Life in McCall

Wow, it's been a whirlwind 3 weeks! I think most of you know that I moved to Idaho last month to oversee a hotel's events department in McCall. It's a beautiful hotel amidst a stunning setting. I've really enjoyed these past few weeks, doing a job that I love. Even through the 12 hour days! It's been interesting though, working in a secular setting. I worked for 2 years at Focus on the Family as an event coordinator, which is a highly conservative, Christian nonprofit. I've also done numerous weddings for friends and acquaintances but all within a Christian setting. Honestly, the wastefulness of events has always gotten to me. When you throw $1000 worth of prime rib in the garbage, it's tough! (Though my roommates at the time would probably say the endless supply of leftovers was a treat!) Or you pour $6800 worth of champagne in under 20 minutes (I did that last night!), its sometimes hard to let go of what that money could do. But I just have to remember, it's not my job to judge. It's my job to be wise with the money God has given to me and use THAT for His glory, right? That's one of the main reasons I took this job! It was quite a bit of money in a short amount of time and I wanted to be more financially stable and be able to buy a car in cash, without a car payment, next year.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love hospitality and events. It's wonderful to get to see a bride on her wedding day looking radiant and know you had a part in making her dreams come true. I've always been service oriented. It's my primary love language. I've always struggled with the story of Martha and Mary because I know I'm just like Martha, going a mile a minute, serving others but not remembering to stop and just be in the presence of The Lord. And... Oh man, I got off on a tangent! :) I was supposed to be updating you on life in McCall!

If you've never been to Idaho, you're missing out! I really thought it would look a lot like Colorado, but I was wrong! The mountains aren't as tall (McCall is only at elevation 5,000ft) and they're more rounded and hill-like. The skies are just as blue and wide open but they seem closer. I don't know how to explain it. It's like you can reach out and touch it. The landscape is more diverse. In the two hour drive from Boise to McCall (I've done this drive 4 times already!), you pass from mountain pass to flat farmland to wide-open lakefronts. It's truly amazing!

The hotel is beautiful too! It's changed hands a couple of times in the last 10 years but seems to be steadying now. They're doing a complete renovation of the rooms come fall in hopes of going from a 4-star (that they just earned last year) to a 5-star hotel. I don't like the renovation ideas but whatever :) The hotel sits on the banks of the Payette Lake, which has just bursted into life in the last week. Kayaks, canoes, pontoon boats, jet skis, all commingle on this 25 acre lake. The town is a resort town. In the winter, only about 1800 people call McCall home. In the summer, it explodes to 10,000. Most of the houses are summer houses, people who vacation but don't reside here. Lots of families and older folks. It's not really a party town, like say, the Hamptons. Only one bar stays open till past 10pm :)

Well, I think that's good for now. Next time, maybe I'll share about my apartment (that's been an adventure in and of itself!). Hope your summers have been as adventuresome as mine!