well we're home for a bit now.  the last two weeks have been pretty fun. we've been getting paid to do fun things like tube and play broomball. we didnt sleep in an igloo but we did do a XCski backpacking trip.  it was just one night in the porcupine mountains off of lake superior . the girls stayed in a rustic cabin and the guys stayed in a yurt (see pics below).  backpacking is always a good time, especially for building relationships. it was around 15 degrees but thats pretty warm when youre skiing. i found myself sweating with just a base layer and a long sleeve shirt.

our first groups come in on monday so we've been getting ready for them.  liz and i are on the same team for the first group along with two other GAs. its been fun to plan for them... this group really likes broomball. i think we have them playing twice daily for a couple hours.  im considering bringing my old hockey cage to keep me from losing any teeth (we've heard many many stories and i dont want to be one of them).

some random thoughts:
we love being in the northwoods. its pretty freeing to be without internet and tv in our apartment.  i love leaving the house without my keys, cell phone, and wallet.  days of the week dont seem to matter that much anymore. there has been a couple times where ive had to think pretty hard about what day of the week it is...it was fun, like a crossword puzzle. its nice to have it be christmas time without the world telling us its christmas. for the first time in 10 years i havnt had lexus tell me to give a car so i can have a "december to remember." its wonderful to be surrounded by nature. the heavens really do declare the glory of God here. its pretty hard to miss. i cant remember a time where i thought "oh boy, that genetically modified corn stalk really shows the glory of God" not that you cant find it, one just has to look a little harder where i come from. i think it feels warmer up here, liz disagrees. theres hardly any wind. and were 1,000 ft higher than blo-no...i dont know if that helps though. that brings us the the end of the written portion. but stay tuned for some exciting photographs...

 our deck

 our deck

 lake superior 

 our yurt

 not what you want to see on XCskiis

musky and flannel.

from the desk of daniel powell- the last week has been full of 8 hour a day grad class and little outdoor play.  we're told that the next two weeks will be inverted, which will be nice. The grad class has been about leadership and how to effectively lead in an outdoor setting. rob is the camp director and prof for the class. its been great to hear from him and learn from his perspective in the context of leading a camp.  everyday has caused our brains to work...hard.  the next two weeks are training, we'll be outside most of the day (the next couple wont be above 17F).  they havnt really told us much  about what we'll be doing but some rumors include: horse back riding, XC skiing, snow shoeing, overnight in the woods in an igloo, broomball (which im told we try to play daily) and whatever else comes our way.

got a tour of the town and sampled the local fare today. the grocery store and local pharmacy had the packers game on over the loud speakers.... so that was nice.   if you dont have a musky hanging on the wall of your local business (like the restaurant, grocery store and pharmacy all do) then the town ordinance states that you must have a bulletin board in which the locals can post pictures of their own musky catch for display. the laundry mat and auto store have chosen the latter. we also went to the thrift store to find some nice flannel so we could fit in, however there wasnt a single shirt on the rack. upon inquiring about this absence, we discovered that flannel is far too valuable just to give away in these parts.  now enjoy these fine pictures...

 dont worry this isnt a real bear

a big ol musky