Fatherhood Friday: Kat’s On Her Way!
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I remember my first backpacking trip in the Rocky Mountains. I can’t tell you exactly how old I was, but I was a young teen. What I do remember is that it was a new moon when we set up camp near the summit. I had never seen so many stars! I remember looking up and feeling like the Universe was at my fingertips. It also made me feel so very tiny. Who was I compared to THIS? What difference could I possibly make? I quickly realized that yes, the Universe is very large. But so was this mountain, and I had just conquered it, right? I was a part of this wondrous creation, and whatever The Plan was for my being here, I had faith that I would fulfill that destiny.
That experience changed me forever. It not only imbued me with an undying devotion to the mountains. (A decade later I would pack up my family and move them there.) But also a renewed enthusiasm for the world and my place in it.
It wasn’t just the stars. I had taken that trip with a church group. It was the varied mix of people, the support that we gave one another, emotionally and physically, that would make me realize the difference that I could make in life.
I shared that story because I am excited and thrilled to announce that Kat, the Teenager, will be embarking on an adventure that will surely dwarf the one I had as a teen. She has been accepted in to People to People, and will be going to Australia in June!!!
We’re straining our brains to come up with ideas for fundraising, but my first step is to turn over my PayPal account to her. I’ve had a donation badge on the side of this blog for a while now, but any donations I get from now until June will go to her life-changing experience. She and I were brain-storming last night about what to send as a ‘thank-you’. We haven’t made any final decisions, but she mentioned something about making artwork or baking cookies… 
I hope you’ll consider donating to this tremendous opportunity for her. If not, we’ll still be friends. I know how it is out there these days…
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Tags: Australia, Backpack, Kat, Mountain, People to People, Recreation, Rocky Mountain, Travel
We’re trying to get our teenager to New York for next year. I was paid 400 bucks for putting two links on my site for a year. 1/5 of the way there. I’ll see what we can do to help Kat out.
Eric´s last blog ..Run, Eric, Run
Very cool. Thanks, man! Where did you find those links?
they emailed me. i’m guessing because i have a post about bunk beds and one about hockey tables
Eric´s last blog ..Run, Eric, Run
Twitter: CK_Lunchbox
says:
Trips like that truly are a life-changing event. My sisters made trips to places like the Bahamas and Australia, and they seemed so grown up when they came back. The year I lived in Korea had the same impact. Suddenly the big world I read about was a very real place.
Clark Kent’s Lunchbox´s last blog ..SAHD Men Are Not Sad Men: A Rebuttal to Working Mother Magazine
I think travel is one of the best ways to grow as a person. I never travelled until I was 22 and it changed me forever. I hope she has a great trip.
Otter321´s last blog ..Patience Is a Virtue
What an awesome chance! I think every kid needs something adventurous when they’re young. I lived in Mexico for a year when I was younger and got the chance to travel around studying all the pyramids and stuff. It was really eye-opening. Like, Australia is going to be amazing. And the paypal thing seems like a pretty good idea.
Keith Wilcox´s last blog ..Extreme Dog Houses
My child takes her “she used to love em but wouldn’t wear em now” past fashions to resale shops where they sort thru and buy what they want on the spot. She usually makes $20 to $50 dollars at a time. Maybe Kat’s lil bro and sis have some things they aren’t using?????
Twitter: hangglidded
says:
Can’t let a little thing like $$$ get in the way of an adventure like that. Couldn’t use ur link to Paypal for some reason so went to my account directly. Not much but hope it helps get her there.
I remember my first hike on the Appalachian Trail…It was a bold and new adventure that I hope to one day share with my daughter…We got one of those baby carrying back packs so we may be out there sooner rather than later…
Good luck with the fundraising!
Doug @ Daddy’sTired´s last blog ..What the!?!? It’s 2010…Where have I been?
Twitter: thejackb
says:
That sounds very cool. The time I spent in Israel when I was 16 changed my life forever. It was an amazing experience. These things can do so much for people.
Jack´s last blog ..The Daddy Blogger Community