All Done

Camp wasn't easy. In fact, as I look back now, a few days past, it was hard. I felt like every time I turned around there was a situation that needed my attention; kids not paying attention or following instruction, being unkind to one another or not doing what they had been asked to do. Unfortunately these weren't the only issues going on.

Here are some of the deeper things that most of these small 8,9, and 10 year olds are already dealing with. Fear, rejection, anxiety, pride, manipulation and more. Isn't it interesting that I have and do deal with these same issues/bondage's? At times I do feel as though I, along with Jesus, am winning the battle, but at other times I do feel defeated. I hate that these kids have some of the same things going on in their life at such a young age. It comes in different forms in my life, most of all, I love to please men more then I think about pleasing God. How awful to say that! It hurts, its honest. I want to change.

On Friday, as we drove back into the church parking lot we saw all the excited mom's and dad's waiting patiently, not wanting to burst out of their skin to come grab their son or daughter to tell them just how much they missed them, we got all their stuff from the class and sent them home. For most of the kids this is the longest they had been from home. Mom and dad were ready to have them back.

As they slowly faded away and there was finally a silence in the air, I felt the Lord telling me something. "The hard part is over, now you know them, they know you and trust you as a voice in their lives." I am broken but I love that the Lord will not only still use me but He still loves and cares for me....ahhh...it's that simple!

Good and Hard Times

F45 Camp is past the halfway mark. At this time the boys are watching a movie and the girls are probably at their house sleeping or talking with the lights out. Boys and girls are just different. The Lord is so spectacular the way he created us all. There have been so many different things that have happened. For instance, we were eating and I took a second just to listen to all the conversations....the girls were chit-chatting away and the boys were all planning and strategizing on how to beat the "really hard level" on the newest video game.

I love it. Camps been difficult and fun at the same time. I have enjoyed teaching and instructing, correcting and encouraging, loving and caring. I feel the Lord telling me that this is the hard part. "Pushing in and pressing through" are the things that are happening right now. Once this camp is over there will be more of a sense of unity and the kids will definitely know what to expect out of me. Boundaries.....boundaries....and more boundaries. Living in them is a place that is fit for all! I'm excited to see what will come with these relationships in the next few months.

"Follow Me"

The last two weeks I have been planning our Foundation45 summer camp. This is our age group that is just out of Children's Ministries and not quite old enough for youth group. Some call them "tweens," I call them 45ers.

Foundation in Christ for 4th and 5th graders.

The theme for our camp is, "Follow Me," based out of Matthew 4 where Jesus calls these fisherman to follow him. My goal, and what I feel the Lords goal, is to help these kids from a place of knowing about God to having a close relationship with him.

Here are some scriptures that I am planning on tying all this together:

Matthew 4:19-22

Psalm 78:52-53

John 10:2-4

Joshua 1:5-6

As I put together this series (4 teachings) I am finding that as I choose to "follow" the Lord more and more each day that my life is different. When I don't allow him to go ahead of me (pride/fear) I end up wasting time and energy. I pray that these 45ers will come away with a deeper relationship with Jesus and that they will be able to place him first in everything they do.

My 26th

My birthday was yesterday. 26 years. Wehew! It was actually a birthday that I won't soon forget. Not the best but definitely the worst. It's hard to say that as I would have loved it to be the best, but alas, I'll have quite a few more:)

Both Charissa and I had, let's just say, not the best day ever. Living here at the church and working here makes for an interesting combination. We aren't here for fun (although it is) and we aren't here because it is a nice place to be (even though it is). We are here to grow. Ever heard of "growing pains?"

I'm happy to have input into our lives. In fact, I deeply desire it. I want to seek wisdom and find knowledge every minute that I'm here. Even when it comes on my birthday without any warning. When someone that I trust wants to point something out about what I may be doing or not doing. It may be a hard pill to swallow but I want to digest it...to pray about it and to seek the Lord in those areas of my life.

I want to grow. Chairssa wants to grow. It hurts. It's worth it.

Time with the Family (Part II)

My family left on Saturday and on Sunday Charissa and I decided that we would go meet up with her Mom and Dad down in Avila beach (about a 2 1/2 hour drive). We knew that they would be down there but were really hesitant to go as I can't do anything, Charissa would have to take care of all the bags and Noelle which is hard for her since she isn't feeling good due to baby number 2 (more on that to come). But we decided it would be really nice to get out of the house for a night and just go.

As I'm laying here on the couch writing this I definitely think this was a good choice. The drive isn't bad at all, and all we did was eat, relax, nap and go to the pool. Grandpa and Grandma were thrilled about our decision to come and basically babysat the whole time. Noelle is the first grand baby on Charissa's side so you can imagine the excitement for her parents when they get to be with her...it is fun.

Tomorrow I go in to the doc for the second follow up as well as to get the stitches out. I'll be able to find out when I can start trying to walk and if I have to go to physical therapy. I must say that I am getting pretty good at crutching myself around although I have had some close calls, like falling down the stairs or just getting off balance and looking for anything that can support my weight so I don't come crashing down. Looking forward to having both feet again!

Time with the Family

This weekend was fantastic. My mom, dad, and sister came up on Thursday and stayed with till Saturday afternoon. We had great food (thanks to Scotty's new bbq) and got to catch up with them. We played games, blew bubbles for the kids (picture to the right is by Charissa, I thought it was awesome) and they all got in the kiddie pool. Noelle LOVES anything that has to do with water!

This was the first year I think in my life that I didn't see any fireworks, and frankly I didn't mind at all. They are nice, but for some reason they don't do a whole lot for me. I was the one voting to stay home and hang out with the fam, have a nice cup of coffee and play some games...maybe that had to do with my incapacity for too much movement, but I think I'd feel that way even feeling 100%.

After Noelle spent a good hour or so in the pool we pulled her out due to mild hypothermia....well okay, maybe she was just getting really cold. She'd stay in there forever if it was up to her.

After the pool I got to spend some quality snuggle time with her while she was warming up. The last two weeks have been a bummer as far as being together cause I can't move so much. The time when I can get her to be still with me is precious....It is time that I wouldn't trade for anything.

Back in the Game

Today was my first day back in the office. Definitely nice to be out of the house and around people. At times while laying on the couch (may I remind you that we live at the church and are located just above one of the large meeting rooms and face the big playground where all the kids play) and hearing people outside I was reminded of a time in 3rd grade when I was home sick for 2-3 weeks and wasn't able to play or do anything with anyone. Yet, at the same time I could still see and hear everything that they were being a part of. Bummer!

Now, off the couch and ready to take part in all the fun....work! Honestly work isn't really work. It's being with people. It's making a point to go and sit and talk with the volunteer receptionist for 10-15 minutes. It's doing more then what people ask for. It's making sure that people are covered without them knowing I've done anything. It's taking time to talk about something that I noticed, even the small things, and to find solutions with other people.

Overall I lasted almost an entire day. I went home about 45 min early from lunch and maybe an hour before the end of day. It's amazing how exhausting crutching around gets and how it just wears you out. Then I went to a debrief meeting that was for our Vacation Bible School and it was so much fun. We talked about all the miscommunication and all the things that went really well that we would like to see next year. To go from worship for the first part then to hear almost everyones testimony of what happened with the during the week (and months before) it was thoroughly fun and deep at the same time...what a great combination!

Looking forward to tomorrow...preparing for Foundation45 Summer Camp!