I'm still alive and around. I started working at Easter Seals Disability Services full time as a camp counselor in mid-May, and I haven't really stopped since minus the vacation time we all got. This job is the hardest thing I've ever done, but it's also the most rewarding. I learn something new every single day. I start work at 12:20 on Sundays and I don't get off work until about 12 on Fridays. That sounds like an exaggeration, but I promise it's not. We are on call 24/7. We can't even leave camp grounds at night.

The weeks have gone like this.

1. Adults w/developmental disabilities

2. Autism week

3. Adults w/physical disabilities

4. Performing Arts Camp

5. Children with Developemental

and there are 2 more weeks left.

Week one was pretty hard, but this past week proved to be the hardest. In fact, it was one of the hardest weeks not just at camp, but of my life. I had a camper with 2 very different disabilities, that caused for a lot of problems. I had to work through some serious behavior management issues including phsycial violence towards me, herself and other campers. I stayed up almost all night one night with her, and then went through the rest of the next day on one hour of sleep. And while taking care of her, I took care of my other camper and several others of my co-worker's.

To say the least it was extremely hard, but every week has it's difficulties. Yet I've enjoyed almost every single moment I've been there. There are moments I want to quit, but in the end something happens that reminds why I'm there and why I'm doing what I'm doing.

My co-workers are some of the best people I've ever met. We're all so different, and yet we work amazingly well together. We truly are a family, and despite our disagreements or differences we'll come together and do what's necessary at the drop of a hat because we realize we're all a part of something so much bigger than ourselves.  And at the end of every week, we walk away realizing that no matter how many obstacles we ran into, no matter how many incident reports we filed, no matter how many late/all nighters we pulled, we had the privilege of being a part of something meaningful and beautiful. You can't walk away with a feeling better than that.

So on that note, I have to ask for prayer. For my co-workers and my boss, but also for me. This week I managed to be come down with a respiratory infection and be bit by a black widow spider. I'm exhausted and sick, and with these next two weeks ahead of me I need some serious strength right now. Prayer would be so very much appreciated!

I hope everyone's summer is going as great as mine! If you haven't told me how it's going already, let me know!