Friends,

For almost four weeks I have not had much voice, even to the place where I have communicated with notes to try and give my voice a complete rest.  I could not sing any of the hymns or 12 choir anthems during our Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday morning services.  It has been tough….  I had apt. with Primary Care Physician…two meds – keep quiet….essentially no change.  This Thursday I have appointment with a specialist.

I do not ask for prayer lightly, nor do I agree to pray for someone casually.  Prayer is serious business.

Adam Hopkins learned about DL through his high school friend Marcus Haulenbeek.  In April, 1989 he sent an application to be on the maintenance staff.  I explained that all needed maintenance staff were hired.  We talked.  Although he had a landscaping job for the summer, he made it clear: if there was a no-show, give him a call and he would be at DL within a week.   During the first week of staff training a maintenance staff called to say he was unable to come.  A quick call to Adam. Yes, he would be at DL within a week…and he was – June 15.  Neither of us could have anticipated that Adam would work 4 summers – plus do much more!

Adam arrived in an old car he and his dad had put together.  He worked well with Brent Karner who was in his 9^th year as head of maintenance (He now has his own custom furniture company – clearlakefurniture.com), with Steve Polloni (who today works with diesel engines), and Dave Bennett, who headed maintenance the first summer Brent was not there (now a Presbyterian Minister).

When Adam returned for the summer of 1992, he learned DL would be building a large log cabin for a staff family.  He asked if he could submit a plan.  That summer he asked a 100 questions and studied books on building with logs.  The Mortimer B. Lane cabin was designed by Adam Hopkins during his 2^nd year of architectural school.  This is where Chief Ron’s family live in the summer.

The cabin is incredible!!!   B. Allen Mackey was hired to work with us – he had written 4 books on the subject.  The cabin was built by 16 volunteers during 8 day October weeks in 2004 and 2005.  (Adam and I were in the 16 – we celebrated Adam’s 21^st birthday that week).  The interior and exterior walls are made of 10″ – 16″ maple logs cut from the DL property.  Unstained maple is an off white color – bright and beautiful.  The 1st floor has a 16’ vaulted ceiling over the large living room/kitchen area, and under the loft, a bathroom, and two large bed rooms.

Adam has become a lead design architect of Progressiveae.com (check it out!!)– a firm that works nationally out of Michigan.  He designs large educational and church buildings.  When the firm is hired, Adam goes to the location, makes a careful study of the site, the needs and the desires of those involved.  He may suggest several design alternatives.

When Adam became an architect, he joined the many who give monthly contributions to DL.  For 13 years, with every gift I received a note…and my receipt included a note.  When I had a building design question, I would give Adam a call.  In 2000 we planned to build a new Waldorf.  The Waldorf Adam remembered was small, dark, damp, closed in….I do not know how to make it sound bad enough.   Four sinks…and six toilets that, to put it bluntly, the Section Chief or I plunged almost every day.

I told Adam that Ken Hoffman, facility manager, had carefully selected 4 composting units that needed to go below the building – each for 2 toilets and 2 urinals – cost for the 4 composting units: $27,000.  “Adam, would you be willing to design the building?” A few months later Adam’s plan arrived:  total log construction, 4 times the size, and with a high, vaulted ceiling, the ends of which were all screen.  Adam designed a central stainless sink with 8 faucets for washing hands.  Easy to use…and clean!!!!

On the construction design, Adam said we had a choice to make for the floor.  We could build it out of wood, as was common, or we could have it built off site in sections of pre-stressed concrete.  The floor would have a slight arch, and have a drain trench inside wall so we could pressure spray the floor.  Trucks would bring in the sections, and they would be lifted into place with a large crane…much like a bridge is built.   Cost?  $12,000 – “but if you do, you will never have a problem with the floor”.  We swallowed hard….and Adam ordered the floor.  Built by volunteers trained building the Mortimer B. Lane cabin, the facility is beautiful.

God had a plan for Adam Hopkins involvement at Deerfoot Lodge.  Adam lives In Partnership With God!   He was a gift…that keeps giving.  “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:10

Each of us, who seeks to live In Partnership With God, can know God has prepared work for us to do.  People who do not live IPWG may do work that looks to be the same. The only difference might be why we do the work – and in time, motivations show!  Does your God prepared work include being a husband? Father? Wife? School teacher? Coach of little league team? An usher or elder at church?  Giving generously?  Administrating wisely?  Providing encouragement?  Wonderful hospitality?  Faithful Prayer? Scrubbing toilets?

Let us do all of our work well – and celebrate that God equips us to do so.

For the first time in my life, during a Sunday morning worship service, it was made clear to everyone present that only the members of churches within their specific Protestant denomination should participate in the Communion Service. I am not a member of the denomination.

On Sunday afternoon I explained to the pastor that, though not a member of a church within the denomination, Jesus Christ was my Savior, and I very much desired to live with Him as the Lord of my life. After an hour of conversation in which I was asked many questions, Bottom Line: No. He was satisfied with my answers to his questions, but he could not know how I lived out my faith. He said he was concerned that I might eat and drink in an unworthy manner. After this experience, I talked with two other pastors and a college president within the denomination. They were sorry I had this unfortunate experience.

At this point I am very glad I was denied participation in the Lord’s Supper because it has caused me to work through what I really do believe, and why. I have read the 50+ page document prepared by the above un-named denomination on who should be able to, and who should kept from, the fellowship of Breaking Bread together. I have carefully studied the passages that tell about Jesus’ last supper with His disciples: Matthew 26:20-29, Mark 14:17-24, Luke 22:15-22. John does not include an account. The Apostle Paul wrote In I Corinthians the most complete account of that evening. Before serving the elements at DL, I would read the words Jesus said to His disciples: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” I Corinthians 23-25.

Paul wrote verse 23 to say he had not been present at he was not present at that Breaking of Bread service, but is sharing what he was told concerning it. The bold print is what Jesus said.

Looking back, I wish I would have also read the words Paul wrote after the words of Jesus: “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself “ Corinthians 11: 26-29

The pastor who denied me communion was taking very seriously my participation in the Lord’s Supper. This is right to do. But, I do not feel the pastor could know my heart, In fact, I cannot fully understand my own heart. The prophet Jeremiah wrote (17:9) “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

If I am to live In Partnership With God, I absolutely must take the time to examine my own heart before I break bread together with my brothers in Christ. And when we are going to make it possible to have our children, or campers, break bread with us, we must be sure they know to examine themselves, to check out their own hearts.

Each of us must ask forgiveness of Jesus Christ for our sins, and, when possible, this may require that we ask forgiveness of other people. And we should be joyful in our hearts that we know our sins that separate us from God have been forgiven because Jesus Christ gave His life – He let His body be broken; He was willing to give His blood for us.

In the Old Testament perfect lambs were sacrificed for the forgiveness of sin. Jesus Christ was the permanent lamb that gave His life for us. “What a wonderful Savior is Jesus My Lord, What a Wonderful Savior Is He”.

Sally Jo and I have just returned from a week in the Dominican Republic.  We went, at the request of our church, to see the mission work our church has supported, and to evaluate the wisdom of sending a mission team to further support the work.

While in the Santiago area, we took the opportunity to spend 24 hours with Rick, Chief Ron’s younger brother, and his wife, Becky.  Rick came to DL as a Woodsman, and twelve summers later, served as the Island Section Chief.   Rick was chosen to lead the Island because of his relationship with God, his ability to work with God’s people, and his excellent camping skills.  After graduating from Cedarville College in1991, he began serving as a youth pastor in Minnesota.  Rick desired to introduce “his” young people to the Lord’s work in another part of the world, and was soon leading the first of 6 short term mission trips to the mountainous area surrounding Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic.  While on these trips, the young people built five small, cement block churches, and Rick was able to build relationships in each area. Twice Rick was asked to come down for preaching missions.

Rick, the pastor and the elders of the church in Minnesota began praying that the Lord would provide a mature Christian Dominican pastor for the little churches….nothing.  Over a period of eight months of prayerful struggle, all came to realize that Rick and Becky should go, and the church would support them in prayer and financially.  In 2006 Rick and Becky moved to the Dominican Republic, to work with the families Rick had come to know while the five small churches were being built.

Rick picked us up in Santiago and drove us to their home in Jarabacoa which is in a very beautiful mountainous area.  At our request, the Mackey’s let us take them out for lunch at an excellent restaurant.  Up on the mountain we entered a gated community of very beautiful homes.  Passing tennis courts, we continued up to the restaurant where we ate in warm sunshine on a deck overlooking the broad, green valley to the mountains beyond.  Excellent food – I enjoyed goat!

That night we saw another side of the Dominican Republic.  We drove to El Montana…a village of about 400 people.  Most of the women work as maids for the wealthy – $50 per week.  Few men are able to get steady jobs.  If they can get a job, they earn $12 per day.  The same families have lived in this town for generations of continuous poverty.  Their 2-3 room cement block houses are very close together, and their furnishing we would not take to Good Will. Education is ½ day, at best.  Because the maids must work on Sunday, church is on Tuesday night.  The process of building a body of believers in this context is slow…it is hard work.  The evening service was lead by a Dominican, with a Dominican woman joining him in leading the singing.  They used a small PA system set so loud it could be heard ½ way up the mountain!  There were 15 – 20 in the service, plus a small room with lots of children!  Becky translated when I spoke, and when the Dominican spoke, a 14 year old girl translated for Sally Jo and me.  Rick also spoke.   As we left in the darkness, we could see bare light bulbs hanging from the ceilings of their homes.

The next morning we drove 12 miles to Boma, an area of very small farms.  The last several miles were two lanes…one for each tire!  We drove through a flowing river, through a very muddy section, and through quiet beauty.   In Boma is one of Rick’s cement block churches.  Six people were waiting, including the man considered the leader of the area – he raises goats, 16 at a time.  This man was a Communist, working in the capital, until a youth group came to build the church…an incredible story.  As no formal education is available locally, one girl is picked up by her uncle on a motorcycle at 6:30 every morning, taken to the ½ day school, and then back to the village.  Her uncle spends over two hours each day so the girl can attend for four hours.  A family member did this for him!

And where are the young people from Minnesota Rick worked with to introduce them to the needs of the world?  Before I began to write, I called Rick to confirm some facts.  One of his young people had just left, after being with them for a week.  She is 26, in law school, and seriously considering foreign missions as her field of service.

When we live In Partnership With God, we often have no clue what God is preparing us to do, or how God will use us to prepare others to live In Partnership With God, and how they will be used of the Lord.

God provided for my training, for Rick’s training, and for those Rick is training.

God plans ahead!

Jesus is with me wherever I go….Jesus is with me….I know!

If DL does not operate in the black over a period of years, it will have to close.

If DL does not keep its vehicles safe, there is an increased likelihood there will be a serious accident

If DL does not have needed program equipment in good condition, instruction and games will be sub-par.

If DL does not have a clean kitchen, the New York State Health Department will close the camp down.

If DL does not have sufficient funds for camper scholarships, some wonderful kids will not be able to come

If DL does not have carefully selected/well trained staff, campers miss learning opportunities and could be at risk.

If DL does not have a bed for a camper because it has “over-booked” the boy and his parents will be very unhappy.

If DL does not have happy campers…and happy parents – there will be no possibility of over booking!!!!!

To have a quality camp, DL must have quality managers in every area.  This not an automatic!  Chief Craig Crook e-mailed, in response to last week’s IPWG: “I work with a lot of big corporations – and we spend a great deal of time on these things(management principles).  What was burned in my brain, which took years to really take hold, is invaluable! “He went on to say: “In fact, I requested the DL manual a few years back – as it’s a great model of excellence!  Thanks for investing into my life and so many others!”  Chief Craig

If Deerfoot Lodge succeeds at all of the above, and does not have a Christ-centered community that builds godly young men, DL has failed at its primary responsibility.

To build godly young men requires having godly men in every area where people are managed.  Dean Dover, the Director of Food Service for many years, chose as his Lone Eagle name, Wazican – which reminds him to stand straight and tall for the Lord Jesus Christ, like a mature white pine tree.  Wazi worked with his staff day after day, week after week – in a hot kitchen.   Each summer over 10,000 meals were consistently excellent and served on time.  One of the ways Wazi encouraged his kitchen staff to be god’s men was by having them to the fire pit in front of his cabin every week.  There they would talk and pray together.  Several kitchen staff, under his leadership, became graduate chefs, including Shawn Barnett, Deerfoot’s present chef.

My responsibility was to build godly men who served/did his work with excellence.  I had the privilege of seeing campers become Guides.  When Guides became Assistant Counselors, they became people managers and were responsible to work at building godly men.  Assistant Counselors might become Counselors, or Maintenance Men, or Waterfront Directors, or Section Chiefs, or Kitchen Staff, or Director of Tripping Operations, or Crafts Director, or Guide Leaders, or Assistant to the Director.  Many young men spend part or all of 10-13 summers at DL. The young men who choose to be on the Deerfoot staff like challenges.  To keep staff members challenged and growing, I worked at putting each summer staff member in a new position or situation every year.

When Dad Kunz started Deerfoot Lodge in 1930, he knew Jesus was with his chosen few 24/7.  Many times they hiked miles, cooked over an open fire, and slept under the stars.  The 12 saw how Jesus treated people, how He responded to questions and to people in physical need. They saw Jesus forgive the individuals who came with broken hearts, and they saw Jesus teach the multitudes, and feed them when they were hungry.  The 12 watched Jesus take blocks of time for prayer, and they heard Him pray for them.  The disciples experienced having their feet washed by their leader, and they watched Jesus willingly give His life for them.  Through His example, His teaching, and His challenge, Jesus developed men – men who wanted to live for Him, whatever the challenge, whatever the cost.

And what about management?  It is a stretch to say Jesus said much about management, but the Old Testament is filled with examples of good managers, pleasing to God: Abraham and the patriarchs must have been good managers, as were Moses, King David, Solomon, Nehemiah, Job, and Daniel.

Good management frees us to do the work God has called us to do:  Make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Good management should be at home, at church, at work – in every situation we are to make disciples

When the summer staff arrived for three weeks of training, the first few days included 4 one hour blocks of time during which the basic principles of management were taught and reviewed.  I introduced the subject, the section chiefs would teach The One Minute Manager, Leadership and the One Minute Manager, The One Minute Manager Builds High Performance Teams (Ken Blanchard’s series) and I would wrap up the three hours of teaching by pulling together the principles taught over the previous days.  The staff would then see how the DL Board of Directors managed the DL ministry through me: the goal setting and evaluation procedure, the approval of program and facility changes, the major equipment purchases, the budget, the reports I prepared, the Board meeting agendas and meeting schedules.

Why spend hours on management principles?  Every DL staff member is managed by someone, and almost every DL staff member manages someone.  It helps greatly if everyone is managing in the same way, using the same language.

Each Cabin Counselor manages 5-10 campers.  If he does not manage well, a camper may not get the extra attention needed to earn his basic in swimming.  If a counselor poorly manages camper conflict or bullying, many campers will be negatively impacted.   If he manages a hike poorly, there may be a van accident, campers may get horrible food, a camper may get lost in the woods, and an injured camper may not get the care he needs.  If a counselor manages his time poorly, 1 on 1 time may not exist and cabin devotions may prove meaningless.  Every counselor must be a very good manager if every camper is to be safe, well cared for and encouraged to grow as a godly young man.  Almost nothing listed above is directly observed, except by the other counselor in the cabin.  Cabin counselors have a huge responsibility – each must be carefully chosen and well trained.

Each Section Chief manages 8 to 12 counselors. He works to assure that each member of his staff are doing their job well, while staffing instructional areas, supervising hike and menu selections, and challenging every counselor to be all the Lord would have him to be.

The Director of Food Service manages 12 kitchen staff and a food budget of over $75,000.  He is doing his job if those on his staff grow as godly men while learning kitchen, people and instructional area skills while producing great food and staying on budget.  Poor kitchen management = frustrated staff, poor food, money wasted, and healthy germs.

The Facility Director manages a staff of 4-7, the care and safe functioning of 14 maxi-vans, 2-3 station wagons, 1-2 cars, 2 generators, 3 lawn mowers, a weed whacker, 3 fire pumps, acres of lawn, miles of road, the maintenance of 40+ buildings and new construction while keeping his top priority in mind: encouraging those in his care to discipline themselves as they work to be godly men…while learning people, maintenance, and instructional area skills.

The Guide Leaders take responsibility for 12-18 future leaders of Deerfoot Lodge.  After camp begins, the Guide leaders have minimal supervision as they lead their program that includes being out of camp for 4 weeks.

If the Nurse does not do her job: infections, undiagnosed fractures, improper medications, and serious illness through food allergies will happen.

The Office Staff manages 650 camper registrations, parental challenges, cabin assignments, trips to the airport to pick up and drop off campers, instructional area records, and $750,000.  And that is not the half of it!

The Director, is responsible for all of the staff and campers – plus contributions of many kinds, reports to the NY state health department, the American Camping Association, The Council on Financial Accountability, and the Board of Directors, while working to provide the context and encouragement for growth in the lives of those on staff, the most important of which is growth toward godliness.

As I wrote the above, I was reminded of the incredible responsibility carried by each DL staff member.

Each of us is a manager with significant responsibility.  May we be good managers of what the Lord has entrusted to our care!

When we live In Partnership With God, we can manage well, and God is glorified.

“Give an account of your management”  Luke 16:2

Jesus was in business of building godly people.  If Jesus would have taught, and not lived out His teachings, His teaching would have had no credibility.

If there had been computers and telephones and televisions and i-pads 2000 years ago, how much time would Jesus have spent “with them” if there were people outside His door in physical or spiritual need?  It is interesting that Jesus often put the physical before the spiritual.

Deerfoot is in the business of building godly people, just as Jesus was.  Four e-mails recently received illustrate this.

The 1^st was from Kevin Luce.  “I don’t know if you remember this.., but you took a walk with me…”   summarized, the e-mail said:  The campers had left, camp was being closed down, and he asked for time with me.  I left what I was doing and we went on a walk together.  Kevin says that both my willingness to leave the business at hand, and the words I said, continue to have a huge impact on his life.  Kevin and his wife are missionaries in Africa.

The 2^nd was from Lyndon Sentz. “thanks for all of the time and effort you spent to disciple us young men. As i get older i am increasingly amazed at this gift.”  Lyndon is married, has a 3 year old daughter, a cabinet designing and building business and is involved in a great local church.

The 3^rd was from Jim Oehrig.  “Your investment in Becca’s and my life is tangible, even today.   It surfaces in a  Mission Clinic in Ecuador; with Christian community workers in  Cote d’Ivoire; and in Community Health Evangelism in the Philippines.  It’s also evident at  ALM, where I get to lead-serve  Too, it’s palpable in our kitchen and living room – with shepherding group and  marriage counseling that Becca and I facilitate   Please stop in.  Becca has more than enough tea for Sally Jo.”  Jimmy O, as we called him, is Program Director for the American Leprosy Missions.

The 4^th was from Colin Reisler.  “I was there for your last 3 years.  When I was a pioneer, you sat down at my table during after breakfast singing and, in between songs, complimented me on my singing.  I still remember it because as a 12 year old it meant a lot that the director would notice and compliment me on something as small as my singing.  Thank you for the impact you had on me as a boy.  Hope you’re around for my ceremony this summer!”  Colin will be one of five who will have a Lone Eagle Ceremony this summer – all five were campers when I was director.

At DL there are After Breakfast Bible Studies, cabin devotions, Sunday services, and campfires.  But the key to understanding DL is not the larger gatherings, but the personal relationships, the personal contacts.  Staff members continue to be used by the Lord – one person at a time.

Yesterday afternoon I was to participate in our monthly Jubilate Singers rehearsal.  Before the Sunday morning worship service, while the church choir was still in their rehearsal room, the director told us her husband, Frank, had just taken himself to the ER (at the hospital of the medical school where he teaches neurology and does research – to date he has published over 85 papers in major scientific journals).   Frank’s headache, which began on Monday, was becoming more and more intense.  Ruth let Frank go by himself as the hospital is his second home.  Ruth left the choir loft before the service ended.  I followed Ruth to the hospital and stayed with them until Frank’s tests were completed.  When released,   I followed Ruth and Frank home, then took Ruth back to get Frank’s car.

The three hour rehearsal was almost over when I arrived back at the church – and see an ambulance.  Jake was being wheeled to the ambulance.  While in the rehearsal, an EMT in the choir noticed Jake was not doing well and took him,  then his wife, Trish, out into the hall. Jake has two stents and a pace maker.   An ambulance was quietly called.  I learn from Trish that she was going alone, so I followed her to the ER in another hospital where I remained for Jake’s tests and they had found him a room.

Jesus was no respecter of persons.  Jesus cared for those around him.  He was compassionate.

Let’s care for those around us, increasingly important in our impersonal world.   Let’s live In Partnership With God.

During our 23 years on the Deerfoot staff, Sally Jo and I had the privilege of working with hundreds of people; we worked together In Partnership With God.  In addition to the campers and staff, there have been literally hundreds of others who partnered with us on work weekends, through contributions of everything from dollars to screws to cars to computers. Some have faithfully prayed for the ministry of DL, others have written notes of encouragement – some have done all of the above.

We met older Deerfooters as they brought their sons for a session, and were part of these boys’ lives as they became men.  We hired many staff members who now bring their camper sons.  Hugs.  Laughs.  Stories.

Chief Ron Mackey, the present Director of DL, was a Guide our first summer.  I hired him as an assistant counselor, counselor, section chief, guide leader, head of tripping operations, and as my assistant.  The DL Board of Directors hired Ron as the Director of Deerfoot Lodge.   We have had the privilege of watching Ron develop as the quality person he is today.  His son, Sam, is now a DL camper.

Anne Mackey worked with Sally Jo in the office for two summers, and was at camp for a third summer when she focused her attention on their four children.   Today Anne runs the camp store.

Ken Hoffman is the present Facility Manager at DL.  He was a scholarship camper from Speculator while I was Director. In following years he was trained as a mechanic, a fireman and built his own house with Stephanie’s grandfather.  As facility manager, each summer he works with 4-6 young men, teaching them the maintenance skills required to keep DL running smoothly, while encouraging their development as godly young men.  Ken has served as the President of the school board in Wells, New York.  I hired Ken nine years before I retired.  His son, James, has been DL camper for three summers and now is a significant part of the maintenance staff (and is taller than any of us!)

Stephanie was hired to work with Sally Jo in the Deerfoot office.  Through the nine years they worked together, Stephanie took on more and more responsibility, and today Stephanie and Chief Ron do the work Sally Jo and I did.

Ken and Stephanie’s daughter, Shelby, is also on the office staff.

Last night the Mackey’s and Hoffman’s, and their children (minus Emily Mackey who is at college), came to our home for our annual Christmas party.  Our close relationship continues.  Much fun!

Throughout the year Sally Jo and I receive notes, e-mails, telephone calls, and visits from Deerfooters. Sally Jo and I truly do “live thankful!”

And I encourage you to “live thankful!”  No one else has had the privilege of working with the incredible DL family as we have, but you have had the privilege of being part this family, and for many of us, family it is.

Thank God for Deerfoot – it truly is “His Place”.  Apart from Jesus Christ, and His people, DL would not exist.

Thank those who have made DL possible for you.

Thank those you have had the privilege of helping get to Deerfoot – for your lives have been enriched as have theirs

“Live thankful”

A clear blue sky with a bright sun glistened on the 6-8 inches of fresh snow when, on Wednesday afternoon, November 23, our family arrived at Deerfoot to celebrate Thanksgiving.  We opened the gate, put the Jeep Cherokee with good snow tires into 4 wheel drive, and drove slowly between snow covered trees on the trackless road.  It was beautiful!  Parking behind the kitchen, we stepped into total silence.  It was about 2:30 – darkness would come shortly after 4:00.

Through the snow we carried our essential clothing and food fixings down to the Lookout.  When we walked into the cabin, it was about 40 degrees.  Cold, but not the zero we would experience in January-February.

We lit the gas lamps, and while I built a fire in the wood stove, Dirk and Carla brought in the firewood needed for the next 24 hours, Sally Jo and Jenna unpacked the food, putting the turkey in a pot on the floor.  Next came getting water from the lake.  The snow made the slope to the lake slippery, so we worked together to get buckets of water from the lake to the cabin where they were put in the shower stall, ready for flushing the toilet.  A large kettle was put on the wood stove and filled with water for drinking, washing, etc.  Soon the stove was very hot and beds were opened up to get them a few degrees warmer before we crawled in for the night.  After supper was fixed and enjoyed, we played Trivial Pursuit in the warm room.

During the night I got up, walked by Carla sleeping on the couch, and reloaded the stove.  Sally Jo got up early, reloaded the stove, and sat down with the book she was enjoying.

When Jenna got up, she picked up the turkey – still frozen solid! Putting a frozen turkey on an un-insulated floor overnight results in a frozen turkey!  Sally Jo and Jenna used a non-FDA approved method of turkey thawing before putting our bird into the small oven.

While we were enjoying our late breakfast, Hutch arrived to make sure we were OK, and to talk.  After he left, our family hiked in the snow to Evan’s “hunting camp”, located past the rifle range near the Whitaker Lake inlet.  Memorable.

Back at the Lookout, we were happy and hungry as we    enjoyed our wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, from shrimp cocktail to Sally Jo’s delicious pumpkin pie.

We drove out of camp as darkness quickly settled in.