BSA Troop 514, Snow shelter construction

The seasons of Scouting continue.  Over Presedents' Day weekend, Troop 514 from La Grande Oregon traveled up to our local ski area, Anthony Lakes, to build snow caves. This preparation is part of the annual Klondike Derby.  Troop 514 will go up and sleep in these snow caves Friday night, and then compete in various winter skill events on Saturday morning.

We dug a long, deep trench on Saturday, and then dug out snow caves into the trench walls on Monday.  I started an igloo, but did not have time to finish it this year.

Troop_514

Anthony Lakes

Troop_514, Union_County, Anthony_Lakes

Nourishment

If the music, movies, media of today were food, would we feel it would really make
 us healthy?  So, when we want nourishment for the mind and for the
soul, where do we find it?

Morgan Lake road, La Grande

Buff throated saltator, Costa Rica

Anthony Lake

Growth

Both the Old and the New Testament are filled with references to soil, roots, and growth.  Where do our minds and hearts and souls grow, where are they transformed, except in the good soil and life giving water He has provided us?  And yet, as always, the challenge to us is to choose carefully those ingredients that sustain and grow us.

Drake Bay, Corcovado National Park

Coconut beginning to grow, Amaya Family Cabins

Drake Bay, Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica sunsets

The sunsets  between Drake Bay and the Osa Peninsula of the southern Pacific side of Costa Rica were absolutely gorgeous.  These were just in front of our lodging at Amaya Family Cabins. I will not wax poetic.  You can add your adjectives and superlatives. They did not last long once the sun went down below the horizon, but they were intense! And, for what it is worth, these sunsets inspired a haiku--

soft light, deep color
sunset growing and fading
welcoming the night

Amaya_Family_cabins, Drake_Bay, Bahia_Drako

Amaya_Family_cabins, Drake_Bay, Bahia_Drako

Amaya_Family_cabins, Drake_Bay, Bahia_Drako

Amaya_Family_cabins, Drake_Bay, Bahia_Drako

Amaya_Family_cabins, Drake_Bay, Bahia_Drako

Amaya_Family_cabins, Drake_Bay, Bahia_Drako

Amaya_Family_cabins, Drake_Bay, Bahia_Drako

Amaya_Family_cabins, Drake_Bay, Bahia_Drako

Amaya_Family_cabins, Drake_Bay, Bahia_Drako

The still dwelling upon God

Stillness and solitude do fill our souls, and gradually allow us to change.

"The still dwelling upon God is the quietest

but the most potent action of all"  Emmet Fox

"Solitude is the furnace of transformation....Solitude

is not a private therapeutic place, Rather, it is the 

place of conversion, the place where the old self

dies and the new self is born."  Henri Nouwen 

Amaya_Family_Cabins, Drake_Bay_CR, Osa_Peninsula

maya_Family_Cabins, Drake_Bay_CR, Osa_Peninsula

BSA Troop 514 fun in the snow

We took the Scouts up to Little Alps, the old ski area that nearby Anthony Lakes replaced.  We practiced winter skills such as fire starting, snow shelter construction, travel, and clothing.  And, most importantly, the Scouts enjoyed the great fun of coming down the old rope tow hill in sleds and an inner tube, hitting a bump, and then sailing into space.  Great fun was had by all!!

BSA_Troop_514, Anthony_Lake, Union_County

BSA_Troop_514, Anthony_Lake, Union_Count

BSA_Troop_514, Anthony_Lake, Union_Count

BSA_Troop_514, Anthony_Lake, Union_Count

BSA_Troop_514, Anthony_Lake, Union_Count

BSA_Troop_514, Anthony_Lake, Union_Count

"…what finally matters is that our hearts become like quiet cells where God can dwell, wherever we go and whatever we do."  Henri Nouwen

When indeed I can quiet myself that deeply, somehow, from somewhere, peace sings and I can feel a deep love for all of Creation.

amaya_family_cabins, osa_peninsula, Costa_Rica_beaches

amaya_family_cabins,  corcovado_national_park