There is something about being in the fresh air…something about seeing the sun through the trees and feeling the breeze.  This afternoon Larry and I went out for a few quick loops cross country skiing.  Not only did we get our workout for the day, it was truly beautiful—a balmy 30 degree afternoon and the trails were fast.  I wish I had a photo to post for you, but taking a camera along was far from my mind as we skied.  I found myself thankful for so much….the opportunity to use this body God has given me, the beauty of his creation, the people in our lives, and his provisions.

It has been too long since our last post.  Sometimes I put pressure on myself thinking I need to come up with things of “great significance” in our lives personally or at camp to post on our blog as if I need to prove to the cyber world of folks out there who stumble across or read our blog that we are somehow significant.  Life has continued, but I don’t have photos or pithy comments or deep revelations to accompany the daily events of our life.  Some simple highlights for us in the past few weeks have been:

- My parents coming to visit and volunteer at camp,
- Working with the students at Rib Lake High School in the afternoons and helping with the forensics team there,
- Meeting and hosting the groups that come in (including an individual who we had never met before, yet is a huge encouragement to us through prayer),
- Having our friends Seth and Suzanne stay with us for a weekend when they came with the WWC group…it was GREAT to see the WWC group!
- Being parents for a week for a precious 8 year old and 10 year old while their parents were out of town. 

You know that it is really cold when…Your nose hairs freeze on your walk to the car in the morning…Your breath instantly freezes on your eyelashes each time you exhale…and your little car sounds like a diesel truck when you start it up because none of the fluids that are supposed to be liquid are no longer in the liquid state…You know it is freezing when your thermometer says -13 at 10:00 a.m. when the sun is blazing.  Someone actually called about an hour ago to ask if I wanted to go cross-country skiing, I told him that it needed to warm up first.  So you are probably thinking to yourself…either he isn’t going skiing today or how much warmer does it need to get for Larry to go skiing?  Well I told him I would go at noon today when it is supposed to be the warmest -5.  The joys of living in Northern Wisconsin.

Other than the cold Laura and I are doing very well.  We have settled into a rhythm now which is much needed.  It is amazing that the busier you are, the more you need a routine to stop the busyness from controlling your life.  I wouldn’t say that we have mastered that yet, but I am thankful that we are on the right track.  I am thankful for 2 days off in a row.  I know, it doesn’t take much to make me thankful, but actually sometimes here at camp it is difficult to get 2 days off in row due to the nature of our jobs.

Thanks to all of you who check our blog and read my posts…I know it doesn’t happen often…Laura is much better.

To those who have asked us more about Wintertainment or simply want to check it out a bit…head to the following page.  http://cfsmissionaryupdate.com/go/schutt/comments/schutt_wintertainment_08/
Our friend, Jesse, does a ton of great photography and video at camp and he has posted short videos from the week on their page.  Enjoy a glimpse of Wintertainment 08! 

After a full week at camp, we were so thankful to ring in the new year with our dear friends, Josh and Lauren along with their precious daughter Ruth!  They drove from Pennsylvania to be with family for the holidays and trucked up to the Northwoods for the New Year. So good to simply “BE” with them.  We so appreciate friends who know some of the best and worst aspects of us and love us through it all.  Can’t think of a better way to start off 2009!  (Below are some pics snowshoeing and playing games.)

This past week high school students swarmed camp for WINTERTAINMENT, a winter camp for high school students from December 27-31st.  Many college students who had worked here for the summer were back to volunteer in countless capacities.  It was one of the most draining, yet truly energizing weeks of camp for us.  Yesterday I sat reading through evaluations from the week.  The comments made me smile as I reflected on all that the week held.  I was reminded of how much the students love animal ball, think skiing and snowboarding on the hill is a blast, don’t like to eat fish, think that camp should have hot tubs (there is a reason it is called “camp”), love being with friends, adore the counselors, and think that the week should be longer.  Furthermore, when responding to the best thing about Wintertainment responses included:  “What I understood about God in my life.”  “I have so much more to learn from his Word…”  “I am realizing how much bigger God is than me…”  “I have a lot to think about…”  “I got to talk with others about the things that interfere with my walk with God.”  “I realized how much mercy God shows us.”  Thanks for praying for the week, the kids, and the staff.  As I type this, there are retreat groups now on the ski hill, in the game room, and meeting in sessions. Continue to pray for the hearts of the people that fill this place.  The winter season continues and we are privileged to be a small part of it all. 

 
      (The above pics are of the auditorium packed for session and of me teaching ski lessons to a fabulous bunch of girls from Missouri!)

Looking back at the past week, we are simply thankful for the Christmas season.  From the cookies, to time with family, to ultimately the remembrance of Jesus’ birth, we had a fantastic Christmas season.  In fact, our tree is definitely still up, there are still a few Christmas CD’s in the player, and we have a pile of cookies on our counter that we’re nibbling .  We are so blessed.  (I often times hesitate to used that word at the risk of sounding trite, but I mean “blessed” to the capacity that my human brain can understand.) 

Our Family after Christmas Dinner & The ENTIRE Den Hartog Family
 

Making Christmas Cookies with Re’anna & Larry with his Brother-In Law attempting to pull off law enforcement—I think we’ll leave that to Bryan, and stick with camping ministry!