Life at Taconic

The months are flying by. Nine months ago, I came back from Kenya to be bludgeoned by a mythic February snow storm. That is enough time to create a child. I have created no children in these last months, but I've been busy none-the-less. Professionally I started working at a flower shop (which was AWESOME but fizzled out after Mother's Day), I spent a couple months scrubbing decks in Westchester County (which was MEDIOCRE but it paid well), in the summer I worked part time at Taconic Retreat Center (TRCC) (which was HILARIOUS, as I learned I am indistinguishable from an 18 year old). Since September I have picked up more responsibility at Taconic; now I work and live on the property full time.

The work here is a good fit for me, I feel utilized and challenged. We have long term goals, short term complications and daily rewards in the work we do at TRCC. Every week I make a schedule for crews of teenagers to come and host groups at the camp...we scrub pots, serve food, clean bathrooms, sweep floors...the list goes on and on. On top of that, we try to learn to be better servants and workers by learning from the Bible and the big JC himself. Actually that last part isn't really happening yet, but I invest most of my time (along with some of my lovely co-workers) towards making the CREW program a real spirit filled discipleship experience.

One unfortunate thing is the fact that I work every weekend...but really, it's not bad. This weekend we have a group of 120 Spanish ladies, and 20 Indian men having retreats at the same time. These ladies are incredibly energetic and awesome. I went out of my office and saw 20 ladies streaming past (on the way back from the bathroom, that by no means can handle 20 users at once) wearing sparkly princess crowns, going back into their service where the other hundred women are dancing around in a mosh pit singing "Ole, ole ole ole! Jesús, Jesús!" Needless to say, the poor Indian men have spent the weekend cowering under the load of this excessive energy.

With some of the fellas on CREW I played 2 hugely epic games of Monopoly. I won them both (due to "luck"... ... ;) ) Also there is always someone to play Settlers of Catan with at camp, I have stayed up far far too late with Todd and Janelle Hoffman (One more game!)...I think we have developed something like an addiction...naaaah no way! (This is denial.)

Life at Taconic is definitely unique, and I am totally digging it. I have found myself yet again in the tension of loving the life that I am living while waiting with great anticipation for what is to come (marrying Allison, being a real electrical engineer, having a church again...) Some might disagree, but this tension is wonderful; life is good, and it is only getting better.