains. The broad vistas enhanced the view of the mountains beautiful with their topping of snow. Our friends had warned us to bring coats as they had had snow the week before. I borrowed one from a cousin while Jeff brought an extra coat Joshua had had in his car. The camp was at 6,600 feet. The coat was welcome as I helped pass out “Bibles” one night as our “special agents” smuggled them from one end of the camp to another. Jeff and I mostly were an extra set of ears and hands for this years camp. The staff was friendly and well equipped with brief cases strategically hidden for campers to find with special assignments if they chose to accept them. Well seasoned cabin leaders lead silly songs for the evening that accompanied the campfire time. Kurt Smalley allowed us to help him with several “Grains Game” lessons that not only entertained but also illustrated an important spiritual truth that went along with the kids being trained as “special agents”. The game pictured here required a camper to choose which cup had a pine cone under it. A win meant a chocolate treat while a loss meant a face full of shaving cream.

Occasional sightings of elk, deer and golden squirrels added to the adventure as did night time star sightings. WiFi was spotty and cell phone coverage nonexistent. We slept well in our own cabin and appreciated the good and simple meals. Bonding with other campers over special diet issues was an unexpected blessing as we shared Paleo pancake mix and maple syrup.

Faith, friends, food and fun. What more does anyone need? We continue to see God’s hand leading, guiding and directing as we put one foot in front of the other and are open to opportunities He provides.

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