Our work week ends at noon on Thursday so we decided to take 3 days to go to Branson - we had a time share that needed using. Of course, we spent time at Silver Dollar City. I know some of you are thinking we 
are obsessed with that place, yes we do like the entertainment and craft emphasis they were highlighting these weeks. But when we were sitting to listen to this pick'in' and grin'in' group (my title for them) I wondered how many of you would think this was a complete waste of time as well as a strange choice of entertainment or just that your parents were really loosing their bearings. Probably it was a little of each! I will admit it is not our/my favorite form of entertainment but it is a part of the Ozark heritage and Southern Country music and humor so we wanted to honor it. There were other entertainers as well as many crafts being demonstrated. We always still enjoy watching the glass blowers even though the two young guys had a problem with the 
piece they were blowing and thought it would eventually end up in a heap on the floor. No one is perfect or just like someone else even as no blown glass is like any other piece, we all have our own unique shape and function.
are obsessed with that place, yes we do like the entertainment and craft emphasis they were highlighting these weeks. But when we were sitting to listen to this pick'in' and grin'in' group (my title for them) I wondered how many of you would think this was a complete waste of time as well as a strange choice of entertainment or just that your parents were really loosing their bearings. Probably it was a little of each! I will admit it is not our/my favorite form of entertainment but it is a part of the Ozark heritage and Southern Country music and humor so we wanted to honor it. There were other entertainers as well as many crafts being demonstrated. We always still enjoy watching the glass blowers even though the two young guys had a problem with the 
piece they were blowing and thought it would eventually end up in a heap on the floor. No one is perfect or just like someone else even as no blown glass is like any other piece, we all have our own unique shape and function.The decorations are always tuned to the theme of SDC. Naturally, these weeks are all done in harvest festival style. This picture is at the gate but all of SDC is decorated as well. Nothing, tho, compares to the Christmas Season when they have 4 million lights lit.
Work went well this past week. I am thankful I could continue to input data into the files of Retreats and Camps which were held over the last year. Like we were told, really this job is never finished as several new camps are held each week. Even some public schools bring kids here for a day or for longer. Interesting sinc
e this is definitely and openly a Christian Camp/Ranch. Reading the comments found on the cards is interesting, complaints can run anywhere between "awesome, I committed my life to Christ" to "the mats in the shower room were wet"? What did she expect? Even the comments on the food could run from "awesome" to too many carbs, not enough variety, or helpings too small. I think the expectation of the camper has something to do with the comments. One group came who were from an upper middle class area. The complaints were almost laughable as well as disgusting. Seems the kids had never had to put any effort into anything and thought this place was here to serve them. The Ranch leader to student ratio is very favorable and they are dedicated to making the Ranch experience very worthwhile, however, the responses reflected what the camper was expecting and, somewhat, on the context the student had come from. Thank goodness the vast majority have very high praise for the Ranch and that makes all of us happy. It is such a joy to put in a response that is all 5's even though those are kind of brainless for us, it does bode well for the staff. So putting data into the computer has its joys
and makes our work at a Ranch extremely worth while.
e this is definitely and openly a Christian Camp/Ranch. Reading the comments found on the cards is interesting, complaints can run anywhere between "awesome, I committed my life to Christ" to "the mats in the shower room were wet"? What did she expect? Even the comments on the food could run from "awesome" to too many carbs, not enough variety, or helpings too small. I think the expectation of the camper has something to do with the comments. One group came who were from an upper middle class area. The complaints were almost laughable as well as disgusting. Seems the kids had never had to put any effort into anything and thought this place was here to serve them. The Ranch leader to student ratio is very favorable and they are dedicated to making the Ranch experience very worthwhile, however, the responses reflected what the camper was expecting and, somewhat, on the context the student had come from. Thank goodness the vast majority have very high praise for the Ranch and that makes all of us happy. It is such a joy to put in a response that is all 5's even though those are kind of brainless for us, it does bode well for the staff. So putting data into the computer has its joys
and makes our work at a Ranch extremely worth while. Wilmer's work hasn't changed much either. He does restoration work on the same building I pictured him in last week. Altho he doesn't have a lot of different saws and other tools along he certainly is getting to use many of them as several of the RVICS people have quite a stash of tools. I guess when they have worked on dozens of projects they find what is useful and helpful to bring to a project.
This is our Oklahoma Group. I will not name them but give their home state: Missouri, Montana, Rochester, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa and the front couple, a retired minister, last lived in Pennsylvania and has a place in Texas where they are retiring. Other then one couple we hadn't even known about the others until we started working together in Sept. or Oct. Now I can say we are a good functioning group with a lot of common values as well as a common work ethic. Great experience.
Pray you are all well, let us know how you are doing. We have internet now but spastic cell phone. Try anyway, we will get back to you.
Love you all,
Dad and Mom - Marilyn/Wilmer
Of course we don't think you are losing your bearings - your marbles....maybe. JUST KIDDING! I'm not surprised that you listened to that group; it has a little of the Hee Haw look about it and I remember we watched that a time or two back in the day.
ReplyDeleteGlad the work is easy and enjoyable. The scenery continues to look marvelous.
LU
Kim