I have been in colorado for 37 days? Someone pinch me.

"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you maybe be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

-Joshua 1:7-8

I really never could sit down to just read the bible without a purpose. It was always for a devotion, church, or a bible study. I just have never been good at just leisurely reading the bible. So a couple weeks ago we talked about meditation in term of reading God's word. Andrea, who was teaching the lesson encouraged us to try and read through the entire bible in a year. She ask that we be able to sit down and read scripture as if we were reading any other literature. So the meditation part comes in after we read, that as we continue on with our daily tasks and jobs that we mediate on what we read. So this was an odd thing for me, cause I am more use to taking apart scripture verse by verse. This being so different has been really cool. I can sit down and read 5 chapters and see scripture more holistically and as a story. I am starting with the new testament, then I will begin the old, and hopefully finish towards the end of the internship! Oh and by end of april I will have all 106 verses of James memorized.

Well onto the work part of my life, I have learned even more.. go figure. I have put in a entire irrigation and sprinkler system, laid top soil, and laid Sod. All of which was on my birthday, before 15 inches of snow fell over night. CHEERS, to snow on your birthday for the first time ever! I have shoveled snow. Lots of it. I can use snow blower without breaking anything. I have single handedly fixed a faucet. And as of last Thursday and Friday learned to use a chain saw to cut and split fire wood... and I still have all my arms and legs, Success! I have also brought out the electrician in me by replacing light fixtures and exit signs. Needless to say, my resume needs to be updated. 

Before

After laying Sod

 As of now my clothes are keeping me warm. But we have only had temps down -7. The low last year got down to NEGATIVE 60. YES, -60. So mom if your reading this, Santa needs to bring a warm, weather proof, insulated jacket. Thanks! Well in other news I have already been here for 5 weeks and time has flown! The people God has put here to work on this camp are nothing short of incredible. This past week we had a staff retreat out to Trail West- YoungLife's Family Camp, and we got to just hang out for a couple days. On the 2nd night there we had a all Colorado Divisional Camp Dinner. Which meant all the Colorado Camps got to have a super fancy dinner and had worship lead by Jonah Werner. Its pretty cool that I work for a place that worships together. Its how it should be. Well until next time, I'll try to keep myself warm, and try to update this more than I have been. Peace & Blessings!

Real World- Crooked Creek Ranch

The Intern (real world) House

"This is the true story... of eleven strangers... picked to live in a house...work together and have their lives taped... to find out what happens... when people stop being polite... and start getting real...The Real World." --All true, besides the taping part.. well at least to the extent of what were told.

Well I arrived at camp just over 2 weeks ago, and already so much has happened! The first night we had dinner at the Camp Manager's house and spent the evening meeting with all the property staff we will be working with. The next couple days consisted of orientation and getting settled in here by picking up groceries and figuring our way around town. Last Tuesday was my first day working with the Maintenance department and it was exciting to finally meet all the guys I am working with. So my first week was a WHOLE new experience, I learned how to sand, insulate, stain, and clear coat the front sign. I helped pour concrete or mud as they all call it. I Tore out a ceiling and a tile floor, repaired a couch and some chairs, and helped install a irrigation system. Needless to say, I have been doing things I have never done before. I have learned that every day work is gonna have a new surprise for me, and its best to dress accordingly.

You can find me hanging out on 20 feet of scaffolding most days.

Not even a week here, and we got 5 inches of snow.

We have begun our intern bible study and as apart of it we will memorize a book of the bible and also study a gospel throughout the year. The focus of our year is to become Disciples of Christ. Which means we try and live according to those who followed Jesus. Lately in bible study we have talked a lot about the costs and benefits of coming here to commit a year to following Christ. Once you start looking at everything we could give up, the benefits of knowing Jesus more continues to outweigh all other things. Brett Wingo, the camp director and our bible study leader has continually pushed on us that this is our year, we can waste it, or we can make it revolutionary to the way we follow Jesus for the rest of our lives. 


On to other news, this past weekend I went with a fellow intern to the closest big town, Silverthorne. To get chipotle and go to a Target, talk about a big deal for a saturday! On the way back we took the back way through the national forest and got to see some beautiful terrain. The beauty of mountains will never get old. This morning I went on a hike big horn Mtn., which was followed by some time on my hammock,(thanks causey family!) reading and journaling. The rest of my day will be spent resting, before going to church this evening.

Until next time, thanks for following. God has blessed me with terrific support and to all who have supported me by prayers and financial gifts, you are what makes this happen. Thank you so much, and God Bless!

Nevada to Colorado

LOVE by Cirque de Soleil is the best show ever!! Las Vegas gave me just what I was looking for. A nice tan, gourmet food, and good entertainment. We left Las Vegas on monday and drove into Utah, a state I had never Visited and it actually was some beautiful landscape. We stayed the night in a cabin in Moab, UT. Tuesday morning I rented a mountain bike and took off for some of Moab's famous mountain biking trails. I didn't have a whole lot of time so I did about 6 miles of moderate/slight technical trails and got to experience what its like to ride "slickrock". I didn't wipe out, but I got pretty close multiple times. If you have seen the movie 127 hours, my ride kinda of looked like that -minus the hardcore jumps. My highest jump was maybe 2 feet... but It was really fun and has made me really want a mountain bike! Moab is such a cool town and I would go back in heartbeat to bike and even hop into a raft on the river!

 After the Bike ride, I picked up mom and we made our way into Arches Nation Park and drove around to some really cool spots! The picture's below are the balancing rock on the left and the pine tree arch on the right. Then underneath that is the landscape arch, which is absolutely huge! The whole park is a geologic wonder and is unlike anything I have ever seen! I wish I had more time so I could have hiked up closer to some other arches, but that just means I will have to return one day!

 We left Moab tuesday and drove to Breckenridge, CO where we settled into our mountainside condo. Thank to my momma we got a good deal and spent 2 nights here! We explored the town, shopped the shops, and just took in a beautiful Colorado fall that neither of us had ever seen. The aspen tree's were beautiful in the turning of the seasons. We cooked most of our food and spent our evening relaxing in the Jacuzzi!

 ...Then we met the sly fox. This guy has been fed here before and he knows his cuteness will get him all the bacon he wants. He literally would just come sit at the patio door and wait for us to bring him more bacon before he would run back into the woods. 

 We made it to Denver today and met with miss Perryman! We had lunch in Golden then walked over to the Coors Brewery and sampled some of that rocky mountain cold beer. As you can see above my brew is not in a glass instead its in the Aladdin mug I have been trying to steal from perryman for a couple years now. She surprised me with it today and it is the best coffee mug ever! 
We are spending 2 nights in Denver before I drop off momma at the airport and head for Crooked Creek! Gonna spend the rest of our time here hanging out and picking up some last minute things I need before I reside in the mountains. This whole trip has been so amazing. God has blessed us with a fairly accident or drama free trip so far, and I just am so thankful my mom wanted to do this with me. A year of challenges is just days away and the opportunity God has given me to serve and learn will be a life experience that will change me forever. Thanks for following along, I will update after I am settled in at camp!

From Texas to Nevada

Between tuesday morning and yesterday, Mom and I have driven just over 1,400 miles. We stopped in Albuquerque, NM our first night and stayed at the Sandia Hotel which had some wonderful views to wake up to before we left at 6:30am to head to the GRAND CANYON.

I Won't try and describe how amazing it is, because no word or picture can really do it justice. Mind blowing, unreal, jaw dropping, it is absolutely astonishing to sit and look at. So part of the deal with visiting the canyon, was that my mom had to camp. Which meant my high maintenance momma slept in a tent on a cot. I have to hand it to her cause she was champ! The first morning at the canyon I decided to go hike into the canyon on the South Kabib Trail. I hiked about 1.5 miles in, for an elevation change of 2,000 ft. It was like hiking a mountain backwards, getting down there was easy. But climbing out was a whole new challenge. However getting down into the canyon allows ya to see some wonderful views. Next time I return to the canyon I am determined to hike to the river!

This is my friend SQUIRREL. He only loved me for my granola and banana I was eating. If only Zoe was with me this squirrel would have been her new chew toy.

So after camping for 2 nights, Vickie got her wish and we are in Las Vegas until monday. We have tickets to see Love by Cirque du Soleil tomorrow night and besides that I plan on spending most of my time soaking up the rays by the pool before I go into Hibernation in Colorado. I have 7 days until I start the internship so these last few days of hanging with my mom and seeing some beautiful sights is just what I needed.

Bye Tejas

First off, fun fact: Pete Delkus of channel 8 news in Dallas decided to put a picture I sent in of hail on the news today!

Thanks Pete!

Well, T-minus 9 Hours till I pull out of my drive way and begin a 12 day road trip that will take me to Fraser, CO. So the direct drive from Coppell, TX to Fraser, CO is about 850 miles. The route me and my mom are taking it about 2,200 miles...

^^^Me

This route was not picked out my desire to spend 36 hours of driving with my wonderful mother, but instead so we can see the great American Southwest. So I am taking my mom camping. Vickie (mom) doesn't camp. She stays at hotels. So I ask for prayers, mostly for my sanity. We are gonna experience a lot in 12 days, but I am probably most excited about Moab, Utah and getting to mountain bike in what's know has the mountain biking capital of the world! At the end of this I just hope me and mom don't fight... too much, and that we really get to just enjoy God's beautiful creations.

Thank you again for all who have supported me both in prayer and encouragement, and financially. It really means the world to me that I have so much support. This next year is going to be wonderful in more ways than I can count, but it will also be incredibly challenging physically, spiritually, and mentally. In the end, this is God's plan for me and I can't wait to share what he does in my heart and at camp. God Bless!

Destined to live by water.

 The Lay/Causey clan just returned from our family vacation in Destin, FL! We really lucked out because Josh's dad owns a house on the bay, so we got to stay for free! We had wonderful weather and spent everyday by the beach! We also got to kayak, fish, and eat some pretty wonderful seafood!! It was great to have a week to just spend with my family hanging out and just enjoying each other before I head for Colorado. I really am just so unbelievably blessed to have such a supportive family! 

Gig'em Kayaking

Last night we went the Rangers game and we might not have come away with a win. But I did get some good pictures of Cohen enjoying the game.

1 month, 20 days

Well today marks 20 days until September 1st, which means 1/2 of my support must be raised must be raised in 20 days... And in 1 month and 20 days is the first day of work! This time is going to fly! I essentially have almost ever week planned out before I leave! I have my nephews 3rd birthday this weekend, then next wednesday I leave for Destin, FL till the 24th, then labor day weekend I will be headed to College Station to watch the FIGHTING TEXAS AGGIES beat up on some SMU mustangs. Then after that I have just 2 weeks before the 20th when me and my mom leave on a trip of a lifetime! I'll have to post the map of what all exactly were gonna do, because its all sorts of crazy.

Later Gators

Hupakoen Pisteos (Obedience of Faith)

"Thanks be to God, that though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” Romans 6:17–18