just so you know. . .

well, in 3 hours i get on a bus with 50 teenagers and take the long and winding road to Pisgah, alabama!!! it's our annual winter retreat and i am SO excited.  We've got over 100 students and 30 leaders spending MLK weekend at the beautiful Camp Toknowhim (yes, that's the real name).  this is my 6th winter retreat at toknowhim and my, like 13th winter retreat. i'm pretty much a pro. i know all the secrets to make life with so many teenagers in the middle of the woods a little more comfortable. like, take your own real coffee mug so you don't have to use styrofoam, don't let anyone touch your sleeping bad, take your headlamp and have a good bedtime playlist on your ipod.  still - i always get a little bit nervous/excited even though i really have done this for so long.  maybe its because every trip is different or because i just want to make sure that everyone is comfortable or that everything goes well so that i look good. 

i thought that in honor of my activites this weekend i would make a list of my top 10 favorite winter/fall retreat moments:

10.  the great spheggetti fight of '08. i will never be asked to help clean the kitchen after dinner again.

9.  peanut butter jelly time skit of '07.

8. my secret romance on the retreat of '07.

7. southwood's battle of the dough in '06

6.  rubber stamp carving with robin. i think in '05

5. the complete honesty and encouragement of students in '05

4.  the great conquering of the forest in '05

3.  the victory lap after emily and sara's sports spectacular in '07.

2.  the west virginia ski debaucle of '04.  all of it.

1.  kelley's leap of death in '03.  the 'its better in the bahamas' shirt is what really pushed this to number 1.  

and there it is. see how much fun it is to be a youth leader? hopefully after monday i'll have a few more to add. until then, all your prayers are appreciated.  peace!