Rock Ridge was amazing for so many reasons the most important is the fact that I could even go! My youth group was taking a 5 day camping trip to northern Minnesota and I didn't think I would be able to go but I signed up just in case. It was a much needed vacation indeed. If you've been to the boundary waters you will love Rock Ridge! From Saturday to Wednesday I challenged myself, tried different adventures and hung out with amazing youth and adults! It was a once in a lifetime kind of week!
Saturday we got to Rock Ridge in Ely MN to a very happy group of leaders. We were on a bus for hours and we were all tired but nonetheless we were out on adventures right away! The first experience was zip lining! I and a good friend of mine were pretty scared to try it at first but finally we ended up going for it! I was terrified and literally felt like my body was in shock when I climbed up the bridge to jump onto the line. Petrified I asked the guide a few questions and finally just jumped. I went from terrified to gliding through the air. It was great! I was zooming but I think I've had enough of that thrill to last me a while. I'm not a big fan of heights! The whole time though I was safe even if I was in mid air. The next day we went dog scootering! If you have never heard of this we used huskies! I kept telling people they made a dream come true. I love huskies you should ask Zechariah how much sometime! He'll tell you some funny stories!
So we hooked our huskies in front of a scooter and took off on a trail through the woods! My huskie was called T and man he was just crazy. Like Nathan he just wanted to move! Every time we stopped or slowed down he would get so antsy to keep going. I even lost control of the scooter a couple of times! Not going to lie the hills were not fun and downhill was scary! Again I was safe there was plenty of people there to help out should anything have happened! That afternoon we went tubing down the river. It was fun and relaxing for a while but then I was getting bored. Sitting or laying in a tube for hours doesn't sound like my greatest version of fun! Tuesday we played Canoe Olympics and they were so fun and intense!
So I learned how to paddle a canoe! I never had the pleasure of paddling one before and definitely freaked out the first time I was in it but after awhile it was pretty great! We played games with the canoes, tipped one another, played tug of war it was really great! All of the above adventures I've never done before. I didn't know I could do half of what I did in 5 days! This week was in my opinion all about overcoming big fears! One of them being leaving Nathan for about a week for the first time.
Of all the awesome experiences my favorite have been hearing that Nathan did just fine this past week. He's walking and it's just amazing to watch him learn all these new things. While I was gone and couldn't provide for him God came through just like he said he would! To those that graciously watched my little man this week I'm so eternally grateful! You taught me a very valuable lesson. Nathan would be just fine without me. He would grow, eat, play, sleep because he's a baby that's what they do. But this week I have been praying so much for God to move and he has in really big ways!
He showed me I have nothing to fear. From zip line, dog scootering, tubing, paddling a canoe etc. God's hand covered it all. He also showed me that I don't have to fear the youth and leaders I serve alongside with. I was able to open up to a lot of people and it's been amazing to be able to trust. Trust doesn't come easy for me as I'm sure is the same for many others. To trust people with your heart is a very beautiful thing! I think everyone may have one friend like that!
Recently a beautiful friendship has developed between me and the leaders that I feel has been 3 years in the making! Through my car accident God has really knitted us with Lisa and is deepening my friendship with Felis!! During the week both Felis and I felt we needed to stay back at camp instead of go with our group. The most beautiful conversations happened! I'm so shocked we had things to say after hours of talking. I'm starting to understand this is how relationships and friendships are supposed to work. When Zechariah and I first started dating I was anxious to know how we could find anything to say to each other after spending so much time together but God always came through! Our last day at Rock Ridge I was really torn! I wanted to go home but I didn't at the same time!
All week leading up to Rock Ridge I said I was going to have a terrible time because I was going to be crying a lot over missing Nathan. I did miss Nathan immensely especially when I saw the 11 month old!! Somehow though God came through and made this week so wonderful and I learned so much about myself through it I just didn't need to! What I thought going into this week didn't happen! God had other plans and they came through and I ended up forming relationships that I want to keep deepening! My prayer is that we would all give up our plans or expectations and take on God's! When we do suddenly what we thought would happen is the farthest thing that does!! The greatest shock to me though of all is the meeting I'm going to be having next week!
In Altoona we are going to have lunch with my dad! For the first time in 3 years I feel ready. The last time we saw each other was July 30, 2012 in a courtroom. Please for those that pray be praying for us as we meet. Pray for the atmosphere and conversation to be exactly as it should be! 3 years ago I signed papers that cut any communication and now we're meeting face to face! I can't equate this to anything but our wonderful and great God! Last week has been one of those weeks I want to remember for a long time!
I want to remember the relationships formed, the conversations had, adventures took, food ate, times with God, and last but certainly not least the absolutely beautiful scenery!!! If you ever have a chance to visit Ely, MN it's so worth the drive!!! Thank you to everyone that's made our stay so great!! I'm so looking forward to visiting again next year!!!
God is great that's about all I have to say!
I love you with all my heart
Tina Martina Putney
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