February 29, 2008

Happy Birthday Kara. You don't get a real birthday very often! The pics are taken at about the same spot. As you can see, the snow is melting. Two weeks ago it covered the signs. I think it's just about spring.

February 28, 2008

Heidi, Winston and Mary just returned from a Christian Camp conference in New Mexico. It was good, we learned a few things, and as always returned home grateful for Sonlight, for our staff, and our campers. And for Sonlight food. As we drove into New Mexico we felt like we were emerging from the arctic, and the deep snow country. It was fun to see dirt, grass and blue sky.

February 24, 2008

Keith likes the snow. The gals from the United Methodist Church in Durango had a great weekend.

February 23, 2008

New Devo up by Erika, from First Pres in Durango. (Thanks Erika). Sonlight is hosting a Wilderness First Aid course in May- lots 'o great skills to be learned for anybody spending time in the hinter lands. Heidi will be there. And Mike C. too.

February 22, 2008

More snow. Keith loves it. Chacos are for snow. And for making snow angels.

February 21, 2008

Congratulations to Josh and Ashley, married on Monday. Josh first came to Sonlight as a camper when he was 14, was on summer staff 1994-1999, and is a current Board member. Congratulations friends!

February 18, 2008

Lent is the season before Easter, lasting 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In the 4th Century, Lent was started as a period of fasting and repentance in preparation for Easter. During this time, people often give up a particular food or habit, and set aside time to focus on the sacrifice Jesus made for us. His death and resurrection. I once heard a pastor talk about Easter, and how as Western Christians we skip through Lent, celebrate Palm Sunday, and then slide into Easter. Somehow we fail to ponder the darkness of this season, and the death of Jesus.

Lent is upon us, inviting us to dwell in the valley of the shadow of death, yet without fear, for the good shepherd is with us. If we remain open and receptive in the darkness of Lent, if we remember that growth most often occurs in darkness and in secret, if we let God teach us in that darkness, and if we surrender the darkness when it is time to embrace new life, we can more deeply experience Easter joy. We can rejoice, as always, that Christ has defeated death’s finality. And we can also rejoice that we have been brought from the valley of death’s shadow into the marvelous light of our resurrected Lord. (Kimberlee Ireton. Relevant Magazine)

February 16, 2008

Scenes from Sonlight in the snow

February 15, 2008

Heidi is gathering staff applications, references, and will soon start making decisions on summer staff. Not an easy job! We're excited that some new folks whom we don't know have applied. And of course lots of folks we know and love. Heidi is also gathering CIT apps... so patience my friends! She's got quite a lapful of paper to sort through and figure out.

February 14, 2008

Happy Valentines Day! Happy snow, too. And purple floors make us happy. 5" new snow so far today.

February 13, 2008

We have the camp dates and availability page posted, so you can keep an eye on camp registrations. Lots of space in the little kids camps, so invite your young friends to come to camp!

February 12, again

If you have questions about paint and color, ask Karla. She's really good with color. Don't ask Mary. If you buy paint with the name of 'grape jam' it's probably pretty purple. I'm just saying.

February 12, 2008

Lory is here for his winter journey to Sonlight, to lend a hand with maintenance. He's refinishing kitchen countertops. Building a new counter for the waterbar in the dining room. Lots of other stuff. Mary is painting the kitchen floor. Always an adventure! And speaking of an adventure, Heidi is on an adventure.

February 9, 2008

Winston spent the day dodging avalanches. A bright sunny day, and Winston shoveling the edges of the roofs, and we had some big snow come down. A big slab of ice and snow hit "the other" dining room window that overlooks the bird feeders, and it broke. Another massive slide landed in the path between the Hilton and the hot tub.

February 8, 2008

'Tis the season of Lent. A good time to read through the Gospels, and contemplate the life of Jesus, and his life leading up to the cross.

Lovely day for shoveling. There's a great view from the top of the lodge roof. The Pagosa Christian womens retreat is this weekend. We're glad to have them here.

February 7, 2008

Climbing lots of things to shovel. Trees and woodsheds mostly.

February 6, 2008

Apparently the birds wish Heidi were still here feeding them pancakes. The bird feeders are buried, so they're having to eat the red chili ristras. A bit of blue sky. We're still shoveling.
From Wolf Creek ski area:

Summit Snow Depth - 208 inches Midway Snow Depth - 167 inches 48 Hour Snow Fall Total -25 inches 72 Hour Snow Fall Total -56 inches 7 Day Snow Fall Total -92 inches Latest Storm Total - 87 inches Year to Date Snowfall Total - 432 inches

February 5, 2008

February 4, 2008

Just a few pics.... of a little snow....24" new snow at Sonlight since Sunday morning.

February 3, 2008

So I was reading Eugene Peterson's "Christ Plays In Ten Thousand Places" this week. In the Old Testament, the Egyptions suffered plagues - of all sorts of natural things. Locusts, frogs, gnats, hail and darkness to name a few. Even the forces of nature are compelled to obey Gods sovereign will. The snow that keeps coming is just a reminder of the incredible authority of God demonstrated in nature. We are so humbled by the power of these snowstorms. The pics are taken out the back of the lodge. Heidi doing a trust fall into the snow. Awesome. Feeding the birds these days is no easy task.

February 2, 2008

February 1, 2008

A few photos from camp. It's a gray day today, so the light on the pics is flat, but you get the idea. They're predicting more snow - "heavy accumulations" by Sunday night. Imagine that.