The house we rented from Twin Rocks Friends Camp was perfect - just enough beds for 20+ people, plus a large living space with ocean views that allowed everyone to hang out together inside when it was storming outside. We knew the surf was going to be huge (29 ft swells), and it did not disappoint. The waves were crazy! I wish my camera could have captured just how big they were. For an idea of how crazy it was, understand that the Twin Rocks rise 80 ft above the water, and the waves that hit them were sometimes spraying over them. WOW!
David and Davis
The weather didn't seem to bother the team at all. This was perhaps the most game-happy group I've been with since my growing up days and trips to Lake Powell. I loved it! We sat cozy inside playing Scategories, Settlers, Yahtzee, cribbage, Alhambra, spoons, 4-on-a-couch, charades, and cards. Everyone had a great time! We even ate relatively healthy food (since I was doing the shopping and cooking).
Scategories with the whole group right after lunch
Charades - Dak being a mermaid
Doug sleeping through charades :)
Alyssa and Jared stacking a tower of dominoes while trying to earn a blizzard from John
When the rain let up, we explored outside but found the ocean kept us from venturing out too far. I had never seen the waves so wild or the surf so high. The sea also kicked up a ton of foam, and the tide was in for most of the afternoon - meaning no walking on the beach. The water was coming all the way up to the bluff and in some places pushing past it.
Right after dinner we had some excitement: Adam was helping Blake 'fly' and unfortunately he flew right into the chandelier. Pieces of glass came raining down, and most of them seemed to land on Jaci. Blake was absolutely fine, but Jaci went to the emergency room and came back with stitches in her head and foot. She's such a trooper! She didn't cry once. Anja and Adam ended up with cuts too but were fine - Adam was more shaken that he had endangered two Smith kids than anything else. Davis and Blake spent the evening (staying up until 11!) with us while John and Dawn were at the hospital, and they seemed to really enjoy being members of the boys' club (especially when they were winning 4-on-a-couch).
Sunday morning we did group devotions: John spoke a little about how desperately we need to be in God's word and know the truth for ourselves, without letting people lead us astray by twisting or ignoring what the word says; he lead a few old-school worship songs; I talked about how as a team, we have a huge opportunity to grow and build each other up but we can't do that if people aren't in the word and growing up into Christ individually as well. We need each other, and we need each other to be seeking Christ wholeheartedly; we are a body and family that can encourage and uplift one another, but we need the help of the Spirit to fully serve each other and pull each other up. It was pretty cool that without planning it, what John and I had to say complemented each other perfectly.
All in all it was an awesome weekend and I'm so glad I have gotten to know the track team members a little better. At least I know all the freshmen's names now! Plus my volleyball girls won their last playoff game and are headed to the state tournament later today - icing on the cake.
