Hey It's Okay

It has been a very long time since my last post and I must confess alot has happened in my life. All good! So, I figured with my long absence I would start off with one of my favorite editorials from one of my favorite magazines....The editorial is called Hey It's Okayand basically all it is is things that are ok...even if others don't agree or maybe it is taboo. So with no further ado, here is my


Hey It's Okay

to have a diet coke and shortly there after need a coffee
to "go off of the radar" for a few hours
to make decisions based on your heart and gut and not on brains and logic
to wonder if college is really all it is cracked up to be
to believe the real learning happens in everyday life
to believe in mr. right, prince charming, big, or the fairy tale man 
to not want to get out of your bed no matter what the time

Adirondacks

These are pictures from our amazing canoe trip. We spent three days in the
Adirondacks. It was completely breathtaking. I had the most amazing time with these boys.

Canoeing to campsite---3 hours
Number of campers--18
Numbers of counselors--20
Number of days in God's country---3
Hanging out with the most amazing kids in the world.....priceless

Do you hear what I hear?

au·tism –noun
1. Psychiatry. a pervasive developmental disorder of children, characterized by impaired communication, excessive rigidity, and emotional detachment.
2. a tendency to view life in terms of one's own needs and desires

By the dictionary standards this is what autism is and what it looks like. A child who doesn't talk or does not hug or love, but to me this is what autism looks like. A singalong to a Disney song, because they know all the words. It is a high five or a screech of excitement, because they have made their bed or caught a ball. It is seeing you in a crowd and running up to you and nearly knocking you over because that is how they show you love. It is grabbing your hand and holding on for dear life, because that is their way of saying I love you and I am glad you are here. Words are becoming superficial. Expressions and hand movements are becoming key. A moment in which I have realized that just because I can talk does not necessarily mean I am saying anything. Just because I can say I love you when it is the right time does not mean as much as that hug at the end of the day or that high five when something is accomplished. The dictionary defines what autism is, but these kids are breaking those definitions and they are talking and they are loving. Are we listening? Are we ready for everything they know? We have so much to learn and all we have to do is watch and enjoy the small things that deserve big applause.

these are just a few pictures of my camp experience thus far. some of them are sideways and i really don't know what is going on with that, but i figured my life is out of control why can't my pictures be as well. love to all. maggie

Where I am living for the next 6 weeks....yes, it is indeed a tent.

A teambuilding exercise on the sunshine towers followed by a 30 foot jump. The bravest thing I have ever done in my life.

Woodstock. One of the coolest places I have been. Peace and love were flowing everywhere.
One of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. This was on the last night we had with our first session kids. We were all sitting outside talking about our last two weeks and we had the most amazing background.
Hey everyone. Things are well up in Rhinebeck. The first session has already ended and we are on a day intercession. A much needed intercession. This is one of the most trying experiences of my life. 18 hour days followed by little sleep just to get up and do it everyday, however it is absolutely worth it when you see the kids. Most of our kids are non verbal and that proves to be really heart wrenching and emotionally trying, because you want them to talk to you so bad. It is amazing though how they communicate to you and how they let you know how they feel. Never in my life have I felt that this is where I belong. My life and my meaning in life has taken a whole new turn.
I hope everything is going well wherever you are. I can't wait to hear from everyone.

Love,
Maggie

New York, Baby

Hey guys!!! So, I have made it to NY. It is absolutely beautiful up here and wonderful weather. I can't wait for the kids. Training is going great. Everyone is awesome and best of all I live in a TENT!!! The reception for cell phones is really bad, but we have the internet. So I will try and post pictures and keep people updated.

Love to Texas,
Maggie

Still A Beautiful World....

Amongst all the things in our world that are wrong.....a graffiti artist in NY said it best.... Let's all try to find the beauty