RAPTURED by the LAKE

Katie Gurl was unleashed at Silver Lake Family Camp! Like a puppy set loose at Barkley park, she spun about with inexplicable, uncontainable energy! On her first Nicorette day she raced a mile downhill and then jumped in a spring of water, to cool off, laughing as she tongued a tale in an Irish brogue! Hungry for more, with her tail wagging, Katie delighted in commandeering a kayak for three hours! This annual July treat had a life changing impact on the Katie Gurl! We older odd folks attend family camp to just "BE" campy and who we are. Once we are STILLED by a night in the chill, we become new creatures that lust for buck wild adventure. Like beware wolves in disguise, with un protected eyes, we look up and allow the full moon to cast its glow, and we howl as the star light pierces the deep blue canopy. IMAGINE the lake smooth and shimmering a reflection of moon. Wisps of dusty smoke curl slowly and hang lazily above campfires that surround its lapping shores. Family hands naturally rub together, backs hunched in a lean forward toward dancing flames. AH YES! You wish you were there! A silence engulfs the scene as fire echoes a snap, crackle pop! Thy soul a glad witness of a fire contained in a ring of living river rock. Stones aged by the wind, with ears of tales spun through years past. Sparks whistle thru sizzling branches, and languid flames strecth and furl. A rainbow of color competes with the eve's sunset and a symphony of twigs like trombones rise in pitch, then sizzle willingly to become a glowing ember to remember! A wall of healthy timber stands tall around, their sacrifice remembered in a distinct whiff of fresh pine burning to ash. Without clocks ticking, light is soon licked up by darkness. All senses peaked, the scent of pine and smoke, the taste of moist air, the sound of bugs blissing, the feel of cozy socks, and the touch of Spirit in every creation. Diana the "mom", the friend who is bent on tradition---never ever would she allow a soul to sit alone, to feel left out! NOT, NO, NOT ever alone --- under His twinkling gaze, in the midst of a summers night, face cool, with a warmed heart did I retreat into an Eddie Bauer chair to rejoice in the silliness, to witness the foolishness of Apples to Apples. My soul winking in the twixt of seen and unseen ---with re-ignited JOY sparking, my soul twas in surrendered agreement for REST! Surrounded by Diana's happy brood in a mood for a swoon of laughter --- AWARE and completely undone by a sensationally bright full moon, RECEIVING was what was left to do. How grand indeed is the thought that God made all this to welcome a PAUSE! Come, come as you are all tattered and flung by a week of pressures. Meetup in a cathedral of trees with the Cloos Clan and share a time of generous grace! After three shots of tequila with a gaggle of co-workers on a Friday night, it was my way to end a fascinating week filled with surprise. Hooking up with Katie in Stockton she took the wheel of Earl, the pearl, the Subaru tucked with all the baggage of two women headed for a Sierra adventure! Wild as flowers we filled up at a drive-thru in Lodi for a destined reunion with Chris, Kristie and mom! Ahhhh Highway 88 East winding up, tall trees lined up, the climb up to 7,000 feet took us out of the valley with time to unfold the emergencies of our week. We darted past Jackson's alluring casino knowing we were bound to have mucho FUN! These California Gurls sang Katy Perry's lyrics as we flew by the town of Pioneer and Cooks Station! Sister Diana arrived earlier to nest up the V2 cabin with gurlish sunflowers, wool blankets and throw rugs for our painted toes! The squeaky screen door opened and we automatically plopped our bags and claimed our very own army bunk. Adorned with a layer of flannel, the glee of tree filled our nostrils as we dashed up to the lodge. Greeted by a posse of geese, those wild Canadian honkers, we discovered that Plasse's country store was closed. With confidence that our appetite would be fully satisfied at camp, we drove at a quicker pace. The mountains were peaking, and the streams were gently speaking...when we landed at our reunion of soul. Barb gushed into the annual shangrila of Gary and Wendy Frush and shared all her zeal for Lake Chapala. Outside, sitting in the midst of Silver Lake's friendly forest was a table of Diana's peeps playing with apples! After one round of applause for Gary's win, we each hurried to the dormitory of bath to scrub our teeth before the lights went out. Such a homecoming, to this place outdoors with no walls. We sit under the same blanket of stars that draw eyes up in Africa, Israel, Canada, Mexico, London, or Hawaii. WOW is the word to consider of how He gathers us together, as a family, as a community, all made equally, with transparent truth as our bond. His light is our way, and how great He is to lead us to this awesome meeting place. Not one stranger among us, Kristie inside the Gurls cabin, applies the required Silver Lake makeup! Sun
screen and mosquito repellant! NO masks, NO pretense, NO status, NO cars, NO wardrobes, NO needs unmet --- we enjoyed ample NONSENSE all around! Nothing separated us as we sat with like levi's and same Silver Lake sweatshirts under a FULL MOON! Knowing God lives outside of time, and eternity is mine, the years gone by have been 9 since I met Diana. The earth shaking year of 911 was the year that Diana was shattered by the extent of her fractured family. To marvel in the restoration, to witness His healing of hearts that were once ripped apart, what HOPE this gives! I saw Katie adoringly crack up --- with and over her brother Chris. Later, I heard Katie whisper in the dark, "I love you mom!" Diana was swollen with a huge measure of love and respect for each cub. My blessing is to have witnessed the Cloos Clan emerge from a rough and raw cluster to an evolving cub clan of intentional grace. Each cub seeking to create happy new memories at Silver Lake Family Camp 2010! Truth is --- that outrageous JOY belongs to imperfect people as they come together to love one another as they have been loved! The Winnamucka trail was sprinkled with delicate blossoms of every shape and color. Mystified by the TRADITION of coming to Silver Lake, over the years the impact of this one diverse and individually dynamic family; Diana, Chris, Katie and Kristie, is AWE! PERFECT love doth cast out fear. With time to bleed out sorrows and weed out that which is NOT true, JOY emerged once again! In the midst of unmowed, unkempt wild grasses we find the greatest gift, the blooming of wild flowers in His time! Just look at the ever amazing Kristie, the bride of Christopher, as she enlarges the family tent with her whimsical charm and beauty! With widened eyes, I saw that we are blessed to be chosen, to be included, to be given a fresh perspective of where we are and WHY! Amazed at His creativity, there is pure magic when one walks the path to WIN A MUCCA! Ushering up a PRAISE ..."Oh God, how good it IS to see You in action and hear the energetic tales of love that endures all. How different each life is, yet You love each as if it were Your only. My hope for a love filled family FUN reunion with my one and only Jason was re-ignited! Loosened up, I thrilled for the days ahead. We hiked the trail each silenced by the surrounding majesty. The brillance of the sun offset the puffy white clouds. The firm granite mounds accentuated the speckled field of sturdy blooms. Aged trees stretched up and thoughts of Pocahontas echoed through my soul. On this path we do not walk alone. Picking up another memory stone, thinking "even the rocks cried out" in the glory of God. Standing on the muddy bank of the silvery lake, with renewed HOPE, I watched Katie, Kristie and Chris wobble into the waiting kayaks. Mom soon joined the paddle to Treasure Island, a place a plump with goose piles. Katie roared with laughter as she got stuck in shit creek without a paddle! What a family of friends! ALL IN ALL, God showed me His love, His provision with a family of campers, rich with TRADITION!