Storms a brewin...

its snowing hard.. like rain.. supposed to get up to 15 inches by tomorrow night..

I got a new camera, will post pics.. got to go though and get out while i still can.. ha this is surreal

1 Month in..

It's crazy to think I have been here one month.. actually ONLY one month.. I feel like I have been here a lot longer. Not in a bad way, but in a good way. I feel that I have learned a ridiculous amount in my job, made some great friendships, gotten remotely familiar with my surroundings other than just my normal summer stops, and miss home and Starkville, pretty big. But at the same time I am so happy that I have 4 more of these months until the Chaos of Camp begins. I already know I am going to feel weird when all the staff and kids show up on "my turf", this place is no longer just "camp" its home, for now. So when 300 people show up to my quiet little home, it will be overwhelming.

I start traveling on my own tomorrow. I will be going to Gardner-Webb University, to recruit some staff, then next week I am off to Virginia, to recruit at VT, UVA, and Liberty! I get to see some awesome camp friends and LIBBIE!! I am very excited to get some good Mississippi State friend time in with good ole Libster, even though it will be at The University of Virginia, so what. I am just excited to get started traveling, and recruiting even more to this great place.

God has been showing me all kinds of new stuff about Him and myself. I am learning how to connect and spend time with God, as an "adult" (term used VERY loosely). You always think that you are so busy in school and sometimes forget your time with God because of that. Well people im here to tell you from watching my surrounding co-workers here at camp and knowing from personal experience, it doesn't get easier in life, maybe harder. Jobs, responsibilities, wives/husbands, kids.. you really have to take time to make sure you get that God time, and it is inspirational/encouraging to see the people I hang out with making that time and encouraging me to do the same. Our God is awesome guys and gals. So if you would just pray that I continue to go after him and discover him deeper and in new ways continously.. I have found that to be my daily prayer.. deeper, yet more casual, conversations and experiences with my God.

Random/Exciting Thoughts:
1) the Cookout drive through is amazing, our new obsession although it is by no means healthy, you can get a full meal and drink and even milkshake for under 5 bucks.. and the sides are like chicken nuggets or chicken quesadillas.. love being a fat kid

2) I may have a ticket to the Duke/FSU men's basketball game tomorrow night.. i think it is like 75%, so i hope I will be there, right behind the FSU bench cheering on the Noles! so look for me, and oh yeah.. it'll be free!!

Grace and Peace!
Seth

It's Melting, melting...

Well it's about to get CRAZY.. ha.. well not really crazy, but the traveling is about to begin, and I can not really wait! #1 I am excited about seeing the new places and faces.. but I am ready for the weather of Florida, hopefully warmer, although it has warmed up here and the snow is finally slowly but surely melting here at camp. But, today was great because I got to wear Chaco's.. that was fun, but it has cooled off throughout the day and now I am slightly regretting the decision, but not really.

This weekend was great, did absolutely nothing, watched another "heart attack" game by the MSU Basketball Bulldogs, I cant take much more of this winning by 2 thing, well as long as we are winning, I guess I am cool. I also sadly watched my Cowboys go down in defeat, which was a huge bummer. I had a great meal on Sunday night with some amazing Biltmore Wine right from the vineyard by the great Kathleen and Sharon. It was tasty, real tasty. Other than that, the weekend was mundane, but that is good, because the next few will be traveling and stuff, which will be fun.

I am struggling to find a time for me and my boy Jesus. Although I have so much time "free" I can't get into a routine of that time. Like I get some good God time at work and as a part of work, but not my personal QT that I am used to, so I am prayerful that I workout some thing consistent with that soon, because if it isnt part of my routine, sadly but truthfully, it is one of the first things forgotten, I know, i'm a sinner, but hey, you are too.. ha.

Random Stuff:
-I want to take a big time trip at the end of the summer, somewhere, like I'm thinking big like, Europe, New Zealand, or Road Trip out West.. if you're in let me know ha.

-I love Flannel.. it is my new best friend, with a white v-neck underneath.. now if I could only grow a beard.. I would be fulfilled.

Grace and Peace,
Seth

Heat Wave.. yeah, the 40's

Today was beautiful, great to see sunlight and feel sunlight and be able to walk outside in just a long sleeved shirt!! ha, who would've ever thought this Mississippi Boy would be happy to see the temperature in the 40's, and hey, I hear we are going to be in the 50s tomorrow! woo hoo..

So, got some good headway in work today, I was busy all day, which I like, a lot, I hate boredom, which luckily lacks in this job. I learn so much everyday through subtle teaching lessons from my boss on how a office should run or really just how people should act with each other in a Christian setting. One of the biggest things I have learned so far, that has been taught well here is to just put my pride aside. If I need help with something, ask, if I feel like my idea may be not the best, ask, and they will tell me. Phil, Sharon, and Ron (all my superiors, ha) foster a feeling of comfort, while at the same time an atmosphere that drives me to do my best and prove that they made the right decision in hiring me and for giving me this opportunity. It also is great to know doing even the smallest thing in this "business" is going to benefit the work of Christ. Everything we do here as "businessy" as it may be, goes towards God's kingdom, how affirming is that. Reminds me of Lecrae saying or rapping "im redeemed with Faith to serve my God, whose extremely great, Im a Fanatic" ha, well maybe not the best illustration, but that is what is playing on my itunes right now, ha.

Random Thoughts:
-I want to travel somewhere in the area (NC, SC, East TN, Western VA).. if you have any suggestions, hook a brother up...


-I listen to the Glee soundtrack like it's my job.. you should too

-I started working out to fill some time, crazy that I have never been on a workout program ever, when my concentration in college was "Clinical EXERCISE Physiology" in other words Exercise Science.. oh yeah.. I'm horrible sore... but the good fulfilling sore.. ha


Grace and Peace,

Seth

Lazy Sunday in Ridgecrest

Well the first week of the internship is over, and it is pretty ridiculous that it has only been one week. I have been thrown into the job full force, and I am loving every minute of my new life. I have done so much and learned so much and been supported so much, I really just can't believe it has only been 1 week, can't imagine how much I am going to get to learn and see and experience in the next 5 months! My biggest project right now is working on finishing the planning of my Recruiting Trips. The biggest trip I will be going on is 11 days and includes: Clemson, FSU, UWF, UF, UCF, Flagler, UNF, U of Jacksonville, and a Greek Conference in Charlotte, NC. I will be gone from 2/9 to 2/20. So I am excited because if you know me, you know I love to travel and I love to meet new people and see old friends, that is what this trip will be abounding with. So I can't wait to go, but on the other hand I forsee it taking a lot out of me physically, ha. But, that is what is going on with work right now, and I find myself multiple times throughout the day stopping to just thank God for this opportunity and experience and Camp Ridgecrest.
It is still ridiculously cold here. I actually cheered the other day when the temperature reached 30!! It is supposed to get up to 40 this week and we are all talking about how happy we are that it is warming up, haha.
It has been a hard couple of days to be away from Starkville, though. Hearing of everyone's stories of things going on there, "the white death" or snow stories, and with the big National Championship game, and NFL games, that are usually spent packed in someone's apt, with too many people and lots of fun and fellowship. Then with the basketball game this weekend and hearing the good stories of going up there to beat Ole Miss in basketball.. ahhh I miss being there. Then especially on a Sunday, where I know no one has any schoolwork yet, and so it would be a Lazy Starkville Sunday, the best, that would probably include church at Adaton, lots of football, NFL football, and possible a good Sonic Route 44. I am really learning and leaning on God with coming to terms that I am no longer a "college student", although I do pray that I start school again in the fall. I am having to really lean on God for discernment in this time where I want to just after this summer move back to everything I know and have grown accustomed to. Don't get me wrong, I know I am living the life up here, like its a dream. But it is hard to shut that last chapter at MSU, where so many good friends and memories remain. So I am even more thankful for this internship where God has provided me the best transition ever into leaving all that behind. I just need to remember that, that chapter of my life is shut and it IS ok to go back and read the pages and look at the pictures, but accept the fact that the writing is done and that I have a opportunity to write a pretty sweet new chapter, here in Ridgecrest. Man, that is too deep for today, haha.. anyway, just airing out some feelings, so to let my readers know, I miss you guys in Starkvegas, but I love being here in RC with these amazing folks and beautiful mountains, just wish the two worlds could merge.

Random thoughts:
-I have started using the word "sick" here lately as a alternative to "cool" or "awesome", I am not proud of that fact.

-I really need an electric tea kettle for my desk and some gloves, cuz its cold, why I haven't bought them, I don't know

-i miss wearing chacos... if you have ever spent time with me you know how much it hurts me to be wearing closed toed shoes.

grace and peace folks, (totally janking the salutation from my crazy sick boss, Phil)


Seth

Big Boy Job

Well, I have started the internship! It is awesome, I am really living the good life right now. I am totally overwhelmed with information right now though.. but in a good way, I had a good talk with my boss, Phil, today about my work style and his and how we can work well together. Today was exciting though, I got my assignments for my recruiting trips! Traveling, and seeing people, my favorite, I have a long list of places to go and people to see and recruit. Here is a list of most of the places I will be visiting over the next month and a half:
Clemson
UGA
Virginia Tech
UVA
Liberty
FSU
UF
UCF
Appalachian State
Lenoir-Rhyne
Gardner-Webb
UWF
And Fairs in:
Charlotte, NC
Pensacola, FL
Charleston, SC

That is what I know of as of right now that I will be doing! I am pumped about that fact. God is Good. Life is Good. This time in my life is just what I needed and He knew that.

btw: it is still cold, real real cold.

1day and 1 degree

Well the internship begins tomorrow! That, I am excited about, but today it is 1 degree outside, yes, 1 degree, singular, I cant hardly handle this weather at all. I am very excited to start the internship tomorrow officially though. For those of you who may not know my duties for this internship or even what I am doing, I am the new camp intern at Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, the all boys Christian camp I have been working at for the last 4 summers. My internship will encompass mainly me recruiting and hiring all the staff for next summer. I will be doing lots of recruiting trips and making calls to staffers and potential staffers to fill up the roster for next summer. I also will be doing anything that Phil, my boss, tells me to from random manual labor, to making decisions to make camp function better this summer. It will all be preparing me for my position this summer as Program Director. I am very excited for this and for the next few months. I am living @ camp in the new infirmary, which is still to be named, ha. I am living with another guy from camp who was the intern in the fall, Wayne, and the girls camp intern, Kathleen. We have no cable/internet at our house so I travel either up to the Conference Center or the local coffee house, The Dripolator, which I am at now to use the internet. I am desperate to watch sports on ESPN sometimes so I have discovered the "fellowship" rooms at the Conference Center's hotel that have cable, so I just sneak in and use those like a bum. This is such an interesting time in life to be in a completely different home, 9 hours from my original home, at at place that I am used to being filled with activity and people to only have 4-8 people there at one time MAX... so it is unique and I am very excited to see where God leads me in this time and what type of growth I will experience. I am totally at his mercy in this experience of how it will go so I pray daily for him to reveal himself to me. And I am reminded daily what is written in Ephesians 3:20, "I can do more than I can ever imagine, because of who is at work within me."