Prince Charming….the Toad?

How is someone supposed to know if a girl is a tomboy? It might be a hint when they see a frog and go, “A frog, awesome!” That was me at Edgemont. Whether my brain was fried by the 110 degree temperature or if I was just glad to see a frog is yet to be determined.

Anyway, when we dug poor Prince Charming up I had to rescue him. He was the fattest frog I’d ever seen. But he was quite dry so, naturally, I put him in a container with water. I then took him to show to mother like a five year old with a trophy. Wait? Is that right? Maybe it should have been the other way around but at this point I don’t care.

Mother’s response was, “That is not a frog, it is a toad.”

“Oh,” was my response. Then I smiled hugely, “Prince Charming, the toad.”
The toad looked at me as if to say, “You should have known I was a toad. How rude.” In any case, he didn’t look happy.

“Do toads like water?”

“No,” is what Prince Charming’s look said.

“No,” replied my mother. Prince Charming tried to remove himself from the water. His container (which smelled suspiciously of a coffee and paint combination) was too large for him to escape from. This was a good thing because a wet toad running free in the camper trailer would not have been a great plan.
Prince Charming, his indigent croaks making him most un-charming, was taken back outside.

Having work to do but with the neighbor dog running around, we decided it was a good idea to put Prince Charming’s container up high.
I went back to work with Peter’s cries of ‘cool!’ and Jules’ ‘it’s so cute!’ ringing in my ears.

I’m sorry to say that is the last I saw of Prince Charming. The toad sympathizers let him go without giving me a chance to say goodbye. (I will not point fingers but it was a certain Mom of ours….)

So that is pretty much all there is to Prince Charming’s story. Huge sigh.

Yours truly,
Mandy

Camp

I had an awesome two weeks of camp but it was really hard emotionally. I spent the two weeks trying desperately to hold up two of my pen-pals as they told me about the worsening situation at home. Their dad was coming closer and closer to getting put in prison and one of them was trying to hold up the whole family on her own. All three of us love the Lord so much but I found myself seeing places where I had to step in and remind them of his hand, even when it wasn’t seen. I prayed long and hard both weeks for the right words and actions.

If not for the Lord I would never have made it. How could I hold up these two and take their problems by myself? The answer is so simple: I couldn’t.

My mom said something that caught my attention. Miracles could not happen if there wasn’t first a bad situation. I hope, and beg the Lord, each day that He might help these two dear friends and their situation. I ask for a miracle. But I also ask for strength because I can’t hold them up alone. I’ve tried and failed. I need Him more than anything or anyone else.

As much as I love camp it ended at just the right time. My emotional and physical strength was failing from these two weeks. And as much as I love these friends, I needed a bit of time to pray and ask for guidance. I will continue to talk to them through letters. In the same way I know these two weeks lifted them, it also pushed me down a bit.

I simply ask the Lord to hold them, for I can’t. And I ask him to hold me up because I don’t even have the strength to do that. I can't carry this load on my own.

Are you trying to hold yours?

Food in Edgemont

And well I’m home on the weekend I will post another Edgemont story….

For dinner (on the 6th) we went out to a nice restaurant. After our small camper it was a VERY nice change. It was one of those places where when someone walks through the door and waves, everyone in the place waves back. Still not got a clear image? Well, it’s one of those places with half your grandma’s garage hanging on the walls.
Okay! I admit it! I’m writing this at the restaurant table. I had a great idea for a post and was afraid I’d lose it. So, here I am!
None of us, even Jon who eats more than Dad, could finish. This is MAJOR amounts of food! And….there has got to be an ‘and’ for this…its great! Giant, homemade, wonderful burritos and what’s not to like? And you all know I like food.

Oh The Life Of A Traveler

What good is it to have a blog called 'Just What I Think' if I don't have time to think? My dad says, "Welcome to adulthood." I'm fourteen! I still want to fly on dragonflies and wear buckets. Yet, God is leading me in new things.

Well, my friends and faithful readers, I am off. Today is the day! Camp begins at two which means we're outa here by twelve and we've got TONS to do. As I constantly remind myself, God's timing his perfect. If you're supposed to leave at one and it's twelve and you've got a lot to do, DON'T panic. God knows what He's doing. You don't.

I'll just have to tell you about Edgemont when things slow down, if things slow down!

At this rate I'm going to be abroad more than at home but God is in control and I trust Him more than anyone or anything else.

I LOVE camp (just thought I'd add that).

Yours truly,

Mandy

On The Road...Again

So, we were once again on the road to Edgemont (actually, I should say we are on the road to Edgemont since that’s where I’m writing this). It started at the post office as we dropped off the last bit of mail that would go out for awhile. Our neighbor was there as well and couldn’t resist saying that we looked like gypsies. Well, we did. Our pickup bed was packed up past the rim (supported by the frame my dad made for carrying around his tools). We were (all seven of us) packed into the little pickup as well. A tiny bit cramped.

After the post office it was off to Edgemont but before you get there you pass through Custer. So, obviously, we went through Custer. Julie decided we all needed to know something so she said, “It is really hard to say Custer fast.” She had spent the last few minutes doing just that.

I was in the front seat (oops, am in the front seat) with Mom and Dad. Mom replied, “It’s almost as hard to say Custer slow.”

I had a completely blond moment at that point in time and proceeded in saying, “Custer slow, Custer slow, Custer slow.” I was laughed at. Can you guess why? My memo (just so you know) came in late.

Yours truly,

Mandy

Trip Adventures

This next series (I'm calling it a series!) is dedicated to my mother who bravely endured our corny jokes, the songs we sung all day for three or four days in a row, and the heat. And trust me, it was HOT!

I'm Back...For A Tiny Bit

I'm here. After two weeks. I know, I said it would be one but the job wasn't done in one. But I won't be here for long. Just one week because starting next Monday I'm off for two weeks of came. I will try to post all the stories I came up with at Edgemont for you before then.

If you're interested in where I'm going you can go here for details - http://www.blackhillsbaptistcamp.com/

Mandy