The Big News

Hello People of the internet!

   So I have crazy amazing news. I am getting married in a month. Yes you did just see that I am getting married to my wonderful person Austin. It has been a crazy few months and well to top it all off we were like lets get married. Now many of you might be thinking  did we miss something? Like getting engaged? Well no we kinda just skipped that. We have come to the conclusion when you both know it is right, it is right.  Plus we have been talking about it for a long time.  I  am so excited and so is he. I can't wait to be HendricksMgee (haha). It is insane trying to plan a wedding in month to say the least but it can be done. Thankfully my family and Austin's family are pretty great wedding planners since we have so many contacts. So most of the things you need for a wedding are pretty much taken care of like
1. We got our rings
2. Went wedding dress shopping and found a dress that doesn't need to be fixed at all.
3. Have a photographer .
4. Have a musician .
5. A venue and pastor or two.
6. Know a wonderful lady who makes cakes.
7. Plus hobby lobby had a wedding sale so decoration are covered
8. Have great room mates who took our invite pictures
9. Seriously have the greatest parents and family and friends who are helping plan this thing.

So there is the big news I know many of you have been wondering what is going on so I figured a quick update would be awesome.

Talk to you all soon.

Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary.

     Well since I have been out here I have had the chance to go one some adventures. One I recently went on was to the wild life sanctuary in Spearfish Called Spirt of the Hills with Austin's brothers.  Man did this place melt my heart. I love animals and all of theses animals have a story to tell. Not only do you learn about there story but about them but the individual animal species as well. The tour guides volunteer there time and help keep the place running and the sanctuary runs off donations, money from the tours and volunteers time to take care of it.  It is a non profit animal rescue that takes care of over 320 animals and 40 different species that call this amazing place home.  There are tigers , lions and bears (Oh my)  farm animals dogs,cats, and many more. The animals are not bread and or sold so it is there forever home to be safe and for people to learn about the animals.  This  place that takes care many animals that have been in homes, breading facilities, circus and etc. that just can't take care of them any more or rules changed on licensing or people who think that is awesome to own a big cat or other big animals that will eat you once it grows up. Seriously don't get a large dangers animal as a pet just don't.
     So I went to this place when I was a kid and I really wanted to go back before I went home. I grew up on animal planet as a kid and I have always been fascinated with animals and nature. This place was amazing to view the animal.You aren't aloud to pet them however, the fences are there for your safety but most the animals will walk up to them. I would recommend going to there night tour because the animals are up and moving around since most them are more active in the evening.  Plus in our group there wasn't very many people so we could ask lots of questions and spend time to get great pictures. As you are walking around  you can hear the lions roaring and talking to each other, and see tigers and bears playing with  each. The Mountain Lions are pretty amazing too. I know that we have them in the Hills and they can be pretty scary but they are beautiful and they really are more scared of us and try to leave us alone. It is pretty crazy to see one just sitting in a tree and trying to find them since they blend in so well. While I love animals tigers are my favorite and they have 10 of them there. I was madly in love and I took mostly pictures of them. A few of them were from a breading program and one that we heard about was from a circus. They were simply amazing. They also have a very rare lion his name is Hercules his bread  only has a hand full left in the world called Barbary Lion. The sanctuary also has lots of birds they take care of and some talk you and dance with you. They are so funny Austin's brothers had a fun time with them getting them to talk and dance. It was so much fun to experience these animals . I would really recommend going if you like animals or have kids that like animals.

Hiking Storm

Hello world,

Sorry I haven't been up to date with this blogging thing. I have been very busy working and having a bit of fun here and there . So one of great things I have done this summer was I climbed Storm Mountain all by myself. It was pretty strange going hiking by myself and making sure I was on the right trail. I wasn't racing to the top with a million other campers like have done in the past. I took my time to look around and take pictures and just breath in the fresh air. The only thing that made me nervous was when I had to rock climb with my back pack pulling me the other way. I got scared in a few parts but I also have been rock climbing before so I knew a few things to help me not freak out. Always have three points of contact with the rocks you are climbing. Plus I really  wanted to make it so I pushed my self. When I made it up to the top  it was a big relief and amazing feeling of accomplishment. I just chilled up at the top and looked around took some pictures and just took some time to myself to think. I also had a few turkey vultures who were circling me while I was up there which was cool but also made me a little nervous that I was going to be there lunch. It really was confidence booster for me to make it to the top and back down all by myself.  When I was coming back down  I also saw the most crazy thing,I was going to take a picture of this bee on a thistle plant and then all of a sudden a white spider jumped out and tried to grab it. Now for those of you who know me well I hate spiders with a burning passion. So for me taking pictures of this and not freaking out it was a miracle. So I captured it in a few pictures and ind it turned out pretty  awesome. I love capturing nature photos. Maybe one day I can do it for a living. I am so lucky to be living in this place, it is so beautiful and I am so glad I got to spend some time out here and enjoy it. It is crazy that it is my last few days up here. 

( If you don't like bugs, spiders don't  scroll and get a better look. However,it is cool and not that freaky.)

Just want to say thank you.

So as you all know I am working at a church camp this summer. It is so much fun and so much work at times. I grew up going to camp and Storm  is special to my heart. However, I never knew all the things that went into running and keeping a camp up as a kid. I am so thankful for all the staff that took care of the camp and made it possible for me to grow and learn as a camper.  It is amazing to know that I can do that for campers as well.  Camp had always been one of my favorite things in the summer and I couldn't wait to meet all kinds of new people and grow with people who loved God as much as I did. I still get that chance as I am working. I love serving the campers and families that come through our doors. I am so blessed to have this beautiful place that changed my life so I can help change the lives of others. So once again thank you camp staff of the past, present, and future for making a difference in peoples lives.

The start of this crazy journey .

Hello all,
So I am not really sure how this blog thing works but I thought I might give it a crack.  To catch you all up to speed I am living in the wonderful Black Hills this summer. I am working at my favorite place on earth Storm Mountain Center. It has been a great few weeks all ready learning the ropes and getting to know my amazing co workers. The reason I am away from home summer is because I need to figure myself out and go on some fun adventures while I can. You really are only young once. I am not the kind of person who will just jump out of my comfort zone and do things I am not used too. People often find this very odd because I am such a go getter and a super bubbly person . Any ways this summer is about getting out of my bubble and meeting people, trying things, and in the end being the person I truly want to be. I know that it won't be easy but I am gonna try my best.  So far my journey has been fun and wonderful I have made some amazing friends and reconnected with some old friends. I have tried things I never thought I would. Like I ate sushi which I thought I was going to hate because I hate fish turns out I love it. I also have gone to a cave, went down a zip line and killed cowboy robots at Rushmore Cave.  I also have gone to Keystone,Hill City, Rapid City , Belle Fourche and Spearfish. I have been all over . I am loving having this freedom to go places and do things. It is also kinda weird to be away from my family and my significant other. However I need to challenge myself and be me with out them. I will grow as time goes on but I know they aren't going any where. Plus I have a wonderful support system here. I have my camp family, my significant others family and many friends in the Hills I am hoping to visit through out the summer. I am so excited to see where this summer takes me and all the wonderful memories that will happen. Plus I can't wait to start my photography shoots. No worries I will be uploading the beauty of the Hills for everyone.
Talk to you all soon
Erin