Anchor Points, OCF Camp 2009

I seriously don't even know how to begin to journal our week at Spring Canyon, one of Officers' Christian Fellowship's conference centers. It's located about 15 minutes outside of Buena Vista, CO, high in the Rockies and it is AWESOME!!! At 9,000 feet, I was out of breath quite a lot, partly due to the altitude, partly due to the pregnancy and partly due to the awe and majesty of God's beautiful creation.

The week of camp we attended was called, Anchor Points. It was an amazing blessing in that Anchor Points is OCF's Executive Leadership week of camp, by invitation only and fully funded. We were so honored to be given such a gift! We spent the week with OCF staff from the home office and field, getting the "big picture" about what OCF is, how OCF is changing with the times and being recharged with the mission as military leaders to be lights for Christ in our unique military settings.

Since we were technologically disconnected for the week (which was G-L-O-R-I-O-U-S) I can't even remember all the details anymore (preggo brain), but if nothing else, I leave you with this photo journal of our week there:

The Ponds

The Views

Our home for the week: Poundstone Lodge. Four families stayed here together and it was fun putting the kids to bed at night and sitting in the common areas talking and playing games.

Exploring the beautiful mountains.

Connor's teacher, Myranda, took him kayaking after lunch our first day there. She was so sweet! She came over, asked if she could take Connor to the ponds and when we turned around, he was out rowing with her. He was thrilled!

Alan learned how to Fly Fish and really enjoyed it.

Just 10-15 minutes up the mountain pass we were at 12,126 feet. Unfortunately, the day we took the boys up there, it was very cold and very windy. We took a picture and got back in the car!

Connor's camp souvenir: A huge bruise on his face. He got it at lunch one day when he was sitting improperly in his chair and fell backwards, knocking his face into the chair at the table behind us.

One of the BEST parts about camp was seeing our good friends, the Hamms. We were stationed with them in Minot, where they still live and lead OCF.

Moriah and I, preggo mamas.

Connor, Micah and Keegan.  Micah is right in between our boys, age wise, so they had fun together.  They were so little when we left Minot that they don't remember being in playgroup together there.  Our new babies will be just 3 months apart.  That'll be fun, too!

The 3 preggo ladies from our cabin, Moriah, Kyla and I.

Josh, Doug and Alan

Mike Tesdahl (OCF's D.O.) and Josh, in serious conversation.

Peggy, myself and Moriah

The boys with their teachers, Myranda and Bethany. Connor, though not expressing it in this photo, loved "school camp" and did not want to leave. These young ladies were so sweet and it was great knowing the kids were having a fun time each day in the children's program while we were in sessions.

A meal with Sue and Rich Goldsmith (OCF's Director of Field Staff and Strategic Initiatives)
Each meal was (delicious!) served family style and you got to sit with different staff, volunteers or other families each time.

Retired Lt. General, Bruce Fister, speaking to us. He's OCF's current Executive Director.

Our group's commissioning send-off:

All in all, the week was refreshing, relaxing, Spiritually invigorating and inspiring!

I have to say, all of you military friends who are reading this, if you aren't an OCF member, you NEED to be! You should be a part of this ministry!  And you must take a trip to Spring Canyon!  We can't wait for our boys to go to on the father-teen adventures and be volunteer staff in the summers.  What a heritage we are building!
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