the club

This year I turned 30. Yup, 30. But you know what was really cool, so did 5 of my good friends. We all met at camp about 8 years ago. We live all over the country, but each summer, even if it's just a week, we all see each other at camp.
This year we decided to celebrate our old age with a fun birthday treat. We used our one day off (we only get about 27 hours off each week) to go tubing down a river. We drove a good long way and went back to a place called Butts Tubes to go floating down the Potomac River right outside of Harpers Ferry, WV. It was such a fun day. Floating, laughing, talking, just enjoying one another's company. After the river adventure, we went into Harpers Ferry to eat and then headed home.
I realized once again, how very blessed I am to have so many friends in my life. So many friends from so many different time periods in my life. I have camp friends, college friends, high school friends... It's crazy to think that we've known each other for 8 years now. Getting old and being single doesn't seem so terrible when you have buddies to share it with.
Fun day...good memories.

the magical door

This is where I spend my mornings. I do crafts with the kids from 9 to noon each day. It's in the basement of a 100 year old farmhouse, the oldest building on the property. The tables are covered in paint splatters and glue and no one cares if you spill. The perfect environment to create. Above the tables where the day campers sit, there is this door. Every day, one of the kids asks where it goes. I, of course, can't just say that it is the old door that used to open up to the basement stairs. That's way too easy... So, I tell the kids it's a magical door and it leads to a magical land. They never believe me. So, then I ask them what they think is behind the door.
Last week I got my favorite answer ever. I wish I had a tape recorder cause I wanted to save it. One of my favorite campers, a little boy who we think may have been adopted from China (he's A-dorable!), looks at me dead in the eyes and says with a very serious face...
"Maybe it's your husband."

Maybe...a girl can hope.

"quick...can you take some pictures?"

Well, I guess so. He is oh, so cute. Tonight, I got to smother him with kisses before his bedtime bath. Being an auntie is one of the best things in the whole entire world.

chills

We sang the song "You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman in church on Sunday. Our church has an amazing, really amazing worship team. The leader is just incredible. Worship is hugely important to my spiritual growth. I need it. I feel close to God when I sing simple phrases glorifying who He is and forgetting about me.
We've sung this particular song lots of times. Have you ever thought about the words? For some reason, they really struck me, especially these...

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You
Still I will praise You

The first line was barely out of my mouth before I had chills and couldn't even speak. I love when it feels like God reaches out and puts His arms around me. I can feel His presence, His peace, his love. I don't need anything else and the rest of the craziness that I have been battling for the last week disappears in the eternal. It was an amazing moment. And I haven't stopped thinking about it or the words to that song. I feel incredibly content and happy even though my heart and mind feel like they've been through a battle.
Ever had a moment like that? Do share! It's therapeutic!

sum, sum, summertime

Happy first day of summer!! We are loving the warm weather here, and low humidity the last 2 days. My camera is loving that! This is a shot of the beachfront during evening free time. The kids get to ride the banana boat and the tubes on the river. Fun times for everyone!

Happy Birthday, Luke!

A little bit late, but still with lots of love and a big hug!

this picture

has nothing to do with my thoughts, but I like it. I found a new action online today and have been experimenting with it all night.
I realized again today....how blessed I am...how stupid I am when it comes to knowing who God is...how much I miss my college friends...how the summers here are a constant lesson from God for so many different reasons...good conversations on the staff porch at mealtimes are so fun...I love hot weather (not lying! I really love it!)....kids imaginations are magical (one of my favorite campers was telling me yesterday how he was hunting raptors in the playground. totally serious. He believes he will find them)....my nephew is oh, so kissable...my brother really is cool (other people have said this to me several times in the last 2 weeks)...my sister is so very special to me for so many reasons...I'm blessed to have parents who love me...how much I love going through old pictures...flying a kite is super fun...riding a bike is even more fun...our campers get more mail in 1 week than I do all year...my friend Ash is coming to visit in 1 month and I absolutely cannot wait...my journal has saved my sanity too many times to count...God's forgiveness is so way beyond what I can understand, but I am so thankful for it.

Miss you

Hey, Wilson's, if you read this....

I miss you guys like crazy. The miles between us seem very, very long lately. I know it's only been a couple months, but still. Can't you move over here?!
Remember how much fun we had here? Let's do it again. Paris looked good on us.

The one thing I always wanted to do as a kid

Found this link on another website. My brother loves Sigur Ros and has given me their stuff to listen to often. They are a great chill band. Something to listen to while you are creating.
This video is fun. And I generally hate music videos. Stay for the end for the best part...

art journal fun and Day #1

Yesterday, I ordered this. I've wanted to do an art journal for a while now, but especially since I saw these. Just looks so freeing and fun and new. When I was growing up, I would tear things out of magazines and newspapers each week and I made this HUGE notebook full of pictures. Still have it somewhere at my parents house.

Today is also the first day of camp. The kids arrive in about 2 hours. All 150 of them. Excited, hyper and ready for us to give them a week of fun. I woke up this morning praying. I love the first day of camp and love the opportunity to get to do this for another summer. On the other hand, looking at it from Day #1 knowing that we have 8 weeks to go still is a little bit intimidating. I get nervous, not for me, but for our new counselors and staff that have no idea what to expect. So if you think of it, say a quick prayer for us! We are so excited, trained and ready to be Jesus to each and every kid we are given. And our little day campers come tomorrow. All 60 of them will be here from 8-5 each day. So many opportunities to show them love and show them Jesus.

Our pastor's sermon was perfect in church today. We just started a new series on "living on the edge" (or "being overstressed in life"). How perfect is that?!! I'm excited to see what God teaches me through the messages that are to come. Even today, in the verses he read, I could hear God whispering to my heart, reminding me that HE is in control and do NOT worry so much. Can we all take a collective deep breath? Ahhh......

Here's who...

......I've been spending all my free seconds with. My roommate and I are now addicted to Prison Break. Season ONE, mind you. We are right in the middle of Micheal (our new favorite TV love) trying to break the whole gang out of prison. I love, love, love it!

And I've decided that there is nothing better than falling in love with a new TV show on DVD.

"a penny for your thoughts...

....let's call it a deal." (my favorite part of Waiting for Guffman. I laugh so hard I can't breathe.)



This year, for our staff, we wanted to give them journals at the beginning of the summer. Such a neat idea and something I have done (journaling) since my first summer here. I love going back and reading each summer and seeing how God was working on me back then.
After searching for affordable choices, we found some great ones at the local dollar store. The only problem was that they were covered in flowers. Okay for girls, but the guys....ehh, uhh, no. So I volunteered to spruce them up a little bit. Here are a couple of the finished ones. It was fun. Wish I could have done more, but I had 75 to create and only short amount of time to do them.

photo inspiration

The pictures by this guy are really inspiring me right now.

My favorites...

This one.

This one.

This one.

And one of his newest.

Enjoy!

here's why...

...I've been gone for a couple days.
First, the internet was down for 3 days. It was like living in a back hole.
Second, life is uber busy. Training is in full swing. Today I'm getting re-certified on the high elements. Tomorrow is CPR re-cert.
Third, my family is here, hellooo?!! I have to spend time with them.
Fourth, I've gotten addicted to Prison Break Season 1. I can't stop watching.

I have pictures to post and stories to tell. Will do so soon.

evening sailing

Even though the wind was a light breeze, the night was B-E-A-utiful. Again, sometimes my job has the best benefits. Tomorrow, our 12 hour days begin. Oh, the fun of 70 people learning to become one unit. Can't believe this will be my 9th summer.

And joining in on the fun...

They are also here for 2 whole months. Can life get any better? Last night I held the munchkin for a couple hours and got to read him a bedtime story. I talked to her for a long time and then WALKED home to the cottage. Walked. It's going to be like that all summer. It's the little things that make life so magical.

For Leena...

He looks so grown up!

must hear this

Cool music...cool girl...

LISTEN HERE

We met a couple years ago. She worked at the camp that I do. She has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard in my life. Seriously. I can't even explain how incredible it is. She sang at a wedding for a mutual friend of ours this weekend. Come Thou Fount, the old beautiful hymn. The bride was crying. The audience was stunned to silence. She had no microphone. Just her instrument and her voice.
We got place at the same table at the reception and got to chat, chat, chat. Wish you could all meet her. She's going to be big one day. She will. And it couldn't happen to a more deserving person.

I also added a music link to the sidebar ----------->
I'll update it as I find new fun music. Myspace music is my current fav spot to find new music gems. Enjoy! And I always love a finding a new band to love....suggestions?!!

no stopping us now

(some of my co-workers and I on a staff retreat. Yes, I was working here.)

And it begins. This week. My life is now on hold until the middle of August. My social/personal life, I should say. I will be spending my days meeting new people and playing with kids. All of my friends, except those who are on this crazy train with me, are so patient to forgive my lack of correspondence.

It will by my 9th summer here. 9th!! How in the world has it gone by that fast? I seriously forget what it's like to have a summer vacation. But I don't forget all the amazing lessons God has taught me while I've been here. Life changing. I'm a different person today because of my summers here and the people I now call my camp family. It's tough, but oh so worth it. Wonder what God has in store for me this summer?!!!