Sand in my Socks

What a fantastic week!! It started off painting Sunday evening, something that I haven’t done in quite some time; I haven’t finished the piece yet but I like how it’s progressing. Monday was great too – I had a job interview and quite honestly, I thought it went pretty well. The position intimidates me because it’s professional and deals with behaviorally challenged children in a school setting – exactly what I studied to do. Still putting in applications and searching out other jobs. (I actually received a callback on Friday to proceed with the background check!!)

Do you think it odd for women in their mid-20s to hit the beach up to build an awesome sandcastle while everyone else is dip net fishing?? Because Melissa and I didn’t…however, everyone else seemed to.

This week at Solid Rock was basketball camp and I was invited on my free time to hit up the gym!! Every morning, I would drag myself out of bed (which this week was a mattress on the floor of a girl’s junior camp cabin) get some breakfast then drive myself across town to one of the high schools. Tuesday morning, I took one step into the school and the aroma of the dust and finish on the court paired with the sound of basketballs hitting the hard wood brought flooding passion over my soul. Being away from the game this long had me thinking that I had lost it – forever. I was quickly recruited to a team by Zach – one of the counselors here this summer and I think with my crazy enthusiasm and his serious got get ‘em competitiveness….we may have pulled off a few more wins than we should have. GO THUNDER!!

Every night this week was spent fishing for Red Salmon and there I was, hooking fish left and right and “killing George” because I couldn’t land one. It was then that I grew frustrated and embraced my inner cavewoman which of course worked (why I couldn’t think of it myself before is beyond me). Not sure how it happened but soon enough I was kneeling over the fish as it flopped around covering itself in grass. I was encouraged to cut its gills rather than bashing its brains in but ALAS! I didn’t have a knife - so, still in paleo cavewoman mentality I stuck a finger in the gills and ripped them out. :D It was pretty gruesome, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do, right? I have no shame...well, up until the point when was gutting the fish and discovered it was a she. Hundreds of little fishies died on my account….caviar anyone?! The best part about combat fishing is the Redneck Family Robinson phenomenon fully equipped with beer, reggae music, marijuana, harmonica solos, swearing and so much more. I really can’t describe the hillbilly festivities that occurred at the river this week, it was pretty great though. Maybe just a taste would be to tell you that one of the guys jumped into the river to swim with the fishies in direct line of our hooks.

I have been getting quite a few letters (at least once a week) from one of the residents at the Bozeman Lodge and it makes my day every time. I typically carry the piece of paper ready to read it to whomever is willing to listen.
Two weeks of camp remain here at Solid Rock which means a lot of the friends I have made this summer are packing up their bags to head home themselves. I have never really been fond of goodbyes and watching camp wind down brings an ache of loss to my heart.

Much Love to all my friends new and old, near and far.
Rachel

da Bears

On our way back to camp from a staff trip to Seward one of the guys in the van started shouting BEAR! BEAR! so we stopped and all ran down a covered trail to the riverside to see a young grizzly fishing on the other river bank. It was pretty cool, after a minute or two this mama and her cubs chased him off. :)

baby beluga

yeesh it's been awhile since I have been on this thing. partly because my last post refuses to publish, but also, because this past week - I was splitting my time between a cabin and the kitchen. that's right folks. I was a COUNSELOR!!! I loved it - but in a lot of ways I am paying for it....mostly in lack of sleep. I had 10 lovely ladies ages 9-11 that I was looking over for the week, making sure they woke up on time, went to bed at a decent hour (most of the time the majority did - I think)....All my girls seemed to have some knowledge about God and most even seemed to have a personal relationship with Christ, which is really awesome. Devotions focused around the love of God and by the end of the week due to a devotion specifically on bullying and 1 Cor. 13:4-6 all the girls were saying "Rude" it was rather hilarious but I'm wondering if I have created monsters but as long as they are sticking up for themselves and others being bullied than I'm thinking I am pretty proud. For this camp there are cabin competitions for the reward of root beer floats Friday night and one of the competitions is skit night - the idea for the skit came to me at 1:30 in the morning during a coughing fit and we had 1 day to really practice and prepare, I'm really happy with how well the girls did even though we got last place (trust me - our skit was definitely one of the better ones). You can find it on YouTube.

Other happenings this week. I was pulling BBQ chicken out of the oven and the grease splashed onto my right forearm. My reaction was to point the pan down towards the floor to get it off of me but then my thought was "SHOOT! THE CHICKEN" so I flopped the pan back up to save the meat and ended up splashing more hot grease on my arm again!! I spent the next several hours with a very thick ice wrap to cool the burn. Luckily I am not blistering yet and the heat and the pain are basically gone. Thank God! But I have a lovely red mark wrapped around my arm. Everyone at camp just expects me to injure myself now and I'm beginning to wonder if the desk job I left in Bozeman has weakened me or if it was actually protecting me from exposure to involuntarily beating myself up. Anyways, Tanya always used to say she had a temporary lapse of mental coordination - I think I have a frequent lapse of physical coordination. :)

Haven't been fishing this week at all - but hopefully next week I will see the river multiple times :)

Much Love,
Rachel

Water

I hated swim lessons as a child. I didn't like dipping or dunking myself at the pools edge, I didn't enjoy putting my face in the water. I have this one memory of being in Polson at the little beach park they have there by the lake and being swept away into the deeper waters and freaking out. That being said. I love the water. I love love love rain storms, splashing in puddles, dipping my toes into the icy ocean, swimming in the lake here at camp and so so much more! My new love for water comes in the form of sport. Fishing. I didn't grow up fishing, actually my fist time fishing was at my going away party where Mike taught me how to use a fishing pole. I have since been fishing 2 other times here in Alaska and I'm "hooked" - pun intended :)

Most recently, as in last night - I went to the Kenai River here in town and tried for Red Salmon. This is the first time that I have ever gotten a bite and while trying to set the hook and fight the fish I was being coached "TIP UP" - I don't really know what this means, and the fish honestly took me by surprise. He thrashed out of the water, took one look at me and knew I had no clue what I was doing and with that snapped my line clear to the reel.

George had told me that when we got bites or brought a fish in that we had to jump around and create a scene so that the rednecks and hillbillies would come to our spot for his and Melissa's people watching enjoyment. So, he didn't have to tell me twice because I was so pumped to have just experienced all that and was anxiously awaiting for my line to retied that I was jumping and screaming and laughing and crying and well - Melissa's picture captured it all. From that point on, I really had no desire to leave the river.


I'm itching to get back out there. Maybe this weekend!

Much Love,
Rachel

Jasmine Penny

Jasmine Penny also known as P*Jazz was in my family for about 2 hours today. She is an 8 month old Dorkie - Dachshund Yorkie mix who was found on camp this afternoon by one of the LTs (Leader in Training) who goes by Stick (his given name is Matt) He originally named her "Pedra" which as you all know is the female derivative of Pedro. Real Original.... Anyways, Jasmine Penny was a cuddler, she would literally cling to your arm as you were trying to sooth her trembling little self. Okay, so this is how I got a hold of her.

I was chilling on the boating dock, eating some soy dream when my friend said something about there being a puppy that was found in the woods and was being held by some of the girl staff near the swimming docks - so off I ran, ice cream in one hand - cell phone in the other hobbling down the trail on my sprained ankle. Love knows no pain! :) I reach the dock and the puppy and snatch her out of the arms of Jordan and decide that the puppy needed water - so I took her to the dining hall and got a bowl of water. I then called Melissa and she IMMEDIATELY came over fell in love as well. We decide to go to Petco and yes, we purchased a collar with a pink flower on it (it was a cat collar because she is so small necked/it also fits perfectly around my wrist), a leash, some food and a dog bone. A little over kill I know but that actually isn't the worst of it.....we bought her a dog tag too. :) What can I say, I was attached. And forever, we will always be able to look back and say: "Melissa, remember that time you were an aunt"

Well, anyways....the one picture I post on Facebook was equivalent to a milk carton ad because a friend called me within 5 or 10 minutes and said they owner has been notified and is coming to get Jasmine.

I was crushed. I was devastated. I'm still a little sad.

And here is the story of how Jasmine made it to camp and into my heart (rendition mine). Her owner heard a noise one night and opened the door to his house and saw 3 bears in his yard. Jasmine (probably wanting to be a great and ferocious protector) dashed out the door under the legs of the beasts. One of the bears deciding Jasmine would make a tasty snack started chasing her and the owner grabbed his gun and started to shoot the ground to deter them (I'm sorry - if there was anything trying to harm my four legged friend - I would go for the kill shot. So, running literally for her life - Jasmine found her way to Solid Rock Bible Camp - we know that she was out on her own for at least a few days.

That is all. Think of it as you wish.

Much Love,
Rachel

Latest Happenings

Welp, it happened. I finally took a spill that significantly caused bodily harm... There I was, playing soccer in the ball field with a group of the guy staff and one of the guys stole the ball from me so I went hard after him to get it back (which I did) but in the process I tripped over his foot and twisted my ankle pretty good. Next thing I know, I was flat on my back with 6-8 faces looking down on me asking if I was okay, if it was my knee or ankle. I kept saying, "Guys, just give me a minute...I'm fine" Thankfully, there was ice in the freezer and an empty gargantuan pickle bucket for me to make a painfully bone chilling ice bath. One of the guys had an ankle brace he let me borrow for a few days which helped the swelling go down and the bruising begin! I have a random likeness for bruises. I do plan on visiting a doctor on my days off this week - just to make sure the POP! I felt/heard isn't anything serious. The Cankle can't go away soon enough.....if you are wondering what a cankle is:

There has been a Grizzly in town - not sure if I have mentioned this in previous posts. But she has been lingering for some time now. I think she even has cubs with her. Anyways, a family member to one of the full time staff at camp had a dog that was mauled by the bear a few days ago :(

I haven't counted exactly but I would guess that we have had 12 days of clouds and rain but today broke that chain!! Sunny with a high of 60!

This past Saturday the staff took a trip to Homer, AK. Specifically to a place called the Spit. We all piled in to 15 passenger vans and drove for 1.5 hours and did the tourist thing - it's always so fun just to hang out. I wish Melissa could have joined the fun, we probably would have gotten into some sort of trouble though, I'm sure. Here are a few pics that I took of the day. The day ended with a blown out tire, which I haven't ever experienced before, but it was fixed quick and easy and we made it back to camp soon enough.

I have heard that people have been trying to post comments but haven't been successful. If this is you PLEASE email me at rachel.rehbein@gmail.com I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear from you!!!

Much Love,
Rachel

Independence Day Festivities

July 4th, often celebrated with BBQ, yard games, carnivals and of course a wonderful display of colorful TNT lighting up the sky.

I have been asked a few times what happens on the 4th of July in Alaska, and well – it’s the same, except for the BOOM BOOM POW CRACKLE SNAP POP of fireworks.  There are no trailers at street corners selling the loot, actually the only thing I could find even close to this would be a display in Fred Meyer with the Pop-Its and sparklers and other kiddy “fireworks”

In fact, fireworks are completely illegal in Alaska – unless being set off in the ocean. I’m not joking. I’m actually rather bitter about it, but I suppose that I will have to further embrace my inner child and subject myself to the pop-its and sparklers and the like. Enjoy the explosion of color my friends!


Being at camp however, does mean that we will host a carnival fit with face paint, pony rides, fluffed flavored sugar (cotton candy), kettle corn, music, waterfront fun and other carnival-ish games. Don't forget the wonderful food!! The Kitchen gang will be slaving over stoves and cutting boards to prep many salads, desserts, hamburgers, franks and just overall NOMS. :)

Happy Birthday ‘Merica.


Much Love,
Rachel

P.S. Thanks to Amy Gazy - I have been reminded that I will not be kept awake or rudely awoken by the noise of the fireworks on nights leading up to or directly following July 4th. :)

A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work.

Today after work I went out with some friends to the Russian River and tried my hand at Fly Fishing. My biggest catch of the day was a tree branch....instead of harvesting a fish - I harvested a leaf. :D I did however see a pretty decent sized Rainbow a few feet from me and unfortunately my line was tangled so I couldn't even attempt for him, although the barbaric thoughts of paleo hunting came to mind - but I didn't want to risk getting completely soaked. Thank goodness for my friends here for letting me borrow their gear, but I think that due to my new found "love" I will have to start investing in my own....starting with boots and waders since the waders I used today had the boots sewn in and....well - my toes didn't even come close to the toe of the shoes and heck it's the first time I have ever found a pair of pants that were TOO long!! :D

I knew wading in a current would prove challenging, however, I didn't expect the workout of walking upstream. I am sore and very out of shape.

The Russian is notorious bear country, reported to be fishing with the bears and while we saw no grizzlies, we did see a black bear with "the tiniest peanut of a cub" - as George said. I don't have many pictures to share with you all since most of them were taken on my friend's camera but here are the few I took.

much love,
rachel