get 'er done!

Hi Family and Friends,
So here we are on the 5th day of DTS, and I have told you very little about the base and all we have been learning.
On Monday we went to the Cody museum as I mentioned in the previous entry, this one day consisted of our orientation week that the students usually have. Since we are such a small group and will be spending a lot of time together, we just jumped straight into lecture phase, with some fun mixed in.
Pastor Ron was our guest speaker this week. He is a former PBR rider who got saved and did his DTS at the original CWAM base in Montana and is now the only full time pastor here in the small town of Meeteetse. He’s quite a character! He had some very solid Bible teaching to share along with some amazing stories and miracles. His main topic this week (we have one subject for a five day period) was the Holy Spirit. He taught on the character, controversy and giftings of the Holy Spirit. He is a very passionate speaker who diffidently keeps your attention. Every morning after he taught he would ask us questions about what we believed, our doctrine if you will, and “challenge” us (in a very nice way!) about what we believe and why and if we have scripture to back it up. It is very thought provoking to have to “defend” your faith, but also super beneficial, to be able to know the scriptures and principles that you base your beliefs on.
This week we started our journals, they are our form of homework. They include word studies on the different characteristics of God, what has challenged us that week, synopsis of our devotions, book reports and also the start of our sermon that we have to give at the end of lecture phase in June.
After lecture in the morning we have lunch together and then have horsemanship! We just met our horses yesterday, because we have been gone every other afternoon. Both Laura (our DTS leader) and Joe (she takes care of all the livestock) took us out to the round pen for our first ride. I will be riding a bay quarter horse named Gloria who has a lot of patience! She is a good horse. I could repeat a lot of skills that she has, but since I really don’t know what I am talking about, I will just say that she didn’t buck me off and swinging a saddle up on her hurts my wimpy arms or can I blame it on our height difference….
After horsemanship we have work duties, I got nominated to be the kitchen crew, they have a nice kitchen here, a little bigger then a home kitchen, but smaller then a professional kitchen. So far I haven’t burnt anything, but I am adjusting to the elevation here, it’s over 6000 feet.
After supper, we have free time. Which is when I read, read or write this blog and then read some more. We will we only go to town once a week (town being Cody 30miles away) on Sunday. It is very peacefully and quiet out here, it’s still too cold for crickets or frogs and stuff to be out.( I always remember the crickets being sooo loud at CRC in the spring and summer.) One thing we do have is a TON of deer and they are different than the ones at home, they are huge and a weird looking, and enjoying eating Joe’s hay way too much. Cash the cowdog is kinda lazy, but sometimes he gets the notion to chase them off which is fun to see.
Because we are such a small group we have had the opportunity to do things that other schools haven’t be able too. Such as the David Crowder/Mercy Me concert that we went to on Monday night. We joined Pastor Ron and some from his church and drove 3hrs to Billings. It was my first time at a huge concert, besides PlusOne when I was a preteen, but we WON’T go there, anyways it was large, crowded and very very LOUD! I am glad I went, Mercy Me was amazing! I couldn’t believe how many of their songs I knew that I didn’t know was them. So in conclusion, good experience, but I would never go again. Did I mention it was loud?
Let’s see so this weekend, we will be headed to Billings for a Horse Auction. The base has three horses that don’t suit their needs so we will be in Billings all weekend, praying that they sell for a good price.
Well, if you have any question or something doesn’t make sense, or if you just stop by make sure to leave a comment. Last but not least; the number one saying in Wyoming...
Get ‘er done!

Buffalo Bill Museum

Ok, so I wasn’t going to write an entire blog about one museum, but we had fun and I took alot of pictures to show my family.The picture above is looking out the front of the museum.
On Monday we, Laura the DTS leader, Danielle and I went to Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody.It is huge! Someone once called it the Smithsonian of the West, and no Mom it wasn't me.
The gun collection alone has 2000 firearms, many from famous showmen, movie stars and presidents.
This is the sweet little gun I want...cause it's pretty...

In the picture below see how little it is?

They had a HUGE collection of stuffed animals...none of which I would object to hanging on my wall..don't worry I just included the fun ones...

Isn't he cute?

A Yak...I think....

Wally the Walrus (Clever name huh?)

Buffalo Bill's Gun named Lucretia Borgia
Ok so enough guns...the next part of the museum was dedicated to the preservation of Indian culture....
Can I have this Bear claw necklace, please?

I never realized how long the headdresses were.

The Native American Part of the Museum was amazing, but I was so busy looking at it all I didn't take many pictures..whew right?
The last part was all about Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show.

This original poster, which takes up the ENTIRE side a wall, cost a whopping 4 dollars to print back in the day.
Here is his original jacket...

Ok,I am tired. I was up til 2 this morning (more on THAT tomorrow) so a few last pictures to finish up.
Things you wouldn't find in Buffalo Bill's House, but were neat just the same.


Cool foosball table right boys?
Look at this house it open into a desk...hmmm if only I knew a painter...

Sorry that is post is long, but consider yourself lucky...if I didn't have to go to bed there is no telling how long it would be...
Night!

The Start of a Journey...

Well, it’s crazy to think that it is finally here. I am excited but it all seems a little surreal right now. So for a short recap….Saturday my sis, Kellie, my niece, Ella and I flew from Seattle to Billings, Montana. God blessed us with an empty plan and happy baby who flirted with everyone in sight. Let me take this moment to send a shout out to my sister who took time off work and braved traveling with a 4 month old baby…she is such an amazing support and encouragement to me…everyone should have a sister like her!
Once we were Billings we headed south but soon stopped when we saw the Crackerbarrel sign…seriously if you ever have a chance to eat there..do it! It is fantastic food and cool atmosphere too.
After a yummy lunch we drove (Well, Kellie actually drove, I just talked.)three hours south to Meeteesee, Wyoming a town of 351 people. It is 30 miles southeast from the Cody if that helps finding in on a map. The base is located 4miles outside of Meeteesee in the hills. On a funny note...we drove through a town called Belfry…who’s sports team is called the Bats! I wonder what their school chant is??

The West is diffidently alive here in Wyoming and I love it…so many towns look little and quaint. To put this in perspective the population of Seattle, as of 2009, had an estimated population of 602,000 while the entire state of Wyoming has 544,270. It is beautiful out here. In a very different way than Oregon or Washington, it more of an open rolling beauty, you can see for miles and there is lots of sagebrush, bits of snow and lots of deer, cattle and horse and a bear...if you count the dead one on the side of the road.

We did make it to the base right before supper where I met the other student…yup just one her name is from Danielle and she is from Texas. So yep, there is just one other student, there we a handful of others, but for some reason or another it ended just being the two of us. But I am actually very excited, what a change it will be. All the groups and school I have every been part of have always be large, instead this will a very personalized, restful DTS. In addition we will have the opportunity to join the Lakeside, Montana DTS for the mission trip..I will let you know the location when I know.
I want to take the time to say thank you to all the wonderful, supportive, gracious, loving and giving and patient friends and family who are gotten me out the door and on my way. I thank God for each of you!
On a funny note...even McDonalds in Wyoming is cowboy!