The Roundhouse

Hey Everyone, last Saturday my wife Morgan and I ran a 50k (that’s 31.2 miles) trail race in West Virginia. It was a culmination of 4 months of training and preparation, and with most difficult things, it took all of that time and prep to pull it off.

Why a 50k? Why not a marathon? Or a half-marathon? All good questions, since I had not run any of those distances before this. Well, Morgan wanted to run a marathon (or more) distance on her birthday weekend, which was May 9. Also, I don’t like running on pavement, especially with the beautiful trails here at Rockmont and around the area. We both wanted to do something that would require significant time and effort to prepare for. We could still go out and “pride” ourselves to finish a half marathon, so 26.2 was the minimum. Finally, if the run doesn’t go well and you end up walking a lot, your run is now simply a pretty day in the woods. I can do that :)

I did leave one thing out. Morgan and I have friends who have been doing great work in Haiti for the past year, and were on the ground when the Earthquake shook all their lives out of all control. We wanted to support them and keep awareness up for that desperately poor area of the world, and how even 5 months after it happened, they would need our support and prayers. Find out more about their work at their website: Lespwa Worldwide
There were many times that I felt tired, sore, light-headed, and ready to take it easy, and thought about all the time we had trained, but also the daily struggle of those less fortunate, especially in Haiti, where the devastation has hit us in a more personal way. So, we kept going.

To me, that was an important lesson, and the prevailing one in this whole process. There is good and bad, love and hurt, pain and joy, all through life. But what is the thing we stick our identity to? Where do we send all of it? Do we accept the good runs and great times from the Lord, and not the steep hills and tweaked knees? The good weather and peppy mornings, but not the pouring rain and 12 inches of snow?

No my friends, we take it all, just like Jesus took it for us. We always see the Phillipians 4:13 verse I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me but how can we as followers of Christ miss what precedes this iconic verse? Verses 11 & 12 read I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

For runners, I know what it is to run fast, and I know what it is to run slow and in pain, in great weather and in the pouring rain. I have learned the secret of being content on any and every run, whether having many gels or low on water, whether running for medals or just the morning sunrise.

So Rockmont family, these are some of the hopes we strive to pass on to your sons. That no matter the circumstances, God is enough for them. The 50k was wonderful and challenging for many reasons, just like life. To set a goal, work hard, and complete the task was great (that 3 step process is a whole other post!) and it will not be the last we do.

I encourage you to ponder in what ways God has blessed you, and in what ways he may be teaching you to be content with less. It is a gift worth passing on.

Here is a picture of us after the race, and no, we’re not flashing gang signs, that’s 50 K in sign language.

May the Peace of Christ be with you,

Matt

I love seasons, all of them. Before last June, I had lived the past 20 years in Florida, and didn’t have a strong enough memory of my early years in Kentucky to remember that passage of seasons.

In Florida, there’s not a full death in nature like there has been this winter in North Carolina. It’s never as bleak and stark as your 4th or 5th winter snowstorm and you can’t leave the house. You’re never forced to stay at home because its too snowy or icy to risk driving. Even for the FL hurricanes, if we lost power, you didn’t have to then deal with temperatures in the teens and making sure you’re family could stay warm for the night. I did sense and enjoy though, the feeling that I should slow down, look inwardly, and reflect. All of creation was doing, I should as well.

But, with death, came life. This has been my favorite spring ever, because it was the first true spring I remember. The blooming of flowers, the leaves appearing back on the trees, grass growing and needing to be mowed. The smells of fresh-cut grass, flowers, tilled soil, and plants coming back to life all around me. It’s incredible, this gift God has given us. Since I feel the seasons and the rhythm of the earth closer now, I pray that I can be a better steward of the earth.

Spring is new life, and summer will be life in abundance (in more ways than one), with longer days, many adventures, and the shaping of lives.

I look forward to sharing it with all of you,

Matt

The boys pulled out all the stops for their photo (shown at right), by wrangling their schoolmates into a picture that includes 9 Rockmont items, an original poster, guitar, and green balloons! Congratulations guys!! You also have the distinction of having submitted the photo with the MOST potential Rockmont recruits!

A STRONG contender for the Grand Prize was actually one of the earliest entries. Nate Dorman’s amazing “talkin’ Rockmont while surfing” photo kept us smiling for days, but lost on a technicality… we already know fellow surfer, Addison Miles, Nate!

Other highlights of the competition included the most forward thinking recruiter… Sean Merrell (Ormond Beach) who is seen talkin’ camp with his 2 year old brother Mac! (Whom we hope to see in 2014!) And Rusty Ranson and *Will Schmersal who seem to be giving the Rockmont “pitch” to their baseball team in the dugout!

We enjoyed looking through all of the entries that were submitted and appreciate all of your participation. Besides the Chapmans (who get the camera), everyone named in this post will be receiving TWO full coupon books to use at the Rockmont General Store and Cola Stop this summer!

It’s a PHOTO contest! In past years, as the counter in the left margin has reached exactly 100 Days, zero hours, zero minutes Til Camp, we have challenged our camp family to express something about their camp experience in a creative way. In 2008 we had you write about your camp experience. In 2009 we invited you to design a T-shirt for camp. This year we sent out an email requesting submissions by photo.

Our premise is that YOU, our current and past families, are our best recruiters of future Rockmont campers. If you can capture your camper in a creative setting telling a potential future camper about Rockmont, we want to see the photo.

Let us know through directors@rockmont.com that you plan to participate. Put “Contest” in the subject line. Attach digital photos with your email or let us know that you will be sending your photo by regular mail before the counter hits 100.

We will judge the first 100 entries received for clarity and creativity. The camper involved in the winning entry receives a brand new 9 mega pixel, Cannon Power Shot digital camera with 10x digital zoom!! It’s the same quality compact camera used in the Rockmont Photography Skill!

Good Luck!

During the months of January and February the Rockmont Farm (as well as a good part of the US) was covered by multiple snows. Today’s forecast: high of 27, good chance of snow – again! With all the snow and the frozen ground a lot of work on the farm has been delayed, but overall the snow is great for the garden. The slow melt is good for all of the fruit trees and bushes as well as the soil in the beds which will be well moistened for spring planting. And the cold temps hopefully will mean fewer pests come summer. Though the entire garden has been covered in a blanket of snow, this is the time to plan for this summer’s planting. I have taken inventory of seed we saved from last summer and ordered new seed – two new crops for the homestead this year will be peanuts and cotton. Earlier in February I started broccolis, cabbages and onions in the greenhouse, and I am beginning to start some warm weather plants like tomatoes and peppers. It won’t be long before I am preparing the beds and planting seed outside.

One of the hardest freezes in years resulted in 4-7 inches of frozen ice across Lake Eden. That’s right, it was allllll skateable and walkable. So we broke out the skates, sticks, and pucks and played some good ol’ fashioned hockey right here at Rockmont. Enjoy the pics!

We’ve been in temps below freezing most this week, and Lake Eden has frozen over! Most of the lake is not safe to walk on, but I found a spot here.

See how we do laps in the winter at Rockmont

Western North Carolina experienced its heaviest snowfall since 1996, with 8 inches on lower camp and up to 14 inches in the higher areas. Here are pictures once the snowfall had slowed down.

Enjoy!
Matt

As winter came upon us at Camp Rockmont, there were some great opportunities for beautiful pictures. Here is one of my favorite from the past week, I will be posting a full album of mostly snow pics later today. – Matt

Let it snow, let it snow! With just four days left before the official start of winter and one week before Christmas, we had our first winter storm at the Rockmont Farm. A blanket of snow over a foot deep made the Homestead look like a winter wonderland. By the actual Solstice just a few days later the snow had ended, the sky was blue and the sun was shining bright. Now that the farm is covered in snow it is time to start thinking about spring planting. Until then, happy winter to all!

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