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*A few months ago, I wrote a post about camp, telling you all of the things that I missed about camp.  I came back from my third year of camp this past Saturday, and I thought it would only be appropriate to tell of my adventures. 

*This Is Home by Switchfoot is the soundtrack for this blogpost. :)

Camp.

One of my favorite words in the world, mostly because I associate it with one of my other favorite words: home.  Camp is my second home.  Though I don't get to spend much time there, whenever I go back, it feels like I never left.  Last week was no different. 

Camp started out a little weird, honestly.  I wasn't in the same cabin as most of the people I have been for the past two years.  But I loved my cabin, and everyone in it.  Looking back, I see why I was in that cabin, and I realize that God is in charge of everything, even cabin assignments. :)

It took me about four days after I got home to remind myself that I wasn't at camp.

I miss it. 

I miss my name tag. I spent the entire week making sure that I didn't lose it, lest I had to sing to get it back, and then all of the sudden it I didn't have to wear it anymore.  

I miss waiting in line, but being the first group into the dining hall for breakfast.  Speaking of...

I miss the dining hall.  Except the "Lake-water Lemonade", that I could do without.  

I miss 9-Square (In The Air), even if there was a slight height advantage among some...  

I miss our guitar jam sessions on the CLC deck.  

I miss the gazebos. 

I miss watching basketball.  It's not camp without a game of Knockout.  

I miss music and the actions and especially the song "Prince of Peace". It makes me of think of what Heaven will sound like.  

I miss the gorgeous beach. 

I miss the crafts building and seeing all of the duct tape creations every day. 

I miss cards: Hearts, Blackjack, Spoons, all of it. 

I miss being congratulated on "My FIFA World Cup Title"...never heard that one before. ;)

I miss being picked on by the Hawkeye fans because of my ISU shirts. (Go Cyclones!)

I miss our small group and our awesome Disney themed skit. #Disneyknowsbest

I miss the dance.  That was so much fun. 

I miss watching the Staff & Counselor/Camper sports and cheering on the campers. Sorry staff...

I miss Topic, specifically the Bible Studies based off of the Princess Diaries and Lord of the Rings. 

I miss watching skits and songs, and the Talent Show.     

I miss walking back from the Pointe. 

I miss my AMAZING counselors. 

I miss being able to play Volleyball, even though I'm not very good, and not feeling judged. I miss seeing all of my friends from the last couple years, and meeting all of the new people. I hope they feel just as welcome as I did my first year.  

I miss having everyone sign my yearbook. So many signatures, so many memories.  

Of all this, I think I miss "circle-up" the most.  That was probably my highlight every night. 

I miss the late night conversations and the lunch lines and "Come to the dark side of the cabin because we have more Oreos over here" and Trust Falls and hearing about "The Four Directions", though we never saw their performance live. 

Of all this, I miss most becoming so close to everyone as a camp that, after the final worship service, you could hug any person there, and it wouldn't be awkward because you're all one huge family.  

I can't wait to go back, but until then: "It's not goodbye, it's 'See you later'". 

Grace  

"We're Halfway There..."

The flames flicker in the fire pit, and in the silence of the campfire you can hear the waves crashing on the beach below. The guitarists strum simple melodies, and then the Pastor will tell us a story or read from the Bible.  Pointe devotions only happen at one place: Camp Okoboji.

From the basketball courts you can hear the basketballs continuously bouncing on the concrete as the line of knockout players gets progressively shorter.

The CLC is loud with campers, rejoined with their friends after a year.

I can hear the sounds of scribbling in journals from the hill by the softball field; the waves hitting the beach, and the laughs of people who haven't fallen from the floating raft during Ninja.

I miss lunch in the dining hall, and listening to campers who lost their name tags forced to sing the ABCs, or worse: I'm a Little Teapot, with actions. :)

I miss reading the newspaper, and seeing Living on a Prayer lyrics featured nearly every day. 

I miss my Small Group and group building activities, even if we can't tell the difference between the back of the craft building from the back of different cabin while blindfolded. ;)
I miss correctly guessing Africa by Toto during Name that Tune.  I never thought that would come in handy.
I miss Topic. Sometimes I go back and read my thoughts about the Bible studies, and am so happy that I took notes to help me remember.

I miss skit practice in the chapel.

I miss hearing "Don't Drop that Thun Thun Thun"every 5 second, and I'm not even sure I know what it means.

I miss the Survivor challenges, and the horror stories after lights out, and the GADiators sign on the wall in our cabin.  I miss making friendship bracelets in crafts and taking selfies with everyone singing on the walk to the Pointe.  I miss the gazebo...a lot.  

I miss my counselors, and Pastors, and friends.

A few weeks ago we passed the halfway point between camp last year, and camp this year.  It reminded me of my souvenirs from last year.

I have my yearbook, the inside cover crammed with signatures and phone numbers.

I have my journal, pages filled with hand-written entries of the fun things that we did at camp and words of encouragement from fellow campers.

I have my name tag, and my Team Mark red headband, and my pictures.  Lots and lots of pictures.

And, right now, I'm at home, but in 22 weeks, I'll have camp. 

"Oh, we're halfway there...

Oh! Livin' on a prayer."

Grace

I Believe in Sherlock Holmes

He's back.

After a two year hiatus, the consulting detective is back for the third season of Sherlock. 

I haven't been a fan of Sherlock for very long, seeing as I didn't start watching it until last fall, but it is by far my favorite TV show.  As you might have read in my last post, we watched the first episode along with most of the rest of America. 

I had no idea what to expect.

For starters, I'd only watched each episode once, so I hadn't compiled an intelligent theory as to how Sherlock faked his death.

So there we were (Morgan and I) sitting in a dark room, by ourselves, on a Sunday night, wrapped in blankets (shock blankets ;) waiting for our beloved detective to make his reappearance.

The Empty Hearse

Assuming you've all watched it, here's my thoughts and things.

- Starting at the beginning, the first few scenes were great, and some weren't even REAL.

When Sherlock and Molly kissed, I screamed so loud that I scared my brother. #truestory #sherlollyforever #I'llstopnow

- Sherlock looks better with short hair. 

- Martin and Amanda are perfect together. You can almost tell that they aren't just acting. :)

- I like Mycroft more in this episode. I mean, "Let's play deductions" was brilliant.  Even if they hate each other, they are brothers. :)  Now as to why they were playing operation? The world may never know.

- I think we can all agree that we owe Anderson an apology... I mean, he did lose his job looking for Sherlock. I love the fan club because I feel like that was us.  We are The Empty Hearse. :)

-Assuming the voice of Edna Mode from the Incredibles: NO MOUSTACHE!

Favorite quote: 
"I didn’t lie altogether. I’ve absolutely no idea how to turn any of these silly little lights off."

The Sign of Three

- In this episode, Mary Morstan slowly became one of my favorite characters.
- From the purple bridesmaids dresses("Lilac"), to seating arrangements, to napkin folds. I can see it: Sherlock The Wedding Planner. :)
- Archie is mini Sherlock and I think it's cute.
- OK, I learned it on youtube. :)
- I loved the Best Man's speech.  It was awful and wonderful and hilarious all at the same time.
- Sherlock can compose music, play violin, and dance. Just...talent.
- You have to feel bad for John, seeing as Sherlock knew that Mary was pregnant before he did. Or maybe he's used to that.  :)

Favorite quote: "You're a pyschopath." "High-functioning sociopath. With your number."

His Last Vow

- I don't like Janine.  No Janine, no Irene Adler, no fiancé for Molly, no "Lestrolly" (where did that even come from??), only Sherlolly. That is all.
- How many times is Sherlock going to "almost but not quite" die? I mean, he got SHOT.
- I like that we get to meet the rest of the Holmes family.
- Redbeard. *tears*
- Magnussen deserved to die. He's CREEPY.
- "I'm not given to outbursts of brotherly compassion. You know what happened to the other one." Another brother? I guess we'll find out.
- John and Mary: I love them.
- Why wouldn't you name your child after Sherlock? :) This scene is precious.
- "Did you miss me?"  FACT: During the first scene with Moriarty, in Sherlock's mind, I said "I missed you".  So you can start to imagine how loud I screamed at the last sentence. OH MY GOODNESS. I totally called that he would come back, and if you don't believe me, ask my sister, Morgan, at her blog.

Favorite quote: "Your best friend is a sociopath, who solves crimes as an alternative to getting high. That's me, by the way, hello."  

One year until season four. I suppose we will have to occupy ourselves with theories about Moriarty and watching these episodes many, many more times.

Sherlock, it's nice to have you back.

Grace
















Moriarty, I missed you. 

The Story of a Fangirl

One year ago, I never would have imagined my life being this way. 

One year ago, I had just seen the An Unexpected Journey, and was "introduced" to the lovely actors that are Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage. 

I didn't really know who Benedict Cumberbatch was.  I couldn't even pronounce his name correctly.  I certainly couldn't have spelled it.

It began with the forging of the great rin-wait, where were we? Oh yes... 

We saw the Hobbit and spent the weekend with some lovely fangirls where we heard about a show that involved Martin Freeman. They called it...Sherlock. 

Sherlock? Like the detective? That could be cool. We didn't have Netflix at the time, and we slowly forgot about the show. 

6-8 months goes by and I find some Benedict Cumberbatch pins on Pinterest.  Pinterest has been the main source of my fangirling.  I love the LotR memes. Some of them are absolutely brilliant. 

So between Pinterest and the OneRing.Net interviews I pretty much fell in love with Mr. Cumberbatch. There. I admitted it. Happy mom? 

In the back of my mind there was a show that I had heard of that involved him...what was it...SHERLOCK.  I must watch it.  My friends were nice enough to let us watch A Study in Pink with them when we had a sleepover last fall. 

I kid you not, 5 minutes into the show, I knew I was hooked. After the first deduction scene with John's phone I found myself astounded at how brilliant Sherlock was, (Look I'm in shock I've got a blanket.) and I wasn't sure if I even liked him yet. After the (very short) hour and a half episode, there was no question. 

Since then, I have been able to watch the next three episodes, and also the Desolation of Smaug (much fangirling ensued).  And I have decided, you are not Orcs. Actually, I have decided to move to England.  The simple fact that Sherlock airs there before it does here in America is enough to make me want to move. I could listen to people speak in British accents all day and not get bored.  It just seems perfect to live there.  Not to mention all of the wonderful people that live there, or are from there. And no, I am not talking about One Direction. 

Thor was on TV a few days ago, and while I couldn't care less about Thor(he's so annoying), Loki is my new favorite Super Villian.

Now we have Netflix :) and we can watch Sherlock! Hooray! Doctor Who looks tempting, but I don't have time to watch 50 years worth of episodes, so that will have to wait. 

So now I'm sitting here, typing a blog post, while I load a video of Benedict reading Sherlock Holmes reading tweets about Downton Abbey, fangirling over North and South (my ship didn't sink!!!), and trying to avoid Sherlock spoiler pins. 

This is what my life has become, and I am perfectly happy. 

Grace