Wednesday, July 29, 2015

July according to my camera roll




Just got her first lake swim under her belt then off she goes to hunting school.
They grow up so fast.





Adventurous family vacations? Yes, please!








Cabin 8. We may have lost cabin inspections, but we rocked our consequences.


How did July treat you? 

Monday, July 27, 2015

Camp

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I'm not sure that there are enough words to wholly and completely describe this past week of camp.

Adam and I, as well as our entire church staff, had been planning and praying for this week for months now. As our first solo week-long camp endeavor, this past week has been a big deal for all of us and for our church. Not only is it both the climax of our summer and the kick-off into the rest of the year, but it was also our first go as camp directors (yikes!). It has been the somewhat terrifying mountain looming in the distance all year. This camp was a shift in routine. We changed things up. Of course, we wanted it to go well - you always want camp to go well, but there was a bit of (positive) pressure for it to be spectacular.

And it was more than any of us could have ever dreamed. All of it, from the activities to the food, the students to the services, it was all unimaginably wonderful.

Our biggest and most repeated prayer was that our students would meet with God this past week - that He would speak and they would listen, that their lives would be radically altered and shaped by a one on one encounter with their Almighty Father. Let me tell you, that prayer was answered. God showed up and our amazing students were ready.

It was beautiful to watch. I stood in the back, completely overcome by their worship. Every day, they lifted their hands until they couldn't any longer, they sang until their voices were hoarse. They prayed with each other, they prophesied over each other, and they waited in the Lord's presence to hear from Him. He called them deeper and they dove right in.

It was nothing we did. It was all God. He showed up, He made camp what it was this year. And I am so thankful! So, if you prayed for us this week, thank you. We felt those prayers every step of the way. Our God is so good, is He not?

Friday, July 10, 2015

Goodbyes

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And we're on our way back home to SD. Right now I'm rushing to type this before I run out of complimentary wifi. Thanks for the 30 minutes O'Hare - I can totally download a movie and write a blog post in that extensive amount of time.

As we were leaving bright and early this morning (4:45am ugh!), we had to say goodbye to our families last night. Even after doing this for so long it doesn't get any easier. Adam and I haven't lived closer than 17 hours away from our families for the last three years and still I cry every time I have to leave. Embarrassingly enough, I lost it in front of my poor brother as he was driving me to Adam's parent's house. Thankfully he's a trooper and let me just sit there and leak quietly while we listened to the radio. What would I do without him?

It's certainly not easy living so far away, but I love the time we do get to spend with our people. We have two families that love us so much and cherish the time we get to spend with them. They all go out of their way to make every moment special. I feel so blessed getting to have two sets of parents, three grandparents, three brothers, and a number of aunts and uncles who constantly uplift and encourage us.

Thank you for loving us you guys. We miss you already and can't wait to see you again soon!